The next evening, a day earlier than planned, Xiao Tian and the others arrived at Soto City's Great Soul Fighting Arena.
Although Shrek Academy's students had been promised a three-day break, the atmosphere within the team had long since shifted.
After witnessing Xiao Tian spar with Sword Douluo Chen Xin—and even break through to comprehend an entirely new Slow Sword Intent—who among them could truly sit still?
Jealousy, urgency, and fiery determination stirred each of their hearts in different ways. Thus, they unanimously decided to march to the arena in advance, unable to waste time while Xiao Tian pulled further and further ahead.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender, naturally, gave tacit agreement. Training here earlier would only benefit them. Besides, registering early would prepare them for the difficult path toward graduation.
…
The massive coliseum-shaped building of Soto City's Great Arena unfolded before them under the moonlight. Its towering outer walls gleamed with soul-lamps, illuminating engraved banners fluttering with the symbol of gladiatorial combat. Shouts, cheers, and cries already thundered from within—the endless roar of thousands of spectators craving battle.
Yu Xiaogang gathered them in the entryway, adjusting his spectacles. His scholarly, detached tone carried through their small group.
"The competitions here are divided into categories: one-on-one, two-on-two, and seven-on-seven team matches. These are further split between regular battles and life-and-death battles. For now, naturally, you will enter only game battles for training."
The students nodded. None of them yet dared to touch true life-and-death matches at this stage.
After paperwork and spirit verification, Shrek's crew sat in one of the waiting lounges reserved for upcoming participants.
Yu Xiaogang sat at the front and spoke solemnly.
"The Academy's graduation requirement is simple in theory, stringent in reality: to obtain the Silver Fighting Spirit Badge. Each of you begins with an Iron Badge by default. Victories earn points, advancing you step by step—Iron to Bronze, Bronze to Silver."
Xiao Wu tugged gently on Xiao Tian's sleeve and whispered, careful not to be overheard.
"Brother… did you reveal your true level when you registered?"
Xiao Tian shook his head with a helpless smile, then flashed her the badge. The number printed on it proudly declared him level 43.
Ten levels lower than reality. In truth, his power had already reached the 50s. If he revealed so, there would be almost no possible opponents in all of Soto City—perhaps not even across most of Heaven Dou Empire's arenas—that could properly face him.
It was, he knew, unfair to mask his strength this way. But otherwise, wasn't it just bullying ants? A little false modesty… was necessary.
Low profile, he thought to himself. Though even when I try, the heavens refuse to let me hide.
Not far away, Chen Xin walked over quietly, aura calm but sharp as ever.
"Xiao Tian," he said, tone casual but laced with certainty. "I've looked around here already. With your strength, you could obtain a Silver Fighting Spirit Badge easily, and quickly. Even though team competitions allow only one fight per day, one-on-one and two-on-two battles bear no such restriction. For you? It would be child's play."
Flender's heart ached in silence, though on the outside he forced a calm expression. How painful it was when someone so overwhelmingly strong stood under your roof, yet bowed to another man's praise…
"…It's fine," Flender said aloud. "We'll start with the team battles. That's where training is most valuable."
Yu Xiaogang immediately took over with a cough.
"The requirement is clear. However, remember—team battles need seven members. We currently have eight."
His eyes landed directly on Xiao Tian, face solemn. "Xiao Tian… your level is already far too high. Out of all eight of you, Fatty, Zhuqing, and Rongrong are still Great Soul Masters. You are already a Soul Master. Including you in the team pushes difficulty upward drastically. Worse still, Soto City may not even have a Soul Master-level team to match yours."
The implications were obvious: if they placed him, the balance would tilt unreasonably.
Xiao Wu's eyes narrowed cold. "Master, are you trying to exclude my brother? If so, then I won't bother joining either!"
Her voice was sharp, protective rage brimming as she clung to Xiao Tian's side.
Ning Rongrong raised her own clear voice. "That's unfair! If I remember correctly, team competitions give the most points of all. Excluding Xiao Tian because he is too strong—what kind of stupid logic is that, Master?"
Yu Xiaogang had expected this protest. The ones closest to Xiao Tian would never accept him being sidelined. Still, he had prepared another plan.
"In that case," he said smoothly, turning, "let the arena's management decide."
Flender, catching the intent in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, stepped outside.
Moments later, a bespectacled, black-robed middle-aged man entered the lounge with steady steps and a smile of practiced courtesy.
"I've been informed you Shrek Academy students have some concerns? What might they be?"
Yu Xiaogang summarized the situation concisely. The man—Manager Ao, the arena's long-time overseer—quickly understood the dilemma.
His gaze briefly fell upon Xiao Tian, and his breath skipped.
This boy… at such a young age, already Soul Sect level?
His sharp instincts suggested that someone of Xiao Tian's caliber could not exist alone. Talent this monstrous always hid behind a great sect or terrifying master. Especially with Sword Douluo, a walking nuclear warning, sitting close by.
Manager Ao offered a small smile. "Actually, the Arena allows an eighth member as a reserve slot. It's rarely used because if a substitute joins, the victory points must divide among all members—even those who didn't fight. That's poor profit for most. But formally, an extra substitute is acceptable."
Flender blinked. "…Reserves? Why has no one ever said so before?"
Was Ao improvising just to avoid offending Sword Douluo?
Ao nodded lightly. "It is seldom applied, but real. However, our difficulty now is… this young man's level forces us to adjust. Here in Soto City, Soul Master-level teams barely exist. We'll have to prepare ahead of time. So, if this young one seeks to fight, he must give us advance notice. That way, we can call appropriate opponents."
Every word was delivered with calm respect. And all his politeness? Was for Chen Xin's sake, whose quiet aura smothered the room more than any shouting could.
Xiao Tian raised his sword-like brows and waved a hand.
"No problem. If it lightens my load, why wouldn't I be happy? I'll take free points. However…" He cut in sharply, his voice low, suddenly serious. "If the opposing team consists entirely of Soul Masters, be ready. I go on the field. Manager Ao, will you permit that?"
The faint potency of his aura licked outward, a streak of sovereign sharpness.
Ao froze for a breath, then bowed quickly. "No issue at all!"
When Ao departed, the room lightened. Yu Xiaogang exhaled quietly, tension easing.
"Good. This solution is acceptable. Now we can prepare tactics. Remember, there are indeed all-Soul-Master teams here. If such a matchup arrives, we must account for it."
Xiao Tian's expression twitched. Tactics? With me around, what tactics do we need? Isn't it just a matter of one sword slash? If one isn't enough, slash again.
He smirked quietly to himself.
Before he could speak, Xiao Wu grinned and tugged his hand again.
"Brother! Let's partner for two-on-two!"
Her bright voice left no room for discussion.
Ning Rongrong swallowed back a sigh of disappointment, eyes flashing briefly. She too had wanted to partner with Xiao Tian—her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, while non-combat, gave the world's strongest auxiliary support. Even with her lower power, she could amplify Xiao Tian to terrifying levels. But there was no defeating Xiao Wu's claim.
Quietly, with dignity, she turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing. Let's team up."
The cool cat-girl merely nodded softly in agreement. The matter was settled.
In the end, each of them had chosen partners—but all eyes knew the truth. Wherever Xiao Tian stood, battles would never be ordinary.
--
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