Under Dai Mubai's arrangements, Huo Feng found himself sharing a dormitory with Oscar. The next morning, they and the other new students were introduced to the dean of Shrek Academy: Flender, a formidable level 78 Spirit Saint.
Their first day was anything but typical. There were no formal classes or lectures. Instead, they were put through a series of grueling physical fitness tests designed to push their bodies to the limit. Dean Flender had simply told them that their first official class was scheduled for that evening.
Time flew by, and as night fell, Flender gathered the seven students and led them out of Shrek Academy. The fact that their first lesson was not only at night but also taking place off-campus left many of them feeling confused and curious. It wasn't long before they realized their destination was the bustling Soto City.
The city wasn't far from the academy, and for a group of Spirit Masters, the short journey was nothing. Soto City was located deep within the Barak Kingdom, far from any border conflicts, so its gates remained open twenty-four hours a day. Although it was late, the city's nightlife seemed to have just begun. The clamor of the crowds and the glow of countless lanterns made the streets feel even more alive than they were during the day. Shops on both sides were brightly lit, and street vendors called out, peddling all kinds of wares.
Flender walked at the head of the group, paying no mind to the surrounding attractions. Huo Feng and Dai Mubai followed closely behind him, equally focused. Zhu Zhuqing maintained her usual cold expression, as if the vibrant world around her had nothing to do with her at all.
The four at the back of the group, however, were a different story. They looked around with wide-eyed interest, especially Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. The two girls were arm in arm, chattering away as if they had an endless supply of topics to discuss. If Huo Feng hadn't occasionally glanced back to call them forward, they might have gotten completely lost in the crowd.
"We're almost there. Follow me," Flender announced after checking the time.
He led the seven students to an inconspicuous teahouse and had them sit at a large, round table.
"Dean Flender, our first class isn't going to be in this teahouse, is it?" Ning Rongrong asked with a frown after taking a sip of the bitter tea.
"Of course not," Flender said with a smile, shaking his head. He pointed out the window. "That is where you'll be having your class."
Following his finger, the students saw a massive complex of tall buildings in the distance. From their vantage point, they could tell the main building was nearly a hundred meters high. Faint lights flickered from within, giving it a mysterious aura in the dark night.
"Dean, you're not really sending them there on their first day, are you?" Dai Mubai's expression changed slightly. As a senior student at Shrek, he obviously knew exactly what that place was.
Flender's expression remained calm. "Your Martial Souls are all different, and each of you has a unique path of cultivation. The academy cannot teach you through a single, fixed method."
He paused, his sharp eyes scanning the seven faces at the table before he continued. "What the academy can do is teach you how to better utilize your Martial Souls, gain more practical combat experience, and unlock your greatest potential. And the place you are going to tonight is called the Soto Great Spirit Arena!"
Flender then explained the purpose of the Great Spirit Arena. He told them about the Spirit Badges, which were the most important part of the system. A Spirit Master would receive their first badge after winning their first match. With each subsequent victory, they would earn points. Once enough points were accumulated, the badge's rank would be upgraded.
"The lowest rank is the Iron Spirit Badge," he explained. "From there, you can advance to Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and finally, Diamond. There are eight ranks in total."
"It's about time. Let's go," Flender said, seeing that he had successfully piqued everyone's interest. He stood up, paid for the tea, and led the group out of the teahouse.
The Soto Great Spirit Arena was an oval-shaped behemoth, standing over 120 meters tall. It was divided into a main arena and twenty-four smaller sub-arenas, with a total capacity to hold sixty thousand spectators and one hundred exclusive VIP boxes. It was more than just a place for Spirit Masters to compete; it was a stage where the various powers of the world could demonstrate their strength.
After entering, the students who planned to fight—Huo Feng, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun—went to register. Since they came as a group, they were all assigned to compete in the fourteenth sub-arena. The participating Spirit Masters were all led to a spacious room to rest and await their matches. The battles in the ring were fast-paced, usually ending in just a few minutes, so the wait wasn't long.
The first to take the stage was Dai Mubai. As a level 37 Spirit Elder, his unlucky opponent was only a level 35 Spirit Elder. The match was over in less than ten rounds.
Next up was Huo Feng. His opponent was a level 36 Spirit Elder with a Fire Wolf Martial Soul. Unsurprisingly, Huo Feng defeated him in just two moves before the man even had time to react. Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun had their matches after, winning just as decisively. As support-type Spirit Masters, Ning Rongrong and Oscar did not participate in the one-on-one battles.
Finally, only Xiao Wu was left. As a level 29 Spirit Grandmaster, she was matched against an opponent of the same rank. With her level advantage, it should have been an easy win. A staff member guided her toward the ring.
In a different lounge on the other side of the arena, a boy of about twelve or thirteen was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed.
"Tang San, you're up!"
At the staff member's shout, Tang San's eyes snapped open, a fierce fighting spirit burning within them. After learning about the Great Spirit Arena, he had borrowed ten gold spirit coins from the blacksmith shop owner and signed up to compete. He was confident that against an opponent of the same level, he had at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of winning. Since a novice's first opponent was always another novice, victory was practically guaranteed. With that win, he could earn back the ten gold spirit coins he needed.
After taking a moment to calm his nerves, Tang San followed the staff member to the entrance of the arena.
On the fighting stage, a middle-aged man in a tuxedo stood in the center. He cleared his throat and spoke in a loud, projecting voice.
"Next up, we have the final one-on-one Spirit Battle in the Fourteenth Arena! Let's welcome our two Spirit Masters to the stage!" "They are Xiao Wu, the Spirit Grandmaster with the Jade Rabbit Martial Soul, and Tang San, the Spirit Grandmaster with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!" "Both of these powerful Spirit Grandmasters are making their debut tonight! Who will emerge victorious? Let's wait and see!"
Xiao Wu?Tang San?
Hearing the host's introduction, both Xiao Wu and Tang San, who were about to step onto the stage from opposite sides, froze in utter shock.
In the audience, Huo Feng and Dai Mubai stared blankly at the stage, their jaws hanging open.
Why the hell, Huo Feng thought, is Tang San everywhere?
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse