"Entry fee is ten gold coins. Win a match, and you'll earn ten gold coins total." The staff member collected the fee from Tang San and Xiao Wu in a perfunctory manner. Since they were already registered, they only needed to present their iron-tier Soul Master badges — no additional paperwork required.
"Please choose a name for your team."
Choose a name? Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, realizing for the first time that two-on-two and team battles both required a team name, so the arena announcers could properly introduce them.
Tang San thought for a moment, then said, "Let's go with the Three-Wu Combination." He simply took one character from each of their names — it wasn't like the name carried much significance anyway.
"Very well. The Three-Five Combination has been registered."
A new line of four characters was engraved onto both Tang San's and Xiao Wu's iron-tier badges: "Three-Five Combination." Except — the character for Wu (Dance) had been carved as Wu (Five).
"Hey, that's wrong! It's Dance, not Five!" Xiao Wu protested.
The staff member responded coldly, "You should have been clearer. If you want to change the team name, you'll need to re-register your iron-tier badges, which means all records of your previous victories will be erased."
Just as Xiao Wu was about to explode, Dai Mubai's voice suddenly rang out. "Xiao Wu, your singles match is about to start. Get over here quick!"
Tang San patted Xiao Wu on the shoulder. "Forget it. Three-Five Combination is fine. It's just a name."
Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at the staff member, then dashed off toward the singles arena.
Pairings for the singles arena were determined by lottery draw. While other Soul Masters competed, those waiting could either watch the matches or rest. Each sub-arena had designated viewing areas for competing participants, positioned close to the ring.
Xiao Wu was the first among their group of five to take the field, so Tang San and the others naturally chose to watch. Led by a staff member, they made their way to a private section on the side of the ring, just below the spectator stands — the perfect vantage point to see the entire arena.
Despite being a sub-arena, the ring was still impressively large — twenty meters in diameter, more than enough space for Soul Masters to fight. Unfortunately, the fourteenth sub-arena's singles ring didn't draw much of a crowd today. Only about a fifth of the seats were occupied.
On the ring, a middle-aged man in a tailcoat stood at center stage. He cleared his throat and announced in a booming voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, we shall now begin the first singles match of the fourteenth sub-arena! Taking the stage are two Great Soul Masters — the Battle Soul Master Xiao Wu, who wields the Beast Martial Soul Jade Rabbit, and the undefeated two-match-winning Battle Soul Master Qing Bao, who wields the Beast Martial Soul Iron-Horned Ox! Will the Great Soul Master Qing Bao continue his streak with a third consecutive victory, or will the newcomer Battle Soul Master Xiao Wu claim the win? Let's find out! Please welcome both Great Soul Masters to the ring!"
The scattered crowd offered tepid cheers, with a few voices calling out Qing Bao's name. Most spectators looked thoroughly uninterested.
A tall, hulking figure soon stepped onto the ring — a man who stood an astonishing two meters tall, with broad shoulders, a wide back, and muscles that covered his body like slabs of granite. Beneath his dark skin, sinews coiled like dark green serpents across his bare torso. His copper-bell-sized eyes glinted with ferocity, and the moment he stepped up, he threw back his head and unleashed a deafening roar, releasing a wave of formidable pressure.
No introduction needed — this was clearly a power-type Battle Soul Master, the same type as the Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji.
Ma Hongjun, seated beside Tang San, whispered, "That big guy looks like he's got some serious strength. Can your Xiao Wu handle him?"
Tang San smiled calmly. "Just watch. Xiao Wu's Soul Skills do struggle against power-type Soul Masters — but only when their strength far surpasses hers. At the same level? A power-type Battle Soul Master in front of her will only be…"
He hadn't even finished his sentence before Xiao Wu — her young face brimming with childish excitement — bounced up onto the ring. She wore a white top and pink trousers, her figure clearly still undeveloped, her pretty face radiating an innocence that immediately caught the audience's attention.
"How old is that girl? What did the announcer just say — that she's a Great Soul Master? No way!"
Voices of disbelief rippled through the stands. Audiences had always sympathized with the underdog, and since Xiao Wu looked far more appealing than the Iron-Horned Ox Soul Master across from her, she quickly won the majority of the spectators' support.
Qing Bao stared at Xiao Wu for a moment, then said in his deep, rumbling voice, "Little girl, I think you're in the wrong place. This isn't somewhere you should be — hurry on home now."
Xiao Wu wore a pleasant smile. Though she was only twelve years old, when that sweet, harmless expression appeared on her delicate face, it carried surprising force — especially against someone like Qing Bao, a simple-minded power-type who was all too easily moved to protect.
"Sweetheart, just step down, won't you? What if you get hurt — you're so fragile-looking." Qing Bao looked genuinely troubled, honestly trying to persuade Xiao Wu to forfeit.
Xiao Wu's delicate brows knitted together, and her slender waist swayed. "Why do you have to talk so much? Just summon your Martial Soul and get on with it. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Before Qing Bao could say another word, Xiao Wu — never one known for her patience — had already launched herself forward with a single explosive step, hurtling straight toward him.
Xiao Wu's speed was blinding. In the span of a heartbeat, she closed the dozen or so meters between them. Her long leg whipped upward, lifting her off the ground, and she drove a kick straight at Qing Bao's neck.
Defense was one of the greatest strengths of a power-type Soul Master. Seeing Xiao Wu's seemingly light, floating kick heading his way, the honest and straightforward Qing Bao didn't dodge — not that his speed would have allowed it. His mind simply thought, This little girl doesn't know what she's getting into, coming to compete in the arena at such a young age. I'll let her hit me a few times, and once she's tired, she'll naturally give up and leave.
(End of Chapter)