The sky had already darkened, but the interior of Soto City was as lively as daytime.
People who had worked all day poured onto the streets.
Several workers walked past Xue Lei Han and entered an open-air bar, beginning to drink heartily.
Xue Lei Han carried his sword as he surveyed this city where he had only stayed for half a day.
In the night, the lights of countless homes gradually lit up.
This made Xue Lei Han involuntarily think of his own home, Heaven Dou City.
The group followed Flender to the center of the city.
Flender suddenly stopped, looked at the sky, and muttered to himself, “There’s still some time.
Come with me.” Saying this, Flender led the five people into a modest teahouse beside the street.
The six of them sat around a round table, and Flender ordered six cups of the cheapest tea.
Xue Lei Han looked at the clear white water with a few broken tea leaves floating in it, deepening his understanding of Flender’s stinginess.
Xiao Wu frowned at the tea full of tea leaf residue in front of her.
“Dean, our first class isn’t going to be held here, right?” Flender said, “Of course not.
The place where you will have class is over there.” As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed outside.
Following the direction of his finger, Tang San saw a large expanse of tall buildings not far from the teahouse.
From their angle, they could only see that the building was nearly a hundred meters high, immense and towering.
In the night, it appeared extremely deep and profound.
Faint lights flickered from within the massive structure.
A trace of understanding flashed across Xue Lei Han’s face.
It seemed his guess was correct—Flender’s first lesson for them was the Spirit Arena.
Dai Mubai’s expression changed slightly.
In a low voice, he said, “Dean, you’re sending them there on the first day?” Flender said indifferently, “Remember, you are all monsters, not ordinary people.
Since you are monsters, you must have a monster’s training method.” At this point, he paused, then said in a deep voice, “Your martial souls are all different, and each of you has your own cultivation method.
What the academy can teach you is how to better utilize your martial souls, help you obtain better spirit rings, gain more practical combat experience, and develop your own potential as much as possible.
What remains are various aspects of knowledge about martial souls and the situation of spirit masters across the continent.
Among all the things you need to learn, the most important is practical combat experience.” “You all saw Xue Lei Han’s battle with Zhao Wuji, right?
That is the practical combat experience I mentioned.” Flender was clearly very satisfied with Xue Lei Han and even specially praised him.
Everyone recalled that day’s battle and nodded one after another.
Although their spirit power ranked among the best for their age, their practical combat experience was not rich.
At this point, Flender’s eyes shone with dazzling light.
“The level of a martial soul is a mark of a spirit master’s strength, and spirit rings are the best way to express it.
However, this does not represent a spirit master’s true ability.
Only the title obtained through one’s own efforts in the Grand Spirit Arena is the best embodiment of one’s true strength.” “Spirit masters of any level who enter the Grand Spirit Arena are all represented simply by the words ‘Battle Spirit.’ After obtaining the first victory, one will receive a badge.
Afterward, every victory grants a certain number of points, and once points reach a certain level, the badge’s rank increases.
This badge is the symbol of one’s rank in the Spirit Arena and is universally recognized across all major cities on the continent.
There are many benefits to having a high badge rank; I won’t explain them in detail.
Badge ranks are distinguished by the quality of minerals, starting from the lowest iron badge (Iron Battle Spirit), then copper, silver, gold, purple gold, sapphire, ruby, and diamond.
There are eight ranks in total.” At this point, Flender’s gaze swept across the six people before him.
“The task I give you is to obtain at least a Silver Battle Spirit badge before graduation.
Understood?” “Don’t think obtaining a Silver Battle Spirit badge is easy.
Mubai and Hongjun have already participated in battles here for more than a year.
Mubai, tell these three what the requirements are to advance badge ranks here and your battle records.” As he spoke, Flender calmly took a sip of the cheap tea in front of him.
He had founded Shrek Academy twenty years ago and naturally knew which teaching methods were most likely to be accepted by students.
That was to spark their interest.
No matter what one did, if interest was the premise, everything would be twice as effective.
Those who could enter Shrek Academy were undoubtedly monster-like children.
These students, who could be called monsters or geniuses, could not be educated using ordinary methods.
Dai Mubai said, “I started participating in the Soto Grand Spirit Arena when I was at level 29.
I have fought a total of fifty-six battles, with a current record of twenty-nine wins and twenty-seven losses.
My current points are two.
To advance from Iron Battle Spirit to Copper Battle Spirit requires one hundred points.
Each victory grants one point, but losing a battle also deducts one point.
If a winning streak exceeds five battles, every additional consecutive win adds ten points directly.
If a winning streak exceeds ten battles, each additional win adds one hundred points.
Even after successfully advancing to Copper Battle Spirit, if points drop below one hundred, the Copper Battle Spirit qualification will be revoked.
Advancing from Copper to Silver Battle Spirit requires one thousand points.
In battles between Copper Battle Spirits, each win grants ten points, and each loss deducts ten points.
The bonus points for winning streaks are the same as for Iron Battle Spirits.” “There’s no time to lose.
Let’s go.” Seeing the sky growing darker, Flender patted his clothes (where there was no dust), and stood up abruptly.
Xue Lei Han felt a trace of nostalgia; his memories seemed to return to those days of fierce fighting.
Flender had everyone go register as spirit fighters in the arena.
Naturally, he would not pay the registration fee.
Since Dai Mubai had registered a year ago, he and Ma Hongjun stood to the side.
Seeing that Xue Lei Han also did not go to register, Dai Mubai asked, “Leihan, aren’t you going to register?” Flender also shifted his gaze over; he wanted to hear Xue Lei Han’s explanation too.
“Because I registered before, Mubai.” Xue Lei Han said calmly, then slowly stepped forward to the staff member working at the counter.
“One-on-one spirit battle.
Make it quick.” With that, he took out a box.
The staff member saw it was a youth who was not even fifteen years old and was about to scold him, but seeing Xue Lei Han’s calm and fearless demeanor, the experienced observer immediately shut his mouth and took the box with both hands.
“This, this is!” As soon as the staff member opened the box, his eyes were dazzled by a flash of light.
After the light faded, a diamond badge engraved with the shape of a sword appeared before him.
Flender had missed one detail earlier: if one obtained another ten thousand points at the diamond level, they would receive a special badge issued by the Spirit Arena headquarters, along with a title.
After all, this was a new regulation from recent years, so it was understandable that Flender did not know about it.
“Respected Lord Cold Ice Sword Emperor, may I ask what kind of opponent you would like to select?” The staff member read the characters on the badge and then looked up to ask.
“Within six rings, Sapphire.” Xue Lei Han did not expect to find an opponent of the same level with a diamond badge in this small city right away, so he directly lowered the rank by two levels.
“I am very sorry, respected Lord Cold Ice Sword Emperor.
The highest rank spirit master who came to the arena today is a Purple Gold badge five-ring Spirit King.” “Then it’s him.
I’ll put up one thousand points.
Make it quick.” “Understood, respected Lord Cold Ice Sword Emperor.” He returned unnoticed to behind the group.
Under the staff member’s lead, they arrived at the spectator seats.
Xue Lei Han sat relatively close to the outside, waiting for his first match.
On the spirit battle stage, a middle-aged man wearing a tailcoat stood in the center.
He cleared his throat and announced loudly, “Next, we will have the first one-on-one spirit battle of Arena 14.
They are…” At this point, the middle-aged man looked at the paper slip in his hand with disbelief, then spoke with passionate enthusiasm, “They are the possessor of the Azure Rose Thorn Sword martial soul, the Cold Ice Sword Emperor Spirit Elder Xue Lei Han, and the possessor of the Shura Blade martial soul, the one hundred and fifty-one consecutive wins Spirit King Shi Jingtian!
Please welcome both contestants onto the stage with enthusiastic applause!” “It’s actually a Spirit Elder versus a Spirit King.
That’s not common, is it?” “So lucky!
Tonight we get to see a Spirit Elder versus Spirit King battle!” The audience in the stands stood up one after another, cheering for the two.
People shouted the names of Xue Lei Han and Shi Jingtian, looking forward to the clash between them.
“I’m going up.” After nodding to the others, Xue Lei Han slowly walked down from the spectator seats.
“Wait, Xue Lei Han, you’d better not go.
Why did the arena pair you with a Spirit King?
This is really too dangerous.” Tang San stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve, saying sincerely, “Xue Lei Han, let’s protest to the arena later.
We won’t fight this match.” “Danger is also an opportunity.” Seeing Tang San’s sincere eyes, Xue Lei Han suddenly smiled.
He quite liked this feeling of being genuinely cared for by someone.
“Xue, Xue, Xue Lei Han actually smiled!” Xiao Wu cried out strangely.
Even the usually cold Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, let alone the other classmates.
“You have my thanks.” His hand hesitated as it hovered over Tang San’s shoulder, but finally patted it gently.
Then he turned and walked down the steps step by step.
Tang San had just used his Purple Demon Eyes to observe Xue Lei Han briefly and discovered that although he appeared somewhat cold on the surface, he was actually a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart.
Then let us be your companions.
Tang San silently said as he watched Xue Lei Han’s tall and straight back.
“Little San, well done.” Dai Mubai gave Tang San a thumbs-up.
Tang San was the first person in the academy to make Xue Lei Han smile.
“But Boss Dai, this ‘Cold Ice Sword Emperor’ title, is it Xue Lei Han’s nickname?” Ma Hongjun asked puzzledly.
Dai Mubai was also puzzled.
“We usually just get called by name when we go up on stage.
We’ve never had titles announced, right?” Flender looked at Xue Lei Han with some anticipation.
He hoped the first one to take the stage, Xue Lei Han, could give his classmates an exciting spirit battle lesson.
Xue Lei Han walked down from the spectator seats.
His eyes, sharp as swords, met the eyes of Shi Jingtian, who was also walking toward the stage.
Shi Jingtian had a robust build.
Seeing him, Xue Lei Han seemed to recall Yu Tianheng.
His eyes were very indifferent, but the faint surging thirst for blood made his pupils unrestful.
“You’re the one who specifically named me?” Shi Jingtian looked down at Xue Lei Han from above, a trace of brutality flashing in his eyes.
“Correct,” Xue Lei Han said indifferently.
“You will regret it.” “Will I?” Before the battle even began, the two had already started a verbal confrontation.
After the middle-aged man separated the two and saw that both had already taken their stances, he immediately shouted, “Spirit battle, begin!” Xue Lei Han placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
He wanted to see what was so powerful about this Shi Jingtian’s Shura Blade.
“Asura Slash!” A purple thousand-year spirit ring suddenly appeared, followed by a massive ghost-headed blade.
With the appearance of the blade, the spirit battle stage instantly became filled with a sinister and chilling aura.
Shi Jingtian held the blade in his hand and charged toward Xue Lei Han like a fierce tiger descending the mountain.
The blade’s glow was purple, extremely fast and fierce in its attack, immediately causing all the watching audience to break into a cold sweat for Xue Lei Han.
“Clang!” With the sound of blades clashing, Xue Lei Han had already drawn his sword, and his second spirit ring appeared.
The instant Xue Lei Han drew the Azure Rose Thorn Sword, he shifted the blade to the right, perfectly blocking the ghost-headed blade.
“I must say, Xue Lei Han has a very clear grasp of the situation and his own abilities,” Flender said with a smile as he stroked the stubble on his chin.
Before the battle, Flender had bet ten thousand gold spirit coins that Xue Lei Han would win.
“This kid Xue Lei Han is really good.
I’ll be counting on him to make money in the future.” Such a thought suddenly popped into his mind and could not be stopped.
Shi Jingtian and Xue Lei Han exchanged several brief moves.
Xue Lei Han used his Snow Killing Sword and fought back and forth with Shi Jingtian.
The pleasing sounds of blades and swords clashing rang out from the spirit battle stage, making the people in the spectator seats stand up and cheer loudly.
Xue Lei Han seized an opportunity to flick his sword upward.
Shi Jingtian’s Shura Blade immediately lost control and was lifted high into the air.
“There’s no way I’ll end here!” Shi Jingtian gripped the Shura Blade and smashed down fiercely.
Behind him appeared the spirit ring configuration of one white, three yellow, and one purple.
Shi Jingtian was furious.
He was after all a level fifty-two five-ring Spirit King, yet he had been fighting with a mere Spirit Elder for so long.
It was truly humiliating.
If he told Zhao Wuji this thought, Zhao Wuji might cry on the spot, because back when he was a Spirit Saint, he had been slashed hundreds of times by Xue Lei Han, and even his brocade clothes had been cut into beggar’s rags.
Then both yellow spirit rings lit up.
His speed increased dramatically, and his eyes gleamed with sharp light.
“Blade Qi!” Shi Jingtian roared.
The Shura Blade was wrapped in a layer of black aura—that was blade qi!
Agility-type spirit rings?
Watching Shi Jingtian’s speed suddenly double, Xue Lei Han then shifted his gaze to the Shura Blade.
Seeing the opponent’s blade covered in blade qi, Xue Lei Han’s interest was piqued.
He did not use any spirit skills and purely used his self-created sword technique to fight Shi Jingtian.
“Damn brat, you actually aren’t using spirit skills?
Are you looking down on me?!” The purple spirit ring behind Shi Jingtian flashed again.
The Shura Blade glowed with a black-purple color, carrying fierce winds as it chopped down viciously.
He was now in ragged clothes, covered in countless sword marks that caused him unbearable pain.
He now only wanted to kill Xue Lei Han as quickly as possible and chop him into minced meat.
Xue Lei Han sensed the killing intent in Shi Jingtian’s eyes.
His own gaze grew even colder, and a bone-piercing chill instantly spread from his body.
Shi Jingtian’s movements also stiffened slightly due to this cold air.
“It’s over.” I originally thought you would have mastered some blade techniques, so I would have sparred with you a bit longer.
But after fighting for a long time, Xue Lei Han discovered that Shi Jingtian only had these few moves, all relying on brute strength to swing the Shura Blade.
Xue Lei Han immediately lost interest in continuing the fight.
He muttered to himself, then held the sword vertically in front of his chest.
Icy blue light rapidly gathered onto the Azure Rose Thorn Sword.
“Snow Mountain Sword!” Xue Lei Han slashed downward with the sword.
An ice peak drilled out from the bottom of the Spirit Battle Stage and collided fiercely with the Asura Slash.
Shi Jingtian spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Then, due to the pushing force of the ice peak, his entire body was thrown out of the arena.
Xue Lei Han sheathed his sword.
Apart from using some spirit power on the Snow Mountain Sword, he had barely used any spirit power.
He then turned his head and looked indifferently at the middle-aged referee.
“Cold Ice Sword Emperor Xue Lei Han wins!
Record: sixteen thousand and thirty-two wins, two thousand four hundred and thirty-two losses.”