Inner Courtyard, Dueling Arena.
With the bet settled, Dugu Xianmeng took Zhou Sichen directly to the dueling arena to apply for a duel badge.
Without even having picked up his uniform yet, he casually came to duel.
Although it was early morning, there were already people dueling in the arena.
On the dueling platform, two beautiful figures stood facing each other.
One fiery red figure was fiercely violent, while the other icy blue figure was matchless in her freezing aura.
A Fire Phoenix cried out, and the chill of the ice element was piercing.
A look of pleasant surprise flashed in Dugu Xianmeng’s eyes.
“Your luck is pretty good.
These are the two big rivals of the Inner Courtyard.”
“The Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao—the person who lives in the villa next to the one next to Eldest Sister’s.
In the Inner Courtyard, she’s known as one of the two active volcanoes, nicknamed the Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao.”
“Her opponent is Ling Luochen, the Element of Ice, the person in the academy most adept at the ice element.”
“Their battle should give you some experience.”
As she spoke, Dugu Xianmeng pulled Zhou Sichen to find random seats in the spectator stands on either side.
Actually, even without Dugu Xianmeng’s introduction, Zhou Sichen was very familiar with these two great beauties.
In fact, he was kind of looking forward to it yesterday.
When reading novels in his past life, didn’t all the transmigrators have their first battle in Shrek Academy against Ma Xiaotao?
It was a pity Zhou Sichen had a very peaceful day yesterday and slept very soundly…
Aside from the two great beauties battling on the platform, a sparse number of people were seated in the spectator stands.
For them, this was one of the few opportunities to observe the two beauties up close.
Naturally, the arrival of Zhou Sichen and Dugu Xianmeng caught their attention.
There was actually a handsome guy beside the Inner Courtyard’s Poison Witch?
Since when did the Poison Witch have such good taste?
Wait…
This guy isn’t even wearing a uniform.
Could he be a new Inner Courtyard disciple?
They hadn’t heard of such a handsome guy among the sixth-year students previously…
The female students’ imaginations ran wild, while the male students glared covetously.
The Inner Courtyard already had more monks than porridge (more men than women).
Now that such a handsome junior had arrived, wouldn’t their chances be even slimmer?
Zhou Sichen paid no mind to these gazes, calmly watching the battle between the two beauties on the platform.
Ma Xiaotao had two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings—six in total—pulsing around her.
She was already a Soul Emperor powerhouse.
Ling Luochen, however, only had two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring—five in total.
The difference of one soul ring meant Ling Luochen was suppressed at every turn.
If it weren’t for her ice element being powerful enough, she would have likely been defeated long ago.
Before long, Ma Xiaotao, like a flame war goddess, defeated Ling Luochen.
Before leaving, she cast a provocative look at her.
“It seems your progress still isn’t enough.
But thank you for letting me vent some evil fire.”
Hearing this, a murderous glint seemingly burst from Ling Luochen’s eyes.
But having consumed a massive amount of soul power, she couldn’t be bothered to engage in a verbal spat with Ma Xiaotao.
“Hmph!” Ling Luochen snorted coldly, turned her head, and walked off the dueling platform.
Ma Xiaotao also turned her head confidently, standing on the platform like a saint as the spectating students cheered her name.
However, there were also boys among them supporting Ling Luochen.
Compared to the Flame Maniac, the Element of Ice might be a bit easier to get along with, right?
Right at that moment, Ma Xiaotao’s gaze locked onto Zhou Sichen, who was sitting beside Dugu Xianmeng.
Zhou Sichen had been watching the duel the whole time and happened to make eye contact with her.
Amidst the crowd’s cheers, Ma Xiaotao raised her slender, jade-like finger and pointed at Zhou Sichen.
“You, come up and play with me.
If you satisfy me, I can give you thirty points.”
Hearing Ma Xiaotao’s words, everyone’s gaze converged on Zhou Sichen.
Is this the benefit of being handsome?
Out of the crowd, the Inner Courtyard’s great beauty, the Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao, spotted him at a glance?
Zhou Sichen was also stunned for a moment.
He had just been thinking about her, could Ma Xiaotao be telepathic?
Dugu Xianmeng was actually quite surprised too.
Ma Xiaotao usually ignored these boys; if she was unhappy, she’d drag them onto the platform and rigorously “drill” them!
Why was she taking the initiative to pick Zhou Sichen today?
Was it really because he was handsome?
Before Zhou Sichen could answer, Dugu Xianmeng spoke up.
“Senior Sister Ma, Zhou Sichen only passed the assessment and entered the Inner Courtyard yesterday.
Isn’t it a bit unreasonable for a dignified Soul Emperor like you to bully a newcomer?”
Ma Xiaotao didn’t yield an inch to Dugu Xianmeng.
“You have a problem with it?
Then you come up.
Let me see how much your poison has improved!”
Dugu Xianmeng wasn’t someone easily pushed around either.
She could be sweet to Zhou Sichen, but to everyone else, she was the Inner Courtyard’s Poison Witch.
Dugu Xianmeng snorted coldly and stood straight up.
“Fine, I will!
If I’m afraid of you, my name isn’t Dugu Xianmeng!”
Zhou Sichen directly grabbed her hand.
“Senior Sister, what are you doing?
Since this Senior Sister has taken a fancy to me, it’s my honor.”
“Furthermore, I’m a man.
How could I let a woman take the bullet for me?”
Hearing Zhou Sichen’s words, Ma Xiaotao couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Could it be that Dugu Xianmeng hadn’t told this kid about my glorious deeds?
The others looked at Zhou Sichen as if he were an idiot.
Taken a fancy to you?
I think you have a death wish.
But it made sense.
For a freshman who just entered the Inner Courtyard, not knowing the weight of the name “Flame Maniac” was normal.
Dugu Xianmeng turned her head and glared at Zhou Sichen.
“You kid, did what I told you earlier go in one ear and out the other?
You have some strength, but she’s a Soul Emperor!”
Zhou Sichen actually felt quite moved.
Although he knew Sister Xianmeng had some ulterior motives towards him, her willingness to stand up and take the bullet from Ma Xiaotao proved she wasn’t as casual as she seemed on the surface.
Zhou Sichen smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry, Senior Sister.
I won’t joke around with my own life.”
After all, he was just agonizing over not having a chance to show off properly.
Being handed exactly what he needed on a silver platter, what reason did he have to refuse?
Saying that, Zhou Sichen stood up, placed his hands on Dugu Xianmeng’s shoulders, pressed her back into her seat, and whispered, “Relax.
Besides, she’s just a Soul Emperor.
It’s not like I haven’t fought one before.”
Zhou Sichen turned, walked down from the spectator stands into the staging area, and headed towards the dueling platform.
Dugu Xianmeng sat in her seat, slightly dazed.
Although Zhou Sichen’s voice was very soft, she had heard him.
Just a Soul Emperor?
Fought one before?
You’re a freaking Soul Elder!
You’re not a god, how could you say such a thing?
However, recalling how easily Zhou Sichen had subdued her last night, Dugu Xianmeng couldn’t help but ponder.
After a long while, she looked at Zhou Sichen, who had already stepped onto the platform and was standing opposite Ma Xiaotao.
“No way, right?
Daring to fight a Soul Emperor at rank thirty-eight?
This kid…”
The spectators had almost the same thought as Dugu Xianmeng.
In their eyes, freshmen entering the Inner Courtyard were at least at the Soul Ancestor realm.
But even a Soul Ancestor fighting a Soul Emperor was pure fantasy…
On the dueling platform, Ma Xiaotao wore a smile.
“I imagine Dugu Xianmeng told you the dueling rules.
High-level challenging low-level, you could have completely refused.
Yet you agreed.
Should I call you stupid, or arrogant?”
Hearing Ma Xiaotao’s words, Zhou Sichen revealed a warm smile.
“Senior Sister cordially invited me.
If a junior doesn’t show respect, how can I survive in the academy in the future?”
“Besides, didn’t you say, Senior Sister, that as long as I satisfy you, you’ll give me thirty points?”
“This junior covets the Red-tier delicacies in the cafeteria, so naturally, I have to work hard early on to have a chance.”
Hearing Zhou Sichen’s words, the crowd below was going crazy.
They were all senior brothers and sisters of the Inner Courtyard, yet none dared to speak so arrogantly!
Ling Luochen, who was just about to leave, returned to her seat in the spectator stands.
Such an interesting junior brother—anyone would want to keep an eye on him.
Hearing this, the smile on Ma Xiaotao’s face grew even brighter.
“Truly worthy of someone who can live in Ye Guyi’s room.
You’re even more arrogant than she is!”
The moment she said this, the spectators went completely wild.
What?!
Are my ears broken?
Living in the Angel Goddess Ye Guyi’s room?
Is this something I’m supposed to hear?
Will Ye Guyi silence us all to keep this a secret when she returns?!!
Zhou Sichen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
So that’s where the problem lies.
He knew it!
Despite his handsome, suave, romantic, and elegant demeanor…
he shouldn’t have caught Ma Xiaotao’s attention just like that.
So it was because she knew he stayed in his sister’s villa yesterday.