Ning Rongrong completed her 20 laps with Wang Feng accompanying her throughout. Her determination was truly remarkable.
Oscar, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but be astonished. Ning Rongrong was proving to be quite unpredictable. She had stormed out earlier, only to return and complete the 20 laps with grit and determination, leaving her tired and drenched in sweat.
Tired and sweaty, Ning Rongrong sat down on the ground, her face flushed and her heart still pounding loudly.
Wang Feng couldn't help but smile, saying, "I guess I underestimated you."
Ning Rongrong quipped back, "Hmph!"
As evening descended, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others gathered together with renewed energy. Flender also joined them but his attention wasn't on Tang San and the others, instead, he focused on Oscar and Ning Rongrong.
"It looks like you both have completed your twenty laps." Flender's sharp gaze fixed on Oscar and then shifted to Ning Rongrong.
Oscar nodded in confirmation.
"I'm done too!" Ning rongrong also declared loudly, her newfound confidence evident.
The others exchanged surprised glances. After all, Oscar was a man and it was expected that he could handle such rigorous training better. Besides, they assumed that Ning Rongrong, who had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan, would not be accustomed to this level of intensity of training.
Ning Rongrong, being a girl, probably hadn't experienced this level of training back at home but surprisingly she has completed it.
Feeling the curious gazes of those around her, Ning Rongrong's confidence soared even more and she lifted her head high.
"Good, good! You truly deserve to be the one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda clan. You haven't brought shame upon your father or yourself!" Flender chuckled, his eyes subtly glancing at Wang Feng.
Ning Rongrong felt a twinge of emotion hearing this praise. Back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda clan, such compliments were far from her reality. But here and now, they filled her with an inexplicable sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Wang Feng, observing this scene, couldn't help but sigh softly to himself. In the original story, Flender attitude toward Ning Rongrong had been entirely different. But now instead of admonishing her, he had praised her.
Flender announced, "Next, I will take you to your first class, Rongrong and Oscar. You've all exerted yourselves today, so just observe this time. Consider it your official course. But if you fail to meet my expectations, don't blame me for being harsh."
"Follow me."
With that, Flender led them in the direction of Suotuo City.
Before long, the group arrived in Soto City. Although the night had fallen, the city's night market was still bustling, with street vendors lining the streets and shops aglow with lantern's lights.
The group looked around with varying expressions. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were particularly curious about their surroundings, while Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, dutifully following Flender without distraction.
Suddenly, Flender stopped and gazed at a distant building.
"Dean, are you planning to take them there?" Dai Mubai's expression shifted.
The others immediately turned their attention to the direction Flender was looking at. They saw a grand building standing a towering height of 100 meters tall, brilliantly lit in the night.
"Of course." Flender replied casually.
"Where else would they go? Monsters need monster type cultivation methods. If they follow the path step by step, why even bother coming to our Shrek Academy?"
Tang San and the others were intrigued by his words, but from a distance, Wang Feng murmured, "Is that... Suotuo City's Great Fighting Arena?"
Flender turned to face the group and began to explain, "Buildings like that are typically found only in major cities. Inside, it's all about pure combat! It's a measure of a soul master's value on the battlefield, a symbol of a nation's strength and it can even determine the rise or fall of a country. That's because soul masters are the foundation of a nation! A strong soul master means a strong nation, while a weak soul master leads to a weak nation. This holds true for both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire."
He gestured toward the distant building and continued, "Its known as the Great Fighting Soul Arena. Soul masters confront heaven and earth and to grow stronger, they need to battle as much as they can. Here, you can face countless soul masters, learn various combat techniques and experience battles between soul masters. This is where a soul master can truly showcase their worth and strength. There's no other place like it."
Flender concluded, "I won't explain everything right now. Mubai, go ahead and introduce them."
Dai Mubai nodded and began to explain further, "The Great Arena features three types of battles, one-on-one, two-on-two and team battles. However, we won't focus on team battles for now due to differences in our soul power levels. When you enter the Great Arena, you can earn fighting soul badges through combat. The badges are also ranked from the lowest to the highest, iron, copper, silver, gold, purple gold, sapphire, ruby and diamond."
He paused for a moment, and Flander interjected, "Your task is to obtain atleast a silver fighting soul badge before graduation."
Tang San and the others were initially surprised, thinking that obtaining a Silver Soul Fighting Badge seemed too simple.
Dai Mubai clarified, "Getting a Silver Fighting Soul Badge isn't as easy as it sounds. I have a soul power level of thirty-seventh rank and have participated in 56 battles. My record is 29 wins and 27 losses, earning only 2 points."
The group was taken aback upon hearing this, realizing that even someone as strong as Dai Mubai had faced challenges and fierce competition in the Great Arena.
Dai Mubai explained further, "The rules of the Great Soul Arena are quite intricate. Moving from iron to copper requires a hundred points, with a win granting one point and a loss deducting one point, and another hundred to get to Silver badge. However, the actual allocation is based on soul masters within the same realm. For instance, when I was level 29, I won several consecutive matches. But when I reached level 30, I was pitted against a level 36 or 37 opponent. It was a tough fight and I suffered multiple defeats."
He continued, "In simple terms, this allocation system is quite tricky. Even Fatty has more points than me. He's had 33 fights, with 21 wins and 12 losses, earning him 9 points."
Dai Mubai shook his head wryly, leaving everyone in silence. The distribution system seemed much harder than they had anticipated.
All eyes then turned to Wang Feng. He was only at level 30 and would be facing opponents up to level 38 and beyond. However, as he hadn't acquired a soul ring yet, his situation was unique and potentially fortunate.
Wang Feng couldn't help but smile inwardly, thinking that this system seemed like a bit of a trap. But he had seen the ranking mechanisms in games like League of Legends, which could be even more baffling.
Flender urged them forward as they entered the Great Arena. To Wang Feng, it resembled the ancient Roman Colosseum, capable of holding thousands of spectators with various VIP seats.
Near the entrance, a stone stele displayed a long list of names of the fallen.
The registration process was quick and soon, they were organized and assigned to the Fourteenth Soul Arena.
Dai Mubai suggested, "In addition to single-battles, consider forming 2v2 teams to maximize your point gain. You can only participate in one match per day."
Xiao Wu looked at the Tang San and said, "Brother, let's form a team!"
"I've already thought of a name, the San Wu Group!"
Tang San simply nodded in agreement.
Dai Mubai advised Oscar and Ning Rongrong, "As auxiliary system soul master, you won't be playing much here. It's best to observe. In the Soul Arena, auxiliary system soul masters rarely take the field. This place is quite confined, with many unfavorable factors. Instead, watch and learn. It'll have a greater impact!"
Ning Rongrong was relieved and happy that she wouldn't have to engage in battles that felt like a spectacle.
Oscar also nodded in agreement, content to observe rather than participate in the matches.
Wang Feng didn't particularly mind the team combination. He was more focused on the bustling soul-fighting arena below, feeling a surge of excitement.
Dai Mubai continued with his guidance.
"Wang Feng, would you form a team with me." Zhu Zhuqing suddenly asked.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhuqing spoke up, expressing her intention to form a team with Wang Feng. Wang Feng looked at her in surprise and her decision caused a subtle shift in Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong's expressions.
However, Zhu Zhuqing continued, "Or, Ma Hongjun and I could form a team."
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up with excitement but Dai Mubai immediately reacted.
"No way!" Dai Mubai's expression changed dramatically.
"You should team up with Wang Feng. He can protect you."
The thought of Zhu Zhuqing pairing with the fiery Ma Hongjun, who had an unpredictable temper, seemed absurd.
Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, seemed unsurprised by the decision.
Ning Rongrong, for some inexplicable reason, felt a slight urge to join the fray. She couldn't quite understand why this thought had crossed her mind.
Zhu Zhuqing asked, "What should we name our team?"
Wang Feng suggested, "Let's call ourselves Qing Feng."
After proposing the name, Zhu Zhuqing efficiently handled the necessary arrangements at the counter and returned promptly.
"Alright, now we just have to wait patiently," Wang Feng concluded.
Dai Mubai still had a lingering discomfort but chose not to voice it.
The name "Qingfeng" did have a somewhat homophonic aspect to it but it still sounded fitting and appealing.
Soon, the battles began, one after another.
Meanwhile, in a VIP room on the battlefield, a remarkably handsome young man observed the matches below. He was accompanied by two enigmatic and formidable individuals on either side.
.....
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