At that moment, both the host and the spectators fell silent. Xiao Wu's move had been simply too shocking. Despite the qualitative difference between her and her opponents, she had effortlessly defeated them, and it was a two-on-one battle, with her partner merely watching from the sidelines.
No one thought Su Ming had taken advantage of Xiao Wu's effort, as his own strength had been evident from earlier matches—he was likely even stronger than Xiao Wu.
The host coughed to clear his throat and said, "That was indeed a spectacular match! Congratulations to the Thousand Hands Enchanting Rabbit team for their victory!"
The audience, on the other hand, had mixed feelings. They had expected an intense fight, but it ended in just a few moves.
Su Ming, meanwhile, gave Xiao Wu a slightly annoyed glance. Why had she used such force, knowing that he would have to clean up afterward? He activated his healing ability, a green light enveloping the Mo brothers as they regained consciousness.
Afterward, Su Ming and Xiao Wu rejoined their group. Meanwhile, the Seven Treasures Spiritual Cat team, composed of Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, had their match shortly after Su Ming and Xiao Wu's. They returned victorious as well.
However, Su Ming noticed a flaw in Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's pairing. Despite Zhu Zhuqing's strength nearing level 40 due to Ning Rongrong's support, Ning Rongrong's role as an auxiliary spirit master left her vulnerable, requiring Zhu Zhuqing to split her focus between fighting and protecting her. Any opponent with half a brain would target the support first.
This was something Su Ming had anticipated when he chose to team up with Xiao Wu instead of Ning Rongrong. If Ning Rongrong had been his partner, they wouldn't have faced as many challenges. However, once Xiao Wu reached level 40, she and Zhu Zhuqing would face tougher Spirit Elder-level teams. While Xiao Wu might manage, Zhu Zhuqing could struggle.
Regardless of team composition, challenges were inevitable. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were a suitable pair due to their similar spirit power levels, but Ning Rongrong lacked self-defense abilities.
Su Ming decided that, once his relationship with Ning Rongrong improved, he would teach her the Lingbo Weibu technique, giving her a means of self-defense. The technique had been modified by his system and now consumed spirit power, making it feasible for Ning Rongrong to learn. How quickly she mastered it would depend on her talent.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, had her teleportation skill, which already ensured her safety. Therefore, Su Ming hadn't taught her the Lingbo Weibu.
In fact, Su Ming was envious of Xiao Wu's teleportation ability. It was incredibly powerful, consuming little spirit power while allowing her to cover great distances. It was far more useful than the Lingbo Weibu technique.
Once Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong returned from their match, the group prepared to head back. Aside from Tang San and Dai Mubai, everyone who participated had won, earning gold coins and points as rewards.
Tang San asked, "Where's the dean?"
Dai Mubai sighed, "Who knows? He told us to head back to the academy after our matches, then disappeared."
As they left the Spirit Arena, they could still hear the cheers from inside. Today's battles had been rewarding for everyone.
For Su Ming, while these fights didn't significantly improve his strength, they allowed him to see a variety of martial souls and spirit abilities, which was refreshing.
As they walked, Su Ming pondered: Why could people in this world awaken their martial souls at the age of six? Where did martial souls originate?
Tang San was also lost in thought, analyzing the fights. He realized that, compared to Su Ming's summoned vines, his Blue Silver Grass was inferior in both toughness and versatility. Was this due to the difference in levels, or was it a fundamental weakness of Blue Silver Grass?
The next time his teacher came to Shrek Academy, Tang San planned to ask why there was such a gap between his Blue Silver Grass and Su Ming's Wood Element martial soul.
Su Ming's martial soul could attack, defend, control, and support—it was practically an all-rounder. Meanwhile, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass specialized in control, but even in that role, it wasn't as strong as Su Ming's Wood Element. This left Tang San confused—was Blue Silver Grass really suited for a control-type path?
As they left the Spirit Arena, Ma Hongjun's eyes gleamed with excitement. "You guys go ahead; the dean asked me to stop by his shop."
Seeing Ma Hongjun's expression, Su Ming was suspicious. Could the dean's shop really be that exciting?
Who was he kidding?
Su Ming figured Ma Hongjun had likely won some money from the Spirit Arena and was eager to spend it. Despite his earlier words, it seemed Ma Hongjun hadn't changed his ways. Su Ming only hoped he wouldn't contract any diseases—after all, spirit masters had strong constitutions, and Ma Hongjun seemed to live quite a long life later on.
Dai Mubai wore a sly smile. "Alright, go ahead. Just don't take too long."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai gave Su Ming a knowing look, signaling Ma Hongjun to keep a low profile.
Ma Hongjun, however, wasn't concerned. As long as he wasn't forcing anyone, and his actions were legitimate transactions, not even Su Ming could say anything. "Dai Boss, you coming?"
"No, just go already," Dai Mubai said, rolling his eyes before glancing nervously at Zhu Zhuqing.
Still clueless, Ma Hongjun was unfazed. "Come on, let's go! Didn't you say before that women aren't people, they're resources?"
Ma Hongjun had no idea about the tension between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Otherwise, he never would have said something so thoughtless.
Before Dai Mubai could respond, Xiao Wu exploded. "What do you mean, 'women aren't people'?! If you've got the guts, say that again, and I'll show you who's not a person, you disgusting pig! Get lost already!"
Ma Hongjun, startled by Xiao Wu's outburst, quickly realized his mistake. His lust had clouded his judgment, and now he had let something slip that he shouldn't have. Glancing around, he noticed that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were also glaring at him, their expressions cold and full of disdain.
Realizing he had crossed the line, Ma Hongjun said nothing more and hurried off, hoping to avoid a beating.
Tang San, curious, asked, "Dai Mubai, wasn't Ma Hongjun going to see the dean? What's this about women?"
Dai Mubai sighed. "He's probably having trouble controlling his evil fire, so he's headed to a brothel."
Tang San was stunned. "Wait, are you saying the dean brings him to places like that?"
Ma Hongjun was only twelve! The idea of the dean taking him to a brothel regularly shocked Tang San. This world was very different from the one he had come from.
Dai Mubai shrugged. "There's not much else the dean can do. Even though Ma Hongjun's martial soul evolved into the top-tier Phoenix, it has flaws. With his looks, he can't find a spirit master girlfriend, and ordinary civilians can't handle it long-term. So the dean takes him to brothels."
"Ma Hongjun's the dean's personal disciple. The dean can't just let him give up his training or die from spirit power backlash."
Su Ming scoffed internally. Back in his previous life, he hadn't had a girlfriend either. When things got difficult, he'd relied on himself. He didn't need to go looking for trouble, and that was why he still considered himself pure.
Of course, fantasies about beautiful women were a natural part of being a man, but Su Ming believed in pursuing them through normal means. As for "paying for it," Su Ming found the idea distasteful—it just didn't sit right with him.
Xiao Wu, meanwhile, sneered. "Blaming it on his martial soul? I bet it's his true nature that made his martial soul evolve the way it did! And if his martial soul didn't have any flaws, I bet he'd still be sneaking off to brothels! He should take a good look at himself first. Has he ever tried to improve himself? Look at him—there's no sign of effort at all!"
Su Ming quietly gave Xiao Wu a thumbs-up. He remembered that Ma Hongjun looked quite decent after losing weight. If he put in the effort, he wouldn't have any trouble finding a girlfriend. It was all just an excuse!
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing, who rarely spoke, muttered, "Men are all disgusting."
Xiao Wu laughed. "Oh, Zhuqing, don't lump everyone together like that! My brother Su Ming is very clean. He's nothing like Dai Mubai or Ma Hongjun—at most, he has the heart but not the courage."
Tang San wanted to protest: I'm clean, too!
Xiao Wu's comment left Su Ming feeling a bit awkward. He didn't need the second half of her sentence, and what did she mean by "not having the courage"? He shot Xiao Wu a glare, as if to say, You better believe I'll prove you wrong when the time comes!
Xiao Wu playfully stuck out her tongue.
Dai Mubai, annoyed, said, "Fine, your Su Ming is pure as ice and clean as jade, while we're all dirty. Happy now? At least I have standards!"
Tang San chimed in quietly, "I'm pure too."
He glanced at Xiao Wu, hoping to get her attention, but she ignored him.
Su Ming chuckled internally. Sure, Tang San was "pure," but he didn't seem to mind when Meng Yiran kissed him, nor when Huo Wu did. Su Ming didn't buy the innocent act. If it were him, he'd just admit it. In this world, there was no rule about being with just one woman, so why hide it?
Seeing Xiao Wu's smug expression, Dai Mubai felt a twinge of frustration. He shook his head in defeat.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai noticed Zhu Zhuqing staring at him with cold, disdainful eyes. She walked up to him and said icily, "Your standards are better? Twins?"
Dai Mubai froze, his face turning pale. Had she seen him with the twins at the Rose Hotel a few days ago? How else would she know about that?
"Zhuqing, I…" Dai Mubai stammered, realizing he had exposed too much in front of her.
Despite his initial guilt and efforts to make amends, Zhu Zhuqing's words cut him deeply. Even if his "standards" were higher, they were still involved in something sordid.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze grew even more disdainful. "Fifteen years old, huh? You disgust me. I should never have come here."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Dai Mubai had been suppressing his temper ever since Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the academy. Normally arrogant, he had been restraining himself due to guilt. Now, after their first real conversation, she had shattered his pride.
Unable to control his rage any longer, he roared, "Stop right there!"
Everyone but Su Ming was shocked by Dai Mubai's outburst.
Su Ming thought Dai Mubai's reaction was understandable. After all, as a prince, Dai Mubai had lived with every luxury. Even after fleeing to Shrek Academy, his looks and status as a spirit master had allowed him to live comfortably. But Zhu Zhuqing had continuously given him the cold shoulder, and it was only natural that he'd be angry. Still, it was Dai Mubai's own fault. He couldn't control his desires, and Zhu Zhuqing had caught him at the worst possible moment. Anyone would be furious.
In Su Ming's view, the only way to win over someone like Zhu Zhuqing, who was cold and aloof, was through strength and a bit of luck.
Zhu Zhuqing ignored Dai Mubai's rage, quickening her pace as if daring him to try something.
"You…!"
Dai Mubai raised his right hand, white light gathering in his palm. He had a violent temper, and though he had been holding back out of guilt, the tiger inside him was now roaring.
Su Ming frowned and said sternly, "Dai Mubai, what do you think you're doing? If there's a problem, talk it out. Don't resort to violence!"
Tang San quickly added, "Yeah, we're all classmates. Let it go."