The city of Suotuo, situated deep within the heart of the Balak Kingdom, faced no external threats. As a result, its colossal gates remained wide open day and night. The seven students and Dean Flender smoothly passed through the city walls.
Though the sky had darkened, Suotuo City seemed to have just woken up. The streets were even more vibrant than during the day. Stores on both sides of the main avenue were brightly lit, while night vendors began to set up their stalls in customary spots, hawking hot snacks and exotic trinkets.
As they walked further into the city, an imposing structure began to dominate the skyline, radiating an awe-inspiring, almost pulsating pressure. This was the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.
The massive, purely oval building reached a staggering height of one hundred and twenty meters. The interior was divided into one Main Spirit Arena and twenty-four Sub-Arenas, capable of simultaneously hosting six thousand spectators and boasting one hundred VIP box suites. This wasn't merely a place for Spirit Masters to exchange pointers; it was the ultimate stage for the powerful to flaunt their dominance.
As they approached the entrance, Flender briefed Tang San's group on the true nature of the Arena.
"A structure of this magnitude can only exist in a Lord-level city," Flender explained, his tone serious. "This is the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena. Simply put, it is a battleground—and a paradise for gamblers. But for you, it is the best possible place to forge your combat instincts."
Kyle frowned slightly. "Doesn't it sound a bit like a circus for animals?"
Flender shook his head. "You are mistaken. Though I personally dislike its darker elements, I must admit that the Great Spirit Arena is the only place that truly reflects the absolute value of a Spirit Master. The system here is comprehensive, free, and above all else, fair. Even if you were to kill the direct heir of a major clan on that stage, you need not fear retaliation outside. That is the justice of the Arena."
A sharp light gleamed behind Flender's crystal glasses. "Upon registration, you will receive an Iron Badge. Winning a match grants you one point; losing deducts one point. Once you accumulate one hundred points, you will be promoted to a Copper Badge. To graduate from Shrek Academy, you must obtain a Silver Badge. Mubai, show them."
Flender glanced at the night sky. "It's almost time. I will observe from the shadows. Mubai will explain the rest of the rules."
Entering the Great Spirit Arena, the first thing that caught their eyes was a colossal stone stele covered in densely carved names. Mubai solemnly explained that these were the names of every combatant who had died on the arena floor.
"Badge ranks are divided into eight tiers: Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond," Dai Mubai explained. "Do not think obtaining a Silver Badge is easy. Fatty and I have been fighting here for over a year. I started when I was at Rank 29. Out of 56 matches, my current record is 29 wins and 27 losses. My total accumulated points? Only two."
Kyle was shocked. "Mubai, with your strength, you only have 29 wins? How is that possible?"
Dai Mubai offered a bitter smile. "Nothing is impossible here. This place is not a playground. Fatty, tell them your score."
Ma Hongjun chimed in proudly, "So far, I've fought 33 matches: 21 wins, 12 losses. Total points: 9."
Dai Mubai continued, "Matches are divided by spirit rank brackets, usually every ten ranks. When I was at Rank 29, I dominated. But once I broke through to Rank 30, I was forced to fight opponents at Rank 38 or 39. Naturally, my win rate plummeted. Spirit combat here is divided into three types: 1v1, 2v2, and Group Battles."
"How about you three register for 2v2 first? The 1v1 line is going to take a while," Mubai suggested.
Tang San nodded. He led Xiao Wu and Kyle away from the 1v1 registration desk toward the 2v2 area.
"The registration fee for a duo is ten gold coins," the staff member stated efficiently.
Because they had already registered as Spirit Masters, they only needed to present their Iron Badges without filling out additional forms.
"Your team name?"
A combination name? Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at each other. Only now did they realize that in duo and group battles, they needed a stage name for the announcer.
"We are the San-Wu (Three-Five) Combination," Xiao Wu said, taking characters from both their names.
"Very well, the Three-Five Combination is registered." The staff member swiftly carved the name into their badges. However, instead of using the character 'Wu' for dance, he used the character for the number five.
"Hey! That character is wrong! It's Wu for dance, not the number five!" Xiao Wu protested indignantly.
The staff member replied with icy professionalism, "If you wish to change your combination name, you must unregister and re-apply with new Iron Badges."
Just as Xiao Wu was about to explode, Tang San patted her shoulder gently. "Let it be. Three-Five or San-Wu, in the end, it's just a name. It won't change our strength."
Tang San then registered with Kyle. "We'll register the next team: The San-Yin Combination. Here are ten gold coins."
Kyle also stepped up to register with Xiao Wu. "And one more: The Wu-Yang Combination. Ten gold coins."
Suddenly, Dai Mubai's voice called out from the distance. "Xiao Wu! Your 1v1 match is starting! Hurry to Area 14!"
Xiao Wu dashed toward the 1v1 area. The sub-arenas inside the massive structure were designed to bring the audience close to the action. The fighting platform was not small measuring twenty meters in diameter, it provided ample space for Spirit Masters to unleash their destructive abilities. However, for a beginner Iron Badge match, the stands were only about one-fifth full.
In the center of the platform stood a middle-aged man in a swallowtail coat. Holding a spirit-amplified microphone, his voice rang out clearly:
"Welcome to the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena! Our first 1v1 match in Area 14 features the Beast Spirit Grandmaster, Xiao Wu, facing off against the Iron Horned Bull Spirit Grandmaster, Qing Bao, who is gunning for his third consecutive victory! Will Qing Bao secure a hat-trick, or will our newcomer steal the glory? Let us welcome our combatants!"
The cheers from the stands were sparse, with only a few voices calling out Qing Bao's name. A massive, towering man vaulted onto the stage. Standing nearly two meters tall, he possessed broad shoulders and a wide back. His muscles were dense like granite, and blue-green veins bulged across his bare chest like little snakes. With eyes as large as copper bells, he let out a deafening roar upon landing, exuding a tyrannical pressure.
Sitting in the stands beside Tang San, Ma Hongjun whispered nervously, "That big guy looks terrifyingly strong. Will Xiao Wu be alright?"
Tang San smiled calmly. "Just wait and see."
Before he even finished speaking, Xiao Wu hopped onto the stage. Dressed in a tight white top and pink trousers, her youthful, delicate face and underdeveloped figure instantly drew gasps from the audience.
"How old is that little girl? What did the announcer say? A Spirit Grandmaster? Impossible!" Doubts echoed through the stands. Audiences naturally sympathized with the underdog, and Xiao Wu's cute appearance immediately won over the crowd.
Qing Bao, the giant bull, was stunned to see his opponent. He spoke in a muffled, heavy voice, "Little girl, are you lost? This isn't a place for you to play. Go home."
Xiao Wu offered a faint smile. Though only twelve, her innocent, harmless smile was utterly devastating—especially against simple-minded muscle-heads like Qing Bao, easily triggering their protective instincts.
"Little sister, step down. There's no point in getting hurt," Qing Bao coaxed awkwardly.
Xiao Wu's delicate brow furrowed in annoyance. She twisted her slender waist. "Why do you talk so much nonsense?"
Seeing Qing Bao open his mouth to argue further, Xiao Wu's patience snapped. With a lightning-fast leap, she closed the ten-meter gap in the blink of an eye. Her long legs propelled her upward, and she aimed a direct kick at Qing Bao's thick neck.
The kick felt much softer than Qing Bao anticipated. But in the exact same second, her other foot snapped up, striking him sharply under the chin.
First Spirit Ability: Waist Bow!
Qing Bao felt a sudden, impossible surge of energy hit him from both his chest and neck. His massive, hundreds-of-kilogram frame was violently launched into the air.
As soon as she landed, Xiao Wu sprang back up, driving her heel into Qing Bao's stomach and slamming him ruthlessly onto the floor outside the ring.
BAM! The entire Area 14 went dead silent. The audience, and even the announcer, stood with their jaws hanging open.
Who could have predicted the match would end so quickly? And the victor was a twelve-year-old girl! The process wasn't just fast; Xiao Wu's execution of the Waist Bow on such a massive opponent was incredibly graceful. Qing Bao hadn't even had the chance to summon his spirit before the fight was over.
Because Qing Bao had shown her mercy initially, Xiao Wu hadn't used her full strength. Given his natural defense, the giant man groggily crawled up from the floor.
"Little sister... you really are amazing. I lost," Qing Bao admitted, rubbing his head.
Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips. "Who are you calling 'little sister'? Call me Big Sister Xiao Wu! Do you know who's stronger now?"
"Uh... Big Sister Xiao Wu," the giant man muttered honestly, walking away with a bright red face.
*WOOOOAH!*
The stadium finally erupted into thunderous applause. The beautiful, cute little girl who turned out to be incredibly fierce instantly captured everyone's attention.
Xiao Wu giggled and waved sweetly at the stands. The announcer finally recovered his wits, sprinting back to the center of the stage. "An overwhelming victory for Spirit Grandmaster Xiao Wu! Record: 1 Win, 0 Losses! Xiao Wu, please proceed to the administrative desk to accumulate your points!"
Matches proceeded at a rapid pace. But the group was shocked to find that the second 1v1 match was an internal Shrek Academy battle: Tang San versus Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing shot Tang San a freezing glare before walking down the competitor's tunnel. As Tang San prepared to follow, Dai Mubai grabbed his shoulder. Mubai's face looked extremely awkward.
"Little San... hold back a little," he whispered softly.
Tang San smiled slightly, nodded, and walked up to the platform.
The two students faced each other. "Please," Tang San gestured politely.
"Please fight me seriously," Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly. "I want to see the exact gap between us." She had witnessed Tang San and Kyle fight Zhao Wuji to a standstill, and naturally understood she couldn't defeat him. But as a fellow Spirit Grandmaster, she needed to know exactly how far behind she was.
Unlike the previous fight, both combatants instantly released their spirits. Two yellow rings materialized around Zhu Zhuqing, radiating an icy, piercing aura that felt suffocating. The same colored rings appeared around Tang San.
As a Control-System master, Tang San completely countered an Agility-System master like Zhu Zhuqing, especially in an open arena where her speed couldn't be utilized for stealth.
Seeing the Blue Silver Grass slithering toward her, Zhu Zhuqing knew she couldn't afford to wait. In front of the audience, the grass suddenly surged upward from all directions, forming a massive cage that enclosed them both.
First Spirit Ability: Hell Rush Stab!
Zhu Zhuqing's claws extended like daggers. Her body blurred as her speed doubled in an instant, launching herself directly at Tang San's throat.
Seeing her approach, Tang San made one simple movement: he stepped slightly to the side.
His eyes were already coated in a purple hue. To anyone else, Zhu Zhuqing's speed made her an untargetable blur, but to Tang San who trained his eyes to track flying needles—her trajectory was crystal clear. Using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he sidestepped her lethal claws by mere millimeters.
In the very next second, before Zhu Zhuqing could chain into her second ability, the Blue Silver Grass was waiting for her.
First Spirit Ability: Bind!
Thick vines tightly coiled around Zhu Zhuqing's body. Because they were teammates, Tang San didn't activate the grass's poisonous thorns. However, the paralyzing effect of the first ring severely suppressed her spirit power. The battle ended in an instant.
"Your attacks aren't sharp enough to break through my control," Tang San said lightly, retracting the grass.
Zhu Zhuqing maintained her icy exterior, but she understood. Tang San's flawless grasp of combat timing was absolute. Against him, she didn't stand a sliver of a chance.
"I lost," she said simply, turning and walking off the stage as quickly as she had arrived.
When Tang San exited the arena, Xiao Wu was waiting for him. After collecting their points, they returned to the stands to watch another unexpected match: Kyle versus Ma Hongjun.
"Let's see what a phoenix's power looks like," Kyle provoked with a grin as they stood on the platform.
"Gladly," Fatty smirked.
Both released their spirits. Two yellow rings appeared around Ma Hongjun, accompanied by a blistering wave of heat. Kyle mirrored him with two yellow rings of his own.
Kyle moved first, activating his first and second rings: Twin Spear of Light and Expansion. He gripped a massive spear in each hand.
Ma Hongjun retaliated immediately. Second Ring: Bathing Fire Phoenix! His body was engulfed in flames, boosting his fire power by 30%. Taking a deep breath, he activated his First Ring: Phoenix Fire Wire! A stream of purplish-red fire blasted straight toward Kyle.
Kyle charged forward, spinning his spears like a fan to scatter the flames. But the sheer heat of the phoenix fire couldn't be dispersed for long. The firewire detonated, catching Kyle squarely in the blast radius.
As the smoke began to clear, Kyle leaped out of the cloud and retaliated with Six Realm Technique: First Style: Counter. Ma Hongjun panicked and leaped backward to dodge the devastating strike.
Unfortunately, in his haste, he didn't realize how close he was to the edge. He stepped out of bounds, losing the match by ring-out.
Kyle quickly exited the stage. Turns out Tang San and Xiao Wu already called for 2v2 match. After collecting their points, he left the 1v1 area as soon as possible to watch the team fight.
Surprisingly, the stands for the 2v2 area were much more crowded, at least half-full. The 2v2 platform was also twice the size of the 1v1 arena, designed to accommodate the destructive clash of four Spirit Masters.
The announcer's voice echoed: "For our fifth 2v2 match: The Iron Blood Combination against the Three-Five Combination! Three-Five Combination Wins!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu emerged from the 2v2 combat zone, their breathing still slightly heavy from the exertion. As they stepped into the dimly lit corridor of the competitor's tunnel, Kyle was already leaning against the stone wall, waiting for them.
"I'm honestly a bit disappointed I missed that fight," Kyle remarked, his eyes immediately scanning them. He caught the sight of the frayed fabric on Tang San's shoulder and the slight bruising on Xiao Wu's arm. "You guys hurt? That duo looked like they packed a punch."
Tang San offered a calm, reassurating smile, though his hand instinctively brushed over the reddened area on his chest where the iron hammer's shockwave had hit. "Don't worry, it's just minor skin damage. Nothing to worry about,"
Tang San said, his voice steady and clinical as always. He looked toward the bright light at the end of the tunnel where the main arena awaited. "The Tie brothers were honorable, but they were relentless. Just keep your focus we need to be fully prepared for the next match. The competition is only going to get tougher from here."
The announcer's voice echoed: "For our sixth 2v2 match: The Absolute Offence and Defence against the San-Yin Combination!"
Kyle and Tang San stepped side-by-side into the brightly lit fighting ring. Across the arena, their opponents were already waiting. The duo had starkly contrasting physical proportions; one was a tall, scrawny man with blue-green hair, while his partner was a short, stout man with blonde hair.
"Oh, look who we have here. A couple of kids," the tall man provoked with a condescending smirk.
"It's dangerous playing around here, you know," the short man chimed in, attempting to intimidate them.
"Thank you for your concern," Kyle replied with a calm, earnest politeness, completely unfazed by the cheap provocation.
The tall man scoffed and laughed. "Look at that, our opponents are so pure they don't even understand the hidden meaning behind our words. But don't worry, we never underestimate anyone, not even you."
"Let the match... begin!" the commentator's voice boomed from the stands, echoing throughout the arena.
The very millisecond the command dropped, Tang San's First Spirit Ring flared brightly to life.
Bind! Thick strands of Blue Silver Grass shot through the air like lightning. Without giving them even a fraction of a second to dodge, the sturdy vines coiled around and completely locked the two men in place.
Seamlessly following his partner's momentum, Kyle instantly activated his First and Second Spirit Rings simultaneously: Twin Spear of Light and Expansion. Two spears of pure light manifested in his grasp, their size expanding dramatically. With incredible agility, Kyle spun the two massive spears at blinding speeds, whipping up a violent, raging vortex of air.
The opposing team, relying on an Absolute Offence and Defence style, had made a fatal mistake by underestimating the San-Yin Combination. Completely immobilized by the Blue Silver Grass, their defeat was already guaranteed.
Having gathered maximum rotational momentum, Kyle swung his heavy spears with devastating force. The resulting shockwave of air completely swept the two opponents off their feet, blasting both the tall and short men far out of the arena's bounds.
A momentary silence washed over the audience. The match had been flawlessly concluded in less than five seconds.
The atmosphere in the arena went from a dull roar to a deafening, confused silence. The Absolute Offense and Defense duo lay in a heap outside the ring, still tangled in Blue Silver Grass, having failed to execute a single move.
"..." The announcer stood frozen in his booth, his microphone hovering inches from his open mouth. He had seen thousands of matches, but never one where a high-rank spirit master team was dispatched like common street thugs by two twelve-year-olds.
Kyle came to a halt, his massive spears vanishing into particles of light. He tilted his head back, looking up at the commentator's high perch. "Announcer?" he called out, his voice calm but questioning. "Are you going to call it?"
The man snapped out of his trance, his voice cracking as it echoed through the speakers. "For our sixth 2v2 match: The Absolute Offense and Defense against the San-Yin Combination... San-Yin Combination wins!"
The audience exploded into a mix of boos from disappointed gamblers and frantic cheers from those who recognized the arrival of true monsters.
Tang San and Kyle didn't linger to soak in the praise. They turned and walked back through the competitor's tunnel with practiced composure. Waiting for them at the exit was Xiao Wu, who was practically vibrating with excitement. She was already bouncing on the balls of her feet, her long scorpion braid swinging behind her.
"Finally!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, stepping forward to swap places with Tang San. "You guys took long enough even if that fight was barely a blink. Kyle, don't you dare be tired! It's time for the Wu-Yang Combination to show them what real speed looks like!"
Tang San wiped a thin bead of sweat from his forehead and nodded to Kyle. "Go on. I'll be in the stands. Don't let your guard down just because the last one was easy."
Kyle wiped the dust from his shoulder and gave Xiao Wu a tired but determined smirk. "Don't worry, Xiao Wu. I'm just getting warmed up."
The announcer's voice boomed through the spirit-amplified speakers: "Our seventh 2v2 match: The Xiao Cao Combination versus the Wu-Yang Combination!"
Kyle and Xiao Wu stepped onto the arena floor with steady, practiced strides. Waiting for them were two men encased in jagged, spiked armor that covered them from head to toe. Unlike the previous teams, these two were not interested in banter. They stood in silence, breathing heavily like bloodthirsty beasts tracking their next meal.
"Let the match... BEGIN!" the commentator's voice roared, echoing throughout the grand stadium.
Without wasting a millisecond, the spiked duo charged forward, their heavy footsteps thundering against the stone tiles. Kyle and Xiao Wu shared a sharp nod a silent communication forged through countless hours of training.
Xiao Wu leaped lightly onto Kyle's broad shoulders. Kyle immediately dropped into a low crouch and began to spin on his heel, generating a ferocious centrifugal momentum. Above him, Xiao Wu channeled her spirit power to its peak, her intent clear: end this in a single, absolute strike.
With a powerful upward thrust, Kyle launched Xiao Wu high into the air. Before the opponents could even look up, Kyle charged headlong into their path. His first and second rings flared brilliantly yellow.
"Twin Spear of Light! Expansion!"
In one focused, surgical movement, Kyle's massive spears slammed into the center of the opponents' chests. The sound of rending metal filled the air as the sheer force of his spears shattered the spiked armor, leaving wide, jagged cracks in their primary defense.
At that exact moment, Xiao Wu, who had been spinning in the air, came plummeting down like a falling star. She targeted the exact cracks Kyle had opened. Using the momentum of her fall, she unleashed a devastating double-kick powered by her Waist Bow.
CRASH!
The impact sent both men hurtling backward, their feet leaving the ground as they were launched clear over the arena's boundaries before they could even let out a roar.
Once again, the announcer was stunned into silence. He struggled for a moment to regain his professional composure before his voice crackled over the speakers.
"For our seventh 2v2 match... The Xiao Cao Combination against the Wu-Yang Combination... The winners are the Wu-Yang Combination!"
Tang San was waiting just outside the tunnel as they made their exit. He looked at them with a mixture of relief and stern disapproval, his arms crossed over his chest.
"You two," Tang San scolded, his voice tight. "Performing such dangerous maneuvers... what if your coordination had been off by even an inch? You could have been seriously hurt."
Xiao Wu just stuck her tongue out playfully, while Kyle gave an awkward, sheepish grin. However, their scolding was cut short as Dai Mubai's group, who had been waiting nearby, approached with wide smiles and undeniable admiration.
"You monsters," Dai Mubai laughed, clapping Kyle on the back. "Two matches finished in less than ten seconds combined? The Arena is going to go bankrupt if you keep winning this fast."
Zhu Zhuqing stood in the shadows, her cold eyes flickering with a rare trace of respect. She realized that the coordination between Kyle and Xiao Wu wasn't just about power it was built on a foundation of absolute, unwavering trust.
The night was an overall success for Shrek Academy. Despite Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun's losses, everyone else had secured victories. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Kyle had each gained 4 points and 40 gold coins from their consecutive duo wins.
"Where is the Dean?" Tang San asked Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai sighed helplessly. "He said that once we finished our matches, we should head back to the Academy first."
As they walked out of the Great Spirit Arena, they could still hear the roaring cheers of the crowds behind them. Tang San felt that tonight's life-and-death combat had given him far more insight than months of isolated training.
"You guys go back first," Ma Hongjun said suddenly, his small eyes gleaming with an eager, somewhat sleazy light. "The Dean asked me to take care of some business at his shop."
Dai Mubai gave him a knowing, half-smile. "Oh? Then go ahead. Have fun."
"Boss Dai, aren't you coming?" Fatty asked.
"I am not. Stop spouting nonsense and leave," Dai Mubai glared at him, stealing a quick glance at Zhu Zhuqing from the corner of his eye.
Fatty's brain was a bit slow on the uptake. "Come on, let's go together!"
"GET LOST!" Dai Mubai roared, unable to hold back any longer.
Ma Hongjun grumbled in dissatisfaction, but facing the murderous glint in the Evil Eye White Tiger's gaze, he didn't dare argue. He turned and vanished into the night.
Zhu Zhuqing offered a rare, ice-cold comment: "Men are filthy."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
"You—!" Dai Mubai raised his right hand, a violent white light gathering in his palm. His temper was famously explosive, but with immense effort, he forced it down. The light faded. Letting out a heavy sigh that sounded like a tiger's growl, he silently followed behind Zhu Zhuqing.
Xiao Wu blinked in confusion, whispering to Tang San, "What's going on with those two?"
Tang San smiled softly and shook his head. "Let's go, we need to catch up with them."