An ominous feeling began to stir in Yu Xiaogang's heart.
"Our leader would like to have a word with you," one of the men in black said. His voice was cold and detached, but his tone wasn't openly hostile. His attitude seemed professional, and he made no other threatening moves.
"Leader? What leader?" Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. I don't even know who you are, and you want me to go with you?
His eyes scanned the two men, trying to size them up. He could feel a faint fluctuation of spirit power from both of them. They were Spirit Masters, but he judged them to be of no significant strength. Besides, this was the Soto Great Spirit Arena. Even though this area near the toilets was relatively secluded, they weren't completely alone.
"And what if I want to leave?" Yu Xiaogang asked, his own voice turning just as cold. He didn't believe for a second that these two would dare to attack him here. And even if they did, he wasn't certain they would win.
"Leave?" The man in black chuckled softly. "Haha, I'm afraid you can't do that. If you won't cooperate with us willingly, then don't blame us for using other methods."
His words made both men smile. Leave? This was the Great Spirit Arena. To think they could just walk away after being approached by official staff was incredibly disrespectful.
"Hmph!" Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly. He didn't know where these men came from, but his pride wouldn't let him back down.
"Xiao San, let's go."
It was obvious that Tang San, in his current pained state, couldn't participate in any more Spirit Fights tonight. They would have to forfeit the rest and go back to the academy to recuperate. Yu Xiaogang took Tang San by the arm and started to walk past the two men.
Thud.
The next moment, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Yu Xiaogang's body went rigid. The force from that single palm was immense, rooting him to the spot. He felt as if he couldn't move forward another inch; his entire body had become as heavy as lead.
He turned his head slowly and saw that one of the men in black was now standing right beside him. The corners of the man's mouth were turned up in a slight, knowing smile. What Yu Xiaogang found most unbelievable was that he hadn't even seen the man move. One moment he was in front of him, the next he was at his side.
Swish!
Under Yu Xiaogang's incredulous gaze, four Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath the man's feet—one white, two yellow, and one purple. They pulsed with a dazzling light that seemed to mock him.
Yu Xiaogang's neck felt stiff as he glanced out of the corner of his eye at the second man. As if sensing his thoughts, the other man said nothing, but four identical Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet as well—one white, two yellow, and one purple.
Panic suddenly seized Yu Xiaogang. These two men were both Spirit Ancestors, Spirit Masters in their forties! Although their Spirit Ring configurations weren't the best, they were legitimate, four-ringed Spirit Ancestors. He and Tang San were only Spirit Grandmasters in their twenties. There was a gap of two full realms between them. How could they possibly fight this?
"Where... are you taking us?" Yu Xiaogang asked, his earlier arrogance completely gone. He had always been one to bully the weak and fear the strong, and right now, he was terrified.
Tang San, standing beside him, didn't dare say a word. He was as still as a statue.
"Don't worry, we mean you no harm. Just follow us," the man in black said with a smile. He gracefully removed his hand and gestured forward, inviting them to walk. He then moved ahead to lead the way, while the other man fell in behind Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, ensuring they couldn't escape.
Yu Xiaogang's mind was racing with panic. He was used to putting on a confident and knowledgeable front, but he usually had powerful allies like the deans or the Blue Tyrant clan to back him up. Today, not only was he alone, but he was also responsible for the injured Tang San. How could he not be scared? He could only hope that the men were telling the truth and that they truly meant them no harm.
Under the "friendly" guidance of the two Spirit Ancestors, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were led to the top floor of the building. This area was not open to the public; it was the inner sanctum of the Soto Spirit Arena's management.
At this point, Yu Xiaogang was utterly confused. After all that, these guys were from the Spirit Arena? He had been convinced they were enemies, his mind frantically scrolling through a list of all the people he had offended over the years. He never imagined it would be something like this.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice regaining a sliver of its usual confidence now that he suspected this was an official matter. He had a good idea what this was about—it had to be related to the commotion Tang San had caused earlier. Are they going to ban him? he wondered. But there's no precedent for that in the Great Spirit Arena.
"The person you need to speak with is in this room. He will explain everything," the man in black said with a polite smile. He opened a door and once again made a gesture of invitation.
Though he was reluctant, Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to lead Tang San inside.
Bang!
The moment they stepped through the doorway, the door was slammed shut behind them.
Yu Xiaogang quickly scanned the room. The layout was simple and professional: a desk, two chairs, and a bookshelf. It was a classic office. A middle-aged man was sitting behind the desk. Seeing them enter, he stood up, walked over to Tang San, and smiled.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be the young Spirit Master with the codename 'Shrek Eight,' correct?"
At the mention of his codename, Tang San's face flushed with embarrassment. "I..."
"I'm his teacher. If you have something to say, you can say it to me," Yu Xiaogang interrupted, stepping in front of Tang San. He clearly felt his disciple was in no state to handle this kind of situation. The man before them looked shrewd and calculating; this was a conversation for him to handle.
"Hahaha, excellent!" the middle-aged man said, pointing to the chair in front of the desk. "Please, sit!"
He then returned to his own chair, and the two parties faced each other across the desk.
"Don't be nervous. This isn't anything too serious," the man began with a smile. "First, allow me to introduce myself. I am the person in charge of the Thirteenth Spirit Arena of the Soto Great Spirit Arena."
"Just say what you need to say. My time is precious," Yu Xiaogang said curtly, trying to project an air of importance.
"Very well," the middle-aged man's smile faded, and his tone became all business. "Your disciple's actions earlier caused significant damage to the Thirteenth Spirit Arena. This had a negative impact on both the venue and the audience. There were a number of direct and indirect expenses incurred, and we hope you will be able to compensate us for them."
"Hmph!" Yu Xiaogang sneered. He had already figured out what these people were after. The Great Spirit Arena was a business, and they never took a loss if they could help it.
"How much?" he asked with a frown, wanting to get this over with.
"Oh, not much, not much at all," the middle-aged man said, a smile returning to his face as he held up a single finger.
"One hundred gold soul coins!"
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse