Chapter 66: Forming a Team

Chi Ru pursed her lips aside; in fact, if Sister Ning were willing to speak, someone would deliver Gold Soul Coins to her hand, yet she insists on making it so troublesome.

Even if you look for a partner for a Team Duel, the academy has plenty; why look for a complete stranger?

But Chi Ru didn't say it; she already had a plan in mind.

She glanced at Da Niu, who was eating dry rice beside her, and silently sighed.

Chi Ru ordered a whole table of dishes, and Tie Li didn't hold back, eating at no slower pace.

"Didn't you just eat a moment ago?"

Tie Li had no time for her, giving her a disdainful look.

Free food—if you don't eat it, you only shortchange yourself.

At that moment Da Niu felt pressure from Tie Li and quickened his eating.

"Ning sister, you haven't been to the academy these days; Kexi comes every day asking about you, it's driving me crazy," Chi Ru complained.

Hearing the name Kexi, Ning Ning's eyes involuntarily showed a hint of disgust.

"Ignore him," Ning Ning said lightly.

She now urgently needs Gold Soul Coins; for her, the only place to earn a large amount is the Great Soul Battle Arena.

But as a Support-type Soul Master, she must team up, and must keep winning consecutively to grab many Gold Soul Coins quickly, meaning her partner cannot be weak—must be very strong.

The first people she thought of were a few from the academy, but to be safe she still watched several 2v2 Soul Battles at the Great Soul Battle Arena.

In the earlier individual Soul Battles, the Soul Masters' strength was average, far below the academy's top students, until Tie Li appeared on the individual Soul Battle Platform.

Eliminating a Soul Elder with a Thousand-Year Soul Ring without using a soul skill, such formidable power naturally caught her attention.

Chi Ru said some more about academy matters, and Ning Ning nodded, indicating she knew.

When most had finished eating, Ning Ning seemed to have other business, didn't linger, left first, and before departing specifically told Tie Li to meet at the Great Soul Battle Arena tomorrow night to register for a 2v2 Team Duel.

Tie Li nodded to show he understood, but for now he needed to find a place to stay.

"Don't you have anywhere to stay?" at that moment Chi Ru leaned over.

"What, you have a place for me?"

"Of course, come to my place…"

"Never mind, I'll find a place myself," Tie Li refused outright.

Regarding such Soul Master families, Tie Li has always kept his distance; once a family forms a power bloc, internal scheming is inevitable, and if he entered a manor with Chi Ru, others would label him, leading to harassment from other lineages.

Saving a few coins at the cost of so much trouble is simply not worth it.

Tie Li stood up, left the private room, and asked the staff to charge his meal to Chi Ru's account.

He will be staying in Feilisi City for a while; staying in a hotel all the time isn't economical.

Tie Li arrived in Feilisi City's Pingmin District and found a decent room there.

The family usually does low‑level work in a trading firm, and any spare rooms they have are rented out.

Tie Li was quite satisfied with the simple room; after a quick wash, he lay on the bed to rest.

At the appointed time, he arrived at the Great Soul Battle Arena as scheduled and saw a slightly anxious Ning Ning.

She had feared Tie Li would stand her up; she knew well about his previous refusals.

The moment she saw Tie Li, the anxiety on her face vanished instantly.

"Are you wearing a mask?"

Tie Li produced an extra mask he had prepared.

"Fine."

Ning Ning didn't refuse and took the mask Tie Li handed over.

The two first went to the 2v2 Team Duel registration area; since it was their first 2v2, they had to pay ten Gold Soul Coins to register a team name.

Ning Ning conscientiously paid the ten Gold Soul Coins, so their team name became the Heavy Tower Combo.

Before the Soul Battle, staff, following protocol, tested their Soul Power Levels and confirmed both were Level 30+ Soul Master, then began arranging the duel.

Soon, the two received notice that they were assigned to Sub‑Arena 37.

Both Tie Li and Ning Ning wore masks; unless someone was familiar, they couldn't be recognized.

After the judges' introduction, both teams quickly stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform.

At that moment, Ning Ning's body seemed slightly unnatural.

"What's wrong?"

Tie Li sensed something off with Ning Ning and asked.

"Nothing," Ning Ning pretended.

Ning Ning recognized the opponents' identities; they weren't wearing masks, so she could see at a glance.

They were her classmates from the academy.

A man and a woman, both around twenty, both very renowned at the academy.

The Feiya Advanced Soul Master Academy was founded jointly by the five great Soul Master families; their purpose was simple: recruit outstanding Soul Masters for their families to strengthen their own power.

The two opposite Tie Li faced had already been taken in by a Soul Master family, and their Third Soul Ring was obtained with the family's help.

Both sides stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform, and the opponents' gazes also fell on Ning Ning; despite her mask, she was still recognized.

"It's Ning Ning," the female Soul Master said confidently.

"Are you sure? How could she come to the Great Soul Battle Arena to team up with strangers?" the male Soul Master's voice contained a hint of disbelief.

At the Feiya Advanced Soul Master Academy, who doesn't know Ning Ning is famously icy and aloof?

"Of course I'm sure," the female Soul Master's mouth curled a cold smile; she was already thinking how to spread rumors back at the academy.

"Too bad we don't know who that man is; otherwise it'd be interesting," the male Soul Master said with slight regret.

"Later, we'll smash his mask, and then we'll know everything, right?"

The two exchanged a glance, each with their own little abacus in mind.

Tie Li felt the atmosphere was off, but for him it wasn't a big deal.

"Soul Battle begins."

The referee announced the start of the Soul Battle, and both sides immediately summoned their martial souls and Soul Rings.

Tie Li and Ning Ning both have the optimal Soul Ring Configuration of two yellows and one purple; the opposing female Soul Master also has the same optimal configuration, while the male Soul Master is slightly inferior with one white, one yellow, and one purple.

The two each wield beast martial souls, one a strong‑attack type and the other a swift‑attack type.

They entered the Martial Soul Possession State and launched an attack at once; the female Soul Master's martial soul is the Purple Flame Wolf, a strong‑attack martial soul, while the male Soul Master's is the Swift Wind Rabbit, a swift‑attack martial soul.

After cooperating many times, they have already developed a tacit understanding with each other.

Ning Ning summoned the Ruyi Tower Martial Soul, instantly boosting Tie Li's strength and speed.

(End of chapter.)