Chapter 42

Everyone returned to the villa feeling excited and thrilled, after washing up they had lunch, and at precisely two o'clock in the afternoon they headed to the Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena.

Translation: Everyone returned to the villa feeling excited and thrilled, freshened up, had lunch, and at precisely two in the afternoon headed to the Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena.

Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena

Although their strength has improved, they will not slack off; with Gu Xuan taking the lead, they no longer need Qin Ming to motivate them—they will naturally follow closely behind Gu Xuan and progress.

Translation: Although their strength had improved, they would not slack off; with Gu Xuan taking the lead, they no longer needed Qin Ming to motivate them—they would naturally follow behind Gu Xuan and progress.

follow closely behind Gu Xuan

This made Qin Ming feel immensely gratified, yet at the same time somewhat helpless, because since Gu Xuan appeared, his role has been reduced to merely polishing their teamwork.

Translation: This made Qin Ming immensely relieved, yet at the same time somewhat helpless, because since Gu Xuan appeared, his role had been reduced to merely honing their teamwork.

He doesn't need to worry about other matters at all, since Gu Xuan does them even better; over the past month he has often been studying Gu Xuan's cultivation methods, giving him a feeling of secretly learning from a master.

Translation: Other matters hardly required his attention, as Gu Xuan handled them even better; over the past month he often found himself studying Gu Xuan's cultivation methods, feeling as if he were secretly learning from a master.

Speaking of the Grand Soul Battle Arena, Gu Xuan also brought them a surprise: he has not suffered a single defeat in the past month.

Translation: Speaking of the Grand Soul Battle Arena, Gu Xuan brought them a surprise: he had not lost a single match in the past month.

No defeats at all—what kind of terrifying existence is this? Gu Xuan is only level thirty-three!

Translation: No losses at all—what kind of terrifying presence is that? Gu Xuan is only level thirty-three!

Since Gu Xuan started participating in soul battles, he has never lost a match up to now; as of this moment he already owns a Silver Soul Badge, with a score as high as 2028 points.

Translation: Since Gu Xuan began participating in Soul Battle matches, he has never lost a single bout up to now; as of today he already possesses a Silver Soul Battle insignia, with a score as high as 2028 points.

The scoring system of the Grand Soul Battle Arena is as follows: below 500 points is the lowest Iron Soul Badge, 500 to 1100 points is the Bronze Soul Badge, 1000 to 3000 points is the Silver Soul Badge, and 3000 to 5000 points is the Gold Soul Badge…

Translation: The point system of the Grand Soul Battle Arena is as follows: below 500 points is the lowest Iron Soul Battle insignia, 500 to 1100 points is Bronze, 1000 to 3000 points is Silver, and 3000 to 5000 points is Gold…

Yu Tianheng and his team have been participating for nearly three years, yet even the highest scorer among them, Yu Tianheng, now has only 1500 points—this total includes individual, duo, and team soul battles combined.

Translation: Yu Tianheng and the others have been competing for nearly three years, yet even the highest among them, Yu Tianheng himself, now has only 1500 points—this total includes individual, duo, and team Soul Battle matches.

Because the stronger you are, the stronger the opponents you match with; even though Yu Tianheng is now level thirty-eight, it's impossible to say he is invincible in the Soul Sovereign realm.

Translation: Because the stronger you are, the stronger the opponents you match with; even though Yu Tianheng is now level thirty-eight, it cannot be said that he is invincible in the Soul Elder realm.

He is a genius, but there are also people who have stayed in the Soul Sovereign realm for years or even decades; dealing with such veterans, even a genius like Yu Tianheng cannot guarantee victory.

Translation: He is a genius, but there are those who have lingered in the Soul Elder realm for years or even decades; dealing with such veterans, even a talent like Yu Tianheng cannot guarantee victory.

After one month, thanks to Gu Xuan leading the team to an undefeated record in team battles, Yu Tianheng's score has reached 2300 points; he can achieve such a high score largely because of Gu Xuan's contribution.

Translation: After a month, thanks to Gu Xuan leading the team to an undefeated record in team matches, Yu Tianheng's points have reached 2300; he can attain such a high score largely because of Gu Xuan's contribution.

In one month, Gu Xuan participated in a total of twenty-six soul battles; he rested four days because his opponents were also strong and he got injured, so he fought twenty-six battles in that month.

Translation: In one month Gu Xuan participated in a total of twenty-six Soul Battle matches; he rested four days because his opponents were also strong and he got injured, so he fought twenty-six matches in that month.

However, those twenty-six battles each refer to solo, duo, and team matches; altogether that adds up to seventy-eight battles.

Translation: However, those twenty-six matches each refer to singles, doubles, and team bouts—twenty-six of each—making a total of seventy-eight matches.

In each soul battle type, you earn one point per win; two consecutive wins give four points, three consecutive wins give nine points—in other words, the points equal the square of the number of consecutive wins.

Translation: For each type of Soul Battle match, the scoring system awards one point per win; winning two consecutive matches yields four points, three consecutive wins nine points—in other words, the points equal the square of the number of consecutive wins.

If a winning streak is broken by a loss, you start accumulating points again from that loss.

Translation: If a winning streak is broken by a loss, the count restarts from that loss.

For example, if you win ten straight matches but lose the eleventh, your score would be ten times ten—100 points from the winning streak—plus minus one point for the loss, totaling ninety-nine points.

Translation: For example, if he won ten in a row but lost the eleventh, his points would be ten times ten from the first ten wins—100 points—plus minus one for the loss, totaling 99 points.

Similarly, if you are on the losing side of a streak, negative points are calculated in the same way as positive points.

Translation: Likewise, if one is on the losing side of a streak, negative points are calculated the same way as positive points.

Over nearly three years, Yu Tianheng and his team have had both wins and losses, so their total score is only just over a thousand points.

Translation: Over nearly three years, Yu Tianheng and the others have had wins and losses, so their total points amount to only a little over a thousand.

But Gu Xuan is different: in the past month he has won twenty-six consecutive matches, and this applies to all three modes—solo, duo, and team—each with twenty-six straight victories.

Translation: But Gu Xuan is different; in the past month he has won twenty-six consecutive matches, and this applies to all three modes—singles, doubles, and team—each with twenty-six straight victories.

His score is 26 × 26 × 3; the first 26 × 26 comes from his winning streak, multiplied by three for the three modes, giving him a terrifying 2028 points in just one month, making him a prestigious Silver Soul Badge holder.

Translation: His current score is therefore 26 × 26 × 3; the first 26 × 26 gives the points from his winning streak, multiplied by three to account for the three modes, so his score in just one month has risen to a terrifying 2028 points, making him a proud owner of a Silver Soul Battle insignia.

He is less than a thousand points away from the 3000‑point Gold Soul Badge—a score that might take others a lifetime to reach, but for Gu Xuan it's not that hard, since he became a Silver Soul Badge owner in just one month.

Translation: He is less than a thousand points away from the 3000-point Gold Soul Battle insignia; for others such a score might be unattainable in a lifetime, but for Gu Xuan it is not that hard, since he became a Silver Soul Battle insignia holder in just one month.

Gu Xuan has now become a big star at the Grand Soul Battle Arena and one of its biggest money‑drawers; thanks to his heaven‑defying record, the Royal Battle Team has also become a top team at the arena, and anyone wanting to battle them must book in advance.

Translation: Gu Xuan has now become a big name at the Grand Soul Battle Arena and one of its biggest money‑drawers; thanks to his heaven‑defying record, the Royal Battle Team has also become the arena's flagship squad, and anyone wishing to fight them must book in advance.

The claim that no one dares to challenge Gu Xuan and the Royal Battle Team because of their terrifying recent record is false; as the largest Grand Soul Battle Arena in the Tian Dou Empire and a gathering place for geniuses, it never lacks talented soul masters and teams.

Translation: As for the claim that no one dares to challenge them because of Gu Xuan and the Royal Battle Team's terrifying record this month, that does not exist; the Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena, being the largest in the Tian Dou Empire and a gathering place for talents, never lacks talented Soul Masters and teams.

With the rise of the Royal Battle Team, not only are people not afraid of them, but even more soul master teams want to challenge them, hoping to become famous overnight by defeating them.

Translation: With the rise of the Royal Battle Team, not only are people not afraid of them, but even more Soul Master teams want to challenge them, hoping to become famous overnight by defeating them.

Because the Royal Battle Team's reputation is stellar, even if those teams lose they won't feel too embarrassed, since losing to the currently popular Royal Battle Team seems natural to others.

Translation: Moreover, because the Royal Battle Team's reputation is shining, even if those teams lose they won't be too embarrassed, since losing to the currently prominent Royal Battle Team seems natural to others.

Thus the Royal Battle Team has truly become the Tian Dou Empire's top academy team, making even the usually indifferent Emperor Snow Night delighted—after all, this team comes from the Tian Dou Royal Academy!

Translation: Thus the Royal Battle Team has truly become the Tian Dou Empire's number‑one academy squad, making even the usually indifferent Emperor Xuanye delighted beyond words—after all, this team hails from the Tian Dou Royal Academy!

Upon arriving at the Grand Soul Battle Arena, Gu Xuan still signs up first for solo battles as usual; his daily battle order is now set: solo first, then duo, and finally team.

Translation: Upon arriving at the Grand Soul Battle Arena, Gu Xuan still as always signed up first for singles; his daily order of matches is now set: singles first, then doubles, then team.

Moreover, he requires the same of everyone else, and it must be done.

Translation: Moreover, he imposes the same requirement on the others, and it must be so.

Someone might say this approach could prevent them from reaching peak condition.

Translation: Someone might say that doing this could ultimately prevent them from reaching peak condition.

Yes, but that is Gu Xuan's purpose, because on the battlefield enemies won't wait for you to be at full strength before attacking; therefore, while there's still no life‑or‑death pressure, he tries to let himself and others get used to this feeling in advance, cultivating them into true geniuses.

Translation: Yes, but that is precisely Gu Xuan's aim, because on the battlefield enemies won't wait for you to be at full strength before attacking; thus, while we can still avoid life‑or‑death clashes, Gu Xuan will try to let himself and others get used to this feeling in advance, cultivating them into true geniuses.

After all, Gu Xuan won't remain just a lone individual; the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect has talents, but few, and those with martial spirits comparable to Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, and Shi Mo from major clans are even rarer; since he already has feelings for them, he naturally wants to maximize their benefit.

Translation: After all, Gu Xuan's future cannot rely on just one person; the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect has talents, but few, and martial souls comparable to Yu Tianheng's, as well as those born into great clans like Stone and Ink, are even rarer; since we already have feelings for them, we naturally want to maximize our benefits.

What if one of them becomes a god? The divine realm isn't decided by a single person; it also involves distribution of benefits.

Translation: What if one of them could even become a god? The divine realm is not decided by a single person; it also involves distribution of interests.

His goal is to become a god, but after that he must also plan ahead for these matters.

Translation: His goal is to become a god, but what comes after godhood? He must plan for these matters early on.

Of course, this assumes he can reach that step, but advance planning and investment are also necessary.

Translation: Of course, this presupposes he can reach that step, but advance planning and investment are also necessary.

After Gu Xuan signed up for solo battles, his opponent was quickly determined—a genius who is a super‑newstar with fifteen consecutive wins, and like Gu Xuan he comes from an academy.

Translation: After Gu Xuan signed up for singles, his opponent was quickly determined—a fellow genius, a super‑rising star with a fifteen‑match winning streak, and like Gu Xuan, an academy product.

Upon receiving the opponent's data, Gu Xuan's face showed an 'as expected' expression, because he had been watching this person for a long time.

Translation: Upon receiving the opponent's data, Gu Xuan's face showed an expression of "as expected," for he had been watching this person for a long time.

Half a month ago this person brought his team to the Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena, kicking off the battles there; in the past half month he has achieved fifteen straight solo wins, while his team's winning streak stands at seven, with one loss in between.

Translation: Half a month ago this person arrived at the Tian Dou Grand Soul Battle Arena with his team, initiating the Soul Battle there; in the past half month he has already achieved a fifteen‑match singles winning streak, while his team's streak stands at seven, having lost one match in between.

This does not deny the opponent's strength, and to Gu Xuan he is also a fairly familiar figure, since in the original story this character has considerable screen time and is the only one able to rival the Shrek Seven Devils who have consumed the immortal herb.

Translation: This does not deny his strength, and to Gu Xuan he is also a fairly familiar figure, because in the original story he has a substantial role and is the only one able to rival the Shrek Seven Monsters who have consumed immortal herbs.

"Feng Xiao Tian?" Rubbing the data in his hand, Gu Xuan's thoughts became clear.

Translation: "Feng Xiao Tian?" he murmured, rubbing the documents in his hand, his thoughts suddenly connecting.

ps: Typos will be corrected later.

Translation: PS: Typos will be corrected later.

Looks like I'll have to write less interaction between the male lead and the girls from now on, since it keeps getting censored—I'm exhausted these two days!

Translation: Looks like I'll have to write less interaction between the male lead and the girls from now on, since it keeps getting censored—I'm completely numb these two days!

(End of chapter)