Chapter 26: Black Hood, a Goal Harsh to the Point of Madness

When Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun and Oscar, the three of them, arrived at Suotuo City's south gate panting.

But they found Fulangde already standing beside the gate, his face cold as he stared at them.

Seeing this, the three—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun and Oscar—shivered simultaneously, hurriedly stood before Fulangde, and gave Xiao Xian a look that was helpless, resentful and pleading.

Xiao Xian stood behind Fulangde, only returning an innocent smile as if he understood nothing.

Fulangde said nothing, gave them a cold glance, then led the few of them into Suotuo City.

In fact, Fulangde was fairly satisfied with the three of them.

But… what people fear most is comparison.

If Xiao Xian truly had a strong martial soul and excellent Innate Soul Power, that would be fine, but he is a textbook "useless".

And the monsters that Fulangde has always taken pride in, who are more genius than geniuses, now appear so ordinary.

At night Suotuo City was bustling; the shops on both sides of the street were all lit, and many street vendors sprang up, hawking snacks and small goods.

Xiao Xian had no interest in this, and simply followed Fulangde silently.

Dai Mubai and Oscar were the same.

Oscar was even a bit nervous; he had, of course, guessed where Fulangde intended to take them.

It was nothing more than Suotuo City's Grand Battle Soul Arena.

On the way there, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had already told him.

But he is a Food Type!

It can't be that just because the Dean saw Xiao Xian not needing a martial soul, he assumes he can too?!

Ma Hongjun didn't overthink it; his eyes darted around, and he kept swallowing his saliva excitedly.

Because on the road, the group's speed was much faster than before, they arrived considerably earlier than expected.

When Fulangde led the group to a street, he looped around and entered an inconspicuous tea stall, ordering five cups of the cheapest, low‑quality tea.

Fulangde, expression unchanged, lifted a cup of tea, glanced at Xiao Xian and said, "Weren't you asking me where we're going? Did you see that place?"

He pointed with his tea‑holding hand at a building not far away.

It was a towering structure, at least a hundred meters tall.

Xiao Xian of course already knew what place it was, but out of politeness he showed a hint of bewilderment.

"That place is called Suo Tuo Great Soul Battle Arena; it's where Soul Masters duel."

"Your situation is special. Dai Mubai and the others still have the chance to study martial soul knowledge and the conditions of other Soul Masters on the continent, but you cannot."

"For you, the biggest goal at this stage is to take root here."

Hearing this, Xiao Xian stared at the building, deep in thought.

Fulangde set down his cup, stared at Xiao Xian, and in a deep voice said, "For ordinary Soul Masters, this is a place to gain reputation and profit."

"For Dai Mubai and Hongjun, this is a place to uncover their own potential and increase real‑combat experience."

"But for you, this is your only chance."

"After you register for the Soul Battle later, when facing your opponent, I require you to defeat them in the most ferocious, most barbaric way."

"No detours, no evasion—head‑on, strong against strong!"

"Let the enemy's soul power strike your body, then crush them mercilessly."

Fulangde, while speaking, pulled out four shabby hooded masks and four Black Robes.

"The Soul Battles in the Grand Battle Soul Arena are divided into one‑on‑one, two‑on‑two, and team fights of seven or more."

"For each type, the same Soul Master can participate at most once per day."

"Mu Bai is already Level 30 now; he can be set aside for the moment."

"But Hongjun and little Oscar are both in their twenties."

"I require you, little Oscar, and Hongjun to form a two‑on‑two Soul Battle team; each day, besides your own one‑on‑one, you must also separately take part in two additional two‑on‑two matches with them."

When Fulangde said this, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's expressions had already turned uneasy.

Their gazes at Fulangde were shocked; three high‑intensity battles in one night?

These are battles between Soul Masters!

One is enough to leave a person exhausted, with severe soul power drain, let alone three times!

Isn't this requirement too strict?

But Fulangde's words were not finished.

He paused, gave Ma Hongjun and Oscar a cold glance, and continued, "Also, on the days they don't take part in one‑on‑one matches, you must wear a hooded mask to take their one‑on‑one slots."

"Even to replace them in their two‑on‑two slots!"

Fulangde looked at Xiao Xian again, his tone serious, "In other words, in a day you may need to take part in up to six Soul Battles: three one‑on‑one and three two‑on‑two!"

"Little Oscar cannot join one‑on‑one. So at minimum, there are still four matches."

"You cannot use a martial soul, nor can you win by dodging and weaving."

"No matter which Soul Master you face, you must forcefully press forward, absorb their soul skill with your body, and smash them with your fists mercilessly!"

Oscar, as he listened, couldn't help but shiver.

This requirement is too strict!

Ma Hongjun also swallowed his saliva—not because he saw some unparalleled beauty, but simply out of fear.

Dai Mubai's expression grew even more uneasy.

Fulangde's demands on Xiao Xian could not possibly be that high out of thin air.

Could it be that the Dean actually thought he could endure it?

How could that be possible?

Even Dai Mubai only does a one‑on‑one once every few days at most!

But Xiao Xian's expression remained as calmly as always, and he simply gave Fulangde a gentle smile, indicating he understood.

"Combat really is a good idea,"

Xiao Xian murmured to himself.

His Innate Soul Power is low, and his meridians are poor.

The situation is already like this; what can Xiao Xian do?

Before Level Twenty, he can still solve a bit by increasing the flow speed of soul power.

After Level Twenty, merely boosting soul power flow speed no longer works well.

The soul power has grown too much; his narrow meridians can't handle it.

Thus his Second Soul Ring enhances the quality of his soul power.

The same soul power, with higher density, will always have a smaller volume.

However, a hundred-year soul skill is still just a hundred years.

In the early stage of Level Twenty, it can still be effective, but the later it gets, the worse the situation becomes.

Xiao Xian is at Level 28 Soul Power and has been stuck for a very long time.

Several times longer than before.

Fulangde's method is simply to refine his body and agitate his soul power through combat.

The physique becomes stronger, the meridians tougher, and the soul power more solid.

Crazy consumption of soul power will make recovery faster afterward.

In continuous battles, one must preserve soul power; this makes the utilization and control of soul power stronger.

Isn't Xiao Xian's current breakthrough and clearing of the trial precisely needing these abilities?

The only problem is that Xiao Xian must be able to endure.

However, the fortunate thing is that Dean Fulangde follows the whole way.

This is an agile attack Soul Saint.

On the Soul Battle arena, even if something unexpected occurs, he can appear instantly and help him concede.

This is one of the benefits of apprenticing under a Master.

Enter Slake.

His Senior Master, Fulangde, is naturally his best—guardian.

……