Although Ning Rongrong is currently spoiled and willful, she will grow tremendously in the future and become an indispensable core support member of the team. We absolutely cannot let her leave like this.
He stepped forward, ignoring the furious Dai Mubai and the sobbing Ning Rongrong, and said calmly, "That's enough."
Then, he looked at Ning Rongrong and his tone softened a bit: "Come with me, I'll take you out for a walk."
Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment. Looking at Yang Chen's serious eyes, she nodded as if possessed and followed him out of the training ground.
As the two walked the streets of Soto City, Yang Chen didn't lecture her. Instead, he led her on a leisurely stroll, listening to her vent about the pressure from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the spoiled environment that had shaped her temperament, and her fear of rigorous training.
He guided her step by step, slowly untangling Ning Rongrong's inner knots, making her understand the meaning of teamwork, the responsibility of support, and that the path to becoming a strong person is never easy.
After a heart-to-heart talk, Ning Rongrong's emotions gradually calmed down. Her eyes were still red, but she was less arrogant and more clear-headed.
"Thank you, Yang Chen... I know I was wrong."
"Good to know. Go back and apologize."
Yang Chen nodded and led Ning Rongrong back to Shrek Academy.
When Flanders saw that she had returned on her own initiative, his expression softened and he did not blame her further.
As darkness fell, night descended.
Flander suddenly gathered everyone together and said solemnly, "Tonight, I'm taking you to a place—the Soto City Grand Arena."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Only Yang Chen knew in his heart that the real Shrek training officially began from this moment.
Beneath the giant archway of the Soto City Grand Arena, Flander stood before the crowd, the iron badge in his hand gleaming coldly under the lights, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "From today onwards, everyone will register for solo battles, and pairs will register for double battles. Before graduation, everyone must obtain a Silver Battle Badge!"
Everyone responded in unison. Yang Chen pulled Xiao Wu toward the registration desk and wrote two names on the form with his fingertips.
Individual code name: Erlang Manifests True Lord.
Duo: Divine Capital.
While registering, the officer couldn't help but glance up a couple more times, and Yang Chen casually placed a thousand gold soul coins on his betting plate. He wasn't short of money, but there was no reason not to take free points and gold coins.
Soon, the arena's broadcast sounded, and the battles began in turn. Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar each headed to different arenas, while Ning Rongrong watched and learned from the sidelines. Yang Chen's solo match was scheduled for the third round.
"Third arena, singles battle, Netherworld Cat Zhu Zhuqing versus Erlang Shenzhenjun!"
As the host's voice faded, Yang Chen slowly walked onto the arena. Opposite him, Zhu Zhuqing's martial spirit had already possessed her, her entire body covered in dark purple fur, two yellow soul rings rising around her, and her eyes sharp as knives.
"Give it your all, don't hold back," Yang Chen said calmly.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her figure suddenly disappearing. The Netherworld Cat unleashed its ultimate speed, its first soul skill, Netherworld Thrust, aimed straight for Yang Chen's throat.
Yang Chen didn't unleash the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts to its peak; he merely contained his pale golden aura to a mere inch above his body, subtly shifting his stance to avoid the sharp claws. He raised his hand in a defensive gesture, his aura trembling slightly, deflecting Zhu Zhuqing's attack.
At the same time, he pointed out: "Your speed is fast enough, but your power is too scattered. Your second soul skill, Netherworld Shadow Clone, should not be used to split your forces. It should be used to stack speed and form a quick-kill move."
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Zhuqing indeed unleashed her Shadow Clone Technique, with three afterimages attacking from different directions. Yang Chen moved with ease, dodging and correcting her as he went: "The distance between the clones is too wide, making them easy to defeat one by one. Shrink them to half a zhang, forming a triangular encirclement, and then use your claws to block off any escape routes."
He deliberately held back his strength, fighting Zhu Zhuqing evenly, precisely avoiding vital points with each clash while simultaneously pointing out her weaknesses. Zhu Zhuqing became increasingly clear-headed as the fight progressed, her initially chaotic attacks gradually becoming more structured, and the combination of speed and skill becoming increasingly fluid.
After several dozen rounds, Zhu Zhuqing launched a shadow clone attack with overlapping claws. Yang Chen finally stopped holding back and flicked a gentle burst of qi from his fingertip, lightly touching her shoulder.
Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened, and she was forced back several steps. Her martial spirit automatically dissipated, and although her breathing was somewhat rapid, she showed no sign of dejection. She looked at Yang Chen, her eyes filled with gratitude instead of disappointment, and bowed slightly: "Thank you."
"Go back and digest this properly. You have great potential." Yang Chen nodded, turned around, and walked off the stage.
A murmur rippled through the betting area below the stage. No one had expected that this "Erlang Shen Zhenjun" would fight so fiercely with the Netherworld Cat, yet easily finish it off with overwhelming power. Yang Chen walked to the prize redemption counter, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at the extra two thousand gold soul coins in his account.
In the following time, everyone's individual matches came to an end. Dai Mubai overwhelmed his opponent with his White Tiger Martial Soul, Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame burned his opponent back step by step, and Oscar also managed to secure his first victory with a hard-fought victory, relying on his recovered sausages and agile movement.
Only Tang San, due to his unhealed injuries, chose to temporarily forfeit the competition. He sat in the audience, watching Yang Chen's figure with a complicated expression.
As night deepened, the atmosphere in the Grand Arena reached its peak, and the announcer's excited voice came over the loudspeaker: "The final match, a two-person battle, the Divine Capital Duo versus the Mad Wolf Duo!"
Yang Chen, holding Xiao Wu's hand, slowly walked onto the main arena. Opposite them, the Mad Wolf duo, were both level 30 Soul Masters, possessing the Mad Wolf Martial Soul, and adorned with one yellow, one yellow, and one purple Soul Rings, exuding a menacing aura.
"Xiao Wu, just keep up," Yang Chen said softly.
Xiao Wu nodded, her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul activated, and pink soul rings rose as she closely followed Yang Chen.
At the referee's signal, the fight broke out instantly!
The two wolves simultaneously unleashed their third soul skill, Howling Wolf, sending two gray sonic waves mixed with soul power crashing towards them. At the same time, they pounced forward, their claws tearing through the air with a sharp sound.
Yang Chen's eyes narrowed, and he activated the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts at full power. Pale golden qi spread like a tide, forming a huge protective shield behind Xiao Wu. The sound waves and claws struck the qi, but vanished instantly, like mud entering the sea.
"rise."
Yang Chen let out a low shout, put his left arm around Xiao Wu's waist, and suddenly rose into the air. He stepped on the air with his right foot, and a golden streak of energy crashed down.
"boom--!"
The powerful energy slashed directly at the martial souls of the two Mad Wolf Soul Masters. The two screamed in agony as their martial souls shattered instantly, spitting out blood and crashing heavily outside the arena, losing their ability to fight.
The entire battle lasted only three breaths.
The entire venue was silent for three seconds, then erupted in deafening cheers and applause.
"The Divine Capital Duo! The Divine Capital Duo!"
The audience cheered wildly, and the odds in the betting area plummeted instantly. Yang Chen, however, didn't care. He took Xiao Wu's hand and walked off the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Flander, watching from the private box, burst into laughter, slapping the table and exclaiming, "Excellent! What a formidable duo from the capital! This kid certainly didn't disappoint me!"
Yang Chen and Xiao Wu returned to the rest area, where everyone gathered around them, their eyes filled with admiration. Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and thanked Yang Chen again, while Dai Mubai patted him on the shoulder, already convinced, and said sincerely, "Yang Chen, your strength is simply unfathomable."
Yang Chen smiled, looked at Xiao Wu, and said in a doting tone, "Are you tired? I'll buy you the candied hawthorns you want when we get back."
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her face beaming with a happy smile.
As night deepened, the Shrek Academy members left the Great Soul Arena together, each holding their own Iron Soul Badge. Yang Chen's badge, however, bore the mark of his first victory.
The lights of Soto City illuminated the figures of the crowd; the trials in the Great Soul Arena had only just begun.