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Xiao Xiao couldn't help but scoot her chair closer to Yuwen Tuo, inching three steps nearer.
Yuwen Tuo chuckled and said, "Xiao Xiao, eat slowly. There's a good show coming up later—don't choke."
"Good show?" Xiao Xiao was puzzled just as the scene ahead erupted into commotion.
Jiang Nannan had intended to buy a grilled fish, but unfortunately, Huo Yuhao's eighteen servings for the day were already sold out, with the last two reserved for his sect leader, Tang Ya. Moreover, at five copper soul coins each, Jiang Nannan found them too expensive.
This situation immediately infuriated Jiang Nannan's admirer, Xu Sanshi, who was known as the academy's top defensive powerhouse. Xu Sanshi proceeded to beat up Huo Yuhao. This act triggered a chain reaction: Tang Ya, fiercely protective of her disciple, went berserk, followed by Bei Bei, the overprotective husband. The scene unfolded like a grand drama.
"Wow, how exciting! It really is a good show!" Xiao Xiao exclaimed, taking a bite of the grilled fish in her hand. Her fish was spicy, and paired with the tense atmosphere, it made the experience even more thrilling.
Yuwen Tuo offered her the one in his hand, which was seasoned with cumin. Its rich and aromatic scent added to the lively ambiance.
The two of them watched the spectacle while exchanging bites of their fish, behaving like classic onlookers enjoying the chaos.
In the end, Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei decided to settle their differences on the Soul Dueling Arena.
"How interesting! Yuwen Tuo, let's go watch. I've done some research—these two are the strongest attackers and defenders in the outer court. Such a duel can't be missed!" Xiao Xiao said excitedly.
"Just watching would be boring," Yuwen Tuo remarked as he stepped forward.
At that moment, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were still locked in a standoff, their soul powers clashing violently. Both had broken through the thirty-level barrier, and anyone weaker who approached recklessly would surely get caught in their crossfire.
Seeing Yuwen Tuo walk straight into the middle of the two, Xiao Xiao cried out anxiously, "Yuwen Tuo, what are you doing? You can't go there!"
These were two elite soul masters wielding top-tier beast-type martial souls. Even she, a grand soul master, wouldn't dare to barge in carelessly. As for Yuwen Tuo—a mere single-ring soul master—wasn't this suicide?
But to everyone's astonishment, when Yuwen Tuo stepped between the two combatants, their surging soul power seemed to pose no threat to him whatsoever.
Flames erupted around Yuwen Tuo's body, forcefully repelling the soul energy from both sides.
This was a difference in the quality of soul power. Although Yuwen Tuo's reserves weren't as deep as theirs, the soul force cultivated through his Divine Fire Avatar Technique was unparalleled in its purity, dominance, and vastness—far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.
Xu Sanshi stared at the suddenly appearing Yuwen Tuo and asked, "Who are you?"
"Yuwen Tuo, freshman, single-ring battle soul master!" he replied. "I just heard that the two seniors wanted to engage in a Soul Duel. May I join as well? I've long admired the reputation of the academy's strongest attacker and defender. What an opportunity—please allow me the honor of learning from you today."
"A single-ring soul master?" Xu Sanshi was stunned. Was this guy insane? A measly one-ring soul master daring to challenge two three-ring soul masters?
"Yuwen Tuo, what are you doing? Get back here!" Xiao Xiao panicked. Why ruin the fun of being spectators and jump into the fray?
"What an overconfident fool! How dare you challenge these two seniors? Get lost!"
"Yeah, this person has no self-awareness."
Whispers of mockery filled the air, most of them ridiculing Yuwen Tuo.
But Yuwen Tuo paid no heed. No matter how many doubts or jeers arose, proving himself with strength would silence them all.
Moreover, since Yuwen Tuo had already decided to win the Freshman Tournament championship, his abilities would inevitably come to light sooner or later. There was no need to hide anything.
He knew this wasn't just any ordinary Soul Duel—it involved an extremely valuable treasure as the wager. And this treasure would greatly benefit him.
Furthermore, bets were always placed on such duels. Since Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were evenly matched, the odds wouldn't be particularly high for either side, meaning minimal profit regardless of who won.
However, if Yuwen Tuo joined, his odds would skyrocket. By betting on himself, he could make a fortune.
Though he wasn't short on money now, every coin he possessed came from Ma Xiaotao. Yuwen Tuo kept a small notebook detailing everything he'd received from Shrek Academy. On the day he left, he intended to return everything owed. Only by repaying Shrek could he later demand repayment for what they owed him.
Besides, money was undeniably useful. Anything less than an irreplaceable treasure could be measured in wealth.
For instance, the Golden Earth Dragon King's left arm bone set to appear at Shrek's Treasure Auction—a top-tier soul bone second only to a hundred-thousand-year soul bone—had tempted even someone of Wang Dong's stature. Yet, such a priceless item had a fixed price tag: nine million five hundred thousand gold soul coins.
In other words, sufficient wealth could translate into power.
Thus, Yuwen Tuo ignored Xiao Xiao's anxiety and the crowd's jeers, turning to Bei Bei and saying, "Senior Bei Bei, given your status, you must have heard of me. I endured six years before finally emerging. I wish to test myself against the academy's strongest attacker and defender. Could you do me the honor?"
"Yuwen Tuo? So it's you!" Bei Bei recalled. He had heard this name from his ancestor. This was the unfortunate individual whose soul power Ma Xiaotao had absorbed for six years.
His ancestor had told him that Shrek Academy owed this person a great debt.
With this in mind, Bei Bei said, "If you want to challenge us, fine. But wait until after my match with Xu Sanshi. Once I defeat him, I'll still have enough energy to spar with you."
In Bei Bei's eyes, Yuwen Tuo was simply someone who had been driven mad by six years of suppression, desperate to vent. Since his own ancestor had indirectly caused this, granting him a chance to fight was a small compensation.
"He agreed! Senior Bei Bei actually agreed!" the crowd gasped.
Why would Bei Bei take a mere one-ring soul master seriously? They couldn't fathom it.
"Hmph, in my opinion, Senior Bei Bei merely wants to teach this arrogant junior a lesson about not aiming too high. Didn't he say he'd wait until after defeating Senior Xu Sanshi? Clearly, he doesn't see him as a threat."
"Hey, Bei Bei, what do you mean 'after defeating me'? Teaching this junior a lesson will probably fall to me—I'm not going to lose to you," Xu Sanshi retorted, clearly sharing the same dismissive attitude as others.
Bei Bei simply wanted to discipline Yuwen Tuo.
Yuwen Tuo smiled faintly. "Very well, then I'll head to the Soul Dueling Arena first. I look forward to the victor between the two of you teaching me a lesson about humility."
It didn't matter whom he fought—he only cared about obtaining what he desired and making a hefty profit.
Those were the tangible rewards.
Mockery, admiration—all of that was meaningless.