"Xu Sanshi, what do you think you're doing?"
Tang Ya pulled Huo Yutong behind her, her beautiful eyes full of anger.
Even Beibei frowned.
If it hadn't been for Neuvillette's water wall just now, Xu Sanshi might have tried to snatch her by force.
"Little Yutong, be careful of that man. He's dangerous—more dangerous than many human Title Douluo I've seen."
A voice sounded in Huo Yutong's spiritual sea—Tianmeng Iceworm's heavy tone.
Huo Yutong followed the direction Tianmeng pointed, and saw Neuvillette still calmly eating grilled fish, as if none of what had just happened had anything to do with him.
"Sister Tianmeng, he's not a bad person."
Huo Yutong whispered.
"He's my great benefactor. The reason I was able to come to Shrek Academy at all was entirely because of him. So he definitely wouldn't harm me."
"Let's hope so…"
Tianmeng sighed, withdrawing back into her spiritual sea.
"Remember, if you encounter danger, just call me."
"Oh, I know."
Huo Yutong pressed her red lips together and turned her attention back outside.
"This… if I said this was just a misunderstanding, would you believe me?"
Xu Sanshi looked like he was about to cry.
His burly, rough-looking appearance didn't mean he was truly a crude man.
As a royal descendant, he had grown up well-versed in reading people and situations.
Seeing that Neuvillette hadn't said anything the whole time, he could only humble himself and beg Huo Yutong's forgiveness. Who would've thought an unremarkable junior schoolmate could make grilled fish so delicious that even this "great figure" was drawn in?
Otherwise, he would've long since dragged Beibei off to the Soul Arena for a big brawl.
"Hmph, we don't really care, but you scared Yutong. Beibei, hit him. One punch and I'll let you kiss me!" Tang Ya glared fiercely.
Even though Huo Yutong hadn't joined the Tang Sect, Tang Ya still had the air of a big sister toward her, treating her as one of their own.
"This really was just a misunderstanding, haha, really…"
Xu Sanshi scratched his head awkwardly, laughing dryly while sneaking glances at "that man's" movements.
When he saw Neuvillette still not moving, he finally let out a breath of relief.
Maybe this person was only here because the grilled fish tasted good, and his earlier intervention was simply because he didn't want his meal disturbed…
"Cut the crap. If 'sorry' worked, what would we need the Soul Arena for?"
Beibei said in a blunt tone.
"Oh? You wanna go then?" Xu Sanshi, seeing the great figure still unmoved, immediately got cocky again. "Fine by me. Just a measly Soul Arena. My hands were itching anyway."
Saying that, Xu Sanshi went over to Jiang Nannan, puffing his chest out shamelessly.
"Nannan, don't worry—once I win in the Soul Arena, I'll bring your grilled fish back."
"Who wants your grilled fish!"
Jiang Nannan shot him a glare with her beautiful eyes, turned on her long legs, and walked away.
Even Neuvillette shook his head slightly at the sight.
This guy's simping is…
Actually, it matched his martial soul rather well.
In the original story, the two had plenty of friction, but Neuvillette only had one opinion:
Respect her, bless them, and lock it in.
Soul Arena.
Located in the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department, closest to Shrek City, it was a place many senior students frequented. It had professional teachers serving as referees, as well as complete medical facilities—though all of it came at a cost.
To participate in a match, both sides had to pay at least ten gold soul coins as a venue fee.
Most importantly, participating earned you academy credits.
This coveted currency among university students had, in this world, taken on another form.
At Shrek Academy, starting in the fourth year, Soul Arena credits became a hard requirement. By the sixth year, when competing for admission into the Inner Court, they were an extremely important factor.
"Teacher Xiaoya (Tang Ya), the academy sure knows how to make money."
Looking at the crowd pouring in around them—countless students in Shrek Academy uniforms flooding into the Soul Arena—even with the one silver soul coin ticket price, all she saw were people excitedly discussing who would win.
The little money-lover Huo Yutong couldn't help but be envious.
"To maintain the Soul Arena facilities, host the matches, and bring such spectacular competitions—these are rare to see outside."
Neuvillette, one hand propped lightly under his chin, looked down from the high platform at the streaming crowd, speaking in a calm voice.
"Shrek Academy's teachers can ensure contestants suffer minimal injuries, and they're all at least Soul Emperor level or higher. Using such resources as referees is considered a luxury in any major power."
Before Tang Ya could say anything, he explained lightly.
"Oh~"
Huo Yutong pursed her red lips and asked with a trace of excitement:
"Are you here to watch the match too?"
"Watch?"
Neuvillette smiled faintly.
"I'm here to officiate the match."
"Ah…"
Huo Yutong's lips parted slightly in surprise.
Before her voice faded, Neuvillette's figure flickered—he reappeared inside the Soul Arena.
Closing his eyes, he quietly waited for the two contestants to arrive.
"Tang Ya-jie (Tang Ya), why are so many people coming?"
Huo Yutong noticed that even after tens of minutes, people were still streaming in from outside, and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Those two are famous in our Outer Court, known as the Twin Stars. And per the Soul Arena's rules, when there are exceptional matches, the event is broadcast to attract students."
Tang Ya smiled as she explained.
"Looks like today's audience will easily exceed a thousand."
In the Rest Area.
Beibei and Xu Sanshi were changing clothes.
Xu Sanshi suddenly spoke with unease.
"Tell me—why would he be here? Even now my heart's still pounding."
"Heh, serves you right for being arrogant. You ran into a steel wall, didn't you?"
Beibei grinned.
"I heard he just graduated from the Inner Court and plans to be a teacher in the Outer Court."
"Graduated?!"
Xu Sanshi's eyes widened. He glanced around nervously, then leaned in close to Beibei's ear:
"His graduation assessment… was against…"
"That I don't know."
Beibei shrugged.
"But I did hear that his opponent was Dean Yan (Yan Shaozhe)…"
"And the result…"
Xu Sanshi's eyes went round as saucers.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Beibei smacked him on the head.
"Hiss…"
Xu Sanshi winced.
"Not provoking him, not provoking him. I'll keep my distance, alright? I'm almost graduating anyway—no way he'll follow me into the Inner Court…"
"That's not necessarily true."
Beibei said slowly.
"For all you know, the moment you graduate, he might start teaching in the Inner Court."
Author's Note: Some readers pointed out a possible issue with yesterday's scene of killing a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast.
First, a year ago, the protagonist had just advanced not long ago, to around level 73.
Second, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast is equivalent to at least a Super Douluo—not just any ordinary Title Douluo.
Unless it's a purely auxiliary beast like the Tianmeng Iceworm.