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"You…" Tang San was rendered speechless by Shi Quan's barrage of retorts.
He didn't believe he would lose to Shi Quan. If he really lost, he wouldn't mind the help of Dai Mubai and the others, because Yu Xiaogang had said that they were a team, a whole, and helping each other was normal. One should not be constrained by formalities; only those who speak up have the right to speak.
Shi Quan naturally couldn't be bothered with Tang San and turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who were standing at the very back, also wearing masks. He glanced at them before looking away.
"Host, you may announce the Great Spirit Arena results now."
The host quickly reacted, picked up the megaphone in his hand, looked around, and announced loudly: "Due to Soft Bones Demon Rabbit Spirit Elder falling off the Great Spirit Arena stage, I announce that the winner of this one-on-one Great Spirit Arena match is 'Defeat Seeker' Spirit Elder!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, the entire arena instantly erupted in cheers. It was their first time witnessing a match where the Martial Spirit wasn't even used, yet the battle was won. Each and every one of them was exceptionally excited.
Following the host's announcement, Shi Quan didn't linger and turned to walk off the Great Spirit Arena stage.
Tang San didn't hesitate. He quickly picked up Xiao Wu in a bridal carry and turned to walk in another direction. Although he hated this 'Defeat Seeker' fellow, the most urgent matter at hand was to treat Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong stood rooted to the spot, watching Shi Quan's receding figure, unable to recover for a long time. At such a close distance just now, seeing Shi Quan's familiar eyes, Ning Rongrong could say with 100% certainty that the person in front of her was Shi Quan.
"Rongrong, what are you doing? We should go." Oscar's voice interrupted Ning Rongrong's thoughts.
"Ah… oh, Little Ao, you guys go back first. I still have something to do; I'll be back later." As she spoke, Ning Rongrong wanted to chase in Shi Quan's direction.
Oscar held Ning Rongrong and said, "But Dean and Master told us to gather after the Great Spirit Arena. If you don't go, Master might punish you."
"Let him punish me then, I'm not afraid. If it weren't for Tang San, I wouldn't have bothered with that Master long ago." Ning Rongrong broke free from Oscar's hand and immediately rushed after him without stopping.
"Rongrong." Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong, then at the direction where everyone was gathering, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.
His male intuition told him that Ning Rongrong seemed to know that 'Defeat Seeker'. Ever since 'Defeat Seeker' spoke, Ning Rongrong's expression had been a bit off.
After much deliberation, Oscar still chose to go to the gathering first, to speak for Ning Rongrong and try to get her punishment waived.
…
On the other side.
Shi Quan had already returned to Ye Lingling's Great Spirit Arena viewing stand.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Lingling."
"You know that Soft Bones Demon Rabbit?" Ye Lingling walked up to Shi Quan and asked.
"Indeed, I know her. In fact, you've met her too." Shi Quan nodded and took off his mask.
"Met her?" Ye Lingling thought about it but was still confused.
Shi Quan reminded her, "It's those two Spirit Masters we met when we went to Nuoding City."
"So it was them." Ye Lingling finally remembered.
"When I was at Nuoding Academy…" As the two walked out, Shi Quan began to talk about his past at Nuoding Academy.
Walking out of the Great Spirit Arena, strolling along the wide and bright streets, after discussing Nuoding Academy, their conversation returned to Xiao Wu.
"That Soft Bones Demon Rabbit's strength feels like she's among the powerful ones even at the Spirit Elder Rank, especially in close combat, and that Spirit Ability that allows Teleportation and the Spirit Ability that Charms people. Under normal circumstances, it's almost impossible for a Spirit Master of the same Rank to resist, right?"
"Indeed, her strength is strong among those of the same Rank, especially her Soft Technique."
Shi Quan nodded in response to Ye Lingling's question; this was indeed a fact.
"Soft Technique? Like the swordplay you practice?"
"Mm." Shi Quan looked at Ye Lingling and said, "These are actually battle techniques summarized into a fighting style. I can help you summarize a set of Moves that suit you, so you can defend yourself in the future."
Hearing Shi Quan say this, Ye Lingling's eyes visibly brightened, and she chuckled, "Shi Quan, I feel like you're too smart. Can I really learn these battle techniques? To defeat a Spirit Elder of the same Rank without relying on Martial Spirit and spirit ring Abilities, such a technique could even be called a self-created Spirit Ability. If it were released, its value would be immeasurable, especially for support Spirit Masters. To allow a support Spirit Master with no offensive power to possess combat ability, it's terrifying to think about."
"Of course." Shi Quan smiled, "I definitely wouldn't teach others, but you are different."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling's cheeks couldn't help but flush, and a warm current flowed through her heart, "Thank you, Shi Quan."
Under Ye Lingling's veil, her pretty face rarely showed such a sweet smile.
"It's nothing." Shi Quan said with a smile. If Ye Lingling could learn some martial arts, and go head-to-head with others, and she herself was a healer who could save anyone as long as they weren't dead, then the thought of trading injuries like that would make one feel despair.
It was also at this moment that Shi Quan suddenly felt an angry gaze behind him. He thought Tang San and the others had found him. He turned his head and met Ning Rongrong's furious, man-eating eyes.
"Is that Ning Rongrong?" Ye Lingling also noticed Shi Quan's movement, turned to look, and also saw Ning Rongrong's figure.
"It seems she recognized me during the Great Spirit Arena." Shi Quan stopped, looked at Ye Lingling, "She seems to be looking for us. Let's go meet her."
"She's not looking for us, she's looking for you." Ye Lingling chuckled, pointing to the nearby hotel, "You go. It's not far from the hotel; I'll go back to the hotel to rest first."
"Alright." Shi Quan awkwardly scratched his head, then said, "I'll be back very soon."
"Mm." Ye Lingling nodded lightly and turned to walk towards the hotel.
Shi Quan looked at the furious Ning Rongrong with confusion, thinking to himself, it seems I haven't provoked this Young Miss, right? It couldn't be that she's coming to vent her anger on me because I beat up her roommate, could it?
"Oh, what a coincidence, to meet our Young Miss Ning here?" Shi Quan walked forward with a chuckle.
Hearing Shi Quan's words, Ning Rongrong became even more annoyed, or rather, mortified. She had thought Shi Quan was looking for her, but it turned out she had been chasing him for a long time, only to see Shi Quan with another woman, and that woman was Ye Lingling.
All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind at once; she even imagined the two of them traveling and dating.
Thinking of these, Ning Rongrong didn't know why, but a surge of anger swelled in her mind.
"I also wanted to say, how can it be such a coincidence!" Ning Rongrong said through gritted teeth.
"Fate is a mysterious thing," Shi Quan chuckled.
Ning Rongrong glared at Shi Quan and asked, "Be honest, why are you and Ye Lingling in Soto City! Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"
"Huh?" Shi Quan was stunned for a moment.
Ning Rongrong also realized that what she said seemed a bit ambiguous, and quickly said, "What 'huh'? I'm asking you, why are you in Soto City?!"
Shi Quan then explained, "Teacher Qin is leading the entire Heaven Dou Battle Team on a touring Great Spirit Arena within the Heaven Dou Empire, and today they happened to arrive in Soto City."
"Touring Great Spirit Arena?" Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment. After realizing that Shi Quan wasn't out alone with Ye Lingling, she suddenly felt relieved for some reason and mumbled, "That really is quite a coincidence."
"What's the deal with your swordplay today? You actually won against Xiao Wu without using your Martial Spirit. When did you become so powerful?"
"I've always been powerful, alright."
"I'm asking about your swordplay."
"Didn't you also ask me when I became so powerful?"
"Shi Quan!!!"
"Alright, alright…"
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
While Ning Rongrong was questioning Shi Quan, the rest of Shrek had already gathered at the entrance of the Great Spirit Arena.
"Tang San, who is that person in your arms?" Flender, who was waiting at the entrance, looked at the person in Tang San's arms, then looked around, and asked with a frown, "Also, why haven't Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong come out yet?"
Xiao Wu's signature ponytail had been cut by Shi Quan's sword, and it had completely come undone. Now, with her hair disheveled, her exact appearance wasn't clear.
"Dean, the person in my arms is Xiao Wu."
"Xiao Wu?" Flender's pupils suddenly contracted, his face showing disbelief. He then carefully looked at Xiao Wu's specific clothing and figure, but upon seeing her disheveled long hair, half of which was gone, and the injuries on her feet, he immediately pressed, "What exactly happened? What kind of opponent did Xiao Wu encounter that even her hair was cut?"
Tang San gritted his teeth and said, "She was injured like this in a one-on-one solo Great Spirit Arena match by someone who used a sword."
"What? Who was so ruthless? Great Spirit Arena sparring is supposed to stop at the right point. If they dare to cut hair, next time they'll dare to cut off heads." Hearing this, Flender was also furious. He himself was extremely protective of his own, and now seeing Xiao Wu bullied like this, as her teacher, he naturally had to get revenge for his student.
Tang San shook his head, "That person, like us, used a fake name and wore a mask, so their specific identity cannot be determined."
Flender pressed, "What about their Martial Spirit? Although we don't have the right to ask the Great Spirit Arena to reveal that person's specific information, if we just know their Martial Spirit, it will be much easier to investigate. Our Shrek students are not to be bullied by just anyone."
Tang San still shook his head. He naturally couldn't say that 'Defeat Seeker' had defeated Xiao Wu without even using his Martial Spirit. He could only change the subject and say, "Dean, I will avenge this grudge on the Great Spirit Arena in the future."
"Very well, as long as that person is still in the Great Spirit Arena, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Your teacher, because he had something to do, has already gone back early." Flender sighed lightly and looked at Oscar, "What about Ning Rongrong? Why hasn't she returned yet?"