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Yang Fan had already done his research: the entry fee for the Tian Dou Auction House was 10,000 gold soul coins.
After two months of grueling training, he didn't have anywhere near that amount—ten gold coins would've been a miracle. Even if he somehow sneaked in, he wouldn't have the funds to bid.
In Tian Dou City, Yang Fan felt the crushing weight of class disparity firsthand.
This was precisely why powerful soul masters rarely emerged from commoner backgrounds.
"Little one, already discouraged?" Yao Lao's voice echoed in his mind.
"Do you think your master's alchemy skills are just for show?"
"Look ahead."
Yang Fan followed Yao Lao's direction—and saw a colossal structure before him. Emblazoned across its apex were five bold characters:
Tian Dou Great Spirit Arena!
He instantly understood.
He could earn his first pot of gold through soul duels, use it to buy herbs, refine pills, and resell them for profit.
But Yang Fan didn't plan to rely on Yao Lao for alchemy.
He intended to refine the pills himself.
First, though, he needed to reach Dou Zhe—a process that would take time.
But he wasn't anxious.
After all—what year was it?
Soul Calendar Year 2637.
The divine herbs within the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well would wait quietly for him for years to come.
Yao Lao had another, deeper reason for sending him to the arena.
Yang Fan's rapid power surge had even surprised Yao Lao himself. To manage such accelerated growth, they needed to begin the next phase of training immediately.
And the best training method?
Real combat.
In Douluo Continent, strength ruled all.
Power dictated every word spoken on this continent.
Noble heirs who relied solely on heavenly treasures to boost their ranks often lacked even basic experience hunting soul beasts—dooming them to become nothing but hollow showpieces.
Before heading to the arena, Yang Fan returned to his inn to disguise himself.
He donned a full-body black cloak, completely concealing his face and frame.
In Tian Dou City—the most prosperous metropolis on the continent—a six-year-old soul master entering the arena would instantly draw the Spirit Hall's attention.
He couldn't reveal his age…or his identity as a Soul Breaking Spear soul master!
…
Night fell.
Yang Fan left the inn and headed toward the Great Spirit Arena.
Located at the city's heart, it was less than five kilometers away—a trivial distance for him now.
To avoid suspicion, he left the eye-catching Heavy Xuan Ruler behind.
As he drew closer, the arena's sheer scale struck him with awe.
A massive hemisphere rose 180 meters into the sky—like a giant sphere half-buried in the earth.
The height ensured ample vertical space for aerial soul battles.
Inside, the arena teemed with eccentric fighters—demons, ghosts, and bizarre spectacles galore.
Some even dressed like literal monsters to stand out. In comparison, Yang Fan's plain black cloak seemed almost dull.
The Great Spirit Arena featured four main arenas and sixty-four sub-arenas, capable of hosting over 100,000 spectators simultaneously.
After circling the complex, Yang Fan arrived at the registration desk.
Signing up was simple—just fill out a form:
Name: Yao Chen
Age: 40
Birthplace: Yunluo City
Martial Soul: Heavy Xuan Ruler
After cobbling together ten gold soul coins for the registration fee, he received his Iron Soul Duel Badge.
Next came the mandatory soul power test—to prevent cheating.
"I'm sorry, honored soul master," the clerk said politely, "but you cannot participate in soul duels."
Yang Fan felt like he'd been struck by lightning.
His pockets were emptier than his face—and now they told him he couldn't compete?
"Why not?"
A hoarse, aged voice emanated from beneath his hood—nothing like a 40-year-old's.
"Our arena rules state only Soul Grandmasters may duel."
Without a second soul ring, the testing device registered only his Level 19 soul power.
Damn it.
He actually knew this rule—but only learned it after arriving in Douluo Continent.
At its core, the Great Spirit Arena was a profit-driven business.
For entertainment value, they required duelists to have at least two soul skills. After all, single-ring soul masters, once their skill was used, resorted to punching, kicking, or biting—hardly thrilling to watch.
"No problem," Yao Lao declared decisively. "We'll enter the Soul Grandmaster division."
"But—"
"No 'buts'! Doesn't your arena allow rank-challenging duels?"
The staff, faced with Yao Lao's firm tone, ceased further objection.
"Honored soul master, what type of duel would you like to register for?"
There were three formats:
Sparring Match: Friendly competition—no lethal intent.
2. Death Duel: For settling blood feuds—father's murder, stolen spouses, etc.
3. Wager Duel: Winner claims everything staked in the bet.
"Sparring Match."
Minutes later, Yang Fan was ushered into a waiting room.
"You little brat—daring to use your master's name!" Yao Lao scolded.
"Master, you signed me up for Soul Grandmaster duels without my consent either."
"That was for your own good."
"I know, Master!"
Honestly, the arena's ban on single-ring duels was a blessing.
Otherwise, with his current physical strength and combat prowess, he'd be slaughtering bronze-tier opponents—gaining no real experience and potentially growing complacent.
Within minutes, Yang Fan was called to the stage.
This was his first soul duel.
Winning an Iron-tier match earned 10 gold soul coins; losing yielded nothing.
Seemingly risk-free—but far from it.
One misstep could mean death on the arena floor. Even non-fatal injuries might cost more than 10 gold coins to treat.
Standing at the entrance of the dueling corridor, Yang Fan peered across.
Though separated by double-layered black metal mesh, he clearly saw his opponent—a fiery young woman in the opposite tunnel.
"The third one-on-one sparring match of tonight will now commence!" the announcer boomed.
"First, please welcome our newly registered Level 19 soul master from the Tian Dou Great Spirit Arena—Yao Chen!"
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