Chapter 12.3: Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan
âTeacher Xiao Ya, the school must make a lot of money!â Huo Yuhao couldnât help but speak after he heard Tang Yaâs simple introduction of the Soul Dueling Arena.
Tang Ya replied, âItâs something the academy logically deserves. Since the academy is as large as it is, its expenses are naturally just as large. If they hadnât thought of a way to make money, how would they be able to maintain the academy? However, the taxes the academy levels in Shrek City arenât little either. In any case, our academy is the continentâs number one academy in terms of prosperity. Right, little Yuhao, the standard of your roasted fish has improved even more. Itâs either that, or the ingredients that I got you are better, since it tastes so good.â
Tang Ya finished her two skewers of roasted fish long before they reached the Soul Dueling Arena. Huo Yuhao was already hungry, so he went ahead and bought some dinner when they walked by the canteen. When he and Tang Ya arrived at the Soul Dueling Arena, there were many people flooding into it. As the news of Xu Sanshi and Bei Beiâs duel began to spread like wildfire, more and more students streamed towards the Soul Dueling Arena.
Tang Ya paid two silver soul coins and brought Huo Yuhao into the Soul Dueling Arena. The Soul Dueling Arena was hexagonal, and was roughly as big as Shrek Plaza. The centre of the Soul Dueling Arena was a large open area, which was clearly the place where students would duel against one another. Furthermore, it was surrounded by around three thousand chairs that rose progressively upwards.
When they entered, there were already two to three hundred students sitting around the battlefield. Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao had arrived relatively early on, so they managed to obtain seats in the row that was closest to the battlefield. On the other hand, the battlefield in front of them was empty; it was unknown where Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were.
Tang Ya knew that Huo Yuhao was unfamiliar with the rules for the Soul Dueling Arena. Thus, she decided to explain them to him. âThe Soul Dueling Arena is open everyday, from dismissal to midnight. Students who wish to carry out a duel have to first pay the fee and register. If both parties are fairly famous students in the academy, the academy will use a soul tool called a âmegaphoneâ to broadcast the event in order to attract more viewers. The academy will then keep half of the ticketing fees, while the winner will keep the other half. Your eldest senior brotherâs already made quite a bit of money from dueling. Furthermore, that Xu Sanshi is a fifth-year student, whereas heâs just become a fourth-year. Since theyâre separated by an entire year, itâs considered a challenge that bypasses what year theyâre in. Thus, that Xu Sanshi will have to give Bei Bei an additional ten gold soul coins if he loses. Your eldest senior brother and that Xu Sanshi are both extremely famous students in the outer courtyardâtheyâre both acclaimed as geniuses. Iâm guessing that the number of people whoâll show up to watch will exceed five hundred.â
Huo Yuhao asked, âThen who was that Jiang Nannan?â
Tang Ya raised her hand and hit Huo Yuhao on the head. âYouâve already learnt bad things at such a young age? Youâre already looking at pretty girls? Hmph!â
Huo Yuhao felt his head throb, and didnât dare to ask again. Instead, he chose to take out his lunchbox and start eating dinner.
When she saw his naive appearance, Tang Ya couldnât help but laugh. âFine, Iâll tell you. Jiang Nannan is known as the outer courtyardâs number one beauty. She comes from an ordinary family, and treats everybody kindly. She has countless fans within the academy. Do you think that sheâs prettier than me?â
Huo Yuhao hurriedly shook his head a few times.
Tang Ya was somewhat pleased as she said, âThatâs right! I donât think that sheâs stronger than me in any other area either, hmph! That guy, Xu Sanshi, has a very strong mutated martial soul known as the Mysterious Underworld Turtle. Itâs a dual-attribute martial soul that possesses both the water and the earth element, and has an extremely strong defense. Itâs been called an impenetrable fortress by some. His cultivation is around the same level as Bei Beiâs, and they both have first-rate martial souls. Donât worry, Iâve already vented some anger for you. I threw a Dragon Beard Needle at him, which should be unbearable for him. If he wants to pursue Jiang Nannan, so be it, but it wonât do if he hurts any of my people in the process. Speaking of strange, Iâm beginning to think that Jiang Nannan has a problem with her gender orientation. There are an endless number of outstanding male students pursuing her, but sheâs never taken a liking to any of them. When she rejects other people, she does it with a gentle tone. However, when she rejects Xu Sanshi, itâs with a rarely-seen coldness. I donât know if this is because Xu Sanshi took advantage of her in some way. On the other hand, these people who are coming to watch Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi are really innocent! They only know that Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi are respectively known to possess the outer courtyardâs strongest attack-type martial soul and the outer courtyardâs strongest defense-type martial soul. However, they donât know that these two know each other. Iâm guessing that theyâve colluded to both earn some moneyâthatâs why so many of them ran over to the Soul Dueling Arena.â
Huo Yuhao spoke with astonishment, âEldest senior brother and that Xu Sanshi know each other?â
Tang Ya nodded. âLittle Yuhao, donât worry. Even though they know each other, your eldest senior brother will still compete against him fiercely. He wonât let Xu Sanshi bully you for no reason.â
Soul Dueling Arena, lobby.
âBei Bei, your Tang Ya is too vicious. Look at this, just look at thisâ¦â Xu Sanshi had a dissatisfied expression as he lifted his jacket to show Bei Bei something. A bulge the size of an infantâs fist had already swelled up on the right side of his waist. Only, he continued to release his martial soul, causing the skin surrounding that bulge to seemingly become as hard as metal.
Bei Bei snorted and replied, âServes you right. Who asked you to bully our junior brother? Less bullshit, give me a Mysterious Water Pill and Iâll remove the Dragon Beard Needle for you. If not, then you can wait till it digs out a piece of your flesh. This Dragon Beard Needle was left behind by the first-generation ancestor of the Tang Sect, and was only passed down to the successive sect masters. Xiao Ya was really angry this time.â
Xu Sanshi said, âThat brat was actually someone who belonged to your Tang Sect? He doesnât look like he has any ability at all! Forget about the Mysterious Water Pill, quickly help me! This Dragon Beard Needle is too toxic, it hurts like hell. Itâs also specialised in breaking through soulforce. I canât believe I actually fell into Tang Yaâs trap because of my carelessness. This is really depressing.â
Bei Bei looked towards the sky and replied, âWhatever. If you donât want to give it to me, donât give it to me. You hit my junior brother, plus you even wrecked his booth. You can slowly endure this Dragon Beard Needle then. The duelâs going to start soon anyway. I donât believe that youâll be able to compete against me with that Dragon Beard Needle in you.â
Xu Sanshi snorted angrily. âFine, Bei Bei, just wait. You just watch how I take care of you in the Soul Duelling Arena later. I wonât be lenient towards you at all.â
Bei Bei smiled and said, âDo I need you to be lenient towards me?â As he spoke, he extended his right hand towards Xu Sanshi and made a gesture.
Xu Sanshi unwillingly took out a delicate bottle made out of white jade and threw it towards Bei Bei. Bei Bei caught it and said, âMany thanks. Now, withdraw your martial soul, Iâll help you remove the Dragon Beard Needle.â
Only then did Xu Sanshi slowly withdraw his martial soul. Without the restrictive effect of his martial soul, waves of unbearable pain immediately spread from the Dragon Beard Needle into his body. Even with his cultivation level and willpower, Xu Sanshi actually couldnât stop his body from trembling.
Bei Bei used his right hand to rapidly tap a few points surrounding Xu Sanshiâs wound. Afterwards, he simultaneously moved both of his hands, causing waves of gentle soulforce to unceasingly pour into Xu Sanshiâs cramped muscles. After a momentâs work, a hair-like golden strand slowly came out from Xu Sanshiâs waist muscles.
Bei Bei pulled it out softly, causing the golden strand to pop out of Xu Sanshiâs body, before quickly shrinking into a golden grain-sized pea. With a flip of his wrist, Bei Bei quickly put it away.
Xu Sanshi let out a long sigh, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. However, he still had an angry expression. âBei Bei, youâre taking advantage of me. You know how valuable this Mysterious Water Pill is. How about this? Letâs make a bet. If I win our match later on, youâll return that Mysterious Water Pill to me.â