After finishing their meal, Chen Yuan accompanied Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to the Great Spirit Arena. This was his first time visiting the arena.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing went to register for the day's one-on-one and two-on-two matches. Curious about the layout of the arena, Chen Yuan noticed a map in the lobby and stopped to study it.
In no time, he had memorized the general locations of the main arena, sub-arenas, and various fighting platforms.
If the Imperial Spirit Team were to arrive, they would undoubtedly be assigned to the main arena. Chen Yuan decided he would visit often in the coming days.
In the original storyline, the Imperial Spirit Team had been invited to Suotuo City by the local nobility after achieving remarkable results in various spirit arenas. Their arrival was likely imminent, saving Chen Yuan the trouble of searching for them elsewhere.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing returned to Chen Yuan's side after completing their registrations.
Ning Rongrong said with a cheerful smile, "Let's go, Brother Chen Yuan. We'll head to the arena first. You can watch our performance later. First, it'll be Zhuqing's one-on-one match, followed by our two-on-two match."
Chen Yuan nodded with a light smile. "Alright, let's go. This Great Spirit Arena is quite interesting. I'll probably come here often in the future. Who knows? If I see a worthy opponent, I might even be tempted to step onto the stage myself."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled. "That's great! If Brother Chen Yuan steps into the arena, you'll definitely dominate this place."
Zhu Zhuqing, however, hesitated for a moment before her expression turned resolute. She looked at Chen Yuan with a hint of pleading. "Chen Yuan, if you need an opponent, I'm willing to be that opponent. I know my strength might not be enough to challenge you, but I'll give it my all. You don't need to hold back. To be honest, I want to know the gap between myself and a true powerhouse. Besides, facing such pressure will help me improve faster."
Chen Yuan was slightly taken aback. He had only mentioned it casually as an excuse to visit the arena, but since Zhu Zhuqing had made the request, he agreed with a smile. "Sure, I'll spar with you. Practicing sword techniques alone can be quite dull. You'll be my opponent, and I won't use my spirit. I'll only use a wooden sword to hone my swordsmanship in actual combat. If you can force me to use my spirit, you win."
After a pause, he added, "Or you two can team up. Rongrong can support Zhuqing. If you can force me to use my spirit, I'll consider it your victory."
Zhu Zhuqing was thrilled. Sparring with someone of Chen Yuan's caliber would undoubtedly help her identify her weaknesses. She knew she was the one benefiting from this arrangement.
However, when she heard the latter part of his proposal, both she and Ning Rongrong felt a surge of indignation. If they teamed up, their combined strength would be greater than the sum of their individual abilities. Yet, Chen Yuan wasn't even planning to use his spirit..
Ning Rongrong grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and said defiantly, "Brother Chen Yuan, just you wait. Our Seven Treasures Spirit Cat duo isn't that weak. Zhuqing, let's go. We'll head to the arena first."
With that, the two girls walked ahead toward the arena area, and Chen Yuan followed at a leisurely pace.
Upon arriving near the arena, they didn't have to wait long before Zhu Zhuqing's one-on-one match began. Encouraged by Ning Rongrong, she stepped onto the stage. Relying on her speed and agility, she swiftly defeated her opponent and secured a victory.
Chen Yuan observed her performance and was impressed. Her flexibility was exceptional, allowing her to twist her body into seemingly impossible positions. The thought of it was quite thrilling.
Shortly after the one-on-one match, the two-on-two match began. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing took to the stage together. With Ning Rongrong's support, Zhu Zhuqing's strength and speed increased by 30%, allowing her to handle two opponents with ease and maintain the upper hand.
Their opponents, the Cat and Mouse duo, were both agility-type spirit masters. However, their speed was completely overshadowed by Zhu Zhuqing's, and they were quickly defeated one after the other.
As the match concluded, the audience erupted in cheers. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, each with their unique charm—one sweet and the other cool, one blossoming and the other youthful yet mature—already had a significant fan base. Their victory naturally elicited a wave of enthusiastic applause.
Even after they left the stage, the cheers continued. Spirit master battles were always captivating, but battles involving beautiful spirit masters were even more so.
After the day's matches, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing accompanied Chen Yuan as he explored the Great Spirit Arena. Chen Yuan made sure to locate the main arena.
Eventually, Chen Yuan escorted the two girls back to the academy, as they were still students of Shrek Academy.
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Shrek Academy
Yu Xiaogang pushed open the door to Flender's office—if it could even be called an office, as it was little more than a wooden hut. Seeing Yu Xiaogang enter, Flender's heart sank, and he immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Xiaogang, I know you care deeply for your disciple and want to provide him with the best training. But our academy is poor. We can't afford your extravagant demands. We've only supplied Tang San and Xiao Wu, and already half of this year's tuition fees have been spent. If this continues, the academy won't last another month."
Yu Xiaogang, as always, had a stiff expression and a gloomy demeanor. He stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Stop pretending. You're not that poor. The improved meal standards have been provided to all students. Tang San and Xiao Wu have the heaviest training load. The medicinal baths are to prevent hidden injuries. Do you want my disciples to be held back by lingering injuries?"
Flender dropped the act but sighed. "Xiaogang, it's not that I'm pretending to be poor. We really are poor. Over the years, I've poured a lot of my own money into keeping the academy running. If this continues, I'll have to dip into my retirement savings, and even that might not be enough."
Yu Xiaogang nodded. "In that case, I'll take Tang San and Xiao Wu and leave in a few days. Shrek Academy can't provide the resources they need to grow. I'll have to take them to a place where resources are abundant. With their talent, some prestigious spirit academies will surely take them in."
Flender's expression changed. "Xiaogang, are you leaving again?"
Yu Xiaogang glanced at him and said indifferently, "Or you could dissolve the academy and come with us. Flender, your academy doesn't meet the standards of a prestigious spirit academy. Tang San and Xiao Wu can't stay here. After the academy is dissolved, the other students can choose to stay or leave. We'll take those who are willing to follow us to a prestigious spirit academy. No prestigious spirit academy would refuse us. Flender, I hope you'll join me. I believe my disciples will one day shake the entire continent."
Flender's face darkened. Shrek Academy was his life's work, and the thought of dissolving it filled him with reluctance. "Xiaogang, I…"
Yu Xiaogang cut him off. "Flender, you have time to think about it. Before I take Tang San and Xiao Wu away, consider your options. You're my closest friend, and I truly hope we can work together to nurture a genius who will shake the entire continent."
With that, Yu Xiaogang left, leaving Flender alone with a conflicted expression. Shrek Academy was Flender's life's work, but to Yu Xiaogang, it was merely a means to an end. His true focus was on his true disciple, Tang San.
If Yu Xiaogang were to take Tang San and Xiao Wu to a Prestigious Spirit Academy alone, they might not receive the attention they deserved. But if Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other spirit sage and spirit emperor teachers were to join him, the situation would be entirely different. This was Yu Xiaogang's plan. As the Wisdom Corner of the Golden Iron Triangle, his strategies were unmatched.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,393
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