Xiao Wu's match was set to begin in an hour. Before it started, the two of them stayed in No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena to watch the matches and learn from others' combat experience.
In the audience stands, Yu Yan saw many strange Spirits and many peculiar Spirit Abilities.
There was a bird Spirit with a turtle shell whose attack method was to leap high into the air and then accelerate downward to smash into people.
A palm-style hammer Spirit could extend its handle, giving someone an unexpected, massive slap.
A brightly colored rooster Spirit used its sharp crowing to cause pain to everyone.
Soon, it was Xiao Wu's turn to take the stage.
"Good luck."
As Xiao Wu set off to make her entrance, Yu Yan pumped his fist to cheer her on.
"Don't worry, I've got this in the bag."
Confidence was written all over Xiao Wu's face. After watching the matches for so long, she realized that none of the First Ring Spirit Masters who had appeared were particularly formidable.
Watching Xiao Wu enter the arena and listening to the elderly man on the Spirit Duel stage give his long-winded introduction, Yu Yan took out all 20 gold coins and bet them on Xiao Wu to win in the final minute of wagering.
He didn't bet early to prevent others from seeing his wager and also betting on Xiao Wu, which would have lowered her odds.
Similar to Yu Yan's gambling match, few people bet on Xiao Wu to win. Based on four factors—age, Spirit, spirit power, and gender—the audience concluded it was impossible for Xiao Wu to win.
Consequently, the odds for Xiao Wu's match also reached a staggering four-to-one.
Having finished his bet, Yu Yan sat in the audience stands looking calm, anticipating Xiao Wu's victory.
Xiao Wu's opponent was a male attack system Battle Spirit Master named Feng Yuanliu, with a Great Black Bear Beast Spirit and a Spirit Power Level as high as Rank 17. This was the main reason the audience generally believed Xiao Wu couldn't win.
"Little girl, you should admit defeat and leave the stage as soon as possible. Once the Spirit Duel actually starts, I can't guarantee I'll be able to control my strength."
Feng Yuanliu waved his unusually thick arms and advised Xiao Wu to leave the stage in a disdainful tone.
Sitting in the audience, Yu Yan looked at Feng Yuanliu's muscular arms and normal-sized legs, thinking he looked just like a fitness enthusiast who spent all day eating protein powder to build muscle.
"Big guy, you're advising me to leave before we've even started. Are you afraid that if we really fight, you won't be able to beat me?"
Xiao Wu didn't back down and spoke harshly. Just as Feng Yuanliu didn't take her seriously, she didn't take him seriously either.
"Our two contestants are very passionate!" The elderly man standing in the center of the Spirit Duel stage smiled as he smoothed over the atmosphere before announcing loudly, "Let the Spirit Duel begin!"
The second the elderly man announced the start of the Spirit Duel, Xiao Wu quickly performed Martial Soul Possession and activated her Spirit Ability, Comprehensive Amplification.
With a flash of pink light, Xiao Wu turned into an afterimage and vanished from her spot. When she reappeared, she was already in front of Feng Yuanliu, performing a sweeping kick.
Xiao Wu's sweeping kick struck Feng Yuanliu, sending him stumbling back several steps before he managed to stabilize himself.
"Little girl, I already gave you a chance. Don't blame me if you get hurt next."
"Barbarian Bear's Rage!"
Feng Yuanliu let out a loud shout, and his already thick arms doubled in size again, making him look like a giant gorilla.
Feng Yuanliu's performance drew cheers from many in the audience, as if he were guaranteed victory after using this move.
"I'll return those same words to you. Don't blame me if you get hurt next."
Xiao Wu, who often bickered with Yu Yan, wasn't about to lose face at a time like this, and she retorted unceremoniously.
Facing the charging Feng Yuanliu, Xiao Wu leaped onto his arm and used his thick limb as a springboard, spinning behind him in an instant.
Before Feng Yuanliu could react, Xiao Wu followed up with a reverse kick, sending him stumbling and then crashing onto the Spirit Duel stage.
The situation had changed too quickly. Seeing Feng Yuanliu fall to the ground with their own eyes, many people in the audience stood up excitedly and cheered loudly for him.
Undoubtedly, these were the spectators who had bet on Feng Yuanliu.
Xiao Wu didn't intend to give her opponent a chance. she closed in and delivered another kick to Feng Yuanliu's side, sending him flying just as he was trying to stand up.
What followed was a scene of one-sided crushing and beating. Xiao Wu claimed victory in this Spirit Duel with an overwhelming advantage.
After Feng Yuanliu raised his hand to signal his surrender, many spectators who had lost money stood up in agitation to criticize him.
"Xiao Wu, you really are impressive."
On the Spirit Duel stage, ignoring the voices of the audience below, Feng Yuanliu looked at Xiao Wu and sighed sincerely.
Only when facing Xiao Wu's attacks could one understand where her true strength lay.
"It was nothing special. I'm leaving now. Farewell."
When Feng Yuanliu wasn't being arrogant, Xiao Wu wouldn't choose an arrogant tone to retort. She replied using Yu Yan's lines and turned to leave the Spirit Duel stage.
A short while later, Xiao Wu approached Yu Yan with the 10 gold coins she had won as a reward. "Quick, quick, tell me, how many gold coins did you make betting on me?"
"Not many people had faith in you, but because I bet a large amount of gold coins, the odds for your match were 1:4. Those 20 gold coins have turned into 80 gold coins."
Yu Yan didn't have the habit of keeping people in suspense and stated the result directly.
"So... so much money! Yu Yan, we absolutely have to go out to eat and celebrate today. I also want to eat the Beggar's Chicken you make."
Having lived in human society for so long, Xiao Wu fully understood the importance of money. Hearing that they had so many gold coins, she began calculating how to spend them.
"No problem at all."
Xiao Wu deserved credit for obtaining so many gold coins. Since she had only made a small request, Yu Yan had no reason to refuse.
Seeing Yu Yan agree to her request, Xiao Wu's eyes crinkled into half-moons from her smile.
"Stop grinning like a fool. There's still a two-on-two Spirit Duel coming up. Let's go study how we're going to coordinate."
After tapping Xiao Wu on the head, Yu Yan pulled her toward Sub-Arena 27.
Each sub-arena within the Balak Great Spirit Arena served a different purpose. Just as No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena was for 1v1 Spirit Duels between First Ring Spirit Masters, Sub-Arena 27 was specifically for First Ring Spirit Masters to engage in two-on-two team Spirit Duels.
To allow the contestants to move freely, Sub-Arena 27 was considerably larger than the neighboring No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena, and there were also many more spectators here.
Yu Yan and Xiao Wu's two-on-two team Spirit Duel hadn't started yet, so the two of them went to the audience stands to observe how other pairs coordinated.
In Yu Yan's observation, those participating in two-on-two team Spirit Duels were divided into two types.
One type was long-term teams with fixed partners. Through their mutual coordination, they could exert even greater combat power.
The other type was temporary teams. They were simply there to participate in an extra Spirit Duel, and were matched randomly by the Soul Fighting Arena. The combat power such temporary teams could exert depended entirely on luck.