After finishing Wednesday's spirit ring knowledge class, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, having saved up enough gold coins, headed towards the Balak City Great Spirit Arena.
The Balak Great Spirit Arena was an elliptical domed building 150 meters high, with marble as its primary material, exuding luxury and grandeur.
At the entrance of the Soul Fighting Arena stood a giant stone tablet. The front recorded the Spirit Masters who had gained honor within the Balak City Soul Fighting Arena, while the back recorded those who had died there, said to symbolize honor and death.
Within the Balak Great Spirit Arena, there was one main arena and 28 sub-arenas, capable of accommodating 90,000 spectators simultaneously.
The Soul Fighting Arena was a competitive venue operated by a third-party power jointly founded by the seven great Spirit Master families; it was a place for Spirit Masters to hone themselves and earn money.
The registration fee for the Soul Fighting Arena was 10 gold coins. Yu Yan and Xiao Wu didn't have enough gold coins between them, so after a brief discussion that wasn't much of a discussion, it was decided that Yu Yan would fight the first match.
Once Yu Yan won the match and earned the 10 gold coin reward, Xiao Wu would then use those 10 gold coins to register for her own match.
After filling out the basic personal information on the form handed over by the registration staff, displaying his Spirit, and testing his spirit power, Yu Yan obtained an Iron-rank badge from the Soul Fighting Arena.
The type of Spirit Duel Yu Yan participated in was, naturally, the sparring category where killing was forbidden.
Soon, Yu Yan faced his first Spirit Duel.
Before entering the contestant tunnel for the one-on-one Spirit Duel area, Yu Yan handed the remaining 4 gold coins to Xiao Wu: "Remember to bet on me to win in the arena's gambling matches later."
Yu Yan not only wanted to earn the 10 gold coins from the victory but also money from the gambling.
As for failure?
That was completely impossible.
"Alright, alright."
Xiao Wu took the gold coins and gave Yu Yan an OK gesture.
Yu Yan's match took place in No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena, a place for First Ring Spirit Masters to conduct one-on-one Spirit Duels, located in a corner of the Balak Great Spirit Arena.
Even so, this sub-arena had a diameter of 20 meters, enough for a First Ring Spirit Master to perform to their heart's content. Until he achieved five consecutive wins or achieved a Breakthrough to Spirit Grandmaster, Yu Yan would be fighting here.
On the stage of No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena, an old man with white hair and beard stood in the center. After clearing his throat, he used spirit power to amplify his voice:
"Next, we will proceed with the next match in No. 28 Sub Spirit Arena. The two Spirit Masters appearing are Wu Xu, a Rank 15 Spirit Master with the Black Wolf Beast Spirit, who has achieved an excellent record of three consecutive wins in this arena. I believe everyone is aware of Wu Xu's strength. And his opponent is equally extraordinary."
The old man played it up a bit, piquing the audience's interest slightly, until someone urged him on. Only then did he speak:
"His opponent is Yu Yan, a Rank 12 Spirit Master with the mutated Beast Spirit, the Ice and Fire Twin Fish. This contestant's Spirit is very peculiar. According to him, his Spirit is a dual-born Companion Spirit, taking the form of two fish: one fire fish and one Ice Fish."
"A dual-born Spirit—I'm sure none of you have seen one before? To be honest, neither have I."
"Who will emerge victorious in this match? Let us wait and see. Next, please welcome the two Spirit Masters to the stage."
After the old man's introduction, the audience's gaze was fixed on the arena. They were very curious to see what the so-called Companion Spirit, the Ice and Fire Twin Fish, actually looked like.
Yu Yan had actually thought about hiding his identity, but it was not easy to do so on the Douluo Continent, especially when his Spirit was so peculiar. Hiding his identity was a difficult task.
In the spectator stands, after betting all the gold coins on Yu Yan, Xiao Wu sat in her chair and looked at the old man, muttering, "He sure talks a lot."
Wu Xu was a robust middle-aged man with a scar on his face, giving him a fierce appearance.
"What a small kid."
Standing in the Soul Fighting Arena, Wu Xu looked at the little kid walking up from the other side. A strange expression appeared in his eyes as he wondered if he should go easy on him.
After absorbing a spirit ring, Yu Yan looked like an eight or nine-year-old child, but in front of Wu Xu, a middle-aged man in his thirties, he was just a kid.
Not just Wu Xu, but the audience also showed surprised expressions upon seeing Yu Yan's age. A cacophony of discussion came from the stands, as they were equally astonished by his age.
Yu Yan didn't say a word; he revealed his Ice and Fire Twin Fish Martial Soul and his spirit ring.
Two large energy-form fish, one ice and one fire, circled around Yu Yan. A yellow century-old spirit ring pulsed up and down, drawing everyone's attention. They scrutinized the Ice and Fire Twin Fish with curious gazes, this peculiar Spirit they had never seen before.
Wu Xu set aside his disdain and summoned his Black Wolf Spirit, performing Martial Soul Possession.
The moment Martial Soul Possession was complete, some characteristics of a Black Wolf appeared on Wu Xu. As the yellow spirit ring pulsed, Wu Xu's speed increased significantly. He circled around Yu Yan like a wolf, looking for an opportunity to attack.
Wu Xu's speed was not fast in the eyes of Yu Yan, who frequently fought with Xiao Wu; he could clearly see Wu Xu's path of advancement.
The Ice Fish of the Ice and Fire Twin Fish completed Martial Soul Possession. A faint chill surrounded Yu Yan, and an icy blue light flickered in his eyes.
As Wu Xu turned to move, Yu Yan leapt forward, rushing toward him at a speed even faster than Wu Xu's.
Unable to dodge in time, Wu Xu didn't think twice and threw a punch at Yu Yan, intending to repel him.
Could a child really surpass him in strength?
As the two were about to collide, Yu Yan quickly activated his Ice Fish Skill, and sections of Frost Scale Armor appeared, covering his arm.
Between a fist of flesh and blood and the solid Frost Scale Armor, it was obvious which was harder.
Besides, Yu Yan's strength was not less than Wu Xu's. In a Xuanhuan World, judging strength by age was a foolish thing.
As their fists collided, Wu Xu was sent flying backward by Yu Yan's punch.
Witnessing this exaggerated scene, everyone present except Xiao Wu was once again plunged into shock. Some even rubbed their eyes and looked back at the arena, hoping they had just misseen.
Wu Xu regained his footing. His hand had been injured in the collision, and there was a wound on the back of his arm that was bleeding.
He found it hard to believe he could be sent flying by a punch from a child who looked eight or nine years old, but the pain from his hand told him it was the truth.
This little guy before him was unexpectedly powerful.
"First Soul Skill: Wolf Assault."
Unwilling to be defeated by a child, Wu Xu let out a loud shout and activated his First Soul Skill.
Faint black energy appeared on Wu Xu, and his speed became 70% faster than before. He turned into a black shadow, rushing around Yu Yan, searching for a chance to deliver a fatal blow.