Chapter 33: Soul Battles

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In the days that followed, thanks to the epic-level enhancement of his second soul skill, Ye Wen devoted himself entirely to research. Many previously obscure and difficult problems were now easily solved with the help of this soul skill.

Ye Wen even completed the world's first 'Compendium of Materia Medica'-level work, using the various strange roots and medicinal herbs he had collected over the years. 

If this were the Primordial Chaos world, Ye Wen would have likely already ascended to sainthood through humanistic merit.

Unfortunately, the plane of Douluo was ultimately of a lower rank.

(A/N: It's not about arbitrarily giving the protagonist cheat powers—it's that the protagonist inherently possessed this ability. It's just that his spiritual power wasn't sufficient to discover it until now.

What is the essence of space? It's matter. Therefore, it's perfectly reasonable for a martial soul with spatial origins to awaken such an ability.)

At this moment, Ye Wen felt a restless urge to raid the Ice-Fire Dual Eye and snatch all the immortal herbs before they could be wasted by Tang San, the future "Three Great Demons." 

However, after some thought, Ye Wen abandoned the idea. His cultivation had just surpassed the Soul King level, making him only a marginally strong expert in this world. If he wanted to act recklessly in a large spirit beast gathering area, he still lacked the necessary strength.

As for teaching his disciples, Ye Wen handed the task over to Ah Yin. After all, the two were already fond of each other, though they were still too young. Ye Wen didn't plan to rush things—doing so too early would harm both parties.

Ah Yin, who was nearing the Soul King level, was in high spirits but had become somewhat lazy. She seemed to enjoy taking care of children, and basic soul master teaching wasn't particularly challenging for her.

Memorization—three years of college entrance exams, five years of mock tests—got it!

If Ye Wen had to worry about these trivial matters, he might as well expel his disciples from the sect.

While Ye Wen was immersed in his research, Huo Rui and Huo Quan approached him.

"Master, we want to engage in real combat."

Putting down the materials in his hands, Ye Wen looked at the two siblings, who were beginning to resemble adults. Huo Rui had grown even more striking, her high ponytail exuding boundless youth and vitality.

Huo Quan remained as steady as ever, but his crew cut and resolute expression made him look like a military man—perhaps a bit too mature for his age.

"You want to gain practical combat experience, huh?" Ye Wen tapped the table, deep in thought.

There was no doubt that these two siblings were prodigies in soul master cultivation. At such a young age, they had already reached the Soul Elder level. Huo Quan was at Level 35, while Huo Rui was at Level 32. Moreover, thanks to their practice of the six self-created soul skills and their training in climbing trees and treading water, their close-combat abilities were terrifying. Once they closed the distance, even Ye Wen doubted he could surpass them in technique.

Glancing at his recent research bottleneck, Ye Wen rubbed his chin.

Perhaps going out for a bit could lead to a breakthrough.

"Alright."

The siblings exchanged excited glances. As the saying goes, "When you carry a sharp blade, the desire to kill arises naturally." Not to mention, they had mastered such terrifying killing techniques.

Unfortunately, in their daily lives, they were either surrounded by teachers far stronger than them or junior disciples far weaker than them, leaving little room to fully unleash their potential. Now, in the prime of their youth, they naturally wanted to test their skills, which was why they made this request to Ye Wen.

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Outside the Da Wei City Soul Arena, Fasinuo Province

Looking at the dense crowds in the distance, excitement flickered in Huo Rui and Huo Quan's eyes, while Ye Wen remained calm. Having frequently traveled to gather materials, he was familiar with the medium and large cities near Notting.

As for why they didn't go to the Soto City Grand Soul Arena?

It was simply too far away—it was in another country, alright~_~

Those unfamiliar with the original story might not understand the structure of the Heaven's Battle Empire and the Star Luo Empire. But once they did, they would feel disdain for the two great empires.

Originally, the Heaven's Battle Empire consisted of ten provinces, one of which was the Fasinuo Province where Ye Wen resided.

However, the current Heaven's Battle Empire had split, now controlling only five provinces. The remaining five provinces had been granted to four kingdoms and one duchy, forming the front line against the Star Luo Empire.

Similarly, the Star Luo Empire, the long-time rival of the Heaven's Battle Empire, faced a similar situation. By the later stages of Douluo I, these kingdoms and duchies were directly subverted by the Spirit Hall, becoming the main forces suppressing the two empires.

Ye Wen pointed to a massive black stone monument outside the David Soul Arena and said, "Do you see this monument? The names carved on it belong to soul masters who died in battles here. So my requirement for you is simple: don't hold back in your upcoming fights.

Additionally, I'm imposing some restrictions. First, you cannot reveal your soul rings—their configuration is too shocking. Being seen by the forces within the arena would be disadvantageous for us.

Second, you are forbidden from using any self-created soul skills involving ranged attacks. You must rely entirely on physical techniques to fight.

Finally, since you've come this far, you must fight at least ten matches each. If you lose even one match, I'll personally oversee your training regimen afterward."

Seeing Ye Wen's sinister smile, the siblings shuddered. They silently wondered if their request for real combat had been premature. They wanted to beg for leniency, but looking at his wicked grin, they swallowed their words and vowed not to lose.

After all, Ye Wen had been busy with research lately and hadn't supervised their training. But the two siblings had personally experienced Ye Wen's rigorous teaching methods. They had no desire to endure that extreme pressure again.

Together, they approached the counter, handing over ten gold coins. "We'd like to register."

"What are your cultivation levels and registration names?"

Huo Rui: "Level 32 Soul Elder, Tian Xing Senior Sister."

Huo Quan: "Level 35 Soul Elder, Tian Xing Second Brother."

"Do you wish to sign up for soul battles today?"

"Yes."

"Understood. Registration complete. Tian Xing Senior Sister, your match is at 2 PM today. Tian Xing Second Brother, your match is at 4 PM today."

The process was quick, and soon they were ready, dressed in the black outfits with golden embroidery that Ye Wen had prepared for them.

The design was simple, with the most eye-catching feature being the "Tian Xing" characters embroidered in gold thread on the left chest. These uniforms were specifically designed by Ye Wen for his disciples—lightweight, easy to move in, and perfect for combat without hindering their movements or giving enemies an opening.

Ye Wen also thoughtfully provided them with masks to conceal their identities. After all, their goal this time was to gain practical combat experience, not to attract attention. A little fame was fine, but who knew whether "Tian Xing" referred to an academy or a sect?

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