Chapter 80: The Only Isolated One, Suotuo Grand Soul Arena!
Shrek Academy.
Ever since the conflict between Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai that day, the atmosphere in the academy had subtly changed.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun gradually formed their own small circle.
Whether training, eating, or resting, the three were almost inseparable.
As if trying to hide the secret of his "inability," Dai Mubai still occasionally brought Ma Hongjun with him to the brothels of Suotuo City.
One evening.
The two slipped out of the academy again.
"Boss Dai, we're going to the brothel again?"
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together, a lewd grin spreading across his face.
"That girl Xiao Hong last time wasn't bad — slim waist, long legs, hehe…"
Dai Mubai's expression darkened.
"Cut the nonsense."
He forced himself to sound calm, trying to keep his voice as normal as possible.
"If you want to go, follow me. If not, go back."
"Go, go, of course we're going!" Ma Hongjun nodded eagerly.
But he felt somewhat puzzled inside.
Boss Dai had been visiting brothels far too frequently lately.
And every time, he would rent a room, leave the girl alone, and either drink or meditate to cultivate.
That wasn't enjoyment.
It was more like suffering.
Still, that confusion lasted only a moment before being swept away by his desire for beautiful women.
Whatever — as long as he got to have fun, and it wasn't his money being spent.
…
The two arrived at the most famous establishment in Suotuo City — Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
As usual, Dai Mubai rented two rooms and tossed Ma Hongjun a pouch of Gold Soul Coins.
"Go enjoy yourself. Don't bother me."
"Alright! Thanks, Boss Dai!"
Ma Hongjun beamed and rushed straight into the crowd of girls.
Dai Mubai entered his own room, closed the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.
He waved away the girl who approached him, sat alone at the table, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one gulp.
The bitter liquor slid down his throat but did nothing to ease the frustration in his heart.
"Damn it…"
He cursed under his breath, slamming his fist onto the table.
The secret of his impotence weighed on him like a massive stone, suffocating him.
He dared not tell anyone — not even his closest brothers.
He could only maintain the façade of a "romantic young master" by frequently visiting brothels.
But how long could this act last?
He didn't know.
…
Meanwhile,
In the small courtyard of the girls' dormitory area, the atmosphere was completely different.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing trained with Lin Qingmo every single day without fail.
The "scientific training method" Lin Qingmo taught them had initially made them complain endlessly, but the results were undeniable.
"Today we're training core strength."
Lin Qingmo stood beside the training ground, holding a small notebook and recording.
"Three sets of planks, ten minutes each. Five sets of sit-ups, one hundred each. Four sets of Russian twists, fifty each."
Xiao Wu made a bitter face.
"Ah Qing, this is torture…"
"If you want to become stronger, stop complaining."
Lin Qingmo showed no mercy.
"Your flexibility is already good, but your core strength is lacking. Your stability during explosive movements isn't enough. This training fixes that weakness."
Zhu Zhuqing had already silently dropped into position and begun her plank.
She spoke little but trained harder than anyone.
In just a few days, her speed and reaction time had clearly improved, and she had become more agile and versatile in combat.
This made her trust Lin Qingmo's training methods even more.
Having already finished her running laps for the day, Ning Rongrong stood at the edge of the training ground watching for quite a while.
Ever since Lin Qingmo lectured her, she had indeed changed somewhat.
Though her young-lady temperament still remained deep down, she was no longer as delicate and lazy as before.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's training results, she finally made up her mind.
"Lin Qingmo."
She walked up to him with a serious expression.
"I want to become stronger too."
Lin Qingmo looked up at her.
"Oh?"
"I want to hold my own fate in my hands. I don't want to rely on others to protect me forever."
Ning Rongrong bit her lip and took out a large money pouch from her storage soul tool.
"Here are ten thousand Gold Soul Coins. Can you customize a training plan for me, too? One suitable for an auxiliary Spirit Master."
Lin Qingmo raised an eyebrow.
He took the pouch, weighed it in his hand, and tucked it away with satisfaction.
"Deal."
He agreed readily.
"Even though auxiliary Soul Masters don't fight directly, physical fitness is still important. Endurance, reaction speed, and movement speed can save your life at critical moments."
He quickly designed a training plan tailored specifically for Ning Rongrong.
The intensity was lower than Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's, but it focused more on endurance and agility.
He also added exercises for dodging attacks and rapid positioning.
From then on, it became common to see Lin Qingmo training with the three girls at Shrek Academy's training ground.
Xiao Wu's flexibility and explosive power grew stronger and stronger.
Zhu Zhuqing's speed and reaction time became dazzlingly fast.
Ning Rongrong's endurance improved significantly — running ten laps no longer left her gasping for breath.
Only Tang San became the one isolated among the Shrek Eight Devils.
Whether training or resting, he was always alone.
Occasionally, he tried to approach Xiao Wu, only to be casually blocked by her saying, "We already have enough people."
Watching Lin Qingmo receive everyone's admiration, with Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong all surrounding him, jealousy grew inside Tang San like poisonous weeds.
"Why?"
Why did everyone like Lin Qingmo?
Why could Lin Qingmo make someone like Ning Rongrong obedient with just a few words?
Why did Xiao Wu — whom he met first — now follow Lin Qingmo all day?
Tang San's expression became darker and darker, and the resentment in his eyes deepened.
"Why?"
He muttered, as if convincing himself.
"As long as I become strong enough, everyone will see my value. Lin Qingmo… just wait."
He still had hidden cards — the Tang Sect's secret techniques, and his second martial soul.
…
A few days later.
Flender brought the Shrek Eight Devils to the Suotuo Grand Soul Arena.
The enormous circular building stood at the center of the city, magnificent and imposing.
People flowed in and out of the entrance —
Soul Masters, ordinary spectators, merchants — bustling with activity.
The air was filled with excitement, tension, and the faint scent of blood — the unique atmosphere of a spirit arena.
"From today onward, real combat soul battles will become part of your regular training."
Flender stood at the entrance of the arena, pushing up his glasses with a serious expression.
"Here, you can fully display your strength and accumulate combat experience."
"Each victory earns points and Gold Soul Coins. Points increase your soul badge rank, and Gold Soul Coins… well, you understand."
He deliberately glanced at Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun grinned, rubbing his hands as his eyes lit up.
He needed money — a lot of money.
Releasing his "evil fire" in brothels wasn't cheap.
Boss Dai couldn't keep paying for him every time.
"Alright, everyone, go register. Wear a uniform mask and choose a codename."
Flender instructed.
"Remember — don't use your real names or reveal your identities. It's for your safety."
Everyone nodded and lined up to register.
—
End of Chapter