Douluo Continent: The Real World

Half a month had passed since Yu Tianyan helped the three individuals absorb the heart fire. After successfully absorbing it, Jing Ling and Jiang Zhu immersed themselves in cultivation. Their cultivation speed skyrocketed, leaving them in awe of its effects.

The day after the heart fire absorption, Huang Yuan visited Yu Tianyan, who, nursing a sore backside after a beating, could only lie on the bed. They talked from morning until sunset, before Liu Erlong finally kicked Huang Yuan out of the courtyard. From that day on, Huang Yuan became the captain of the trio.

Meanwhile, Tailong, one of the four substitutes, stayed at the academy under Yinshu's persuasion instead of going home. He focused on recuperating, sparing Yu Tianyan considerable trouble.

One day, Liu Erlong held Yu Tianyan's hand as they strolled through the bustling streets of Tiandou City. Besides Wuhun City, the holy land for all soul masters, Tiandou City was the most prosperous place on the entire Douluo Continent.

It wasn't just the city's vast area that made it remarkable; Tiandou City was also the economic and trade hub of the entire Tiandou Empire. During the day, the streets were packed with people, and even at night, the city shone brightly with lights.

Though Liu Erlong was aware of Yu Tianyan's maturity, her concern never waned, and she gripped his hand tightly.

Soon, they arrived at their destination—the largest building in Tiandou City, second only to the Imperial Palace. Even the grandeur of the Royal Palace paled in comparison.

[Tiandou Great Fighting Spirit Arena]

The Great Fighting Spirit Arena stood tall at 100 meters in height, shaped like a massive oval. Its interior boasted a main fighting arena, eight secondary arenas, and 24 sub-fighting arenas.

Single and duo matches generally took place in the sub-fighting arenas, while team battles occurred in the secondary arenas. Only those who met strict criteria could fight in the main arena.

The arena could accommodate 80,000 spectators simultaneously, with 200 VIP boxes and 20 supreme boxes. Entry to the Supreme Boxes was reserved for individuals of prince-level status or higher. Emperor Xue Ye himself had been a frequent visitor in his youth.

Liu Erlong led Yu Tianyan to the registration office, where signing up for a Soul Fighting match was straightforward. Participants simply filled out a form with their name, age, place of birth, and martial soul, followed by a soul power test. In return, they received the basic Iron Soul Fighting Badge. A ten-gold-coin registration fee was required, which Liu Erlong covered.

The staff member assisting them suddenly asked, "Will you use your real name or a code name?"

Liu Erlong chimed in, "Xiao Yan, pick a code name. Most people here don't use their real names."

Yu Tianyan nodded thoughtfully. "Call me Thunder God," he said confidently.

The staff raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, handing him an iron badge.

The badges in the Fighting Spirit Arena were divided into eight levels: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond. Participants advanced through the ranks by earning points through consecutive wins.

It took 100 points to upgrade from Iron to Bronze, with each victory earning one point and each loss deducting one point. However, winning streaks offered bonuses: five consecutive victories granted 55 points, while ten consecutive victories awarded 100 points, allowing an immediate promotion to Bronze.

To climb further, from Bronze to Silver or beyond, increasingly higher points were required, making the journey to the prestigious Diamond-level badge incredibly challenging.

Yu Tianyan handed over the ten gold coins and said, "Please register me for the Soul Fighting matches."

The staff nodded. "Very well. Please wait in the rest area. We'll notify you when it's your turn."

Under Liu Erlong's guidance, Yu Tianyan moved to the ordinary rest area, refusing her offer to use the VIP room. Liu Erlong occasionally brought students from the academy here to gain combat experience and was well-versed in the arena's operations.

For Yu Tianyan, this visit served two purposes. Firstly, he needed real combat experience. His victories against Tailong, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling had relied heavily on the innate advantages of his martial soul. Secondly, Liu Erlong wanted him to understand that thunder wasn't omnipotent. Without offensive techniques, he could face disadvantages as a Great Soul Master or Soul Venerable.

After about ten minutes, an announcement echoed through the rest area:

"Thunder God, please proceed to the eighth fighting arena for your match."

Some of the soul masters in the area raised their eyebrows at the bold name but refrained from commenting.

Yu Tianyan stood up and said to Liu Erlong, "Sister Erlong, I'll head there now."

Liu Erlong handed him a red Fire Dragon mask. "Xiaoyan, wear this," she instructed.

Yu Tianyan gently placed the mask on his face, nodded to her, and walked toward Arena No. 8. The mask, once used by Liu Erlong in her youth to avoid unwanted attention, now served the same purpose for the youthful and tender-faced Yu Tianyan.

Outside the arena, a staff member awaited him.

Inside the fighting arena, a young female announcer with wings and daring attire stood in the center, her voice booming across the space:

"Next, we present the 13th one-on-one match in Arena No. 8! Two Great Soul Masters will battle it out: Lei Shen, with the Thunder Martial Soul, versus Shi Tian, with the Weapon Martial Soul Spear, currently boasting a three-match winning streak. Will Shi Tian claim his fourth victory, or will the newcomer Lei Shen emerge victorious? Let's find out!"

The crowd was quiet, with only a few fans cheering for Shi Tian. The rest seemed indifferent, some even sneering at the arrogance of the name "Thunder God."

Yu Tianyan leaped gracefully into the arena, landing smoothly. His opponent, a two-meter-tall man with broad shoulders, cold eyes, and a white suit, walked in confidently.

The announcer declared, "The battle of spirits begins!" before flying into the air.

Shi Tian roared, releasing two yellow soul rings that rose from his feet. His soul power surged, revealing at least a level 27 cultivation.

A nearly two-meter-long spear materialized in his hand, and his fierce eyes locked onto Yu Tianyan.

Yu Tianyan, though young, knew not to underestimate this experienced Great Soul Master. His own thunder martial soul crackled into life, signaling the start of a fierce duel.

(End of the Chapter)