NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Chapter 49
Chapter 49: Things Have Changed
As the system's voice echoed in his mind, Ye Feng immediately felt his body becoming lighter.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong, with Ye Feng's words lingering in her mind, pushed through her exhaustion and hunger. No matter how close she was to giving up, she kept recalling what he had said.
"Junior sister, you should lose weight."
Each time that sentence popped into her head, she clenched her teeth and pushed forward. The images of Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, with their perfect figures, flashed in her mind, fueling her determination.
"Brother, I will definitely become more slender," Ning Rongrong muttered under her breath. She reached up, plucked a fruit from a nearby tree, and took a few bites before continuing her run. By the time she finished the task assigned by Grandmaster Flanders, she had completely exhausted herself. But she had done it.
Flanders, observing her, nodded in admiration.
---
When night fell, Flanders gathered the students—Ye Feng, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San—taking them to the Great Fighting Arena in Soto City.
"Dean, is it really a good idea to take them there on the first day?" Dai Mubai asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They're all monsters, and monsters require monster training methods," Flanders replied calmly.
"The Great Fighting Arena?" Xiao Wu tilted her head curiously.
"It's where spirit masters battle each other for competition and where gamblers place their bets," Dai Mubai explained. "For you, it's the best place to improve your combat skills in real fights."
Xiao Wu frowned. "So, we're basically putting on a show for others?"
"You've got it wrong," Dai Mubai said. "I don't like these places much either, but I can't deny that the Great Fighting Arena is the best way to measure a spirit master's worth. It's got a complete system, independent forces, and most importantly—it's relatively fair."
"Fair?" Tang San snorted. "Is there even such a thing in this world?"
"At least here, even the descendants of noble families have to fight for survival. The Great Fighting Arena doesn't discriminate—everyone who enters faces the same life-and-death trials," Dai Mubai replied.
Ye Feng stayed silent, his gaze shifting to Zhu Zhuqing. She was still as cold and distant as ever, not even sparing Dai Mubai a glance. It was as if they were strangers.
Meanwhile, Oscar, having abandoned his pursuit of Ning Rongrong thanks to Ye Feng's intervention, seemed indifferent. He had only been attracted to her beauty and hadn't developed any deep feelings, so there was no heartbreak.
As for Zhu Zhuqing… Ye Feng had to admit, her figure was something else. His curiosity got the better of him. Was her cat tail real?
Lost in thought, Ye Feng's steps became uncoordinated, and—
He stepped right on Zhu Zhuqing's tail.
"Meow!"
Zhu Zhuqing's cat ears shot up, and she let out an instinctive cat-like cry, her sharp gaze locking onto Ye Feng in an instant.
The sudden noise caught everyone's attention, including Flanders, Dai Mubai, and the others. They all turned toward Ye Feng.
"Ahem."
Ye Feng coughed awkwardly and quickly apologized. "Uh… Sorry, I stepped on your foot by accident."
Foot, my ass.
But he wasn't about to admit he stepped on her tail.
That small moment confirmed something for Ye Feng—Zhu Zhuqing's tail was real. Just like Xiao Wu's rabbit ears.
Zhu Zhuqing narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything more. Instead, she turned away and continued following Flanders toward the Great Fighting Arena.
Ye Feng fell to the back of the group, deep in thought.
It was said that when humans awaken their martial spirits, some develop characteristics related to their spirit beasts—especially those with beast-type spirits.
Xiao Wu had rabbit ears because, well, she was an actual spirit beast in human form. But Zhu Zhuqing? She had cat ears and a tail. Did that mean her ancestors had some kind of spirit beast bloodline mixed in?
---
Once they reached the Great Fighting Arena, Flanders turned to them.
"After registration, each of you will receive an Iron Fighting Spirit Badge. Each victory earns one point, while a loss deducts one. Once you accumulate 100 points, you'll be promoted to a Bronze Fighting Spirit Badge." He paused, glancing at them all. "Before you graduate, I expect each of you to have at least a Silver Fighting Spirit Badge."
"Yes, Dean!" the students answered in unison.
"Dean, do I also need to reach the Silver Badge?" Ning Rongrong asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Flanders replied without hesitation.
"But I'm an auxiliary spirit master," she pointed out, her brow furrowed.
In the original timeline, Ning Rongrong wouldn't have even been here yet. But Ye Feng's interference had changed things. Now, she had completed her training task and stood here with everyone else—including Oscar.
"The Great Fighting Arena has one-on-one, two-on-two, and team battles." Flanders explained. "There are eight of you. That means everyone can form a two-man team. You and Oscar are auxiliary spirit masters, but that doesn't mean you should sit out. Pairing up with a strong partner will still be beneficial."
Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately landed on Ye Feng.
"Senior brother, can we team up?" she asked with a sweet smile.
"Uh…" Ye Feng hesitated.
This wasn't how things went in the original story.
Originally, Ning Rongrong paired with Zhu Zhuqing, forming the Seven Treasures Civets. Tang San and Xiao Wu became the Three-Fives. Oscar teamed up with Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun was left to fight alone.
Now, however, there were eight students. That meant no one would be left without a partner.
"Is it not possible?" Ning Rongrong asked, her voice softening slightly.
Flanders interjected, shaking his head. "Rongrong, I suggest you choose someone from Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, or Tang San instead."
"Why?" she asked, clearly disappointed.
"Because Ye Feng's spirit power is at level forty-nine. According to the arena's rules, if you team up with him, you'll be placed against Iron-ranked teams with spirit power above level forty. And you're only a second-ring Grand Spirit Master. It would put both of you at a severe disadvantage."
Ning Rongrong pouted. She glanced around at her other options before finally landing on Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, how about we team up?"
Xiao Wu blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
Ning Rongrong grinned.
Xiao Wu was Ye Feng's adopted sister, and Ning Rongrong was Ye Feng's junior sister. If she wanted to get closer to Ye Feng, getting along with Xiao Wu was a smart move.
Ning Rongrong saw this as the perfect opportunity.
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(End of Chapter)
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