Chapter 37: Spicy Rabbit Head, Another Bowl Please  

Nighttime in Soto City was bustling and vibrant, its bright lights making it a city that never slept. 

The most crowded location was undoubtedly the Soto Great Spirit Arena, where nearly 70–80% of the city's population gathered. 

Soul fights were both exhilarating and stress-relieving. They provided a way for people to unwind after a day's work. For commoners who lacked soul power and could never become soul masters, enjoying an intense battle before bedtime was far more appealing than listening to bedtime stories. 

Led by Qin Ming, a veteran of the Soto Great Spirit Arena, Ye Hao and the Emperor Team entered the arena. Qin Ming scanned the surroundings as they walked, hoping to spot some familiar faces. 

At the same time, another group entered the arena. Like the Emperor Team, they had a mission, though they took a different passage. The two groups brushed past each other without interaction. 

Qin Ming brought his team to a spacious hall, where the familiar scene filled him with nostalgia. 

"Do you all remember what I told you this morning?" he asked. 

Everyone nodded. The Soto Great Spirit Arena had its own rules, and even the Emperor Team from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy had to follow them. 

Satisfied, Qin Ming instructed the eight to register for their matches. He headed to the team battle registration counter himself, fulfilling his responsibilities as their leader. 

Pairing Up 

The Emperor Team, including Ye Hao, consisted of eight members. 

- Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan naturally paired up. 

- Shi Mo and Shi Mo, the twin brothers, were another duo. 

- Yu Feng and Oslo formed the third pair. 

- Lastly, Ye Hao and Ye Lingling paired as the "Double Ye Duo" since they shared the surname Ye. 

Before the team battle, Qin Ming required everyone to compete in individual and two-versus-two matches. This would help determine the seven participants for the final team battle. 

Ye Hao and Ye Lingling's first opponents were the **Iron Hammer Duo**—a name that clearly hinted at their choice of weapon. 

Pre-Match Banter 

"Are you really that hungry?" Ye Lingling asked, watching Ye Hao devour his food. 

Wiping his oily mouth, Ye Hao grinned. "Sis, we're about to fight. After this two-versus-two match, we have the team battle. It's going to be a long night. Aren't you hungry? Want some rabbit leg?" 

Ye Lingling shook her head, her tone icy. "You eat it. I'm not hungry. Why do you have such a grudge against rabbits? You had braised rabbit head at lunch, and now you're eating roasted rabbit leg." 

Ye Hao took the last bite of his rabbit and declared righteously, "I just love eating rabbit, that's all." 

Registration Drama 

At the registration counter for team battles, Qin Ming arrived at the same time as a short-haired man dressed in black. 

"Sign me up for the team battle," both said in unison. 

"You go first, sir," Qin Ming said, stepping back out of courtesy. 

The short-haired man nodded and handed his token to the receptionist without hesitation. 

"Thanks. You're signing up for the team battle too?" the man asked. 

Qin Ming nodded. "Yes. Hopefully, we won't meet too soon." 

The man's stiff face twisted into a grim smile. "If we do, you'll lose." 

The receptionist handed the man his registration plate, and he strode off with his hands behind his back, his chest puffed out like a rooster. 

Watching him leave, Qin Ming sighed and shrugged. "The world is full of strange people. I've finally seen it all—someone who doesn't even bother with pleasantries before declaring their opponent a loser." 

Turning back to the receptionist, Qin Ming said, "Register the Emperor Team for the team battle." 

The receptionist tapped away at her crystal screen. 

"All done, sir. The Emperor Team's match will be the final event tonight. Your opponents are the Fury Battle Team, who hold an Iron Soul Badge." 

Qin Ming accepted the token and murmured, "Fury Battle Team? Do you have any information on them?" 

"Yes, sir." The receptionist handed him a stack of documents. 

"One more thing, sir," she added. 

"What is it?" 

The receptionist gave a friendly warning. "The Fury Battle Team is the only team here with three consecutive wins. Although they recently lost due to underestimating their opponent, their overall strength is formidable. Please caution your team to be careful." 

Qin Ming smiled as he tucked the documents away. 

"Thank you for the reminder, but I trust my team. They'll win." 

After thanking her, Qin Ming left. 

Watching him walk away, the receptionist muttered, "Why is the gap between people so vast?" 

The "Double Ye Duo" vs. The Iron Hammer Duo 

"Attention! Double Ye Duo and Iron Hammer Duo, your two-versus-two match is about to begin. Please proceed to the arena." 

At the arena's edge, Ye Hao and Ye Lingling donned their masks, concealing their identities. In such a crowded venue, Ye Hao wasn't about to expose himself. 

Fighting under their real names increased the chances of being recognized, especially by the likes of the Shrek Academy students. If Ye Hao's guess was correct, the Shrek Seven were likely here in the Soto Great Spirit Arena. 

If luck was on his side and he encountered any of them, Ye Hao was ready to greet them in his own way. 

Ye Lingling's codename was Begonia Blossom, while Ye Hao's was Spicy Rabbit Head—names they chose to maintain anonymity. 

The soul fight arena was a massive 50-meter-wide platform, large enough to host two teams for a group battle. The crowd was a sea of faces, their cheers and shouts creating an electrifying atmosphere. Earlier battles had clearly fired up the audience. 

As the clock ticked closer to their match, the announcer took the stage, his voice booming with enthusiasm. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third match in tonight's two-versus-two battles is about to begin! Let's welcome the Double Ye Duo and the Iron Hammer Duo!" 

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. 

Under the spotlight, the Iron Hammer Duo stepped into the arena. They were two towering, muscular brothers, their physiques a testament to their strength. Their martial souls were identical: Earthshaking Hammer, a powerful tool martial soul. 

Since Ye Hao and Ye Lingling were both Soul Elders, their opponents were matched accordingly. 

Amid the deafening cheers, Ye Hao and Ye Lingling ascended the platform, their masked faces hiding any emotion. 

The announcer didn't bother with lengthy introductions—the audience was already raring to go. 

The stage was set. The battle was about to begin.