Inside the players' tunnel,the light was dim, isolating it from the deafening noise of the arena.
A middle-aged female manager, dressed in a smart business suit and exuding an air of shrewdness, was already waiting.
Seeing Dongfang Jing approach,she immediately put on a warm smile and went to greet him.
"What a wonderful match, Master Jing! Congratulations on your victory again! Thirty-six consecutive wins, truly... truly astonishing!"
Her words carried just the right amount of flattery and amazement.
Her gaze subtly swept over the boy's still upright and impeccably proportioned figure.
She secretly glanced at his mask,wishing she could tear it off and see the face beneath.
Dongfang Jing didn't stop walking;his eyes swept over her indifferently, and he directly extended his right hand.
Palm upward, the meaning crystal clear.
The female manager's smile froze slightly, then returned to normal.
With deft movements, she took out a gold card from her pocket and gently placed it in his palm.
"This was agreed upon beforehand. The 500,000 gold soul coins you'll receive after winning, plus the 100,000 you won from your own bets, totaling 600,000, have been deposited into this anonymous gold card."
She maintained a professional smile, tentatively asking, "Mr. Jing, with your exceptional strength, would you be interested in a deeper collaboration with our Grand Soul Arena?"
"Your popularity is currently at its peak, the highest in the history of our Water Ripple City Grand Soul Arena! Just one grand finale appearance like today, and the revenue from ticket sales and betting odds alone, would far exceed a million. It would be a stable and substantial source of income for you."
Her words were enticing, painting a picture of a win-win situation.
Dongfang Jing picked up the gold card, glanced at it, and casually put it away.
"No interest."
Without the slightest hesitation,he bypassed the stunned female manager and walked straight towards the exit.
His figure quickly disappeared into the dim light.
The female manager's smile slowly faded as she stared at the direction he had vanished for a long time.
Her deep gaze held a mixture of infatuation and regret.
A fantasy involuntarily arose in her mind:
'Such a cool and outstanding young man, if only I could have him beneath me…'
Just thinking about it made her thoughts flow like a spring, unforgettable.
A staff member approached her from behind, leaning forward and whispering in confusion, "Manager, you just gave him a million like that? That's no small sum."
The female manager smiled nonchalantly, her tone laced with shrewd calculation: "Heh, this young man's reputation is far more widespread than you imagine, even reaching surrounding cities. Even several wealthy individuals from Tian Dou City have come here to bet!
Therefore, the ticket revenue and betting commission from this match have already far exceeded that amount. We only profit, we don't lose."
She paused, adding meaningfully, "Besides, a million gold soul coins—can this Lord Jing really take it away unscathed?"
Her tone was calm, devoid of any sinister malice.
She was simply stating a fact.
The sheer amount of wealth was the most dangerous trigger.
And she was merely a businesswoman who enjoyed the market's natural reaction.
Outside the passageway exit, night deepened.
In the cold air, a few ominous auras subtly swirled.
Dongfang Jing had just stepped out of the passage, and before he could even look for his sister, the scene before him sent chills down his spine.
The area near the exit was already completely surrounded by an excited crowd of young Soul Masters and citizens.
Their eyes gleamed with fanaticism,and the moment they saw his iconic mask and figure, they erupted in a massive roar!
"Lord Jing! Look over here!"
"Lord! Can I get your autograph?"
"So cool! That move you just used was amazing!"
"Lord Jing! Do you take on disciples?"
The shouts and cries nearly lifted the ceiling of the passageway.
Countless fair and delicate arms reached out, trying to touch him.
Dongfang Jing instinctively took a half step back, his brows furrowing tightly beneath his mask.
These people were incredibly enthusiastic, but meant no harm.
However, he preferred quiet and was truly unskilled at handling such situations.
Just as he felt at a loss, his sharp gaze pierced through the surging crowd and
landed at the very back.
A petite and well-behaved figure stood there quietly, her small hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, tiptoeing, trying hard to see her brother through the gaps in the crowd.
Her large, dark eyes were filled with anticipation and a hint of grievance at being squeezed on the periphery.
The corners of Dongfang Jing's mouth unconsciously turned up slightly beneath his mask.
Without any warning,shimmering mirror fragments appeared around him, their light flickering.
The next moment, the figure of 'Lord Mirror,' standing in the center of the crowd and surrounded by people, suddenly became somewhat ethereal.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the crowd, Dongfang Yao only felt a slight fluctuation in the air around her.
A familiar figure appeared out of nowhere without warning!
Before she could react, a warm, strong arm encircled her waist, easily lifting her up.
"Ah!"
Dongfang Yao exclaimed softly, instinctively.
She then caught the reassuring scent of her brother.
"Hold on tight,"Dongfang Jing's voice rang in her ear, and she immediately obediently wrapped her small arms around her brother's neck.
With a few light leaps, Dongfang Jing, carrying his sister,swiftly disappeared from the crowd, vanishing in an instant.
Leaving behind a group of bewildered, excited fans.
Meanwhile,after watching the match, the group from Tianshui Academy also left the Soul Arena.
The seven girls remained silent, their eyes glazed over.
Seeing this, Shui Liuli felt a pang of regret.
She had intended to bring them to the Soul Arena to broaden their horizons and encourage them to train harder in the future.
Now, they were all devastated and starting to doubt their existence.
"Ahem." Shui Liuli clapped her hands, trying to attract their attention. "Girls, don't be discouraged. You're still young, and your future achievements might not be any less than that of Master Jing! Besides, maybe he's much older than you? He's just a bit short and embarrassed to be seen, so he wears a mask!"
These comforting words had to be said, whether they worked or not.
After all, even Shui Liuli herself hadn't expected that such a prodigy existed in this world!
If she were to encounter him in the Soul Master Competition in the future
"Eh?"
The usually lively Shui Yue'er was unusually quiet at this moment.
However, she still saw that unforgettable figure not far ahead and subconsciously said, "Sister, isn't that person your chosen one?"
After saying that, she sighed regretfully, "Ah~ that's so good, so talented and strong, I just don't know what he looks like. He must be a handsome guy, right? Waaah~ Sister, since you don't like him, can I try to win him over?"
Shui Bing'er was already numb.
No matter what her sister said, she wouldn't pay any more attention to her.
However, she still subconsciously looked in the direction Shui Yue'er pointed.
There,Dongfang Jing was holding a little girl,and that little girl had just spotted the girls from Tianshui.
Especially when she saw Shui Bing'er with her light blue hair and delicate features,for some reason,Dongfang Yao subconsciously looked down at herself.
Short arms and short legs...
A sense of loneliness welled up inside her, and her little mouth pouted slightly.
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(End of Chapter)