Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San

Chapter 286: Failure to Cultivate Mental Fortitude

For the other four, breakfast felt like they were chewing wax. Only Tang San relished his meal. The hotel was high-end, and indeed, the food was quite a bit better than average. Though it couldn't compare to his previous life, it still was an improvement.

After Tang San had his fill, he put down his utensils and looked at the other four. "Do you all worry so much? Are you afraid of dying or failing?"

Gu Li scratched his head, saying, "Not really. But for some reason, I'm just a bit nervous."

"This is something we must go through. But one thing I must remind you of is that since we have already signed up, there is no turning back. We can only move forward and crush our opponents. Otherwise, there will be no future for us. The more you worry, the closer you are to death because it affects your state of mind. If you don't give it your all, you're dead. In this life-and-death battle, there's no choice but to fight with all you have."

Gu Li was stunned momentarily, but Wu Bingji's gaze instantly sharpened, and Cheng Zicheng murmured, "Yeah! We've already signed up. It's too late for regrets now."

"Unless we run away?" Du Bai tentatively said.

Tang San indifferently said, "You can choose to run away, but then, you'll never be able to lift your head again in this lifetime, whether among humans or among demons. Do you remember what you were thinking when you first came here? What did you want to do?"

“I want to be useful. I want to be someone who can stand alongside everyone without holding them back,” Du Bai said with a hint of shame.

Tang San looked at him with a fiery gaze and said, “Right. Well, if you choose to run now, I won't stop you. You can go.”

“I... I won’t leave,” Du Bai declared through gritted teeth.

“Then if you’re not leaving, brace yourself. Don’t forget, it won’t be your turn to die unless all of us die first. What do we do if even you act so cowardly when you’re all the way at the back?”

Du Bai's face instantly turned beet red. “I'm not cowardly, I'm not afraid. Let’s fight them, let’s fight them all.”

Gu Li's gaze also began to firm up. What Tang San had said to Du Bai... wasn’t it meant for them?

Cheng Zicheng took a deep breath. “Let’s do it. We’ll eat elephant trunk tonight, I heard it’s quite nourishing.”

With that, Tang San couldn’t help but laugh, and so did Wu Bingji. Du Bai glanced at her. “I didn’t expect you to have such a strong taste, Zicheng!”

“Buzz off,” Cheng Zicheng retorted without any good humor.

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat solemn, immediately lightened a bit, but Tang San could tell that the worries in their hearts had not completely vanished. This was normal; they were all young and had never experienced anything like this. It was understandable that they had mental hurdles. This was also why he had deliberately provoked that elephant demon yesterday—it was to ensure that the first opponent was within a controllable range for his team.

This tension escalated again as they arrived at the Great Beast Fighting Arena.

Wu Bingji, Du Bai, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng could faintly sense that the scent of blood had grown thicker. They even wondered if this bloodiness would eventually become a part of them.

Back at the registration desk, they once more encountered the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape from the day before.

"Not bad, you didn't run away."

The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape's gaze swept over Tang San and his companions. "According to the rules, team fighters who have registered cannot leave the Great Beast Fighting Arena before the end of the first three fights. The moment you step into the arena today is when it truly begins. Not running away proves you have courage."

Tang San looked at him and asked, "Why didn't you hold us here yesterday? Shouldn't we have been detained right after registering? Otherwise, wouldn't all your arrangements be in vain if we just ran away?"

The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape coldly said, "That was your last chance to live. Team fighters have the opportunity to reconsider before the first fight begins. Of course, that’s assuming we don’t catch you later. Those who choose to run away after registering will be put on a wanted list. Once you’re captured, you will become slaves of the Great Beast Fighting Arena."

Tang San found this rule peculiar. Is it an actual way out or is it just the Great Beast Fighting Arena's method of ensnaring slaves?

"Follow me." The Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said no more and turned to walk into the depths of the Great Beast Fighting Arena.

As they walked inside, the stench of blood instantly became even more overpowering. In the dimly lit corridor, the atmosphere was incredibly oppressive.

Tang San could feel Du Bai's heartbeat accelerating behind him.

Perhaps his words from the morning had an effect; the four teammates said nothing, merely following silently behind him. There was no turning back once they entered the Great Beast Fighting Arena.

At the end of the lengthy corridor, there was a room constructed entirely of stone, with numerous dark red stains. There, the scent of blood was even more intense.

"Wait here. A staff member will guide you to the arena before the match begins," the Bloodthirsty Devil Ape said indifferently before leaving.

The heavy iron door closed, giving them a distinct sensation of being locked in a cage.

Huff, huff, huff!

Du Bai’s breathing became noticeably more rapid.

"Brave, brave, brave!" Du Bai muttered nonstop.

"You can bestow good fortune on us now," Tang San said.

"Ah? Oh, oh, okay." Du Bai finally turned around, hurriedly getting up.

When he tried to unleash his bloodline power, however, his mind suddenly went blank, and he failed to release it on his first attempt.

Tang San said dryly, "Any mistake on the battlefield could lead to the death of a comrade or your own."

"I'm sorry, I..." Du Bai bit his lip and suddenly slapped himself twice, harshly. Then he took a deep breath of the blood-filled air, clenched his teeth, and activated the Celestial Fox Transformation.

The phantom image of a two-tailed celestial fox formed above his head. Streaks of white light descended and landed on each of the five.

Perhaps influenced by the fortification of their fate, Wu Bingji, Cheng Zicheng, and Gu Li immediately felt a lot better.

White light flickered in Du Bai's eyes, and the next instant, his expression suddenly relaxed. "I’m a goddamn idiot! How could I forget that I can sense fortune and misfortune?"

"What do you mean?" Gu Li asked.

Du Bai spread his hands and said, "Can't you tell when you look at my face? Obviously, we're in no danger! I'm such an idiot! I even forgot my innate ability. Let's crush them, cheer up!"

Tang San's mouth twitched slightly, suddenly feeling that the Celestial Fox Transformation might not be entirely beneficial. He had hoped to use this opportunity to strengthen everyone's mental fortitude. Unfortunately, with Du Bai's words, it was clear that Wu Bingji, Gu Li, and Cheng Zicheng were much more relaxed now.

Although the foresight from the fifth-order Celestial Fox Transformation wasn’t entirely accurate, whenever it concerned Du Bai's own safety, it was perfectly reliable. He did not even feel a hint of danger because of Tang San’s presence! Considering his hidden abilities, such a team battle indeed posed no risk.

Indeed, it left one speechless!

Wu Bingji chuckled softly, saying, "The feeling just now was quite tense but also thrilling. Thinking about it now, it doesn’t seem all that bad."

Cheng Zicheng rolled her eyes. "It was really thrilling. But my hands are cold, big brother Wu. Feel them."

With these words, she took the initiative to grab Wu Bingji's hands.

"Eh, big brother Wu, how come your hands are even colder than mine?"

"Cough, cough, I'm in my Ice Nymph Transformation state! Isn't it normal for them to be cold?"

"But you didn't activate your Demonic God Transformation, did you?" Cheng Zicheng asked, puzzled.

"Do you have to be so blunt, Zicheng? I’m starting to doubt that you actually like big brother Wu."

Du Bai's sharp tongue was back to normal.

"Get lost!"