Tang San possessed the Mysterious Heaven Skill cultivation method, which meant his future cultivation speed would inevitably be superior to that of most Soul Masters. And from what the Great Master had told him, the cultivation method he had researched was essentially a similar operating route to the internal energy circulation system. To have reached this point in his research, how much effort must the Great Master have expended? After all, the Mysterious Heaven Skill was the painstaking experience of countless generations of Tang Sect ancestors. The Great Master was just one person.
"Additionally, you should go to the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City right away. Just ask around on the way and you'll find its location—it's somewhere in the central part of the city. Go there and get yourself assessed as a Soul Master. First, to test your current Soul Power, and second, to formally register with Spirit Hall so you can start receiving the monthly stipend. You won't need to keep working as a Work-study Student anymore."
Tang San carefully stored the book the Great Master had given him inside the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night. The belt itself was made of some unknown material and possessed incredibly flexible elasticity—it could shrink small enough to barely fit around a child's waist like Tang San's, but when extended, even a man with a waist circumference of over four chi could wear it, all while the belt's width remained constant.
Now, wearing the Nuoding Junior Soul Academy uniform with the belt the Great Master had given him cinched at his waist, Tang San's entire presence was completely different from when he had first arrived at the academy. As the saying went, clothes made the man. Though he couldn't be called handsome, he looked clean and tidy, giving off a refreshing impression.
"Teacher, why don't you get some rest first? I'm heading out. I'll bring food back for you at noon."
Stepping out of the Great Master's room, Tang San heard the dismissal bell ring. Classes at Nuoding Junior Soul Academy weren't long, and after the morning session ended, there was a half-hour break before the dining hall opened.
Since class had just let out, Tang San decided to stop by the dormitory first to greet his roommates and let them know he was back before heading out.
However, when he returned to the dormitory, he was surprised to find it completely empty—not a single soul in sight. His bedding was arranged just as he had left it, laid next to Xiao Wu's, with a bundle separating them.
Not a single one of the Work-study Students had come back after class? Tang San couldn't help but feel a knot of suspicion. He turned and walked out of the dormitory, heading toward the training grounds.
Students from the teaching building across the way were trickling out in small groups, heading toward the dormitory. Just as Tang San was about to head to the Spirit Hall the Great Master had instructed him to visit for his Soul Master certification, he faintly caught some of the older students—several grades above him—mentioning the words "Work-study Students."
He quickly focused his internal energy and used the sound-location technique to listen in on their conversation.
"Those Work-study Students are seriously overestimating themselves, actually trying to challenge Boss Xiao from sixth grade. I bet we won't see a single Work-study Student in class tomorrow."
"I wouldn't say that. They've got some nerve to challenge our school's little tyrant. Apparently, the Work-study Students have a new first-year student, some little girl, and she's apparently pretty tough. All the Work-study Students call her Sister Xiao Wu. Seems like she's the one who started this whole thing. And the stakes are insane—if Boss Xiao wins, all the Work-study Students become his pets. But if the Work-study Students win, then that Sister Xiao Wu becomes everyone's Sister Xiao Wu across the whole academy."
"Those Work-study Students are absolutely asking for death. How tough can a first-year little girl possibly be? Boss Xiao is one of the few sixth graders who's already reached the Soul Master rank. Looks like Boss Xiao's going to have another group of followers soon."
Hearing the conversation between the two senior students, Tang San's heart clenched. Though he hadn't known Xiao Wu for long, he understood her temperament well enough—the sweet-looking little girl had a temper that was nothing like her gentle appearance. She was actually quite fierce. Combined with what Wang Sheng had told him before about the Work-study Students being bullied, he could be certain that what these two senior students were saying was true.
Tang San was one of the Work-study Students himself, and he naturally couldn't stand by while his dormmates were being bullied.
"Excuse me, seniors—do you know where Boss Xiao and those Work-study Students are?" Tang San approached the two chatting students.
Both of them visibly startled. The taller one on the left said, "What for? Little junior, you thinking of jumping in too? Boss Xiao's already got plenty of manpower. Looks like you're second or third grade, right? My advice—don't bother. Wouldn't want you getting caught in the crossfire."
Judging from Tang San's neat appearance and the quality-looking belt at his waist, the two students clearly couldn't guess that he was a Work-study Student.
"Senior, I just want to watch from a distance," Tang San said, naturally not revealing his affiliation with the Work-study Students.
"They're probably dueling in the woods behind the academy's rear mountain."
Getting the information he needed, Tang San took off running toward the back of the academy.
The so-called rear mountain wasn't within Nuoding Academy's grounds—it was a small hill beyond the academy's back gate. Once clear of the academy and making sure no one was watching, Tang San immediately deployed the Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail and sprinted up the hill.
The woods were quiet, but the silence was deceptive—tense, like swords drawn and bows bent.
Every Work-study Student except Tang San stood behind Xiao Wu. Facing them was a group of over twenty senior students.
At their head was a young man wearing the Nuoding Junior Soul Academy uniform, tall and upright. Though his face still carried a trace of youthful innocence, he already had the bearing of an adult. He towered over Xiao Wu by at least half a body, and his features could be called handsome. But the contempt and disdain written across his face ruined the overall impression.
"Little girl, it's not too late to regret this. Of course, I wouldn't mind having another pet rabbit. Your Martial Soul is a rabbit, isn't it?"
(End of Chapter)