After finishing the cleaning duties, night gradually fell. Ye Wen returned to the dormitory and continued his cultivation.
Though Ye Wen knew overworking himself wasn't ideal, at this weakest stage of his life, his insatiable desire for strength made it impossible for him to sleep!
After two more hours of cultivation, Ye Wen finally opened his weary eyes when he could no longer sustain the flow of soul power. He then retracted his martial soul, Nana.
As always, Nana delivered. Ye Wen could feel that he was on the verge of breaking through to Level Three.
Glancing at the sky, Ye Wen noticed it had grown completely dark outside. He smacked his lips, wondering whether Yu Xiaogang, that useless waste of space, had encountered a Mandrake Snake as in the original story and gotten beaten up.
Though the 423-year-old Mandrake Snake was indeed powerful…
In theory, Yu Xiaogang, whose strength neared Level 30, should be comparable to a thousand-year soul beast. Even if he were garbage, he should still be able to fight a 700- or 800-year soul beast.
Yet, Yu Xiaogang initially misjudged the situation, mistaking the snake for a plant-type soul beast disguised as a Mandrake Snake. When the snake later emerged from its weakened state—even while not yet in its fully mature form—Yu Xiaogang turned tail and fled at the first sight of it, spouting laughable nonsense like, "When outnumbered, run!" Truly pathetic.
But regardless of Yu Xiaogang's incompetence, Tang San was undoubtedly fine. After all, he had mastered the secret techniques of the Tang Sect, and Tang Hao was likely watching over him in secret.
Still, this left Ye Wen baffled.
If Tang Hao had witnessed Yu Xiaogang's embarrassing display, why would he entrust his son to such a person for guidance?
Did he think the teachings of the Hao Tian Sect were inferior to those of an abandoned member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?
Or was Tang Hao just missing a few brain cells? Otherwise, how could he have done so many idiotic things?
Alternatively, was Tang Hao actually a deeply hidden genius who saw value in Yu Xiaogang, believing he could unlock the potential of Tang San's twin martial souls?
But no matter how you looked at it, Tang Hao was clearly taking a gamble.
By the time Ye Wen finished pondering, he was utterly exhausted. Reviewing the plot of Douluo Continent, he concluded that it was essentially a story of a male protagonist who relied on extraordinary luck, repeatedly stumbling into success, and then unreasonably overpowering the strongest forces of Douluo Continent to ascend to the peak of life.
However, Ye Wen didn't dwell on it. As he drifted off to sleep, he thought to himself that as long as Tang San participated in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, he would retreat to a remote corner of the Extreme North Ice Plains. That way, he wouldn't get dragged into anything.
Once he slowly grew into a Title Douluo and gathered enough faith, by the time Tang San ascended to the God Realm and was temporarily too weak to interfere with Douluo Continent's affairs, Ye Wen could declare his own divinity.
With these thoughts, Ye Wen drifted off into a deep slumber.
---
The next day, during the theoretical class, Ye Wen still didn't see Tang San. It seemed the plot hadn't deviated much—Yu Xiaogang remained a burden to Tang San.
However, in the afternoon…
The academy's large playground was now crowded with two opposing groups. On one side were the aristocratic students who loved to bully others, and on the other were the hardworking work-study students.
The atmosphere was tense, with both sides glaring fiercely at each other.
Though most of Ye Wen's group were still Soul Trainees without soul rings, possessing soul power guaranteed their future as soul masters. Though it would be difficult to break through to Soul Elder or Soul Ancestor status and attain noble standing, they were no longer ordinary people and didn't need to fear the so-called nobles.
However, from the perspective of the aristocrats, a noble was always a noble. Even if the work-study students became soul masters, they were still considered the lowest of the low. Thus, even within the academy, they schemed to suppress the work-study students.
And Tang San, who emerged from the work-study group, never helped the underprivileged. His bias was inherent, and his past education had ingrained a strong belief in the nobility system.
At this moment, a blond-haired boy resembling Deidara stepped forward from the aristocrat group.
In an arrogant tone, he addressed Huo Yu'er: "Little girl, it's not too late for you to regret. If you're willing to become my pet, I can let you and that little bunny beside you live a life of luxury."
Though Wang Sheng had lost his position as leader, he bravely stood up for Huo Yu'er and her group.
"Idiots! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
But the blond aristocrat didn't move. Instead, one of his lackeys, Liu Long, who possessed a staff martial soul, swung his long staff toward Wang Sheng.
Truly dishonorable!
But something unexpected happened.
The staff meant to strike Wang Sheng suddenly veered off course and hit the unsuspecting blond boy instead.
"Ahh!" The blond boy cried out in pain and hastily summoned his Shield Armor martial soul to block further attacks. Furious, he shouted:
"Liu Long, what are you doing?! Why are you hitting me?! Have you gone mad?!"
Liu Long also realized something was off and quickly stopped his attack.
Looking closely, Liu Long blinked several times, confirming that although the figure before him resembled Wang Sheng, the voice was unmistakably that of his good friend.
Realizing something, Liu Long quickly assumed a defensive stance and said to his buddy:
"Dick, check if anyone on their side has summoned a martial soul! I'm being controlled by their soul skill—I see you as Wang Sheng right now!"
"What?!"
This statement shocked everyone present. The aristocratic students immediately turned their gaze toward the work-study group.
Unbeknownst to them, intricate patterns had already appeared on Huo Yu'er's delicate face, as if she were wearing a thin mask. Beneath her feet, a faintly hovering yellow soul ring slowly rotated.
Dick instantly broke into a cold sweat and stammered, "A-a-a century-level soul ring!!!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Long also broke into a cold sweat. As top students of the aristocratic group, neither of them had obtained soul rings yet. Facing someone with a century-level soul ring felt like a dimensional strike!
Huo Yu'er watched coldly, while Xiao Wu stood beside her with a taunting smile, naturally linking arms with Huo Yu'er and acting as her spokesperson to mock the aristocrats:
"Really now? Are you noble big shots scared? Hehehe, if you're afraid, kneel down and call our Boss Sister Yu'er. Maybe we'll spare you."
But before Dick and Liu Long could react, a cold voice came from behind the aristocratic group:
"Pathetic bunch."
Though the fluctuations in soul power weren't strong, the aristocratic students seemed to find their backbone and quickly parted to make way for the newcomer.
It was none other than Xiao Chenyu, the son of Nuoding City's mayor.
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