When Xuan Ziwen interacted with Ju Zi and the other three in normal times, he appeared very casual and close, showing none of the initial coldness he had displayed toward Xu Ziyao.
This was especially true toward Ju Zi and the petite girl beside her.
He was the type with a cold exterior but a warm heart—or rather, a straightforward personality. Once he acknowledged someone, his attitude would undergo a dramatic change.
Xuan Ziwen helplessly introduced them to Xu Ziyao: "The one who just spoke and looked a bit dazed is Ju Zi. The other three are Ke Ke, Wang Shaojie, and Zimu. They are the other four students I mentor. You can call them senior brothers and sisters, or just use their names directly. At our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, there aren't that many rules. If you want to research something, just do it on your own. If you get stuck, come find me. Our teaching method here is different from other places. I mainly teach innovative concepts regarding soul tools. With a sufficient foundation, you need to understand and comprehend those concepts, then add your own innovations to create soul tools that truly belong to you."
"The tool you just made was very good. I believe this won't be difficult for you. From the arrangement of its core formations, I can tell that the soul tool should be paired with a bow-shaped soul tool used to fire arrows. You might as well take this time to complete it and perfect the set. When the time comes, I'll use this example to guide you."
As he spoke, Xuan Ziwen handed Xu Ziyao a hexagonal crystal token.
"With this, you can freely enter and exit the laboratory. If you want to study in Mingde Hall as well, just tell me anytime and I'll take you there."
Xu Ziyao accepted the crystal token and calmly nodded.
However, the four—Ju Zi and the others—immediately exploded in shock. Ju Zi, Ke Ke, and Zimu, who had just recovered from being stunned by Xu Ziyao's top-tier appearance and temperament, all looked at Xuan Ziwen with disbelief.
The petite girl Ke Ke couldn't help widening her eyes.
"Teacher Xuan, you're saying he has the qualifications to study in Mingde Hall?"
They had followed Xuan Ziwen for many years, yet even they only had at most a fifty percent chance of being admitted to Mingde Hall. Yet this newcomer could directly enter to study?
What puzzled her the most was that, in the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, she had never heard of such a person.
Ahem, though this guy really is ridiculously good-looking—even Zimu can't compare.
Xuan Ziwen explained, "Yu Tianhuang is an exchange student from Shrek Academy. His entry into Mingde Hall was personally approved by the Hall Master."
"The Hall Master?!"
This time, everyone was even more shocked.
Yet there was one discordant voice.
The burly youth Wang Shaojie, who had remained silent until now, curled his lips in disdain.
"No wonder—he came in through the back door. The reason he can enter Mingde Hall is probably the result of negotiations between our academy and Shrek Academy's higher-ups. Like letting Xiao Hongchen and the others access Shrek's core knowledge in exchange."
He immediately acted like he knew everything.
Possessing a trace of imperial blood, Wang Shaojie naturally carried an innate sense of superiority.
He didn't reject the idea of using connections; he was simply unhappy that it hadn't happened to him. As a member of the imperial family, special treatment should be his privilege.
Wang Shaojie's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present was a powerful soul master—how could they not hear him?
Ke Ke, Zimu, and the others showed no change in expression. On one hand, they were used to Wang Shaojie's arrogance; on the other, they tacitly agreed with his conjecture.
Although Shrek Academy's position as the continent's number one academy had never been shaken, its research in soul tools was far inferior to their Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Yu Tianhuang appeared even younger than they. They simply didn't believe he had entered Mingde Hall purely through ability.
Only Ju Zi rubbed her eyes and kept staring at Xu Ziyao.
The longer she looked, the more she felt the youth before her gave her a familiar feeling—especially the outline of those magnificent deep-purple eyes. The feeling was subtle, more of a woman's intuition.
Hearing Wang Shaojie's words, Xuan Ziwen couldn't help frowning.
In truth, even purely based on soul tool ability, Yu Tianhuang was fully qualified to enter Mingde Hall.
He usually ignored Wang Shaojie's overbearing personality as long as the latter earnestly conducted research. But the arrogance of immediately assuming others used connections was something deeply taboo for both soul masters and soul engineers.
Most importantly, he didn't want Yu Tianhuang to clash with his students on the very first day.
Just as Xuan Ziwen was about to speak, Xu Ziyao stopped him with a look.
Seeing the determination and depth in Xu Ziyao's eyes, Xuan Ziwen ultimately refrained from reprimanding Wang Shaojie.
Some things were unavoidable. Both Xu Ziyao and Xuan Ziwen clearly understood this. Even if he scolded Wang Shaojie, it would at best make him restrain himself a little—and might even backfire. As long as the rejection and resentment between them weren't resolved, conflict would erupt sooner or later.
Xuan Ziwen gave Xu Ziyao a deep look, then said to Ju Zi and the others, "I still have research to do, so I'll leave first. When I'm not here in the future, if Tianhuang has any questions, Ju Zi and Ke Ke, you two need to help him, understood? Zimu, keep an eye on them and don't let anything happen."
"Yes, Teacher Xuan."
With that, Xuan Ziwen turned and left. Only Xu Ziyao, Ju Zi, Ke Ke, Zimu, and Wang Shaojie remained in the laboratory.
Xu Ziyao smiled and slightly nodded to Ju Zi, Ke Ke, and Zimu in greeting. As for Wang Shaojie, he was naturally ignored.
Imperial bloodline?
Sneering inwardly with disdain, he sat down at the experiment table and prepared to perfect his Thunder Arrows.
As Xuan Ziwen had said, he still had to complete the bow-shaped soul tool that paired with the Thunder Arrows.
As for interacting with Ju Zi, he wasn't in a hurry. Since he had come here, there would be plenty of opportunities later.
Ke Ke and Ju Zi walked to another experiment table. Ke Ke excitedly looked at Ju Zi. The two were extremely close best friends; a single glance was enough to understand each other's thoughts.
Ke Ke's rosy lips moved as she silently mouthed to Ju Zi: "This guy is really handsome. Being allowed to study in Mingde Hall, he must be one of those highly valued genius students at Shrek, right?"
"What, your heart's fluttering?" Ju Zi likewise smiled and silently replied with her lips. Propping her chin with her jade-like hand, she returned to her previous lazy demeanor, slowly withdrawing her gaze from Xu Ziyao.
Ke Ke's pretty face flushed slightly.
"No way, I'm scouting him out for you!"
"Give it up. I'm not as boy-crazy as you. If you like him, go talk to him yourself." Ju Zi rolled her eyes and sprawled onto the matte metal table, her perfect curves becoming even more pronounced.
"You're the boy-crazy one!"
Ke Ke was a little annoyed and embarrassed, but with three other male students present, she couldn't do anything too outrageous.
The two of them got pretty wild in private, but no man had ever seen it.
At that moment, Wang Shaojie's actions caught Ju Zi and Ke Ke's attention.
"Wang Shaojie isn't going to pick a fight with him, is he?" Ke Ke was slightly stunned. Ju Zi also straightened up a little.
Under their gazes, Wang Shaojie strode over to Xu Ziyao. His muscles bulged exaggeratedly, radiating power. Standing behind Xu Ziyao, he was like a thick wall.
Wang Shaojie coldly shouted, "Get lost. This is my spot."
"Shaojie, Teacher Xuan said not to cause trouble." The gentle-tempered Zimu stepped forward with a serious expression and placed his right hand on Wang Shaojie's shoulder.
Every metal experiment table in the lab had identical instruments and the same types and quantities of rare metals. Although Wang Shaojie usually used this table to make soul tools, doing this now clearly looked like he was picking a fight.
Unhappy that Xu Ziyao could directly enter Mingde Hall and having just been ignored, Wang Shaojie suppressed his anger and said, "Zimu, I'm not causing trouble—I'm just teaching the newcomer some rules."
Zimu's expression changed slightly. In that moment of hesitation, Wang Shaojie's broad hand landed on Xu Ziyao's shoulder as he roared, "I told you to get lost—didn't you hear me?"
In the same instant, he exerted force with his right hand, but to his shock and confusion, Yu Tianhuang's shoulder was as hard as steel, completely immovable.
Xu Ziyao withstood the downward pressure from Wang Shaojie's hand and stood up. The earlier warmth in his eyes had been completely replaced by coldness and an air of superiority.
This scene stunned Zimu, Ke Ke, and Ju Zi. Wang Shaojie's martial soul was power-type; although not particularly strong, he was renowned among soul masters of the same level for his strength. Yet now he had suffered a huge loss against Yu Tianhuang.
Perhaps out of humiliation or provoked by the coldness in Xu Ziyao's eyes, Wang Shaojie suddenly mobilized all of his soul power.
"You little bast—"
Before he could finish, a low, muffled grunt rang out.
It was the sound of bones cracking as Xu Ziyao's right leg swept sideways into Wang Shaojie's torso. After the Golden Dragon bloodline had transformed his body, Xu Ziyao's physical strength was truly comparable to a soul beast's.
That sweeping kick was heavy and powerful, causing the entire laboratory to tremble.
Not only Zimu, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke, but Wang Shaojie himself had no time to react.
Wang Shaojie weighed at least a hundred kilograms, yet he was sent flying nearly a hundred meters by Xu Ziyao's kick. His massive body slammed heavily into the laboratory's metal wall.
As his body slid down the wall, it bounced several times on the floor. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, and he lost consciousness.
Xu Ziyao's cold gaze fell on Wang Shaojie, who now lay on the ground like a dead dog.
"What were you barking about?"
The impact triggered the alarm, which began blaring frantically.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep…
Only then did Zimu, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke snap out of their daze.
Knocking Wang Shaojie unconscious with a single kick—this was simply too brutal. Was this really the strength a human soul master could possess?
Zimu reacted first. His expression darkened as he raised his right hand. A layer of pure white light shield rose from his body, and at the same time, a fiery red longsword appeared in his grasp. He shouted in shock and anger, "What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?" Xu Ziyao coldly turned to Zimu.
"Since he can't control his own mouth, I'll do it for him. Want to fight? I'm ready anytime."
From the very beginning, he had never intended to swallow the insult. That was simply his personality.
Of course, he had considered the consequences. Wang Shaojie might have imperial blood, but he wasn't a true direct descendant of the imperial clan. As the only son of the Purple Huang King, he knew this very well. The token Mirror Hongchen had given him represented the backing of the Hongchen family—its weight was immense. The imperial investigation team would never offend Mirror Hongchen over a mere Wang Shaojie.
As long as he didn't kill Wang Shaojie outright, there would be no trouble.
Under the horrified gazes of Zimu, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke, soul rings rose one by one from beneath Xu Ziyao's feet.
Purple! Purple! Purple! Black! Black!
The inconceivable soul ring configuration and overwhelming presence brought tremendous pressure to the three of them.
Zimu, protected by his soul tool shield, fared slightly better, while Ke Ke and Ju Zi's pretty faces turned pale. They instinctively activated their own defensive soul tools.
Xu Ziyao's total soul power was not far from that of an ordinary Soul Douluo. Since Ke Ke and Ju Zi had raised their cultivation through medicine, they naturally couldn't withstand this aura.
"Three purple and two black soul rings?! How is that possible?! Are you a monster?!" Ke Ke exclaimed, her eyes filled with shock.
Ju Zi, however, stared fixedly at Xu Ziyao's brilliant golden eyes, her entire body trembling.
It's him?!
Even after more than six years, she would never mistake those eyes.
While his mind was shaken, Zimu couldn't help feeling a strong sense of defeat. He, too, was a Soul King, yet his soul ring configuration was only two yellow and three purple.
Compared to Yu Tianhuang, he was more than one level behind.
"Is this the kind of genius that comes out of Shrek Academy?" A bitter feeling inevitably rose in Zimu's heart. Their Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had always been suppressed by Shrek Academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament—he knew that.
But he had never imagined the gap between them would be this enormous.
Facing Yu Tianhuang, did he really have any chance of winning?
"What are you doing?!" A shocked voice rang out as a figure swiftly appeared between Xu Ziyao and Zimu.
It was Xuan Ziwen, who had returned. He had only left the laboratory a short while ago when he heard the alarm. Needless to say, something had happened, so he rushed back immediately.
Seeing the bizarre soul ring configuration around Xu Ziyao and those brilliant golden eyes, he didn't even bother checking on Wang Shaojie.
"Tianhuang, isn't your martial soul lightning-attribute?"
Xu Ziyao calmly replied, "I possess twin martial souls. The lightning-attribute martial soul I used earlier is the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon. This is my primary martial soul, the spirit-attribute Golden Pupil."
"Twin martial souls—and a spirit type?!" Xuan Ziwen's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. If the timing weren't inappropriate, he would probably have dragged Yu Tianhuang off to question him right then and there.
Zimu and Ke Ke's shock deepened even further.
Ke Ke's eyes sparkled like stars.
"So twin martial souls really exist. Twin martial souls with three purple and two black rings—what a freak."
Only Ju Zi, lost in her own thoughts, showed little reaction to the revelation that Yu Tianhuang possessed twin martial souls.
Xuan Ziwen calmed his emotions, turned to Zimu, and asked sternly, "Zimu, what happened?"
"Teacher Xuan…"
Zimu lowered his head in shame.
Xu Ziyao said lightly, "Wang Shaojie provoked and insulted me, so I took action. Teacher Xuan, rest assured—I didn't kill him. He's just injured a little. But if there's a next time, I make no guarantees. You don't need to make things difficult for yourself; I'll take full responsibility and won't cause you any trouble."
"Getting kicked nearly a hundred meters and passing out is 'just a little injured'?" Ke Ke's mouth twitched.
She had clearly heard the successive sounds of bones cracking from Wang Shaojie's body earlier.
Xuan Ziwen looked at Xu Ziyao with a complicated expression and pondered before saying, "Since Wang Shaojie provoked and insulted you first, we'll let this incident slide. Although you're an exchange student from Shrek Academy, you still have to study here for two and a half years, and fighting is prohibited in the laboratory. I don't want to see this happen again. Of course, I will also restrain Wang Shaojie. How does that sound?"
He knew Wang Shaojie's personality very well and understood that Xu Ziyao wasn't exaggerating in the slightest.
This was purely Wang Shaojie asking for trouble; he couldn't blame anyone else.
He had always judged matters fairly, not favoring individuals.
"Teacher Xuan, I agree with almost everything you said. However, I don't think you need to restrain Wang Shaojie. If he wants to cause me trouble, he's welcome to come anytime. People from Shrek Academy have never been afraid of trouble." Xu Ziyao smiled faintly.
Xuan Ziwen waved his hand listlessly.
"Zimu, take Wang Shaojie to the infirmary for treatment."
"Yes."
Zimu withdrew his soul tools and responded. When he looked at Xu Ziyao, a complicated expression appeared in his eyes as well.
Zimu carried Wang Shaojie away. Xuan Ziwen frowned and said, "Tianhuang, Wang Shaojie's matter is a bit troublesome. He comes from the imperial family. Although he's not a direct descendant, he is still a registered noble. Injuring him means you have to give the academy an explanation."
Since Yu Tianhuang had become his student, he had to take responsibility for him.
In response, Xu Ziyao simply took out a brilliant golden token from his storage soul tool.
Seeing the elegant "Hongchen" characters engraved on it, Xuan Ziwen's pupils contracted, and his furrowed brows instantly relaxed.
"Alright, continue with what you were doing. If you have any problems, feel free to come find me anytime."
From Ju Zi and Ke Ke's perspective, they couldn't see what Xu Ziyao had taken out. They only knew he retrieved something from his storage soul tool, and then Xuan Ziwen's attitude changed completely.
Xuan Ziwen left the laboratory once more. The door closed, leaving only Xu Ziyao, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke inside. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Xu Ziyao began working on the bow-shaped soul tool that paired with his Thunder Arrows, minding his own business.
Ju Zi and Ke Ke returned to their seats at the experiment table and curiously observed Xu Ziyao. Neither harbored any ill will toward him—they were both girls who could clearly distinguish right from wrong.
Although Xu Ziyao's response had been a bit harsh and brutal, in the end, Wang Shaojie had started it.
Of course, compared to Ke Ke, Ju Zi's gaze carried an additional, inexplicable meaning.
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