Xiao Yan felt utterly speechless. Why is this "Da Shi" always so obsessed with tying people up?
"Da Shi, we should leave the Star Dou Forest first. This isn't a place to talk. If we run into another powerful soul beast, we might really end up buried here."
Recalling the events of the past day and night, Yu Xiaogang nodded vigorously, as if mashing garlic with his head.
"You're absolutely right."
Xiao Yan looked up at a nearby large tree and, with a thought, deactivated his first soul skill.
Earlier, while preparing poison and syringes up in the tree, he'd taken the opportunity to secretly activate his first soul skill while Da Shi was distracted.
Once soul ring fusion began, his body had become completely immobile. There was no way he'd trust someone like Da Shi, who couldn't even handle a century-old soul beast, to protect him.
After leaving the Star Dou Forest, they hired a horse-drawn carriage and began the journey back to Notting City.
On the way, Xiao Yan, leaning comfortably against the carriage seat, was filled with joy—no less excited than when he had reclaimed his name.
After fusing with the soul ring of the Golden Vine, he had acquired a soul skill called "Weight Control."
While this skill didn't possess powerful offensive capabilities, it allowed him to make the Blue Silver Emperor he released either extremely heavy or light as a feather.
The degree of weight adjustment could be controlled by how much internal power he channeled.
Not only that, but the base properties of his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul had also become significantly tougher, and he could now even change its color with a thought.
These were the two most prominent traits of the Golden Vine: not only was it a durable plant-type soul beast, but it could also change color according to its surroundings and was adept at camouflage.
This brought him one step closer to his long-desired weighted training clothes.
As long as he took the time, he could weave the Blue Silver Emperor into clothing, allowing him to train under weighted conditions.
He could even make his favorite black robe from it.
Additionally, due to fusing another soul ring, the first soul ring that originated from his own body had its power enhanced, and the original fifty-thousand-year-old soul ring had even increased in age.
Back in Notting City, Xiao Yan immediately headed to the academy dormitory to change into the school-issued uniform.
Though the clothes he wore didn't exactly restrict movement, they were clearly too small and uncomfortable.
The dorm room was empty when he arrived. Xiao Yan changed into the uniform and stretched comfortably.
After smoothing out the wrinkles on his uniform, he pursed his lips. The color wasn't to his taste, but the loose fit was undeniably comfortable.
With the clothing issue resolved, Xiao Yan glanced out the door in confusion. The dismissal bell had rung some time ago, yet not a single person had returned?
Xiao Yan remembered Wang Sheng once said that after class, students had a half-hour break before the cafeteria opened.
"Could something have happened?"
He couldn't help but think of the ongoing conflicts between working students and noble students. He had even been appointed the leader of the working students when he first arrived, tasked with protecting them.
Walking out of the dorm, Xiao Yan headed toward the academy's sports field.
Across the field, a few students were slowly making their way toward the dorms. Thanks to his exceptional hearing, Xiao Yan faintly picked up on the word "working student" being mentioned in their conversation. He quickly focused on what they were saying.
"Those working students are getting way too cocky. They actually challenged that sixth-year top dog, Boss Xiao. I bet we won't be seeing any of them around in class tomorrow."
"That's not entirely fair. That working student who challenged our academy's little tyrant might actually be something special. I heard she's just a new first-year girl, but even Wang Sheng, the previous working student leader, respects her a lot."
"Hmph, a working student is still a working student. Even if they get the chance to cultivate, they'll never match us nobles. No matter how tough that first-year girl is, she's just a little kid.
Boss Xiao is one of the few sixth-years who's already reached Soul Master level. That little girl is just looking for a beating."
…
After hearing this much, Xiao Yan had a general idea of what had happened.
It was very likely that Boss Xiao, the so-called little tyrant among the noble students, had provoked Xiao Wu, leading her to fight back.
Though their time together had been short, Xiao Yan had already noticed how unusual Xiao Wu was.
She was either from a prestigious clan—or a transformed soul beast.
That so-called "little tyrant" had clearly kicked an iron wall.
"Didn't expect his surname to be 'Xiao' too. I wonder which character it is?"
Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his nose and approached one of the students talking nearby.
"Excuse me, senior. Do you know where Boss Xiao and the working students are?"
"Why? You want to back Boss Xiao up too? His squad's already full. Better luck next time."
Seeing Xiao Yan's tall build and impressive aura, the student had clearly mistaken him for some young noble trying to curry favor with Boss Xiao.
Xiao Yan smiled gently and didn't bother explaining that he was a working student himself.
"I just want to check it out. Even showing my face could be useful."
"They're probably in the woods behind the academy. If you want to go, you better hurry. Those working students can't handle Boss Xiao for long."
Now with a clear location, Xiao Yan immediately rushed toward the woods behind the academy.
The so-called "back hill" wasn't inside Notting Academy, but just outside the back gate, more like a small hill similar to where Xiao Yan used to train outside Holy Soul Village—except the paths were much smoother.
The woods were quiet, the air tense as if a battle could break out at any moment.
A group of working students stood behind Xiao Wu. Facing them was a squad of over twenty upperclassmen.
At the front stood a tall, well-built boy in a Notting Primary Soul Master Academy uniform. Though his face still carried the innocence of youth, he already had the demeanor of a young adult.
He was at least half a head taller than Xiao Wu, with strikingly handsome features as sharp as if carved by a blade. But the arrogance and disdain in his expression completely ruined that handsomeness.
"Little girl, I didn't expect you to be so bold. I was even being kind enough to wait for your so-called new leader to return. I heard he's also surnamed Xiao, and I was quite curious about him.
But since you clearly have no idea how to behave, I don't mind beating you and those filthy working students behind you today and turning you all into my pets."
As he spoke, the boy gave a wicked grin and looked lecherously at Xiao Wu's long, slender legs, clearly more developed than those of her peers.
"I heard your Martial Soul is a rabbit. I wonder what it looks like when you activate it?"
Xiao Wu stood her ground, completely unfazed. Her young face flushed with anger as she pointed at him and shouted:
"Boss Xiao, the one who doesn't know their place is you! You dare lay a hand on me and want to make me your pet rabbit? If I don't beat your face into a pig's head today, I'm not Xiao Wu!"
....