Ning Rongrong and the Heart of Support

"This person..."

"Looks so familiar."

Apart from Tang San, Ning Rongrong was the most unsettled. She kept feeling that he looked familiar and couldn't help wondering about it.

"Hm?"

Feeling Ning Rongrong's gaze, Tang Wulin smiled back at her. She immediately looked away in embarrassment.

"Everyone, this is where the fourth trial will take place."

Before long, Dai Mubai came to a stop, and everyone saw that they had arrived at a large open space.

Not far away, a man was dozing in a reclining chair with his eyes closed. His snores could be heard clearly.

The man was over 1.6 meters tall and had broad shoulders. Lying there as he was, he looked just like a wall that had toppled over.

"The one resting over there is Vice Dean Zhao Wuji. I'll wake him up first. Wait here a moment, everyone. I'll be quick."

Dai Mubai gave Tang Wulin a long look, then headed toward Zhao Wuji, afraid that if he was any slower, Tang Wulin would run off.

With Dean Zhao here, he could definitely give this guy a thorough beating. And if he couldn't, hehe... Dai Mubai could pay more!

During his years at the academy, he had been the one covering the expenses. Surely they had to respect a student who was also their financial backer? Dean Zhao wouldn't be so unprincipled.

Excited, he headed off into the distance.

"Dean Zhao, wake up. The students are here..."

Dai Mubai gently called to the sleeping Zhao Wuji, chattering away.

"Mm, I know... Hm?"

"Someone actually made it to the fourth trial today? Wait, one, two, three, four, five... There are five of them?"

Zhao Wuji yawned, but when his lazy gaze fell on the five people in the distance, he froze.

The academy hadn't recruited a single student in two years, yet so many had come this year? They were all living, breathing tuition fees...

No, outstanding students!

"That's right, Dean Zhao. All five of them skipped straight to this trial. None of their talents should be underestimated."

"What?"

Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Zhao Wuji was startled again. They had skipped straight to the final trial? Didn't that mean their cultivation had all reached level 25 or above?

"All right, I understand."

"But you've brought them here, so why haven't you gone back to Old Li to wait for new students? Is there something else?"

Zhao Wuji first nodded, then looked at Dai Mubai, who seemed hesitant to speak, and couldn't help asking in puzzlement.

"Dean, there's something you don't know. The most handsome one among them, the most handsome of all, was the one who beat me up yesterday... No, he ambushed me while I wasn't using my Martial Soul."

"Just now, I only wanted him to apologize, but he refused. I don't want to get revenge on him or anything, but I deserve an explanation, don't I?"

Dai Mubai immediately sighed and spoke in an aggrieved tone, looking for all the world as though he had been terribly bullied.

"That kid was the one who bullied you yesterday! He was already so unreasonable before coming to Shrek Academy. He really thinks he can do whatever he wants."

"All right! I'll remember this. I'll take special care of that little fellow in a while. You go back to the entrance first."

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji grew angry. He looked toward the group, his gaze not lingering on Tang San for even a moment. Staring at Tang Wulin, he couldn't help thinking.

This bullying had landed on Old Zhao's doorstep. Outrageous! He wanted to see whose youngster had been so poorly disciplined. Since they couldn't discipline him, he would!

"Yes, Dean Zhao!"

Dai Mubai's eyes immediately lit up.

Although he couldn't stay to watch that guy get beaten, having Teacher Zhao agree was the best outcome.

At the thought, his steps grew much lighter as he left. Dean Zhao would at least beat the other guy until his head looked like a pig's, right? He was actually looking forward to it.

"Little fellows, since you all made it straight to the final trial, I don't think there's any problem with your potential. The last thing you have to do is last against me for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

"Of course, I'll only use cultivation at the Soul Ancestor level. I won't make things too difficult for you. Before that, I'll give you an incense stick's time to get to know one another."

Zhao Wuji walked over to the group with a smile, looked them up and down, and spoke with a smile on his face.

As he spoke, he took an incense stick from his Soul Tool, lit it, and placed it on the ground. After taking a long look in Tang Wulin's direction, he went elsewhere.

"So that's why Dai Mubai was acting strangely earlier. Turns out he had something to discuss with Zhao Wuji."

Tang Wulin chuckled, though this so-called Immovable Wisdom King might not necessarily be stronger than him.

"Since Dean Zhao told us to get to know one another, I'll introduce myself first. I'm Tang San, a level 29 Control System Soul Grandmaster. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."

"My first Soul Skill is Green Shadow Entanglement, and my second is Poisonous Entanglement. The former is tougher and smoother, while the latter has a paralyzing poison effect along with the entanglement. Its control effect is unmatched."

Tang San looked at the others as Blue Silver Grass emerged in his hand, and he introduced his Soul Skills.

In the field of control, he had yet to meet his match!

"A Blue Silver Grass Soul Master can cultivate that fast too?"

Ning Rongrong couldn't help expressing her surprise.

Zhu Zhuqing was visibly stunned as well. She had been born with level seven Soul Power and was only level 27 now, yet he was two levels higher than her. Could it be...

Could Blue Silver Grass also have innate level eight Soul Power?

"Two... Entanglement skills?"

Only Tang Wulin spotted the blind spot. Besides the confusion on his face, he was deeply shocked. Tang San meant that both of his Soul Skills were Entanglement!

"Yes. Poisonous Entanglement comes from an eight-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake, a top-tier snake Soul Beast..."

Although Tang San was displeased with him, he still explained. He was also clearly very pleased with this Soul Skill of his.

After all, it came from one of the Soul Beasts his teacher considered most suitable for Blue Silver Grass, and the paralyzing poison effect had considerably improved his control.

"Mm, very good."

Tang Wulin smiled and nodded. Someone talented enough to waste a Soul Ring on Entanglement was already a rare sight in this world, but he hadn't expected an even greater expert.

Two kinds of Entanglement—perhaps that was also a path to redemption?

He truly was worthy of being the Grandmaster's outstanding disciple.

"My name is Ning Rongrong. My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I'm a level 26 Support System Soul Grandmaster. I can provide everyone with boosts later, increasing your strength and speed."

"Zhu Zhuqing. My Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat. I'm a level 27 Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster. I can look for that dean's weaknesses as a breakthrough point and harass him with attacks."

After Tang San, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing introduced themselves in turn. Only then did Tang Wulin properly look at the two girls.

Ning Rongrong looked much as he remembered her. She had short, pink hair that reached her ears, was exceptionally beautiful, and wore a simple pale-yellow dress.

Although her clothes looked plain and unadorned, they gave her an elegant air.

Zhu Zhuqing was equally beautiful and charming, with a naturally aloof disposition. She wore a set of close-fitting black clothes and had an ample bust.

Her long legs were slender and shapely. Even in ordinary clothes, the perfect curves they outlined were enough to make the vast majority of girls pale in comparison.

She really does have a great figure...

Although he only allowed himself a brief appreciative glance, he couldn't help sighing inwardly. He could only say one thing...

It smells so good.

Standing beside her, even the outstanding Ning Rongrong paled in comparison. There was nothing to criticize—she was a pure talent monster.

"There's even a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master."

Everyone's eyes lit up at Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul. A thirty-percent boost was wonderful.

"My name is Xiao Wu."

"I'm a level 34 Agility Attack System Soul Elder."

Xiao Wu spoke in a friendly manner. She hadn't expected her cultivation to surpass the other two by so much, though. It seemed they hadn't been cultivating properly, just like Tang San.

"You're a Soul Elder!"

"You're that strong?"

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were stunned again. A twelve-year-old Soul Elder would be able to compete for second place among her peers in the Soul Master World, wouldn't she?

"Hehe, not really."

Xiao Wu replied a little sheepishly. It was the first time she had been praised by peers who were also quite talented. After all, Nuoding Academy didn't even have a second Soul Grandmaster.

"Xiao Wu, you're too modest."

"Apart from that strongest genius in Spirit Hall, your talent must be the best of our generation."

Ning Rongrong shook her head. Even the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall, whose potential was below that of the Son of the Spirit Hall, Tang Wulin, yet who were older, probably couldn't compare with a twelve-year-old Soul Elder.

"..."

Hearing this, Tang Wulin couldn't help smiling. She probably wouldn't have guessed that the person she was talking about was standing right in front of her.

"Don't praise me! Compared with me, Wulin is much, much stronger!"

Xiao Wu giggled and spoke frankly. But Ning Rongrong had just mentioned someone from Spirit Hall. Wasn't Wulin from Spirit Hall too?

"Really... Hm?"

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong grew curious, but her expression visibly froze.

"Did you just say..."

"His name is Wulin?!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened as she spoke, as though she had thought of something incredible.

"Tang Wulin. My Martial Soul is the Golden Dragon. I'm a level 45 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor."

As he gave his name, Tang Wulin nodded and looked at Ning Rongrong with a faint smile.

"We meet again, Miss Ning."

"Brother Tang! It really is you."

"I didn't expect you to come to Shrek Academy too."

Surprise filled Ning Rongrong's eyes, and she couldn't help taking a step forward. No wonder he had seemed familiar, yet she hadn't recognized him at first!

After all, their last meeting had been several years ago, and they had only met once. Naturally, she hadn't recognized him.

"Yes. I heard this school was somewhat interesting, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect you to be here too."

Tang Wulin smiled and shook his head. He couldn't very well say he had come here to scheme against Tang Hao and run into Zhu Zhuqing by chance, could he?

"Wulin, you two..."

Xiao Wu was somewhat confused and pondered it. It looked like the two of them knew each other.

"Xiao Wu, Miss Ning and I met once a few years ago, but it's been so long that I wasn't sure it was her at first either."

Tang Wulin spoke with a smile. Their last meeting had been before he became the Son of the Spirit Hall. He had first met her at a celebratory banquet held by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Ning Rongrong had only been nine then, brought along by her father, Ning Fengzhi. Meeting her had been a surprise, but there had been more good than that. For one thing, it had allowed him to obtain a sign-in reward ahead of time—

[Heart of Support]

[A powerful Soul Master also has a heart of support. With this ability, you will become a powerful Support System Soul Master, and all enhancement methods can be applied to others.]

The Heart of Support was undoubtedly a formidable support ability. His first Soul Skill alone could provide an enormous increase in stats.

To put it bluntly, unless someone was trash like Gangzi, they could all possess combat strength more than a major realm above their own. And the stronger Tang Wulin became, the more terrifying the boost would naturally be.

Yu Xiaogang: So?

P.S. Sorry for the wait, everyone, and thank you for following the story! Let's see if we still have a chance to make it onto the new books reading chart. We're currently ranked around 130, so there's still a good chance!

I'll speed up the updates. Please send some votes~ Thank you!