Tastes Pretty Good

Several more people from Class A were eliminated. They seemed to have realized something and shifted most of their attention to the three-person teams competing on the field.

The strength of three people was already enough to defeat opponents with ease, but what about a seven-person team battle?

The Youth Soul Master Competition used seven-person team battles. Finding their own roles and methods of attack among seven people was something they would need to learn in the future.

Even Xiao Hong Chen's eyes flashed with a trace of contemplation. Though he had fought until now, each battle had become increasingly difficult, consuming more and more Soul Power.

Xue Xiao Ran raised his Jade Eyes. He would definitely participate in the Youth Soul Master Competition. That would be the moment for him to bloom, the moment for him to shine.

When that time came, there would be no need to hold back.

Feeling the Tang Sect hidden weapons packed inside his ring, Xue Xiao Ran's lips curved into a faint smile.

"What are you thinking about, Junior Brother?"

Nana waved a hand before his eyes and asked softly.

Only then did Xue Xiao Ran realize that he had gotten distracted again. Fortunately, he was not operating a Soul Tool right now, or Teacher Xuan would surely have given him a harsh scolding.

"Nothing. I was thinking about tomorrow's competition," Xue Xiao Ran explained calmly.

"Are you talking about the Freshman Competition, Junior Brother?"

Nana tilted her head and asked.

"Mm."

Xue Xiao Ran nodded and turned another page in his textbook. He had already committed every key point from the previous page to memory, so there was no need to read it again.

"Eh? I wonder whether I'll have time to watch the Freshman Competition tomorrow."

Nana counted on her fingers and murmured quietly.

"Tomorrow is the finals."

Xue Xiao Ran nodded. "If you aren't free tomorrow, the Freshman Competition will be over." He paused, then continued, "I'll be competing tomorrow too, and I'll win the Freshman Competition."

"You're that confident, Junior Brother?" Nana's smile blossomed like a flower. Teacher Xuan coughed violently, and Nana shrank back a little before her laughter finally subsided.

"I've always been confident in myself." Xue Xiao Ran sensed Wang Shaojie's dark, jealous gaze from beside him. He snorted inwardly and shrugged.

"Is that so..." Nana tapped her chin with a finger, unaware of just how adorable those little gestures were.

"Then I definitely have to go watch." Nana smiled. Seeing that Xue Xiao Ran kept his eyes fixed on his book without even looking up, she let out a delicate huff. "Junior Brother, when you speak to someone, you should look them in the eyes. That's basic etiquette, isn't it?"

"Sorry." Xue Xiao Ran had to give his all during Soul Tool Department classes. If he did not complete a certain amount of reading, part of his evening cultivation time would be squeezed out, throwing his entire daily schedule into disarray.

"Xue Xiao Ran, if you want to rest, I can allow you to leave class early." Teacher Xuan's gentle voice came from the front, interrupting the quiet self-study session and drawing everyone's attention.

Xue Xiao Ran looked up, a trace of confusion flashing through his Jade Eyes.

"Haven't you been participating in the Freshman Competition these past few days? I heard about it—the dark horse of Class A." Teacher Xuan coughed. "Tomorrow is the finals, and it's getting late. If you want to return to your dorm and prepare in advance, I'll allow you to leave early."

The other students laughed in agreement and turned their gazes toward Xue Xiao Ran. Over the past few months, they had accepted this quiet junior who had only recently enrolled. He learned incredibly quickly and never complained or grumbled about hardship or exhaustion. That alone had earned him the acceptance of many capable senior brothers and sisters.

"No need, Teacher Xuan." Xue Xiao Ran smiled and declined his kindness.

In his view, no matter how he cultivated tonight, tomorrow's result would remain the same.

"Is that so? Good luck tomorrow, then." Teacher Xuan smiled, put his glasses back on, and resumed reading his report. The study room fell quiet once more.

The competition quickly reached its third day, the final day.

Only Xue Xiao Ran and Xiao Hong Chen remained from Class A. The other classes had, at most, one or two teams left. Classes D and E had been completely eliminated.

Xue Xiao Ran had maintained an enviable record of five effortless victories, but those who paid attention could tell that he had clearly undergone training.

Just as one did not judge whether someone was an amateur by listening to what they said, but by watching what they did.

Every one of Xue Xiao Ran's movements and attacks carried a purpose—concise, efficient, free of needless burden, and aimed directly at the target.

Every movement seemed as though he had practiced it for years, carrying the effortless confidence of experience.

Gu Tian Yuan narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at the silent Xue Xiao Ran and Xiao Hong Chen. In his expectations, it was only natural that the two would advance.

"Class A's Xue Xiao Ran versus Class A's Xiao Hong Chen!"

Neither of them spoke, clearly having heard the referee teacher's announcement.

Xiao Hong Chen was the first to step down from the stands. He knew this was a battle for his reputation. As the headmaster's grandson, he naturally had to prove himself before the entire academy.

A strange expression appeared on Xue Xiao Ran's face. He then shook his head with a smile and walked down from the stands.

The students in the stands were silent. They all wanted to witness the fierce collision between Class A's two geniuses.

Xue Xiao Ran stopped opposite Xiao Hong Chen, his hands tucked into his pockets, as calm as he always was.

It was as if, no matter who his opponent was, they were not worth stirring even the slightest interest in him.

"I will defeat you." Xiao Hong Chen spoke coldly, a sharp glint flashing through his blue eyes. Here, he would prove his strength and prove that he was the number one freshman.

"Let's begin."

Xue Xiao Ran seemed to have no desire to waste words with Xiao Hong Chen. He immediately bowed to the referee teacher at the side.

Seeing that both sides had released their martial souls, the referee teacher shouted, "The match begins!"

Xiao Hong Chen immediately released his martial soul, the Three-legged Golden Toad. At the same time, a cloud of black mist surged wildly from his side of the arena. He had launched an all-out attack from the very start.

That black mist was the purest form of Toad Poison.

Xue Xiao Ran kept both hands in his pockets and watched the poisonous mist with interest, simply waiting as the black fog slowly enveloped him.

Meng Hong Chen and Nana Senior Sister closed their eyes at the same time in the stands, unable to keep watching.

Xue Xiao Ran would soon be like Xiao Hong Chen's previous opponents, poisoned beyond measure as he screamed and convulsed on the ground.

On the arena, Xue Xiao Ran watched the black smoke enveloping him and finally pulled his hands from his pockets.

Looking at the poisonous mist, he reached out and felt it, as casual as a musician caressing an instrument.

Xiao Hong Chen's pupils suddenly contracted. He discovered that the black mist enveloping Xue Xiao Ran was slowly thinning, while the screams he had expected never came.

He hurriedly activated his second soul ring again. The black mist formed even faster, but it also vanished faster and faster.

"What is going on?" Xiao Hong Chen gritted his teeth and said in disbelief.

The black mist gradually dispersed. Xue Xiao Ran stood where he was, his Jade Eyes still as calm as water.

"Tastes pretty good."

That was his evaluation. He grinned, then stuck out his tongue and licked the corner of his lips.