The Soul Master World Is Actually Cruel

"Tang San, what's wrong? You dropped your steamed buns." Xiao Wu noticed the steamed buns Tang San had dropped on the table, and then looked at his dazed expression, feeling a little strange.

"Nothing."

Tang San picked up the bun, took a breath, and smiled, "I've mainly figured out some things... Qing Ge, don't worry, whatever you want to do, I will support you unconditionally!"

Tang San had already envisioned the future scenario:

The Great Zhou operates openly, confronting the Two Great Empires and the Spirit Hall; while the Tang Sect operates covertly, secretly eliminating some enemies that cannot be dealt with openly for the development of the Great Zhou.

With this approach of combining yin and yang, working in tandem, how could we not succeed in our great endeavors?

"Forehead······"

Zhou Qing was somewhat stunned by Tang San's sudden change, unable to understand what had gotten into him, especially those burning eyes—

Is your sexual orientation really abnormal?

Zhou Qing shuddered inwardly, coughed, and changed the subject, saying, "After everyone finishes eating, let's go to Nuoding Plaza."

"Good."

Wang Sheng was the first to respond upon hearing this.

After breakfast.

Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Wang Sheng, surrounded by the Nuoding Academy work-study students, commoner students, and Noble Student like Xiao Chenyu, found Mo Hen, who had just finished breakfast in the teachers' dormitory, and Romantina, who had just sobered up and was still a little dizzy. They then headed towards Nuoding Plaza in a grand procession.

The other teachers followed along.

Qingzhu Zhu lives in a hotel near Nuoding Plaza, so we will meet there.

"Teacher Mo, speaking of which, have you always lived in the academy?" Zhou Qing asked.

"Um... I still have a small house back in my hometown." Mo Hen's smile was tinged with embarrassment, but he then added, "Actually, most free Soul Master don't really have a house of their own."

Zhou Qing: "???"

I thought it was just that Teacher Mo Hen hadn't saved enough money to buy a house in Nuoding City, but I never expected such a big scandal to break out.

Most free Soul Master do not own property...

Isn't this just an unemployed bum?

But after thinking about it carefully, Zhou Qing understood the reason: apart from those Soul Master who had sects or families, and excluding those Soul Master who had fixed properties (mostly towns on the outskirts of the Soul Beast Forest), the remaining majority, more than 90 percent, were nomadic people without a fixed abode.

Just like the hierarchy of primary, intermediate, and Advanced Academy, a child with the talent to become Soul Master would normally progress step by step by moving from one city to another. For Commoner Soul Master, moving from a familiar city to an unfamiliar one would naturally not involve immediately acquiring a new home there.

During this period in the Douluo Continent, apart from nobles, probably no one else dared to do real estate business on a large scale. Therefore, even if Soul Master saved enough money and wanted to buy a house in a big city, he had to wait for someone to sell the house.

Joining a faction is the best way to quickly own your own home...

[hiss--]

Is this also a method used by various forces to recruit Soul Master?

Of the basic necessities of life—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—the word "housing" alone has been manipulated by various powerful forces.

The reason why Commoner Soul Master can still be adventurers and choose freedom is simply because there are still many unexplored places in the Douluo Continent and a large area of space to be developed. However, few Commoner Soul Master are willing to venture into unknown areas and prefer to advance within the existing system.

Within this already developed mainland, the distribution of benefits is nearing saturation, and those at the bottom, without connections, find it difficult to get a share.

If that person is truly a gifted commoner with talent that is out in the open, he will inevitably be offered olive branches by various major powers, forcing him to join the current "rules of the game" on the continent. He will also have to adapt to and maintain these rules; otherwise, he will be ostracized or even attacked by the masses.

The Spirit Hall in the original work might be just like this.

Moreover, perhaps due to Bibi Dong's personal mental issues, the Spirit Hall in the original work launched the war without putting forward any constructive slogans, reasons, or war programs.

This gave the higher-ups of the Two Great Empires the feeling that among the three major players who dominated the Douluo Continent — the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Spirit Hall— the Spirit Hall had suddenly thrown a tantrum for no reason, quitting the game and preparing to overturn the table. However, it wasn't for the purpose of carrying out a comprehensive reform of the continent; it was simply to kick the other two players out—I'll eat the meat, I'll drink the soup; as for the others, they can't even lick the bones!

In this situation, not only would the Two Great Empires unite to resist the Spirit Hall, but a large number of Commoner Soul Master would also not wholeheartedly stand on the side of the Spirit Hall.

Because in their eyes, the Spirit Hall was the instigator of the war. While Commoner Soul Master might not understand the distribution of spoils, they certainly understood the concept of an "aggressor"...

"I've heard that most of the adventurers in the Nuoding Guild rent rooms, and some even sleep in stables," Xiao Wu interjected. "It's shameful that they don't even have their own homes. Teacher Mo Hen, you'd better work harder, or you won't be able to find a wife in the future, or maybe you and your wife will have your wedding night in the faculty dormitory at the academy?"

Mo Hen: "..."

After being a teacher for so many years, I still live in the college and haven't even saved enough money to buy my own house in Nuoding City. I really feel ashamed of myself.

However, Xiao Wu's mouth is really sharp; if someone marries her in the future, they'll probably suffer.

"With your extravagant spending habits, you probably won't even be able to afford rent after you graduate." Zhou Qing pulled himself out of his reverie, rubbed his temples, Taunt Xiao Wu.

"Snort!"

Xiao Wu turned her head away, not intending to argue with Zhou Qing, but she felt she really needed to consider the housing issue after graduation.

The core area of Star Dou Great Forest was definitely out of the question. After those Ferocious Beast "went home," Da Ming and Er Ming could only submit. As a transformed Soft Bone Rabbit, she couldn't beat them up or make them call her "Sister Xiao Wu" until she reached the level of Titled Douluo.

Not to mention, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm also harbors a deep hatred for those Ferocious Beast...

In the human world, to own a house, she either needs to save money, seek refuge with a powerful force, or marry a good man who owns property.

Xiao Wu immediately rejected the latter two options.

Should we side with a certain faction?

She, Sister Xiao Wu, is not someone who can be bound by rules!

Unless, that force is quite interesting.

But if she takes this path, she also has to consider whether her identity will be exposed.

Although the method of Secondary Refinement the Soul Ring a second time allowed a small portion of her own Soul Beast aura to be integrated into her Martial Soul and spine, she currently only has one Soul Ring, which cannot completely guarantee that her identity will not be seen through by powerful individuals.

Therefore, it's best to avoid contact with established powers.

As for marrying a good man with a house...

Is Sister Xiao Wu the kind of person who lives off a man?

"Actually, none of the three of you need to worry about housing in the future." Romantina's cheeks flushed slightly. "My house is actually quite big."

Why does this sound so familiar?

Zhou Qing glanced discreetly at Romantina, who had embedded the Phoenix Wutong Staff into something as soft as pudding—she wasn't wearing her breastplate today.

"That's wonderful!"

Xiao Wu hopped and skipped, landing on Romantina's back, causing ripples to spread across Romantina's face. "You truly are my good friend, Romantina."

"Before, when she didn't need me, she argued with me and called me a pervert; now she's eyeing my house and calling me her best friend." Romantina covered her cheeks, blushing shyly: o(*////▽////*)q

"Oh, don't worry about the details, hahaha!" Xiao Wu put her hands under Romantina's armpits and started tickling her.

"No~ No, please~"

Romantina writhed and swayed, her arms flailing wildly, her face flushed: o(>*////*<)o

This person... is truly beyond saving!

Zhou Qing rubbed his forehead, wondering if he had committed some unforgivable crime in his past life to have to be teammates with such an oddball.

Nuoding Plaza.

When the Nuoding Academy group arrived, the area was already crowded with people, and there were many food vendors hawking their wares.

However, among the many Soul Master gathered around, few paid much attention to Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others. After all, most of them couldn't discern the tactics of Team Eighteen from yesterday's battle and only felt that they had won by sheer luck.

"Zhou Qing."

Qingzhu Zhu followed her Mother Zhu to Zhou Qing's side. "Last night, did we complete a Martial Soul Fusion?"

"Yes... I guess so."

Seeing that Qingzhu Zhu remembered him, Zhou Qing decided not to hide it anymore. "However, I feel that the Martial Soul Fusion is not a normal situation."

"Yes, I think so too." Qingzhu Zhu shook her chin, but unlike Zhou Qing's conjecture about the Martial Soul Fusion, she felt that last night, he and she had not truly completed the Martial Soul Fusion, so there was no attraction between their Martial Soul.

"What?!"

Romantina flung Xiao Wu off from behind, grabbed Zhou Qing by the collar, and nearly lifted him up, her face flushed as she roared, "You actually Martial Soul Fusion with a little loli... Ouch, is this cheating? That's too much! In the future, when you do this kind of thing, please make sure it's in front of me... no, I mean, please don't let me know!"

Zhou Qing shoved Romantina and shouted, "Don't get so close! And don't say anything weird! The other students will misunderstand!"

Wang Sheng turned his head, whistling, and chatted with Song Si and other work-study students about how fierce he would be when he went on stage.

Mo Hen chatted quietly with the other teachers, explaining how many more Gold Soul Coin he needed to buy a vacant manor in Nuoding City.

Tang San and Xiao Wu chatted awkwardly, discussing the connection between "forging" and "Fruit Wine".

"Damn it! Don't mess with me!"

Seeing these people looking down at each other, Zhou Qing felt like crying—what kind of bad friends had she made?

But this guy is really good at diverting your attention and preventing you from overworking your brain...

In the end, Zhou Qing ignored Romantina's "nonsense" and returned to the main topic, saying to Qingzhu Zhu, "Don't worry about the Martial Soul Fusion. I feel that I am special. I can potentially fuse with any Soul Master's Martial Soul... Tang San, let's experiment after this Friendly Tournament is over."

"Good!"

Tang San was slightly taken aback, then agreed, but he didn't think that his Blue Silver Grass, Clear Sky Hammer, and Zhou Qing's Blood Circulation System could be integrated. He just thought it was an excuse for Zhou Qing to persuade Qingzhu Zhu and get rid of Romantina.

"If you two have Martial Soul Fusion, you should practice more." Teacher Mo Hen walked up to Zhou Qing and Qingzhu Zhu and gave them his advice.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill are extremely rare on the continent.

For Mo Hen, this was the first time he had encountered a student who was able to Martial Soul Fusion with other students of the same age.

Although they haven't witnessed it firsthand, since both sides believe that there is Martial Soul Fusion, it proves that the two are a match made in heaven.

If possible, as a teacher, he should still try to bring them together... It's just that Qingzhu Zhu's identity seems to be that of a young lady from some wealthy family? She probably doesn't come from a very prominent family, but he can only offer verbal suggestions.

If one comes from a large family—

Qingzhu Zhu blushed slightly.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and said, "Teacher Mo, please don't make things worse... Never mind, in the end, it's still my fault."

"???"

After much deliberation, Mo Hen concluded that Qingzhu Zhu belonged to the class of nobles with very high status and position, based on Zhou Qing's riddle-solving behavior.

In his mind, only a significant difference in social status could prevent Zhou Qing from having any romantic feelings for him.

Mo Hen would absolutely not believe that Zhou Qing was ignorant of romantic relationships.

Back when he was six, he fell in love with a lovely girl. Unfortunately, she was exceptionally talented; she graduated at twelve with level sixteen Soul Power and was admitted to an intermediate academy, forcing them to separate...

Seeing the melancholy look on Mo Hen's face, a question mark also appeared on Zhou Qing's forehead.

However, the awkward atmosphere eased after Zhong Dingxiu and the members of the Star Luo Royal Academy Team arrived.

"Enough with the chit-chat, let's begin the first match of the second round!"

The words fell.

Zhong Dingxiu began drawing lots, taking out two round balls from the box handed to him by City Lord Xiao.

Team Sixteen and Team Eight.

Both teams were hastily assembled, and their teamwork wasn't very good. They were able to advance to the second round only because the teams they faced in the first round were weaker.

Now that these two teams have met, it can be described as a battle of equals, with almost no cooperation between them. They are truly playing their own game, and the members of both teams do not obey their captains' arrangements, each acting independently.

In a sense, the tactics of these two teams are consistent with those of Zhou Qing's Team Eighteen. The only difference is that each person on these two teams is a truly independent individual. Once they find a target, they will fight that person to the death and will not think about attacking others or helping their opponents.

"It's too chaotic."

Tang San shook his head. "Didn't the captains of these two teams come up with any tactics?"

"Soul Master at levels 10 or 20, and all of them were temporarily formed. There were no Support System, Healing System, or Food System teams. They were only acquainted with each other. Their Soul Power was not much different, so naturally no one was willing to submit to anyone else. Everyone had their own set of combat ideas."

Zhou Qing sighed, "Given that the captain doesn't have enough ability or strategy to get the members of these two teams to cooperate, this method of each person targeting one person on the other side to fight to the death is not bad. After all, as long as one side has one person fall first, the other side will be able to gain the advantage."

"The downsides are obvious. If they encounter a team that can coordinate even slightly, both of these teams will be finished."

"From the perspective of us viewers, such a battle is uninteresting... but it's not like we can't learn anything from it."

Xiao Wu scoffed. "What can we learn from these two teams?"

Look—

Zhou Qing pointed to the captain of team Team Sixteen.

The captain's Martial Soul was a steel blade, which gleamed coldly as he swung it.

But the captain of Team Eight was no pushover either. His Martial Soul was a longsword with a sharp sword light, and he actually blocked every attack from Captain of Team Sixteen.

Captain of Team Sixteen's Second Spirit Ring lit up, and he let out a long roar, "Second Soul Skill: Wind Breaking Strike!"

In an instant, a thin layer of pale green swirled around the steel knife, making a hissing sound, as if even the air itself was being cut apart.

Faced with this attack, Captain Team Eight gripped his longsword horizontally with both hands, widened his eyes, and focused his mind, actually trying to block the attack.

However--

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Captain of Team Sixteen reached into his pocket with his other hand, pulled out a handful of white flour, and slapped it onto Captain Team Eight's face.

In an instant, Captain Team Eight closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.

Captain of Team Sixteen swung his sword, and a blade of light Entangling in a pale green whirlwind sliced across Captain Team Eight's chest, leaving a gash about forty centimeters long and five centimeters deep, and sending him flying.

Captain Team Eight!

Defeat!

The advantage has shifted to team Team Sixteen...

Xiao Wu said indignantly, "What's wrong with that guy? He seemed to have used this trick yesterday, and he's using it again today! A flour attack? That's so despicable!"

"Exactly! They don't have the spirit of a Soul Master at all!"

Wang Sheng also cursed out loud.

The part-time students, commoner students, and Noble Student at the Nuoding Academy also held such behavior in utter contempt.

However, Tang San had a different opinion:

Firstly, the Captain of Team Sixteen did not violate the rules; this "Friendly Tournament" allowed the use of weapons and methods other than Martial Soul.

Secondly, this unexpected approach is indeed very effective when navigating the world of martial arts, and can even turn defeat into victory in necessary battles.

"There's certainly no arrogance of a strongman, but we have to be wary. We should be grateful that this type of competition still has some fairness. If we were to clash with Soul Master like this in the Soul Hunting Forest, he wouldn't be throwing flour, but lime."

Zhou Qing said earnestly, "When Soul Hunting, if you encounter other Soul Master and the strength of both sides is not equal and there is a conflict, they will not follow the rules of the Soul Master World to decide the outcome with a Soul Fight, but will directly kill you."

Teachers like Mo Hen were also surprised.

They only knew that the Soul Master World was cruel, but they didn't know it was this cruel.

But Zhou Qing knew that they couldn't be blamed, because they were just teachers at a junior Soul Master Academy. They didn't usually participate in any form of Soul Fight. At most, they would help their students hunt Soul Beast during holidays. Other Soul Master teams would usually give them face and not make things difficult after learning about their "teacher" status.

It is precisely because the teachers of the primary Soul Master Academy do not have many responsibilities and live in a "good" place in the Soul Master World that the teachers of the primary Soul Master Academy, such as Mo Hen, have a relatively limited understanding of the cruelty of the Soul Master World.