Are You Calling Me?

Xiao Tianyang walked along with a deeply troubled expression. When he returned to the starting point, he saw Tang San waving at him. "Tianyang, he's my teacher now."

"Then congratulations."

Xiao Tianyang replied, still wearing a miserable expression.

"Brother Tianyang, what's wrong?"

Tang San asked with concern.

"Nothing."

Xiao Tianyang shook his head. He couldn't exactly say that an old man had "roughed him up" on the way, could he?

He simply couldn't bring himself to say that!

Bubu, who was following beside him, wore a sneaky grin. Xiao Tianyang caught it and gave him a chop on the head as a warning!

Bubu crouched to one side, clutching his head with a wronged look.

Tang San did not pay it much mind and stopped mentioning the matter. Instead, he looked at Xiao Tianyang. "Brother Tianyang, how about we do it together?"

"No. You have your destiny, and I have my own opportunity. I made up my mind about this long ago."

Xiao Tianyang refused with a smile.

To be honest, Master was indeed extremely knowledgeable, and his research into Martial Souls was truly extraordinary. However, that knowledge would be of limited help to him.

Moreover, Xiao Tianyang was used to being free and unrestrained. He did not want to be bound by any particular identity, so there was no reason for him to agree.

Tang San was shocked by those words, and so was Master.

But Tang San clearly accepted it more easily, because he had gradually grown accustomed to Xiao Tianyang saying startling things.

Master, on the other hand, was a little less receptive. He was still wondering whether words like that could really have come from a five- or six-year-old child.

"Since that's the case, I'll introduce another teacher to you later."

After saying that, Master looked at Tang San again. "Both of you possess Innate Full Soul Power. Your teachers can help you obtain your First Soul Ring."

However, Xiao Tianyang spoke up at that moment. "Thank you, Master, but I've already decided to go to the Soul Hunting Forest and obtain my First Soul Ring myself."

Master and Tang San both froze in surprise.

Tang San even tried to persuade him. "Brother Tianyang, Soul Beasts are not like ordinary wild beasts. I know you're strong, but..."

Xiao Tianyang shook his head. "Don't worry. We've fought so many times already. Don't you trust my strength?"

Master seemed to recall something from long ago, and a dazed look crossed his face. In the end, he nodded. "Since you've already made your decision, I won't try to dissuade you. But if you change your mind, the academy's teachers will still help you."

"If there is anything you don't understand about Soul Beasts or Soul Rings along the way, you can come ask me. I'll help answer your questions As Much As Possible."

Xiao Tianyang gave a half-bow. "Then I'll trouble you, Master."

The three of them and the dog continued onward. With Master's help, they soon registered as students at the Academic Affairs Office, collected their school uniforms, and were assigned dormitories.

However, a small problem arose in the middle of it all: dogs were not allowed in the academy... Bubu had nearly been angered to death on the spot.

Fortunately, after Xiao Tianyang "persuaded" him with his slipper, he stopped acting up. Still, they could not simply leave him to wander around.

They could only think of another solution—either find someone to foster him or rent a place in the city. Those were the only two options.

Even more awkwardly, Xiao Tianyang himself had nowhere to stay. Tang San's dormitory was already full, and it was also the only remaining Work-Study Student dormitory.

After kicking Bubu, who was snickering nearby, Xiao Tianyang could only turn to Director Su at the Academic Affairs Office. "Director, there aren't any open spots over there. Are there no vacancies in the other dormitories either?"

"There are, but those are the territory of the Noble Disciples. It might not be appropriate for a Work-Study Student like you to move in."

Director Su hesitated before answering.

"I'm not qualified?"

Xiao Tianyang raised an eyebrow.

"That's not it. It's just that, with your status, you'll inevitably be bullied if you go in there. Besides, the academy rules don't allow it."

Director Su said with some difficulty.

Xiao Tianyang suddenly thought of something and said mysteriously, "What if I know Teacher Miao?"

Director Su froze for a moment at those words, then visibly shuddered. "You're telling the truth?"

"Truer than gold."

Xiao Tianyang nodded seriously.

He had suffered a loss last time; this time, he would get his advantage back.

Director Su glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then gave a light cough. "Well, rules are dead, but people are alive. Rules can be changed."

"In that case, can I go to Dormitory Six?"

Xiao Tianyang asked with a smile.

Director Su's smile stiffened slightly. "No problem. I'll have a teacher arrange it for you right away."

After Xiao Tianyang and Tang San left the office building, they went their separate ways.

Xiao Tianyang did not head straight to the dormitory, because there was still Bubu to take care of.

Besides, it would not take much time. He only needed to rent a room as Bubu's Landing Spot, then give it some money to buy food.

Sometimes, Bubu was sharper than a ghost. Anyone who tried to trick it would only end up being toyed with instead.

After handling all that, he finally turned and returned to the academy, where he had the time to study that System Prompt.

"Host has triggered a side quest, [First Soul Ring]. Objective: Obtain the First Soul Ring through your own efforts. Its age must not be less than two thousand years!"

"Mission Reward: Lottery Points ×300!"

This was the quest that had appeared when Master mentioned the First Soul Ring.

Of course, even without it, Xiao Tianyang would have chosen to go to the Soul Hunting Forest alone. After all, beasts posed almost no threat to him anymore.

And what did he rely on to grow stronger?

Normal cultivation?

It was certainly necessary, but it was not essential.

At least, Xiao Tianyang did not see it that way.

That night, after Xiao Tianyang tried the Green Liquid condensed by the Sky-Controlling Bottle, his Soul Power had directly reached its maximum value—and that was with only two drops!

One had to know that Xiao Tianyang's Strength Level had originally been very unstable. Cultivating at night would raise it, while cultivating in the morning would lower it, further refining his Soul Power.

This cycle continued for three months. On the night before departure, Xiao Tianyang's Soul Power had been stuck at level eight, a number that had not changed for nearly two weeks!

Yet after two drops of Green Liquid, Xiao Tianyang's strength directly rose by two levels. What did that mean?

It meant there was a shortcut, so why not take it?

Once he found a shortcut for increasing his Soul Power, Xiao Tianyang could devote more time to actual combat and collect more Lottery Points for draws. That was the right path!

With a Golden Finger in hand, was he supposed to waste it and cultivate step by step like Tang San?

Impossible!

So from the moment he arrived here, Xiao Tianyang had already decided that the Soul Hunting Forest would become his hunting ground in the future!

"Still, there's no need to rush. Little San is right. Soul Beasts are different from ordinary beasts. Not only are they stronger, they also possess an innate hostility toward humans."

"Before setting out, I need to learn the relevant knowledge. Otherwise, if I don't even know what kind of Soul Ring I need, how am I supposed to hunt one?"

As he considered this, Xiao Tianyang arrived at the entrance to Dormitory Six. Just as he was about to push the door open, he heard a heated discussion inside.

"Did you hear? The teacher in charge of our dorm said a newcomer is coming here."

"So what if someone's coming? Are you afraid of him?"

"But I heard he's a Work-Study Student..."

"A Work-Study Student? Are you kidding? How could those filthy brats from poor places be assigned to our dormitory?"

"It can't be wrong. What do you think, Boss Xiao?"

By then, Xiao Tianyang had already pushed open the door and said, "Were you calling me?"

The child who had just spoken froze, then blurted out, "When did I call you? I was clearly calling Boss Xiao!"

Xiao Tianyang flashed a wide grin. "What a coincidence. My surname is Xiao too. I thought you were calling me."