Hu Liena and Xie Yue Arrive

A year later, Martial Soul Hall Academy.

The academy was divided into three ranks: Heaven, Earth, and Human. Those below Level 15 Soul Power were in the Human rank, Levels 15 to 30 were Earth rank, and above Level 30 were Heaven rank.

In Human Class One, roughly a hundred youths had gathered together. Among them, a red-haired boy was particularly eye-catching, with around a dozen peers clustered around him.

Ji Wushuang sat quietly nearby.

Over the past year, he had never mentioned to anyone that he was Bibi Dong's disciple. Yet his talent was simply too outstanding for him to keep a low profile, so he had become something of a celebrity.

At that moment.

Feng Qingrou, the teacher of Human Class One, walked in. She swept a stern gaze over the gathered students and let out a cold snort.

The previously noisy classroom suddenly fell silent. The clustered students scattered at once, while the red-haired boy awkwardly scratched his head, jumped down from the desk, and returned to his seat.

"Quiet down. Today, our class has welcomed two new students." Feng Qingrou looked toward the door and smiled. "Hu Liena, Xie Yue, come in quickly."

Ji Wushuang's brows lifted slightly when he heard those two names.

They're here!

Seven-year-old Xie Yue and six-year-old Hu Liena entered the classroom one after the other. Xie Yue gathered his courage and faced the many curious gazes, while Hu Liena appeared somewhat timid, hiding bashfully behind Xie Yue with deep fear in her eyes.

"Wow! She's so cute!"

The red-haired boy stared blankly at Hu Liena. His cheeks flushed as he felt as though spring had suddenly arrived, with peach blossoms swirling all around him.

Feng Qingrou shot the red-haired boy an annoyed glare. "Xie Yue, Hu Liena, introduce yourselves to everyone."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Xie Yue. My Martial Spirit is the Moon Blade, and I am currently a Level 13 one-ring Battle Soul Master. This is my younger sister, Hu Liena. Her Martial Spirit is the Demon Fox, and she is a Level 11 one-ring Soul Master." Xie Yue swept his gaze around the room without appearing nervous at all, forming a sharp contrast with Hu Liena.

The red-haired boy stood up and grinned. "Hello, my name is Yan! Like you, I'm also Level 13. My Martial Spirit is the Flame Lord, a top-tier Beast Martial Spirit!"

Feng Qingrou glared at Yan irritably and slapped the desk until it rang with bangs. "Yan, sit back down!" Then she said to the two of them, "Xie Yue, Hu Liena, find yourselves seats."

Xie Yue and Hu Liena nodded. They looked around, ignored Yan as he noisily called out from somewhere nearby, and headed straight for seats in the back.

"Teacher!" Yan raised his hand.

"Speak!" Feng Qingrou said expressionlessly.

Yan smiled. "As class monitor, I should take care of the new students. I can take better care of them if I'm closer, so I request to move beside them."

Ignoring Yan's request, Feng Qingrou looked at Ji Wushuang and smiled. "Wushuang, after class, could you show the two siblings around?"

"No problem," Ji Wushuang replied.

Xie Yue and Hu Liena looked toward Ji Wushuang, and Ji Wushuang looked back at them.

Hu Liena's chubby little cheeks flushed slightly, and she hid further behind Xie Yue. Xie Yue nodded in greeting.

"Class begins now!"

"Yan, tell me what we covered in the previous lesson!"

Feng Qingrou said coldly.

"Huh? I don't know!"

Yan made no attempt to hide it and answered bluntly.

Feng Qingrou's face darkened as she roared, "Sit properly and pay attention! If I catch you looking toward the back again, I'll make you run a hundred laps around the field!"

Yan hurriedly covered his ears and nodded repeatedly.

By noon.

As Feng Qingrou left the classroom, everyone inside became lively once more.

Yan immediately sought out Xie Yue and Hu Liena, smiling as he said, "Xie Yue, Hu Liena, how about I show you around the academy? Ji Wushuang only has eyes for his sword. He's boring as hell!"

Ji Wushuang walked over to the three of them. He glanced at Yan, then looked at Hu Liena and Xie Yue. "My name is Ji Wushuang, a Level 16 one-ring Battle Soul Master."

Xie Yue and Hu Liena had already learned of Martial Soul Hall Academy's rank divisions, and they could not help but stare blankly upon hearing "Level 16."

Ji Wushuang had only enrolled for one year, and the year was not even over yet. By the time school began next year, he would be able to advance to an Earth Class.

"Come with me. I'll give you a simple tour of the academy. You can slowly learn the rest in the future." Ji Wushuang turned and left.

Hu Liena seemed tempted and tugged at Xie Yue's sleeve. "Brother..."

Xie Yue nodded and took Hu Liena's hand as they followed Ji Wushuang.

"Hey, wait for me!" Yan snapped back to his senses and hurried after them.

"Martial Soul Hall Academy only has two hours of classes in the morning. The rest of the day is your own time to arrange as you wish."

"The girls' dormitory is next door. Boys and girls are not allowed to stay together here, even if you're siblings."

"Yan, I'll leave the rest to you."

Ji Wushuang smiled.

"You want me to listen to you? Not a chance!" Yan arrogantly turned his head away.

"What a poser." Ji Wushuang curled his lip. A flying sword emerged from the Soul Tool at his waist, and he immediately leaped onto it, flying away on his sword.

"So impressive!" Hu Liena's mouth fell open in surprise, her eyes filled with envy and admiration.

"Hmph! Isn't it just flying? What's so great about that? Once I reach level twenty, I'll absorb a soul skill that lets me fly too!" Yan snorted.

"Yan, where is he going?" Xie Yue asked curiously.

Through their conversations along the way, they had learned Ji Wushuang's age. Aside from being a year older than Hu Liena, he was the same age as Xie Yue and Yan, yet his Soul Power Level was far higher than theirs. Xie Yue could not help wondering how Ji Wushuang cultivated, progressing so rapidly.

However, directly asking someone how they cultivated their soul power was considered taboo.

"Didn't I tell you before? That guy Ji Wushuang only has eyes for his sword. Other than eating, sleeping, and attending class, he spends every day practicing swordsmanship and cultivating. He must be off practicing his sword now!" Yan spread his hands.

"Then his Martial Soul must be a sword too?" Xie Yue asked.

Yan nodded. "That's right. His Martial Soul is called the Peerless Sword Casket. His Sword Control Technique is incredibly formidable. Among all the Human Class classes, no one is his match."

"So impressive!"

Xie Yue and Hu Liena could not help but sigh in admiration.

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Bamboo Forest, the wind swept through like waves.

Ji Wushuang stood atop a bluestone, his eyes slightly closed. The Peerless Sword Casket stood beside him, its twelve flying swords poised to strike.

At that moment.

Qingshuang, Absolute Shadow, Jade Ruyi, and Finger-Twisting Softness flew from their sheaths at the same time.

Sword cries rang out as bamboo leaves scattered through the air.

The four swords streaked like flowing light, reducing every bamboo leaf in their path to powder.

Ji Wushuang moved with graceful agility, sometimes leaping into the air, sometimes gliding close to the ground. Under his control, sword shadows intertwined with bamboo shadows, while sword qi resonated with the wind.

Clang!

The four swords returned to their sheaths, and the Peerless Sword Casket closed with them. The Bamboo Forest returned to silence.

"To forge a true Peerless Sword Array, twelve flying swords are indispensable!"

"A sword array formed from only four flying swords has too few variations and is far too weak!"

Ji Wushuang murmured softly.

He gazed at the setting sun before turning and leaving.