"Thanks, Brother Tao. I'll do my best."
Hearing Zhao Tao's words, Tang Wulin nodded firmly.
In his heart, he silently vowed to train hard. He couldn't hold Brother Tao back or let down his hopes.
"Hmph!"
Hearing the exchange between Zhao Tao and Tang Wulin, Xie Xie gave a cold snort, his voice full of disdain.
"What's with the snorting, Xie Xie? Do you look down on his ambitions, or are you just gloating?"
"I'd advise you not to celebrate too soon..."
"I forgot to mention something earlier. You're going to Class Five with the others, too!"
At Xie Xie's snort, Long Hengxu turned to glance at him and spoke.
"Director Long, th-this is... What gives you the right? I wasn't involved in the fight! This isn't fair!"
At Long Hengxu's words, Xie Xie, who had been aloof and silent until now, finally protested in a rush.
"You were in the same dormitory as them. You saw Zhou Changxi bullying the new students, but instead of stopping him or notifying a teacher, you stood by and watched, hoping to see a spectacle."
"You're so scheming at such a young age. What will you be like when you grow up?"
"I'm sending you to Class Five to give you some proper training. I hope you'll understand my good intentions!"
Hearing Xie Xie's complaints, Long Hengxu raised his voice slightly, a trace of anger entering it.
"Director Long, you're punishing me unfairly! I won't accept it!"
Xie Xie lifted his head defiantly and stared Long Hengxu in the eye.
"You won't accept it? Fine. Then you can withdraw from Eastsea Academy!"
"This isn't your Xie family!"
"If you want to study here, you have to follow Eastsea Academy's rules!"
Seeing Xie Xie's defiant expression, Long Hengxu showed no sign of relenting. He remained stern.
"Fine, I'll go to Class Five, then."
"I refuse to believe a mere Shallow Beach can hold back a True Dragon!"
Xie Xie spoke resentfully.
"Good. I'll be watching. You can all go now. Remember, don't let this happen again!"
After assigning Zhao Tao and the other three, Long Hengxu sent them on their way.
"Xie Xie, a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, and Zhao Tao, a freak who already has Spirit Connection Realm Spiritual Power at such a young age..."
"I wonder what kind of sparks they'll create when they meet Wu Changkong?"
"I hope I made the right arrangements today, and that they'll bring out their full potential and grow into pillars of Eastsea Academy!"
Watching the four walk away, Long Hengxu gazed after them thoughtfully.
Clearly, he had deliberately arranged this "punishment" for Zhao Tao and Xie Xie.
Meanwhile.
"Zhao Tao, this is all your fault! Now I have to go to the worst class, Class Five."
"If you've got the guts, come with me to the academy's Soul Fighting Arena. I'm challenging you to a duel!"
After leaving the Academic Affairs Office, Xie Xie glared furiously at Zhao Tao.
Clearly,
his anger had made him forget that Zhao Tao possessed a Thousand-Year Soul Skill.
"A duel with me? You're not worthy!"
"But my little brother Tang Wulin is interested in fighting you."
"If you want to challenge me, beat my little brother first!"
Looking at the furious Xie Xie, Zhao Tao returned the very words he had once said to Tang Wulin.
"That's right! If you want to challenge Brother Tao, you'll have to get past me first."
"If you're not a coward, then let's have a proper match!"
After hearing Zhao Tao, Tang Wulin stepped forward and stood in front of him. His big eyes were filled with determination and stubbornness.
"Fine! Let's have a match. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
Apparently provoked by Tang Wulin's words, Xie Xie stared at him and accepted the challenge.
"Then come with me!"
With that, Tang Wulin grabbed Xie Xie and led him toward the Soul Fighting Arena inside Eastsea Academy.
Before long,
they were at Eastsea Academy's Soul Fighting Arena.
"Tang Wulin, Level Eleven Soul Master. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass!"
Looking at Xie Xie in the distance, Tang Wulin summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. A White Soul Ring shimmered behind him.
"Xie Xie, Level Seventeen Soul Master. Martial Soul: Light Dragon Dagger!"
Looking at Tang Wulin in the distance, Xie Xie's eyes flashed with disdain. He raised his chin and introduced himself.
As soon as he finished speaking, a golden light flashed in his hand, taking the shape of a Golden Dagger.
At the same time, a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring rose around Xie Xie, forming a stark contrast with Tang Wulin's White Ten-Year Soul Ring.
After all, Xie Xie was the young master of the Eastsea Xie family. His family's wealth was far beyond what an ordinary person like Tang Wulin could afford.
A Hundred-Year Spirit Soul cost a million Federal Coins apiece. To the Xie family, that was a mere drop in the bucket.
That was why Xie Xie looked so scornfully at Tang Wulin, whose Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass and whose first Soul Ring was only ten years old.
"Tang Wulin, you're just a Level Eleven Soul Master, and your Martial Soul is the weakest Blue Silver Grass. Don't embarrass yourself here."
"Get Zhao Tao to fight me instead. That'll save me time—and save you the humiliation!"
Looking at Tang Wulin in the distance, Xie Xie spoke impatiently. Clearly, he didn't think Tang Wulin was worthy of being his opponent.
"You city folk really are too much!"
Hearing Xie Xie's words, Tang Wulin, who already resented his arrogance, could no longer contain his anger.
With Tang Wulin's furious shout, Soul Power surged through him. The White Soul Ring on his back flashed, and strands of Blue Silver Grass shot through the air, sweeping toward Xie Xie.
"Hmph, a cheap trick!"
Seeing Tang Wulin's attack, Xie Xie swung his Light Dragon Dagger, slashing at the Blue Silver Grass wrapping around him from every direction.
But in the next instant, the confident smile on Xie Xie's face froze!
Xie Xie reacted quickly, and his attacks were precise. His Light Dragon Dagger struck every strand of Blue Silver Grass around him.
But the Blue Silver Grass was exceptionally tough. It didn't break. Some strands were knocked aside, but even more kept surging toward him until they bound him tightly.
"Not good!"
Faced with this predicament, Xie Xie realized something was wrong. He hurriedly channeled his Soul Power and tried to use his Soul Skill to sever the Blue Silver Grass.
But by then, Tang Wulin had already charged forward and slammed a fist into Xie Xie's stomach.
In an instant, the tremendous force in Tang Wulin's punch—far beyond that of his peers, and even comparable to a Battle Soul Master's—sent Xie Xie flying. He slid nearly ten meters across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
As an Agility Attack System Soul Master, Xie Xie's defense was already his weak point. That blow left him utterly battered. He couldn't even get back to his feet, let alone counterattack.
Just then, Tang Wulin charged up to Xie Xie and pinned him to the ground!
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