Worn Down by Life

"Whoa! This black ten-thousand-year fourth ring—"

"It must be at least twenty thousand years old, right?"

Li Yusong leaned in, his tone filled with amazement.

"Three purple, one black. A four-ringed Soul Ancestor—"

Not far away, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes also lit up.

"Li Xiaoyao—"

"Perhaps he can help me—"

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze remained locked tightly on Li Xiaoyao.

Although Li Xiaoyao sensed the fluctuation in Zhu Zhuqing's emotions, he had no time to spare for this "little kitten" right now!

"Hey! You old geezer! Your eyes are pretty sharp!"

Li Xiaoyao retracted his Martial Soul and spirit rings. He clapped his hands together and acknowledged it.

The old man Li Yusong certainly had a sharp eye; he was far better than that trash Yu Xiaogang, who only knew how to talk big on paper.

"It's just a black ten-thousand-year spirit ring!"

"As if I, this old man, don't have one!"

Li Yusong rolled his eyes. He was somewhat speechless.

This kid Li Xiaoyao was indeed outstanding, but he just happened to have a mouth smeared with poison.

At this moment—

Dai Mubai also noticed Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

He swept a glance at Ning Rongrong—

Forget it!

Her heart had already been hooked by Li Xiaoyao.

Finally, he looked toward Zhu Zhuqing, whose body proportions were exaggerated.

Sensing the vibration from his Martial Soul, Dai Mubai's gaze sharpened!

Could it be—her?

Facing Dai Mubai's gaze, Zhu Zhuqing glared back at him in anger.

"Hmph! Dai Mubai!"

"You coward, have you only just noticed me now?"

However, right at this moment—

Li Yusong remarked to Dai Mubai.

"Mubai, what are you still standing there like a fool for?"

"Why don't you come over and help pack up the stall?"

"Don't tell me that from dragging those twin sisters to the Rose Hotel the other day, you've gone and addled your brain? Standing there like a wooden post, waiting for someone to call you just to pack up a table and chairs?"

As soon as Li Yusong said this—

Dai Mubai froze completely!

He didn't move a muscle.

As expected, the next second!

The disgust surging in the depths of Zhu Zhuqing's eyes was so intense it was practically overflowing.

Sensing that the atmosphere was wrong, Dai Mubai retorted.

"Cough, cough, cough! Teacher Li, what nonsense are you spouting!"

"I was... I was... discussing!"

"Oh, right! Just discussing!"

"I was discussing techniques for Spirit Master cultivation with them, how could it be as outrageous as you say?"

Dai Mubai's face was flushed with embarrassment, and he couldn't help but try to defend himself.

If these words had come from anyone else—

He could have denied them.

He might have even resorted to violence to force them to shut up!

But the person who said those words was Li Yusong, and it was merely an "unintentional" remark on his part; he couldn't exactly hold it against him, could he?

After all—

He couldn't beat Li Yusong, a 60th-level Soul Emperor.

He couldn't win in a fight.

He couldn't really get angry either.

He was just stuck there, feeling awkward.

It was quite stifling.

"Alright, alright!"

"I don't care about your personal life!"

"Hurry up and tidy things up!"

"I'm going to take these kids inside myself!"

Li Yusong instructed Dai Mubai.

Then, he led the group straight into Shrek Academy, as if he were afraid that a peerless genius like Li Xiaoyao might run away.

For a young genius like Li Xiaoyao, even if that stingy fellow Flender came back, he would probably have to pay out of his own pocket to "invite" him in!

An excited Li Yusong completely failed to notice the resentful look in Dai Mubai's eyes.

Dai Mubai looked at Zhu Zhuqing and opened his mouth, just about to explain himself, but was met only with Zhu Zhuqing's indifference.

Great! She was really fuming now!

He would just have to try and coax her in a couple of days!

As for the little interlude just now—

Li Xiaoyao had watched it with great interest.

Seeing Li Xiaoyao walking ahead—

Ning Rongrong quickened her pace and introduced herself.

"Hello! Your name is Li Xiaoyao, right?"

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Ning Rongrong, my Martial Soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I am a Level 26 Auxiliary System Soul Grand Master!"

Whoa!

Li Xiaoyao gave Ning Rongrong a strange look.

To think that Ning Rongrong, this lawless little witch, would actually take the initiative to introduce herself. It seemed the spirit ring configuration and strength he had deliberately revealed had indeed intimidated this pampered little princess.

"My name is Li Xiaoyao! I'm eighteen years old, my Martial Soul is Chronos, and I am a level 43 Battle Soul Ancestor."

The talent Li Xiaoyao revealed on the surface was not weak at all.

In fact, compared to his peers, he could be considered top-tier.

After all, when Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng first appeared, both were in their twenties; one was only a level 38 Soul Elder, and the other was a level 39 Soul Elder.

Even Yu Tianheng had only barely touched the threshold of a level 40 Soul Ancestor. In their age group, those two could at best be described as "not bad."

This—was just absurd.

At the same age and with similar talent, the three members of the Martial Soul Hall Golden Generation were already level 50 Soul Kings, and their combat experience was streets ahead of Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.

Sometimes, Li Xiaoyao even wondered if Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng had had their drive dulled by the comfortable life at the Royal Academy.

Otherwise, given their family backgrounds and talent advantages, their cultivation speed shouldn't have been so much worse than their peers. Compared to the Golden Generation, their Soul Power Levels were simply several tiers behind.

After Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong finished introducing themselves—

Zhu Zhuqing spoke up calmly from the side: "Zhu Zhuqing, Beast Martial Soul Hell Spirit Cat, level 27 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

Li Xiaoyao: "???"

Ning Rongrong: "???"

Zhu Zhuqing's sudden self-introduction left Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong feeling surprised.

However, the two still nodded at Zhu Zhuqing.

As for Zhu Zhuqing's unusual behavior—

Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong did not probe further.

This was because Li Xiaoyao already knew the specific situation.

And Ning Rongrong was more interested in Li Xiaoyao.

Just then, a soft, drawling voice suddenly rang out.

"Sausages for sale! Don't miss out as you pass by!"

"Oscar-brand sausages, delicious and sweet, low price and generous portions! You can buy one for just five copper coins, and eating one guarantees you'll have an easier time passing the entrance exam!"

Hearing the commotion, everyone turned their heads to see a crowd gathered around a food truck not far away. The scent of meat wafted from a grill, and quite a few students had already crowded around to buy sausages.

Standing in front of the truck was a man dressed in simple gray clothing. He had neat, short hair and a full, bushy beard, yet he possessed a pair of lively, flirtatious peach-blossom eyes.

The bearded man's gaze darted back and forth across the line of examinees, specifically picking out the girls to look over.

Naturally, the "elegant" Ning Rongrong and the "generously endowed" Zhu Zhuqing did not escape his notice.

If my memory serves me right—

This bearded uncle must be Oscar!

Li Xiaoyao immediately identified the man's identity.

No one would ever expect that such a rugged-looking man like Oscar could produce such a soft, mellow voice.

"You guys are new juniors, right?"

"Do you want to buy some grilled sausages?"

"They're only five Copper Soul Coins each!"

Noticing everyone's gaze, Oscar grinned and pushed his food truck over toward them.

Li Xiaoyao smiled, only to hear—