Tang San and Yu Tianquan's Academy Life

The brief conflict within Dorm Seven of the Nuoding Academy Work-Study Student was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the ripples quickly subsided, but they quietly altered some subtle atmospheres.

Since the day he fought with Xiao Wu and spoke coldly to her, Tang San (alias Tang Chi) has completely immersed himself in his own world.

Aside from the required academic and Martial Soul Theory classes at the academy, he spent almost all his time practicing the Mysterious Heaven Skill, honing his Hidden Weapon techniques, and familiarizing himself with his newly acquired First Soul Skill — the Tough Spider Web.

The dean of the Nuoding Academy, the old Soul King, became even more cautious in "taking care" of Tang San after he successfully obtained his First Soul Ring.

He secretly instructed the tutor in charge of the Work-Study Student to give Tang Chi as many conveniences as possible, turning a blind eye to certain privileges as long as he did not violate school rules. This gave Tang San more time and space to cultivate on his own.

He chose a secluded grove of trees behind the academy as his secret base. Every night, when all was quiet, he would practice his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track Steps, his Mysterious Jade Hand's precise control over Hidden Weapon, and his Purple Demon Eye there.

He constantly explored and experimented with combining the "Tough Spider Web" Soul Skill granted by the 400-year-old Golden Silk Spider Soul Ring with the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons weapon techniques. He discovered that this spider web was not only exceptionally tough, but also possessed a certain degree of stickiness and a powerful neurotoxin (inherent with his Martial Soul soul). If thrown using special techniques, it was extremely effective in trapping enemies and launching surprise attacks.

Driven by hatred and aided by the profound mysteries of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, his Cultivation Level steadily improved, not far from reaching level fourteen. The face beneath the Human Skin Mask grew increasingly resolute, and the coldness and wariness in his eyes deepened. Like a young wolf lurking in the shadows, he silently licked his wounds, sharpened his claws, and awaited the opportunity for revenge.

After Xiao Wu was announced as the leader of Dorm Seven, she truly "protected" the Work-Study Student. She was naturally lively and energetic, and soon became the queen of the Work-Study Student.

Although she still disliked the unpleasant "spider odor" emanating from Tang San, their encounter made her realize that this taciturn guy was not simple. In addition, Tang San occasionally helped her when fighting against noble students, and the relationship between the two changed from pure dislike to a subtle "peace" of keeping to themselves.

Occasionally, when they meet in the cafeteria or on the street, Xiao Wu will raise her chin and snort, while Tang San simply ignores her, and they coexist peacefully.

However, the peaceful days were soon shattered.

Although Nuoding City is small, the disciples of several Soul Master families who reside there have always been domineering within the academy, especially enjoying bullying Work-Study Student without any background. In the past, most of the Work-Study Student had to swallow their anger.

But Xiao Wu's arrival changed everything. She was powerful and had a fiery personality. After several conflicts, she not only did not suffer any losses, but also beat several noblemen's sons black and blue.

This thoroughly enraged the minor nobles. One day after school, seven or eight noble students, led by the City Lord's Son (a level 19 Soul Master with the Martial Soul Iron Armored Rhinoceros), along with two family guards (Soul Grandmaster level), blocked several lone Work-Study Student at the back gate of the academy, including Xiao Wu.

"You stinking rabbit! You were so arrogant last time, today I'll skin you alive and make a scarf out of your skin!" The City Lord's Son grinned maliciously, activating his Martial Soul and charging forward. Two family guards also released their Soul Ring, their Soul Power pressure enveloping the entire area.

The Work-Study Student turned pale with fright. Although Xiao Wu was strong, she was no match for so many people and was about to suffer a loss.

Just then, a slender figure flashed out from the alleyway beside them like Gui Mei, moving so fast that only a blur remained!

It's Tang San!

He was cultivating nearby when he heard the commotion and rushed over to investigate. When he saw the ugly faces of those noble children bullying others, especially the arrogant and domineering City Lord's Son, it instantly brought back memories of his mother, Tang Miao, being Huyan Lian and ultimately dying tragically! The anger and hatred that had been suppressed in his heart erupted like a volcano!

"You... all deserve to die!" A blood-red glint flashed in Tang San's eyes, Man Faced Demon Spider Martial Soul instantly possessed him, spreading a cold and violent aura. Without uttering any unnecessary words, he shifted his body, avoiding the City Lord's Son's charge, and used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its fullest extent, slipping between the two guards like an eel.

"First Soul Skill: Tough Spider Web!"

Sizzle!

Several white spiderwebs, exuding a sweet, fishy smell, shot out at extremely tricky angles, not as a direct attack, but to block the two guards' escape routes! At the same time, he flicked his hands, and several Bone-Piercing Nail, accompanied by a shrill sound, aimed straight for the vital joints of the opponents' wrists and ankles!

"Watch out for Hidden Weapon!" one of the guards exclaimed, hastily swinging his knife to parry. But they had clearly never encountered such a bizarre and swift attack before. Caught off guard, one man's wrist was struck by a bone-piercing Bone-Piercing Nail, and his steel knife slipped from his hand; another man was caught on the edge of a spider web, his movements momentarily halted.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Good opportunity!" With Waist Bow, she activated her Soft Skill, wrapping her entire body around the guard whose movements were hindered, as if she had no bones. Her long legs suddenly wrapped around his neck, and she threw him down hard!

Bang! The guard was thrown to the ground, completely disoriented.

Tang San struck successfully and, without pausing, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track Steps to get close to another guard with a knife, as if clinging to a bone.

Mysterious Jade Hand shimmered with a faint jade-like luster as he precisely struck the back of the opponent's blade. A subtle, yet powerful force penetrated the guard, causing his arm to go numb and his attack to falter. Tang San's other hand, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, struck a vital acupoint under the guard's ribs!

On the other side, Xiao Wu also completely let loose, revealing the fighting instincts of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Although her Soul Power was not high, her movements were agile and unpredictable, and her attacks were ruthless and cunning. She beat the City Lord's Son and several other noble students until they cried for their parents and were left with their teeth on the ground.

The initial lopsided brawl was instantly reversed after Tang San joined the fray. One was unpredictable and ruthless, the other agile and swift; though they didn't exchange words, their teamwork was remarkably synchronized. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the City Lord's Son and his group were all lying on the ground, groaning incessantly.

Tang San coldly swept his gaze across the mess on the ground, the bloodlust in his eyes slowly fading, but the chilling killing intent emanating from him sent the noble youths on the ground into Ice Cave, trembling with fear. He walked to Xiao Wu's side, glanced at his "roommate" who had just fought alongside him, and said indifferently, "Let's go."

Xiao Wu clapped her hands, put her hands on her hips, and snorted at the people on the ground, "If you dare to bully us Work-Study Student again, we'll beat you up every time we see you! Let's go!" After saying that, she raised her head like a victorious little peacock and left side by side with Tang San.

Seeing that all the noble children had run away, Xiao Wu walked up to Tang San, looked at him with a complicated expression, and pouted, "Hey! Tang Chi, I didn't expect you to be so capable! Although the spider smell is still awful... Anyway, thanks!"

Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing his surging killing intent, and regained his usual indifference, saying calmly, "It's nothing, I just can't stand them bullying people." After saying that, he turned around and was about to walk back to his corner.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Xiao Wu called out to him, tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled broadly. The smile was like sunlight piercing through the clouds, with a hint of slyness. "For the sake of your help today, I'll let bygones be bygones! From now on, in Dorm Seven, I, Sister Xiao Wu, will protect you!"

Tang San paused, not turning around, but a barely perceptible twitch appeared at the corner of his tightly pressed lips. Perhaps, in this cold world, having another "ally" who wasn't too unpleasant wasn't so bad. At least, he wouldn't be alone when facing those high and mighty nobles.

After this battle, the Work-Study Student felt a surge of pride and were filled with admiration for Tang San and Xiao Wu. The relationship between Tang San and Xiao Wu also underwent a subtle change.

Although they still couldn't be called friends, at least they were no longer at odds. Xiao Wu would occasionally come over and ask Tang San curiously what those "nail-like things that could turn" were. Tang San mostly remained silent, and only when he got annoyed by the questioning would he Bingbing reply, "Hidden Weapon."

The turmoil at the Nuoding Academy is just one corner of the vast tapestry of the Douluo Continent. Meanwhile, in Dragon City (Blue Lightning), the political and economic center of the eastern continent, a gathering concerning future glory is quietly underway at the Tianxing Martial Way Soul Master Academy.

Tianxing Academy, Inner Court Elite Training Ground.

Eight-year-old Yu Tianquan, dressed in a simple white training uniform, stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the field. He was tall and straight, and although he was still young, his eyebrows already showed some sharp features. His rare heterochromatic eyes (ice blue on the left and purple-gold on the right) had a composure beyond his age and... a faint, imperceptible arrogance belonging to a genius.

He had just accomplished an astonishing feat during the third-year advancement assessment held within the academy, with the Cultivation Level of a level 24 Soul Grandmaster —single-handedly defeating a combined team of five top students with an average Soul Power of level 32.

The battle was clean and efficient, showcasing the Silver Dragon Martial Soul's powerful elemental control (primarily ice and lightning), along with his overwhelming physical strength and keen combat intuition honed from childhood Martial Way training. In particular, his two millennium-old purple Soul Ring, which surpassed the limits of his abilities, left the observing instructors and senior students speechless.

After this battle, no one dared to underestimate him because of his young age. With his undeniable strength, he secured Seed Team spot for the Tianxing Academy in the "All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy" four years later.

At this moment, six more figures arrived one after another in the training field and stood opposite Yu Tianquan. They were between ten and thirteen years old, with varying levels of aura strength, but without exception, they all exuded a sharpness and confidence far beyond their peers. They would be Yu Tianquan's teammates for the next four years.

The first one was tall and slender, with a cold and stern face and sharp, piercing eyes. A strangely shaped black scythe phantom hung at his waist. Gao Mingxuan, twelve years old, was a level 33 Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder, with Martial Soul: Death Scythe. His father, Gao Zeyu, was a senior grade director at the Tianxing Academy, with the Cultivation Level Soul Sage. The Gao Family originally came from humble origins, but their current status was due to his father's Martial Soul Mutation and diligent cultivation. Gao Mingxuan surpassed his father; the Death Scythe was a top-tier Weapon Soul, with unpredictable attacks and an aura of death.

The second is a young girl dressed in a light green outfit. Her figure is already showing signs of curves, and her face is pretty, but there is a faint green mist between her brows, adding a touch of eerie beauty to her appearance. Dugu Yan, twelve years old, a level thirty-two control-type battle spirit master, martial spirit: Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. She is the apple of the eye of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, and comes from a family with a long tradition of poison-using skills. She has already inherited three-tenths of her grandfather's true knowledge of poison techniques.

The third and fourth were two burly teenagers who looked almost identical, with bronze skin and bulging muscles, standing there like two iron towers. Shi Mo (elder brother) and Shi Mo (younger brother), thirteen years old, were both level thirty-two defensive-type Soul Masters, with the Martial Soul: Xuanwu Turtle. They were the sons of the sect master of Xuanwu Sect, one of the four lower sects. The brothers were of one mind, with amazing defensive power, and they also possessed the trump card of Martial Soul Fusion Technique.

The fifth is a girl with a cool and aloof temperament, dressed in a plain white dress. She is stunningly beautiful, but her face is slightly pale, as if she doesn't belong to this world. Ye Lingling, eleven years old, Martial Soul thirty-one Healing System Soul Elder. Her Martial Soul is Nine Heart Begonia. She is a pinnacle of Healing System Weapon Soul Martial Souls. She has a close relationship with the Yu Family. Her grandmother and Ye Zhilan are cousins, making her a distant cousin of Yu Tianquan.

The sixth is a robust-looking boy with a defiant gaze. Although only ten years old, he is already nearly as tall as a typical twelve or thirteen-year-old. His body is full of Blood Essence and explosive power. Tang Chuan, ten years old, is a level 29 Power Attack System Martial Soul Grandmaster. His Clear Sky Sect is the Clear Sky Hammer. He is a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, the son of Tang Hao, and the great-grandson of Tang Chen. Innate Full Soul Power and is exceptionally talented, earning him the reputation of having the potential of his father.

These seven individuals are the prototype of the ace team that Tianxing Academy has been painstakingly cultivating, preparing to compete in the Continental Soul Master Tournament four years later!

The mentor in charge of leading them was a senior Soul Douluo Vice Dean of the academy. He glanced at the seven of them and said in a deep voice, "From today onwards, the seven of you are a single unit."

For the next eight years, you will train together, live together, and face challenges together. You have only one goal—to win two championships for the Tianxing Academy in four or even eight years!

After the Vice Dean finished speaking, he left time for the team members to get to know each other.

The scene was a little quiet for a while. Gao Mingxuan stood with his arms folded, with a cold expression. Dugu Yan looked at Yu Tianquan curiously, seeming to be very interested in his heterochromatic eyes. Brother Shimo Shimo smiled honestly. Tang Chuan, on the other hand, looked like the boss and the second child, glancing at Yu Tianquan from time to time, with a bit of scrutiny and dissatisfaction.

Yu Tianquan remained calm and composed, seemingly unconcerned about his teammates.

He had his own pride. As the grandson of Yu Yuanchen and the son of Yu Yunting and the Snow Empress, he possessed God Level bloodline and was a descendant of two gods. His vision had long surpassed that of his peers. Joining the team was less about honor and more about a necessary experience.

The most surprising thing was Ye Lingling, who was always aloof. When she saw Yu Tianquan, her beautiful eyes, which seemed untouched by the world, suddenly lit up, like ice and snow melting and spring water beginning to flow.

She walked up to Yu Tianquan, bent down, and pinched his chubby, fair cheeks with a smile, "Oh! Little Yu Tianquan, long time no see! You've grown taller! Still so cool. Come on, give your cousin a smile!"

Yu Tianquan's cool, grown-up expression instantly crumbled, his fair face flushing red as he tried to dodge Ye Lingling's clutches. Unfortunately, her Soul Power was far superior to his, making it impossible to escape. He could only glare at Ye Lingling with his heterochromatic eyes, his expression full of embarrassment. "Cousin Lingling! Let go! In public, what kind of behavior is this!"

The people around them stared in disbelief. Gao Mingxuan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, Dugu Yan covered her mouth and chuckled, Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers scratched their heads and grinned foolishly, while Tang Chuan had an "I see" expression on his face.

They then remembered that the Ye Family and the Yu Family were related by marriage, and Ye Lingling was indeed Yu Tianquan's distant cousin. They just hadn't expected that Ye Lingling, who was usually indifferent to everyone, would be so... lively in front of her cousin.

Ye Lingling, feeling playful, rubbed it a couple more times before finally letting go, laughing, "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. From now on, we're teammates, Xiao Tianquan, listen to your older cousin!"

Yu Tianquan straightened his disheveled collar, regained his cool expression, snorted, and turned his face away, though his ears were still flushed. This interaction instantly shortened the distance between the team members, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Because Yu Yunyao had high hopes for Ye Lingling and planned to take her as her disciple, she intended to guide her in Martial Soul Evolution into the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia, so that the bloodline of the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia could be passed down.

Because there were no men of her generation that Yu Yunyao found pleasing to the eye, and she had no intention of getting married, but she couldn't bear to let the bloodline of the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia end, so she thought of passing it on in this way.

Ye Lingling was thus raised by Yu Yunyao from a young age, and that's how she met Yu Tianquan. Ye Lingling, who always appeared aloof in front of others, only showed a bit of sisterly affection towards her little cousin. Perhaps it was because Yu Tianquan's cool, grown-up demeanor always made her want to tease him.

After a brief introduction, the seven had a basic understanding of each other. The Vice Dean returned and began to arrange the initial team cohesion training—the seven of them working together, under the premise that he, a Soul Douluo, had suppressed his Cultivation Level the Soul King level, and had to endure for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

Training begins immediately! Even if a Soul Douluo's pressure suppresses a Soul King, it's no small matter! From the very start, the seven were locked in a fierce battle. Gao Mingxuan's Death Scythe was unpredictable, Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent King controlled the entire battlefield with poison, the Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers' Xuanwu Turtle Formation was impregnable, Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia's healing light flashed frequently, Tang Chuan's Haotian Hammer was domineering, and Yu Tianquan's Silver Dragon Martial Soul combined ice and lightning, making for the strongest offensive!

However, their first collaboration was fraught with flaws. Fighting independently, their Soul Skill were poorly coordinated, and they even interfered with each other frequently. In a short time, the seven of them were in grave danger. Except for Ye Lingling Yu Tianquan was relatively calm, the others were all injured. Tang Chuan was even hit by a palm strike from the Vice Dean, and almost dropped his hammer.

"Coordinate! Focus on coordination! Put your backs on your teammates!" The Vice Dean's deep voice echoed across the training ground.

Yu Tianquan frowned slightly, his figure flashed, and an icy blue light shone on his Silver Dragon scales. An ice wall instantly condensed, blocking a fatal attack for Dugu Yan. Seeing this, Gao Mingxuan drew a strange arc with his Death Scythe, forcing back the Vice Dean and buying the Shi Mo brothers a chance to catch their breath. Ye Lingling's healing light fell precisely on everyone who needed it.

Under immense pressure, the seven began to instinctively try to cooperate. Although still inexperienced, they were beginning to form a team. When the time it takes for an incense stick to burn was up, the seven, though disheveled, had gritted their teeth and persevered.

The Vice Dean looked at the seven children, panting but with Gods, and nodded in satisfaction. "That's enough for today. Remember this feeling, teammates, they are your strongest support on the battlefield ahead! Dismissed!"

Training ended, and the seven members went their separate ways. Yu Tianquan glanced at Ye Lingling beside him, then looked at the backs of his other teammates, a glint of light flashing in his heterochromatic eyes. Teamwork... it seems... quite interesting.

Meanwhile, in the distant Nuoding City, Tang San had just finished a day of training. Gazing at the stars in the night sky, he clenched his fists. He knew that his current strength was still a long way from avenging his mother. But he believed that with the Tang Sect Secret Arts and the wisdom gained from two lifetimes, one day he would catch up with, and even surpass, them!

In the east of the continent, geniuses gather, sharpening their swords; in the southwest border, sons of vengeance lie dormant. Two drastically different destinies are slowly extending along their respective paths toward an unknown future. The grand competition eight years from now may be their first battlefield to intersect. Undercurrents are quietly surging beneath the calm surface.