Aftermath of the Battle: Encouragement and Undercurrents

"Boss, you were incredible! You played Tang San like a monkey. It felt so satisfying just watching!"

In the cafeteria, Xiao Wu came bouncing over to Lin Xuan with a heaping plate of carrots. Her face was full of proud delight, as though she herself had defeated Tang San.

As usual, Lin Xuan ordered more than twenty steamed buns. Now that he had income from the Blacksmith Shop, he directly replaced the vegetables with fragrant braised pork, eating until his mouth gleamed with grease.

"It was just a coincidence." He swallowed his food and deliberately sighed. "I can still suppress him with strength for now, but once his Soul Power rises, I might not be his match."

It was a complete lie, but it immediately fired Xiao Wu up.

She slapped her chest and declared confidently, "It's fine, Boss! He's a Soul Master, and so am I. I'll protect you from now on!"

She certainly did not believe she would lose to some human little brat. After all, she was a Soul Beast with tens of thousands of years of combat experience.

"Then you'd better work harder." Lin Xuan spoke leisurely. "From that fight just now, I felt that his Soul Power was a tiny bit stronger than yours."

"What!" Xiao Wu shot to her feet, her eyes wide and round.

"That's impossible! How could the great Sister Xiao Wu lose to a little brat?"

This was simply the greatest humiliation. She sat back down and began stuffing food into her mouth with both hands, muttering all the while.

"I need to finish eating and go back to cultivate right away. I absolutely can't let him surpass me!"

For some reason, she felt that Lin Xuan was extremely important to her. Instinctively, she wanted to protect him well, and increasing her strength had become the most urgent matter at hand.

Seeing Xiao Wu's fighting spirit reignite, Lin Xuan also sped up his eating.

Before long, the two finished their food. They exchanged a glance, then headed together for the Back Mountain to cultivate.

Only five minutes after they left did Yu Xiaogang stumble into the cafeteria after being informed by a student.

"Xiao San!" Seeing Tang San lying on the floor, he hurriedly rushed over.

Tang San had been down for so long, yet no one had dared step forward to help him up—Lin Xuan's intimidating presence still lingered.

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly checked Tang San's condition. Only after discovering that he had merely suffered minor external injuries and disordered Soul Power did he finally let out a long breath.

"Lin Xuan, you actually dared to hurt Xiao San!"

He gritted his teeth, but he also knew that bickering and fighting were perfectly normal in a Soul Master Academy. As long as no one was seriously injured or near death, the school would not interfere at all.

Tang San had fainted partly because of Lin Xuan's slap, but more importantly because he had forcibly gathered his breath while his Soul Power was in disorder.

Even if this matter were brought before the headmaster, they would not gain the slightest advantage.

"He's just an ant hopping around by relying on Innate Divine Strength." Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly.

"Without talent for Soul Power, let's see how far you can go. In three years at most, Xiao San's Soul Power will break through Level 20 and he'll obtain his Second Soul Ring. When that time comes, no matter how strong you are, it'll be useless!"

He was already plotting how to make Tang San surpass Lin Xuan as quickly as possible, then properly spur him on to avenge today's humiliation.

"Master, you should take him to the infirmary first," a student beside him kindly reminded him.

Yu Xiaogang came back to his senses. With a cold expression, he picked up Tang San and silently headed toward the infirmary without even offering a word of thanks.

"So rude! No wonder nobody likes him!" The student could not help cursing under his breath. He secretly resolved never to help that cold-blooded fellow again.

Atop a tall building outside Nuoding Academy, Tang Hao held a wine gourd in one hand and gnawed on a chicken leg with the other, looking utterly at ease.

But upon seeing Tang San get knocked down, it was as if he had seen something filthy. He spat out the food in his mouth. "Trash! You couldn't even beat a Level 3 Soul Master, and you let yourself get played like a monkey!"

"Still, that kid Lin Xuan really has something." He muttered to himself, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

"Not only does he have Innate Divine Strength, his speed isn't weak either. Too bad it's all straight-line bursts. His Innate Soul Power is too low. Otherwise, perhaps this continent would have another mighty god of strength like Tai Tan of the Strength Clan."

He had never intended to avenge Tang San.

In his view, if Tang San could not overcome even this little setback, then he had no value worth cultivating. Besides, Lin Xuan's existence might even motivate Tang San to cultivate harder, so it was utterly insignificant.

"Ah Yin, wait a little longer."

Tang Hao's gaze turned hazy as he took a huge swig of wine.

"If he can pass my test, I'll try to acknowledge him and bring him to see you;

If he can't, I'll find a way to make him leave behind descendants, then bring our grandson to see you."

After saying that, he turned and headed toward Sacred Soul Village.

Although Titled Douluo were powerful, they still found it difficult to see through the identity of a Shapeshifted Soul Beast unless they observed one up close or the other party revealed their Soul Power aura.

Ever since Tang Hao had followed Tang San to Nuoding City, he had never set foot in the academy, merely watching from afar.

From such a distance, being able to make out human figures was already good enough. Naturally, he had failed to discover Xiao Wu's true identity.

Furthermore, under Lin Xuan's protection, Xiao Wu rarely revealed her Soul Power, so she was safe for the time being.

Tang Hao knew clearly that Tang San would not face any mortal danger at the academy. Staying in Sacred Soul Village would instead keep him closer to the Blue Silver Emperor.

And judging by the original story, Old Jack only discovered Tang Hao's departure during a holiday.

Before then, someone in the village must certainly have needed ironwork made,

His true departure from the village should have been after Tang San finished his first semester.

However, Lin Xuan was still uncertain whether Tang Hao had already noticed something unusual, given that Xiao Wu had not exposed her Soul Power and Tang Hao had never observed her at close range. Thus, he always acted with restraint.

In the infirmary, Tang San slowly opened his eyes. The pain in his body had already faded, but his head still throbbed in waves.

"Xiao San, you're awake? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Yu Xiaogang's injuries from being bitten by a snake had not yet healed, and now he had to care for Tang San as well. His face had grown even paler.

This sight deeply moved Tang San. He lowered his head and said dejectedly:

"I'm sorry, Teacher. I let you down. I've already obtained a Soul Ring, yet I still couldn't beat Lin Xuan."

"Don't overthink it. This isn't your fault." Yu Xiaogang patted his head reassuringly.

"I've already investigated it. That kid Lin Xuan has a terrifying appetite. He eats at least fifty steamed buns a day, five times as much as an Ordinary Person.

This means that his physical strength is likely five times that of an Ordinary Person.

Before becoming a Soul Elder, Soul Power's amplification of the body isn't obvious. He truly held an innate advantage in the early stage."

"Once you grow older and your Soul Power rises, there will come a day when your strength, enhanced by Soul Power, surpasses his."

Yu Xiaogang spoke with absolute certainty, but it was all nonsense.

Lin Xuan's physical strength was only equivalent to that of two adults. The reason he could crush Tang San was entirely due to his explosive power, speed honed through long-term training, and Blue Silver Sensing, which could warn him in advance.

Having the strength of two adults operating within a child's body was already astonishingly effective. Coupled with running techniques trained since childhood, the combination made it difficult for Tang San to react.

More importantly, Tang San had never imagined that his Blue Silver Grass would actually transmit information to Lin Xuan. It was like raising an informant without realizing it.

Of course, Tang San's frail body was also an important factor.

How could a physique raised on long-term thin porridge compare to Lin Xuan's, who ate until he was full every meal? He had only recently begun living well, and his foundation was inherently unstable.