Sarcastic Zhao Yuan

If he did not eliminate the Loyalty Faction, he would not be able to complete the final step—seizing Qingyang Duchy.

Of course, before that, he also needed the empire's recognition. As a vassal state of the Heaven Dou Empire, if he wanted to become Qingyang's ruler without the empire acknowledging him, he would be nothing more than a rebel.

After returning to the academy, Huangfu Ji went straight to the dormitory.

Zhao Yuan was not in the dormitory right now. At this hour, he was probably eating in the cafeteria.

Lying on his bed, Huangfu Ji contemplated the future. Now that he had obtained his First Soul Ring, his immediate worries were gone. Moreover, on the way back, he had sensed that Cheng Yao's attitude toward him had changed.

He did not even know what to say.

Perhaps the talent he had displayed had shocked Cheng Yao. Just like a protagonist—once he revealed his overwhelming presence, everyone around him bowed their heads in submission.

As he thought about it, he suddenly laughed at himself.

"I'm so naive."

It was fine to entertain such thoughts, but how could they possibly be real? If he had not shown something impressive enough to shock people, there was no way they would change their attitude toward him.

So what had truly changed Cheng Yao's attitude was his First Soul Skill.

After all, Cheng Yao was not some powerful soul master. He was only at the level of a Soul King.

While he was thinking, Zhao Yuan returned.

As soon as he pushed open the door, Zhao Yuan saw Huangfu Ji lying on his bed, lost in thought.

"Grand Duke, when did you get back?"

Pulled from his thoughts, Huangfu Ji replied blandly, "Just now."

"You've been eating for this long?"

By rights, Zhao Yuan should have finished eating and returned to cultivate long ago at this hour.

Zhao Yuan waved his hand. "Not at all. I stopped to watch some excitement."

As he spoke, he immediately closed the door and sat on his bed. There was a smile on his face, as though he had witnessed something entertaining and could not wait to share it.

"Grand Duke, let me tell you, it's such a shame you didn't see it."

"Just now, three Noble Students were bullying a Work-Study Student."

Huangfu Ji gave Zhao Yuan a baffled look.

"What's so exciting about that? You seem pretty happy watching someone get bullied."

Zhao Yuan shook his head. "No, when those three were bullying the Work-Study Student, Liu Erlong stepped forward to stand up for him. Then, in no time at all, she beat them flat on the ground."

As he spoke, he even struck a few poses, as though he, rather than Liu Erlong, had been the one to knock them down.

"Man, that strength."

He clicked his tongue and shook his head, his eyes full of envy.

"The people Liu Erlong beat up weren't weak. The strongest among them had already reached Soul Power Level seven."

"The three of them joined forces, yet they still couldn't beat Liu Erlong, who was only level eight."

If it had been him, he would probably have been the one lying on the ground.

Huangfu Ji was not surprised. Liu Erlong was a genius, after all, and her strength was considerable. Still, he felt that she had offended someone with this move. There would probably be trouble later on.

"You should be more careful. Erlong beat them up, so they definitely won't let this go."

Zhao Yuan agreed.

"That's right. Those guys are the lackeys of Yuan Ling's lackeys. Now that they've been beaten, they'll definitely bring people back for revenge."

As a fellow noble, he knew all too well that those people would come looking for trouble with Liu Erlong again.

"Grand Duke, if someone really comes looking for trouble with Liu Erlong, should we step in?" Zhao Yuan asked.

Huangfu Ji nodded.

"We should help when we need to."

No matter what, Liu Erlong was his friend.

Since being reborn, he had made one and a half friends. Liu Erlong counted as one, while Zhao Yuan was the half.

It was not that he did not consider Zhao Yuan a friend. It was simply that the difference in their status stood between them. Although Zhao Yuan was no longer as restrained as before, the reverence in his bones still remained.

That meant it was difficult for them to get along as equals.

Liu Erlong was different. She did not care about his status at all, and she treated him as an equal whenever they were together, even though they had only known each other for a few days.

"Alright, then I'll call some people when the time comes."

Zhao Yuan put on the air of a local big shot.

After chatting for a while, the two began cultivating.

During class the next day, when Liu Erlong saw that Huangfu Ji had returned, she immediately sat beside him.

"You're really not much of a friend. You went out to get a Soul Ring without even telling me. You had me thinking you'd been kidnapped."

The corner of Huangfu Ji's mouth twitched slightly.

"Who would kidnap me at the academy?"

Liu Erlong gave a playful smile.

"That's not necessarily true. With your delicate skin and tender flesh, plus your status as the puppet grand duke, there must be plenty of people who want to kidnap you. That big villain Yuan Hao might just do it."

Zhao Yuan lowered his head, struggling to hold back his laughter.

Huangfu Ji helplessly curled his lips but said nothing.

After morning classes ended, Huangfu Ji reminded her, "You beat someone up yesterday, so you'd better be careful."

Liu Erlong slightly raised her head to glance at him, then smiled confidently.

"What's there to fear? If they dare come, I'll beat up one if one comes, and a pair if two come."

In her eyes, there was nothing fists could not solve. If she beat every provocateur to the ground, then no one would dare provoke her again.

"Come on, let's eat."

"If anything happens, I'll help you."

With that, Huangfu Ji left with Zhao Yuan.

Liu Erlong sat there blankly, watching his departing back. It was the first time anyone had said something like that to her. No one had helped her before, and with her mother in poor health, she could only rely on herself.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon Huangfu Ji. As Liu Erlong looked at his back bathed in golden light, she suddenly smiled. Her smile was exceptionally sweet, like a spring breeze.

"Wait for me." She rose and chased after them.

After catching up to Huangfu Ji, Liu Erlong patted him on the shoulder.

"Now that you've obtained your First Soul Ring, you have to treat us to a meal. Consider it compensation for not telling me."

Huangfu Ji laughed heartily.

"Sure. Order whatever you want."

The three left side by side, all wearing smiles. When they arrived on the second floor of the cafeteria and had just sat down, eight people surrounded them.

More precisely, they had surrounded Liu Erlong.

Liu Erlong's wonderful mood immediately turned cold.

"What, do you want to fight in the cafeteria?"

The leader of the eight was an eleven-year-old boy.

"My name is Wang Feng. You were the one who beat up my little brother yesterday."

"Your little brother?" Liu Erlong looked at Wang Feng in confusion before suddenly remembering.

"The most arrogant one yesterday? So he was your little brother. No wonder he was so easy to beat."

"He was the one bullying others first. I beat him up, and he couldn't beat me. He deserved it."

"Exactly." Zhao Yuan spoke up, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Your little brother and two others couldn't beat one person. Isn't that embarrassing? Since he couldn't win, he called his big brother over. If big brother gets beaten too, are you going to call your dad next?"

After saying that, he even put on an especially punchable expression and rolled his eyes.

Liu Erlong could not hold back and covered her mouth as she laughed.

Huangfu Ji could not help laughing either.

"You!" Wang Feng was so furious that he wanted to make a move, but the person behind him stopped him.

That person gestured for Wang Feng to look beside Liu Erlong. Wang Feng looked over and immediately froze.

Huangfu Ji had been staring at him the entire time.

"Fine, fine, fine. So that's why you, Liu Erlong, dare act so fearlessly. You found someone to back you up."

"Just wait."

Wang Feng turned and left with his people. With Huangfu Ji here, it was not convenient for him to act. Besides, this was the cafeteria, and the academy's rules were right there.