To Show My Respect, I Won't Use My Martial Soul

A month had passed since the new term began.

Tang San had already challenged Yao Yan three or four times. Not wanting to draw Tang Hao's attention from the shadows, Yao Yan had found excuses to turn him down each time.

As the publicly acknowledged strongest among the academy's lower-year students, every move Tang San made drew attention.

News of his repeated challenges to Yao Yan had long since spread throughout the academy, becoming the talk of the school.

Naturally, Yao Yan's repeated refusals also became the subject of ridicule and after-meal gossip.

But Yao Yan did not care. He continued cultivating and living at his own pace.

Until one day!

After finishing his weighted training, Yao Yan was preparing to head home and enjoy a bath.

The moment he reached the school gates, he ran into Tang San and Master Yu walking side by side. He could vaguely hear Master Yu smugly explaining his "Ten Core Competencies."

Yao Yan merely glanced at them indifferently and continued forward as though he had not seen them.

"Yao Yan!" Tang San immediately called out to him. "Have you considered my earlier challenge?"

Yao Yan ignored him and kept walking.

"Xiao San, I think he's simply too scared to accept." Master Yu's tone was contemptuous. "Someone like him isn't worth your concern."

Seeing that Yao Yan showed no reaction, he sneered again. "See? Wasn't I right? How could someone with Innate Soul Power at rank six dare fight someone like you, with Innate Full Soul Power?"

The moment he finished speaking, a calm yet clear voice suddenly rang out. "I've considered it. I accept your challenge."

Master Yu's gaze sharpened. At some point, Yao Yan had turned around and was quietly watching them.

Tang San was immediately overjoyed. At last, he had a chance to teach this guy a lesson for Xiao Wu!

"Then shall we go to the Back Mountain now?"

"No rush." Yao Yan shook his head, using one of King Tang's usual moves as he said, "Since it's a challenge, how can there be no stakes?"

Tang San paused slightly. Why did this feel somewhat familiar? He nodded. "What do you want to bet?"

"If you lose, give me that Storage Soul Tool." Yao Yan glanced at the soul tool hanging from Tang San's waist.

He was currently short on a soul tool. Since the other party had come knocking on his door, he would not stand on ceremony.

Tang San's expression changed slightly, and he immediately refused. "My teacher gave this to me. I can't use it as a wager."

"Oh?" Yao Yan gave a soft laugh, his voice full of mockery. "Then there's nothing more to discuss. Goodbye." With that, he turned to leave.

"Xiao San, agree to it!" Master Yu suddenly said.

"Teacher..." Tang San wanted to say more, but Master Yu raised a hand to stop him.

He then patted Tang San's head and said firmly, "You are a disciple I taught personally. I believe in your strength."

To Master Yu, this was not merely an ordinary challenge.

It was the strongest possible rebuttal against someone who had scorned his theories. He could not tolerate anyone questioning his "Ten Core Theories."

Questioning him, the renowned Theory Master of Martial Souls!

"Yao Yan, I'll accept on Tang San's behalf," Master Yu declared loudly before asking, "Then what will you do if you lose?"

Yao Yan fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "If I lose, I will leave Nuoding City and never appear before Tang San again."

Master Yu was slightly stunned. He had not expected Yao Yan to stake so much.

"Fine. It's a deal." He nodded in agreement.

Yao Yan's existence was like a thorn in his heart. If he could use this opportunity to force him away, that would be ideal.

"Then let's find a witness." As Yao Yan spoke, he headed straight for the Principal's Office.

He did not trust the character of this master and disciple pair. He had to make preparations in advance.

By evening, many students had personally witnessed the wager being made, and the news spread through the entire academy like wildfire.

Seventh Dormitory.

Wang Sheng threw open the dormitory door and shouted, "We've got a show to watch! Yao Yan finally accepted Tang San's challenge!"

"What? He actually agreed!?"

A surprised cry rang out. Xiao Wu suddenly sat up from her bed, her eyes filled with excitement. "I'm going to cheer for Brother! He has to teach that guy a harsh lesson!"

She straightened her pink dress and rushed toward the academy's Back Mountain first, with the others from Seventh Dormitory following after her.

In the academy cafeteria, everyone was eating dinner.

Several figures suddenly rushed in and shouted, "Stop eating! Yao Yan accepted Tang San's challenge!"

"What is there to watch in a fight between two little brats?" a senior student said disdainfully.

"They made a wager. One loser has to give the other a Storage Soul Tool, while the other will drop out and leave Nuoding City!"

"What? They're betting that much?" Quite a few people immediately rose to their feet.

They naturally knew the value of a Storage Soul Tool. The craftsmanship had long since been lost, making it exceedingly precious.

Only top-tier nobles could own one.

As for Yao Yan dropping out, that was also an earth-shattering matter for people at their age.

He might even get his legs broken by his parents!

"You guys eat slowly. I'm going to grab a spot first!" The older student from before tossed down his food tray and rushed out.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

For a moment, a noisy commotion erupted in the cafeteria as a huge crowd surged toward the Back Mountain.

The cafeteria instantly became empty, leaving only the serving auntie standing there in a daze with her ladle in hand.

The entire campus was stirred up. Most of the students had been drawn in by the wager and wanted to join the excitement.

The Back Mountain was packed so tightly that not even water could pass through. Quite a few people even climbed trees to get a better view.

From their vantage point, there was an open clearing in the middle of the Back Mountain. Though the soil was soft, it was very clean, clearly a place that had been used for sparring year-round.

Four people stood in the clearing: two young boys and two middle-aged men.

They were Tang San, Yao Yan, and Master Yu!

The other man wore a black robe. He was handsome, with a somewhat prominent chin.

Everyone naturally recognized him as well—he was Mang Tianchi, the headmaster of Nuoding Academy.

He glanced at the noisy students around them and said helplessly to Master Yu, "Xiao Gang, it's only a spar. Why make such a big fuss over it?"

Seeing so many people gathered, Master Yu was thrilled.

As long as his disciple defeated Yao Yan in public, his position in the academy would be completely secured. Those teachers and students who had opinions about him would have no choice but to shut up.

He could even use the opportunity to promote his "Ten Core Competencies."

Yet he showed none of it on his face, instead feigning embarrassment as he said, "Tianchi, I didn't know it would cause such a huge stir either! But things have already come this far. Can we really call it off now?"

Mang Tianchi pondered for a moment. Letting Tang San display his strength and tempering the arrogance of the upperclassmen was not necessarily a bad thing.

"They can spar, but the wager must be canceled," he finally said.

He knew Yao Yan too. He was Shopkeeper Li's young master, and he had been asked to take extra care of him.

"Then it's no fun. I'm not fighting!" Yao Yan immediately threw in the towel and turned to leave.

"Hey! You kid..." Mang Tianchi's expression darkened. He had not expected the boy to be so stubborn.

The watching students immediately burst into jeers, all calling it a letdown.

Mang Tianchi sighed and removed the Storage Soul Tool from his waist, holding it out. "How about this? If you win this match, kid, I'll give you this Storage Soul Tool. How does that sound?"

Li Caiyi had been discussing a partnership with him recently anyway. He could earn back the money spent on a Soul Tool later.

"No, I want the one on his waist." Yao Yan pointed at Tang San.

"You kid!" Mang Tianchi was so angry he wanted to hit someone. But when he thought of Li Caiyi, a shrewd glint suddenly flashed through his eyes as he looked meaningfully at Yao Yan.

"Someone used dropping out as a wager without permission. If his sister finds out..."

Yao Yan instantly froze. He could do that?

But if Li Caiyi really found out, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Seeing that he had begun to waver, Mang Tianchi directly placed the storage pouch in his hand. "How about this? I'll lend you mine, and you can use it as the wager."

"Fine." Yao Yan nodded.

Master Yu, standing to the side, frowned. He had not expected things to develop this way.

But on second thought, as long as Tang San won this match, his reputation would soar. Thus, he did not object.

At that moment, Tang San removed his Soul Tool and handed it to Mang Tianchi.

With both sides' stakes set, Mang Tianchi announced loudly, "The wager for this battle is two Storage Soul Tools. The winner takes all!"

The atmosphere instantly erupted, and everyone's eyes burned with excitement.

These were two Soul Tools—an enormous wager rarely seen!

"Who do you think will win?"

"I think Tang San. I heard his first Soul Ring was already a century-old one. A century-old!"

"Tch! So what if it's century-old? Maybe Yao Yan's is too?"

Listening to the praise for Tang San around her, Xiao Wu proudly raised her chin. "What's so impressive about that? Brother will definitely become someone who surpasses Master in the future!"

"Look, it's about to begin!" someone cried out.

After the two signed the agreement, everyone else retreated to the side, leaving only Tang San and Yao Yan in the arena.

The two met each other's gaze, Tang San's eyes brimming with fighting spirit!

"Tang San, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Level 15 Control System Battle Soul Master." Before his words had even faded, blue-black Blue Silver Grass spread from his hand, while a bright Yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

"Yao Yan, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Level 10 Assault System Battle Soul Master." A Yellow Soul Ring likewise rose beneath his feet.

To everyone's surprise, there was no sign of a Martial Soul in his hands.

"Why aren't you releasing your Martial Soul?" Tang San asked with a frown.

Yao Yan stomped his right foot hard, pouring Soul Power into the ground. Countless Vines burst from the earth all around him and began growing wildly.

He spread his hands, his gaze stern. "To show my respect, I can fight without using my Martial Soul."