Ju Yuan City, Martial Soul Academy.
A bone-deep chill surged through the air. Mu Rong stood outside the academy gates, his sleeves fluttering as the Ice Crystal Phoenix perched on his shoulder.
Behind him, a giant serpent nearly as thick as a grown man's thigh rose into the air.
Its scales gleamed like shards of ice, and its body was wreathed in a frigid light that made anyone who saw it shudder.
"Ice Phoenix Serpent, innate soul power rank six."
Cai Bo's voice rang out, raised with excitement.
In this remote city, someone who could control a Martial Soul was already an outstanding talent.
"Not only is she a control-type Martial Soul user, she's got a rare serpent-type Martial Soul with tremendous potential."
A clear, melodious female voice sounded from nearby.
Dressed in white, with a pale blue skirt that reached the ground, Bi Bi—who looked to be in her teens—stepped out. Her delicate face bore a trace of childishness, and she had a pair of short daggers at her waist.
Beside her walked a tall, handsome young man dressed in black. His gaze was sharp as he looked at the Ice Phoenix Serpent behind Mu Rong, as though he couldn't wait to skin it alive.
"My name is Bi Bi."
The girl stopped in front of Mu Rong and looked up at him.
"You're very talented. Come with me to Martial Soul City. The Martial Soul Hall will give you the best resources."
Mu Rong could feel the pain in his abdomen, where his ribs had been broken. He looked at the little girl whose waist barely reached his chest.
As someone who had transmigrated from another world, he knew all too well that beneath this seemingly glorious facade lay a terrifying abyss waiting to swallow him whole.
Besides, in a place like the Martial Soul Hall, once you went in, you lost your freedom. You could only let others control you. If your innate soul power wasn't high enough, then the so-called resources were nothing but empty promises.
"Thank you for the offer."
Mu Rong recalled his Martial Soul and turned to leave.
Bi Bi was stunned. Her hand hung motionless in midair.
As far as she knew, no one had ever refused the Martial Soul Hall's invitation—especially not an orphan from some remote village.
"Wait!"
The tall young man beside her hurried forward and blocked Mu Rong's path.
"Your Martial Soul's form is unusual. Serpent-type Martial Souls usually belong to the beast class, but yours seems to have characteristics of both the beast and plant classes."
"There are matters involving Martial Soul evolution that I'd like to study. Let me help you develop your Martial Soul to its full potential..."
Mu Rong stopped and turned to look at Jade Little Blade, the corner of his mouth lifting into a mocking smile.
"Study? What are you going to study—how to make my Martial Soul fart?"
The air fell deathly silent.
Jade Little Blade's originally arrogant expression turned livid with rage. This was the deepest taboo in his heart—his third awakening.
"You... You take that back!"
Jade Little Blade pointed at him, trembling.
"My Martial Soul isn't something a mere farting nobody like you can insult."
Mu Rong looked straight at him, his words cold as ice.
"First, learn to understand your own Martial Soul before you start talking about research."
"Bastard!"
The Martial Soul Hall's guards were furious on Bi Bi's behalf and charged forward.
"Stop!"
A heavy voice rang out. The next moment, a huge, powerful arm wrapped around Mu Rong's waist.
Mu Rong flew through the air like a broken kite and slammed into a stone pillar in the hall.
A sweet taste filled his throat, and a mouthful of blood welled up in his mouth.
Bi Bi had originally been unable to bear seeing the little boy humiliated. But when she saw Jade Little Blade treated like this, her anger quickly took over.
She abruptly rose to her feet, her voice cold.
"You don't know what's good for you. Since you refuse to cooperate, I'll teach you a lesson. In Ju Yuan City, no one needs to put up with a lunatic like you."
The guards in the hall smirked as they walked toward Mu Rong, who was crumpled on the ground. The surrounding air seemed to grow heavy with murderous intent.
Mu Rong clutched the floor, his fingernails cracking as he dug into the stone tiles.
He didn't beg. Instead, he stared hatefully at the arrogant man and woman, committing their faces to memory.
His chest felt as though it were on fire. Every breath made his broken ribs grind against each other.
"Heh. Even with great talent and a good Martial Soul, you're still only a toad dreaming of the sky."
Jade Little Blade folded his arms, his expression full of disdain.
"You little bastard. You can't even turn a serpent into a dragon, and you still dare to boast?"
A burst of laughter rang through the hall.
Mu Rong endured the pain as the Ice Phoenix Serpent's faint cold aura dispersed. He struggled to rise, then dragged himself toward the academy gates.
"Get out of Ju Yuan City! If you dare take one more step inside, I'll break your dog legs!"
The guards' jeers followed him from behind.
The market street outside was already bustling with people.
The tall walls were half hidden in fog, and the coarse hemp clothes on the passersby were soaked with muddy water.
Without looking back, Bi Bi and Jade Little Blade walked into Cai Bo's carriage.
The fury on the girl's face faded as she stared at Mu Rong's retreating figure. A bright smile appeared on her lovely face, as though the young man who had just been beaten half to death were no more than an insignificant insect beneath her feet.
"Dog and bitch... You'll pay for this today. I swear it."
Mu Rong spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes cold with dread.
Since transmigrating, he had never had any ties to a family, much less parents.
The only support he had was that he was over twenty years older than Tang San, and that his innate soul power and Martial Soul were far superior.
He staggered away from the city.
Outside Ju Yuan City stretched a vast forest beneath a blanket of stars. Night had fallen, and the forest was filled with the damp stench of rot.
Mu Rong leaned against a withered tree and released his Martial Soul.
The Ice Phoenix Serpent coiled around him, its thick body wrapping around his frame. It radiated a chill that made his heart pound with fear.
"Jade Little Blade, that bastard dared say I'm only a serpent."
Mu Rong stroked the Ice Phoenix Serpent's cold scales, his fingertips scraping against them like stone.
"Even your precious little brother can't become a dragon."
The Ice Phoenix Serpent flicked its tongue. Its ice-blue eyes flashed in the darkness, as if it were sympathizing with its master.
Jade Little Blade's boast that a mere nobody could evolve a serpent into a dragon wasn't just an empty threat. He was a master of the Sui organization, the most powerful force in this world.
But Mu Rong refused to believe him.
A serpent could become a dragon. It only needed to survive nine deaths in one lifetime.
Just because Jade Little Blade couldn't do it didn't mean no one could.
You were just lucky enough to make a three-thousand-year-old golden-armored earth dragon fart. That was your good fortune!
Mu Rong endured the throbbing pain in his chest and dragged his body onward.
He could wait until this damn root of a problem had passed.
But if he crossed paths with Bi Bi again, he'd use the power he had now to crush her with one hand and make her watch as he gouged out Jade Little Blade's eyes.
"Ju Yuan City Ghost Academy."
Mu Rong looked up. A familiar name, one he'd seen countless times in stories about the Spirit Village Soul Master.
Old Monk had been kind to him. He'd said that although he and his son had little strength or influence, as long as Mu Rong settled in Spirit Village and was willing to live as a work-study student, he could send him to Ju Yuan City Ghost Academy.
After all, aside from Ju Yuan City, the nearest city with a work-study program was Lu Zhen City. It was better not to go there. Lu Zhen was difficult to deal with, and the place had its own dangers. Mu Rong didn't dare take that risk.
That remote village was, after all, the best place for Bi Bi and Jade Little Blade to hide.
One night later.
Mu Rong wiped the blood from his face and stood up. He took one last look in the direction of Ju Yuan City, the place where he had suffered humiliation—and where he would one day return to settle the score.
Dragging his battered, weary body, he headed toward Ju Yuan City Ghost Academy.
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