"My lord, good news! We've found a lead on the man in black!" As soon as he arrived at the Lake of Life, Da Ming bowed and reported.
"Oh? Tell me more."
Hearing news of the man in black, the Myriad Demon King immediately perked up. Sharp light flashed through his dozens of eyes, making him look exceptionally unnerving.
Da Ming promptly repeated the spiel Su Mo had taught him to the Myriad Demon King.
"The Clear Sky Hammer... the Clear Sky Sect..."
The Myriad Demon King pondered this, then asked, "Have you found any leads on that Ice Silkworm?"
Da Ming shook his head.
The Myriad Demon King was somewhat disappointed. The investigation into the man in black was ultimately meant to locate the Ice Silkworm. Finding the man alone would not establish whether he had any connection to it. Would he have to investigate the Clear Sky Sect?
He had heard of the Clear Sky Sect.
The foremost of the Upper Three Sects!
The greatest sect in the world!
Recklessly making an enemy of such a force could easily provoke a joint encirclement by humanity. Though he had no fear of that, it would undermine their efforts to remain hidden.
Yet the energy within that Ice Silkworm was also extremely important.
After pondering for a moment, the Myriad Demon King said, "In that case, I'll make the trip myself."
He could use the plants within the Clear Sky Sect to gather information remotely. As long as he did not expose himself, there should be no major problems.
The Myriad Demon King instructed the two beasts to continue searching the Star Dou Great Forest, then flew off, transforming along the way into a middle-aged scholar with green hair and emerald eyes.
Watching the Myriad Demon King depart, Da Ming and Er Ming exchanged a glance, unable to hide the delight in their eyes. Sure enough, they no longer had to search for the Ice Silkworm.
As for the Myriad Demon King's final instructions, neither beast took them seriously at all.
They first jumped into the Lake of Life for a bath, then, refreshed from head to toe, lay on the shore basking in the sun and enjoying their wonderful leisure time.
That dumbass Myriad Demon King was finally gone!
Now this was the life a Soul Beast ought to live...
Several days later, after a long journey, Su Mo and his four companions finally returned to Nuoding Academy.
"It feels like we've been gone for ages."
Su Mo sighed. In truth, they had. He had left the academy the day after enrolling, and by his reckoning, he had spent more time in the Soul Hunting Forest than at school.
Once they entered the academy, Director Su pulled Su Mo aside for a private conversation.
"Su Mo, the whale rubber body-tempering theory has been tested and proven effective. I plan to ask the dean to promote it throughout the academy. Do you know whether Master Tian Meng has any objections?"
Worried that spreading the theory without permission might displease Master Tian Meng, he had come to sound Su Mo out.
Su Mo merely waved a hand. "Master Tian Meng doesn't mind having his theory spread, but you must attach his name when promoting it, so his fame spreads across the continent."
"No problem," Director Su hastily agreed.
After bidding Director Su farewell, Su Mo caught up with Xiao Wu and the others, and they headed toward the dormitory building together.
The four had just reached the foot of the building when several older students approached. As they passed, snippets of their conversation drifted over.
"Hurry to the grove on the back hill. Boss Xiao is teaching those work-study students another lesson."
Tang San halted when he heard this.
Although he had not known Wang Sheng and the others for long, they were decent people. Besides, he was a work-study student himself, so naturally he could not stand idly by.
After apologizing to his teacher, Tang San took off toward the hill behind the academy.
Curious, Su Mo and Xiao Wu followed.
The so-called back hill was not within the academy grounds, but was instead a small hill outside its rear gate.
After crossing the hill behind the academy, the three saw a one-sided brawl in a grove. The students taking the beating were none other than those from Dorm Seven, while their attackers were older students.
There was also a crowd watching from a little farther away.
"Stop!"
Tang San stepped into the fray and called for them to stop.
The scene briefly froze. A tall, straight-backed boy in a school uniform turned toward Tang San's voice, contempt and disdain written across his face.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Go ask around about who I, Boss Xiao, am. Even if I swaggered sideways through Nuoding City, no one would dare stand in my way, let alone here in the academy."
"My name is Tang San. I'm the boss of Dorm Seven."
"Wang Sheng, you're really going backward in life. Don't tell me you couldn't even beat this little squirt?" Boss Xiao hauled Wang Sheng up from the ground, his tone mocking.
But as the school bully, Boss Xiao was no reckless fool. Though Tang San looked young, anyone who could defeat Wang Sheng and become Dorm Seven's new boss had to have a few tricks up his sleeve.
"Tang San, was it? Are you stepping forward because you want to wash our socks in Wang Sheng's place?"
Despite his caution, his words remained flippant.
Tang San shook his head. "Let them go. I'll be your opponent. If I lose, I'll agree to wash your socks. If I win, please stop bullying the work-study students from now on."
"Oh?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Boss Xiao's face. So confident?
"When you say you'll be our opponent, do you mean you'll take all of us on alone, or that all of us will gang up on you?"
Wang Sheng and the other work-study students were left utterly dumbfounded.
What kind of shameless nonsense was that?
"I'm in a hurry. Come at me together." Yet Tang San's declaration was even more outrageous. He actually intended to topple Boss Xiao's entire gang single-handedly.
Su Mo's mouth twitched at the sight.
Since when did Little Scumbag become the king of showing off?
But with me here, you think I'll let you pull off that act flawlessly?
"Tsk, little squirt, you've got guts. Then I'll grant your wish."
Boss Xiao beckoned, and his lackeys immediately understood. They abandoned the other work-study students and quickly surrounded Tang San, while Liu Long and Ling Feng stood on either side of Boss Xiao, glaring fiercely at Tang San to intimidate him.
"Brother San, we'll help you!"
Seeing that Boss Xiao really was that shameless, the bruised and battered Wang Sheng immediately moved to rally the other work-study students to Tang San's aid.
Tang San, however, waved them off.
"No need. I can handle them alone."
Boss Xiao stepped to the front and was the first to announce his Martial Soul and level.
"Xiao Chenyu, sixth year. Martial Soul: wolf. Level eleven, one-ring Battle Soul Master."
As he spoke, he activated Martial Soul Possession. Azure light blazed around him, his eyes turned green, his muscles swelled, and sharp claws sprouted from his fingers. A white soul ring rose from beneath his feet.
The other lackeys had yet to become Soul Masters and simply summoned their Martial Souls.
"Tang San, first year. Martial Soul: blue silver grass. Level eleven, one-ring Tool Soul Master." Tang San had previously heard his teacher explain the custom of announcing one's Martial Soul.
"Pfft, hahaha..."
When Boss Xiao and the others heard Tang San announce that his Martial Soul was blue silver grass, they burst into laughter, every trace of tension vanishing from their faces.
Blue silver grass was a trash Martial Soul. That was universally acknowledged across the continent.
But after laughing, Boss Xiao suddenly remembered the level Tang San had announced, and his expression tightened.
"Did you just say you were level eleven?"
Tang San nodded and summoned his blue silver grass Martial Soul. At the same time, a pale yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet.
Though its color was very faint, it was still a hundred-year soul ring.
The students who had just mocked his trash Martial Soul now felt their cheeks burning. They were all still mere Soul Scholars.
"A hundred-year soul ring!" Xiao Chenyu likewise sucked in a sharp breath.