After all, that was just how important she was. It was only a meal, anyway.
"Just this once. Don't come back without asking first."
"You can come in too."
Oscar was a little embarrassed, but he hurriedly thanked him.
Even though Xia Ran was a few years younger, there was no questioning his Soul Ancestor strength. Besides, he was an auxiliary Soul Master.
The group weren't close enough to him yet, so they all felt a little awkward around Xia Ran.
At the table, Xia Ran brought out two more sets of cutlery.
Ning Rongrong eagerly used a small knife to cut off a piece of beast leg. She popped it into her mouth without caring whether it was hot.
The secret seasoning mingled with the meat's distinctive aroma. The moment it touched her tongue, her taste buds came alive.
The girl chewed and swallowed, hissing from the heat. Once she'd swallowed a small piece of meat, her eyes lit up.
"Xia Ran, honestly, this is the most, most, most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life!"
She'd grown up in the wealthiest sect on the continent and had tasted countless delicacies.
But Xia Ran was the first person in the world to turn a simple beast leg into something this delicious.
Xia Ran hadn't expected the spices on Douluo Continent to be so much better than those on Blue Star. They were all-natural, with no additives, and some even came from plant-type Soul Beasts.
Even simple barbecue seasoning and hot pot dipping sauce tasted incredibly fresh.
Paired with the leg meat of a few Speed-type Soul Beasts, the result was out of this world...
"Can I come here to eat every day from now on? Please! I can pay you!"
"Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins a month!"
Ning Rongrong spoke with her mouth full, her offer muffled by the food.
Compared to that bowl of plain rice porridge, this place was heaven.
But Xia Ran had no desire to invite trouble into his life. Ning Rongrong was of no use to him.
Rather than spend time currying favor with her, he might as well think about how to split up Tang San and Xiao Wu.
If he really broke up those two fated protagonists of Douluo Continent, who knew what reward he'd get?
"Finish eating and hurry along. I still have things to do."
"Don't you have classes?"
Xia Ran couldn't be bothered to respond to such pointless questions.
Oscar, sitting beside them, explained instead.
"He's not a student at the academy, so he doesn't have to attend classes."
"How old is he? Why is he so strong?"
"I think he's twelve. His Soul Power reached Rank 41 a few days ago."
Ning Rongrong wolfed down her food, and before she knew it, she'd swallowed a huge piece of meat whole.
It got stuck in her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. She patted her chest with both hands and spent a while trying to swallow it down before finally recovering.
"Twelve!"
Ning Rongrong was eleven, with Soul Power at Rank 26.
That was already considered a genius's rate of cultivation in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and even across the entire continent.
It was hard to imagine that Xia Ran had reached Rank 41 at just twelve years old.
Her beautiful eyes, misted with tears, were stunning. With her shocked expression, they made Oscar's heart flutter again.
Xia Ran finished eating first. He took his teacup outside and settled into a rocking chair to rest.
After the meal, Ning Rongrong wanted to look around the room, but Xia Ran unceremoniously sent her packing.
Just then, the academy's iron bell rang for class, so she had no choice but to leave, disgruntled.
Oscar led her to the gathering place, where the others were already lined up.
A bespectacled middle-aged man stood before them, motioning for the two of them to hurry into line.
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, found Zhu Zhuqing, and stood beside her.
She'd barely settled in when she leaned over to whisper, as if sharing some astonishing gossip with her best friend.
"Zhuqing, guess how old Xia Ran is this year?"
Before Zhu Zhuqing could answer, Ning Rongrong exclaimed dramatically,
"He's only twelve!"
"Quiet!"
The middle-aged man looked at the Little Demoness, a vein faintly appearing at his temple.
His somewhat sour, sharp-featured face showed a hint of helplessness.
"My name is Flender. I'm the dean of Shrek Academy, and I'm also your teacher."
"My Martial Soul is the Four-Eyed Cat Owl. I'm a Rank 75 agility-type Battle Soul Saint."
"Today's lesson is physical training. Starting now, run twenty laps around the whole village. If you're not back by lunchtime, you won't get lunch."
"You may use your Martial Souls to assist you. Oscar will lead the way. Move out!"
At his words, Oscar first looked startled, but he still led the others toward the village entrance.
Only Tang San was called aside by Flender.
As for Xia Ran, he didn't have a Blue Silver Emperor Soul Ring or the Soul Bone.
He couldn't even communicate with Ah Yin in the simplest way now, let alone tell her a few hard truths.
"Looks like I'll have to wait until we go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes to complete the system mission..."
The Battle at the Soul Fighting Arena
Time flew by, and before long, the main group had been at the academy for quite a while.
During that time, Ning Rongrong had refused to follow orders and had been given a hard time by Tang San and the others.
Later, Dai Mubai learned Zhu Zhuqing's identity and put on an act of turning over a new leaf, hoping to win her forgiveness.
But all that time, Zhu Zhuqing's dislike of him hadn't lessened at all.
Every morning, Ning Rongrong came to Xia Ran's place to mooch a meal, bringing Zhu Zhuqing along with her.
Xia Ran had wanted to refuse, but she'd paid him twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins for a month's food for the two of them. Who wouldn't take money?
That day, Flender finally started making plans for the little ones.
He decided to take them to the Suotuo Soul Fighting Arena. That way, they could hone their combat skills while he made a little money on the side.
That evening, inside the Soul Fighting Arena.
Flender had everyone register for their matches. They waited in the contestants' seating area for their turn, which was still some time away, so they watched the other contestants compete.
"Welcome to Suotuo City!"
"Next up is the most one-sided match in this arena's history!"
"Luo Xiaobai versus Huyan Shun!"
The host's Martial Soul seemed to be a microphone. Combined with years of experience, it lent his opening remarks such stirring energy that the audience was instantly fired up.
"Today, Luo Xiaobai will take on Rank 55 Soul King Huyan Shun with only Rank 42 Soul Power."
The crowd erupted into a commotion!
"Is this guy crazy? Challenging a Soul King from one of the Seven Great Sects while thirteen ranks below him? And so many people are betting on him to win, too. Is this some kind of setup?"
"You must be new here. Luo Xiaobai's a regular. He dared to challenge Soul Ancestors when he was still a Soul Elder. Now that he's gotten his fourth Soul Ring, no Soul Ancestor can beat him. Only a Soul King can stop him."
The speaker looked very pleased with himself as he explained things to the newcomer.
The name Xia Ran used at the Soul Fighting Arena was Luo Xiaobai. Ever since he'd advanced to Soul Grandmaster, he'd taken part in a betting match every night. When he was really short on money, he'd even entered death matches. He was already a familiar face at the arena.
His current record was: 764 wins, 303 losses.
To be safe, he'd entered a betting match for this challenge, which meant killing was forbidden.
"Is he really that terrifying?"
"Just watch. You'll be speechless."
The others in the contestants' seating area were all stunned.
They were the same age, but while they were still patting themselves on the back for being Makabaka, Xia Ran was already fighting Soul Kings!
The greenest with envy was Dai Mubai. Being suppressed by a mere black cat despite having a White Tiger Martial Soul made him feel deeply humiliated.
"Let's welcome our two contestants!"
Two figures stood on the Soul Fighting Arena, their appearances a study in contrast.
Xia Ran was still dressed in white. Handsome and poised, he looked like a refined young gentleman.
Huyan Shun, on the other hand, stood over two meters tall and was covered in fat. Each step left a heavy footprint, making him look like an enormous fat man.
"Kid, I have to say, you've got guts!"
"Don't tell me you think you'll be safe just because this is a betting match!"
His fat, twisted face wore a mocking expression. He had clearly already taken Xia Ran for his prey.
As a member of one of the Seven Great Sects, he'd been challenged by a nobody of a kid who was far below his rank. If he didn't teach the kid a lesson, wouldn't that bring shame on his sect?
"Enough talking."
All he got in reply were those four curt words and a cool expression.
Seeing that the atmosphere had reached its peak, the host immediately flew up into the air.
Before you continue