Qian Renyu walked toward Nuoding Academy with Zhang Zhuan and Yang He, his two bodyguards.
The academy's gatekeeper saw the three approaching and respectfully said to Qian Renyu, "Young master, please show me your Martial Soul certificate so I can check it."
Why was the gatekeeper being so polite? Qian Renyu was dressed in fine clothes and clearly wasn't an ordinary person. Even the two servants behind him wore clothes worth a fortune. A lowly gatekeeper like him naturally didn't dare offend them.
The most important thing for a gatekeeper was having a good eye.
Qian Renyu promptly took out his Martial Soul certificate and handed it to the gatekeeper.
"Innate Full Soul Power," the gatekeeper exclaimed.
Why hadn't the gatekeeper suspected that Qian Renyu's certificate was forged, when in the original story he'd doubted Tang San?
Obviously, Young Master Qian Renyu didn't look like the sort of person who would fake it.
As for Tang San? Heh, heh, heh.
"Please, come in, young master." As he spoke, the gatekeeper handed the certificate back to Qian Renyu with both hands.
Unbeknownst to him, his exclamation about the Innate Full Soul Power had caught someone's attention.
The man had a hooked nose, a broad bridge, a toad-like mouth, prominent ears, thick lips, and sunken eyes. His hair was cut in a short, flat style.
His eyes always revealed an arrogant contempt for everyone and a deep-rooted inferiority complex.
With his hands behind his back, he put on the airs of an otherworldly master.
This was none other than Yu Xiaogang, the Grandmaster, who had a mere 0.5 innate Soul Power and would never reach beyond rank 29 in his lifetime.
It was the start of the school year at Nuoding Academy, and Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang was waiting at the entrance, ready to trick a few talented new students into becoming his experimental subjects.
When he heard the gatekeeper say that Qian Renyu had Innate Full Soul Power, he thought, Wasn't this the perfect experimental subject for Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang?
So Yu Xiaogang immediately walked up to Qian Renyu and asked, "Student, could you let me see your Martial Soul certificate?"
Qian Renyu looked at the man standing before him. This must be that useless Yu Xiaogang. He ignored the clown.
Seeing that Qian Renyu didn't react, Yu Xiaogang said again, "Student, you may not know who I am."
"Speak my name, and I'll give you a fright."
"I'm a senior researcher of Martial Soul Theory and the one who proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."
"I'm Yu Xiaogang, known across the continent as the Grandmaster."
Qian Renyu didn't even give him a proper look. He turned and walked away.
Zhang Zhuan and Yang He, who were following Qian Renyu, had already heard about the useless Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang back in Spirit City. They'd long since run out of patience, so each kicked him aside.
Qian Renyu went to the academic affairs office to register.
"Innate Full Soul Power? What's gotten into Nuoding Academy this year? We've got two new students with Innate Full Soul Power!" exclaimed the teacher handling Qian Renyu's enrollment when he saw the certificate.
The other new student with Innate Full Soul Power was naturally the Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that took human form was bound to have Innate Full Soul Power.
But the teacher would probably have to marvel again later. There was still Tang San, another student with Innate Full Soul Power.
"Student Ren Yu, your future is limitless. Becoming a Titled Douluo should be no problem."
Ren Yu was Qian Renyu's alias.
"But if someone calling himself the Grandmaster tries to trick you into becoming his disciple, don't agree."
"You should be careful not to trust the wrong person," the teacher couldn't help reminding him.
"I understand. Thank you, teacher," Qian Renyu said.
Hearing Qian Renyu's reply, the teacher nodded in satisfaction. "Your dormitory is Dorm Seven. Go get settled."
"All right. Goodbye, teacher."
A little girl came bouncing in. It was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit, Xiao Wu.
"Hello, is this Dorm Seven?"
"Are you the new work-study student?" asked Dorm Seven's current leader, Wang Sheng.
"What's your name, and what's your Martial Soul?"
"My name's Xiao Wu. The 'Wu' means dance. My Martial Soul is a Soft Bone Rabbit—the cute kind."
"I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is a War Tiger, and I'm the leader here. You'll have to listen to me from now on, got it?"
"Why should I listen to you?"
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit immediately took offense. In the Star Dou Forest, even the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape had followed her lead. How could she possibly listen to some brat?
"If you don't accept it, then let's fight."
"Sure, sure." At the mention of a fight, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit perked right up.
The rabbit kicked like an eagle.
The rabbit rolled.
The rabbit wet herself.
The rabbit scratched like a chicken.
In short, Wang Sheng got beaten up badly.
"From now on, I'm the leader here. You all have to listen to me, and you have to call me Sister Xiao Wu. Got it?"
"Got it, Sister Xiao Wu."
"Louder! Did you all skip dinner?"
"Got it, Sister Xiao Wu."
"That's more like it."
Just then, Qian Renyu pushed open the door and walked in, with Zhang Zhuan and Yang He behind him.
When Xiao Wu saw Qian Renyu enter, she said, "New kid, I'm the leader here. Come over and call me Sister Xiao Wu."
"Or we can fight. I'll beat you up, and then you can call me Sister Xiao Wu."
Qian Renyu ignored the Rogue Rabbit. He calmly took out the things he needed from his Soul Tool and started making his bed.
"Hey, Sister Xiao Wu's talking to you."
"How dare you ignore Sister Xiao Wu?"
"You bastard! I'll teach you to ignore Sister Xiao Wu!"
As she spoke, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit swung her fist at Qian Renyu.
But Qian Renyu didn't move at all—not even to dodge.
As if! What did you think he'd brought two Soul Ancestor bodyguards for?
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit's fist stopped an inch from Qian Renyu. A hand had clamped tightly around the rabbit paw she'd clenched into a fist.
It was Zhang Zhuan who had grabbed the rabbit paw. Zhang Zhuan and Yang He had stayed by Qian Renyu's side ever since they left Spirit City, so they knew the little girl before them was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Zhang Zhuan thought, A beast is a beast. Even after taking human form, she can't escape her beastly habits.
Xiao Wu showed no fear, even with her wrist caught. "You bastard! You even brought help!"
"Even if you've got help, Sister Xiao Wu isn't afraid of you."
"Sister Xiao Wu's been through all kinds of storms over the years."
"But look at you, so young and already up to no good, picking on people with your numbers."
"I don't know how your parents raised you."
"They must be no good, either."
"Today, Sister Xiao Wu will teach you a lesson on your parents' behalf."
At those words, killing intent surged in Qian Renyu's heart. He gave Zhang Zhuan a look.
Seeing Qian Renyu's signal, Zhang Zhuan tightened his grip on the rabbit paw. He raised his right leg, bent it, and drove his knee hard into Xiao Wu's arm.
There was a sharp crack. The right arm bone of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit broke.
Zhang Zhuan let go, and the Rogue Rabbit immediately used her other hand to clutch her broken arm. She stumbled several steps backward.
Yang He followed with a sweep kick, knocking the Rogue Rabbit to the floor. Then he kicked her in the chest.
The Rogue Rabbit was sent flying into the corner. She spat up a mouthful of blood, curled up there trembling, and groaned uncontrollably from the pain.
Qian Renyu watched it all coldly, thinking, These two bodyguards really are worth their keep. They're even more capable than I imagined.
Qian Renyu had asked Qian Daoliu for two Soul Ancestor bodyguards, so of course Qian Daoliu had chosen two skilled fighters for his grandson.
"Zhang Zhuan, give this beast ten slaps, alternating cheeks."
"Careful not to kill her."
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