Pursuit

"The match begins."

The male teacher glanced coldly at Ji Xun and announced the start without hesitation.

"Zheng Li, Ling Nan, please hold off the other two for me," Cui Yajie said coolly.

"No problem." x2

They had already developed a strong rapport, so they immediately understood what Cui Yajie meant.

The three of them released their Martial Souls at once.

"Godspeed!"

Ling Nan murmured the words to himself. His First Soul Ring lit up, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.

When Ji Xun saw Cui Yajie's Soul Rings, his expression changed. But when he saw Zheng Li and Ling Nan's Martial Souls, disdain appeared on his face.

Two Soul Rings pulsed at Ji Xun's feet. In his hand was a long, pitch-black staff engraved with silver patterns. His Martial Soul looked pretty good.

Behind him, Xie Jinhua and Tan Ye had respectively summoned the Silver Silk Web and Black Dice.

Tan Ye was also a Soul Grandmaster. No wonder Ji Xun was so arrogant.

Ling Nan's target was Tan Ye.

Zheng Li had already used his First Soul Skill, Light Sword. Streaks of golden light shot toward Xie Jinhua!

"Tan Ye!" Seeing that things were going badly, Xie Jinhua hurriedly called out and used her First Soul Skill, Web Wrap. The Silver Silk Web rapidly expanded, covering Zheng Li and Cui Yajie.

Had Xie Jinhua given up resisting?

Obviously not.

Two flashes of light appeared as Tan Ye released two Soul Skills at the same time. The black dice in his hand, which had no pips, began to spin. In the blink of an eye, two streaks of black light shot out and formed faint shields around Xie Jinhua and himself.

But would that help?

Even Dai Huabin's White Tiger Protection Barrier, backed by three Soul Rings, had failed to stop Zheng Li's Light Sword.

The black shields shattered instantly, and the Light Sword attacked Xie Jinhua from multiple angles!

Elsewhere, Ling Nan's Cat Claw struck the shield around Tan Ye. But beneath the sharp claws, it was as flimsy as paper. Cracks appeared with ease until the shield shattered!

As for Ji Xun...

He was dazed, caught in Charm.

Normally, it wasn't too difficult for a Soul Grandmaster to break free of Charm. But judging by the look on Ji Xun's face...

There was no hope for him.

In fact, if he hadn't been a Soul Grandmaster, the Class Three homeroom teacher would have expelled him several times over by now.

Right behind Zheng Li, Cui Yajie used her Second Soul Skill. Two tails, each over a meter long, whipped out, their tips brimming with Soul Power.

Fox Tail Needle!

A powerful attack.

Tan Ye's Second Support Skill landed on the Silver Silk Web, strengthening the Web Wrap.

The silver web descended, but Cui Yajie paid it no mind and simply kept attacking.

Golden light shone in Zheng Li's hand, gathering into a slender golden sword nearly two meters long. It looked strangely out of proportion with his height. He swung it horizontally at the descending silver web!

With a sharp crack, the Light Sword and the silver web shattered at the same time, vanishing into specks of light.

Zheng Li shook his tingling hand and muttered, "I can understand a web being tough, but why is it so hard, too?"

Meanwhile, Xie Jinhua and Tan Ye...

"Teacher, we surrender!" Faced with the Light Sword, Xie Jinhua had no choice.

The black shields had already worn down the Light Sword somewhat. With better footwork, she might still have been able to dash out of its reach.

The male teacher was clearly a Spirit Emperor as well. He dispersed the Light Sword with a surge of overwhelming Soul Power.

On Tan Ye's side, Ling Nan's long Cat Claws were already resting against his neck.

If a student was in danger without calling out "I surrender," the supervising teacher would intervene. But...

A pink tail struck Ji Xun in the chest. A pink glow of Soul Power spread out, and Ji Xun was sent flying. The pain jolted him awake. He tried to say something, but blood came out as soon as he opened his mouth.

Cui Yajie's blow wasn't enough to kill Ji Xun, but he was sure to be badly injured.

Xie Jinhua, who had already left the arena, hurriedly caught Ji Xun.

The male teacher acted as if he hadn't seen a thing and simply announced, "Class Five wins and advances to the round of thirty-two."

After announcing the result, the teacher left to report it.

Cui Yajie gave Ji Xun of Class Three a cold snort, then turned and walked away.

Zheng Li and Ling Nan exchanged glances. They could both read the same message in the other's eyes.

Women were not to be trifled with.

Zheng Li especially understood that, given Xiao Nai in his Sea of Consciousness.

Xiao Nai: You're asking for a beating!

That afternoon, they competed in the round of thirty-two, with sixteen spots up for grabs. One of their opponents was a Soul Grandmaster, but it didn't make much difference. They finished the match in just under three minutes.

After the match, as they walked back to their dorm, Ling Nan grumbled, "You two, seriously! Don't you want the championship at all?"

Since the competition had begun, Zheng Li and Cui Yajie had barely mentioned the championship. They were so nonchalant, as if they weren't interested in it.

Cui Yajie smiled. "Of course we do. The special reward for the champion is bound to be good."

Zheng Li glanced at Ling Nan and said, "You know what a person needs, right?"

"Huh? What does winning the championship have to do with what a person needs?" Ling Nan asked, confused.

Cui Yajie covered her mouth and giggled, a bewitching look in her pink eyes.

"A person needs to know their own limits!" Zheng Li shook his head helplessly. There was no saving Ling Nan.

Ling Nan: "..."

The Twenty-Seventh Chapter: What They Wanted

"How do I not know my own limits?"

Ling Nan was displeased.

"Add A Li's Co-Combat state, and we might actually have a shot!"

What was the point of living if you didn't have dreams?

A Li, even if you had a powerful hidden sect backing you, you couldn't be so devoid of ambition, could you?

Were you really that devoid of ambition?

"A Li, what do you want?"

"What I want?" Zheng Li had been about to answer Ling Nan's first question, but he paused, confused as to why Ling Nan had suddenly asked him that.

Hearing Ling Nan's question, Cui Yajie quietly edged closer. She was curious, too!

Zheng Li answered without hesitation, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "I want to go back..."

"Go back?!" x2

Ling Nan and Cui Yajie were confused.

"Go back where?" Cui Yajie asked.

Zheng Li didn't answer. He only shook his head wistfully.

Seeing that, Ling Nan suddenly understood. "A Li, I get it... Don't worry. I'll always be here to support you!"

So that was what it was...

Ling Nan looked at Zheng Li with sympathy.

A young heir of a hidden sect—or clan—had been sent out into the world to gain experience! They'd only given him some money! They hadn't even given him an extra set of clothes...

He'd have to achieve a certain level of success and cultivation before he could return to his sect and see his parents and family again...

Thinking about it, Ling Nan couldn't help patting Zheng Li on the shoulder to comfort him. "A Li, don't be sad. I understand..."

Zheng Li: "???"

What did you understand? What did you get?

Cui Yajie was even more bewildered.

"What about you two?" Zheng Li asked in return.

"Me? Simple." Ling Nan smiled adorably and looked earnestly at Zheng Li. "I want to cling to you for the rest of my life!"

"Huh?!" Zheng Li froze, dumbfounded.

Cui Yajie wondered: Did Ling Nan know that Zheng Li had Twin Martial Souls? Otherwise, why would he say that?

A moment later, Zheng Li reached out and touched someone's forehead. "You don't have a fever!"

"...I'm serious," Ling Nan said, dissatisfied.

He, Ling Nan, had already chosen his path!

"Oh..."

Zheng Li didn't take it too seriously. He assumed Ling Nan simply didn't want to say.

"Yajie, what about you?"

"Me? Simple. I'll work hard at cultivation, take care of my family, and then find a husband who's stronger than me, treats me well, and has a decent character." Cui Yajie smiled softly, her voice full of longing. It was clear she meant it.

It sounded simple, but that one requirement—"stronger than me"—ruled out ninety-nine percent of men! What kind of Martial Soul was the Nine-Tailed Fox? As long as Cui Yajie survived and kept up her cultivation, she was practically guaranteed to become a Titled Douluo.

And how many Titled Douluo could there be in one era?

The moment she finished speaking, Cui Yajie turned her head. Her smile grew brighter, and Zheng Li's face was reflected in her beautiful pink eyes.

Zheng Li: "?!"

You can say whatever you want, but why are you looking at me? I'm not your type!

Come to think of it, Soul Masters usually married much later than ordinary people because they spent so much time cultivating. Wasn't it a little early to be thinking about this already?

In the Sea of Consciousness, Xiao Nai's expression was cool.

"Xiao Li, you're doing pretty well... Heh..."

Ling Nan noticed at once. His expression turned suggestive. "Ooh~"

He'd figured it out again!

The way Ling Nan drew out that sound made Zheng Li want to hit him. "Gluttonous Cat, what are you 'ooh'-ing for? Do you want a beating?"

Cui Yajie was affected by Ling Nan's "ooh," too. A faint blush appeared on her face, but she said nothing.

"Maybe I should start thinking about a washboard and a keyboard, too..." Xiao Nai muttered in the Sea of Consciousness.

Just as Ling Nan was making the atmosphere awkward, Zheng Li said calmly, "I have a fiancée!"

"Hm?! A fiancée?" Ling Nan's suggestive smile froze instantly.

But thinking about it, that made sense! With A Li's background, wasn't it perfectly normal for him to have a fiancée?

Cui Yajie's smile stiffened, and her mood immediately sank.

The atmosphere among the three turned a little awkward, but they kept walking.

Cui Yajie quickly composed herself. After all, when she learned that Zheng Li had Twin Martial Souls, and saw that he was a good person, she'd felt he would make a great partner in the future. It was better to act early; otherwise, once Zheng Li's Twin Martial Souls were revealed...

Heh. She guaranteed there'd be no shortage of people pursuing Zheng Li!

Still, she did have a good impression of him, but she wasn't quite at the point of liking him yet.

What surprised her was that Zheng Li actually had a fiancée.

As far as she knew, Zheng Li was an orphan. Had his deceased parents arranged the engagement? Maybe Zheng Li had never even met his fiancée?