Two Fists Cannot Defeat a Hundred Hands

Nuoding Academy dormitory.

The sunset was like blood, stretching the shadows on the ground long and twisted.

After bidding farewell to Yu Xiaogang, who had returned to recover from his injuries, Tang San walked alone along a path through the academy.

Though he still carried the forest's dew on him, his spirit was in an extremely excited state.

Datura Snake Spirit Ring, Blue Silver Entanglement, paralyzing venom.

All of it made him feel as though he had been reborn.

Chores? Sweeping the floor?

That was work for the weak.

As long as he defeated Ye Liuyun and reclaimed his position as boss of Seven Dorm, the Work-Study Students would naturally handle such trivial matters from then on.

He only needed to devote all his time to cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and crafting Hidden Weapons.

Tang San's mind was already calculating furiously.

Yet when he returned to Seven Dorm, he found no one there.

Ye Liuyun was absent, and so were the Work-Study Students.

Following the sounds of commotion, Tang San arrived at the rear training grounds.

What he saw filled him with fury.

Wang Sheng and over a dozen Work-Study Students were surrounded by nearly a hundred older students like homeless dogs. Every one of them was injured and in a miserable state.

"An opportunity."

A sharp gleam flashed through Tang San's eyes.

Helping someone in their hour of need was better than adding flowers to brocade.

If he stepped in to resolve this now, he could not only win their loyalty but also establish his authority, using them as a warm-up before challenging Ye Liuyun.

With that thought, Tang San straightened his clothes and strode forward.

"Stop!"

A clear shout cut through the older students' assault.

Tang San walked before Wang Sheng, clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his chin slightly, and said coolly to Boss Xiao, who led the group:

"Is ganging up on the weak how upperclassmen conduct themselves?"

When Wang Sheng saw Tang San, it was as if he had seen a savior.

"Tang San! You're back! Quick, go find Boss Ye..."

"No need to find him."

Tang San raised a hand to interrupt Wang Sheng, a confident smile curling across his lips.

"Against rabble like this, I alone am enough."

"Perfect. Before I challenge Ye Liuyun, I'll use them to warm up."

As he spoke, Tang San glanced at Wang Sheng, his gaze carrying a trace of arrogance.

"I only let Xiao Wu be the boss before because a good man does not fight with a woman. I was merely yielding to her. Today, I'll show you what true strength is."

Before his words had even faded.

Buzz!

A pale yellow Spirit Ring slowly rose beneath Tang San's feet.

A hundred-year Spirit Ring!

A wave of startled cries immediately erupted from the crowd.

"Oh my god! He's a one-ring Spirit Master!"

"And it's a hundred-year one? Isn't that kid only a first-year?"

Boss Xiao's expression changed as well. However, as the city lord's son, he had seen his share of things and quickly regained his composure.

"So what if it's a hundred-year Spirit Ring? Blue Silver Grass is a useless Martial Spirit. Can it really turn the world upside down? Liu Long, go test him!"

A lean ten-year-old boy with level-nine Soul Power charged forward, swinging a long staff. Several level-nine lackeys followed behind him.

Tang San gave a cold smile.

"You're courting death."

He stepped into the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, weaving through the gaps in their attacks like a ghost.

His Mysterious Jade Hand shot out and easily caught Liu Long's staff. Borrowing the force, he flung Liu Long away viciously.

Then—

"First Spirit Skill, Bind!"

Several thick strands of Blue Silver Grass shot out like venomous snakes, instantly binding the remaining people tightly.

The Datura Snake's venom took effect, and an intense numbness instantly swept through their bodies.

"I... my body's so numb. I can barely use any strength!"

"Poison! This Blue Silver Grass is poisonous!"

Watching them writhe painfully on the ground, Tang San was overjoyed.

It worked!

My path is correct!

Even without Ye Liuyun's monstrous regenerative ability, this venom and control alone could still dominate the battlefield!

Grandmaster's theory truly was correct. A plant-type Martial Spirit absorbing a beast Spirit Ring really was extraordinarily powerful.

Tang San stood with his hands behind his back, basking in the reverent gazes around him, feeling as though he already stood at the pinnacle of Nuoding Academy.

Boss Xiao looked at his fallen men. His eye twitched, then a savage sneer appeared on his face.

"Good, very good."

"You're a tough one."

"But kid, have you forgotten where you are?"

Boss Xiao suddenly waved his hand and roared:

"Everyone, attack together!"

"Spirit Masters, summon your Martial Spirits and take the front! The rest of you, grab clubs and circle around from behind! I refuse to believe one person can beat a hundred of us!"

Rustle!

At the command, more than a dozen one-ring Spirit Masters, along with dozens of sturdy older students with Soul Power between level eight and nine, surged forward like a tide.

Tang San's expression changed instantly.

No sense of honor at all!

If it were one against one, or even one against five, he would not have feared them.

But there were a hundred people!

And all of them were youths over ten years old, far more physically developed and stronger than him!

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Tang San frantically drove his Soul Power, activating Blue Silver Grass again.

But this group had learned their lesson.

The Spirit Masters in front used their Martial Spirits to resist head-on while those behind took the chance to circle around him.

Two fists could not beat four hands, and even a mighty man could not withstand a pack of wolves.

Bang!

Someone's heavy blow struck Tang San hard in the back.

Tang San staggered. Before he could steady himself, countless fists and kicks rained down upon him.

"Urgh..."

Tang San wanted to fight back, wanted to use the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but within the airtight wall of bodies, he had no room to maneuver at all.

His Soul Power was draining rapidly. After using Bind merely three times, his dantian was already empty.

His strength gradually failed as well. After all, this was still the body of a six-year-old who had never undergone any real tempering.

Damn it!

My Hidden Weapons! My poisoned needles!

Tang San's fingers trembled wildly at his sleeve, and the killing intent in his eyes surged several times before reason forcibly suppressed it again.

I can't use them!

This was out in the open! If he used the Silent Hidden Arrow, people would definitely die!

He possessed the soul of an adult. If he killed a group of children, not only would it be morally indefensible, but neither the academy nor the empire's laws would spare him!

Even his teacher would not be able to protect him then!

Humiliation!

Utter humiliation!

He clearly possessed the ability to slaughter all these people, yet the rules bound his hands and feet, leaving him no choice but to be beaten like a punching bag.

If only he had someone as strong as Xiao Wu at his side to provide cover, along with a few human shields, he could have easily dealt with this group.

But one tree could not hold up a forest, and how could two fists defeat a hundred hands?

Riiip!

Tang San's neat academy uniform, which he had been so proud of, was torn apart.

His face was bruised black and blue, his eyes swollen like peaches, and blood covered the corners of his mouth as he was beaten until he rolled across the ground.

"This is a genius?"

"This is a hundred-year Spirit Ring?"

"Brothers, hit him harder! Teach that show-off a lesson!"

The older students were worked up from the beating and struck with ruthless force.

Off to the side, Wang Sheng and the others watched until their eyes nearly split with rage.

"Despicable! Too despicable!"

Wang Sheng hammered the ground in agony.

"If we hadn't been ambushed earlier, if we'd all attacked together and helped Tang San hold their flanks so he could pick them off one by one, he never would have lost so badly!"

Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

The battle quickly became a one-sided beating.

Tang San was dragged before Boss Xiao like a dead dog.

Boss Xiao stepped on Wang Sheng's head and looked down at Tang San, whose face was swollen and bruised from the beating. He sneered:

"What Innate Full Soul Power? Trash is still trash."

"Even with a Spirit Ring, you're garbage."

After venting his anger, Boss Xiao's gaze turned vicious.

"Talk! Where is that Ye Liuyun?"

"I heard he's pretty arrogant, huh? Call him out, and I'll deal with him too!"