Three-Layer Wheat Burger, Body Like Resilient Bamboo Sway!

After one night

Jiang Huai was the first to wake up. He went outside to the little river and washed his face, then took out a few eggs from his Soul Tool and steamed them. After that, he got a little rice from the rice jar and cooked some porridge.

Once he had finished preparing everything, Jiang Huai took out the Jiang Ling Sword and began practicing outside his home.

Tang San had also gotten up early. He fixed his gaze on the first rays of the morning sun and practiced the Purple Demon Eye.

Noon

Xiao Wu and Gu Yue got out of bed. The moment they woke up, they smelled something delicious.

Xiao Wu stretched and walked out of the room. She stared intently at Jiang Huai as he stir-fried the food. When he didn't react, she went over to the table, picked up a piece of meat with her hand, and started eating.

Her loud smacking caught Jiang Huai's attention. He turned around and saw Xiao Wu gnawing on a piece of chicken.

Jiang Huai shook his head and continued cooking. Soon, he started stewing the fish. He chopped up some scallions, tossed them in, covered the pot, and let it simmer.

Jiang Huai reheated the leftover porridge from breakfast and brought Xiao Wu a bowl. Gu Yue served herself a bowl.

Xiao Wu put a piece of duck in her porridge, then scooped up some broth with her spoon and stirred it in.

Seeing this, Jiang Huai smiled. "You sure know how to eat."

Xiao Wu patted her chest. "Of course! You'd better learn from me."

Before long, it was time to return to school. Jiang Huai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Gu Yue all gathered at the back hill of Holy Soul Village.

Over this period, Jiang Huai had become the eldest of the four, followed by Gu Yue, Xiao Wu, and Tang San. Tang San was the youngest. Gu Yue and Xiao Wu had insisted that Jiang Huai be the big brother, after all.

Besides, Gu Yue was a female dragon who was over a million years old, while Xiao Wu was a rabbit who had taken human form after cultivating for a hundred thousand years.

There was no way Tang San could be the big brother. And Jiang Huai was two months older than Tang San, so with that, plus Gu Yue and Xiao Wu pushing him into the position, Jiang Huai naturally ascended to the throne—no, the position.

At the back hill, Tang San took out a small contraption and strapped it to his wrist. "Big brother, second sister, third sister, take a look."

Tang San moved a finger, and the contraption shot out three silver needles. Jiang Huai walked over to the tree trunk they'd struck.

Jiang Huai teased him, "Well, look at that! You're pretty clever, Xiao San."

Xiao Wu jumped up and down. "Wow! Xiao San, I want one of these!"

Tang San smiled. "Sure! I'll give each of you a set."

Jiang Huai held the Silent Hidden Arrow in his hand and fell into thought. He remembered that when Old Jack had told him about going to school, there had seemed to be some Soul Tool blueprints in that wooden chest. One of these days, he'd have to study them carefully and see if he could make them.

Xiao Wu equipped herself with the Silent Hidden Arrow, the Back Crossbow, and the rest. She even put on the Shoe Spikes, just in case some lecher ever set his sights on her.

Gu Yue didn't equip the items like Xiao Wu had. She believed that strength mattered more than underhanded tricks.

Jiang Huai didn't equip them either. He felt that no matter how sneaky a move was, it couldn't beat a sword strike for speed.

The day passed quickly. After saying goodbye to Old Jack and some of the villagers, the four of them set off on foot, chatting and laughing as they went.

Jiang Yi, who was secretly protecting Jiang Huai, often sent news of his activities back to Jiang Kingdom. Jiang Liuyu, the king of Jiang Kingdom, was delighted to hear it. He learned that his son wasn't suffering out there, but was living happily and doing well.

Time quickly skipped ahead to the sixth year of school for Jiang Huai, Gu Yue, Xiao Wu, and Tang San.

That day, one person from Dorm Seven had asked for leave and skipped class, staying in the dormitory to cultivate and break through the bottleneck of level thirty.

The dormitory was filled with the aroma of meat pies. Jiang Huai had already broken through to level twenty in his fourth year, so it made perfect sense that he was now on the verge of reaching level thirty.

The following morning

Jiang Huai successfully broke through to level thirty. It was still early morning, before the sun had risen.

He immediately left the dormitory and headed to the back hill, where he began practicing his sword. Every morning, as soon as he got up, he practiced his sword.

He planned to ask the dean for help hunting a Thousand-Year Soul Ring at breakfast time. He practiced for a full hour, stopping only when the sun came up.

Jiang Huai went alone to the dean's office. By then, the academy had designated Jiang Huai, Gu Yue, Xiao Wu, and Tang San as students to receive special cultivation.

Jiang Huai knocked on the office door. A deep, steady voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Jiang Huai pushed open the door and saw the dean leisurely watering the flowers. "Good morning, Dean Skru."

Skru nodded and set aside the watering can. "What is it, Xiao Huai?"

Jiang Huai sat casually on the office sofa and said, "Dean, my Soul Power broke through to level thirty this morning. I need a Soul Ring."

Skru smiled. "You're coming up with another excuse to get me to help you hunt a Soul Beast, aren't you?"

Jiang Huai smiled. "I wouldn't dare. I just need a Soul Ring to keep cultivating."

Skru nodded. "All right. But I'm only level forty-seven, so I might not be able to help you much. We'll take the academy's carriage to Star Dou Forest in a bit. I'll also find a few Soul Masters from Spirit Hall to help."

Jiang Huai nodded happily. "Thanks, senior."

Skru waved a hand. "Go have some breakfast, but don't eat too much. The carriage ride might jostle your food right back out of you."

Jiang Huai nodded. "All right! I'll wait for you outside the academy."

Jiang Huai left the office and walked out of the academy. The gatekeeper didn't stop him, but opened the gate for him.

A little later

Jiang Huai and Dean Skru arrived at the outskirts of Star Dou Forest. The dean asked what kind of Soul Beast he wanted, and Jiang Huai said he wanted a two-thousand-year-old Green Wheat Vine.

Skru didn't try to stop him. He'd stopped worrying about Jiang Huai after he absorbed his Second Soul Ring.

If he'd known Jiang Huai wanted a non-aggressive plant Soul Beast like the Green Wheat Vine, he wouldn't have asked people from Spirit Hall to help.

Green Wheat Vines grew all throughout Star Dou Forest, from the outskirts to the central and core regions. Since many herbivorous Soul Beasts fed on them, none had lived for more than five thousand years.

Soon, they found a spot near the central region of Star Dou Forest where a two-thousand-year-old Green Wheat Vine was growing.

Skru handed Jiang Huai a small dagger and told him to cut through the vine's roots. Jiang Huai did as instructed and sliced through the roots in the soil.

The Green Wheat Vine quickly withered and crumbled as if it had been drained dry. Then a two-thousand-year Soul Ring appeared above Jiang Huai's head.

Jiang Huai sat cross-legged on the ground and used both hands to guide the Thousand-Year Soul Ring. It descended over his head and bobbed up and down.

The Green Wheat Vine was the weakest of all plant Soul Beasts, even weaker than Blue Silver Grass. So Jiang Huai absorbed the Soul Ring in just one hour.

Before Skru could even ask, Jiang Huai summoned the Soul Ring and unleashed his Soul Skill. He stretched out his right hand and chanted,

"Three-Layer Wheat Burger, Body Like Resilient Bamboo Sway!"

A burger appeared, filled with the aroma of wheat and a faint hint of beef. Jiang Huai smiled and said, "I'll call it Whole Wheat Resilient Body. It unfolds into a buffing field made of whole wheat bread. Allies within the field gain a 10% increase in defense and a 'resilience bonus.' When struck, they suffer 25% less knockback. The effect stacks when multiple people eat it."