Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy

That night, the room flickered intermittently.

At times it blazed with azure light, at others it shimmered like a silver moon disc.

Su Yan sat cross-legged on the sofa, the veins on his forehead pulsing with indignant blood.

"Enough!" he roared.

Beside him, Tang Chi gripped the Thunderclap Hammer, repeatedly unleashing his first soul skill.

He was so excited that he had forgotten the time; glancing sideways, he saw the bright moon hanging high.

"Sorry." He silently put the hammer away, walked over to Su Yan, and sat down cross-legged.

After a moment, he leaned in and asked, "Su Yan, do you want a soul ring too?"

Su Yan took a deep breath.

"Yes, yes, I definitely want one."

Su Yan clenched his fists.

"Why didn't you find a soul beast today? There are so many in the Soul Hunting Forest."

"Quiet!" Su Yan practically spat out the two words through gritted teeth.

Tang Chi pressed his lips together, silently moved back, and assumed a meditative posture.

Su Yan let out a breath, his body relaxing slightly.

"Su Yan, thank you for helping me get the soul ring."

Tang Chi said with a smile.

Su Yan opened his eyes and slowly glared sideways at him.

"Tang Chi, do you know why Consort Qi slapped Zhen Huan?"

Tang Chi shook his head. "Why?"

Su Yan ground his teeth. "Because Consort Qi didn't have 'Huan'."

Tang Chi didn't understand, but he could feel a chill down his spine. He silently moved back, muttering, "A real ring? Is there such a thing as a fake ring?"

With that, he took out the Thunderclap Hammer again, glanced at it, and chuckled foolishly. "Good thing this one's called a soul ring."

Su Yan suddenly felt a bit ridiculous.

Why bother getting angry at a snot-nosed little brat?

He looked up at another newly added gray orb, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

Just as he had expected, contact allowed him to obtain a gray orb of the other person's martial soul.

Not long ago, at the entrance of Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong had rushed back overnight to the Main Martial Soul Hall, entrusting the two little ones to Hall Master Ma Xiunuo.

To express his gratitude to Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, Su Yan extended his small hand and, amidst a sea of puzzled gazes, completed this world's first handshake.

Thus obtaining a new gray orb.

He grabbed the orb; inside was a writing brush.

No wonder Grandpa Ma Xiunuo's long beard was so flowing—it was just like a brush.

Tang Chi beside him had already fallen asleep. Su Yan yawned as well. Using meditation to replace sleep once or twice was fine, but trying to do it every day couldn't be rushed.

The next day, Hall Master Ma Xiunuo took the two little ones to test their soul power.

Su Yan hadn't obtained his first soul ring, so he was still at level 10.

As for Tang Chi, he had already reached level 12, qualifying as a soul master, with a monthly subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin from Martial Soul Hall.

Holding a huge sum of money for the first time, Tang Chi excitedly patted Su Yan's shoulder. "Su Yan, let's go buy some good food!"

"It's time to go to school," Su Yan said flatly.

"Too bad you didn't get your first soul ring yesterday," Tang Chi remarked casually.

The corner of Su Yan's eye twitched violently. He wouldn't stoop to a little brat's level.

Notting City Elementary Soul Master Academy accepted students under twelve, with three grades—low, middle, and high—divided not by age but by soul power.

Those with soul power above level 10 attended the high-grade class.

Those below level 7 attended the low-grade class.

The rest attended the middle-grade class.

Tang Chi was assigned to the high-grade class, while Su Yan had to report to the middle-grade class.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo escorted the two little ones to Notting City Elementary Soul Master Academy.

From afar, they saw an ornate carriage parked at the entrance.

Su Yan and Hall Master Ma Xiunuo stopped in perfect unison.

"What's wrong?" Tang Chi turned his head and asked.

The two of them shook their heads together.

Su Yan's face twisted up as if recalling something unpleasant, and he shuddered. "Stay far away from that person over there."

Tang Chi looked into the distance. A figure stepped down from a carriage at the school gate.

The moment he appeared, heaven and earth seemed to change color. The bustling crowd scattered as if fleeing from something terrifying, vanishing without a trace.

"Young Master Xiao, you remain as handsome and mighty as ever. Those mortals dare not gaze upon your countenance."

"Mm, you're dismissed. Go on." Xiao Chenyu waved a hand casually. The man drove the carriage away, while Xiao Chenyu strode into the school with a swaggering gait that acknowledged no one.

Once Xiao Chenyu was far off, the school guards fanned the air to disperse the stench, and only then did the school gate grow lively again.

"Tch, why is the Silencer still at school? He's thirteen this year, isn't he?"

"Who knows? He's Lord Xiao's precious son—who dares say anything?"

"That damned Silencer, turning the whole school into a stinking mess. I want to take leave and go home."

"Bear with it today. I heard teachers from Suotuo City Intermediate Academy are here recruiting. Anyone close to the first ring has a chance."

"Sigh, let's go, let's go."

Su Yan couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Tch, so this is fame—the infamous kind.

The three of them entered the academy. The guards clearly recognized Headmaster Ma Xiunuo and saluted before letting them through.

Inside, a woman in a Soul Master robe hurried over.

"Headmaster Ma Xiunuo, what an honor. Your personal visit fills us with gratitude." The woman bowed in greeting.

"Director Su, no need for formalities. I'm at ease entrusting them to you."

"Thank you for your trust." Director Su looked down at the two little ones. "So these are the children who need to enroll?"

"Hello, teacher. I'm Su Yan."

"Hello, teacher. I'm Tang Chi."

"Good. Follow me inside." Director Su took both children by the hand. "Headmaster Ma Xiunuo, I'll take it from here. Please, return."

Su Yan's group walked deeper into the school, and classes were quickly arranged.

Returning to student life, Su Yan felt exceptionally relaxed—no soul-crushing English lessons, no mind-numbing math classes.

One word: bliss.

The classroom was buzzing. On the blackboard was written: "Welcome to the Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy Recruiting Teachers."

Su Yan casually found a seat by the window in the back row. He was only here for a few days as a temporary student, aiming purely to unwind.

A chubby little boy in the seat in front of Su Yan turned around and said, "Hey, hey, you can't sit there."

"Why not?"

"The Silencer's little sister sits there."

"The Silencer? Why do you all call Xiao Chenyu the Silencer?" Su Yan moved to sit beside the boy in front.

"Shh!" The boy pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't say the Silencer's real name at school. It's terrifying!"

"Fine." Su Yan spread his hands. "But why call him the Silencer?"

The boy's face twisted bitterly, as if he could already smell something. He pinched his nose and said, "He lets out stinky farts—unbearably foul. No matter how noisy a place is, the moment he shows up, it goes silent. Everyone covers their mouth and nose, too afraid to speak."

"I see." Su Yan understood.

Suddenly, the entire classroom fell silent. A girl of about ten walked in from the door, followed closely by two boys dragging another girl inside.

The first girl sat down behind Su Yan, while the other girl was dumped onto the floor at the very back of the classroom.

No one dared to breathe.

Half a minute later, the classroom returned to its previous lively state, as if nothing had happened.

Naturally, no one dared to reach out and help the girl up.

Su Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. Just as he was about to stand, the hem of his clothes was tugged by the little boy.

"Don't go." The boy's voice was low, his arm trembling involuntarily.

But Su Yan shook off the boy's hand. He walked to the back of the classroom and, under the astonished and bewildered gazes of everyone, helped the girl up and sat her on a chair.

The girl who had just sat behind Su Yan also stood up, staring straight at him.