The Year's Pact, Everyone's Surging Battle Intent

The sky had just begun to lighten when Su Yan started a new round of training, with Zhu Zhuqing following closely behind—the two had already become the best early-morning training partners.

By the time Tang Chi walked out of his room yawning, Su Yan and Zhu Zhuqing were both sitting by the shore, their bodies nearly touching, their backs soaked through.

"You two get up really early!" Tang Chi stretched lazily and sat down next to Su Yan.

"Morning." Su Yan greeted him, then turned his head to look at Zhu Zhuqing and continued, "Water—I've thought about understanding water, water's properties, water's characteristics, but I still can't enter that state."

"Yan Ge, that feeling... I don't know how to tell you." Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes fixed on him as she pondered for a moment before speaking. "It's like water—turn yourself into water."

"Turn into water?" Su Yan murmured, sinking into thought.

The others woke up one after another, gathered around the round table for breakfast, then lined up in a row.

"Today, I'd like to introduce a new member." Bibi Dong crouched down, one arm reaching around behind her back to rest on Ning Rongrong's shoulder. "Rongrong, introduce yourself."

"I'm Ning Rongrong, my martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a 17th-level auxiliary system soul master." Her expression was proud, her bright eyes sweeping over everyone.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—the number one auxiliary martial soul on the Douluo Continent!" Yin Fang exclaimed.

Su Yan's eyes flickered. He never expected to run into Ning Rongrong at a time like this.

Thinking about her martial soul and its incredible auxiliary abilities—exactly what their team was lacking—Su Yan felt a little excited.

Ning Rongrong continued, "Your turn."

"My name is Su Yan. My martial soul is, for now, the Fire Wolf. 18th-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing. My martial soul is the Hell Spirit Cat. 19th-level Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"Pika, pika pika, Pikachu~"

"My name is Tang Chi. My martial soul is the Thunderclap Hammer. 19th-level Control System Battle Soul Master."

"My name is Yin Fang. My martial soul is Ice Ring. 15th-level dual-system Power Attack and Control Battle Soul Master."

"My name is Xue Ke. Teaching assistant."

Ning Rongrong's brow furrowed slightly. She looked at Tang Chi. "Are you from the Clear Sky Sect?"

Tang Chi shook his head.

She then looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Star Luo Empire, the Zhu family of the imperial consort?"

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her eyes in a brief glance and did not answer.

She then looked at Xue Ke. "Heaven Dou Empire's princess, Xue Ke—weren't you already dead? The seventh-day rites are over."

"You're the one who's dead!" Tang Chi snapped, about to step forward, but Xue Ke pulled him back.

"I am not the princess of the Heaven Dou Empire." Xue Ke's pale, delicate face was full of determination.

Ning Rongrong sized everyone up again, then turned her head to look at Bibi Dong. "Dong'er Sister, taking these useless wastes, how could we possibly beat the Palace Master in the Junior Soul Master Tournament? He's got several gifted kids on his side."

She raised her hand and pointed at each of them one by one.

"That Su guy—not a major surname, probably not from any big sect either. His beast soul's quality is a bit lacking."

"That Yin guy—never heard of him. Ice Ring? Never heard of it either. From the name alone, it's not a powerful martial soul."

"How did this yellow-skinned rat even get on the team?"

"That Zhu girl—a failure who ran away from the Star Luo Empire. Without the Dai family of the Star Luo imperial household and the White Tiger Martial Soul to form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, she's useless too."

"That Xue girl—a cripple with zero combat ability."

"The only one worth something is that Tang guy—probably some bastard child of the Clear Sky Sect. But using a hammer for control? That's a crooked path."

"Dong'er Sister, kick them all off the team. Let's go to the major sects, spend some soul coins, pick out some top-tier members, and with me—the continent's number one auxiliary—we'll at least have a fighting chance against that team of geniuses the Palace Master has."

In an instant, the cool breeze that had been blowing vanished, and the sun, ready to clock in for work, hid behind the mountains.

The roar of the waterfall seemed to fade into the distance, until it disappeared entirely.

The scene fell into an eerie silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Su Yan's fists clenched, and a crimson flame began to burn from his body, his pitch-black eyes turning blood-red.

Tang Chi glared, blue-white lightning flickering around him with crackling bursts.

Zhu Zhuqing narrowed her cold eyes, her razor-sharp cat claws gleaming with chilling light.

Yin Fang lifted his head, the temperature around him plummeting as solid ice condensed.

Pikachu's eyes darkened, and the red electric sacs on his cheeks recklessly discharged golden lightning.

Xue Ke puffed out her cheeks, her hands trembling slightly—the urge to fight surged within her once more, stronger than ever.

"Everyone, stop!" Bibi Dong's voice cut through, halting them. Her expression was dark, and a trace of anger had crept into her eyes as she looked at Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, just stacking talent won't let you defeat anyone. The bonds between partners, the coordination between partners—that's what unleashes great power."

"Dong'er Sister, I have plenty of soul coins. Soul coins can make them cooperate willingly—no worse than them." Ning Rongrong's lips curled up. "Besides, I'm the continent's number one auxiliary martial soul. Gaining the goodwill of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect means more to them than soul coins. They'll take it seriously."

Bibi Dong slowly straightened up, her voice turning a few degrees colder. "Rongrong, this team isn't right for you. I'll have Bone Douluo come pick you up."

"Dong'er Sister, you don't believe me either?" Ning Rongrong suddenly grew angry, looking up at Bibi Dong. "Taking this group of people, there's no way to beat the Palace Master."

"Just shut up already." Su Yan stepped forward, separating the two. "You spoiled little brat."

"You're the liar!" Ning Rongrong snapped.

Su Yan took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. "I'll let it slide since you're young, but since you badmouthed my companions, I want you to apologize to them."

"Hmph, can't I speak the truth?" Ning Rongrong crossed her arms, looking Su Yan up and down. "Who do you think you are, telling this young lady what to do?"

Su Yan's fists clenched. He turned his head to look at Bibi Dong. "Master, can I take action?"

"Master? You call Dong'er Sister your master?" Ning Rongrong's eyes trembled, her face full of disbelief. "Dong'er Sister, you took him as a disciple, why not me?"

Her eyes reddened as she pointed at Su Yan. "Since I was little, I've never failed to get what I wanted. Su, I challenge you to a bet—the stakes are Dong'er Sister's disciple position!"

"That bet isn't exactly fair." Su Yan gritted his back teeth, speaking indignantly. "If I lose, I'm willing to leave the sect. If you lose, I want you to apologize to everyone!"

"Fine, it's settled!" Ning Rongrong said, sweeping her gaze over the crowd, her disdain plain to see.

Su Yan asked in a low voice, "Tell me, how do we bet?"

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment. "Since we're joining the Junior Soul Master Tournament, let's follow the team competition rules. I'll give you a year to train well. Do you dare to bet?"

"Hmph, it's settled." Su Yan accepted, the fighting spirit in his chest nearly bursting forth.

Ning Rongrong stormed off in a huff.

Bibi Dong's eyes swept the surroundings. All the Shadow Guards of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were present; the little girl's safety was no concern.

"Master, I acted on my own." Su Yan suddenly turned and bowed.

Bibi Dong crouched down, poking his head with a smile. "Xiao Yan, I believe in you, and I believe in the bond between you all. You won't lose."

"That's right, Su Yan, show them what you've got!" Tang Chi jogged over, leaping straight into the waterfall and landing on the eighth step, gritting his silver teeth as he bore the immense pressure without yielding.

"Yan-ge, I'm going to train." Zhu Zhuqing walked toward the waterfall, charging straight to the thirteenth step. After taking a few deep breaths, she stepped onto the fourteenth.

"Pika! Pika pika!" Pikachu's fighting spirit surged as it followed behind Zhu Zhuqing, stopping at the ninth step and sitting cross-legged.

Yin Fang walked over and said, "Yan-shen, so what if it's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? They've got money, but we're not afraid of them!"

With that, he took out a large number of rare Heavenly Treasures from the ring on his finger and placed them on the ground. "Instructor, I stumbled upon these. Do with them as you see fit."

He turned and walked toward the waterfall.

Xue Ke wheeled herself over, both hands tightly gripping the armrests. "Su Yan-gege, I'm sorry, I can't help."

"You're our assistant instructor; you've helped plenty." Su Yan curled his lips into a smile. "Don't worry, we'll get back everything, including your share!"

With that, Su Yan stood up and walked toward the waterfall.