As Long As You Don't Lose Your Nobility

The setting sun hung low, resembling a golden orange. Sea God Lake was tranquil and serene; a gentle breeze brushed across the surface, causing the water to shimmer with golden, rippling light.

In all fairness, Ice Empress had not treated Bai Cai poorly. Fresh fish, fresh meat, ice marrow, and sweet dew—all were rare specialties of the Extreme North.

If calculated in Gold Soul Coins, the daily expenditure exceeded one thousand, and more than half of these delicacies were priceless treasures that could not be bought with money.

The fresh fish, harvested from the Ice Sea, nourished the vital energy and tempered the physical body. The fresh meat, sourced from thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts, balanced yin and yang while strengthening the constitution.

As for the ice marrow and sweet dew, those over ten years old were considered curiosities, those over a century were rare treasures, and those over a millennium were true heavenly materials.

The meal standards for core disciples of the Martial Soul Department paled in comparison. Flesh and viscera from century-old soul beasts paired with decade-old medicinal herbs offered nothing to boast about beyond a rich flavor.

Of course, a final meal before execution and daily rations could not be judged by the same standard.

As evening approached, Bai Cai, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao walked together toward the first-year cafeteria for dinner.

"Captain, the class has been a chaotic mess for the past five months."

The delicate girl skipped along as she spoke. "Huang Chutian is pursuing Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo at the same time. They couldn't stand the harassment and announced their withdrawal from the team."

"Zhou Sichen confessed to Wu Feng, and she rejected him in public. Cao Jinxuan confessed to Cui Yajie, and Dai Huabin declared that both Cui Yajie and Zhu Lu belong to him."

"..."

Bai Cai was speechless. If even core disciples were so obsessed with romance and drama, what hope was there for ordinary students?

The pastoral age of feudalism was nearing its end. The feudal nobles and bourgeoisie of the Star Luo Empire, Heaven Dou Empire, and Heaven Spirit Empire were about to face the righteous judgment of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool legions.

With the younger generation of the three empires wallowing in decadence and romantic distractions, how would they protect their nations in the future?

Without realizing it, the three arrived at the first-year cafeteria.

There was almost no queue at the inner windows. Xiao Xiao quickly presented her badge to collect a meal. The daily menu rotated on a fixed schedule, leaving no room for choice.

Bai Cai and Wang Dong presented their badges in turn and collected their own meals.

"Class Monitor!" A crisp voice called out from a seat behind them.

A pretty girl with long blue hair held her tray, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Can I eat with you?"

"Lan Susu?" Wang Dong hesitated.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo were nearly identical; they were truly difficult to distinguish.

"Lan Luoluo."

The pretty girl with long blue hair seemed accustomed to this, asking, "Class Monitor, is it okay?"

Bai Cai took his tray and left. Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly waved him over. The two sat down together and buried their heads in their food.

"Lan—Luo—Luo!"

Wang Dong enunciated each word, gritting his teeth. "Sit down!"

Lan Luoluo was at a loss, sitting down in a panic. "Class Monitor, what's wrong?"

Wang Dong wore a brilliant smile as he forcibly hugged Lan Luoluo, his slender hands invading the narrow gap between her school uniform and trousers.

Feeling a sudden chill against her waist and abdomen, the pretty blue-haired girl blushed deeply. "Class Monitor, you can't!"

"Can't what?"

Wang Dong feigned ignorance, poking the girl's tensed side. "Like this?"

"Stop, stop it..."

Lan Luoluo trembled violently, twisting away.

Wang Dong leaned in gently, acting like an intimate lover, whispering sweet nothings as they rubbed cheeks. "Student Lan Luoluo, I am, you see, particularly angry."

"I—I'm sorry."

Lan Luoluo's voice carried a faint hint of tears. "Class Monitor, haha, haha."

Three days later, at the Soul Fighting Arena.

The arena was hexagonal, with rows of seats rising in tiers around it.

The spring breeze was mild and the sun was bright; the arena was packed to capacity.

The champion team of the freshman assessment consisted entirely of core disciples.

There were core disciples from the fourth year, core disciples from the fifth year, and ordinary first-year students.

Huo Yuhao's side had exploited loopholes in the rules to reform their team, and although the academy had attempted to intervene and mediate, the match proceeded.

After consulting with one another, Wang Dong, Bai Cai, and Xiao Xiao chose to continue the soul fight against Huo Yuhao's team.

Although Huo Yuhao's side possessed high-level Soul Elders and even a low-level Soul Ancestor, Wang Dong's team was not without a chance of victory.

Bai Cai had been missing for nearly five months; not only had his second martial soul awakened, but he had also become a level 33 Control-type Battle Soul Elder.

When he first reported as a freshman, Bai Cai had yet to obtain his second soul ring, and his true Soul Power Level was approximately level 22.

By the end of the freshman assessment, Bai Cai still had not obtained his second soul ring, and his true Soul Power Level was approximately level 24.

For the month spent lost in the Far North, Bai Cai was unable to cultivate, and his true Soul Power Level remained stagnant.

After consuming six petals, his soul power was purified, even regressing by two levels.

Following three months of self-abandonment, Bai Cai gave up on cultivation. Yet, piled high with rare treasures, his true Soul Power Level still returned to level twenty-four.

With the sacrifices of Ice Empress and Snow Empress, his soul power level soared by six levels, reaching the bottleneck of level thirty.

The second soul ring of Ralts was produced by a Mirror Shadow Beast of over five thousand three hundred years. The third soul ring of Ralts was produced by an Abyssal Demon Octopus of over eleven thousand years.

Snow Empress had ruled the Far North for hundreds of thousands of years, possessing countless loyal subjects. The Mirror Shadow Beast was captured by Ice Bear King, and the Abyssal Demon Octopus was offered by the Ice Sea Mermaid tribe.

Five thousand three hundred years and eleven thousand years were near the limits of what one could withstand when attaching soul rings at the Soul Ancestor and Soul King stages.

After absorbing both soul rings, Bai Cai finally broke through to become a Soul Elder, reaching level thirty-three with an extremely solid foundation.

Unless Thunderbolt Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi revealed their trump cards, Huo Yuhao's side would undoubtedly lose.

The spectator stands were clamorous as a middle-aged male teacher stepped into the spirit fighting arena to serve as the temporary referee.

The referee announced loudly, "Bai Cai Team versus Huo Yuhao Team. The wager is confirmed; both sides, enter the arena!"

A wave of cheers erupted from the spectator stands.

"Thunderbolt Bei Bei! Thunderbolt Bei Bei!"

"Eternal Defense! Eternal Defense!"

The handsome, dashing blue-haired youth stepped into the spirit fighting arena first, followed simultaneously by the imposing black-clad youth and the ordinary-looking plain youth.

The imposing black-clad youth remained calm and composed. "Bei Bei, let's agree on this first: regardless of whether we win or lose, you must put in a good word for me in front of Nannan."

"Sanshi, don't slack off. If we capsize in the gutter, it might not be a loss of face for us, but Yuhao would have to kowtow in public."

The handsome, dashing blue-haired youth urged repeatedly, "Yuhao, Sanshi and I must go all out and won't be able to turn back to protect you. Be careful yourself."

The Martial Soul Fusion Skill of classmate Bai Cai and classmate Wang Dong was not inferior to an ordinary Soul Ancestor, and could even rival a Soul King.

Although his and Sanshi's Soul Power Levels were far higher than those of classmate Bai Cai and classmate Wang Dong—a gap of two or three soul rings, even—

Soul Power Level and the number of soul rings were not the only criteria for determining victory.

Bei Bei remained secretly vigilant. By refusing the academy's off-field mediation, classmate Wang Dong and classmate Bai Cai clearly possessed the confidence to win.