Taking Notes on Flaws in Class, Calmly Fending Off a Challenge, Secretly Scouting Soul Hunting

Early the next morning, Nuoding Academy's Martial Soul Theory class began right on time. Standing at the lectern was Yu Xiaogang, who went by the grand title of "theoretical master."

With his hands clasped behind his back, he put on an air of unfathomable wisdom. Luo Sanpao lay listlessly at his feet. Yu Xiaogang launched straight into a boastful spiel about his utter nonsense of a theory: "There is no absolute hierarchy among Martial Souls. Everything depends on acquired cultivation and training methods. Even a Martial Soul that seems like a Trash Martial Soul can reach the pinnacle of the Soul Master world, as long as you follow my theory..."

Quite a few new students listened with adoration, nodding along in agreement. I sat in the very back row, eyes lowered as if paying close attention, while inwardly tearing his theory to shreds and quietly noting every logical flaw.

[Memories suddenly barged in and interrupted]

In my previous life, I'd always been disgusted by this guy's double standards. If Tang San hadn't had a cheat, Blue Silver Grass would've been a textbook Trash Martial Soul. He took an exception and passed it off as a universal truth, pure and simple: he was swindling inexperienced beginners. Only Tang San would treat him like a father and worship him. In this life, I was going to expose him as a fraud!

[Snapped back to reality, forcibly reining in my thoughts]

Yu Xiaogang kept glancing my way, his eyes full of probing curiosity. He was clearly still quietly puzzling over the details of my Martial Soul. I didn't move a muscle throughout the class. The Soul Power aura around me was as steady as a rock. I only showed the state of an ordinary Ink Shadow Cat Soul Master—not the slightest unnecessary fluctuation—giving him no opening to size me up or test me.

Tang San, seated in the front row, glanced back at me every so often. Resentment and wariness mingled in his eyes. He was still seething over having the position of Dorm Seven's leader snatched from him yesterday, unable to swallow the insult.

At long last, class ended. Yu Xiaogang left after a few polite remarks, and Tang San immediately got up and chased after him. I didn't need to guess: he was surely going to find his "theoretical master" of a teacher and mutter about how to get even.

I couldn't be bothered with the pair of them. I leisurely packed my notes and headed straight for the academy training grounds. For one thing, I wanted to avoid trouble and meditate in peace; for another, it was a good chance to sort out my plans going forward.

I'd only been standing by the training grounds for a short while when Tang San hurried over. He stopped a little way off, his face tense and his gaze stubborn. "Lin Chen, I want to have a fair match with you. We'll stop before anyone gets hurt!"

In the end, pride had gone to his head. He'd been outmatched by me from start to finish, and wouldn't be satisfied until we settled who was better.

The passing students immediately gathered around, eager to watch. Xiao Wu came bouncing over too, stood right beside me, and glared at Tang San with a little frown. "Tang San, why are you always picking fights with Lin Chen? It's so pointless!"

I glanced up at Tang San, my voice calm, with a hint of Sichuan dialect. "There's no need to fight. Beating you isn't any fun. It'd just be a waste of time."

He was only at Level 10. I could handle him with a flick of my finger. Fighting him would only make me look bad and risk exposing my true strength. There was nothing to gain from it.

But Tang San was determined to test me. When I refused, he immediately activated his Soul Power, and his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul appeared. Strands of blue vines, wrapped in Soul Power, shot straight toward me with Entanglement. He showed some restraint and didn't go for the kill.

The surrounding students gasped, all staring at me to see how I'd respond.

With a thought, my Ink Shadow Cat Martial Soul quietly appeared. A faint black Soul Power aura curled around me. I used only the Level 10 Soul Power I was showing, relying on the Ink Shadow Cat's natural speed and agility to slip aside with a light step, easily dodging every vine. I didn't use a single method beyond what my current level should allow.

Before Tang San could activate his Martial Soul again, I flicked a finger. A wisp of Soul Power, condensed to the utmost, struck a Soul Power node in his Blue Silver Grass with pinpoint accuracy. Tang San felt a sudden numbness in his wrist. The Soul Power around him collapsed in an instant, and his Blue Silver Grass vanished into thin air. He stumbled back two steps, his face turning deathly pale.

"You lose."

I recalled my Martial Soul and turned toward the edge of the training grounds, my voice flat and calm. I didn't linger, mock him, or show off. I kept a low profile to the very end, and the secrets of my Twin Martial Souls and true Level 20 Soul Power remained safely hidden.

Tang San stood rooted to the spot, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, with nowhere to vent his pent-up frustration. He couldn't understand how, with the same Level 10 Soul Power, he hadn't even been able to touch the hem of my clothes. His wariness of me had completely eclipsed his resentment.

Xiao Wu hurried over and grabbed my arm, looking triumphant. "I told you Lin Chen was the best! Tang San, stop trying to challenge him all the time!"

I ruffled Xiao Wu's hair and shifted subtly to block Tang San again as he tried to come over and talk. I gave him a couple of perfunctory replies, while already turning my thoughts to Soul Rings.

After sending the onlookers away, I deliberately sought out a few students who'd been there for a year. Pretending to be curious about the new students' prospects, I casually asked them about the Soul Hunting Forest outside Nuoding City, focusing on the poisonous Soul Beasts near the forest's outskirts and where exactly they were found.

The older students thought nothing of it and chattered away. As it happened, they mentioned a hundred-year-old Datura Snake lurking in the outer reaches on the western side of Soul Hunting Forest. It was fierce and venomous, and quite a few Soul Masters made a point of avoiding it.

I understood at once—that was Tang San's First Soul Ring!

I kept my expression unchanged and thanked the older students with a smile. Then I turned and committed the location to memory, planning to sneak into Soul Hunting Forest alone before the academy organized a Soul Hunting trip. I'd intercept that Datura Snake ahead of time, claim a poison-type Soul Ring suited to the Ink Shadow Cat, and cut off Tang San's greatest opportunity for good.

I proceeded with extreme caution the entire time and didn't alert anyone. Even Xiao Wu, who was always by my side, got nothing more than a casual excuse from me. I held fast to my rule of caution and let none of my plans slip.

I was set on taking Tang San's opportunities, and I'd tear Yu Xiaogang's false dignity to pieces, bit by bit! Everything in this Douluo Continent would move to my rhythm.