The Lion Group's Dispute; Master Yu Takes Action

Nuoding Academy was only so big. News of an Innate Full Soul Power genius could not possibly be kept under wraps.

In less than half a day, information about Lin Nuo had spread like wildfire through the small circles of teachers and students at every level.

As the king of the Lion Group among the self-funded students, Xiao Chenyu rushed over with his Lion Group and blocked the entrance to Lin Nuo's dormitory the moment he heard a new student had arrived, issuing a so-called invitation to join them.

"My name is Xiao Chenyu. My martial soul is a wolf, and I am a terrifying one-ring Battle Soul Master—the only man in Nuoding City!"

"Since you are different from those mud-legged commoners and are a noble self-funded student, I am willing to give you a chance to join us!"

"After I graduate, you will become the new king of the Lion Group."

Lin Nuo could not help laughing at the absurd leader standing before him.

If he had possessed only a mere level-one Innate Soul Power, joining this little group and seeking the protection of this lion king would indeed have been a decent choice.

But...

"A Dragon does not dwell with a Snake. Who gave you the courage to provoke me?"

Buzz—

Before his words had even faded, a thick, chilling pulse of Soul Power erupted.

Under everyone's horrified gazes, Lin Nuo's already delicate face was swiftly covered by a layer of black armor with a metallic sheen.

The bones in his upper body let out a teeth-grating rhythm. Eight jet-black spider legs, sharp as spears, burst through his back, their tips glinting with a faint, icy light.

Most terrifying of all were his eyes. His once-clear gaze glowed blood-red, while four tiny compound eyes opened one after another upon the armor beneath them, locking firmly onto the people before him.

As dark green fuzz sprouted beneath Lin Nuo's feet, several drops of corrosive purple slime fell onto the ground.

With several sizzling sounds, the hard floor tiles were instantly corroded into deep pits, releasing pungent white smoke.

Power!

At the instant he completed Martial Soul Possession, Lin Nuo felt boundless Power!

The arrogance on Xiao Chenyu and his group's faces instantly crumbled, replaced by utter terror.

They instinctively scrambled backward in panic. Some even collapsed onto the ground when their legs gave out.

"Ahhh—"

"Monster! He's a monster!"

"Help... don't eat me!"

The Lion Group scattered like startled birds and beasts the instant Lin Nuo completed Martial Soul Possession.

It was the first time in their lives that they had witnessed such a terrifying scene. Unable to hold it in, several of them ran to a corner and threw up, their faces turning a dark purplish red.

As for Xiao Chenyu, the lion king himself, he had vanished the moment Lin Nuo completed Martial Soul Possession.

He was the city lord's son, after all. He at least knew how to read the situation.

"Terrifying!"

"With such a powerful martial soul, this boy must have a considerable force backing him. I absolutely cannot provoke him."

The huge commotion naturally drew even more onlookers.

However, once the teachers learned that Xiao Chenyu and Lin Nuo had caused the disturbance, they signaled for everyone to disperse.

Yet not far away, Flat-top remained standing there, his eyes fixed intently in this direction, unwilling to leave for a long while.

"Death Spider Emperor!"

"That's right, Lin Nuo's martial soul really is the Death Spider Emperor!"

"It seems Lin Nuo truly is her child."

Seeing the familiar thing brought back memories of its owner, and Master Yu seemed almost entranced.

According to the research in his theoretical masterpiece, Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, martial souls emphasized hereditary lineage.

On this Douluo Continent, there was only one person who possessed a Death Spider Emperor inheritance.

Moreover, he had obtained Lin Nuo's information from the academy.

The entry under parents read: orphan.

Master Yu simply could not believe that.

Could an orphan possess the talent of Innate Full Soul Power and inherit such a terrifying martial soul?

Not to mention that, under his careful observation, Lin Nuo's appearance, bearing, martial soul, and even manner of speaking were all exactly the same as that person's!

At Master Yu's side, Tang San, who had already knelt and acknowledged him as his master, looked at his teacher in surprise as he once again revealed such an expression because of Lin Nuo. He immediately asked curiously,

"Teacher, is there anything special about his martial soul?"

As a transmigrator who carried the Tang Sect inheritance, Tang San had lived two lives and naturally possessed some of a transmigrator's pride.

They both had Innate Full Soul Power, so why did everyone say his Blue Silver Grass was a useless martial soul?

Could Tang San really be inferior to some native of Douluo Continent?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

In response, Master Yu merely shook his head mysteriously, unwilling to say more.

He only gave his beloved disciple a calm reminder. "Xiao San, you only need to know that building a good relationship with Lin Nuo will not harm your future development."

The dispute caused by the Lion Group soon came to an end, and life in the academy returned to normal once more.

Other than Lin Nuo occasionally going to the library to consult materials while searching for suitable soul beasts, nothing particularly noteworthy seemed to happen.

With his god's-eye view, Lin Nuo naturally knew what kind of soul beasts his Death Spider Emperor martial soul needed to hunt.

Or rather,

Bibi Dong's soul ring hunting plan was an excellent template.

But knowing was one thing.

How to determine a soul beast's age, how to locate its habitat—

Those were the areas of knowledge he lacked the most right now.

However, the one thing that left Lin Nuo somewhat speechless was this:

Every time he came to the library to look up information, he would see that Flat-top lurking around nearby.

Not only that, he always liked to put on the airs of some reclusive master, coming over from time to time to forcibly strike up a conversation and try to make his presence known.

For example, right now, Lin Nuo had just opened a copy of the Poison Attribute Soul Beast Distribution Atlas when Master Yu strolled over slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, accompanied by his dream disciple Tang San.

He glanced at the contents of the book on Lin Nuo's desk, a self-satisfied, profound smile curling at his lips before he slowly spoke.

"Lin Nuo, the fact that you considered the Man Faced Demon Spider as a candidate for your first soul ring does prove that you have some talent in martial soul theory."

He paused, then shifted his tone, assuming the posture of an experienced senior offering guidance.

"However, theory is ultimately only theory.

Top-tier killers like the Man Faced Demon Spider have nearly gone extinct in the Soul Hunting Forest near Nuoding City. Even if one can be found, your current strength would make it difficult to kill."

"As your senior, I do have a more practical suggestion."

Yu Xiaogang raised his chin slightly and said proudly,

"By comparison, second-tier soul beasts such as the Ghost Face Spider and Nether Poison Spider are not only easier to find, but their attributes are also sufficiently compatible.

For your current stage, they are the most cost-effective choice."