Zhou Changxi's Courage Shattered, A Misunderstood Clash, Tang Wulin's Shock

Everyone recognized Yao Chuan.

Tang Wulin was no exception, his eyes filled with surprise.

"You are that... author of Soul Breaking the Firmament? Yao Chuan?"

He had not expected this renowned genius novelist of the continent to stand up for him, and a warm current surged through his heart.

Touched as he was, Tang Wulin immediately grew anxious again.

Mainly, he did not believe Yao Chuan could handle this kind of conflict between spirit masters.

In his view, those who wrote novels were all frail scholars.

So, he hurriedly spoke up to persuade him: "Classmate Yao Chuan, thank you. But this has nothing to do with you, please step back!"

However, while Tang Wulin did not know of Yao Chuan's prowess, Zhou Changxi knew it all too well—and feared it deeply.

Although three years had passed, that terrifying scene on the Spirit Pagoda awakening day three years ago had long since become his nightmare.

Those cold, black dragon eyes had become the stuff of his nightmares, as if they were still staring into his very soul.

Upon confirming that it was truly Yao Chuan standing at the door, Zhou Changxi was instantly scared out of his wits.

The feeling was even more terrifying than seeing a ghost.

Zhou Changxi, usually so overbearing, let out a shrill, miserable scream. As if fleeing the source of a plague, he didn't even have time to think.

He turned abruptly, scrambling on all fours toward the nearest window, preferring to jump from the second floor and fall half-dead into a coma on the spot rather than dare to look at Yao Chuan for even one more second!

"What the..."

"This... surely isn't necessary, right?"

Watching Zhou Changxi perform a freefall, Yao Chuan was also a bit dumbfounded.

He never expected his appearance to have such an "explosive" effect.

The guy was, after all, an 11th-rank power-type battle spirit master.

His martial soul was a Great Strength Divine Ape, for heaven's sake.

Was he really scared out of his wits to this extent by him?

Yao Chuan looked at Zhou Changxi, who had fallen unconscious downstairs, and was left speechless.

Before he could even calculate the extent of Zhou Changxi's psychological trauma, rapid footsteps sounded from behind him.

A young man with a cold face and a distant look in his eyes appeared at the doorway.

It was Xie Xie.

He had originally been attracted by the commotion next door and came over to watch the spectacle.

But the moment he saw Yao Chuan standing in the dormitory, that ten-thousand-year-old icy expression instantly melted away like snow.

Excitement replaced all his coldness.

"Big Brother—!"

He shouted, opening his arms and lunging toward Yao Chuan.

The display of affection was just like a puppy that had finally found its long-lost family.

He was excited, certainly.

But to Tang Wulin, who was unaware of the truth, the title "Big Brother" sounded like something entirely different.

Tang Wulin's first reaction was not to associate the street-smart title of "Big Brother" with the refined novelist Yao Chuan.

In his simple understanding:

Those who wrote novels were all cultured people, lacking the strength to truss a chicken.

Combined with Zhou Changxi's earlier overbearing behavior of forcing him to bow his head and call him Big Brother, Xie Xie's shout of "Big Brother" led Tang Wulin to naturally categorize the newcomer as a lackey coming to help Zhou Changxi!

Seeing Xie Xie lunging "aggressively" toward Yao Chuan, alarm bells rang in Tang Wulin's head.

"Despicable! Trying to sneak attack someone who came to help?!"

He roared, forgetting the grievance of having his bedding stepped on just moments ago.

His sense of chivalry instantly exploded.

He lunged forward in a single stride, aiming a fierce punch directly at the back of Xie Xie, who was charging toward Yao Chuan!

The wind whistled, the strike full of force. Xie Xie had been full of joy, only wanting to give Yao Chuan a hug (though there was a high probability his Big Brother wouldn't allow it).

He didn't even spare a glance for the other freshman in the dormitory, who looked rather rustic.

As a gust of wind from a punch struck from behind, he instinctively dodged with a light, fluid motion, easily evading Tang Wulin's fist.

"Tsk, you're in the way." Xie Xie frowned, feeling a bit annoyed.

Seeing that his attempt to intercept had failed and that the other party wore a look of disdain, Tang Wulin's temper flared.

"First Soul Skill, Bind!"

He let out a low shout, and a pristine white Ten-Year Soul Ring rose instantly.

Several tough vines of Blue Silver Grass shot out like agile snakes, coiling toward Xie Xie.

Xie Xie's eyes sharpened.

Blue Silver Grass?

A trash martial soul?

But the toughness and speed of these vines seemed a bit different.

He flipped his wrist, the Light Dragon Dagger appearing in his hand instantly. With a flash of golden blade-light, he attempted to sever the incoming vines.

Clang! Clang!

The Light Dragon Dagger struck the vines, producing the sound of clashing metal and sending sparks flying!

It only cut halfway through before getting stuck in the incredibly resilient Blue Silver Grass!

"What?!" Xie Xie was truly shocked now.

Just as he exerted force to pull his dagger free, Tang Wulin seized the fleeting opportunity.

He pushed off with his feet, his entire body surging forward like a cannonball.

Taking advantage of the moment when Xie Xie's old force was spent and his new force had yet to arise, he landed a solid punch squarely on the side of Xie Xie's face!

Bang!

A dull thud of impact echoed through the room.

Xie Xie staggered back several steps, his cheek swelling up rapidly.

He winced in pain, baring his teeth.

However, over the past three years, he had been "mentored" by Yao Chuan every few days.

Although he was beaten black and blue every time, his ability to withstand a beating had been tempered into something formidable.

Far from the delicate young master he was in the original story, he shook his slightly dizzy head.

His gaze turned sharp as a blade in an instant, staring coldly at Tang Wulin.

A dangerous aura began to emanate from his body.

"Kid... you're courting death!"

Xie Xie let out a low growl, the golden light of the Light Dragon Dagger flaring brilliantly; clearly, he was enraged and ready to get serious!

Seeing that the small conflict that had just subsided was about to escalate again, and with both sides now using their martial souls and soul skills, the destructive potential was entirely different.

"That's enough!"

A calm voice rang out—not loud, yet carrying a strange, piercing quality.

Just as Xie Xie prepared to pounce again and Tang Wulin stood ready for battle, Yao Chuan's figure inserted itself between the two like a phantom.

He didn't even use his martial soul, simply extending his left and right hands in what looked like a casual motion.

One hand pressed onto Xie Xie's shoulder, while the other rested on Tang Wulin's arm.

He pressed down gently.

Thud! Thud!

Two dull sounds echoed.

Xie Xie and Tang Wulin, who a second ago were at each other's throats with their auras erupting, were now like two chicks pinned down by an invisible giant hand.

Without a shred of resistance, they were forced down by Yao Chuan's seemingly effortless movement.

Their knees buckled, and they both face-planted firmly onto the floor!

"Stop messing around."

Yao Chuan's voice remained devoid of any fluctuation.

"Just a misunderstanding. Was it really necessary to fight like this?"

"This kid is named Xie Xie, he's my underling, and certainly not an underling of that guy Zhou Changxi."

He released his grip and brushed off some non-existent dust.

Tang Wulin struggled to lift his head.

His face was smeared with dust, but his expression was filled with unprecedented shock and bewilderment.

He looked at Xie Xie, who was being pressed down beside him, and then at Yao Chuan, who stood between them looking calm and collected.

His eyes were wide as saucers, and his mouth was agape, wide enough to fit a fist.

"Wha... what is going on?"

"Did... did he just call you Big Brother?"

Tang Wulin pointed at Xie Xie, then looked back at Yao Chuan.

"And... this strength... what is up with this strength?"

"Aren't you just a novelist??"

Tang Wulin felt as though his understanding of the world over the past decade had been completely overturned.

A genius young writer who penned a smash-hit masterpiece like Soul Breaking the Firmament.

How could he possess such terrifying power?

He hadn't even used his soul power! With just one hand, he had pinned both himself and that seemingly strong, cold-faced kid to the ground?

Tang Wulin's brain was buzzing, a complete mess.

But before he could clear his head from the shock.

A deep, stern, and clearly angry middle-aged male voice.

Already rang out from the dormitory entrance.

The voice wasn't loud.

Yet it carried that distinct authority peculiar to a dean of students.

It instantly drowned out every other sound in the room.

"What is going on in your dormitory?"

"Making such a racket!"

"Are you trying to start a rebellion?!"