Douluo: Jianmu Martial Soul, Am I an Abomination of Abundance?

"No, of course I didn't think there was anything wrong with you. On the contrary, although this was only our first meeting today, I had a very favorable impression of Captain Bing'er."

"It was just that neither of us had met before. If I were to decide your life choices for you like this, wouldn't that be very unfair to you?"

Mu Ci hurriedly came up with reasons to explain that he had not meant it that way, but because he had rarely had this kind of interaction with girls, his face had turned slightly red.

Although noble young ladies had harassed him wherever he went before, that was not normal interaction between men and women. It had only brought Mu Ci trouble.

When such things happened, he generally had the local Spirit Hall steward escort them away. Once he revealed his identity, there was nothing left to worry about.

The deterrence of a Title Douluo family was no joke.

And now, facing Shui Bing'er, whom he had liked very much in the books of his previous life, Mu Ci was still somewhat excited.

The feeling of seeing a fantasy character transformed into the stunning, graceful young woman before him was difficult to describe in words.

Shui Bing'er looked at the slightly blushing young man before her. A faint smile appeared on her pretty face, and her red lips curled up slightly. The disappointment in her heart vanished as well.

The men and women of the Douluo Continent matured very early, not to mention Spirit Masters.

"Alright, I understand what you mean. Then we can be considered acquainted now."

"And don't call me Captain anymore. Just call me Bing'er. I'll call you Brother Mu Ci."

When Mu Ci saw the smile on Shui Bing'er's face, he could not help smiling as well. He let out a long sigh of relief in his heart and replied:

"Alright, Bing'er. As for what the elders said, you don't have to take it to heart. We can start by being friends."

Among the Blazing Fire Academy group nearby, Huo Wushuang was watching the drama with great enjoyment.

But Huo Wu beside him had a rather stiff expression. She had been having a perfectly pleasant conversation with Mu Ci when the girls of the Skywater Team suddenly barged in and interrupted them. It made her feel somewhat upset.

Although Huo Wu pursued strength far more than appearances, and her future partner had to be stronger than her as well.

Still, she had clearly been there first, yet Shui Bing'er had gotten ahead of her. Huo Wu could not help feeling unhappy.

Just as she hesitated over whether to step forward and join in, a loud shout suddenly came from behind her.

"Mu Ci, I challenge you!"

Feng Xiaotian's Challenge

Those words brought everyone present to a halt, whether it was Shui Bing'er and Mu Ci, who had been chatting, or Huo Wu, who had been about to step forward.

They all turned toward the source of the voice.

Feng Xiaotian!

The one issuing the challenge was Feng Xiaotian, captain of the Godwind Team, who was following the Blazing Fire Academy group.

Mu Ci looked at the emotions in Feng Xiaotian's eyes, then at Huo Wu walking toward him, and understood.

It seemed Feng Xiaotian had taken him for a romantic rival. But feelings were not something anyone could predict.

If Huo Wu truly had such feelings for him, he could not possibly give her up to someone else.

Mu Ci admitted that he was somewhat fickle in love. Whether it was Shui Bing'er or Huo Wu, if possible, he did not want to miss either of them.

After a moment of silence, Huo Wu walked up to Mu Ci. Apology filled her face as she said, "I'm sorry. Because of me, you..."

Mu Ci smiled and interrupted Huo Wu's apology, waving his hand as he said:

"It's fine. This isn't your fault, so don't feel guilty about it.

It just so happens that my purpose in coming here was to exchange pointers with the geniuses within Heaven Dou, and the Godwind Team was one of the challenges."

After speaking to Huo Wu, he looked toward Feng Xiaotian in the distance and said loudly:

"Feng Xiaotian, I accept your challenge. But I hope this battle can remain pure, without other factors mixed into it."

However, after saying that, Mu Ci's expression became somewhat serious as he continued:

"But some things are neither bargaining chips nor things to be gambled on!"

Whether people or feelings, such things could not be used as wagers. No matter how one looked at it, it was an enormous disrespect to every person involved.

When Feng Xiaotian heard Mu Ci accept at first, he felt somewhat excited. He would prove to Huo Wu that he was the man who could stand by her side.

But upon hearing Mu Ci's later words, Feng Xiaotian fell silent again. There was confusion in his eyes, as though he had said something inappropriate.

After silently thinking for a while, Feng Xiaotian's fighting spirit rose once more. He stared brightly at Mu Ci and said, "Alright!"

Huo Wu listened to the exchange between the two men at the side, unable to describe what she was feeling. Her gaze toward Mu Ci also carried emotions that had not been there before.

Watching this scene, Shui Yue'er cautiously whispered into Shui Bing'er's ear:

"Big Sis, if you don't hurry, your brother-in-law will be snatched away by the people from Blazing Fire Academy."

Shui Bing'er said nothing. Her gaze remained fixed on Mu Ci's back, but her delicate hand quietly reached to Shui Yue'er's waist and gave it a light pinch.

"Since that's the case, Brother Feng, please join me on the Soul Fighting Arena!"

Seeing Feng Xiaotian's expression, Mu Ci knew that he had understood his meaning.

His previously stern expression eased into a smile as he raised a hand and pointed toward the Soul Fighting Arena in the distant plaza.

Although today was not the official opening day of the exchange meet, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had long since prepared everything that needed to be prepared.

You could say Heaven Dou Royal Academy was weak, but you could not doubt Heaven Dou Royal Academy's financial power.

As an academy bearing the Imperial Family's name, it received direct financial support from the empire. Across the entire continent, only Star Luo Royal Academy could compare in this regard.

Even Spirit Hall Academy did not receive such support. After all, Spirit Hall only controlled so much territory and had no tax revenue, while there were far too many places that required money.

Inside the reception room.

Xue Qinghe sat in the seat of honor, watching the various academy heads ask Mu Changsheng about his experience breaking through to become a Title Douluo. He could not help feeling somewhat bored.

At that moment, an attendant walked over and whispered several words into Xue Qinghe's ear.

Upon hearing about Mu Ci and Feng Xiaotian arranging a battle, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes, and his interest was piqued.

There had been much intelligence on Mu Ci over the years, but little regarding his cultivation. His rank, soul rings, and soul skills were all unknown, and he had never displayed them in public.

Other than his first soul skill being recorded as having exceptional healing effects, ranking among the best among support-type Spirit Masters and only slightly inferior to the Ye Family's Nine-Heart Begonia, there was no further information.

This was a perfect chance to use Feng Xiaotian's hand to see whether Mu Ci could truly stand by her side and whether he had the potential to become her right-hand man.

That had been one of the purposes of this exchange meet from the start. Aside from following Xue Ye's orders to find talented individuals willing to pledge themselves to the empire, the rest was to win over Mu Changsheng and Mu Ci.

As long as Mu Ci became one of her people, it would mean that the two Title Douluo, Mu Changsheng and Ling Yuan, stood on her side. Her mother would surely be furious, wouldn't she?

Thinking of this, Xue Qinghe rose with a smile and said to the many academy heads:

"Esteemed academy heads, you must be somewhat bored from sitting here. As it happens, an attendant has brought news that two young geniuses outside are about to exchange pointers on the arena. Shall we go watch?"

Hearing this, the academy heads became interested as well. Weren't exchange meets held for the sake of these young geniuses?

Moreover, anyone personally mentioned and invited by Xue Qinghe was certainly no ordinary person.

Education Committee member Meng Shenji asked, "For Your Highness the Crown Prince to specifically mention them, may I ask which two geniuses they are?"

Xue Qinghe smiled and looked toward Mu Changsheng at the side. "They are His Excellency Changsheng's grandson, Mu Ci, and Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy."

"Both are peerless geniuses with mutated martial souls. What do you say, esteemed academy heads? Shall we go together?"

Upon hearing the two names, many people perked up with interest.

Both possessed mutated martial souls. One was the biological grandson of a newly advanced Title Douluo, while the other was the Innate Full Soul Power genius known throughout Heaven Dou. It was certainly worth watching for people like them.

The headmaster of Godwind Academy, Feng Nu, who was also Feng Xiaotian's grandfather, frowned and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is quite an age difference between the two, isn't there? Why are they fighting a soul battle?"

They were five or six years apart in age and had never met before. Feng Nu truly could not understand how the two had clashed. He knew his own grandson well; he was not the sort to bully others.

Hearing Feng Nu's words, Xue Qinghe turned to look at the attendant as well. The report had come quickly, and he had indeed not heard the full cause and effect.

Seeing the Crown Prince's look, the attendant immediately bowed and explained.

After hearing the entire story, Xue Qinghe's brows unconsciously furrowed slightly. He coughed twice and said to Feng Nu:

"Headmaster Feng, the situation mainly concerns Captain Huo Wu of Blazing Fire Academy. You may ask about the details later."

At the mention of Huo Wu, everyone present was shrewd and experienced enough to understand immediately. They all looked at Feng Nu and began to laugh.

Especially the headmaster of Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wu's grandfather Huo Lie, who resembled a humanoid tyrannosaur. Looking at Feng Nu beside him, he laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.

Feng Nu frowned slightly as he glanced at Mu Changsheng in front of him and gave him a look.

Mu Changsheng raised a brow, looked at him, and laughed. "Why are you looking at me? I don't interfere in children's affairs. Let's go take a look together."

With that, Mu Changsheng rose from his seat and extended a hand, inviting Xue Qinghe to go with him.

Seeing that the only Title Douluo present had spoken, everyone else joked with one another and followed behind the two.

Soul Rings That Shocked Everyone

On the Soul Fighting Arena at the center of Heaven Dou Academy.

Feng Xiaotian and Mu Ci stood thirty meters apart, staring at each other.

After waiting for a while, Feng Xiaotian took a deep breath and calmed the turbulent emotions that had just surged within him before speaking to Mu Ci:

"I understand what you said to me just now. I was somewhat careless with my words."

"You're right. Huo Wu is Huo Wu, and some things cannot be used as bargaining chips."

"So for this match, Captain Mu Ci, please go all out!"

After speaking, Feng Xiaotian solemnly gave Mu Ci the formal salute between Spirit Masters. Then his entire body became alert as azure Soul Power, like raging winds, began to whirl and tear through the air.

"Alright!"

Mu Ci gave a simple response and solemnly returned the salute.

An emerald radiance containing the aura of life rose beneath Mu Ci's feet, like countless fireflies dancing through the air, brimming with vitality.

In the arena stands, Mu Changsheng wore a strange expression. Looking at Huo Lie and Feng Nu beside him, he laughed. "So they really made a bet? And it looks like they're using little Huo Wu as the wager."

"Old Feng, what do you have to say?"

"Cough, cough. What can I say? I'm saying it while sitting down. I can't control that brat either. He doesn't cultivate properly, and he doesn't even know how to pursue girls. Just seeing him makes me angry."

Feng Nu's face had long since darkened like the bottom of a pot. His azure wolf eyes stared fixedly at Feng Xiaotian on the arena as he thought, Just wait until the exchange meet is over and we return to the academy. I'll show you how I deal with you.