Struggle

A glint flashed through Li Han's eyes. He activated the Heavenly Eye Technique and instantly saw through Wang Yue's cultivation.

Level fifteen Soul Master.

At his age, that level of cultivation was nothing impressive.

Yet he and Wang Sheng were students of the same grade—one a noble, the other a commoner—yet there was no gap in their strength.

Moreover, he had only advanced one level over the past year, while Wang Sheng had advanced two.

That meant that if things continued like this, Wang Sheng would surpass him sooner or later.

Naturally, this made him hostile toward Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng also knew that Wang Yue disliked him, so he usually avoided him.

Even when Wang Yue provoked him, he chose to endure it.

But today, Wang Yue's actions had gone too far in Wang Sheng's eyes.

He could endure it for his own sake, but not for his friend's.

Battle Tiger Possession!

A yellow glow enveloped Wang Sheng's body, and the phantom of a fierce tiger appeared behind him.

His yellow Soul Ring flashed as he immediately unleashed his strongest move!

"First Soul Skill! Red Flame Claws!"

Soul Power coated Wang Sheng's hands, transforming them into flaming tiger claws that radiated an imposing aura.

"Looks like the hundred-year Red Flame Tiger gave Wang Sheng a pretty good Soul Skill."

Li Han smiled in satisfaction. After all, this had been his doing.

"Hmph! They're just tiger claws. What's there to be proud of? Watch this!

First Soul Skill! Gray Wolf Claws!"

Wang Yue sneered. A Gray Wolf phantom appeared behind him, and claws emerged from his hands as well.

They were not wreathed in flames, but they looked incredibly sharp.

That Gray Wolf looks familiar. It seems somewhat similar to Wang Lang's Martial Soul from last night.

They both have Gray Wolf Martial Souls, and both are surnamed Wang. Could they be family?

His first Soul Skill is so similar to Wang Sheng's, but without the flames, its power is clearly inferior to Wang Sheng's.

No wonder he hates Wang Sheng so much.

He must feel stifled because a commoner surpassed him in their first Soul Skills.

Li Han's thoughts raced as he already figured out the likely cause of the grudge between them.

At that moment, Wang Sheng's flaming claws collided with Wang Yue's Gray Wolf Claws.

Wang Sheng was level thirteen, while Wang Yue was level fifteen. At their level, a two-level gap in Soul Power was not particularly significant.

But Soul Ring quality could widen that gap.

Wang Sheng's Soul Ring came from a three-hundred-year Red Flame Tiger that Li Han had carefully chosen. It was not something an ordinary Soul Ring could compare to.

Wang Yue's Soul Ring also appeared to be a hundred-year one, but judging from its color, it was likely less than two hundred years old.

That difference was greater than a two-level gap in Soul Power.

Thus, when their claws collided, Wang Sheng took two steps back, while Wang Yue took three!

"Damn it! How can this filthy commoner have such strength?"

Feeling himself fall into a disadvantage, the fire in Wang Yue's heart burned even more fiercely.

And where there was rage, killing intent followed!

Wang Yue unleashed all his Soul Power and attacked Wang Sheng frantically.

"Why?! Why can a commoner like you possess such a Soul Skill?!

You lowlife who can only attend school with Spirit Hall subsidies—what right do you have to stand in the same place as me?!

Bastard! Bastard!"

Wang Yue shouted as he fought, his eyes already stained blood-red.

Faced with such a frenzied assault, Wang Sheng was unable to withstand it for the moment.

He was forced back again and again. His flaming claws could only parry; he had no chance to counterattack.

"Die!"

Wang Yue clawed at Wang Sheng's shoulder. If it landed, blood would surely flow.

"Damn!"

Wang Sheng cried out in alarm, because he had no strength left to block it.

"Wang Sheng's combat experience is still far inferior to this man's.

That's the difference in foundation."

Seeing this, Li Han knew that if he did not intervene, Wang Sheng would likely be seriously injured.

With a wave of his right hand, Heavenly Thunder Bamboo instantly condensed into existence.

First Soul Skill!

As-You-Will!

The Heavenly Thunder Bamboo instantly lengthened, blocking Wang Yue's claws just before they could strike Wang Sheng's shoulder.

"What?!"

Wang Yue was startled and looked toward Li Han, whom he had never taken seriously.

That seemingly fragile bamboo had actually blocked his Gray Wolf Claws.

And it had activated so quickly.

He had clearly attacked first, yet his opponent had struck later and arrived first.

Seeing this, Wang Sheng let out a breath of relief and quickly retreated to Li Han's side.

"Good thing you were here. If that claw had landed, this arm of mine would've been ruined."

"This guy often gives you trouble?"

Li Han asked with a frown.

Wang Sheng gave a helpless smile.

"You know what nobles are like.

This guy is even worse than the noble students at Nuoding Academy.

He's the son of a minor noble from Exotic Beast City. Since he saw that my Soul Skill was better, he's been picking on me from time to time.

I didn't want trouble, so I kept enduring it.

But today, I just couldn't take it anymore."

Li Han understood immediately.

Wang Yue was bullying Wang Sheng at the academy.

"Ant! You dare lay hands on me? You're courting death!"

Wang Yue roared.

"A mere level-fifteen Soul Master dares call others ants?

A noble?

Heh. Are you royalty? Or from one of the seven great sects?

You're nothing but the lowest of the nobles, yet you dare strut around like you own the place. Disgusting!"

A cold gleam flashed in Li Han's eyes. With a sweep of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, he sent Wang Yue flying several meters away.

"Ah!"

Wang Yue screamed as he crashed to the ground.

This scene was witnessed by many academy students.

"Isn't that Wang Yue? How did he get beaten so badly? Who's that guy? I've never seen him before."

"He seems to be Wang Sheng's friend. His friend is really strong."

"Maybe Wang Yue is just too weak? Among the noble students in the academy, his strength is the worst."

"True."

The surrounding discussion made Wang Yue's face flush red with fury.

"Bastard! You dare hit me!"

Wang Yue glared angrily at Li Han.

"I hit you because I wanted to. Do I need to pick a date first?"

"I'll kill you!"

Wang Yue possessed the Gray Wolf once more and lunged straight at Li Han.

"Watch out!"

Wang Sheng hurriedly called out a warning, but Li Han merely planted the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo into the ground.

"First Soul Skill, As-You-Will!"

Thicken!

The Heavenly Thunder Bamboo rapidly thickened, becoming like a massive bamboo door that blocked Li Han from view.

Wang Yue had never expected this. Having accelerated forward, he crashed headlong into the enormous Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.

Thud!

With a crisp sound, Wang Yue immediately lost consciousness, and a large bump rose on his forehead.

"This..."

Wang Sheng was stunned. He had never seen Li Han use his Martial Soul like this.

What astonishing hardness.

If it had been ordinary bamboo, Wang Yue would have smashed it to pieces rather than knocking himself unconscious.

The onlookers were equally astonished by the sight.

"Young Master Wang!"

At that moment, Sun Yi, one of Wang Yue's lackeys, leaped out from the side and grabbed the unconscious Wang Yue, helping him up.

"Wang Sheng! You've got some nerve! You actually brought an outsider here to beat Young Master Wang!

I'll report this to the dean! I'll have you expelled!"

"Sun Yi! Don't spout nonsense! Wang Yue was the one who insulted us first. I was only fighting back!

As for my friend, everyone saw it. Wang Yue tried to kill him, so he fought back.

Wang Yue deserves what happened to him!"