"Xiao Wu, are you all right?"
Tang San hurried over to Xiao Wu and checked on her.
"Han Xing, don't you think you went a bit too far?"
Seeing Xiao Wu unconscious, Tang San demanded an explanation.
"If you think that counts as going too far, you should stop trying to be a Soul Master and go back to the village to play house," Han Xing said coldly.
"You pick a fight without having the ability to back it up. I've already gone easy on you."
"Someone still at the Soul Scholar stage acting this cocky? You'd think he was a Titled Douluo."
"Actually, even a Titled Douluo wouldn't dare act that cocky."
Tang San was at a loss for words. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
The truth was, they were clearly in the wrong here.
Han Xing had only been observing his classmates during class when Xiao Wu suddenly picked a fight with him.
Of course, the main reason was that Tang San had only just met Xiao Wu.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have cared whether they were in the right.
Han Xing took his schoolbag back from Xiao Chenyu.
"You probably don't even have a Soul Ring yet, do you? Come back and talk when you've got one."
"If you want to stand up for her, then let your strength do the talking."
"If you can beat me, then what you say goes. If you can't, it doesn't."
With that, Han Xing didn't wait for Tang San to respond. He simply turned and left.
[Whoa, this little villain is kind of cool for some reason.]
[In a transcendent world, strength reigns supreme. I love it.]
[What a shame. His Martial Soul looks pretty strong, but he's not the protagonist. He's doomed to lose to Tang San.]
As comment after comment flew past, the system's notification sounded in Han Xing's ear.
"Congratulations, host. You have gained one Popularity Value."
"Congratulations, host. You have gained one Popularity Value..."
Hearing the notifications come one after another and watching his Popularity Value rise, Han Xing felt great.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. Your Popularity Value has officially surpassed one hundred. You have received a Popularity Gift Pack. Would you like to claim it?"
"Claim it," Han Xing answered without hesitation.
He'd already taken note of the system's reward thresholds.
One hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand... Every time his Popularity Value crossed a threshold, he would receive a reward.
"Congratulations, host. You have received the Golden Crow's three basic techniques."
"Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique, Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art, and Extreme Yang Heart-Tempering Record."
Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique (Movement Technique):
It was divided into three stages: Flowing Flame Shift, Red Glow Sky-Sweep, and Great Sun Instant Rainbow.
With this technique, every rise and fall of the user's figure left flickering traces of golden-red fire, making their movements erratic and confusing their opponent.
The user could also leave marks of yang fire where they landed. Anyone who stepped on one would be scorched by true fire, disrupting their movements.
At the intermediate stage, the user could tread on air, leaving a long sunset-colored rainbow in the sky that could block other elements.
At the advanced stage, the user could transform into a rainbow and move at incredible speed. The moment they landed, a ring of dawn fire would burst outward, blasting nearby enemies away.
Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art (Combat Technique): It was divided into three forms.
Dawn Fire Capture Claw: Yang fire gathered around all five fingers. In close combat, it could lock the opponent's tendons and seal their meridians, allowing true fire to seep into their channels and block the flow of Soul Power.
Heaven-Burning Fist Force: The user compressed Sun True Fire, then unleashed fiery force with each strike. On impact, sparks exploded, giving the attack the ability to pierce armor.
Golden Crow Sky-Rending: The final form of the combat technique. The user gathered the stored yang energy within their body and condensed it into the enormous shadow of a Three-Legged Golden Crow's claw to attack.
Extreme Yang Heart-Tempering Record (Mental Cultivation Method): It was divided into four stages: Body Tempering and Essence Nourishing, Gathering and Storing True Fire, Blazing Sun Spirit Boosting, and Great Sun True Self.
The first stage could nourish the body and increase its strength. Under sunlight, it also improved the rate at which Soul Power recovered and the speed of cultivation.
The second stage allowed the user to contain true fire, increasing the purity of their Soul Power and strengthening the heat of their Sun True Fire.
The third stage allowed the user to temper their spirit with true fire, increasing their mental strength. Under the sun, their mental energy also recovered faster.
The fourth stage allowed the user to absorb sunlight directly and convert it into Soul Power for battle. Cultivating under the sun also doubled the boost to their recovery.
"Impressive!"
Looking at the rewards he'd just received, Han Xing couldn't hide his delight.
Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique could increase his speed and even help him withstand attacks to a certain extent.
With this move, even if he encountered an opponent he couldn't beat, he'd have a chance to escape.
Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art could improve his close-combat ability and shore up his biggest weakness.
Though Sun True Fire surrounding his body could form a defense, powerful close-combat Soul Masters could still force their way through it.
With the combat techniques from Great Sun Heaven-Burning Art, Han Xing would have the means to hold his own against such opponents.
But the most important of all was Extreme Yang Heart-Tempering Record.
What mattered most on Douluo Continent? Without a doubt, one's cultivation level.
Why had Tang San been able to rise to prominence? Wasn't it because he had the Mysterious Heaven Skill?
It was easy to see how much a cultivation method could improve a Soul Master's training efficiency.
Tang San might not have been the clearest example.
But consider Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin instead.
In their early years, both of them had relied entirely on the Mysterious Heaven Skill to help them cultivate.
Now that Han Xing had Extreme Yang Heart-Tempering Record, his future cultivation speed would naturally improve as well.
After receiving the techniques, Han Xing couldn't wait to return home and try cultivating.
Given Xiao Wu's personality, she would definitely come looking for another fight once she'd formed her Soul Ring.
By then, Tang San—who would have been sharing a bed with Xiao Wu for some time—would surely step in to help.
If he couldn't quickly master the cultivation and combat techniques he'd received, then even with his Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul, Han Xing might not be a match for Tang San.
Fortunately, all three techniques had been tailor-made for someone like Han Xing, the owner of a Golden Crow Martial Soul.
It took him just one day to master all three to the first stage.
Feeling the changes within his body, he grew more and more eager for the battle to come.
If a reward for one hundred Popularity Value was this good, what kind of boost would one thousand bring him?
Unfortunately, Notting Academy had only just started the term, and Tang San hadn't yet gone to Soul Hunting Forest to obtain a Soul Ring.
He'd have to wait at least until next week for Tang San's next appearance.
After all, with Grandmaster's strength, helping Tang San obtain a Soul Ring wouldn't be easy.
Han Xing arrived at the Spirit Hall training grounds, intending to try out all the new moves he'd learned.
Liu Yunxiao, whom he'd arranged to meet in advance, was already waiting nearby.
As soon as he saw Han Xing, a smile appeared on his face.
Ever since Han Xing had awakened his Martial Soul, his status in Spirit Hall had improved as well.
When Han Xing made his request, Liu Yunxiao had agreed without a second thought.
"Brother Yunxiao, I'd like to train my combat skills," Han Xing said politely. "I'll have to trouble you."
"No trouble at all. Helping you get stronger faster is a good thing for us, too," Liu Yunxiao said with a smile.
"After all, you're going to Spirit City someday. You can't let down our Nuoding City then."
Suddenly, Liu Yunxiao's expression turned serious. "But since this is training, I won't deliberately go easy on you."
"Even without using Soul Skills, my Soul Power is at level twenty-eight. That'll still be a tough challenge for you."