Breakthrough

Xu Sanshi had seen many soul beasts, and during the Outer Court's soul-hunting lessons, he had even faced thousand-year soul beasts alone. Yet, he had never felt this kind of fear—a primal trembling that rose from the deepest parts of his bloodline, etched into the very genes of every living creature when facing a higher-level existence. His legs shook uncontrollably within the ice, not from the cold, but from sheer terror.

"Senior Xu Sanshi."

Lin Shuo walked slowly toward the stall, Wang Dong'er following close behind. Seeing Xu Sanshi's pathetic state, his legs frozen and unable to move, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

"As a fifth-year senior of the Outer Court, you're snatching grilled fish from a freshman on the street," Lin Shuo's tone was flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter, "don't you feel ashamed?"

The surrounding students burst into laughter. Jiang Nannan, standing to the side, frowned and turned away without looking back. Jiang Nannan was the beauty of the Outer Court, and Xu Sanshi had been pursuing her. It was precisely because Jiang Nannan had complained that the grilled fish was too expensive and refused to buy it that Xu Sanshi had acted out in a fit of passion for a beauty.

Xu Sanshi's face turned the color of a pig's liver. He wanted to retort, but he couldn't utter a single word—because what Lin Shuo said was the truth, and with his legs frozen and immobile, he had truly lost all face.

"Xu Sanshi, how dare you bully my people." As Tang Ya spoke, a flash of golden light shot toward Xu Sanshi. His body shuddered violently, and he glared at Tang Ya through gritted teeth. "You—!"

"Xu Sanshi, you bullied my junior sister; this matter cannot be settled so easily." A gentle and familiar voice rang out from the crowd as Bei Bei parted the onlookers and walked in. Bei Bei's gaze lingered on the ice covering Xu Sanshi's legs for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes as he looked at Lin Shuo, before he returned to his usual mild-mannered composure.

"Xu Sanshi, you bullied my junior sister and were defeated by a freshman. If this gets back to the academy, do you still plan on showing your face in the Outer Court?"

Xu Sanshi's face flushed bright red. Being suppressed by Lin Shuo on the spot was already humiliating enough, but being publicly criticized by Bei Bei—who, along with him, was hailed as one of the Outer Court Twin Stars—was even more embarrassing than having his legs frozen.

"Senior Xu Sanshi, I heard your martial soul is the Mystic Turtle. Bring out a Mystic Water Pill, and I'll unseal you."

Xu Sanshi gritted his teeth. He wanted to act tough, but no matter how he channeled his soul power, he couldn't shatter the ice on his legs, and the Dragon Whisker Needle caused him such pain that cold sweat poured down his face.

His hand trembled as he reached into his Storage Soul Tool, pulled out a pill with white patterns and a misty aura on its surface, and handed it over through gritted teeth.

Lin Shuo took the pill, glanced at it, and dispelled his soul power. He then handed it to Huo Yu'er.

"Brother Lin, this is too valuable—" Huo Yu'er held the jade box, looking at him with a sense of helplessness.

"Just take it; this thing is useless to me. As for how to use it, ask her." Lin Shuo pointed at Wang Dong'er.

"That's a Mystic Water Pill! I want one too!" Wang Dong'er didn't refuse, but she shouted at Lin Shuo.

"You have innate full soul power, so this won't do much for you. Senior Tang, Brother Bei, we're leaving." Lin Shuo waved his hand, having no intention of paying further attention to Xu Sanshi.

"Is that person your junior sister?" Xu Sanshi wasn't stupid; this freshman had frozen him the moment he arrived, leaving him unable to break free—he clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with. It would be better to go fight Bei Bei instead.

Bei Bei nodded expressionlessly.

"Hmph, so what? Let's go, to the Soul Fighting Arena to settle this."

The two walked one after the other toward the Soul Fighting Arena. The surrounding students followed as well. These two Outer Court Twin Stars often sparred at the arena.

Lin Shuo brought Huo Yu'er and Wang Dong'er back to the dormitory building. Before leaving, he gave the remaining two grilled fish to Wang Dong'er and Tang Ya. Tang Ya followed Bei Bei directly to the Soul Fighting Arena to watch the match. Before leaving, Lin Shuo learned why Huo Yu'er had been out grilling fish, so he told Tang Ya that Huo Yu'er wouldn't need to grill fish outside the academy anymore.

"Yu'er, your grilled fish is so delicious; you must grill some for me next time," Wang Dong'er said from the side, her mouth full.

They arrived at the dormitory building.

"Yu'er." Lin Shuo stopped at the entrance of the dormitory and turned around. "Go back and take the Mystic Water Pill. Dong'er, help Yu'er guard her cultivation."

"Got it." Wang Dong'er grabbed Huo Yu'er's arm and waved at Lin Shuo. "Leave it to me; I guarantee she'll refine the pill safely."

Lin Shuo nodded and was about to turn back to his room when he remembered that his Storage Soul Tool still contained some good things given to him by Teacher Nana, so he rummaged through it.

"These are two Soul Ascension Pills. Yu'er, take this a few days after you finish the Mystic Water Pill. The Soul Ascension Pill can directly increase soul power—about as much as the jump from level 30 to 31—and it's useless to me now. You two take one each."

Huo Yu'er took the pills, a thin mist of water welling up in her blue eyes. She wanted to say something, but her throat felt blocked. The Mystic Water Pill, the Soul Ascension Pill—she had never heard of these, but she could tell from the reactions of those around her that each one was worth a fortune. Yet, Brother Lin had just handed them to her so casually.

"Brother Lin..." Her voice trembled slightly, and a thousand words eventually condensed into one sentence, "I will definitely work hard."

Wang Dong'er took the pill and weighed it in her hand, revealing a satisfied smile. "That's more like it. But this young lady doesn't take things for free; I'll give you a surprise next time."

Lin Shuo chuckled, didn't respond to her, and turned to walk into the dormitory building.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, amidst day after day of cultivation.

Lin Shuo sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes slightly closed, his body enveloped in a faint, seven-colored halo. The light wasn't something he was actively releasing; it was the aura naturally emitted by his soul power as it circulated, like a sleeping dragon breathing. Every inhalation and exhalation caused the air in the room to vibrate slightly.

His consciousness sank into his body, clearly sensing the surging soul power in his meridians. Three months ago, he had been at the peak of level 35; after these many days and nights of hard cultivation, the bottleneck had quietly loosened. As the last wisp of soul power flowed into his dantian, a warm force surged out, flowing through his meridians to every part of his body. His frame shuddered slightly, the seven-colored halo on his skin brightening for a moment before slowly receding back into his body.

Level 37. Lin Shuo opened his eyes, a flicker of seven-colored light passing through his pure black pupils before vanishing.

He got off the bed, washed up, and pushed open the door to Dorm 108. The morning light poured in from the window at the end of the corridor, dyeing the stone floor a golden hue. Today was the day the freshman assessment results would be announced; he had heard Wang Dong'er and Huo Yu'er mention it a few days ago.

In just three months, everyone's soul power had improved. Huo Yu'er had risen from level 11 to level 18, and Wang Dong'er had reached level 24.