In the courtyard, Tang San's body paused as he suddenly turned his head.
His icy eyes fixed tightly on Lu Xiao beyond the crowd, a trace of gravity and vigilance hidden in their depths.
Ning Rongrong clutched Lu Xiao's sleeve tightly, her little face pale as she murmured, "So scary... He, he really wanted to kill someone..."
Xiao Wu frowned slightly, ready to make a move at any moment!
Lu Xiao slowly stepped forward and looked calmly at Tang San. "A dispute between students is, at most, a student brawl. Trying to take a life is going too far."
Tang San's heart jolted. He had never expected anyone to see through his attack.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand a word you're saying!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to leave.
"Tang San! Stop right there!"
Wang Sheng strode forward and blocked Tang San directly, spreading his arms to bar the way. His face was livid, filled with disappointment and fury.
"Move."
Tang San abruptly stopped, impatience and coldness flashing through his eyes. "He insulted my benefactor. Even if he died, he deserved it!"
After saying that, Soul Power rippled around him, and a faint white glow lit up from his body.
Tang San raised his right hand. Eerie Blue Silver Grass grew from his palm, and as he swung his hand, the Blue Silver Grass scattered across the ground.
A faint yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath Tang San's feet, circling his body as it pulsed up and down.
"A Hundred-Year Soul Ring."
Everyone present except Lu Xiao and the two girls drew in a sharp breath.
Notting City was not large, and Notting Academy was hardly some prestigious Soul Master Academy.
First-years were only six or seven years old. Reaching the Soul Master realm in the first year had never happened in the history of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.
At that moment, even Wang Sheng wavered somewhat.
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring could not possibly have been obtained by Tang San himself. Since someone had been able to help him obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Ring and cultivate to the Soul Master realm...
Just how powerful was the backing behind Tang San, who was also a working student like him?
Even Xiao Chenyu began to regret it. If Tang San had a great clan backing him, angering him might bring disaster upon himself.
"Isn't it just a Hundred-Year Soul Ring? What's so remarkable about it?"
Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Ning Rongrong felt a little helpless.
Everyone turned in unison to look at the richly dressed, fair-skinned little girl standing outside the crowd, their eyes filled with astonishment.
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring? Nothing remarkable?
Only Lu Xiao wore a strange expression as he stared at the yellow Soul Ring, seemingly lost in thought.
Back in the Soul Hunting Forest, he and Xiao Wu had slain quite a few Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. He was more familiar with Hundred-Year Soul Rings than anyone.
In his eyes, the Soul Power aura from Tang San's Soul Ring was exceptionally weak!
At that moment, Xiao Wu leaned close to Lu Xiao's ear and whispered, "Lu Xiao, the Soul Ring on him doesn't seem to be a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, does it?"
Xiao Wu's perception of Soul Rings and Soul Beast auras far surpassed that of ordinary people.
She could clearly sense that the Soul Power within Tang San's Soul Ring was thin and weak, without even a trace of the foundation of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Lu Xiao nodded slightly and replied in a low voice, "You're right. It's fake."
Though they had not spoken loudly, the surroundings were extremely quiet, and every word clearly reached everyone's ears.
The instant those words fell, the entire courtyard erupted!
The students who had been filled with awe now wore extraordinarily colorful expressions.
"Fake? It's actually a fake Hundred-Year Soul Ring?"
"I knew it. That trash Yu Xiaogang could barely handle a Ten-Year Soul Beast. How could he possibly hunt a Hundred-Year Soul Beast for his disciple?"
"No wonder the color looked so pale. It was just a bluff!"
Whispers exploded one after another, like countless fine needles stabbing viciously into Tang San's heart.
"Lu Xiao!"
Tang San ground his teeth, speaking one word at a time.
"You humiliated me in front of everyone. Do you dare fight me?"
"Right here, in a fair duel!"
The surrounding students instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, their eyes locked tightly on the two in the courtyard.
Xiao Wu took a step forward, but Lu Xiao gently stopped her with a raised hand.
Lu Xiao's expression remained calm, his gaze still and his tone lazy and indifferent. "You're not worthy."
Those three simple words completely ignited Tang San's rage.
"Courting death!"
Tang San roared furiously and activated his Martial Soul. "Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement!"
The False-Century Soul Ring lit up with a muddled yellow-white glow, and a finger-thick Blue Silver Grass vine lashed toward Lu Xiao.
Lu Xiao smiled faintly and allowed the Blue Silver Grass to wrap around him.
Seeing this, a smug smile appeared on Tang San's lips.
But the next second, the smile on his lips froze.
Soul Power surged around Lu Xiao, and the vines around his body instantly shattered into pieces!
Xiao Wu's sharp tongue was unmatched. "Go on, smile. Why aren't you smiling now? Don't tell me you were born without a sense of humor?"
Rather than retreat, Tang San pressed his attack. Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his hands hardened like cold jade as he charged toward Lu Xiao.
He was extremely confident in himself. In his eyes, Lu Xiao was merely a six-year-old child. Even if Lu Xiao was somewhat stronger, he could not possibly be his match.
Yet in Lu Xiao's eyes, every one of Tang San's movements was laughably slow.
His right hand suddenly rose, his arm sinking slightly as power twisted through his waist. It was a simple straight punch, without the slightest flourish!
Bang!!!
A dull collision exploded through the courtyard!
The punch was incomparably precise, landing squarely on Tang San's left ribs!
Overwhelming, tyrannical force instantly poured in, piercing flesh and shaking bone!
Crack!
A crisp, piercing sound of bones breaking rang out.
Tang San's charging body instantly stiffened. The viciousness on his face froze, replaced by agony and horror.
He felt a violent pain erupt in his chest as half his body went numb. Several ribs in his chest had been forcibly shattered by that punch!
That immense force was like a mountain flood and raging sea, violently blasting his entire body away!
Pfft—
Blood sprayed through the air as Tang San crashed down miserably, smashing heavily onto the bluestone pavement.
The ground trembled slightly, and broken stones scattered in every direction.
The atmosphere instantly froze!
Everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief as they stared at the scene before them.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong stared blankly at the composed young boy, unable to hide the affection and fervent admiration churning in their eyes.
In Xiao Wu's eyes, Lu Xiao was always capable of anything. He could protect everyone steadily, unparalleled beneath the heavens.
Ning Rongrong beside her was utterly captivated as well.
Lu Xiao paid no further attention to the unconscious Tang San and turned to leave with the two girls.
He was rather curious just how far Tang San, having absorbed a False-Century Soul Ring due to his influence, could ultimately go!
After Lu Xiao and the others left, Xiao Chenyu glanced at Tang San lying on the ground and said coldly, "Inform the dean. Let the academy handle this matter."
That evening, under Ning Fengzhi's instruction, Notting Academy expelled Tang San!
Yu Xiaogang carried the severely injured Tang San on his back and left the academy with a heart full of resentment.
Along the way, passing students and teachers all pointed and whispered at the two of them.
"Teacher, I hate this!" Tang San lay on Yu Xiaogang's back, his face pale!
Yu Xiaogang halted. He turned to look at Tang San, whose eyes were filled with malice, then gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "So what if it's a False-Century Soul Ring? You are the third person on the continent to possess Twin Martial Souls. I will find a way for you to break through the limitations of Twin Martial Souls!"
"By then, you will be a Title Douluo with eighteen Soul Rings! No one under heaven will be your match!"
"The day you achieve greatness will be the day you crush Lu Xiao and wash away every humiliation you suffered today!"
His words were earnest and heartfelt. When he spoke of their grievances, tears streamed down his aged face.
Seeing this, much of Tang San's resentment toward Yu Xiaogang for causing him to absorb a Ten-Year Soul Ring quietly faded away.
The roadside discussions and mocking laughter continued without end. Those derisive gazes were like countless sharp blades stabbing viciously into the two of them.
Tang San clenched his teeth tightly, thin trails of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Deep within his eyes, the seeds of hatred had completely taken root and sprouted.
"An eighteen-Soul-Ring Title Douluo... Teacher, I will definitely achieve it."
Before you continue