Xiao Wu Was Toyed With Until She Broke

After cultivating for an unknown length of time, Yu Xiaogang finally opened his eyes.

Smiling, Yu Xiaogang glanced at himself and sensed the state of his cultivation.

"My cultivation has increased. My soul power has grown."

In the past, due to his lack of talent, Yu Xiaogang had simply been unable to accumulate more soul power.

Furthermore, his body had already passed its prime and was entering a period of decline. His soul power and cultivation had not improved, while his body had grown weaker, causing his strength to steadily deteriorate.

This sudden increase in strength was like a person who had long suffered hunger finally eating a full meal. The joy in his heart and the fulfillment of a long-awaited wish were things those who ate their fill every day could never understand.

"When a thought arises in one's heart, heaven and earth seem to widen."

As he spoke, whether intentionally or not, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously raised an orchid finger, and his voice became somewhat shriller.

Yu Xiaogang merely felt that this was normal and paid it no mind.

Meanwhile, as Yu Xiaogang returned to his dormitory—

Tang San had just started toward Dorm Seven when he heard someone call out, "Stop, Tang San. You can't go back to Dorm Seven."

"You stink so badly. If you go back, how are we supposed to sleep?"

"That's right. You already stink. Are you trying to make us stink along with you?"

"Your teacher is trash. He couldn't control his martial soul when using a soul skill and got you covered in stench. Are you going to follow your trash teacher's example and make all of us stink too?"

"We won't agree to that."

Tang San looked up and saw seven or eight children blocking him from a distance, refusing to let him return to Dorm Seven.

The leader was Wang Sheng, and those beside him were all work-study students from Dorm Seven.

Covering their noses as they endured the foul stench, they blocked Tang San's path.

Tang San had already lost face twice on the training ground. Now that he was being barred from returning to his dormitory, his anger had long since flared up.

He secretly took out the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow from his sleeve, intending to shoot Wang Sheng and the others dead.

Just then, Xiao Wu spoke up. "Third Brother, you really aren't suited to return to the dormitory right now."

Tang San looked in Xiao Wu's direction, and his heart clenched.

It could be said that Xiao Wu was one of the few people who had sincerely treated Tang San well since he had been reborn into this world. If possible, he truly did not want to shoot Xiao Wu dead.

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, his eyes bloodshot and filled with red veins, and loudly demanded, "Xiao Wu, even you don't believe me? Even you despise me? Are you going to stop me too?"

Frightened by Tang San's crazed gaze, Xiao Wu instinctively took two steps back before explaining, "It's not like that, Third Brother. You live in Dorm Seven too. If you go back, that stench will linger in Dorm Seven for days. Think about it—would you want to keep living in an environment reeking like that?"

Hearing that Xiao Wu did not distrust or despise him, Tang San felt briefly comforted.

He then looked at his clothes, which were covered in the feces Luo Sanpao had released, and smelled the odor strong enough to knock someone unconscious.

The filth on his body could still be washed away, but if he returned to the dormitory, the stench left around his bed would become even worse.

The odor would linger even longer. It truly would not be worth it.

Finally, Tang San looked at Xiao Wu and nodded. "I understand. I won't return to the dormitory. I'll go to the back mountain."

Then Tang San looked at the people from Dorm Seven, his eyes hiding a viciousness that seemed ready to devour others. "You have already chosen the path of death. Remember this: I'm not afraid of trash like you. I simply don't want my little sister Xiao Wu to be unhappy. Next time, if you dare speak to me like that again or block my path again, I'll kill you."

When had Wang Sheng and the others ever seen such viciousness? It was like the gaze of a hidden venomous snake watching its prey.

All their faces changed drastically.

They knew that even if they joined forces, they would not be Tang San's match.

If Tang San truly decided to strike ruthlessly, they would have no choice but to die.

After Xiao Chenyu defeated Tang San at the competition grounds last time, teachers informed them the next day that Xiao Chenyu had been poisoned, fallen unconscious, and could not come to school.

Xiao Chenyu had offended Tang San one day, then news broke the next day that he had been poisoned, seriously injured, and left unconscious. Moreover, Tang San had gone out to cultivate and had not returned that night.

They were young, not stupid. How could they possibly fail to guess that Xiao Chenyu had suffered at Tang San's hands?

The way Tang San looked at them today was exactly the same as the way he had looked at Xiao Chenyu that day.

Xiao Chenyu was stronger than them, and his family's influence far exceeded theirs.

Even Xiao Chenyu had suffered at Tang San's hands. If Tang San truly attacked them, they could only immediately seek the headmaster's protection and expose the truth that Tang San had not been in Dorm Seven on the night Xiao Chenyu was harmed.

Only after Tang San had walked far away did they finally let out long breaths.

"Thank goodness Tang San didn't make a move. Otherwise, I would've immediately run to the headmaster."

In the distance, Wang Chen happened to witness the situation as he passed by.

Tang San not returning to Room Seven tonight gave me an opportunity.

If Wang Chen wanted Tang Hao, Tang San, and Yu Xiaogang to become estranged from everyone, he needed those who cared about them to see their true faces clearly.

And Tang San not being in Room Seven tonight meant Tang Hao would not be watching Xiao Wu.

This gave Wang Chen the chance to make Xiao Wu realize that Tang San was from the Clear Sky Sect, while also making her understand that Tang Hao had actually been watching her all along, merely waiting for the right opportunity to have her sacrifice herself for Tang San.

As for why he had to act when Tang Hao was not paying attention, it was because Xiao Wu was, after all, a complete hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Her spiritual power was formidable, far beyond that of ordinary people.

Xiao Wu's spiritual power was strong. If she noticed anything unusual while Wang Chen was manipulating her dreams, or if her emotions fluctuated sharply and the mental stimulation intensified, causing her to leak an abnormal aura or display anything out of the ordinary, it could easily arouse Tang Hao's suspicions.

If Xiao Wu were captured and taken back to the Clear Sky Sect, Wang Chen would truly have a hard time doing anything to her.

Wang Chen wanted Xiao Wu to be like A Yin when she had been weakened to the utmost limit, allowing him to manipulate her dreams.

When Wang Chen acted against Yu Xiaogang's soul beast, he could keep Tang Hao from noticing, just as Tang Hao had secretly reminded Tang San to return to his senses during Tang San's match against New Divine Wind Academy.

Tang Hao, hiding in the shadows, could sense that Yu Xiaogang's martial soul, Luo Sanpao, was behaving abnormally, but he had no idea of the exact cause or who had made a move.

At midnight that night, Wang Chen quietly came to Room Seven and began manipulating Xiao Wu's dreams.

Likewise, Wang Chen constructed the scene primarily from Xiao Wu's memories, making no alterations.

Wang Chen had not touched any of Xiao Wu's memories from her birth through the most recent hundred years.

The first time Wang Chen tampered with Xiao Wu's memories was when the Clear Sky Sect's Title Douluo had led a group to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts.

Wang Chen strengthened Xiao Wu's memories of the Clear Sky Hammer, making her impression of it far more profound.

Xiao Wu was different from A Yin. A Yin's divine soul had been weak, and her dreams had changed drastically. As long as the changes were not too jarring, she would not notice them.

But Xiao Wu's spiritual power was now powerful. Every alteration to her dreams had to be logical and reasonable, lest Xiao Wu notice abnormal fluctuations in her spiritual power.

Before Xiao Wu met Tang Hao, Wang Chen's will had only been strengthening Xiao Wu's memories of the Clear Sky Hammer.

Originally, Wang Chen had planned to make Xiao Wu remember that the Clear Sky Hammer was the martial soul of the Tang family of the Clear Sky Sect. Later, he would find an opportunity to force Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer martial soul to reveal itself, then tell Xiao Wu that Tang San was actually Tang Hao's son.

And that Tang Hao had actually discovered her the moment she stepped into Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy.

The reason he had not killed her or taken her to the Clear Sky Sect was because he wanted to save her soul ring and soul bone for Tang San.

Once Tang San reached level ninety, he would kill her and absorb her soul ring and soul bone.

Given how familiar Xiao Wu and Tang San currently were with each other, their relationship was still far from what it had become in the later stages of the original story.

If Xiao Wu learned that a Title Douluo had been watching her, she would surely become wary and terrified, perhaps even bristle on the spot.

Who would have thought that Wang Chen would see Tang Hao within the dream constructed from Xiao Wu's memories?

Then Wang Chen showed no restraint, reinforcing the memory points within Xiao Wu's dream.

Tang Hao's face, his build, his scent, and the appearance of his Clear Sky Hammer were all presented by Wang Chen like close-up shots in a film, deepening Xiao Wu's impression.

Within Xiao Wu's dream space, A Rou was planting flowers with Xiao Wu beside the Lake of Life in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Suddenly, Da Ming abruptly rose to his feet, releasing his aura as he looked outside.

A Rou frowned and asked, "Da Ming, what is it? What happened?"

Da Ming said gravely, "Aunt Rou, someone wielding a hammer wants to hunt Er Ming. Er Ming has already been seriously wounded by them. If we do not save him, Er Ming will surely die."

Without the slightest hesitation, A Rou said, "Go save him immediately."

A Rou brought Xiao Wu onto Er Ming's back.

Da Ming then carried A Rou and Xiao Wu to where Er Ming had been seriously injured.

At that moment, Er Ming was covered in wounds, and a bone in his right hand had been shattered by a hammer.

Er Ming knelt on one knee, blood gushing from his body like spring water.

Seeing this, Da Ming's eyes turned scarlet, and the scales all over his body flared up. Speaking human words, he roared, "Humans, you dare injure Er Ming to such a state? I want you dead!"

After setting down A Rou and Xiao Wu, the Sky Blue Bull Python immediately lashed its tail at the man wielding the Clear Sky Hammer.

The person holding the Clear Sky Hammer was Tang Hao's father, the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Hao's father had been helping a Clear Sky Sect elder who had just broken through level ninety hunt for a soul ring. They had happened to encounter Er Ming wandering into the core region, and so they decided to make a target of him, kill him, and absorb his soul ring and soul bone.

Tang Hao's father had not expected there to be a second hundred-thousand-year soul beast in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Not daring to be careless, he hurriedly raised the Clear Sky Hammer to receive Da Ming's attack and protect the members of the Clear Sky Sect.

Especially six-year-old Tang Hao among the group, whom he watched over with particular care.

In his view, whether this newly promoted elder could obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring was unimportant. What mattered was that his precious son, the hope for the Clear Sky Sect's future rise, could not suffer the slightest mishap.

If helping the newly promoted level-ninety elder hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul ring resulted in the death of his precious son Tang Hao, he would kill that newly promoted level-ninety elder.

The Clear Sky Sect's side had to look after younger members such as Tang Hao, so they did not dare press Da Ming too hard.

The soul beasts' side had to protect A Rou, Xiao Wu, and the injured Er Ming, so they likewise did not dare press the Clear Sky Sect members too hard.

With both sides wary of each other, they each backed down.

Wang Chen did not interfere in the battle between the Clear Sky Sect Master and Da Ming. He merely deepened Tang Hao's impression in Xiao Wu's mind when she saw him.

After driving off the people from the Clear Sky Sect, A Rou said to Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, remember this: if you ever see someone wielding that kind of hammer, run immediately.

Long ago, there was someone who wielded that kind of hammer. To gather enough soul rings for himself, he slaughtered countless soul beasts throughout the Star Dou Great Forest without restraint.

They are absolutely not good people.

If they discover you, they will definitely keep you captive. Once the time is right, they will kill you and take your soul rings and soul bones.

Remember, never trust anyone who carries a hammer."

"And remember this as well. If one day you take human form and enter the human world, only to accidentally discover that a human Titled Douluo has set his sights on you—

Don't panic, and don't flee at once.

Because if you panic or run, they will either keep you captive or kill you immediately.

If they did not kill you right away, then the time has not yet come.

Or perhaps they want you to place your feelings in them. Once the emotional bond between you and their descendant grows deep enough, they will make you willingly sacrifice yourself.

But regardless of their goal, they need to wait until their descendant reaches the rank of Titled Douluo, or until your emotional bond with them becomes exceedingly deep, before they can absorb your soul ring.

And before their descendant cultivates to the rank of Titled Douluo, or during the time they spend building a deep emotional bond with you, that will be your opportunity.

You must act as though you know nothing, living and cultivating as usual.

But remain vigilant at all times. Keep reminding yourself that their kindness toward you is all meant to make you obediently sacrifice yourself, so that they can obtain your soul rings and soul bones.

Do not place your feelings in them.

At the same time, you cannot act coldly toward them, lest they lose patience and decide that making you develop feelings for their descendant is too difficult, takes too long, and is not worth it—then kill you and take your soul rings and soul bones."

"When you and their descendant have both cultivated to a certain level and need to return to the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul rings, that will be your chance to escape them."

"You must wait until Da Ming and Er Ming appear. Only then will you have a safe opportunity to flee.

Remember, before that, you must not reveal anything unusual, nor show disgust toward their descendant.

These are precious memories that our soul beast predecessors bought with their lives."

Wang Chen had not expected A Rou to have taught Xiao Wu like this.

A Rou's understanding of humans was already no less than that of an ordinary human.

At the same time, Wang Chen could not help but marvel. As expected of a soul beast who had safely lived and cultivated in human society until reaching level ninety before safely returning to the Star Dou Great Forest—her knowledge was extensive.

This was a rare chance to change Xiao Wu's impression of Tang San. Naturally, Wang Chen would not let it pass, and he deliberately deepened the dream-memory of A Rou's teachings in Xiao Wu's mind.

From then on, apart from deepening Xiao Wu's memories of the Clear Sky Hammer, Wang Chen did not alter anything else.

When Tang Hao went to the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for his eighth soul ring, Xiao Wu saw him again.

This gave Wang Chen the opportunity to make Xiao Wu remember Tang Hao's face, his aura, his figure, and his Clear Sky Hammer.

Wang Chen had originally thought that, before the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, he would have no chance to see Tang Hao in Xiao Wu's dream space again. Unexpectedly, a memory that appeared later gave him a tremendous surprise.