Xiao Wu's pleading was impossible to resist

"Ugh..."

Tang San opened his eyes in a daze. Every bone in his body felt as though it had come apart, and a sharp pain shot through his right hand!

"Teacher?"

"Luckily, they brought you here in time. Otherwise, that hand would have been ruined!"

Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath. He had expected Tang San to suffer a setback against Ao Yin, but when Wang Sheng came to fetch him to carry Tang San out of Dorm Seven, he was still shocked.

"Little San, don't move. I'll give you some noodles!"

"Noodles, Teacher?"

Tang San's eyes widened. Before he could react, Yu Xiaogang stuffed them into his mouth.

"Mmph!"

The moment they touched his tongue, a fishy stench hit him. Tang San nearly vomited.

"Teacher, what kind of noodles are these? They taste awful!"

"Swallow!"

Yu Xiaogang offered no explanation, only a stern command.

Tang San stared at the noodles Yu Xiaogang had given him. They were thin and limp, with black mold growing on them. His heart quailed.

Could this stuff really be eaten?

But his teacher insisted, so he could only steel himself and swallow them bite by bite.

Only then did Yu Xiaogang explain, "I made you eat them because they're a healing food produced by Teacher Pomegranate, a healing-type Soul Master at the academy—noodles."

"A healing-type Soul Master?"

"That's right. Teacher Pomegranate's Martial Soul is a food Martial Soul: noodles. The noodles she makes have excellent healing effects, especially on external injuries."

Understanding dawned on Tang San. As soon as the noodles reached his stomach, he felt warm streams of Soul Power flow through him, healing his bruises and wounds.

"Now that you've eaten them, you should be all right!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a long breath. If he and Teacher Pomegranate, the head of Notting Academy's infirmary, had not once spent time in deep academic exchange and formed a close bond, she would never have given him the noodles so readily.

Tang San's external injuries were severe. Without timely treatment, even if his right hand had not been ruined, it would have suffered lasting damage.

"A food Martial Soul and a healing-type Soul Master. Amazing!"

The noodles tasted dreadful, but they worked wonders. Most of his injuries healed almost at once. Only his middle finger, which Ao Yin had broken, and his right palm, which a blade had pierced straight through, still hurt. They would need half a month of rest to heal completely.

"Little San, I warned you that Ao Yin's strength wasn't to be underestimated. You were reckless this time!"

"Still, perhaps it's good that you learned your lesson!"

Tang San's anger simmered, but he had to admit that his teacher saw far more clearly than he did. Yu Xiaogang had seen through even Ao Yin's strength at a glance.

"But don't be too discouraged. Ao Yin may be astonishingly gifted, but he's stubborn and self-willed. His path as a Soul Master will be full of needless detours!"

"Little San, your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul may be ordinary, but remember: there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."

"As long as you listen to me, find a suitable Soul Ring, and choose the right path of evolution, you'll have no trouble overtaking him."

As Yu Xiaogang comforted him, Tang San silently lowered his head. "Teacher, from now on, I'll listen to everything you say!"

From Holy Soul Village to Notting Academy, blow after blow had turned Ao Yin into a knot in Tang San's heart.

All he wanted now was to grow stronger! Only then could he repay every humiliation twofold!

Yes!

Teacher was right. There were no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters.

Soul Rings were vital to a Soul Master's evolution!

"Teacher, please... you must help me find a suitable Soul Ring!" Tang San clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened.

"Hahaha! Of course!"

"I'll take you to hunt for a Soul Ring tomorrow!"

Yu Xiaogang laughed. Ao Yin had dealt Tang San a heavy blow.

But that was not necessarily bad for him. At least Tang San would learn that following the Grandmaster's advice brought nothing but benefits!

"Tomorrow? I can't wait to see how I change after getting my First Soul Ring!"

Tang San's hopes rose. His teacher was the Grandmaster whose theories were unmatched in the Martial Soul world. With his guidance, Tang San's First Soul Ring would surely make him much stronger.

And Ao Yin? So what if he had Innate Full Soul Power? So what if he had awakened a top-tier Martial Soul? So what if he was born with monstrous strength?

In the end, I'd crush him beneath my feet!

Notting Academy, Dorm Seven.

"Ah! That felt good—"

Ao Yin had worn himself out over the course of the day. After sending Tang San to the infirmary, he took a bath and felt refreshed from head to toe.

"Whoa! Boss Ao..."

The moment Ao Yin stepped out of the bathroom, Wang Sheng stared at him with shining eyes, as though he wanted to devour him.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Wang Sheng, you're acting weird!"

Ao Yin jumped. He glanced down at himself in confusion. He had only changed into cleaner clothes; nothing else was different!

"Boss Ao, I only just realized how handsome you are!"

Wang Sheng praised him without hesitation. When Ao Yin had first arrived at the dorm, he had been covered in dirt. Wang Sheng had sensed something extraordinary about him, but could barely make out his face. Now that Ao Yin had washed away the grime, his good looks were impossible to miss.

Ao Yin raised an eyebrow. With [Max-Level Charm] at work, cleaning himself up made the effect even stronger. Apparently it worked on men as well as women, but he had no interest in Wang Sheng.

"Where's Xiao Wu?" Ao Yin asked casually.

Wang Sheng shook his head. He did not know either. Ao Yin shrugged and lay down on his bed.

"Bleh!"

The instant he lay down, Xiao Wu popped out and sprawled over him.

She pulled a mischievous face and suddenly lunged toward him, trying to give him a fright.

Ao Yin smiled.

The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit had lived so long, yet she was still this childish.

Disappointed that she had failed to scare him, Xiao Wu looked him over. At the sight of him all cleaned up, her eyes lit up.

"Wow, Little Ao. So you were this handsome all along?"

She tilted her head and gazed at him openly. Even Ao Yin, who had lived three lives, felt his cheeks heat under the little girl's unwavering stare.

Grrr—

A strange sound suddenly broke the charged silence. Ao Yin looked down. It was Xiao Wu's stomach growling!

"Hehe, I'm hungry!"

Xiao Wu fiddled with her long scorpion braid. Kneeling on the bed, she looked at Ao Yin with a hint of embarrassment.

When the little girl pleaded like that, Ao Yin had no defense!

Besides, he had not eaten all day either!

"Then let's go get something to eat!"

"Okay!" Xiao Wu perked up at the mention of food.

"Uh... Wang Sheng, where's Notting Academy's Cafeteria?" Ao Yin called.

Wang Sheng promptly put down what he had been tidying. "Boss, don't worry! I'll show you the way. It's over there—follow me!"