Mountain Collapse and Earth Split!

Buzz!

After the resonance of earth power trembled for a moment, it gradually subsided.

Yun Tian lowered his head to look at the newly formed soul ring around his waist. With a thought, information about his second soul skill flooded into his mind.

Mountain Collapse and Earth Split.

A satisfied smile curved Yun Tian's lips.

Just as he had expected, this soul skill could gather and detonate the earth power around him within a short period, causing widespread ground ruptures and shockwaves.

Not only did it have a powerful suppressive effect against groups of enemies, but after erupting, it could also alter the terrain and turn the battlefield into a shattered area advantageous to him.

"Let's test its power."

He rose to his feet and walked to an old tree as thick as a water bucket at the edge of the clearing.

His second soul ring lit up as Yun Tian stomped on the ground.

Boom!

A muffled explosion rose from deep underground.

Centered on where his foot had landed, the ground heaved violently before splitting apart. Web-like cracks spread in every direction, while rocks and dirt were blasted half a man's height into the air.

The old tree's roots were torn apart by the fissure, and the entire tree toppled to one side. Its crown slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.

The ground within a radius of nearly ten meters had completely shattered and turned over, as though an invisible giant hand had plowed through it.

Yun Tian withdrew his hand, looked over the devastated clearing, and nodded in satisfaction.

The range was decent, and the power was enough.

If he used it together with his first soul skill, Earth Tiger Armor, this move's destructive power could rise another level.

Moreover, his first soul ring's age had also increased to over seven hundred years.

His second soul ring was now over nine hundred years old.

Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy welcomed its first holiday after enrollment.

A full month of vacation was enough for the students to return home to visit family or travel elsewhere.

The Seventh Dorm became lively early on. Wang Sheng was the first to pack his belongings and leave, saying he was going back to his village to help his family harvest their crops.

Old Zhang and several other work-study students also left one after another, and the dormitory gradually emptied out.

Xiao Wu sat cross-legged on her bed, her legs swinging back and forth. After biting her lip and thinking for a long time, she suddenly turned to Tang San, who was sitting beside her wiping his hidden weapons. "Hey, Tang San, do you have anywhere to go for the holiday?"

Tang San paused, thought for a moment, and said, "I'm planning to return to Holy Soul Village. I haven't seen my dad in three months, and I'm a little worried about him."

His expression was normal when he said it, but a trace of concern did flash through his eyes.

Tang Hao, that drunken father of his, lived alone in the blacksmith shop at the village entrance.

With no one to cook for him or clean up after him, who knew what state he had reduced himself to after three months?

Although Tang San had been used to taking care of that perpetually drunk father since childhood,

this time, he had been away for quite a while. He simply couldn't stop worrying.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she leaped straight down from the bed. "Then I'll go back with you! I'm sick of staying at home anyway. This is the perfect chance to see your hometown!"

Tang San froze for a moment, then the tips of his ears reddened slightly.

He lowered his head and pretended to wipe his hidden weapons, forcing his voice to remain calm. "Sure. The village is big enough. One more person won't make a difference."

But inwardly, he was already secretly delighted.

Spending a whole month alone with Xiao Wu in a quiet little place like Holy Soul Village...

Just thinking about it made him feel that the trip home would be worthwhile.

After the two settled their itinerary, Xiao Wu began rummaging through her bundle, considering what to bring for the journey.

Tang San got up to make his bed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Wu squatting on the floor, chattering to herself, and the corners of his lips lifted unconsciously.

Just then, the door to the Seventh Dorm was pushed open.

Yun Tian walked in looking travel-worn, with fallen leaves and dirt clinging to the hem of his clothes, as though he had just rushed back from outside.

Nothing unusual could be seen on his face. His aura was steady, and his soul power was completely restrained. No one noticed that he had gained another soul ring, nor did anyone realize that his soul power rank had quietly risen to twenty-one.

When Xiao Wu looked up and saw him, she immediately called out, "Yun Tian, you're back just in time! Tang San and I are planning to visit his hometown, Holy Soul Village, for a month. What are you planning to do during the holiday?"

Yun Tian's gaze swept over the two of them.

Tang San stood behind Xiao Wu, still gripping the cloth he used to wipe his hidden weapons. Though he tried hard to keep his expression calm, his little desire to finally spend time alone with Xiao Wu was practically written all over his face.

There was even a faint hint of nervousness in the way he looked at Yun Tian, as if he feared Yun Tian would interfere again.

Yun Tian secretly found it amusing.

Tang San, Tang San, you wanted to be alone with Xiao Wu?

Dream on.

He had already planned this trip while on the road.

He was definitely going to Holy Soul Village. In fact, he had to go.

Not just because Tang Hao was there.

More importantly, according to the original timeline, after Tang San returned to Holy Soul Village this time, Tang Hao would leave behind that letter.

In reality, he would be protecting them from the shadows.

And Tang San and Xiao Wu would swear siblinghood beneath the stars on the back mountain.

How could he possibly miss that part of the story?

Besides... if they were going to swear siblinghood, why should Tang San be the older brother?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Yun Tian became the big brother instead?

He was the dignified summoner of Earth Tiger Armor, the chief of Nuoding Academy, and stronger than both Tang San and Xiao Wu.

If he did not take the position of big brother, who would?

At the thought of making Tang San and Xiao Wu obediently call him Big Brother, Yun Tian felt that he had to go to Holy Soul Village no matter what.

Thus, Yun Tian put on a natural smile and dusted off his clothes as he said, "What a coincidence. I don't have any plans either, and I was just thinking of going out for a walk. I heard Holy Soul Village was the birthplace of a Soul Saint a hundred years ago, and I've always been curious about it. Since you're heading back, take me along, would you?"

Tang San's smile stiffened for a moment.

Xiao Wu, on the other hand, noticed nothing at all and clapped her hands. "Sure, sure! The more people, the livelier it is! The three of us can go together!"

Tang San opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words before they came out.

He couldn't exactly say, "Don't come, I want to be alone with Xiao Wu," could he?

He would feel embarrassed even saying it himself.

Besides, Yun Tian was the leader of the Seventh Dorm and was usually good to everyone. Tang San had no reason to refuse him.

And Yun Tian was going there because he admired the Soul Saint, making it even more impossible to stop him.

"...Fine."

Tang San responded dryly with a single word, then turned around and continued packing, his back ramrod straight.

Xiao Wu had already begun planning their meals for the journey, completely unaware of the subtle change in Tang San's expression.

Yun Tian saw it all. His face remained impassive, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.

That afternoon, Tang San went to bid Yu Xiaogang farewell.

The master was flipping through a yellowed soul beast encyclopedia in his study. After hearing why Tang San had come, he nodded. "It's good to go back and have a look. One month isn't long. When you return, I'll continue guiding your cultivation. Be careful on the road."

Tang San acknowledged him and was about to leave when Yu Xiaogang suddenly called out to him.

"Tang San, that Yun Tian... has he shown any unusual behavior lately?"

Tang San thought about it. "No, he's been perfectly normal these past few days. What is it, Teacher?"

Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing. You may go."