Xiao Xiao Breaks Through, Claiming a Soul Ring (Please Recommend, Please Save)

"You're too hot. It doesn't like that."

Jiang Bai sensed the heat coming from Xiao Xiao, though he didn't know why.

But Xue Ying was an ice-type creature. It was perfectly normal for it to dislike heat.

"Okay."

Now that she knew the reason, Xiao Xiao was a little disappointed.

But when she noticed Jiang Bai's gaze, Xiao Xiao covered the neckline that was already completely flat with both hands.

"Jiang Bai, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing. It just feels pretty hot over there."

Jiang Bai didn't have any improper thoughts.

Practically level with the horizon.

"Because of this."

Xiao Xiao gently pulled out the red jade hanging around her neck.

"Don't casually show treasures to others."

Jiang Bai only gave it a brief glance before looking away.

"Right, here. Take this."

Xiao Xiao took out a medicinal pill. It could stabilize Soul Power and strengthen one's foundation.

"For me?"

Jiang Bai looked at the pill and asked doubtfully, "Why give it to me?"

"I've already taken one."

Xiao Xiao said that if it hadn't been for Jiang Bai, she wouldn't have thought of the senior downstairs. She might not have obtained these things otherwise.

"Take this, then."

One shouldn't accept rewards without merit, so Jiang Bai also took out a fist-sized object.

Cold Marrow—though not genuine Cold Marrow.

Xue Ying had condensed it from the cold energy within its body when it had nothing better to do. It was basically pre-made.

"What is this?"

"If you use it to touch the Red Jade, it can activate the Red Jade's power. There's a high chance it'll strengthen your body."

"Can it give me a thousand-year second ring?"

Xiao Xiao asked. Ever since seeing Wang Dong's thousand-year second ring, she had been unbelievably envious.

"Give me your hand."

"Here."

Xiao Xiao extended her right hand, and Jiang Bai placed his fingers over her wrist.

Xiao Xiao only felt a chill run through her arm before the cold sensation vanished.

"Not really. There's a ten percent chance of success, and a ninety percent chance that your body will explode."

"Uh... okay."

Hearing Jiang Bai's answer, Xiao Xiao was disappointed again.

"There's really no need for a thousand-year second ring. A normal Soul Ring configuration is already pretty good right now."

Jiang Bai said that in the era of The Unrivaled Tang Clan, a normal Soul Ring configuration was already excellent. Besides, if one wanted to challenge the limit, they would need at least a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring—but that was something to consider after becoming a Soul Douluo.

"I'm mainly just jealous."

Xiao Xiao propped up her cheeks with both hands and spoke with a face full of envy.

"If you have money, you could try thousand-year Whale Rubber. Eating a few pieces should let your second ring reach the thousand-year level."

Jiang Bai said that most people knew the use of Whale Rubber, but it was currently something money couldn't buy.

"I don't have any money."

Xiao Xiao's little savings might have been enough for hundred-year Whale Rubber, but she truly couldn't afford thousand-year Whale Rubber.

"The senior who gave you that jade should have some, right?"

"Mm... that wouldn't be good."

"Wait, how did you know it was a senior?"

Xiao Xiao suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Then where else did your Red Jade come from?"

"Uh... fine."

Xiao Xiao hadn't expected Jiang Bai to guess it immediately, but the senior had told her last night not to casually talk about him.

"Jiang Bai, get me a cup of milk tea."

Whatever. Xiao Xiao gave up and asked Jiang Bai for a cup of milk tea.

"No. You can't drink it."

Jiang Bai refused. It would've been fine before, but not now. The Red Jade's power still lingered in Xiao Xiao's body. If she drank milk tea again, the cold energy in it would mix with the heat.

Yeah, she'd get diarrhea.

"I can eat grilled fish, right?"

Xiao Xiao asked. If she couldn't even eat grilled fish, that would be terrible!

"That's fine."

Grilled fish wasn't some kind of medicinal herb. Of course she could eat it.

"That's good."

Hearing that, Xiao Xiao was relieved.

"Xiao Xiao, Brother Jiang."

On the other side, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao approached as well.

"Why are you so late today?"

Based on their usual routine, they shouldn't have arrived this late.

"It's all Yuhao's fault. He got dragged off to the Soul Engineering Department."

Wang Dong spoke, and when Jiang Bai heard "Soul Engineering Department," he looked toward Huo Yuhao.

"It'd be pretty good for you to go to the Soul Engineering Department. Did you agree?"

"No."

Huo Yuhao shook his head. Teacher Fan Yu was indeed very good, but Teacher Zhou's standing in his heart was simply too low... He genuinely didn't know what to choose.

"If you're really interested, you can give it a try."

Jiang Bai suggested it. Huo Yuhao's soul skills really were well suited for studying Soul Tools.

"What's the Soul Engineering Department like?"

Xiao Xiao asked. She had barely gone over there before. From afar, she had only seen those gray teaching buildings, which seemed cold and lifeless.

When Wang Dong, standing beside Huo Yuhao, heard that Yuhao wanted to go to the Soul Engineering Department, a faint irritability rose within her. Her brows unconsciously furrowed.

"The Soul Engineering Department is ultimately just a side path. Yuhao, what truly makes a Soul Master strong is themselves."

Wang Dong tried to persuade Huo Yuhao, hoping he wouldn't really go to the Soul Engineering Department. She didn't like Soul Tools.

"Mm..."

Seeing Huo Yuhao's expression, Jiang Bai waved his hand. "It's fine. If you're truly interested later, you can just transfer to the Soul Engineering Department."

"Your first ring is only a ten-year Soul Ring, and you don't have any background or family. The path of a Soul Master won't be easy for you."

Hearing that, Wang Dong froze. "What do you mean, you don't have any family?"

"I'm an orphan."

Huo Yuhao answered. When they heard "orphan," Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao both froze.

"Ah, uh, I..."

Wang Dong didn't know what to say. When she thought about what she had done to Huo Yuhao before, she felt even worse.

Time flew by, and a week later, the sun was setting.

"Senior, I broke through."

Downstairs, within a barrier invisible to ordinary people, Xiao Xiao sat cross-legged on the grass. The Soul Power inside her instantly broke through, directly reaching level twenty.

"Mm. Take this. With this token, you can go to the Beast Fighting Arena and request a Soul Beast called a Black-Iron Crow Beast. Around seven hundred years old—it's just right for you."

The old man took out a token engraved with the character for beast and handed it to Xiao Xiao.

"Okay."

Xiao Xiao nodded, and the old man smiled before waving his hand.

"You can go back now. Cultivate properly. If you rank highly in the upcoming Freshman Assessment, the dean has good things too."

"Really?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. The senior had already given her so many things these past few days.

"Mm."

"Senior, can I bring someone with me for this?"

Xiao Xiao raised the token in her hand.

"Boy Bai?"

The old man smiled at Xiao Xiao.

"Mm."

Xiao Xiao blinked. She knew about the Beast Fighting Area. It was full of Soul Beasts, terrifying ones at that. Besides, Jiang Bai liked reading Soul Beast illustrations last time, so this was the perfect chance to let him go inside and observe.

"His martial soul is special. He's seriously studying Soul Beast knowledge right now, preparing for his future Soul Rings."

"Mm, then go together."

"The Beast Fighting Arena? Me?"

Jiang Bai pointed at himself, looking puzzled.

"Yeah. The Beast Fighting Area is too scary, so you have to come with me."

Xiao Xiao nodded. She was scared, all right. She had never fought a Soul Beast before, so she really was afraid.

"When?"

Jiang Bai was also very interested in the Beast Fighting Area, but ordinary people weren't allowed inside.

"Now. Are you free?"

"Sure. Let's take a look."

"By the way, do you know the way?"

"Ah?"

Xiao Xiao stared at Jiang Bai blankly. It seemed she didn't know the way.

Jiang Bai: "..."

In the end, the two of them asked for directions as they made their way to the Beast Enclosure.

"The Beast Fighting Arena is divided into two areas. One is the Beast Fighting Area, and the other is the Beast Enclosure. With that token, you need to go to the Beast Enclosure."

A senior student pointed down the path ahead and roughly explained where to go.

"Thank you."

Xiao Xiao and Jiang Bai bowed in thanks. They finally knew the way now.

"It's nothing."

The senior student waved his hand, not caring much.

Following the route that senior student had pointed out, the two quickly arrived at the Beast Enclosure.

"I'm here to claim a Soul Ring."

Xiao Xiao showed the black token to the staff member.

"What Soul Beast?"

The staff member accepted the token, gave Xiao Xiao an extra look, and then recorded it.

It was normal enough for students to come claim Soul Rings, but whose elder's disciple was this?

"Mm, a seven-hundred-year Black-Iron Crow Beast."

Xiao Xiao answered. The senior had chosen it for her, and she didn't know what kind of Soul Beast it was.

"What? A Black-Iron Crow Beast?!"

Before the staff member could say anything, an angry roar came from within the Beast Enclosure.