Confrontation with Tang San and His Master

In the Notting Academy dining hall, Jiede sat alone in a corner, eating.

A figure hurried over and sat across from Jiede.

Wang Sheng laughed heartily. "Jiede, do you know what soul skill I gained when I followed the academy to obtain my Soul Ring?"

Jiede glanced at him. "Judging by how happy you are, don't tell me it's a hundred-year soul skill?"

Wang Sheng gestured animatedly as he spoke:

"Just as I expected, I couldn't hide it from you. I gained a strength-enhancement soul skill from a Mighty Baboon.

When I use my martial soul, it can increase my strength by thirty-five percent."

"Must've cost you quite a bit," Jiede added.

It was like a basin of cold water had been poured over him. Wang Sheng immediately wilted.

"It used up nearly half my family's savings. The money we have left can barely keep us going now."

Wang Sheng smiled bitterly in helplessness.

Jiede comforted him. "As long as the Soul Ring is suitable, that's what matters. Money can always be earned again."

"Sigh, let me tell you the truth. The gift money I gave the teacher leading the team actually wasn't enough.

These past few days, I've been waiting on him hand and foot.

Luckily, we came across an injured Mighty Baboon.

Otherwise, my first Soul Ring would have been a hundred-year Solitary Bamboo."

Wang Sheng sighed.

"I still have no idea how I'll obtain my second Soul Ring in the future.

My family simply can't afford the cost of hiring people to hunt soul beasts."

At the mention of "Solitary Bamboo," Jiede inexplicably recalled the time Grandmaster Yu had recommended a ten-year Solitary Bamboo to Tang San.

Jiede's mouth twitched as he asked, "What does your family do for work?"

"My mother farms at home, and my father works in the city. I recently heard from him that there will be layoffs at his workplace. He might be unemployed for a while."

Wang Sheng tugged at his hair in distress.

"Would your family be interested in working at my father's shop?" Jiede poured a cup of water and handed it to Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng froze on the spot, hardly daring to believe it. He stared at the cup, unsure whether to accept it or not.

"Th-this, is it appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? I was the one who recommended that you obtain a higher-year Soul Ring. Your family is nearly unable to make ends meet because of it, so it's only right that I help you."

Jiede stuffed the cup into Wang Sheng's hand.

"It's just that my family sells soul beast meat. I hope you won't mind."

Wang Sheng hurriedly said, "Jobs in the city are hard to find. My father won't mind. As long as he can work and earn money to support the family, that's enough."

"Good, then it's settled."

Jiede patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder. "You'll be satisfied with the pay."

The two were chatting happily.

Yu Xiaogang entered the dining hall with Tang San and Xiao Wu. Just as he was about to step onto the stairs leading to the second-floor teachers' dining area, he spotted Jiede by chance and immediately headed toward him.

"Jiede, long time no see."

Jiede did not even raise his head. He shoved a huge mouthful of food into his mouth and ignored him completely.

Yu Xiaogang smiled awkwardly.

Tang San clenched his fists at the side. "This guy has no manners at all."

"I presume you've obtained your first Soul Ring as well. Would it be convenient to tell me what soul beast you hunted?"

Suppressing his temper, Yu Xiaogang sat across from Jiede.

He desperately wanted to know what exactly Jiede's mutated Mystic Pellet martial soul was, and what changes it had undergone after absorbing its first Soul Ring.

"Not convenient!"

Jiede's cheeks were puffed full of food as he mumbled out the three words. Grains of rice even sprayed from his mouth and landed on Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened.

"Jiede, my teacher is talking to you. Watch your attitude!"

Tang San could no longer endure it. To him, Yu Xiaogang was both teacher and father.

"Tang San, what does this have to do with you? I'm talking to your elder. Children shouldn't interrupt."

Tang San rebuked him, "Do you have any upbringing? Someone asked you a question, and this is your attitude?"

"I have no upbringing?"

Jiede sneered. "My grandfather brought your family meat and food, yet you say I have no upbringing. What upbringing do you have?

Others might be allowed to say that.

But not you, Tang San.

You don't deserve to!

You eat my family's food, drink my family's supplies, and still dare say I have no upbringing?

Who the hell do you think you are?"

A crowd had already gathered around them.

"Oh my god, this is some seriously juicy gossip."

"From what Jiede said, Tang San received help from his family, didn't he?"

"How can someone be like this? Repaying kindness with hostility, what an ungrateful wretch!"

Listening to the surrounding whispers, Tang San's expression shifted unpredictably. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and tear apart Jiede's foul mouth.

But he could not do that.

Yu Xiaogang was relatively composed, with little change in his expression. However, Xiao Wu beside him looked at Tang San differently now.

Her gaze was complicated.

"Stop bringing that up. I will never forget Grandpa Jack's kindness!"

Tang San roared, "But you cannot disrespect my teacher."

"Tang San, I've realized you're quite amusing. He may be your teacher, that's true."

Unable to endure any longer, Wang Sheng stood up and pointed at Yu Xiaogang.

"But he isn't Jiede's teacher. Asking about a soul master's soul skill is a major taboo among soul masters, understand?"

"No matter what, I am still a teacher of this academy. It's only normal for me to ask about a student's soul skill."

Yu Xiaogang frowned and tapped the dining table with two fingers, producing a steady knock.

The moment he said that, the surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

"You count as a teacher?"

"You've been at this academy for so long. Other than Tang San, who else have you ever taught?"

"You freeload off the academy every day, yet you've got some thick skin!"

"Hahaha..."

A group of students mocked Yu Xiaogang without holding back, showing him no respect whatsoever.

"Grandmaster, may I ask if you reached level twenty-nine before turning fifty?" Wang Sheng asked mockingly.

"You!" Yu Xiaogang's face reddened.

Tang San glared at Wang Sheng. "You're courting death!"

"With what strength do you think you're qualified to take Jiede as a disciple? He has Innate Full Soul Power. A piece of trash who hasn't even reached level thirty thinks he's worthy of taking disciples?"

Wang Sheng scoffed.

Tang San's sleeve shifted slightly as the Silent Sleeve Arrow readied itself.

"All of you, shut up."

Seeing the situation escalating further and further, Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped between them and shouted.

"We're all classmates, and fellow work-study students sharing the same dormitory. There's no need to take things this far, is there?"

Her relationship with Tang San had not yet reached the point where they would lay down their lives for each other.

Although she was the academy's big sister, it was not appropriate for her to forcefully stand up for Tang San at this moment.

"Sister Xiao Wu, this so-called Grandmaster has been pestering Jiede nonstop and has already seriously affected his cultivation. Today, this must be settled once and for all."

Wang Sheng spoke resolutely.

Tang San pushed Xiao Wu aside. "This is between men. Xiao Wu, don't interfere."

"You all..."

Xiao Wu could only retreat helplessly to the side. It was a personal matter, and she was not in a position to interfere.

"Wang Sheng, I don't want to fight you right now. Move aside."

Tang San only wanted to teach Jiede a proper lesson now.

Everything that had happened today was Jiede's doing.

He stared directly into Jiede's eyes. "Jiede, do you dare fight me?"

Wang Sheng folded his arms, his body blocking Tang San's line of sight.

"Jiede is a support-type soul master. Tang San, are you planning to bully someone with no combat ability?"

"What? You're a support-type soul master?" Tang San stared at Jiede in disbelief.

"That's none of your business." Jiede remained expressionless.

"If you lose, Jiede will acknowledge me as his teacher. If you win, we'll let this matter go. How about it?"

Yu Xiaogang had not given up on taking Jiede as his disciple and seized the chance to propose a wager.

"Stop disgusting us. We refuse your proposal."

Wang Sheng snorted. "Are you fighting or not? If not, get lost!"

Tang San had initially thought his father had left Jiede for him as a stepping stone in order to temper him.

Now, it seemed he had overthought it. A support-type soul master was not even worthy of being his opponent.

Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang and received an encouraging look.

"If that's the case, then let's do it."

Wang Sheng said, "To the training ground."