The Battle for Supremacy at Nuoding Academy

For the past two days, aside from attending classes, Lin Qing had spent almost all his time on the academy's back mountain. Every day, he swung his blade until he collapsed from exhaustion, then dragged his weary body back to Dorm Seven. In Wang Sheng and the others' eyes, however, Lin Qing's diligence became proof that he was heartbroken over Xiao Wu's departure and was tormenting himself to distract his mind.

After learning what Wang Sheng and the others thought, Lin Qing merely rolled his eyes at them.

However, Lin Qing did not bother correcting them. His daily sword technique and breathing method training had already left him physically and mentally exhausted. He had no spare energy to concern himself with Wang Sheng and the others.

Yet because Lin Qing did not step forward to clear up the misunderstanding, Wang Sheng and the others took it as confirmation of their guess.

On the third day, Lin Qing began training to master Total Concentration Breathing.

Arriving at the lake within the academy, Lin Qing leaped straight in, sat cross-legged at the bottom, and used his breathing method to slowly absorb the small amount of air dissolved in the water.

Once he could breathe freely underwater, he would have mastered Total Concentration Breathing.

For these three days, Lin Qing had been undergoing devilish special training.

Lin Qing had actually considered taking advantage of the days Tang San was out hunting for a Spirit Ring. Tang Hao would definitely be following Tang San, so Lin Qing could sneak into Holy Soul Village and take away both the Blue Silver Emperor and its Spirit Bone.

He could keep the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone, while using the Azure Blue Spider Lily to turn the Blue Silver Emperor plant into his subordinate.

However, Lin Qing quickly rejected that idea. First of all, according to his memories from his previous life, Tang San's Spirit Ring hunt would be very short, no more than three days at most. The time was too limited, and there were too many uncertainties. It would be ridiculous if Tang Hao happened to catch him in the act.

Secondly, even if Lin Qing took the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone and the Blue Silver Emperor plant now, he had nowhere to hide them. Tang Hao basically watched over Tang San at all times, while Lin Qing interacted with Tang San every day. Tang Hao might discover them someday, and that would be dangerous. There was no need to take such a risk.

Xiao Wu had taken three days off from the academy to hunt for a Spirit Ring—or rather, to condense one—and today was the day she returned.

Early in the morning, Lin Qing arrived at the entrance of Nuoding Academy to wait for Xiao Wu's return.

After waiting at the school gates for nearly two hours, Lin Qing finally saw a pink figure skipping happily toward the academy.

"Lin Qing!" Seeing Lin Qing waiting for her at the entrance, Xiao Wu's face lit up with surprise. She immediately sprinted over and threw herself into Lin Qing's arms.

"Xiao Wu, you've grown taller." Lin Qing rubbed Xiao Wu's head. She had once only reached his chin, but now she was nearly as tall as him.

"Isn't that obvious? Of course I grew taller after absorbing a Spirit Ring." Xiao Wu released Lin Qing, placed her hands on her hips, and spoke.

"You're right," Lin Qing said. "Welcome back, Xiao Wu."

"Mhm, I'm back!"

"Boss, Big Brother Lin, something's wrong! Something's wrong!" Just as Lin Qing and Xiao Wu were immersed in the joy of their reunion, a familiar voice interrupted the affectionate pair.

"Boss, something's wrong!" The newcomer was Chen Dong, one of their Dorm Seven roommates. "Sister Xiao Wu is here too? Great!"

"Chen Dong, you'd better have a real reason for this." Lin Qing was furious at being interrupted. If Chen Dong could not give him a convincing explanation, then there was no way he would escape a beating.

"It's Xiao Chenyu and his group. Xiao Chenyu and his people beat up Wang Sheng and the others," Chen Dong said.

"What? They dared lay a hand on Sister Xiao Wu's people?! They must be tired of living!" Hearing that her underlings had been beaten, Xiao Wu immediately clenched her fists, her face filled with anger.

"What happened? We'll talk while we walk." Lin Qing was much calmer.

"Alright."

The three then headed toward the academy's back mountain, while Chen Dong explained what had happened to Lin Qing and Xiao Wu.

Xiao Chenyu was the city lord's son. He often led the tuition-paying students in bullying work-study students. Because his father was the city lord and he himself was quite strong, everyone at Nuoding Academy called him Boss Xiao.

This time, Xiao Chenyu had successfully obtained a Spirit Ring under his father's guidance. He wanted to show off in front of the work-study students—meaning he had come to beat them up—and that was how Wang Sheng's group had clashed with them.

As soon as they arrived at the back mountain, they saw Wang Sheng being forced back step by step by a student wielding a long staff. Wang Sheng was on the verge of losing when the staff-wielding student suddenly made a mistake, and the force behind one strike weakened. Wang Sheng seized the opportunity and slapped the student flying.

"Well, Boss Xiao? Even Wang Sheng, who ranks fourth in our Dorm Seven, can defeat your third-ranked man. Why don't you surrender now? Otherwise, once our boss gets here, you're in for a beating."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Our boss became a Soul Master before you did!"

"That's right! And our boss is incredibly fierce. When he gets ruthless, he doesn't even spare himself!"

"Hey, hey, hey! You guys are actually talking bad about me behind my back!" To stop them from getting more and more outrageous, Lin Qing flashed in front of them and gave each of them a sharp knock on the head.

Only then did Lin Qing turn to face Xiao Chenyu and his group. "You're the ones who bullied my underlings?"

Lin Qing's bearing was overwhelming. It was an aura he had developed from holding a high position for a long time.

Just facing the aura Lin Qing radiated made Xiao Chenyu and his group tremble, though they could only pretend to remain calm.

"Kid, I'd advise you to hide while you can. Our Boss Xiao has already become a Soul Master. Beating up a little brat like you would be easy," one of Xiao Chenyu's underlings said.

"Is that so? Then I'd like to see just how strong this so-called Boss Xiao of yours is." As he spoke, Lin Qing raised his right hand in an empty grip. A pitch-black blade appeared in his hand, followed by a yellow Spirit Ring that rose around him and emitted the faint pressure unique to a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring.

"A-A Hundred-Year Spirit Ring!" The moment Xiao Chenyu saw Lin Qing's Spirit Ring, he immediately realized that this was not someone he could afford to provoke. That kind of aura from before could never belong to someone without high status or a noble background. And a six-year-old Soul Master whose first Spirit Ring is a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring? He must be the heir of some major power out traveling for experience. I absolutely cannot offend someone like him!

Xiao Chenyu's father was, after all, the lord of a city. From a young age, he had taught Xiao Chenyu plenty about recognizing people, lest he accidentally offend some great figure one day and get his city lord father casually wiped out.

"So what if it's a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring? You might not be a match for our Boss Xiao!" Though Xiao Chenyu's underling was somewhat afraid after seeing Lin Qing's Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, he still forced himself to speak.

"Shut up! You bunch of idiots!" Xiao Chenyu was practically going to be angered to death by these followers. They were both Soul Masters, but Lin Qing had a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring while he only had a Ten-Year Spirit Ring. Others might not know the difference between a Ten-Year Spirit Ring and a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, but did Xiao Chenyu not know?

"Um, Boss, from now on, you're my boss. I'll be your most loyal underling. If you need anything in the future, just give me your orders," Xiao Chenyu said. After reprimanding his underlings, he immediately put on a flattering expression and hurried over to bow and scrape before Lin Qing.

Seeing this, both Xiao Chenyu's underlings and Lin Qing's work-study students froze. None of them had expected things to develop like this.

Not only were the underlings stunned—even Lin Qing was a little dumbfounded by Xiao Chenyu's move.

Xiao Wu, who had been brimming with fighting spirit, also stood rooted to the spot after seeing this, unable to figure out what was happening.

Although Lin Qing was briefly confused, he understood after thinking about it for a moment. This guy must think I'm some genius from a major power who came out to gain experience.

Still, a misunderstanding was a misunderstanding. At least it saved him the trouble of teaching them a lesson.

"Fine. My name is Lin Qing. From now on, call me Big Brother Lin," Lin Qing said, recovering immediately after his brief surprise.

"Understood, Big Brother Lin." Xiao Chenyu eagerly agreed, then turned and shouted at his underlings, "Why aren't you coming over to greet Big Brother Lin? From now on, Big Brother Lin is the only boss of Nuoding Academy, understand?!"

"Understood. Greetings, Big Brother Lin." Though they were somewhat unwilling, Xiao Chenyu had spoken, so they could only obey.

"And this is your Sister Xiao Wu. From now on, treat seeing her as seeing me," Lin Qing said, introducing Xiao Wu beside him.

"Hello." Xiao Wu was still somewhat bewildered, and her mind had yet to catch up with what was going on.

"Greetings, Sister Xiao Wu!" Xiao Chenyu and his underlings greeted her again.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, disperse," Lin Qing said.

"Yes, Big Brother Lin!" Xiao Chenyu replied, preparing to leave with his group of underlings.

"Wait!"

"Does Boss have any other orders?"

"From now on, the work-study students' work will be handled by you. Understood?"

"Understood, Boss. Don't worry, we guarantee we'll handle the work flawlessly!"

"Alright, you can go."

"Yes, Boss."