An Unexpected Roadblock, and Trouble Behind It

The students looked from one another to the next, shock written across every face.

"What level are you now, junior? How much Innate Soul Power did you have? What martial soul did you awaken?" a girl asked in rapid succession.

"A beast martial soul." Qin Yu looked up at her and smiled, then lowered his head and went back to his book.

"So mysterious."

The girl muttered under her breath. Curious as she was, she did not press him.

The others were just as eager to know what kind of beast martial soul Qin Yu had and how strong he was now.

More students gradually arrived. Many learned about Qin Yu, and their curiosity grew.

Once everyone was there, the teacher arrived as well.

He had already been informed, so he knew about Qin Yu too. He even knew a few details.

Of course, he had no intention of saying more.

He would do what he was supposed to do. There was no need to make everything public.

"The academy recently updated its meditation method for Soul Masters. After class, remember to adjust your practice according to the method the academy has published."

"All right, let's begin."

The teacher smiled, then started the day's theory lesson.

In fact, what he taught was much the same as what was written in the textbooks.

But by drawing on his own experience and explaining the theory in plain terms, he helped everyone grasp it faster.

They could study on their own, of course.

With a teacher, though, they could absorb and digest the material more efficiently, leaving more time to meditate and cultivate their Soul Power.

The morning classes soon ended. The afternoon was reserved for independent cultivation.

After memorizing the meditation method, Qin Yu went to the cafeteria and picked up a lunch to take away. It was still free.

He returned to his dorm, ate, and immediately began cultivating.

At this rate, I'll reach level fifteen soon.

After absorbing his first soul ring, Qin Yu's Soul Power Level had not been at the very start of level fourteen. It had been somewhere around the middle.

With Spirit Academy's meditation method, he was certain to reach level fifteen within a month.

"Hah..."

Qin Yu let out a long breath, settled his mind, and focused on cultivating.

The next three months followed the same pattern. Every day, Qin Yu went between class and his dorm. If he was not in class, he was cultivating.

His Soul Power Level rose steadily to level fifteen.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, however, still had not appeared to take him as a disciple.

Qin Yu was in no hurry.

Even if he had read too much into everything before, it hardly mattered. Gold would shine wherever it was.

That day, Qin Yu picked up another lunch from the cafeteria to take back to his dorm.

But some uninvited guests appeared.

"Qin Yu."

Three students blocked his path on the way back.

Qin Yu had heard of them.

They were students in the Soul Grandmaster class, all three at level twenty-two.

They were brothers who possessed the Azure Edge Sword martial soul. At the academy, they were known as the "Three Musketeers."

Their names were interesting too: the eldest was Xia Jian, the second was Xia Liu, and the youngest was Xia Zhuo.

"Is there something you need, seniors?"

Qin Yu's expression and voice were calm.

Xia Jian smiled and got straight to the point. "Junior Qin, interested in a spar?"

"No."

"Uh..."

All three froze. None of them had expected Qin Yu to reject them outright.

"If there's nothing else, I need to cultivate."

Qin Yu walked around them. He had no interest in competing with these kids.

He was a kid himself, but mentally he was already an adult. He had no desire to get mixed up in this.

Seeing him leave, Xia Liu and Xia Zhuo instinctively put their hands on his shoulders.

"Don't rush off, Junior Qin."

"Yeah, it's only a spar. The academy encourages students to exchange pointers."

They spoke with easy smiles.

"Let go."

Qin Yu shrugged off their hands and turned to look at them, his gaze growing cold. "I don't like people putting their hands on my shoulders without permission. Especially strangers."

With that, Qin Yu turned away. He wanted nothing more to do with them.

But the three did not back off.

"Wait."

Xia Zhuo had not listened at all. He put his hand on Qin Yu's shoulder again. "We just—ah!"

Before he could finish, Qin Yu seized his arm and yanked him forward, slamming him hard to the ground with a shoulder throw.

The force of the throw was staggering.

Xia Zhuo felt as though his bones were about to break.

Xia Jian and Xia Liu stared in disbelief.

By the time they reacted, Qin Yu was already approaching them, his gaze indifferent and his presence intimidating.

"Your names suit you perfectly."

With that, Qin Yu grabbed Xia Liu by the collar and hurled him away.

It happened so suddenly that Xia Liu could not react at all.

"Ah!"

Xia Liu cried out as he flew into a nearby tree and struck it hard.

The impact made the entire tree shudder. Green leaves scattered across the ground.

That single throw left Xia Liu unable to fight back.

"Qin Yu, you!"

Xia Jian snapped out of it and hurriedly channeled his Soul Power, preparing to summon his martial soul.

But Qin Yu was faster. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Xia Jian, driving a fist toward his stomach.

He held back somewhat, of course.

He had been born with extraordinary strength, and his physical power was immense. If he struck with everything he had, an ordinary Soul Grandmaster would not survive.

Thud!

"Ugh..."

Xia Jian's face contorted in pain. His Soul Power dispersed before he could summon his martial soul.

By interrupting him like that, Qin Yu had left Xia Jian unable to use the strength his Soul Grandmaster cultivation should have given him.

Clutching his stomach, Xia Jian dropped to his knees, cold sweat pouring down his face.

He looked at Qin Yu in terror.

"I'll let this go because you three were only sent out to test me. Consider this a warning."

"Next time someone wants to use you as a weapon, think twice."

Qin Yu left them with those cold words and headed for his dorm.

Just before entering, he paused and looked back at the tree Xia Liu had struck. A crack ran through its trunk.

Then...

Bang!

Qin Yu entered the dorm and shut the door.

Outside the dorm building, the Three Musketeers took a long time to get to their feet. They limped away.

"What do we do, big brother?"

"Qin Yu's so strong. I really thought my bones were going to break... Ow, ow, ow!"

"Give that person the Gold Soul Coins back. Qin Yu isn't someone we can afford to provoke." Xia Jian drew a deep breath. Revenge was the last thing on his mind.

His two brothers nodded, their faces full of fear.

They had known Qin Yu was no ordinary student, but the Gold Soul Coins that person offered had been too tempting.

Besides, they had only been asked to spar with him and test him out. It did not even break academy rules. The deal had seemed well worth it.

Who could have known Qin Yu was this terrifying—or that he would strike the moment they crossed the line?

Had they known, they would never have taken the money.

Now they had earned nothing and taken a beating for their trouble. They had brought it on themselves.