A Change in Attitude

[Ding—]

[Detected Bond Object “Qian Renxue” undergoing training with a load beyond her limits. Tenfold return triggered.]

[Congratulations, host! You have received: Physical Body Enhancement +1...]

As another steady stream of warmth flowed into his body, Qian Renchuan perked up at once.

"Whoa."

"She's really going all out, isn't she?"

"Class only just ended, and she's already gone off to train her body again?"

"She makes even the hardest workers look lazy!"

Qian Renchuan had to admit he was impressed.

Compared with his second sibling, he really did seem like a good-for-nothing.

But he had a system, didn't he?

Then something Huo Yuhao had thought earlier flashed through his mind.

Wait.

Didn't Third mention Whale Rubber?

How did I forget about that?

That stuff can temper the body and make it stronger.

Qian Renchuan's eyes brightened as he worked through the idea.

Second must be training this hard so she can absorb a Soul Ring beyond what her body should be able to withstand.

If I can get her some Whale Rubber, her body will grow much stronger.

And the stronger her body gets...

The more outrageous my tenfold return will be!

I can't lose on a deal like that!

A grin tugged at Qian Renchuan's lips.

I'll have to find time to search Spirit Hall's treasury. Maybe there's some Whale Rubber in there.

In this era,

no one knew what Whale Rubber was good for.

But that didn't mean Spirit Hall's treasury held none.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao caught sight of Qian Renchuan rolling over and going back to sleep. His inward sneer deepened.

Heh.

What a useless ignoramus.

He sees me working on all these strange-looking pieces of metal and doesn't even ask what they are.

An idiot without a shred of curiosity will spend his whole life ignorant of the wider world.

Still, that works for me. If he can't understand it, I won't have to hide what I'm doing.

Once I finish the Fixed-Installation Soul Tool, I'm leaving this evil place!

With that thought,

Huo Yuhao cleared his mind.

He focused all his mental energy on the Carving Knife in his hand, and his engraving grew faster.

At the same time,

on the Back Mountain of Spirit Academy,

the sun was setting, but the air was still sweltering.

A small figure was struggling up the mountain's steep path.

It was Qian Renxue.

Her thin training clothes were soaked with sweat and clung to her young body.

Yet despite the enormous slab of pig iron on her back,

Qian Renxue kept her lip clenched between her teeth and continued climbing.

Her calves shook violently with every step, and she was breathing hard.

Even so, she pressed on without the slightest intention of turning back or giving up.

Almost there.

Just a little farther!

I'm nearly at the mountain summit!

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, her face set with determination.

If I hold on a little longer, my body will grow that much stronger.

Tang San, if you can break the rules, so can I!

This time, I'll crush you so completely you'll never rise again!

Crack!

A loose rock shattered beneath her foot.

Qian Renxue stumbled, and her knee slammed into the rough stone again.

Blood seeped out at once,

staining her trouser leg red.

But she did not so much as glance at it. She dug both hands into the edge of the rock, forced herself upright, and kept climbing.

That kind of willpower

would have put any adult Soul Master to shame.

Far away, atop a tall tower overlooking the Back Mountain,

several chiefs of Spirit Academy stood watching the stubborn figure on the path.

They watched Qian Renxue fall again and again,

then get up every time.

Every chief looked stunned.

"Miss Xue's resolve is frightening."

One of the chiefs could not help voicing his admiration.

"She's only six, yet she can push herself this hard."

"Exactly."

Another chief nodded repeatedly, his expression complicated.

"That slab of pig iron weighs over a hundred jin. Never mind a child without a Soul Ring—even an adult Soul Grandmaster would struggle to carry it up a mountain."

"With Miss Xue here, Spirit Hall's future is bound to be brighter than ever."

"His Holiness the Pope has a wonderful daughter!"

The other chiefs chimed in, full of praise and hope for Qian Renxue.

Then someone suddenly asked,

"By the way,"

"what is the Eldest Young Master doing?"

"He sent a level-twenty-one student flying with one punch today. Didn't His Holiness the Pope order us to find more people to spur him on?"

"Has that stirred up his ambition too?"

At those words,

the tower fell silent.

The chiefs who had been speaking so freely all stiffened.

Then

dead silence settled over them.

They exchanged awkward looks. Not one of them knew how to answer.

What was the Eldest Young Master doing?

Sleeping, of course!

What else would he be doing?

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning,

the sun shone brightly.

Warm sunlight streamed through the windows and filled the dormitory.

Qian Renchuan was still asleep

when Li Yan and Zhao Mang quietly set the breakfast they had fetched, along with some water, beside his bed.

Only after everything was ready did they carefully nudge him.

"Eldest Young Master."

"We brought your breakfast back."

"Oh."

Qian Renchuan yawned himself awake.

The first things he saw were Li Yan's and Zhao Mang's faces, swollen like pig heads, both wearing fawning smiles.

"You're awake, Eldest Young Master."

Li Yan hurriedly offered him a towel.

"We've prepared water for you to wash your face. It's just the right temperature."

Zhao Mang nodded along, holding a tray of breakfast.

"The meat buns and beast milk are fresh from the kitchen. Please have them while they're hot, Eldest Young Master."

Qian Renchuan stretched. Seeing how obedient the two had become, he was quite pleased.

Before bed last night,

they had made a little noise while cleaning up.

Qian Renchuan had seized on the excuse to give them another thorough beating, leaving them howling for mercy.

Judging by the result,

those two beatings had worked wonders.

Qian Renchuan sat up, took the towel, and wiped his face.

Then he noticed Huo Yuhao's bed was already empty, its blanket folded neatly.

Third slipped out early.

Qian Renchuan chuckled to himself.

If he left at this hour, he must have found some deserted corner to practice the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Purple Demon Eyes.

If you two insist on working this hard, your big brother won't feel bad about collecting his share.

The next moment,

he summoned the system panel in his mind.

[Host: Qian Renchuan]

[Martial Souls: Skin, Seraphim]

[Level: 25 (Soul Grandmaster)]

[Mental: 236 (normal level-25 standard: 135)]

[Physical Body: 364 (normal level-25 standard: 205)]

[Soul Power: 3912/3910 (level-26 Soul Power standard: 3910)]

[Bond Object (1): Qian Renxue; current status: cultivating Soul Power]

[Bond Object (2): Huo Yuhao; current status: practicing the Mysterious Heaven Skill]

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