Thirty Years on the East Bank, Thirty Years on the West!

"A Netherworld Wolf around a hundred years old is about as strong as a human Soul Master. I've already beaten Gangzi despite the level gap. Why would I be afraid of you?" Xiao Ran gave the wolf a quick once-over. It crouched low, its green eyes fixed on him.

"Then I'll take you out first. Fuck!"

"Super Fusion, Ultraman Ginga."

The instant the mechanical voice sounded, the Netherworld Wolf flinched back half a step. Then it growled and lunged straight at Xiao Ran's face.

"So this is a hundred-year Soul Beast? That's it? You're not even as fast as me."

"Ginga Lance!"

The lance swept upward, its tip piercing the wolf's belly. The Netherworld Wolf let out a shrill howl and flew backward, slamming into an ancient tree. A yellow soul ring appeared.

"One thrust did it. You're even more fragile than I expected."

He crouched, shortened the Spark Lance into the Dark Silver Spark, and canceled his transformation.

"Seal! Spark Doll!"

As the sealing proceeded, the Dark Silver Spark gradually turned dark purple. Black-purple gas poured out and slowly enveloped the Netherworld Wolf.

"What's this? Dark Spark Form?"

While Xiao Ran stared in shock, the Netherworld Wolf rapidly shrank into a black, wolf-shaped doll lying on the ground.

"Well, look at that. It got smaller. Now I've got three dolls."

"Ding! Congratulations, host! You've earned the First Doll Sealed achievement. The system has unlocked permission to use Dark Lugiel, and your soul power has risen to level seven!"

"Nice! I can finally use Dark Lugiel. He's the guy who turned even the Ultramen of the Land of Light into dolls. Sealing the Sea God should be a piece of cake." Excitement flashed in Xiao Ran's eyes.

Just then, a familiar voice came from nearby.

"This is a ten-year Lone Bamboo. Its strength lies in its toughness. Its attack power is weak, but its defense is decent, making it well suited to your Blue Silver Grass. Little San, trust your teacher's judgment," Yu Xiaogang said, patting Tang San on the shoulder.

Tang San cupped his fists. "Don't worry, Teacher. I've never doubted you."

Xiao Ran immediately stopped and ducked behind a thick tree.

That voice... Gangzi's playing life coach to Tang San again. And a ten-year Lone Bamboo? Does he seriously expect Tang San to pole-vault all the way to the divine realm with his Blue Silver Grass? Hiding behind the tree, Xiao Ran nearly burst out laughing.

Xiao Ran raised the Netherworld Wolf doll toward the Ginga Spark, and a thought struck him.

If I can fuse with Ultraman Ginga, can I use Super Fusion with these Soul Beast dolls too?

As if sensing his thought, the system immediately chimed.

"Ding! Soul Beast doll detected. Super Fusion is available. Confirm fusion with the Netherworld Wolf?"

"Gangzi, since you love giving lectures so much, I'll give you a live demonstration."

"Confirm!"

"Super Fusion—Netherworld Wolf!"

Black light flashed. Xiao Ran transformed into a pitch-black Netherworld Wolf standing upright, with green eyes, bared fangs, and raised fur along his spine.

"Holy shit, I'm standing up. I thought I'd be crawling around. Guess I'm a werewolf now."

"Awooo!"

Yu Xiaogang jolted. "What was that? Little San, stay alert!"

A tall, dark figure emerged from the shadows of the trees.

Gangzi eyed it warily. "A level-ten Netherworld Wolf dares to bother us? Wait. It looks different from an ordinary Netherworld Wolf."

"Hmph. Different or not, it's still just a little level-ten wolf."

"Sanpao!"

"Fart Like Thunder, Shake the Heavens and Split the Earth, Luo Sanpao!"

Luo Sanpao appeared at once. Gangzi cast his technique and sent a yellow soul ring into Luo Sanpao. Luo Sanpao kicked off with his hind legs, leaped with all his might, and aimed his fat backside at Xiao Ran. The blast struck straight to the soul!

Tang San attacked alongside Gangzi, firing his Silent Sleeve Arrow at Xiao Ran through the thick, foul-smelling fart.

Xiao Ran couldn't help complaining. "Fuck, this move again? You already remade that Silent Sleeve Arrow? Don't you two have anything else up your sleeves?"

He kicked off hard with his hind legs and easily dodged the yellow cloud and the hidden weapon. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

"This ten-year Netherworld Wolf's speed is all wrong!" Tang San lashed out with his Blue Silver Grass. "Teacher, it's much faster than a normal Netherworld Wolf!"

"No matter how fast it is, it's still only a ten-year Soul Beast! Little San, flank it from both sides. Don't let it escape!"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass coiled toward him from one side. Xiao Ran planted a forepaw, twisted strangely through the air, and slipped past it like a fish. Then he swept out with his right claw.

"Slash!"

"That's no ordinary Netherworld Wolf!" Tang San snapped his head up.

"What?" Yu Xiaogang's expression changed drastically. "But its soul-power fluctuations clearly put it at only around ten years... Could it be a mutated Soul Beast?"

What the fuck do you mean, mutated Soul Beast? You don't know a damn thing. Gangzi, are you just saying whatever you dreamed up?

Xiao Ran shifted and circled behind Yu Xiaogang. He reached out with his right claw and pinned Luo Sanpao squarely by the back.

Luo Sanpao yelped in fright, and the fart he had just worked up fizzled out.

"Netherworld Wind-Rending Claw!"

Three streaks of claw-light flew over Yu Xiaogang's head, shearing off three hairs before striking a tree behind him. Its bark burst apart, leaving a deep claw mark.

Yu Xiaogang's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, his face full of terror.

Xiao Ran bounded backward, turned, and vanished into the depths of the forest.

"Teacher, are you all right?" Tang San helped Yu Xiaogang up.

Gangzi's face was white as paper, but he forced himself to speak. "I'm fine... That Netherworld Wolf was just too strange. It had level-ten soul power, yet it could use such a powerful soul skill. A mutation like that appears only once in a century."

By then, Xiao Ran had already run out of Spirit Hunting Forest. He canceled the fusion and sat on the ground, panting.

"Damn, Ginga's still easier to use. At my current level, controlling a doll with more soul power than me takes too much effort." Xiao Ran was drenched in sweat.

He glanced back toward the forest and grinned. "Gangzi's probably still in there calling me a mutant. That's hilarious."

"Host has completed a Soul Beast transformation. Multi-Fusion Mode is now unlocked. You can currently fuse with two Soul Beast dolls at once. Reach level ten and absorb a soul ring as soon as possible to obtain a skill exclusive to your Martial Soul."

"Got it!" Xiao Ran replied with a smile.

"It's getting late. Time to head back to the academy."

At dusk, Xiao Ran returned to Seventh Dorm. Tang San came back much later.

"Well, Lord Tang San, where were you out so late? Off chasing women at your age?" Xiao Ran asked, deliberately provoking him.

"Xiao Ran, shut up! I went to hunt my first soul ring today. You think I'm like you, lying around the dorm all day instead of cultivating?"

"Quit your bullshit. I've only been at the academy a few days, and I'm already at level seven. You're still stuck at level ten. All you do is yap. Keep it up, and I'll make a eunuch out of you!"

"You!! I'm reporting you!" Tang San was furious, but he swallowed his anger.

Xiao Ran couldn't help marveling. No wonder he came here from another life. I pushed him that far, and he still held back. Tang San's patience really is one of a kind.

The next day, Tang San went to Gangzi's office and told him what had happened the night before.

"He injured both of us a few days ago, and yesterday he bullied you again. I won't let anyone trample my disciple like this! Today, we settle the score!"

"Come, Little San! We're going to the principal's office. With my connections, why would I be afraid of some brat?" Gangzi grabbed Tang San and left.

After learning what had happened, the principal personally sought out Xiao Ran that afternoon.

The principal pointed at Xiao Ran angrily. "Xiao Ran, first-year work-study student, you're expelled! Get out of our academy. We have no place for a student who attacks his teacher!"

"Unbelievable. Now they're playing the victim too? Yu Xiaogang and the others attacked first. Why am I the one getting blamed?"

Gangzi glared at him. "Lies! You attacked first, and you insulted both me and Little San. Everyone at the academy can testify for us. Just wait to be expelled!"

"Fine! Nuoding Academy? More like Corrupt Academy! Fuck! Yu Xiaogang, you bastard hiding behind your connections, just you wait. Fortunes change. Don't look down on me just because I'm young and poor!"

After packing his things, Xiao Ran left Nuoding Academy.

If they won't have me here, I'll find somewhere that will. Strength rules this continent. Looks like I have no choice but to get stronger.

With a foxtail grass stem between his teeth, Xiao Ran strolled back toward Holy Soul Village.