Challenge a Soul Elder?

The next day!

Yang Que walked through the academy toward Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's office!

"Look! That's the monster student at our academy. I heard he knocked down Boss Xiao from the sixth year with one punch, without even summoning his Martial Soul!"

"Come on! You're way behind. You know Tang San?"

"Sure! The work-study student who beat Boss Xiao!"

"Right! Him! Did you know Tang San couldn't even touch the hem of that monster's clothes when he went all out? And the guy still hadn't released his Martial Soul! Everyone at the academy says that monster's practically as strong as an instructor!"

"Seriously? That's terrifying!"

Yang Que felt helpless. Ever since he had shown his strength yesterday, the students who had been there had spread the news! Everywhere he went, the talk followed him without end. Monster, freak, demon... new nicknames kept cropping up! Plenty of female students had even cast flirtatious glances his way. There was nothing Yang Que could do about that, either!

Application in hand, Yang Que entered the academic affairs building!

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!"

Yang Que pushed open the door and saw Yu Xiaogang absorbed in a book!

Yu Xiaogang looked up, a little surprised to see him!

"Well, if it isn't our great genius! What can I do for you?" Yu Xiaogang asked, beaming!

After all, who wouldn't be delighted to have such a genius at their academy? Yu Xiaogang worked there too, even if Yang Que had beaten his disciple!

"What great genius? It's all been exaggerated as the story spread! Grandmaster, I'm here to submit an application." Yang Que scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed!

Puzzled, Yu Xiaogang took the application Yang Que held out!

After reading it for a moment, Yu Xiaogang shot to his feet and stared at him in shock!

"What? You want five years' leave? And you want to go train in the Star Dou Great Forest alone?" Shock and bewilderment filled Yu Xiaogang's face!

"Yes!" Yang Que remained calm!

"No!" Yu Xiaogang refused flatly!

"Why?" Yang Que was puzzled!

"Why? Don't you know how dangerous the Star Dou Great Forest is? You want to go alone, and for five whole years! If something happens to you, how am I supposed to answer to your brother Tang San? How am I supposed to answer to the academy? Yes, you're strong now, but beyond every person stands someone stronger, and beyond every sky lies another sky! Forget the threat from Soul Masters. Even the Soul Beasts alone are more than you can handle! You're not ready!" Yu Xiaogang was visibly agitated!

"Grandmaster, I told you when I first arrived at the academy: my path is mine to walk! Even if an abyss lies ahead, I won't regret it..." Yang Que's resolve was unwavering!

"No! I won't approve it!" Yu Xiaogang shook his head, just as resolute!

Boom! Yang Que suddenly released his Martial Soul!

Blood-soaked killing intent flooded the office, and its force shattered the doors and windows!

A blood-red Blood Sword appeared beside Yang Que, and a purple Soul Ring slowly came into view!

Yang Que looked like an Asura!

"What? A purple First Soul Ring? How is that possible?" The force drove Yu Xiaogang back several steps. He accidentally knocked over his book, his face full of shock!

"Well, Grandmaster? Am I ready now?" Yang Que asked Yu Xiaogang, folding his arms across his chest.

But Yu Xiaogang seemed not to hear him.

"How can this be? It defies all reason. A thousand-year First Soul Ring? How could the human body withstand it..." Yu Xiaogang muttered to himself!

Crash! A tremendous force smashed apart what remained of the doorframe!

"Grandmaster! What happened? Are we under attack?" A group of instructors rushed into Yu Xiaogang's office!

They froze when they saw the scene before them!

Yang Que stood to one side with his Martial Soul released, while Yu Xiaogang stood opposite him, lost in thought...

"H-headmaster, look at Yang Que's Soul Ring..." one instructor said to the sturdy middle-aged man beside him, disbelief written across his face!

The middle-aged man turned to Yang Que, and his face filled with disbelief too. "A Th-thousand-Year Soul Ring! Th-this... It can't be real!"

They stared at one another, every face seeming to say the same thing: impossible!

Yang Que and Yu Xiaogang both looked toward the doorway but paid the newcomers no mind. Yang Que quietly withdrew his Martial Soul, and Yu Xiaogang sank back into thought!

The office fell so silent a dropped needle would have been heard!

"Ahem!" Yu Xiaogang finally broke the silence!

"Yang Que, given your strength, I can consider your application! If you defeat an instructor who's a three-ring Soul Elder, I'll approve it!" Yu Xiaogang said solemnly!

"Grandmaster! Approve what?" the headmaster asked, coming over!

Yu Xiaogang handed the headmaster the application Yang Que had given him!

The headmaster's expression shifted again and again as he read it. He turned to Yu Xiaogang. "Are you sure you want to approve this? Do you know what it would mean? He's the most outstanding student this academy has ever had. If anything happens to him, our loss will be far greater than a single student!"

Yu Xiaogang replied calmly, "I don't have a choice. You've seen how stubborn he is! I can't change his mind!"

The headmaster's expression shifted once more as he walked over to Yang Que. "Young man, are you certain? Even I wouldn't dare set foot in that place lightly!"

Yang Que nodded, determination on his face. "I'm certain. An eagle sheltered from the storm can never grow!"

"Fine! We'll do as the Grandmaster said. If you defeat a three-ring Soul Elder, I won't object!" the headmaster said.

As Yu Xiaogang and the headmaster saw it, no matter how extraordinary a one-ring Soul Master was, he could never defeat a three-ring Soul Elder. Not even if that genius possessed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

"Fine! But once I defeat a three-ring instructor, I expect you to stop standing in my way!" Yang Que nodded too!

"Of course. If you defeat a three-ring Soul Elder, you'll have proved you can protect yourself to some extent in the Star Dou Great Forest. We won't stop you from going!" the headmaster said generously!

"Good. I'll see you at the academy's training arena at this time tomorrow. Pick whichever instructor you like!" With that, Yang Que walked out.

"That boy certainly has nerve. We must choose a Power Attack System instructor, one close to level forty! I refuse to believe he can win against someone like that!" The headmaster and Yu Xiaogang exchanged crafty smiles!

The next day!

The morning sun rose, casting bright light over the training arena and the dark mass of people within it. The seats were already packed with students!

"Have you heard? That monster from our academy is challenging an instructor! A three-ring Soul Elder, no less. He's got some nerve!"

"Exactly! I don't know what he's thinking. Does he believe he's invincible? He really doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth runs!"

The students whispered among themselves, and few thought Yang Que stood a chance! One side was only a first-year student, while the other was already an instructor—and a three-ring Soul Elder at that! However they looked at it, Yang Que's chances of winning were slim!

"Brother Que, have you really thought this through? Are you truly going to challenge an instructor? Is it worth challenging one just so you can train in the Star Dou Great Forest?" Tang San's face was full of worry!

Yang Que smiled. "It is! Why wouldn't it be? My path is mine to walk. I don't need anyone telling me how to walk it! Believe in your brother. Not even a Soul Elder can stop me!"

Tang San looked at Yang Que's confident face, shook his head, and sighed. Only last night, his teacher had told him that Yang Que wanted to train in the Star Dou Great Forest but first had to pass a test set by him and the headmaster!

Tang San watched Yang Que slowly enter the training arena. His retreating figure looked so solitary and proud, so confident!

Brother Que, I hope you succeed! Go forward and forge your own path!

As Yang Que entered the arena, a great wave of cheers greeted him. "Yang Que! Yang Que! Yang Que! Victory! Victory! Victory..."

"Ah! Yang Que, you're so handsome! I like you..."

Though many doubted Yang Que, he had plenty of supporters too. His fight two days ago had made his name overnight! He had gained considerable fame, though most of his admirers were female students!

"Looks like the boy's quite famous! Beat him and knock him down a peg! I refuse to believe a one-ring Soul Master can defeat a three-ring Soul Elder. The opponent we picked for him is strong!" The headmaster, Yu Xiaogang, and a group of instructors sat on the central viewing platform!

Yang Que stood calmly in the arena, hands clasped behind his back as he waited for his opponent...

Then a middle-aged man in an instructor's uniform slowly entered from the other side!

"Is that...? He's a sixth-year instructor! A Power Attack System Battle Soul Master! I think his Martial Soul is the Thunder Tiger! That monster Yang Que's in trouble now!"

"Hahaha! It's a sixth-year instructor! He's bound to lose. Look at him standing there like he owns the place. I can't wait to see his face when he loses!"

Many students recognized the instructor the moment he appeared. Some gloated, while others worried for Yang Que!

The students who were gloating pointed at Yang Que and laughed!

Yet there stood Yang Que, a mere one-ring Soul Master, daring to challenge an instructor who was a three-ring Soul Elder! Those students could only point and gloat. They weren't even Soul Masters themselves; the thought of challenging an instructor had never crossed their minds!

Their laughter was nothing but the wailing of the weak!

"Yang Que, I heard about you two days ago! You're a genius, but pride, blind confidence, and overestimating yourself will get you nowhere! Today I'm here to teach you the difference in strength between a Soul Master and a Soul Elder!" the middle-aged instructor declared!

Yang Que said nothing!

The instructor wasted no more words and released his Martial Soul. "Wang Yingjie. Level thirty-eight. Power Attack System Beast Martial Soul: Thunder Tiger!" Three Soul Rings appeared beneath Wang Yingjie's feet: yellow, yellow, and purple! It was the standard Soul Ring configuration! His muscles began to swell, fine blue fur sprouted across his body, and the character for "king" appeared on his forehead! Behind him, a Thunder Tiger flickered in and out of view before roaring fiercely at Yang Que!

A powerful aura rushed toward Yang Que, but he did not move!

"Where does my confidence come from? From my strength! My path is mine to walk! Why would I need anyone to teach me?" Yang Que unleashed a mighty force! A blood-red aura swept across the arena! A crimson Blood Sword emerged beside him, and a purple Soul Ring slowly appeared beneath his feet!

"Is that a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?" The students in the stands were stunned. Even Wang Yingjie, standing in the arena, stared in shock!

At that moment, not a soul remained unmoved, and not a soul would forget Yang Que's name!

The moment Yang Que chose to reveal his Thousand-Year Soul Ring before the crowd, he sealed this day's place in history. This was the day a young man rose...