Soul Ascension Pill! And You Still Say There's Nothing Between You Two!

The Stunning Charm's faint white light shot from the tip of the Wand toward the figure gazing down on all beneath her. An icy-blue light followed from Huo Yuhao's fingertip.

Seeing two ants dare to resist, the delirious Ma Xiaotao flared with dark-red flames that were wreathed in wisps of black, burning fiercer than before.

Of her six Soul Rings in the optimal configuration, one yellow, one purple, and one black lit up. A thread of fire, compressed to its limit, gathered in the mouth of the Fire Phoenix behind her, ready to erupt. Then the faint white light struck Ma Xiaotao herself.

Her eyes, almost blazing with fire, went briefly vacant, and the violent aura around her faded. But it lasted only a moment.

Just as she came to her senses, an extreme chill burrowed into her body.

Cold swept through her. White frost coated her skin, and the Soul Power already raging out of control within her seemed to freeze along with her consciousness.

Splash!

Ma Xiaotao, now an ice sculpture, fell into the water.

Lu Yi turned toward Huo Yuhao and found him grinning. Then, as if realizing something, the grin vanished and he fainted again.

"How many times have you passed out these past few days?"

Lu Yi had lost count. Seeing that neither of the other two seemed about to wake, he simply tipped over too.

He was injured as well. No sense toughing it out!

Not long after he lay down, he heard the rustle of people landing.

"Oh no, we've hurt students from the Outer Court."

A vigorous voice came from behind Lu Yi. The next moment, he felt his body float upward.

"Luckily, their injuries are minor. Teacher Li, please treat them."

Yan Shaozhe laid the three of them side by side on the ground, and another middle-aged man in white stepped forward.

As his Tree of Life Martial Soul appeared, seven Soul Rings rose around him. The rich Life Force slowly revived even the withered plants that had been scorched nearby.

Under the healing effect, the burning pain in Lu Yi's body faded. There was no need to keep pretending to be unconscious, so he opened his eyes first.

A Soul Saint was casting a spell before him. Seeing Lu Yi awake, he said nothing and continued treating the other two.

Behind the Soul Saint stood a rather handsome old man, though all his attention was on Ma Xiaotao. She had just been fished out and now looked like a drenched chicken.

So that's Yan Shaozhe, Shrek's dean? Lu Yi thought. I've heard he's pretty petty.

Once Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao had woken as well, Yan Shaozhe sent everyone else back to Sea God Island. Only then did he turn to the three of them and, without another word, toss each of them a Pill.

"Please forget what happened today. This is your compensation. I trust you're all smart enough to understand."

Yan Shaozhe put particular emphasis on "please." Anyone could hear the threat in his voice.

But what could the three of them do, even if they objected?

"Go to class, and forget what happened today."

With that final remark, Yan Shaozhe took flight and vanished into the thin mist over the lake in the blink of an eye.

"A Soul Ascension Pill! It's actually a Soul Ascension Pill! We've struck it rich!" The moment Wang Dong saw the green Pill in her hand, everything that had just happened went out of her mind.

Huo Yuhao didn't know what a Soul Ascension Pill was, but Lu Yi did.

As Wang Dong explained, Huo Yuhao's expression grew steadily more astonished.

A Pill that could raise a Soul Master's Soul Power by one level at rank thirty? If he took it now, wouldn't he gain two or even three levels?

Wang Dong warned them, however, that they had only just taken Mystic Water Pills. It would be best to wait until they had fully absorbed the medicinal effects.

Lu Yi rubbed the Soul Ascension Pill he had lucked into, lost in thought.

Once he took it, wouldn't his Soul Power reach rank twenty?

He had only been back from the Star Dou Great Forest a few days, and already he would need to apply to the Academy for another Soul Hunting trip.

Leveling up too fast was a headache too!

"Come on, class is about to start!"

Lu Yi put away the Soul Ascension Pill, called out to the other two, and headed for the Teaching Building.

When he reached the classroom, Zhou Sichen saw Lu Yi for the first time since the previous day. With a knowing look and a wicked grin, he pulled Lu Yi aside.

"Come clean! Where were you yesterday? Were you sneaking off to meet some girl from class?"

As he spoke, Zhou Sichen looked Lu Yi up and down, as though hoping to find a clue on his face or neck.

"What are you talking about? I sat by the lake all night so I wouldn't disturb you!" Lu Yi waved him off. His roommate was getting a little perverted.

But Zhou Sichen heard something else entirely. He slapped his thigh in envy. "You're moving way too fast! Teach me how. I'm begging you!"

"What on earth are you thinking?" Lu Yi turned away and ignored him.

Zhou Sichen took that as a sign of guilt. Yet after scrutinizing Lu Yi for ages, he found no suspicious marks on his skin, only some slight scorching on his clothes.

He clearly wasn't going to get an answer, so Zhou Sichen dropped the subject. Then he remembered what else he wanted to say and grew smug. "Guess what Class Monitor Ning told me when she called me away yesterday?"

Lu Yi said nothing, giving only a perfunctory hum. Zhou Sichen took it as permission to continue. "She actually asked to be friends with me, and she even treated me to a meal! Help me figure it out. Do you think she likes me?"

Lu Yi turned to look at Zhou Sichen. His face went rigid for a moment before he recovered and nodded.

"It's possible."

That answer fired Zhou Sichen up. He didn't even notice the change in Lu Yi's expression and pressed on. "Then what do you think she sees in me?"

"Confidence, I guess!"

Lu Yi couldn't bring himself to crush him, so that was all he said. Zhou Sichen beamed and nodded in agreement. "That's what I thought."

Suddenly, Lu Yi sensed a change in Zhou Sichen. He sat up straight, looking serious, while his eyes stole a glance toward the door.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng had entered the classroom.

Lu Yi turned to look as well and found Ning Tian looking their way. When she saw them, she nodded politely. Beside her, Wu Feng shot Lu Yi a sour look.

Only after Ning Tian and Wu Feng had sat down did Zhou Sichen mutter, "See? Ning Tian smiled at me! But what's going on between you and that red-haired girl?"

"Nothing's going on!"

The morning lesson was theoretical, but it included an extra demonstration segment. For the latter half, they went outside.

Mu Jin had all hundred students in the class sit on the ground. "Next, I'll call up two Power Attack System students for a practical demonstration and point out their mistakes. Watch closely!"

She seemed to have chosen them already. "Wu Feng, Zhou Sichen, step forward!"

Zhou Sichen sprang to his feet at the sound of his name. Seeing that the other student rising was the red-haired girl who sat beside Ning Tian, he rubbed his hands together and looked at Lu Yi.

Lu Yi's face remained as calm as still water, making Zhou Sichen doubt his own judgment.

Could it be that there really was nothing between Lu Yi and her?

But once he reached the field, Mu Jin had them state their names before the fight, and both sides summoned their Martial Souls.

When Zhou Sichen saw the Fire Dragon radiating heat behind Wu Feng, however, he suddenly remembered the scorch marks on Lu Yi's clothes.

"And you still say there's nothing between you two!"