Beat Me, and I'll Behave

As that kick sent him back into the encirclement, Tang Wulin felt his chest tighten, and even the white soul ring beneath his feet dimmed.

To force his way out earlier, he had pressed the power of his first soul ring onto the people around him. That crushing pressure consumed the most soul power to begin with. Now that Mu Xi had shattered it with a head-on kick, his already meager reserves were almost instantly drained.

He staggered back two steps before barely steadying himself.

"You actually dared to ram into me!"

The tall student he had knocked aside with his shoulder had recovered by now. His face alternated between pale and livid as he raised a fist to smash into Tang Wulin's face.

"Stop!"

Mu Xi snapped.

The tall student froze and finally stopped. But unable to swallow his anger, he reached out and shoved Tang Wulin again, his eyes blazing with fury.

Tang Wulin ignored him and simply raised his head to look at Mu Xi.

Only then did he truly take in her appearance.

Two yellow soul rings slowly rose beneath her feet, her soul power fluctuations clearly more than a single tier above his. A golden halo hovered over her head, its light brilliant but not dazzling, though it faintly heated the air around it. Above her left shoulder danced a small orange-red flame, evidently her soul spirit.

Two rings.

A Soul Grandmaster.

And one with a particularly powerful fire-attribute martial soul.

Tang Wulin's heart sank.

Mu Xi had already walked up to him and was looking down at him.

"I'm Mu Xi, from Class One of the Fifth Grade in the Intermediate Division." Her voice was cold. "I want to compete with you in forging."

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened slightly, but he said nothing.

Mu