Tang San had just returned to the dormitory when he found it completely empty.
He walked to the training ground.
There, he found quite a crowd gathered in a circle, seemingly discussing something.
Tang San walked over.
He heard someone say, "Have you heard? Brother Ji came back today. Boss Xiao said Brother Ji had already reached level twenty!"
"Level twenty!"
Someone beside him asked in surprise, "Wasn't Brother Ji only twelve? Level twenty at twelve years old-even in Heaven Dou City, that would make him a genius, wouldn't it?"
Soon, Wang Sheng came over, sounding rather proud. "Of course! Brother Ji has extraordinary talent. Even at an advanced soul master academy, he'd be a first-rate genius."
Tang San frowned as he listened to them.
Ji Hongchen had broken through!
Impossible. Didn't Teacher say Ji Hongchen's martial soul was defective? That he would most likely never become a Soul Grandmaster in his entire life? What was going on now?
No, wait.
Ji Hongchen had stolen Teacher's Gold Soul Coins back then. He must have broken through to Soul Grandmaster because he stole Teacher's Gold Soul Coins!
That damn Ji Hongchen.
Tang San clenched his fists. He himself was only a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster, yet Ji Hongchen had actually become a Soul Grandmaster too.
How was that possible?
He was a genius with innate full soul power. What right did Ji Hongchen have to stand on the same footing as him?
Seething with resentment, Tang San went to Yu Xiaogang's office.
"Teacher, Ji Hongchen has become a Soul Grandmaster too."
Inside the office, Yu Xiaogang looked as miserable as if he had swallowed shit. After all, he was only a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster himself, and Ji Hongchen was already close to catching up.
Yu Xiaogang sighed, his voice bitter.
"Alas, the Gold Soul Coins he stole from me helped repair his martial soul somewhat. I never imagined they would actually let him become a Soul Grandmaster. It's all my fault."
He refused to accept it!
Why had Ji Hongchen progressed so quickly while he remained stuck in place? Besides, Ji Hongchen at least had a sword martial soul. What did he have? A purple-skinned pig!
The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the angrier he became.
He slammed his palm onto the desk.
"That damn Ji Hongchen stole my Gold Soul Coins! Otherwise, he could never have progressed so quickly. This is all his fault!"
Yu Xiaogang completely broke down.
He had worked himself to the bone, consumed vast amounts of his family's resources, and endured other people's disdain and ridicule just to get this far.
Yet why hadn't Ji Hongchen suffered at all?
Why!
They had both started with only half a level of innate soul power. Why did Ji Hongchen have so many friends, an academy willing to support him, and such rapid breakthroughs?
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang seemed possessed.
His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched.
He roared hysterically in the room, unable to accept it. He was convinced that Ji Hongchen had achieved everything he had today only because he had stolen those five hundred Gold Soul Coins from him.
Ji Hongchen had destroyed everything he had.
"Ji Hongchen, you ruined me! I'll destroy you, whatever it takes!"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang like this pained Tang San deeply. He hurriedly steadied his crazed teacher and tried to console him.
"Teacher, calm down."
"Don't forget, Ji Hongchen's martial soul is still defective. He won't last much longer. He must have run out of money this time. He'll never turn his life around."
Yu Xiaogang calmed down.
He muttered to himself, "That's right. He won't last long. Repairing that trash's defective martial soul requires enormous quantities of minerals. He's just a commoner. There's no way he could have that much money!"
At that thought, a glint appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
"I'm fine now, Little San."
"Besides, I've gradually made some headway with the second awakening of martial souls. I believe that, through my research, my martial soul's second awakening will be even more perfect."
Yu Xiaogang had organized all the details of what Ji Hongchen had done back then, intending to follow his method and see whether he could induce a second awakening in his own martial soul.
"Teacher, you can definitely do it."
Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang and encouraged him.
For a moment, master and disciple smiled at each other, the atmosphere perfectly harmonious.
After leaving Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.
Ji Hongchen took his recommendation letter and headed toward Heaven Dou City, intending to try joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy. At least once he entered the academy, he would have the imperial family's protection, and no one would dare attack him within Heaven Dou City.
However, he did not intend to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy immediately.
He planned to wait a while first.
He would join Heaven Dou Royal Academy when it was time to hunt for his third Soul Ring.
He also needed to try finding a powerful backer.
For instance, he could try entering a redemption code to redeem that all-purpose backer, Dugu Bo. The problem was how to get in touch with him.
"Should I try approaching Dugu Yan?"
Ji Hongchen considered it.
Going directly to Dugu Yan herself probably wouldn't work, unless she happened to be obsessed with good looks and fell for his outrageously handsome face.
After thinking for a while, he saw that he was already far from Nuoding City.
Ji Hongchen summoned the Jinghong Sword and stepped straight onto it. A strand of sword intent connected him to the Jinghong Sword, keeping him from falling off.
This was another ability he had gained after learning Sword Sect Insights.
Sword Flight.
Now this was a true sword cultivator.
Seven days later.
Flying on his sword along the way, Ji Hongchen had taken in all the scenery of the Heaven Dou Empire. He even felt as though he reigned over the world, gazing down on mountains that all seemed small beneath him.
Once he drew near Heaven Dou City.
Ji Hongchen landed some distance away. After all, Heaven Dou City was crowded, with eyes everywhere, and sword flight was far too conspicuous. He did not want to attract unnecessary trouble as soon as he arrived.
Alas.
Life without powerful backing was far too difficult.
After paying the entry fee, Ji Hongchen entered Heaven Dou City. Looking at the bustling sights around him, he couldn't help remarking that even Suotuo City, one of the Ten Great Main Cities, probably wasn't a tenth as prosperous as Heaven Dou City.
Naturally, as the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Its Great Soul Arena was just as bustling. Participating in the betting would also earn him money much faster, far beyond what a small place like Suotuo City could offer.
"I still have over a thousand Gold Soul Coins. I'll keep them as starting capital. If I spend them, even making money later will become a problem."
He arrived at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
Ji Hongchen immediately produced his Silver Soul Badge. He had more than eighty consecutive wins, and now needed only a little over a thousand more points to advance to Gold Soul Fighting rank.
In other words, he needed to win just over ten more matches.
Since winning streaks were not shared between arenas, no one here knew of Ji Hongchen's record of eighty-seven consecutive victories in Suotuo City.
Although his opponents were not strong.
Ji Hongchen was happy to keep it that way.
After all, fish had to be fried slowly; rush things, and you'd end up with mud on your elbows.
Now that he was in Heaven Dou City, he naturally couldn't keep frying small fry aimlessly. Too many consecutive wins would attract attention, so he had to carefully control how hard he crushed them.
By managing his points, for example!
Ji Hongchen smiled faintly.
Before long, his first soul fighting match in Heaven Dou City was about to begin.
"Next, let us welcome the contestants for today's first soul fighting match! Silver Soul Badge holder 'Manli,' with five hundred matches to his name, will face 'Sword Lord,' a Silver Soul Badge holder arriving from another city!"
The announcer finished his introduction.
"Now, would both contestants please enter the arena!"
Ji Hongchen stepped onto the platform in a specially tailored white robe, looking poised and elegant. Even his featureless mask could not conceal his peerless bearing, making it impossible to look away.
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