Ravaging

Even with Soul Elders in the competition, Zhou Yi still believed only one team had the strength to win the championship. Perhaps Huo Yuhao could give her a pleasant surprise, but there was no doubt that his team's road to the championship would be far, far harder than the Jiang Hai Team's.

In Class One, Jiang Hai and Huo Yuhao were the two students Zhou Yi was most satisfied with in every respect.

Yet their personalities were as far apart as heaven and earth.

Huo Yuhao was the classic model student: well-behaved, obedient, sensible, earnest, hardworking... he possessed every quality a good student should have.

Jiang Hai, on the other hand, did not act like a boy his age. Rebellious, stubborn, and irreverent, he carried a roguish air, like a delinquent who loved skipping class. Yet there was no denying that he was a genius, with his own unwavering dedication to martial soul cultivation. That did not mean he was bad at learning, either. In fact, he understood himself clearly and never treated anyone as an unquestionable authority. Instead, he strengthened himself through his own principles and understanding.

Zhou Yi even had the feeling that Jiang Hai would achieve great things no matter which academy he attended. His personality was better suited to growing wild and free. Huo Yuhao was different. He was like a sponge: the better his environment, the higher his achievements would be.

The two were utterly different, but undeniably, both were geniuses. Zhou Yi could not say which would achieve more in the future. For now, however, although both had only one soul ring and Huo Yuhao's soul skill was powerful, Jiang Hai's innate divine strength undoubtedly gave him the advantage.

"All right, Teacher Zhou. I promise!"

Jiang Hai's answer interrupted Zhou Yi's thoughts. He asked, "Teacher Zhou, do you have any other instructions?"

Zhou Yi glanced at Jiang Hai's lowered gaze and obedient expression. If she had not known his temperament, she might really have been fooled. She shook her head and said, "Nothing else. You performed very well this time, and I'm in a good mood, so I've decided to give you a small reward. Jiang Hai, the three of you may make one small request of me. As long as it doesn't violate my principles, I can grant it!"

"Really?"

Chen Yong and Sun Yunhai both smiled. Zhou Yi might look unremarkable, but she was a Soul King with at least five rings, as well as a teacher at Shrek Academy. Even a small favor from her was immensely valuable.

Chen Yong and Sun Yunhai exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Teacher Zhou, we hope you can help our boss obtain a soul ring!"

Chen Yong and Sun Yunhai were always together, and both knew that Jiang Hai had reached level 20 a month ago. Although Jiang Hai had never said anything, they suspected their boss had put off obtaining his second soul ring because he was too embarrassed to ask anyone for help.

"You've already reached level 20?" Zhou Yi asked in surprise. She had not paid much attention to their soul power levels and had no idea Jiang Hai had already cultivated to level 20.

Like Huo Yuhao, Jiang Hai had entered the academy with less than level 15 soul power-only level 13. He had reached level 20 in just over three months?

Jiang Hai shook his head with a wry smile. These two little fellows. He explained, "I've been cultivating with a senior from the Inner Court for the past three months. She's already promised to take me to the Star Dou Great Forest after the assessment and help me obtain my second soul ring!"

"An Inner Court disciple?"

Surprise flashed through Zhou Yi's eyes. "What's her name?"

"It's me, Teacher Zhou!"

A sweet voice rang out, and Ma Xiaotao's tall figure appeared before them. She stepped in front of Jiang Hai and said, "Teacher Zhou, my teacher arranged for Jiang Hai to cultivate with me."

"Xiaotao? Dean Yan arranged it?"

Zhou Yi nodded. "In that case, I can rest easy. If there's nothing else, I'll be going. Jiang Hai, keep working hard!"

"Zhou Yi!" Jiang Hai called out as she was about to leave.

Zhou Yi turned back. "What else is it?"

Jiang Hai said, "Teacher Zhou, I heard you know Teacher Fan Yu from the Soul Tool Department. Could you let me study there?"

At those words, everyone except Chen Yong frowned-Sun Yunhai, Zhou Yi, and Ma Xiaotao alike. Chen Yong knew Jiang Hai liked soul tools. He had already dismantled the soul guidance lamp in their dormitory more than a dozen times.

Zhou Yi knitted her brows. "I do know Fan Yu, but I don't recommend that you study soul tools. Your martial soul is already the best weapon for you, with powerful offensive and defensive capabilities. Soul tools won't help you much, and studying them takes considerable time and energy. It could even interfere with your martial soul cultivation!"

Sometimes, Zhou Yi thought Jiang Hai's earnestness and focus might make him suited to becoming a soul engineer. She had even taken Huo Yuhao to meet Fan Yu, but she had never considered letting Jiang Hai study soul tools.

That was because Jiang Hai was a pure Martial Soul Department genius, and he possessed a tool martial soul. There was simply no need for him to study soul tools.

Although soul tools enjoyed unique advantages in certain areas, they were still not enough to replace the powerful role martial souls played. That was also why the Sun Moon Continent had lost to the Douluo Continent.

"I understand, but I still hope you'll give me this opportunity, Teacher!" Jiang Hai said earnestly.

Jiang Hai was full of curiosity about this world's distinctive soul tools. Of course, that was also because this world was so unfamiliar. Only soul tools could give him a faint sense of something familiar from his past!

Zhou Yi looked at Jiang Hai and felt a headache coming on. After teaching him for three months, she knew him reasonably well. Once that look appeared in his eyes, he would never give up easily.

"Let's discuss it after the elimination rounds. I'm leaving!" Zhou Yi said, her head aching.

Resorting to a delaying tactic, Zhou Yi hurried away.

Jiang Hai sighed, a little disappointed, but then pain shot through his shoulder. Ma Xiaotao had gripped it, and he could even feel his shoulder bones creaking. That alone showed how strong she was.

"Little Jiang Hai, are you planning to bite the hand that feeds you? Has the Martial Soul Department treated you badly? Why are you so determined to ram your head into the Soul Tool Department? What do those weaklings amount to? I could beat a whole bunch of them on my own. Why would you join them?" Ma Xiaotao leaned close to him, furious.

She had already decided that Jiang Hai was her junior brother. And who was her teacher? The dean of the Martial Soul Department! How could she possibly let Jiang Hai study soul tools?

Then Ma Xiaotao remembered Zhang Lexuan's introduction of Jiang Hai. Hadn't this brat once been bent on running off to the Sun Moon Empire? Had that been because of soul tools, too?

No. The junior brother of Ma Xiaotao, the Flame Maniac, absolutely could not study soul tools.

Ma Xiaotao smiled. "Little Jiang Hai, your elimination rounds start the day after tomorrow. I think your strength is still far from enough. How could a mere Soul Master stand against a bunch of Soul Grandmasters and Soul Elders? So I've decided to give you a little intensive pre-exam training to help you get a good result!"

Jiang Hai glanced at Ma Xiaotao's plainly ill-intentioned smile. The pressure on his shoulder had not eased in the slightest. Are you sure this intensive pre-exam training isn't just an excuse to settle a personal score?

Ma Xiaotao smiled and brought Jiang Hai to the combat training hall. After driving everyone else out, she kicked straight at him. Although she used no soul power, she did not restrain her Quasi-Soul Saint-level strength in the slightest. There was no mercy in that kick.

Jiang Hai instinctively raised his fist to block it. An enormous force struck him, sending him staggering several steps backward, his hand reddening.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ma Xiaotao's eyes. Such strength, such a powerful physique! A moment later, that surprise turned to delight. It had been a long time since she could cut loose and enjoy a thoroughly satisfying fight.

So Ma Xiaotao closed in, unleashing a tempest of attacks.

Although Ma Xiaotao used no soul power, her Quasi-Soul Saint-level strength, speed, and combat experience were the real thing. Even with the Bronze Coffin amplifying Jiang Hai's strength, there was still a gap between them. Moreover, his physique could not quite bear the force of his own strength. After more than ten minutes of holding his ground, their back-and-forth exchange turned into a one-sided beating from Ma Xiaotao.

Yet Ma Xiaotao was even more astonished than Jiang Hai. She was not using soul power, but neither was this little fellow! There was no fundamental gulf between their physical strength. Aside from a physique inferior to hers—she was a Quasi-Soul Saint whose body had been tempered by six soul rings—he really was not far from a Soul Emperor. His talent for combat was astonishing, too. Though somewhat green at first, he had already managed to hold his own against her, and afterward he had improved rapidly.

Over these three months, aside from his rapidly advancing soul power, Jiang Hai's intelligence and strength had also made enormous, unimaginable breakthroughs. Neither he nor Ma Xiaotao had gained any less than the other from their cultivation together.

The next day, Jiang Hai trudged out of the training hall, utterly exhausted and looking completely drained, then obediently went to class.

Seeing Jiang Hai's state, Chen Yong and Sun Yunhai could not help muttering, "Boss, what were you doing? You look like you overindulged and got sucked dry by some enchantress!"

Jiang Hai gave the two a bland glance. Ma Xiaotao really was an enchantress. She had ravaged him for an entire night.

Eventually, he had been unable to resist using soul power, only to be ravaged even more miserably. Without soul power, he was already no match for Ma Xiaotao, let alone with it. She was now a level 70 Quasi-Soul Saint!

That day's lessons were simple, focused mainly on relaxation and rest. Most of them still had to take part in the elimination rounds. Everyone would also be reassigned to classes according to the power attack system, control system, agility attack system, defense system, support system, and special systems, including the food system.

So this might also be their last class together.

After offering everyone a few words of encouragement, Zhou Yi began analyzing the key points for advancing through the next round of the assessment. She gave a clear, thorough breakdown of the traits of most opponents they would face.

Jiang Hai, however, was distracted, his eyelids fighting each other. He finally struggled through to the end of class, only to find Ma Xiaotao waiting outside again.

At the sight of Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Hai's face fell. "Big sister, seriously? Again? I have a match tomorrow, and I really have no strength left today. Can we do it another day?"

Everyone looked at Ma Xiaotao strangely. Thinking of Jiang Hai's exhausted appearance, they eyed her with peculiar expressions. Zhou Yi's stiff voice also reached them. "Young people should still practice moderation!"

Ma Xiaotao flushed and shot Jiang Hai a vicious glare. "Enough nonsense. Come with me!"