Provocation!

The two walked over to the empty seats as instructed and sat down. As soon as they did, a sturdy-looking boy beside them leaned over and asked in a low voice:

"Are you really the Pope's disciples? Innate full Soul Power and rank nine? That's incredible!"

"Hu Sanpang, say another word and I'll send you outside right now!"

Before Su Yu could answer, a piece of chalk flew over and struck the boy squarely between the eyebrows.

Hit between the eyebrows by the chalk, Hu Sanpang immediately shrank back and stuck out his tongue, not daring to speak again.

His eyes, however, still darted curiously toward Su Yu and Hu Liena.

Xu Yan adjusted his glasses and began explaining the relationship between Soul Rings and Soul Power. Soon, only his steady voice remained in the classroom.

Su Yu and Hu Liena listened attentively, occasionally noting down key points, and the lesson passed in the blink of an eye.

The bell rang. After Xu Yan announced the start of their cultivation class, the students streamed toward the training grounds in twos and threes.

Hu Sanpang immediately came over again, an envious smile on his face:

"You really are disciples of His Holiness the Pope? The teacher said one of you has innate full Soul Power, and the other has innate rank-nine Soul Power. That's incredible!"

"It's really not that..."

Su Yu had just started to offer a few modest words when a mocking voice suddenly cut in.

"Why would the Pope take someone like you as a disciple?"

The speaker was a boy dressed in brocade robes, about ten years old, his chin slightly raised and a measure of arrogance in his eyes.

"I heard your Martial Soul is nothing but an insignificant little sapling."

"So what if you have innate full Soul Power? With a trash Martial Soul, you'll never amount to anything, no matter how high your innate Soul Power is!"

Several students beside him who looked like his lackeys laughed along, their gazes full of contempt as they landed on Su Yu.

Hu Sanpang frowned and stiffened his neck. "Zhang Hao, how can you talk like that!"

"Su Yu is the Pope's disciple. Who are you to criticize him?"

Zhang Hao cast him a sidelong glance. "Hu Sanpang, this has nothing to do with you."

"So what if he's the Pope's disciple? So what if he has innate full Soul Power?"

"If his Martial Soul is no good, high innate Soul Power is useless! My Martial Soul is the Blazing Sun Bird, and I have innate rank-seven Soul Power. I'm much stronger than that lousy sapling of his!"

Hu Sanpang was about to keep arguing, but Su Yu calmly stopped him and looked at Zhang Hao:

"So what if my Martial Soul is a sapling? Dealing with a little wild chicken like you will still be a piece of cake!"

"Hah, all talk!"

Zhang Hao sneered. His Soul Power stirred slightly, and the phantom of a flaming bird appeared behind him.

"Do you dare fight me? I'll show you what real talent looks like!"

Hu Liena stepped in front of Su Yu, her little face tense. "Don't go too far! Brother Su Yu's Martial Soul isn't trash!"

"Oh? So you don't dare?" Zhang Hao pressed him relentlessly, the provocation in his eyes growing stronger.

"You don't even dare accept a match, and you think you deserve to be the Pope's disciple?"

Su Yu gently drew Hu Liena aside and stepped forward, looking Zhang Hao straight in the eye:

"I'll fight you, but don't cry when you lose."

"We'll see who ends up crying!" His competitive spirit roused, Zhang Hao turned and headed toward the training grounds.

"Come on! To the training grounds!"

Hu Sanpang stamped his feet anxiously. "Su Yu, Zhang Hao has already reached rank eleven. He's a Soul Master now!"

Su Yu smiled at him. "It's fine. This is a good chance to try my hand."

With that, he followed Zhang Hao toward the training grounds. Hu Liena and Hu Sanpang hurried after them.

Quite a few nearby students eager to watch the excitement flocked over as well, quickly forming a ring on the training grounds.

On the platform at the center of the training grounds, Zhang Hao folded his arms across his chest and looked at Su Yu standing opposite him, a disdainful smile curling his lips:

"Hey, little sapling, there's still time to surrender. I might consider going easy on you!"

"That way, I won't beat you to tears and disgrace the Pope."

Su Yu stood where he was, his expression composed. His gaze swept over the Blazing Sun Bird Martial Soul burning with pale red flames behind Zhang Hao, and his voice was calm but carried a hint of mockery:

"Little turkey, did you conjure your Soul Ring by blowing hot air? If you're going to fight, then fight. Why all the nonsense?"

"You dare call me a little turkey?!" Zhang Hao immediately bristled, his face flushing scarlet. "You're asking for death!"

Before his words had faded, the Soul Power inside him erupted, and a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.

The Blazing Sun Bird phantom behind him abruptly spread its wings, sending scorching waves of air rippling outward.

"Blazing Sun Bird, first Soul Skill-Flame Impact!"

With his low shout, the Blazing Sun Bird suddenly swooped down, transforming into a streak of crimson flame that hurtled straight at Su Yu's face with searing heat!

The surrounding students cried out in alarm, and Hu Sanpang clenched his fists nervously:

"This is bad, this is bad! Zhang Hao's first Soul Skill is really powerful, and Su Yu doesn't even have a Soul Ring yet!"

Hu Liena held her breath as well, her wide eyes fixed on the figure on the platform, her palms sweating.

Just as the flames were about to touch Su Yu, he stamped his foot and rapidly formed hand seals:

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

Bang!

Several cracks abruptly split the ground, and two rows of wooden pillars burst out of the earth.

The wooden pillars quickly bent, forming an arched wall that sheltered Su Yu within.

Boom!

Flame Impact slammed into the wooden pillars with a dull crash. Orange-yellow flames burned furiously across them, sending up wisps of bluish smoke.

At the sight, Zhang Hao smiled smugly. "It's useless! My flames can burn all plants to ashes!"

The next second, his smile froze!

Although the wooden pillars had been charred black by the flames, unfortunately, they showed no sign of breaking.

"How is that possible?!" Zhang Hao cried out involuntarily.

Su Yu's voice came from behind the wooden pillars, carrying a trace of amusement:

"I told you, my Martial Soul isn't as simple as you think."

"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"

Su Yu gave a low shout and thrust his right arm forward. Several green wooden vines suddenly shot out from his arm!

Zhang Hao's pupils contracted. He had not expected Su Yu's Martial Soul to be so flexible.

"Get down here!"

Su Yu turned his wrist, and the wooden vines wrapped precisely around Zhang Hao's waist. He yanked his arm back, unleashing tremendous force.

Caught off guard, Zhang Hao instantly lost his balance. With a cry of "Ow!" he was forcibly dragged out of midair and slammed heavily onto the platform.

Before he could get up, the wooden vines around his waist rapidly grew and spread like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

Within just a few breaths, they had trussed him up like a rice dumpling, leaving only his flushed head exposed.

"How could this happen! How could I possibly lose to you!"

Shocked and furious, Zhang Hao twisted his body with all his strength, trying to break free of the wooden vines.

The Soul Power inside him surged wildly as he tried to snap the wooden vines binding him.

But the more he struggled, the tighter the wooden vines became, as though they had grown into his body.