Dorm Seven's celebration went on until midnight.
The aroma of meat.
The sweetness of fruit.
And Wang Sheng's cracked-voiced howling.
All mingled together.
The work-study students crowded around Ling Feng.
Like gathering around a bonfire.
Their faces were flushed.
Their eyes shone.
"Brother Feng!"
"You're incredible!"
Zhang Tiedan raised his wooden cup.
It held watered-down fruit wine.
"One hammer blow for each one!"
"Watching that made my blood boil!"
He downed it in one gulp.
Then choked and coughed nonstop.
Wang Sheng slung an arm around Ling Feng's shoulders.
"Let's see who dares bully us now!"
"Brother Feng just has to stand there!"
"And they'll be scared to death!"
Ling Feng sat there.
He held a piece of fruit.
And nibbled it slowly.
His face showed little expression.
But he did not push Wang Sheng away, either.
This kind of bustle.
He did not dislike it.
Xiao Wu squeezed over.
She handed him a piece of meat roasted until fragrant and charred.
"Here."
"Your reward."
Her eyes curved.
Like crescent moons.
Ling Feng took it.
"Thanks."
Tang San sat on the edge of a bed a little farther away.
He watched them.
But did not come over.
He fiddled with a few iron nails.
His gaze wandered a little.
There was no telling what he was thinking.
Ling Feng had won handily.
He knew that clearly.
But that kind of overwhelming strength.
Still left him feeling a little stifled.
His Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Purple Demon Eye.
Hidden weapons.
He had trained hard.
But compared with Ling Feng's incomparably domineering hammer.
He always felt... something was missing.
He refused to concede.
Yet he had no choice but to concede.
As the celebration was winding down.
A knock came at the door.
Knock, knock.
Not loud.
But very steady.
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked toward the door.
"Who is it?"
Wang Sheng asked, his tongue thick.
The door swung open.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stood outside.
His face was stern.
His gaze swept over the room.
When he saw Ling Feng.
He nodded slightly.
"Ling Feng."
"Tang San."
"Xiao Wu."
"You three, come outside for a moment."
"There's something to discuss."
His tone was serious.
Unlike usual.
The festive mood vanished at once.
The work-study students exchanged glances.
Ling Feng set down his fruit.
And stood up.
Tang San put away his iron nails, too.
Xiao Wu wiped her mouth.
The three followed Grandmaster out.
Outside the door.
The moonlight was cold and clear.
It made Grandmaster's face look even more serious.
"Let's talk in my study."
He turned and led the way.
His steps were quick.
Ling Feng and the other two followed behind.
None of them spoke.
The atmosphere was a little tense.
They reached the study.
The oil lamp was lit.
Its glow was yellow.
Books were piled everywhere.
The smell of medicinal herbs mingled with ink.
Grandmaster shut the door securely.
Then turned around.
He looked at the three children before him.
The three most outstanding students at Nuoding Academy.
He drew a breath.
"I called you here."
"Because there's something important."
He paused.
Making sure everyone was listening.
"I just received word."
"From Suotuo City."
Suotuo City?
A major city in the Balak Kingdom?
It was much larger than Nuoding City.
And far more prosperous.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance.
Each saw curiosity in the other's eyes.
Ling Feng's gaze shifted slightly.
Suotuo...
An important location in the original story.
Where Shrek Academy was located.
The setting for many key plot points.
He waited for Grandmaster to continue.
"Suotuo City's city lord's residence is taking the lead."
"Together with several advanced Soul Master Academies."
"They're going to hold an 'Advanced Soul Master Academy Exchange Tournament.'"
Grandmaster did not speak quickly.
But every word carried weight.
"Nominally, it's a competition between advanced academies."
"But to broaden its reach."
"They've also sent invitations to all the surrounding junior academies."
"There are very few places."
"Our Nuoding Academy."
"Was very fortunate."
"We received an invitation."
He took out a gold-embossed card.
It was exquisite.
Suotuo City's emblem was on it.
"This is an opportunity."
"And a challenge."
Grandmaster's gaze swept over the three.
"The academy has decided."
"To send an elite team to represent us."
"I'll lead the team."
"As for the members..."
He looked at Ling Feng.
"Ling Feng, you're the captain."
He looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu.
"Tang San, Xiao Wu, you're the core members."
"Also."
"Wang Sheng, Zhang Tiedan, and Li Qingsong."
"Those three will go as well."
"To see something of the world."
Wang Sheng and the others' Soul Power was not top-tier.
But they had performed well this time.
They would be brought along as substitutes and to gain experience.
Tang San's and Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.
A tournament!
And in a big place like Suotuo City!
They could fight more Soul Masters!
Just thinking about it was exciting!
Xiao Wu nearly jumped up.
"Great!"
"We can finally go out and have fun!"
Tang San was steadier.
But he clenched his fists too.
He was clearly looking forward to it.
Ling Feng's reaction was subdued.
He only asked:
"When do we leave?"
"The rules?"
Grandmaster was very pleased with Ling Feng's composure.
"We leave in seven days."
"The format will mainly be team Soul Fighting."
"There may be individual matches interspersed."
"The specifics will be decided by drawing lots once we reach Suotuo."
He walked over to the wall.
He pointed at an old map hanging there.
His finger landed on a circle much larger than Nuoding City's.
"Suotuo City."
"The granary of the Balak Kingdom."
"A major commercial hub."
"The caliber of its Soul Masters..."
His tone grew heavier.
"Is far beyond anything Nuoding City can compare to."
"It has the continent-renowned Soto Great Soul Arena."
"It has great families with deep roots."
"It has a main hall of Spirit Hall."
"Experts gather there like clouds."
Grandmaster turned around.
His expression was more serious than ever before.
There was even... a trace of gravity.
"You must understand."
"This trip."
"Is not for fun."
"It is a true trial."
"There may even... be risks."
He looked at the three of them.
His gaze lingered on Ling Feng in particular.
"A genius in Nuoding City..."
"Once in Suotuo."
"May be merely ordinary."
"Your opponents."
"Will be elite students from advanced academies in the major cities."
"They have better resources."
"Stronger teachers."
"Many of them, at your age."
"Already have Soul Power above rank twenty."
"They are Soul Grandmasters!"
Soul Grandmasters!
Tang San's and Xiao Wu's expressions shifted slightly.
They were only in their teens in rank now.
Their opponents might be over rank twenty!
The suppression from a rank advantage was very real!
The pressure was on.
Grandmaster was not finished.
He took a deep breath.
His voice dropped even lower.
As though afraid of disturbing something.
"There is also more definite news..."
"A few top academies..."
"To make their names in this tournament..."
"May... have sent Soul Elder students to compete."
Soul Elders?!
Soul Elders above rank thirty?!
Tang San's head snapped up.
His eyes were full of shock.
Xiao Wu also put away her playful smile.
Her mouth hung slightly open.
Teens in rank against rank thirty?
That gap...
Was too great!
It was practically a chasm!
The study fell deathly silent.
There was only the crackle of the burning oil lamp.
The air seemed to freeze.
Grandmaster watched their reactions.
He knew his message had gotten across.
He added one final thing.
With a warning in his words.
"I know you are talented."
"Especially you, Ling Feng..."
He paused.
He did not spell it out.
"But remember!"
"There is always someone beyond you!"
"Suotuo is not Nuoding!"
"The waters there run deep!"
"Every one of you had better be on full alert!"
"These next seven days!"
"Prepare properly!"
"Get yourselves into form!"
"In seven days!"
"We leave!"
Having finished speaking.
Grandmaster waved a hand.
"Go back and rest, all of you."
"Think it over carefully."
Tang San and Xiao Wu left, weighed down with worries.
The news of Soul Elders pressed on their hearts like a stone.
Ling Feng was the last to leave.
He reached the doorway.
Grandmaster called him back.
"Ling Feng."
Ling Feng looked back.
Grandmaster looked at his calm face.
He could not help asking:
"You... don't seem worried?"
The corner of Ling Feng's mouth seemed to curve slightly.
Very faintly.
"Soul Elders?"
He repeated it.
His tone barely fluctuated.
"We'll only know once we fight."
With that said.
He turned and left.
His shadow stretched long beneath the moonlight.
Unhurried.
Even... carrying a hint of anticipation?
Grandmaster stared at the empty doorway.
He stood stunned for quite a while.
He shook his head with a wry smile.
"This brat..."
"I really don't know whether it's confidence or..."
He did not finish.
Yet, inexplicably, he felt.
This trip to Suotuo.
Would probably, because of this brat.
Stir up unexpected winds and waves.
Ling Feng walked back.
Moonlight spilled over the road.
Bright and clear.
Soul Elders?
Of course he knew.
In the original story.
The Imperial Fighting Team had been a team of Soul Elders.
Yu Tianheng.
Dugu Yan.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo...
They had all been over rank thirty.
If it's them...
Ling Feng clenched his fists.
Power seemed to surge in his palms.
Level twenty against level thirty?
It sounded like a gap.
But to him...
It was a whetstone!
Just right!
The Clear Sky Hammer needed stronger opponents to hammer against!
It needed fiercer battles to hone it!
Not only was he unafraid.
He grew excited instead.
A restlessness stirred in his blood.
Craving collision.
Craving domination!
He returned to Dorm Seven.
The room was quiet.
Everyone was asleep.
Wang Sheng was snoring.
Zhang Tiedan was grinding his teeth.
Ling Feng walked over to his bed.
He was in no hurry to sleep.
He reached under the bed and took out the chunk of raw Deep Sea Sunken Silver Mother ore.
Cold.
Hard.
It gleamed darkly in the moonlight.
Suotuo City...
The Great Soul Arena...
High-level Soul Masters...
Soul Elders...
His fingers rubbed over the ore's rough surface.
His gaze was sharp.
Like a sword about to leave its sheath.
"Just wait."
He murmured to himself.
"Nuoding's 'One Hammer'..."
"It's time to head to Suotuo..."
"And smash up an even bigger stir."