The First Soul Battle

Only after hearing Ning Bei's explanation did the teacher react.

"Student Yu Tianheng, this is Student Ning Bei's Soul Skill, so it doesn't count as cheating. If you know you're no match for him, you can simply give up."

After hearing the teacher's words, Yu Tianheng felt as miserable as if he had eaten shit. He had been the one to propose the Soul Battle. If he gave up now, what would that make him?

But if he didn't give up, how could someone with only one Soul Skill possibly defeat these two monsters?

Looking at Yu Tianheng's constantly shifting expression, Ning Bei felt a burst of amusement.

I told you not to show off in front of me.

He then recalled the Hurricane Hunting Falcon into the tower.

"You only have one Soul Ring, so I won't bully you. You can fight my Golden Armor Battle Bear."

Ning Bei's words interrupted Yu Tianheng's thoughts. Seeing that only one Soul Beast remained before him, Yu Tianheng let out a breath of relief.

"If there's only one Soul Beast, then even if I'm no match for it, I won't lose too badly."

After making up his mind, Yu Tianheng immediately activated Martial Soul Possession. Blue lightning surged across his entire body, and a dragon's roar rang in everyone's ears.

"Thunder Claw!"

After activating Martial Soul Possession, Yu Tianheng's strength and speed increased greatly. He released his First Soul Skill and charged toward the Golden Armor Battle Bear.

"Golden Armor Battle Bear, use Guardian Armor."

Upon hearing Ning Bei's command, the Golden Armor Battle Bear's body was instantly covered by a golden-yellow halo. When its claws collided with Yu Tianheng's dragon claws, they produced a piercing metallic clang.

A few seconds later, Yu Tianheng was forced back dozens of steps. His right hand began trembling uncontrollably, clearly showing that he had suffered in the clash.

The Golden Armor Battle Bear had already cultivated for 860 years, giving it the combat strength of a human Soul Grandmaster. How could Yu Tianheng, who possessed only one Soul Ring, possibly contend with it—even if his Martial Soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?

"Golden Armor Battle Bear, go! Use Earth Splitting Claw!"

The Golden Armor Battle Bear's sharp claws were once again covered in a light-yellow halo as it charged toward Yu Tianheng.

"Not good!"

The referee teacher beside them was horrified when he saw this scene. He flew forward, intending to stop the Golden Armor Battle Bear.

Yu Tianheng seemed to have been scared out of his wits by the battle bear's movements, standing rooted to the spot without reacting.

After a while, when the claws were only five centimeters from Yu Tianheng, Ning Bei ordered the Golden Armor Battle Bear to stop its attack. This allowed the teacher, who had just reached Yu Tianheng's side, to let out a sigh of relief.

"This Soul Battle is won by Student Ning Bei."

The teacher's words jolted Yu Tianheng out of his daze. He then gave a bitter smile, not acting like a sore loser.

"I lost. You're very strong."

Ning Bei waved his hands with a smile.

"It was only a spar between classmates, so it doesn't really count. Once you obtain your Second Soul Ring, I might not be your opponent."

When people praised one another, both sides benefited. Ning Bei had no intention of making an enemy of Yu Tianheng, so he cleverly offered him some flattery.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Yu Tianheng's mood improved considerably. He insisted on taking Ning Bei out for a meal.

Ning Bei inwardly exclaimed, Little brother, you're so easy to fool.

Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the students around them left the Soul Battle Arena one after another. Dugu Yan watched Ning Bei, Yu Tianheng, and the others leave, a glint flashing through her eyes.

"Ning Bei, the Summoning Tower. Interesting."

After one meal, the two had already begun addressing each other as Brother Ning and Brother Yu. Male friendship was really that simple.

After bidding farewell to Yu Tianheng, Ning Bei returned to his dormitory. The entire dormitory was roughly two hundred square meters. It was a two-bedroom, one-living-room arrangement Ning Bei had arranged with the principal, and Ning Tao had already cleaned it until not a speck of dust remained.

Naturally, the master bedroom belonged to Ning Bei. Ning Tao had sensibly chosen the second bedroom.

She then asked Ning Bei about his first day at school.

Ning Bei told her about everything that had happened that day, prompting Ning Tao to exclaim, "Young Master is amazing!"

The flattery made Ning Bei feel extremely pleased. He had to admit, having someone beside him cooperate with his showing off felt really good.

The battle between Ning Bei and Yu Tianheng also reached the ears of Qian Renxue, who was disguised as Xue Qinghe. After listening to her subordinate's report, Qian Renxue fell into thought.

"Summoning Soul Beasts to fight for him? The first few Soul Rings of this Martial Soul are practically useless in the later stages. Against Advanced Soul Masters, anything below a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is basically just cannon fodder."

"Forget it. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's abilities, obtaining a few Soul Beasts close to one hundred thousand years for him in the future shouldn't be difficult. Even a one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast might not be impossible. If that happens, Ning Bei will still be worth winning over. Besides, his position in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is rather special."

After learning about the Martial Soul characteristics Ning Bei had revealed, Qian Renxue still decided to win him over with all her strength. It was simply unknown what expression she would have if she found out that Ning Bei had concealed some of his abilities.

After that battle, Ning Bei's classmates also became much more enthusiastic toward him. He was powerful and the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, making him worth befriending. Everyone who could attend the Royal Academy was the child of a noble family, and perhaps they had received instructions from their elders.

As for Ning Bei, his greatest gain was that he seemed to have attracted Dugu Yan's interest. These past few days, the little girl had taken the initiative to strike up conversations with him several times.

At the very least, he had already coaxed the information out of her that her Martial Soul was the Jade Scale Snake and that she had a Titled Douluo grandfather.

After learning that Ning Bei had two Titled Douluo grandfathers, the little girl puffed out her cheeks again like a pufferfish.

It was fine to slowly become familiar with each other. Ning Bei wasn't in a hurry to accomplish his goal. Acting too deliberately would be bad, as it might alert Old Poison Demon.

A week passed quietly. Early on the weekend morning, Ning Bei brought Ning Tao back to Seven Treasure City.

Ning Bei, whose heart was already flying home, eagerly wanted to return and rub Ning Rongrong's smooth, delicate little face.

Fortunately, only a week had passed, and Ning Rongrong still seemed to remember her brother. She continued to greet him with a smile, making Ning Fengzhi and Ning's Mother burn with jealousy.

"Good boy, that little girl Rongrong cried nonstop every day during the few days after you left. Yet now that you've come home, she still recognizes you. When you return to the academy again, we'll probably have to suffer all over again."

While rubbing Ning Rongrong's little face, Ning Bei looked smugly at Ning Fengzhi.

"Can't be helped, Old Dad. Handsome people are just more likely to be liked by children."

Ning Fengzhi was covered in black lines upon hearing this.

"Put down the Elixir in your hand before you say that."

After chatting for a while, Ning Fengzhi asked about Ning Bei's life at the academy.

After learning that he had made quite a few friends, he nodded in satisfaction. As a Support Soul Master, having friends everywhere was a very desirable thing.

He then reminded Ning Bei not to neglect his cultivation. After Ning Bei handed Ning Fengzhi the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid he had refined during the week, he returned the little milk-covered bundle in his arms to Ning's Mother. After playing for a while, the little girl had already begun yawning.

"Children really have it good. They eat their fill and then go to sleep."

Ning's Mother rolled her eyes at Ning Bei.

"You say that as if your father and I abused you. You and your Big Brother are both grown up now. Do you still want me to hold you and coax you to sleep like Rongrong?"

Ning Bei awkwardly scratched his head.

"No, no. Things are fine as they are now."