The Appointment on the Back Mountain, Tang San Gets Beaten

After a dozen seconds of deadlock, Luo Zixi finally compromised. He had dabbled quite a bit in the hairstyling industry in his previous life, so he was fairly skilled at combing hair and braiding it.

Tang Hao Affection -5%, Current Affection: -35%

As Luo Zixi helped Xiao Wu arrange her long hair, just as expected, Tang Hao—the Sun Heaven Douluo peeking outside—lost another 5% of his favorability.

Honestly, if he had the strength, he would have killed that immortal old bastard at the first opportunity.

But given the current situation, that plan was completely unworkable.

The next two days were Saturday and Sunday, so there were no classes.

Originally, Luo Zixi had planned to pay Headmaster Fanos to take him and find a Soul Ring, but today's schedule was ruined by a letter of challenge.

"Work-study students, five this afternoon, at the academy's back hill. Bring everyone you can fight with. We'll see you there!"

Signed: Notting Academy Boss, Xiao Chenyu

Wang Sheng read the contents of the letter aloud. Upon hearing it, nearly every work-study student had anger in their eyes.

The other side was provoking them!

"Tang San, someone's challenging us work-study students this afternoon. Are you going?"

Wang Sheng looked toward Tang San. In his opinion, if the work-study students were in trouble, Luo Zixi and Xiao Wu would definitely stand at the front, while the rest of them might not be strong, but none of them were cowards.

As for Tang San, Wang Sheng wasn't sure whether he would go. After all, the guy did not even attend class anymore and spent all day running over to his useless teacher.

After hearing Wang Sheng's words, a glint flashed through Tang San's eyes.

Someone was coming to challenge their work-study students? That was fantastic!

This was the perfect chance to show off his strength and draw Xiao Wu's attention!

"Don't worry. As a member of the work-study students, I'll go with you!"

As he said this, Tang San unconsciously straightened his back a little more. Then, he glanced sideways toward Xiao Wu.

However—

"Luo Zixi, the fish balls in the cafeteria were so delicious at lunch today! Can we go eat them again next time?"

"Mm-hmm! And the sliced boiled mutton was really good too!"

Xiao Wu was currently hugging Luo Zixi's arm affectionately. Ever since the hair-combing incident that morning, the distance between the two of them seemed to have drawn subtly closer.

And Luo Zixi had already decided to stop caring.

Whatever. Since he had already been targeted, he might as well enjoy himself while he could. All he could do now was gamble that the trait granted by his second Soul Ring would have some kind of life-saving ability.

If not, then he could only "die generously."

"Boss! Someone's provoking us work-study students! They even said they want us to meet at the back hill for a duel this afternoon!"

"What? Have their feet healed already?"

Two in the afternoon, Notting Academy's back hill.

Though it was called a back hill, it was really just a slightly taller mound.

Dense weeds grew everywhere, along with trees so malnourished that they were only as thick as a child's thigh.

At the center of this small forest was a large open clearing, as though it had been made specifically for arranging fights.

As for Xiao Chenyu and his group, they had already been waiting there for quite some time.

On Luo Zixi's side, every single work-study student had shown up without exception.

But Tang San, the unlucky kid who had vomited blood that very morning and was still somewhat weak, was now walking at the very front of the group with his head held high and a face full of confidence.

Of course, Tang San's love of showing off suited Luo Zixi just fine.

After all, he could not do anything to Tang Hao, but secretly messing with a little brat like Tang San could not have been easier.

"You finally came. I thought you were scared and didn't dare come duel me."

There were at least thirty people on the other side of Luo Zixi, and they were generally older. However, among them, only Xiao Chenyu had become a Soul Master.

And the one speaking was Xiao Chenyu, who had previously fled while clutching his foot!

"Oh? Aren't you the idiots who rolled all over the floor in the dining hall? What's wrong? Your feet got pricked a few days ago, and now you want your asses pricked too?"

Luo Zixi looked at them with a half-smile. The place was full of trees and plants, making it the best environment for his Wood Spirit Body to display its power.

Upon seeing Luo Zixi, clear wariness appeared in Xiao Chenyu's eyes. The students behind him whose foot injuries had only just healed even took two or three frightened steps back, their eyes filled with tension and fear.

"Heh. What kind of skill is using little tricks to ambush us from the shadows? Today, let's have a real fight, face-to-face. How about it?"

Xiao Chenyu looked at Luo Zixi provocatively, seemingly believing that Luo Zixi was no match for him on this so-called frontal battlefield.

"Go ahead, tell me how we're doing this. A group fight, or one at a time?"

Luo Zixi looked utterly unconcerned. Cleaning up these little weaklings by himself would be effortless. Since he had told Headmaster Fanos to take him to obtain his second Soul Ring tomorrow, he wanted to end this quickly and head back to rest and conserve his energy.

In truth, Luo Zixi could have gone alone, but having one more person with him meant one more layer of insurance. Of course, the one he was guarding against was not Soul Beasts, but that madman Tang Hao.

"Three people from each side. Best two out of three?"

"Sure."

The work-study students neither agreed nor disagreed after hearing him. Tang San merely cast Luo Zixi an exceedingly flashy glance, then took three steps forward, his arrogant posture seeming to say, Let me handle this. You—stand back!

The moment Xiao Wu saw Tang San's attitude, she was about to flare up, but Luo Zixi promptly grabbed hold of her.

Tang San's first opponent was a fifth-year student whose martial soul was a Martial Staff. He possessed level-nine Soul Power, and the staff in his hands whistled fiercely as he swung it.

"Four Hundred Year Mandala Snake Soul Ring, emerge!"

Watching the Martial Staff soul master approach, a golden Soul Ring appeared behind Tang San.

"Holy crap! Tang San actually has a Hundred Year Soul Ring!"

Wang Sheng and the others cried out in shock at once, their exclamations quickly followed by envious looks and comments.

Tang San basked in the cries of surprise, clearly pleased with everyone's cheers.

But when he turned his gaze toward Xiao Wu, he found that she only gave him an indifferent glance before going back to chatting with Luo Zixi?

Damn it!

Tang San was filled with displeasure. Today, he had to let Xiao Wu see how he would crush the entire field all by himself!

"First Soul Skill, Entanglement!"

As Tang San activated his first Soul Ring, three to five strands of Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground and shot straight toward the Martial Staff soul master.

"Bind!"

With his soft shout, the Martial Staff soul master who had been about to reach him was nearly wrapped up like a rice dumpling. Tang San laughed wildly inside, yet his face still wore a calm, self-assured expression, as though no one in the world could rival him.

Watching the student who was about to be completely restrained by his soul skill, Tang San confidently turned around and struck an incredibly flashy pose.

"The first match is over."

Luo Zixi: (＃｀)

Xiao Wu: (⊙﹏⊙)

Wang Sheng: (Д)???

He had only just sighed softly and turned around to show off when Wang Sheng let out a startled cry.

"Tang San! Watch out!"

Wang Sheng's warning yanked Tang San back to reality almost instantly. But before he could fully react, the sound of something Breaking the Void had already reached his lower back!

"Not good!"

Worthy of being Tang San, the favored son of fate, he twisted away from the staff's shadow at his lower back with the utmost precision. But while he could dodge the first strike, it was difficult to evade the opponent's extremely tricky second attack!

Bang!!

The opponent's powerful staff smashed solidly into Tang San's right buttock.

Tang San was truly a tough man, though. He clenched his teeth and endured it without making a single sound.