Tang San showed no fear. He immediately activated Mysterious Jade Hand, and a faint azure light enveloped both hands.
As Mysterious Heaven Skill advanced once more, the power of this consummate art from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record rose with the tide.
"You little brat, do you really think you're Boss Han? You dare meet me head-on!"
Seeing this, Xiao Chenyu sneered inwardly. His strength surged another notch, and his wolf claws slammed fiercely toward Tang San's palms!
But the scene everyone expected never played out.
Tang San stood firm where he was and took the blow head-on, without retreating half a step or showing the slightest sign of faltering!
"Impossible! What kind of monster are you?" Xiao Chenyu cried out.
The next instant, Tang San seized Xiao Chenyu's wrist and abruptly exerted force.
A deft burst of force sent Xiao Chenyu flying!
Fortunately, he reacted quickly and flipped over in midair, though he still staggered back several steps after landing before regaining his footing.
Xiao Chenyu stared at Tang San, his face ashen, while stormy waves churned in his heart.
Another one!
What was going on with this year's work-study students? How had another one appeared who could suppress him without relying on Soul Power?
"This ends here." Tang San shook his head gently.
He had already judged that, given Xiao Chenyu's abilities, his opponent would have trouble winning even if he didn't use Soul Power.
Xiao Chenyu's Soul Power was decent, but his fighting skills were truly mediocre.
As his words fell, Tang San reached forward with a thought. A half-meter-tall stalk of Blue Silver Grass with a thick, sturdy stem broke out of the earth in his palm.
"Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Whoosh!
The thick Blue Silver Grass shot out like a nimble whip, wrapping around Xiao Chenyu's limbs with supple force.
Xiao Chenyu's expression changed dramatically. He drove his wolf Martial Soul to its limit, the muscles in his arms bulging and his wolf claws flashing coldly as he struggled to cut through the approaching Blue Silver Grass.
But this was no ordinary Blue Silver Grass. It had been brought forth using the Soul Ring of a four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake, and its toughness exceeded anything one could imagine.
"Break!"
Xiao Chenyu let out a low roar and slashed his wolf claws fiercely against the stem. A soft puff sounded, but the Blue Silver Grass merely quivered slightly and did not break at all.
In an instant, several strands of Blue Silver Grass bound his arms, waist, and legs tightly, locking him firmly in place. No matter how he struggled, his body could only sway slightly, and he could not break free.
As power continued to surge, the Blue Silver Grass tightened further, constricting Xiao Chenyu until his whole body was taut and he could no longer summon the power of his Martial Soul.
An uproar erupted among the older students. Their earlier jeers stopped abruptly, and everyone stared at the scene with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"Brother Xiao's been tied up!"
"That's Blue Silver Grass, a Trash Martial Soul! How can it be that strong?"
Standing nearby, Xiao Wu smiled and called out, "Little San, have you won?"
"Damn it, what on earth is this?" Xiao Chenyu twisted and struggled desperately, but his bindings did not budge.
"Don't waste your strength." Tang San raised a hand, and the Blue Silver Grass around Xiao Chenyu abruptly tightened. "My Soul Ring came from a Mandala Snake. It gave Blue Silver Grass tremendous toughness, as well as poison. It can not only restrain your movements but also paralyze you. Aren't your limbs already stiff, making it hard to exert yourself? I haven't activated the potent poison yet. Would you like a taste of something stronger?"
The half-meter-tall stalk of Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's palm was still extending wildly. Its stem was as thick as a python, its surface covered in fine markings, and it looked remarkably like a Mandala Snake, making for a striking sight.
At that moment, Xiao Chenyu wasn't the only one stunned. Even Xiao Wu and the others nearby looked utterly astonished.
"How did Little San get so strong?" A strange light flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes.
She had only heard beforehand that Tang San had gone to hunt for a Soul Ring. She hadn't expected him to successfully absorb one in just a single day. Though shaken, she was nowhere near as shocked as Xiao Chenyu.
"No! I don't want to try it!" Xiao Chenyu hurriedly shook his head and blurted out, "I concede, I concede!"
"Since you concede, what about the agreement we made earlier?" Tang asked calmly.
"The agreement?" Xiao Chenyu froze and turned to look at Xiao Wu. Was he supposed to acknowledge Xiao Wu as his boss? He immediately shook his head in refusal. "No! I've already acknowledged Boss Han! I, Xiao Chenyu, have my own dignity. How could I change leaders on a whim?"
"You still won't accept it?" Xiao Wu bristled at once. She stepped forward, lifted her chin slightly, and looked at Xiao Chenyu. "Then let me introduce myself!"
"Xiao Wu, first-year work-study student. Martial Soul: Rabbit. Level twelve, one-ring Battle Soul Master!"
As her clear voice rang out, a yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath her feet.
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring!
At the same time, a pair of long rabbit ears slowly stood up on either side of her head, giving her a lively, adorable appearance.
Another Hundred-Year Soul Ring!
Were Hundred-Year Soul Rings being sold wholesale now?
The whole crowd erupted in an uproar. Xiao Chenyu stood rooted to the spot, and even Tang San was stunned.
He had only managed to obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Ring thanks to the Grandmaster's guidance and help. Xiao Wu was also a work-study student, so where had her Hundred-Year Soul Ring come from?
But Tang San didn't investigate further. This must have been Xiao Wu's secret.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Can't I have a Hundred-Year Soul Ring?" Xiao Wu shot Tang San a glare.
"That's not it." Tang San smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Only then did he realize that Xiao Wu also had Innate Full Soul Power. He had thought himself outstanding enough, but Xiao Wu had been hiding her abilities all along.
But Xiao Chenyu continued to shake his head stubbornly. "No. Even if your level is higher than mine, it doesn't count. Not unless you can beat our boss."
Xiao Wu snorted coldly. "Then call your boss out! I'd like to see just how capable this Boss Han of yours really is."
Tang San also felt a stir of curiosity.
"Oh, Boss Han, you're here!" Xiao Chenyu's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked behind them.
Xiao Wu and Tang San turned at the same time. When they saw who had arrived, both froze and spoke in unison. "Han Qiu? Why is it you?"
Han Qiu walked slowly into the middle of the crowd, a smile on his face.
"Why can't it be me? Do me a favor, all of you, and stop fighting."
"You've obtained a Soul Ring too."
Tang San could tell at a glance that Han Qiu was different.
The two of them had originally been about the same height. After obtaining his Soul Ring, Tang San's body had developed further, and he had grown two centimeters taller. Yet Han Qiu was now two centimeters taller than him, so he must have obtained a Soul Ring too. Tang San just didn't know how many years old it was.
With his master's help, he had only narrowly managed to obtain a Soul Ring over four hundred years old. Han Qiu had been on his own, so he surely couldn't compare. Still, obtaining a Hundred-Year Soul Ring shouldn't have been a problem for him.
Looking at Tang San's fellow townsman before her, Xiao Wu's first impression was not of how much stronger he had become, but that his looks had changed dramatically overnight and he had grown quite a bit taller.
"You actually got taller, and handsomer too."
"Yes, I got handsomer, and stronger too."
"How narcissistic..." Xiao Wu couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Tang San didn't respond and fell silent.