A Rat Has Skin, Yet a Man Has No Decorum (Part 2)

On the way to the Outer Court Soul Arena, Ling Bai handed Han Ruoruo a white jade porcelain bottle and said,

"Senior Sister, a Mystic Water Pill."

Han Ruoruo broke into a smile but firmly pushed Ling Bai's hand back. "No need, Little Junior Brother. Mystic Water Pills are indeed precious, but they only work on young Soul Masters whose cultivation is still shallow and whose abilities have yet to take shape. I broke through to Soul Sage long ago. Give it to someone who needs it more."

"This..."

Ling Bai naturally understood the principle of sharing half upon meeting someone. From what he knew of Han Ruoruo, if she said no, she truly meant no. In the end, he could only put away the Mystic Water Pill. "The next time you visit Shrek City, I have to treat you, Senior Sister."

Han Ruoruo clasped her slender hands behind her back, letting the damp evening breeze brush against her cheeks as she replied gently, "All right. Senior Sister will listen to you."

Not far away, Huo Yuhao heard their completely undisguised conversation and lowered his voice as he asked Tang Ya, "Teacher Xiaoya, what is a Mystic Water Pill? Is it rare?"

"A Mystic Water Pill is worth ten thousand gold."

Tang Ya's very first sentence made Huo Yuhao shudder. His mind raced wildly. He sold twenty grilled fish a day. The cost was three Copper Soul Coins each, and he sold them for five Copper Soul Coins, earning forty Copper Soul Coins a day. Based on Douluo Continent's exchange rate of one Gold Soul Coin to one hundred Copper Soul Coins, ten thousand Gold Soul Coins...

He would need to work without eating or drinking for sixty-eight years!

At that thought, Huo Yuhao suddenly felt the urge to burst into tears.

Tang Ya failed to notice her young disciple's rich inner turmoil and continued, "Xu Sanshi comes from the Mystic Tortoise Sect of the Dou Ling Empire. They are the only ones on the entire continent capable of refining Mystic Water Pills. It is said that the pills require the essence blood of more than a dozen water-attributed soul beasts and dozens of water-attributed plants, all specially blended and refined into a pill.

"Mystic Water Pills have an extremely mild medicinal nature, and Soul Masters of any attribute can absorb their effects well. A Soul Master below Rank 20 will gain at least one rank of soul power after taking one. However, their true value is not in raising soul power, but in their miraculous ability to purge impurities from the body and cleanse the tendons and marrow.

"For Soul Masters with outstanding talent, taking a Mystic Water Pill is merely icing on the cake. For freaks like Ling Bai, who had Innate Soul Power at Rank 20, the effect is even more negligible. But for Soul Masters with ordinary talent like you and me, it is a timely gift in a snowstorm.

"The tendon and marrow cleansing of a Mystic Water Pill is equivalent to raising a Soul Master's Innate Soul Power by one rank. If one's Innate Soul Power was only Rank 1 when their martial soul awakened, then after taking a Mystic Water Pill, it would become Rank 2. That is a transformation of talent and a Soul Master's very foundation!"

"What!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes immediately blazed with excitement. His Innate Soul Power had been Rank 1!

His path of cultivation over the years had been exceptionally difficult. His meridians were thinner than average and even somewhat blocked, making his cultivation speed extremely slow. It had taken a full five years for him to rise from Rank 1 soul power to Rank 10, and that was merely the starting point for a Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power!

An increase in Innate Soul Power was a change to one's very foundation. If he could use the Mystic Water Pill to cleanse his tendons and marrow, his cultivation speed would increase by at least three times!

"Teacher Xiaoya, I..." Huo Yuhao hesitantly opened his mouth.

"No need to say more." Tang Ya raised a slender finger to her lips and whispered, "From what I know of Bei Bei, he must already be finding a way to swindle Xu Sanshi. Little Yuhao, just wait peacefully for your Mystic Water Pill!"

"Eldest Senior Brother..."

Tears shimmered at the edges of Huo Yuhao's eyes. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from spilling out.

Thanks to the enormous fame of the Twin Stars of the Outer Court, as well as Shrek Academy broadcasting the news through soul tool loudspeakers in the dormitory district, the soul duel between Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi drew the attention of countless students. Regardless of cultivation, they surged over to watch. Along the way, the group encountered Outer Court students from every year, their uniforms white, yellow, purple, and black.

The moment the Outer Court students saw the red uniforms on Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo, respect instantly appeared on their faces. They automatically opened a broad path for them, their eyes shining with worship.

"Bai Ge!"

A plump, melodious call rang in his ears. Ling Bai looked toward the sound and saw two girls in white school uniforms rushing toward him from several hundred meters away.

"Xiao Tian, Wu Feng?"

Ling Bai stopped. Han Ruoruo, standing beside him, seemed thoughtful. Clever as she was, she immediately realized these two were disciples of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect who had enrolled alongside Ling Bai.

Ning Tian ran up to Ling Bai. As a Support System Soul Master with relatively weak stamina, she was slightly out of breath after sprinting at full speed. Her gently curved chest rose and fell, a faint flush coloring her exquisite face. Wu Feng, who had followed closely beside her, felt a pang of heartache and could not help shooting Ling Bai a fierce glare.

Ignoring Wu Feng's fiery stare, Ling Bai lightly patted Ning Tian's back to help her catch her breath and chuckled. "Why did you run so fast? I've been right here."

Ning Tian's breathing gradually steadied. Gazing into Ling Bai's smiling golden eyes, she said, "One day apart feels like three autumns. We haven't seen each other for two days. I was afraid you'd forgotten us."

At the same time, she seemed to casually glance at the gentle and beautiful Han Ruoruo, her gaze absent-minded yet pointed.

Other than the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect Master, no one in the world understood Ning Tian better than Ling Bai. He immediately took Ning Tian's delicate hand, then casually grabbed Wu Feng by the sleeve and introduced them. "Inner Court, Senior Sister Han Ruoruo. Outer Court freshmen, Ning Tian and Wu Feng."

"Hello, Senior Sister!"

Ning Tian quietly interlaced her fingers with Ling Bai's and obediently greeted Han Ruoruo. Wu Feng had no choice but to reluctantly follow with a greeting of her own.

"Hello, both of you."

Han Ruoruo looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng, her gaze lingering on the hands Ning Tian and Ling Bai held together. A faint curve formed at the corner of her lips.

Ning Tian was only eleven, after all. Her declaration of ownership was far too obvious. Han Ruoruo easily saw Ning Tian's possessiveness and nervousness toward Ling Bai, as though she feared Han Ruoruo would steal him away.

"Little Junior Brother, Senior Sister had a wonderful time today, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll return to Sea God Island to rest first."

Not wishing to cause Ning Tian a misunderstanding, Han Ruoruo took the initiative to leave. She understood how much support sects like the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect valued talented outsiders. Ning Tian had likely already chosen Ling Bai as her protector—in other words, the husband she would rely upon in the future.

Only after Han Ruoruo's figure disappeared from sight did the fist Ning Tian had clenched behind her back slowly loosen. It was not that she lacked confidence without reason. She and Ling Bai were both young, and they had not yet become engaged to confirm their relationship. Now that Ling Bai was in the Inner Court while she remained in the Outer Court, they could not spend every day together and further nurture their feelings.

There was no shortage of exceptional women in the Inner Court, with excellent looks, talent, and backgrounds. Moreover, they were all in the bloom of youth, graceful and fully developed. Ning Tian had heard that men could easily fall for the first mature woman who taught them what it meant to be a man. If Ling Bai were lured away by some bad woman, Ning Tian would burst into tears on the spot.

"Bai Ge, how have things been in the Inner Court? Have the older students been giving you trouble?" Ning Tian asked with concern.

"Everything has gone smoothly. What about you two?"

"Wu Feng and I happened to be assigned to the same class and dormitory. Our homeroom teacher, Teacher Mu Jin, seems strict in class, but she is quite caring toward us in private. She is the typical sharp-tongued, soft-hearted type."

Ling Bai nodded slightly. Comparing people really could be fatal. Compared with an oddity like Zhou Yi, who expelled students at the slightest disagreement, Mu Jin could be considered a qualified teacher.

"And Ning Tian is the class monitor!" Wu Feng declared proudly. She then cleared her throat and added, "I'm the deputy class monitor!"

"What? You're the deputy class monitor?" Ling Bai sucked in a breath. "Then your class is finished."

"...Ling Bai, I'm going to kill you!!!"

Soul Duel Zone, lounge.

The moment he entered, Xu Sanshi impatiently asked, "On the way here, I saw Tang Ya chatting and laughing with that Inner Court big shot. Do you know him?"

In stark contrast to the bitter hostility they displayed before outsiders, the Twin Stars of the Outer Court were actually very close friends.

Hearing that, Bei Bei shot Xu Sanshi an irritated glare. "What big shot? Ling Bai is three years younger than you."

"Damn!"

Xu Sanshi was dumbfounded. "Then isn't he the same age as this year's freshmen?"

Bei Bei nodded. "That's right. Xiaoya broke through Rank 30 before the term began. When she went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a soul ring, she happened to meet a group from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Ling Bai was their leader, so we traveled together for a while.

"Sanshi, Ling Bai's talent far surpasses ours. Don't hold a grudge against him because of what happened today, or you'll definitely suffer for it."

After briefly explaining how they had met, Bei Bei did not forget to warn Xu Sanshi.

"How would I dare hold a grudge against him?" Xu Sanshi shrank his neck, looking exactly like a startled turtle retreating into its shell. "Do you remember Ma Xiaotao, who often comes to me to neutralize her evil fire?"

"The Phoenix Soul Emperor? You're always complaining that she hits too hard."

Xu Sanshi pointed at his eyes with an exaggerated expression. "The night before last, I personally saw Ling Bai pin Ma Xiaotao down and beat her! A Soul Ancestor beating a Soul Emperor—what kind of madness is that?!"

"Still..."

Changing the subject, Xu Sanshi grinned. "I've made a connection with him now. If I can exchange two Mystic Water Pills for Big Brother's goodwill, then I've made a killing!"

Bei Bei covered his face. He knew Xu Sanshi had always been shameless, but he had not expected him to so brazenly call Ling Bai Big Brother over and over.

"You still haven't settled your debt with the Tang Sect. Hurry up and give me a Mystic Water Pill!"

Bei Bei held out a hand. Just as Tang Ya had guessed, the instant he saw Xu Sanshi give Ling Bai a Mystic Water Pill, he began plotting for his little junior brother, Huo Yuhao.

"You think Mystic Water Pills grow on trees?!" Xu Sanshi stared at him in disbelief. Did he have the words 'easy mark' written on his forehead? Why was everyone extorting him today?!

Bei Bei raised a brow. "One matter is one matter. You bullied my little junior brother. Shouldn't you compensate him?"

"I'll pay two hundred Gold Soul Coins and eat his grilled fish for a year."

Bei Bei immediately felt a headache coming on. Xu Sanshi was far too shrewd and refused to fall for such an obvious trap. Huo Yuhao's talent desperately needed a Mystic Water Pill to improve, so after thinking for a moment, an idea struck him. "I won't take advantage of you. We'll settle it through our soul duel. If you win, I won't pursue this matter. If you lose, the Mystic Water Pill is mine."

Xu Sanshi smacked his lips, then held up one finger. "Add one more condition. Your Tang Ya is close to Nannan. If I win, have her ask Nannan to meet me at the city gate. I'm preparing a surprise for her."

"...You really do like Jiang Nannan," Bei Bei remarked.

Although Jiang Nannan was known as the most beautiful girl in the Outer Court, Xu Sanshi's background, appearance, and talent were all exceptional. Bei Bei found it extremely strange that Xu Sanshi remained so stubbornly hung up on Jiang Nannan alone.

Xu Sanshi's old face reddened, and he feigned anger. "Hurry up. Do you agree or not?"

"It's a deal."

Bei Bei still hoped that his good friend Xu Sanshi would eventually win the beauty's heart, so he decided that he and Tang Ya would lend him a hand.

Outer Court Soul Arena, spectator stands.

After paying the admission fee, the five found seats. The two boys, Ling Bai and Huo Yuhao, sat in the middle, with Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Tang Ya beside them.

The moment she sat down, Wu Feng immediately complained, "Has Shrek gone crazy for money? They actually charge one Silver Soul Coin to watch a soul duel!"

Huo Yuhao wholeheartedly agreed. To earn one Silver Soul Coin, he had to sell five grilled fish. If not for the wealthy young lady Ning Tian generously paying for them, he would never have been willing to spend money just to watch.

Ning Tian leaned her head lightly against Ling Bai, tracing circles around his wrist with her fingertip as she smiled. "The academy is enormous, and all sorts of facilities require funding to maintain. The Beast Arena keeps many soul beasts, and their daily expenses are also an enormous sum. Charging a fee is understandable."

Ling Bai said nothing. He quietly tucked several strands of Ning Tian's platinum-blond hair behind her ear, the girl's elegant fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose as he looked around the Outer Court Soul Arena.

Its overall layout was nearly identical to the Inner Court Soul Arena. The only obvious difference was the spectator stands. Since the Outer Court had far more students than the Inner Court, the Outer Court Soul Arena had a full two thousand seats.

As the two most influential figures in the Outer Court, every fight between Bei Bei of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and Xu Sanshi of the Profound Tortoise was thrilling. More and more students gathered inside the Soul Arena. A glance revealed a sea of heads, with at least a thousand students having come to watch.

The scene made Huo Yuhao somewhat nervous. He asked softly, "Teacher Xiaoya, can Eldest Senior Brother win?"

"Not necessarily." Tang Ya shook her head. "Xu Sanshi possesses the Profound Tortoise, a top-tier defensive beast martial soul known as the Outer Court's strongest defense. He and Bei Bei, the Outer Court's strongest assault-type Soul Master, are jointly known as the Twin Stars. Their past matches have always gone back and forth, more or less evenly matched."

"This..."

A trace of gloom flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. His gaze repeatedly shifted among the contestant entrance of the Soul Arena, Ling Bai, and Tang Ya, as though he were weighing something.

"Contestants, enter the arena!"

At the referee's loud shout, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi strode out from opposite sides. The noisy Soul Duel Zone fell silent in an instant. Everyone stared fixedly at the two in the arena, afraid of missing a single exciting moment.

"Fourth-year Bei Bei versus fifth-year Xu Sanshi. Begin!"

The referee swiftly retreated, leaving Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi the entire arena. At the same time, both released their martial souls.

Blue light gathered as Bei Bei's right arm rapidly swelled. Countless arcs of electricity burst forth and coiled around it. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul possessed him, and three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—rose and fell around his dragonified right arm.

Xu Sanshi was no less imposing. His expanding body stretched his school uniform taut, and an ink-black Profound Tortoise Shell Shield appeared before him. He too possessed the optimal soul ring configuration of two yellow and one purple.

The two slowly moved sideways, their sharp gazes locked onto one another. Dense soul power surged continuously, blue and black, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and Profound Tortoise, clearly divided.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Ling Bai frowned. He caught a faint trace of spiritual power, the distinctive fluctuation that inevitably accompanied the release of a spiritual-type soul skill.

He turned his head and looked. Sure enough, a faint golden light swirled within Huo Yuhao's originally deep-blue eyes!

Spirit Eyes First Soul Skill, Spiritual Detection Sharing!

Huo Yuhao wanted to use the concealment of a spiritual-type soul skill to help Bei Bei defeat Xu Sanshi. He might be able to hide it from the distant referee, but how could he hide it from Ling Bai, who was right beside him?

"Boom—"

"Ah!!!"

Huo Yuhao cried out in pain. It felt as though his Sea of Consciousness had been torn apart by a beam of golden light, startling Sky Dream Ice Silkworm out of his dying slumber as he frantically looked around in confusion, trying to patch it up.

The next instant, Huo Yuhao met a pair of dazzling golden eyes as sharp as blades. A deep, icy voice followed.

"Huo Yuhao, are you... cheating?"