Conflict Ends

After releasing his Martial Soul, Dai Huabin experienced a Leapfrog Improvement in both speed and strength. His movements were so swift that many people could not even see his figure clearly.

But clearly, his target was not one of those "many people."

Tang Wulin shifted slightly to the side, narrowly evading Dai Huabin's fierce pounce. At the same time, the golden current around his hand condensed into solid form, transforming into golden dragon scales as he punched Dai Huabin in the cheek.

He had not held back in the slightest with that punch. Dai Huabin had attacked him with his Martial Soul at full force, clearly without considering what would happen if Tang Wulin failed to block it. Since that was the case, he could not blame Tang Wulin for being ruthless as well.

However, something unexpected happened.

His fist had clearly landed on Dai Huabin's face, yet the sensation in his hand felt as though he had struck a wall of bronze and iron.

Then, a dangerous feeling that made his scalp tingle surged over him. Tang Wulin hurriedly leaped backward, narrowly dodging Dai Huabin's counterattack.

After avoiding that strike, Tang Wulin instinctively looked up at Dai Huabin. Why had the person he had just been suppressing suddenly become so fierce?

Fortunately, the answer was not complicated.

Two of the three Soul Rings around Dai Huabin's body had lit up, including the Thousand-Year Soul Skill from his Third Soul Ring.

The surrounding students could not help but cry out in surprise. At the age of freshmen, even Soul Grand Masters were considered extremely formidable. Soul Elders were practically impossible.

Whether in Martial Soul or cultivation level, Dai Huabin was undoubtedly among the best of the freshmen. Yet someone like him had actually chosen to use a Thousand-Year Soul Skill against Tang Wulin, who was nearly three years younger than him. What that meant was self-evident.

Clearly, he was determined to teach Tang Wulin a lesson.

An immense Sense of Oppression continuously radiated from Dai Huabin. Tang Wulin took a deep breath. He knew that if he did not go all out now, he would definitely lose miserably.

Golden light surged as his entire body tensed. Soon, Tang Wulin's right hand transformed into a brilliant golden dragon claw.

At the same time, Dai Huabin moved. Empowered by two Soul Skills, even Tang Wulin found it difficult to see his exact movements. All he could see was a blurry black shadow lunging toward him.

He instinctively swung his Golden Dragon Claw at the shadow, hoping to block the other party's attack.

As dragon and tiger clashed, just as the two were about to determine the victor, a figure suddenly stepped between them.

"Have you two had enough?!"

Wang Yan held a long staff in hand, five Soul Rings pulsing around him. With one man and one staff, he sent Tang Wulin and Dai Huabin flying.

The usually mild-mannered man wore a rare expression of fury.

He had only just left the classroom when a fight broke out inside. If a quick-witted student had not specifically gone to call him back, judging by the two boys' momentum just now, there might well have been casualties.

On the first day of school, students under his charge had nearly caused casualties in a fight. He could not speak for other teachers, but this was absolutely unprecedented for him.

Thinking of this, Wang Yan said irritably to the two of them,

"Both of you, come to my office and properly explain what happened!"

With that, he walked out of the classroom without looking back.

Tang Wulin climbed up from the floor and exchanged a glance with Dai Huabin in the distance before following after him.

Wang Yan's office was not far from there. They arrived after walking for roughly ten minutes.

After entering the office, Wang Yan sat down with a cold expression and looked at the two of them.

"Which of you will explain first?"

He needed an explanation.

Tang Wulin was just about to explain what had happened when Dai Huabin stepped forward first and said,

"Teacher, why did you stop us? I remember the Academy encourages students to spar privately, doesn't it?"

"?"

A huge question mark seemed to pop up over Tang Wulin's head.

Wang Yan was clearly still furious. How did Dai Huabin dare to talk back to him like that?

Wang Yan was so angry that he laughed. He said,

"Student Dai Huabin, you are from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, correct? I do not know how you acted so arrogantly and tyrannically in the Duke's Mansion, but since you have come to the Academy, you must obey its rules. Did you not hear what I said in class just now? Our Academy does encourage students to spar, yes, but we also have a dedicated Soul Dueling Zone for students to settle their Grudges with one another. If you do not like Tang Wulin, you can go with him to the Soul Dueling Zone and compete under a referee's protection, rather than fighting privately without any adults present!"

Dai Huabin snorted coldly, utterly disdainful of Wang Yan's lecture.

"The Academy has truly fallen. Students taught this way will only become flowers raised in a greenhouse. Without suffering setbacks of blood and tears, they will never amount to anything."

"You..."

Wang Yan was left speechless with anger.

To be fair, there was really not much he could do to Dai Huabin right now.

Though he had some connection to Xuan Zi, his mediocre talent meant that he had no authority to participate in the Academy's major affairs. As a scholar focused primarily on research, he could not even enter the Sea God's Pavilion's library.

Dai Huabin, on the other hand, was the most talented young master of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. He had become a Soul Elder at such a young age and was undoubtedly the number one genius among this year's freshmen.

There was a disparity in their statuses, and besides, Dai Huabin had not actually managed to do anything to Tang Wulin. Naturally, it was difficult for Wang Yan to punish the boy.

Of course, that was mainly because Wang Yan was a relatively reasonable teacher. If Zhou Yi had been sitting here instead, she might not have cared about the fight itself, but Dai Huabin talking back alone would have been enough for her to expel him.

Taking a deep breath and forcibly suppressing his agitation, Wang Yan said coldly,

"Enough. Get out. Do not let it happen again. If I catch you doing this another time, then even if you are the young master of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, do not think you can remain in the Academy."

"Hmph."

Dai Huabin clearly did not take Wang Yan seriously at all. He gave a disdainful smile and walked out of the office without a care.

Only two people remained in the room.

Wang Yan looked at Tang Wulin with a dark expression.

"And you? Do you also have some grand theory you want to share with me, like him?"

Tang Wulin hurriedly shook his head and explained,

"Teacher, it was like this..."

He then told Wang Yan everything that had just happened.

However, he kept Huo Yutong's matter vague. Since she might not want others to know, Tang Wulin changed it to, "I felt that Huo Yutong cared a lot about Dai Huabin."

After hearing his explanation, Wang Yan's expression finally softened.

According to Tang Wulin, he had merely stopped Dai Huabin to ask him something, only for Dai Huabin to verbally insult his friend. After Tang Wulin asked him to apologize, Dai Huabin had even taken the initiative to attack him. The problem mainly lay with Dai Huabin; Tang Wulin had done nothing wrong.

This made Wang Yan instinctively develop a strong favorable impression of Tang Wulin.