"I'll still call you Big Brother Feng. You see, Dong'er was forcibly assigned by Old Lady Zhou from our class to a team with that Huo Yuhao—the one who ambushed you before—and Dai Huabin, who lost to you. We can't just forfeit, or who knows how Old Lady Zhou would torture us. Could you... when the fighting starts later, go a little easy on us?"
Xiao Xiao wore an expression of pitiable helplessness. As she spoke, she didn't forget to cast a meaningful glance toward Zhu Lu.
Zhu Lu and Nanmen Yun'er clearly hadn't expected Xiao Xiao to be acquainted with Feng Piaoling, let alone seem like she had received help from him in the past. After a moment of surprise, Zhu Lu spread her hands with a look of "my hands are tied."
"Sorry, Xiao Xiao, but the decision-making power isn't with me."
"How about this: if you go easy on me later, I promise to join your sect?" Xiao Xiao asked Feng Piaoling tentatively.
In truth, she had already made up her mind, for two main reasons.
On one hand, Feng Piaoling offered simply too much. A second martial soul, six soul bones of over fifty thousand years, six soul rings of over fifty thousand years for the second martial soul, and three hundred-thousand-year soul rings. On top of that, he could help her resolve the backlash from practicing with twin martial souls. Even if these promises were currently ethereal and distant, Feng Piaoling's talent and strength were right there. In the future, he would certainly reach the level of Title Douluo far sooner than she would. When that time came, wouldn't hunting soul rings and soul bones for her be as easy as reaching into his pocket?
On the other hand, she had already investigated and found out that Feng Piaoling and Jiang Nannan—the former top beauty of the Outer Yard—were not in a romantic relationship. They were merely cultivation partners, and Feng Piaoling had been a great benefactor to Jiang Nannan. Adding another layer to it, they were superior and subordinate; Jiang Nannan had already joined the sect Feng Piaoling established. Between the immense gratitude for saving her life and the fact that Xiao Xiao was a bit of a "face-con" who appreciated good looks, how could she not be moved by Feng Piaoling?
Therefore, since they were starting from the same baseline, she felt it was necessary to fight for her place. It was only due to a young girl's reserve that she hadn't gone to find him sooner.
"Are you sure?" Feng Piaoling had originally given up on her; after all, everyone has their own ambitions, and he was about to leave Shrek soon. If he could take away a twin martial soul genius like Xiao Xiao before leaving the academy, it would be an excellent choice.
"Yes, I've thought it through. I want to join your sect," Xiao Xiao said, her gaze firm.
"Very well. I will choose to stay my hand later," Feng Piaoling nodded. Then, he added a warning: "However, I must remind you that once you join my sect, you must follow my footsteps unfalteringly. I will protect your safety and teach you how to cultivate, but if you ever commit an act of betrayal, I will not let you off. You still have a chance to regret this now."
As they spoke, a booming announcement rang out, loud enough to reach every corner of the Outer Yard.
"Attention all freshmen! Attention all freshmen! Please enter the assessment area immediately to prepare for the Freshman Assessment. There are ten minutes left to enter. Otherwise, you will be deemed to have forfeited this assessment."
Hearing the broadcast, Nanmen Yun'er leaned in and asked, "Class Monitor, you have a sect?"
Zhu Lu also looked over curiously.
"Yes, I'm planning to establish one. Why, are you interested in joining?"
Nanmen Yun'er was about the same age as him but already had Level 24 soul power. Her talent wasn't bad; if she was willing to join the Hall of Souls he was organizing, he wouldn't mind nurturing her.
"Yes, yes!" Nanmen Yun'er nodded heavily.
To be able to raise one's soul power to Level 36 by age eleven while possessing such terrifying strength—this was not something that could be achieved by talent alone.
"Then we'll wait until the Freshman Assessment is over. If you're still willing to join then, I will likewise do my best to train you," Feng Piaoling said.
"Then it's a promise," Nanmen Yun'er said with a smile.
Seeing that Feng Piaoling had already agreed to let Nanmen Yun'er join his sect, a flicker of interest flashed in Zhu Lu's eyes beside them.
Just then, an overbearing-looking Outer Yard teacher walked over. After counting the numbers, he said expressionlessly, "Six groups in total. Since everyone is here, let's begin. Round 1, Match 1. Freshman Class 1: Xiao Xiao, Wang Lie, Cai Yun'er. Freshman Class 9: Feng Piaoling, Nanmen Yun'er, Zhu Lu. You may ascend the Soul Dueling Stage. Everyone else, wait below. Enter now."
As the words fell, Feng Piaoling's figure blurred, and he appeared at the northwest corner of the stage.
As top-tier Agility-Attack System Soul Masters, Zhu Lu and Nanmen Yun'er were equally fast. With a light tap of their toes, they glided onto the stage, landing to the left and right of Feng Piaoling.
This scene made the hearts of Xiao Xiao's trio throb wildly. Nanmen Yun'er and Zhu Lu were one thing; though they were extremely fast, Xiao Xiao believed she could handle them in a one-on-one. But Feng Piaoling was another matter entirely. He was a powerful soul master who possessed overwhelming strength in every aspect.
A moment later, Xiao Xiao's group of three also ascended the stage. Xiao Xiao stood in the center, with Wang Lie, who possessed the Explosive Ape martial soul, and Cai Yun'er, who possessed the Cloud-Winged Bird martial soul, standing to her left and right.
Seeing both sides in position, the referee teacher cast a surprised glance at Feng Piaoling before his face returned to its previous solemnity. "Assessment, begin!"
Both sides immediately released their martial souls. Three soul rings—one yellow and two purple—rose from beneath Feng Piaoling's feet. His first and second soul rings flashed briefly, and two Fire Bullet Talismans and one Earth Escape Talisman appeared in his hands.
Two yellow soul rings rose from beneath Nanmen Yun'er and Zhu Lu respectively as they released their Hell Spirit Cat and Jade Cyan Bird martial souls.
Zhu Lu was shrouded in a faint layer of black light; her eyes turned into vertical slits, and sharp blades extended from her fingertips.
Nanmen Yun'er's first soul ring lit up. Her hands transformed into blades that looked as if they were carved from green jade, and a pair of emerald wings appeared on her back.
Their opponents were equally prepared, releasing their martial souls immediately.
Two yellow hundred-year soul rings rose from beneath Xiao Xiao as she released her first martial soul, The Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron. A large black cauldron condensed into form above her head.
Facing an opponent they couldn't possibly win against, Wang Lie seemed to beat his chest uncontrollably out of sheer fear. His muscles then swelled violently, and the single hundred-year soul ring on his body lit up the moment it rose. The effect of his soul skill was somewhat similar to Wu Feng's Dragon's Fire, transforming him into a violent flame ape.
Cai Yun'er's soul skill effect was similar to Nanmen Yun'er's, turning her arms into a pair of sharp white feather-blades.
The Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron? This was Feng Piaoling's first time seeing Xiao Xiao's martial soul. Excluding the factors of high-quality soul rings and cultivation techniques, it was far more powerful than his Talisman martial soul.
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi