Zhu Zhuqing left Yu Xiaowei's dorm with mixed feelings.
She didn't know what had come over her just now; as if possessed, she had signed that indentured servitude contract.
She had sold herself to Ning Rongrong.
"What a lucky woman."
After standing in the hallway in a daze for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing muttered under her breath and walked away.
After Zhu Zhuqing left, Yu Xiaowei took stock of the contracts in his soul-guided device.
Dugu Bo's IOU. (Voided.)
A blank letter of introduction. (I gave one to Dragon Lord and Snake Lady, but they haven't shown up yet. I wonder if something's happened since they've been gone so long.)
Shrek Academy's acquisition contract. (A priority to protect—to prevent that shameless Flanders from crying to my older sister and then changing the academy's name.)
Qin Ming's lease agreement. (I suspect Qin Ming will turn on me before the five-year term is up; it's not much use anymore.)
The indenture for Zhu Zhuqing that I currently hold is a very important document. I used the promise to spare Zhu Zhuqing's life as leverage to secure a bodyguard for Ning Rongrong for the next twenty years.
The incident where Ning Rongrong was ambushed during the mass brawl served as a wake-up call for Yu Xiaowei.
Outsiders can't be trusted; he needs to train someone from his own circle to protect her.
Zhu Zhuqing is the perfect choice—she can provide close protection for Ning Rongrong not only in battle but also in everyday life.
Moreover, the Agility-Attack build has one major advantage: speed.
Although she's not as fast as a pure Agility build, among those of the same level, those who can outrun her can't defeat her, and those who can defeat her can't catch up to her.
It's essentially a safety net for Ning Rongrong.
However, her combat strength is a bit lacking right now—she's only a measly Level 28. Yu Xiaowei could kill her with a single finger.
"What was that stuff she ate called again? Was it 'Narcissus Jade Flesh and Bone'? But what does it actually look like? From the name, it sounds like a daffodil. I'll have to go check it out at the Eye of Ice and Fire tomorrow."
Yu Xiaowei muttered to himself as he gathered up all the contracts.
It wasn't just this 'Narcissus Jade Flesh and Bone'—he also had to look for any lightning-attribute immortal herbs for the Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin brothers to consume. But as far as he could recall, there didn't seem to be any.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower could be given to his older sister. While it wouldn't boost her soul power anymore, it would still enhance her fire attributes. It would be great if it could help her Fire Dragon Martial Soul level up a bit more.
Oscar is already preparing to join the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Sect. Once he takes his blood oath at the sect's ancestral hall, he can take him to eat the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid.
Yu Xiaowei is still hesitating about one thing: whether or not to give Dugu Bo the Snow-White Swan's Kiss, that highly toxic herb.
He's found the plant, and it's easy to identify—there's no way he'll mistake it—but he's worried that Dugu Bo, even after his Martial Soul has mutated, might still be unable to withstand such a potent toxin.
Still, if Old Man Dugu can master this Snow-White Swan Kiss, he'll be unbeatable.
As a "Titled Poison" expert, his poisons were practically useless when fighting other "Titled" opponents of the same rank—he had to rely entirely on hand-to-hand combat. This was an utter disgrace; it was precisely why he'd been unable to defeat anyone before.
Now that his Soul Power has evolved, he can at least be considered one of the top experts among his peers.
If his poison could affect even "Sealed-Rank" opponents, he might even be able to take on foes several ranks above him.
However, Yu Xiaowei felt he should discuss this with Dugu Bo himself; the final decision was up to him.
Having spent so much time together, Yu Xiaowei had grown quite fond of Dugu Bo and didn't want him to lose his life because of something he said.
In the student dormitory of Lanba Academy.
Tang San watched Xiao Wu wolfing down her food with relief; after being sick for so many days, she was finally willing to eat.
But just as she was eating, Xiao Wu suddenly burst into tears.
"Xiao San, Xiao San, I'm eating rabbit! Waaah—"
"So what if you're eating it? It's no big deal."
While comforting Xiao Wu, Tang San casually grabbed a rabbit leg and took a big bite.
With his mouth full, he mumbled indistinctly.
"See? It's no big deal. It's just eating rabbit."
He couldn't quite understand why eating some rabbit meat would make her cry like this.
In his previous life in Shu, there were many delicacies featuring rabbit meat as the main ingredient, and he'd been used to eating rabbit since he was a child.
Watching Tang San tuck in with such relish, Xiao Wu felt increasingly distressed; she couldn't eat another bite and began crying even louder.
This lousy school—I might as well skip it!
Clang—
The dorm door was flung open, and Oscar stood in the doorway, panting heavily, shouting:
"Tang San, Xiao Wu, hurry—hurry to the field! Yu Xiaowei is summoning all Battle Soul Masters at Level 30 and above to assemble."
"Ah, but Xiao Wu's in this state—do we really have to go?"
"We have to. I asked him specifically, and he said what he's going to talk about today is very important. As long as you're not dead and can still breathe, you have to be there."
Oscar was quite exasperated. He'd even specifically mentioned that Xiao Wu was sick, only for Yu Xiaowei to respond with such a cold, heartless remark.
Tang San's face twitched as he said bitterly.
"I think this Yu Xiaowei is deliberately picking on us. Ever since we left Soto City, he's been targeting us upperclassmen from Shrek Academy."
"Us, Shrek Academy?"
Oscar sneered inwardly. That day at the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan, Yu Xiaowei had talked to him at length, and one thing in particular had come up.
During freshman orientation, both he and Zhu Zhuqing had identified themselves as students from Shrek Academy, while Tang San and Xiao Wu had identified themselves as students from Nodding Junior Academy.
In other words, those two never considered themselves part of Shrek Academy in the first place.
If it weren't for the fact that they'd helped him hunt Soul Rings in the Star Dou Great Forest, he wouldn't have bothered to speak up for Xiao Wu.
"Anyway, you two better hurry up. Yu Xiaowei said whoever's late will have to run laps on the field."
After dropping that line, Oscar hurriedly left.
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu's pitiful expression and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, but Yu Xiaowei's word carried as much weight at Blue Dominion Academy as the principal's. With no other choice, he resignedly hoisted Xiao Wu onto his back and walked out the door.
Before they even reached the sports field, Tang San heard Yu Xiaowei's shouts of anger.
"Yu Tianheng, give it your all!"
"Thunder's Wrath!!! Thunderous Might!!!"
Like a bolt of lightning out of the blue, Tang San saw countless bolts of lightning instantly expand, transforming into streaks of thunderbolts that shot forward.
Boom—
Accompanied by a powerful explosion, a shockwave rippled out in all directions, causing the onlookers—whether Battle Soul Masters or Support Soul Masters—to involuntarily take a few steps back.
As the smoke and dust cleared, Yu Xiaowei's figure emerged, unscathed; the mighty "Thousand Jun of Thunder" had merely singed the hem of his robe.
Yu Tianheng sat on the ground, dejected. He never would have imagined that the gap in their strength had grown so vast.
"All right, I've figured out what's wrong with my second nephew. You should go rest now."
Looking at the somewhat disheartened Yu Tianheng, Yu Xiaowei softened his tone slightly.
"Next up, Tai… Huh?"
"Tang San, come here."
Tai Long, whose heart had been in his throat upon hearing Yu Xiaowei call his name, instantly let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, he shot a smug glance at Tang San, who was carrying Xiao Wu on his back.
As soon as he heard Yu Xiaowei call his name, Tang San's heart skipped a beat. After entrusting Xiao Wu to the care of the female trainees watching nearby, he cautiously stepped forward to stand before Yu Xiaowei.
"Today, we're officially finalizing the roster for the Blue Dominator Team. Before that, I need to get a clear understanding of the combat strength and weaknesses of each of you Battle Soul Masters."
"So, use your strongest attack against me now and let me see what you're capable of."
Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Yu Xiaowei wasn't here just to pick a fight.
Looking at Yu Xiaowei, who stood there casually with his guard down, Tang San took a deep breath and assumed a starting stance.
Three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose from beneath his feet.
"Entangle!"
"Parasite!"
"Overlord's Restraint!"
A massive tangle of blue-black vines shot skyward, binding Yu Xiaowei tightly.
In particular, Tang San's third soul skill—which took the form of pure white flowers emitting an eerie tea-like fragrance—clung tightly to Yu Xiaowei's body, making him look like a snowman.
"Oh no, it's poisonous."
Dugu Yan, who was also skilled in poisons, immediately sensed something was wrong; the potency of this toxin was likely on par with her own Emerald-Scaled Snake Venom.
Tang San executed the "Ghost Shadow Traces" technique; his right hand turned a pure jade white as he unleashed a ferocious straight punch, aiming directly at Yu Xiaowei's face.
His third Soul Skill was derived from a 1,500-year-old Overlord Flower; its venom was so potent that even a Soul Master struck by it would suffer full-body paralysis within a short time, unable to move.
This Yu Xiaowei had been targeting him at every turn ever since they left Soto City, and Tang San had long wanted to give him a thorough beating.
Just as Tang San's fist was about to make contact with Yu Xiaowei's face, there was a sharp "snap"—a single finger emerged from the vines and gently pressed against the pure-white fist.
An invisible wave of energy burst forth from Yu Xiaowei's body, causing the blue-black vines and pure-white flowers to wither in an instant.
Yu Xiaowei looked at Tang San, whose face was etched with horror, and said indifferently,
"Didn't you eat today? Is that all the strength you've got?"
........
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(End of Chapter)