Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Under Yu Xiaogang's deliberate provocation, Lin Chen's days at Notting Academy were far from easy.
The academy's training rooms, soul power springs, and basic soul medicines—all resources—were completely shut off to him. Even his daily meals were secretly reduced by the kitchen staff, with his portions being half that of the other students.
Yu Xiaogang's intention was clear: to force Lin Chen to give up, admit his mistakes, and become his disciple.
Unfortunately, he underestimated Lin Chen.
Without a cultivation room, Lin Chen cultivated in the back mountain of the academy; without a soul power spring, he directly plundered the energy of heaven and earth with the Northern Darkness Divine Art, which was even faster; without soul medicine, his physical body was already extremely strong, so the mere reduction of his food intake had no effect whatsoever.
In just half a month, Lin Chen's soul power had steadily broken through to level five, his Northern Darkness True Qi had become more profound, and his Tang Sect's ultimate techniques and Lingbo Steps had become more and more harmonious. His three martial souls were quietly dormant in his body, waiting for the opportunity to soar to the sky.
Tang San, under the careful guidance of Yu Xiaogang, successfully hunted down a hundred-year-old Mandragora Snake, obtained his first spirit ring, and became a true one-ring spirit master.
Blue Silver Grass's first soul skill - Entanglement!
The moment Tang San acquired the soul skill, his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic change. His eyes sharpened, his confidence soared, and his gaze toward Lin Chen was filled with an eager fighting spirit.
He firmly believed that with the Soul Skill, he would definitely be able to defeat Lin Chen and avenge his previous defeat!
More importantly, he wanted to prove to Xiao Wu that he was the strongest, a hundred times better than Lin Chen who only knew how to hide!
For the past two weeks, Xiao Wu has been by Lin Chen's side almost every day, cultivating together, eating together, and even sleeping in the same bed with him at night, while remaining extremely indifferent to him, a genius with innate full soul power.
Tang San's jealousy and resentment were already overflowing.
That evening, the setting sun dyed half the sky red.
On the training ground, Tang San stopped Lin Chen once again.
Xiao Wu was with Lin Chen when she saw Tang San blocking her way. She frowned, stood in front of Lin Chen, and said with her hands on her hips, "Tang San, what are you trying to do now? Don't you dare bully Lin Chen!"
Xiao Wu's protectiveness of Lin Chen pierced Tang San's heart like a sharp blade.
Tang San's face darkened as he looked at Lin Chen, his voice icy: "Lin Chen, I have obtained my first spirit ring. Today, I will fight you once again!"
Lin Chen gently patted Xiao Wu's shoulder, gesturing for her to step back, and slowly walked out: "Do you want to lose again?"
"Loss?" Tang San sneered. "Last time it was because I didn't have any soul skills. This time, I'll show you that there's an insurmountable gap between innate full soul power and a useless martial soul!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang San no longer hesitated.
"Blue Silver Grass, Martial Soul Possession!"
A pale blue light burst forth from Tang San's body, and a Blue Silver Grass, thicker and more resilient than before, wrapped around his arm. The hundred-year soul ring slowly rotated beneath his feet, its golden light dazzlingly bright.
"First Soul Skill - Entanglement!"
Tang San swung his right hand sharply, and dozens of thick Blue Silver Grasses burst out of the ground, like agile snakes, carrying a sharp whooshing sound as they frantically coiled around Lin Chen!
Blue Silver Grass is incredibly tough; once entangled, even a Soul Master would find it difficult to break free!
This is the power of Soul Skills!
The students watching from the surrounding area exclaimed in surprise.
"It's a hundred-year spirit ring! Tang San is amazing!"
"Lin Chen is doomed this time! Without a soul skill, he has no way to dodge!"
"Even if his movement technique is superb, there's no way he could dodge so many Blue Silver Grasses!"
Yu Xiaogang stood not far away, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
He wanted to see how Lin Chen, who had no soul skills and possessed three useless martial souls, could withstand a hundred-year-old soul skill!
Xiao Wu clenched her fists nervously, afraid that Lin Chen would get hurt.
Despite the overwhelming onslaught of Blue Silver Grass, Lin Chen remained calm.
Just as the Blue Silver Grass was about to wrap around his body, Lin Chen made a slight movement.
Lingbo Weibu!
Her figure swayed gracefully like willow catkins in the wind, each step perfectly timed to avoid entanglement by the blue silver grass.
His figure moved leisurely through the dense blue silver grass, not a single blade of grass could touch the hem of his clothes.
"Impossible!" Tang San's pupils shrank, his face filled with disbelief. "I've already used my soul skill, how could you still dodge it!"
"Soul skills?" Lin Chen smiled faintly. "In the face of absolute speed and agility, they are nothing but futile."
Before he finished speaking, Lin Chen suddenly accelerated.
With the Ghostly Shadow Step combined with the Lingbo Step, he instantly transformed into a blur, breaking through the Blue Silver Grass's blockade and appearing in front of Tang San.
Tang San had no time to react; he only felt a weight on his chest as a gentle yet irresistible force came through him.
Bang!
Tang San was sent flying backward again, crashing heavily to the ground, even harder than before, and blood once more spilled from his mouth.
The first soul skill, Entanglement, was still useless!
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
A level 5 martial soul boy with no soul skills defeats Tang San, a one-ring soul master with innate full soul power and a hundred-year soul ring, twice in a row.
This completely overturned their understanding of Soul Masters!
Yu Xiaogang's smile froze instantly, replaced by overwhelming rage.
His carefully nurtured disciple, a genius with innate full soul power, couldn't even defeat a useless martial soul! This is not only a disgrace to Tang San, but also a disgrace to Yu Xiaogang!
And all of this is because of Lin Chen!
If Lin Chen hadn't refused to become Tang San's disciple, and if Lin Chen hadn't suppressed Tang San at every turn, how could his disciple have ended up in such a state!
Yu Xiaogang's gaze toward Lin Chen was filled with resentment and murderous intent.
"Lin Chen!" Yu Xiaogang roared, stepping forward. "You have repeatedly injured my disciples and openly disregarded the academy's rules. Today, I will cripple your soul power and expel you from Notting Academy!"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang's soul power surged. Although he was only a second-ring Great Soul Master, his anger and attack were still astonishing.
"Don't touch Lin Chen!" Xiao Wu immediately stood in front of Lin Chen, her soul power erupting, her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul appearing, and she stared intently at Yu Xiaogang.
Lin Chen gently pulled Xiao Wu's hand, looked up at Yu Xiaogang, his eyes cold: "Master, do you really want to be my enemy?"
"So what if we're enemies?" Yu Xiaogang said coldly, "A useless martial soul with such a vicious nature like yours doesn't deserve to be a soul master!"
Just then, Tang San struggled to his feet and grabbed Yu Xiaogang: "Teacher, no! It's because I'm not as skilled as Lin Chen, it's not his fault."
He said this, but in his heart he was filled with resentment towards Lin Chen.
He knew he was no match for Lin Chen. If Yu Xiaogang really made a move, Lin Chen might not be afraid, but if things escalated, he, as a genius, would completely lose face.
Moreover, he already had a plan in mind.
If he can't beat someone openly, he can do it covertly.
Yu Xiaogang was held back by Tang San, and could only glare at Lin Chen resentfully, then snorted coldly, "Consider yourself lucky! If you dare to be disrespectful again, I will definitely not let you off!"
After saying that, he helped Tang San up and turned to leave.
After leaving the training ground, Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang and whispered, "Teacher, Lin Chen is too arrogant, and his movement technique is too strange. We can't deal with him openly, but we can... teach him a lesson in secret."
Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up: "Xiao San, what do you mean?"
"The academy has many rules, so we don't need to do it ourselves." A shadowy glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. "As long as we give the other students in the academy a little pointers and let them know that Lin Chen doesn't respect you, Master, someone will naturally step in to make things difficult for him. As for me, I only need to secretly help him at the right time, so that Lin Chen can suffer without giving anyone a reason to criticize him."
He wanted to make it impossible for Lin Chen to move an inch at Notting Academy and to suffer endless humiliation!
He wanted Xiao Wu to see clearly that Lin Chen was nothing but a good-for-nothing ostracized by everyone, while he was the genius Xiao Wu could rely on!
Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction and patted Tang San on the shoulder: "Good! Xiao San, you really didn't disappoint me! Let's do as you say! I want to see how long this Lin Chen can hold out!"
Under the setting sun, the two figures were stretched long, and an undercurrent of tension filled the air.
Lin Chen stood on the training ground, watching the two figures leave, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Is it a covert attempt to make things difficult?
Sowing discord?
Faced with absolute power, all schemes and tricks are nothing but rubbish.
Tang San, Yu Xiaogang...
Everything you have done today, I, Lin Chen, will repay you in the future.
Xiao Wu hugged Lin Chen's arm tightly, puffing out her cheeks, and said angrily, "Lin Chen, they're so mean! I'll protect you every day from now on!"
Feeling the soft warmth from her arm, Lin Chen felt a surge of warmth in his heart and gently rubbed Xiao Wu's head.
"Don't worry, no one can bully me."
"From this day forward, Notting College is merely the starting point of my legendary journey."
As night deepened, the storm that would affect Lin Chen was only just beginning.
(End of chapter)