"But… are you really a working student?" Xiao Chenyu looked at Xiao Yan, confusion flashing in his eyes.
The strength Xiao Yan just displayed was definitely not what a working student should have.
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and said calmly, "One hundred percent real."
His tuition was waived, and he was given a job — how could he not be a working student?
Xiao Chenyu looked coldly at Xiao Yan, all the contempt and disdain on his face had disappeared, replaced by seriousness.
"Xiao Chenyu, sixth-year student. Martial Soul: Wolf. Level eleven, One-ring Battle Soul Master."
Stating one's Martial Soul and rank was a sign of respect for one's opponent.
As he spoke, a layer of green light emerged from Xiao Chenyu's body.
Under the flickering green glow, his muscles began to swell, his eyes turned a strange light purple, and his fingernails became razor-sharp.
A white soul ring rose from beneath his feet and pulsed rhythmically on his body.
Wolf Martial Soul? Similar to that Spirit Hall deacon Su Yuntao, and his first soul ring was also a white ten-year ring.
Xiao Yan activated the Purple Demon Eye to examine Xiao Chenyu, thinking to himself: After spirit possession, his strength is quite different from before.
The Grandmaster's Martial Soul was unique too, and similar to Xiao Chenyu's, its strength increased upon activation, though not as significantly.
The Grandmaster had recently nagged about the etiquette of revealing one's Martial Soul during battles.
Unless you utterly looked down on your opponent and didn't care if they became a mortal enemy, you were expected to declare your Martial Soul in response — a mutual sign of respect and for honing skills.
Over the past few days, Xiao Yan had developed a deeper understanding of his Blue Silver Domain. Not only could he change the ring color at will, but he could even completely conceal it.
After a bit of disguise, Xiao Yan released his Martial Soul and soul ring and calmly stated:
"Xiao Yan, first-year working student. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level eleven, One-ring Tool Soul Master."
Due to his distinctive surname, the noble students already had some knowledge of Xiao Yan, knowing he had obtained a soul ring and reached the Soul Master level — but that was about it.
No one expected Xiao Yan's Martial Soul to be the widely-known trash Martial Soul — Blue Silver Grass!
"Boss, cripple him! It's just a useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!" a noble student couldn't help but shout.
"Idiot, shut up!" Xiao Chenyu barked, cutting off his subordinate.
Blue Silver Grass was indeed a trash Martial Soul, but the Xiao Yan in front of him had not only cultivated to the Soul Master level but even possessed a hundred-year soul ring!
Even as the son of the city lord, Xiao Chenyu only had a ten-year white ring.
Having grown up watching his father navigate the political world, Xiao Chenyu had picked up a thing or two, and his mind was more mature than others his age.
Thus, his first thought was about Xiao Yan's background.
Obtaining a hundred-year soul ring wasn't easy — even academy teachers wouldn't risk their lives to challenge powerful hundred-year soul beasts. Clearly, someone from outside the academy had helped Xiao Yan.
Xiao Chenyu couldn't help but recall his father's repeated warnings: some powerful clans in this world must never be offended.
They were more terrifying than the imperial family. The imperial family might care about saving face, but those great clans didn't need to.
If angered, they could bring utter destruction to one's entire family.
"Are you really a working student?" Xiao Chenyu couldn't help but ask again.
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and said indifferently, "What? Scared, Little Tyrant? Or do you only bully the weak and fear the strong? Become a coward when facing real strength?"
Provoked by these sharp words, Xiao Chenyu couldn't hold back and attacked with full strength.
Unlike Liu Long earlier, Xiao Chenyu, now a Soul Master, had far superior speed and strength.
Seeing his taunt had worked, Xiao Yan thought: I gave you a chance to strike.
In a flash, Xiao Yan appeared in front of Xiao Chenyu, grabbed his right arm with one hand, and drove his elbow into his chest.
A simple move, yet brimming with immense power, it sent Xiao Chenyu flying through the air in an arc before crashing heavily to the ground.
"Boss!"
Seeing Xiao Chenyu land awkwardly in front of them, the noble students quickly rushed over.
"Don't help me, I'm fine..." Xiao Chenyu pushed against the grass and slowly stood up, then turned to look at Xiao Yan warily.
Though it was just one blow, it felt like his entire body had been rattled by a massive force — his insides churning, not a pleasant feeling at all.
"I lost," Xiao Chenyu said gloomily.
His opponent was just a twelve-year-old kid. Though arrogant, he wasn't evil to the core — just poorly educated. So Xiao Yan hadn't used his full strength.
Still, for the next few days, this Little Tyrant wouldn't be bouncing around like a monkey anytime soon.
Xiao Yan said sternly, "Don't bully working students again. Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy is a place to learn Martial Soul knowledge and improve your strength. Study hard — that's what students should do. Don't think you're invincible just because you've got a bit of power."
"Boss Xiao Yan is absolutely right," Xiao Chenyu said, clutching his sore chest — he felt that truth deep in his bones.
Xiao Chenyu turned to his fellow noble students and shouted, "What are you standing there for? Call him Boss Xiao Yan! From now on, Nuoding Academy has only one boss — Boss Xiao Yan!"
Xiao Yan was baffled. "Wang Sheng, what's going on?"
Wang Sheng puffed up with pride and said, "Boss Xiao Yan, Xiao Chenyu made a bet with us earlier. If we working students won, he'd lead all the noble students to follow us."
To be honest, Xiao Yan didn't know what to say about these kids. He was probably just like them when he was younger.
It might seem childish and silly now, but if kids aren't childish, should they grow up to be old fools?
Then again… he was an adult now.
Feeling a little awkward, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and waved his hand, "Forget the whole Boss Xiao Yan thing. From now on, we're classmates — we learn together and improve together. Just focus on your cultivation, Wang Sheng. Strive to become a Soul Master as soon as possible."
"Yes, Boss Xiao Yan!"
Wang Sheng and Xiao Chenyu responded in unison.
After years of rivalry, the two had developed mutual respect.
"You don't even want to be the boss? If you hadn't come back, I could've handled them myself."
Xiao Wu pouted, her body glowing with pink light.
Under the glow, her eyes turned red, her ears grew longer and sprouted soft white fur, and her figure appeared slightly taller.
Gentle soul power fluctuated around her body, and the soul ring rising beneath her feet was — just like Xiao Yan's — a yellow hundred-year soul ring.
Xiao Chenyu's jaw dropped. "Another hundred-year soul ring? Are all the working students monsters this year?"
Xiao Wu crossed her arms smugly and said, "If you don't want to be the boss, let me take over. From now on, call me Sister Xiao Wu."
(End of this chapter)