She tapped the chalk lightly against the board, turning back to the children with a soft, knowing smile.
"A Soft Bone Rabbit's primary food is the Blue Silver Grass that grows everywhere in the forest," she explained, drawing a circle to represent the endless patches of blue grass carpeting the Star Dou Forest.
"Every Soft Bone Rabbit enters estrus once a month and gives birth to a litter every two months. Their newborns mature very quickly."
A few children gasped in surprise. Eve chuckled light as she continued with her teaching
"Because of this short, fast reproductive cycle—and the fact that Blue Silver Grass is practically everywhere—Soft Bone Rabbits are the most common prey in the Star Dou Forest."
She tapped the board again. "For meat-loving soul beasts, they're a staple."
"Even in human cities, rabbit meat is much cheaper. It's easier to raise and far more plentiful than most other soul beast species."
Wang Sheng raised his hand, scratching the back of his head.
"Teacher… I thought the soul beast meat in the cafeteria was costly?"
Eve gave him a look full of gentle amusement—yet Tang San swore he saw something deeper in her purple eyes.
"What I'm comparing is soul beast meat versus soul beast meat. Not meat from ordinary animals."
She folded her fan with a soft snap.
"And the soul beast meat you eat in the cafeteria is actually Soft Bone Rabbit meat."
The class froze.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Xiao Wu shot to her feet so fast her chair toppled over. Her pink eyes were wide in pure horror, her voice trembling.
"How can humans be so evil?! I—I have never eaten cafeteria anyway!"
Her outrage was so real, so sharp, that even Tang San nearly coughed blood on the spot.
Wang Sheng blinked, utterly confused.
"Boss… didn't you already eat it last week?"
Xiao Wu's fists clenched, her face turning even redder in disbelief and betrayal.
"AGAIN?! I WON'T EAT IT AGAIN?!"
Xiao Wu's braid bounced as she spun toward Eve, cheeks puffed in outrage.
"Teacher Eve! How can you say Soft Bone Rabbits in the forest are weak?"
Her voice cracked with genuine anger, and her tiny fists trembled.
In her memories, the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python—Da Ming and Er Ming—were absolute overlords, but they always listened to her.
Xiao Wu knew she couldn't correct everything—especially not the reproduction facts; those were practically common knowledge.
And besides… she and her mother had indeed regained control over their instincts after reaching 100,000 years.
But calling Soft Bone Rabbits weak triggered her.
Before she could explode further, someone else already had.
Tang San slowly stood up, the temperature around him dropping several degrees. His eyes darkened and sharpened like blades.
A dangerous, murderous aura flickered behind his pupils—which was hidden away from ordinary people
'Teacher Eve… you already have a way to die.'
His mind churned with fury.
'I overlooked your constant belittling of Teacher Yu Xiaogang because I know most of his theories are nonsense anyway…
But Xiao Wu—
You dare to insult Xiao Wu?'
Eve's brows lifted slightly—as if she noticed the sudden wave of hostility.
Xiao Wu slammed her palms on her desk and pointed accusingly.
"Even if you're the teacher, I want to challenge you! My martial soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit—if I win, you take that statement back!"
Her anger was blazing.
Tang San stepped forward beside her, his tone deceptively calm.
"I will challenge you as well. My martial soul is Blue Silver Grass."
The class broke into murmurs.
He continued, voice rising,
"You have mocked Teacher Yu Xiaogang again and again. He taught me that 'there are no worthless martial souls.'"
Then he declared with righteous fury—though the underlying reason was Xiao Wu.
"If I defeat you, you will acknowledge Teacher Yu properly and stop insulting him."
Across the room, Wang Sheng swallowed hard.
Everyone expected Teacher Eve to get angry.
Instead—
She smiled.
A slow, wicked curve of lips that sent a chill across the classroom.
Her purple eyes gleamed with amusement—almost predatory.
"Practical lessons are also very important for Soul Masters," she said, snapping her fingers.
Her voice remained soft, yet every syllable echoed through the room.
"But I am a Soul Ancestor. To ensure you two gain proper experience against a stronger opponent…"
Her smile widened.
"I'll only use my first two soul skills."
----
On the outskirts of Nuoding Academy lay a broad stretch of open grassland, a place where sunlight pooled like warm honey and the breeze carried the smell of fresh soil. Normally, this was where students relaxed, played, or trained casually under the shade of scattered trees.
But today, it was anything but peaceful.
A large of students and teacher had gathered, buzzing like a disturbed beehive. Word had spread quickly—students from Class 4 had challenged their own teacher to a fight. Even teachers from nearby classes had come to watch, whispering to each other, curious and uneasy.
Yu Xiaogang stood near the front of the crowd, his face tense, his short hair ruffling in the wind. He now looked much older than his actual age, as if the burden of years of study and failures etched into every line on his face. He kept glancing nervously at Tang San .
He leaned forward and spoke in a strained voice, "Little San… why did you challenge Teacher Eve? What are you thinking?"
His voice trembled slightly. The pressure he felt was not only because of the confrontation—it came from fear of something far worse.
Because the political atmosphere now was completely different.
The Soul Beast Tide had devastated borders, cities, and farmlands. Fear and hatred toward soul beasts and those associated with them had grown to frightening levels.