"Eat? Eat your big head, you fool?"
Xiao Wu exploded in fury—rabbits were her kin!
"Third Brother, I never imagined you were this kind of person! Take my Soft Skill!"
Xiao Wu immediately launched into a barrage of attacks against Tang San.
However, unexpectedly, Xiao Wu showed no mercy despite having the moral high ground. Tang San willingly endured the beating, accepting more than a dozen strikes in succession, yet Xiao Wu showed no sign of stopping.
Tang San finally grew somewhat irritated. Circulating the Purple Extreme Demon Eye and Mysterious Jade Hand techniques, he precisely deflected Xiao Wu's assaults.
"Xiao Wu, what are you doing? I merely ate some rabbit meat—nothing heaven-defying or earth-shattering!"
Tang San explained.
Seeing that she was no match for Tang San, Xiao Wu redirected her anger toward Tang Yi, who was still roasting rabbit meat.
"Third Brother, that person is the younger brother you once mentioned—Tang Yi, right?"
Xiao Wu glared furiously at the "instigator"—Tang Yi.
Tang San nodded: "Yes! Actually, it's partly my fault—my younger brother's cooking skills are simply too good. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given in to temptation and eaten the roasted rabbit."
Perceiving that Xiao Wu might have a soft, girlish affection for fluffy rabbits, Tang San promptly began shifting the blame, transferring the conflict between himself and Xiao Wu onto Tang Yi.
Xiao Wu, still brimming with pent-up rage and knowing she could not defeat Tang San, decided to vent her anger on "Tang Yi."
"I heard from Third Brother that you're nothing but trash with a waste martial soul and only rank-one innate soul power! And yet you dare slaughter pink-furred rabbits? Truly heinous! Today, I shall teach you a harsh lesson!"
"Take my Soft Skill—Waist Bow!"
Xiao Wu swiftly lunged toward Tang Yi.
Tang Yi merely sneered disdainfully. His soul power had already risen to rank nine, and he had achieved the first realm of the Nine Yang True Scripture—Foundation Establishment!
Why should he fear a girl who could not even defeat Tang San?
Tang San stood to one side, watching the spectacle with amusement: "Xiao Wu is already a fourteenth-ranked agility-attack system soul master! Once she uses her soul power, Tang Yi is finished!"
Tang San was petty by nature and still harbored resentment over the humiliation of being knocked face-first into dog excrement on the way to Notting Academy.
Yet within the academy grounds, he feared public criticism if he personally retaliated—earning the unsavory reputation of "an elder brother striking his younger sibling" or "bullying the weak."
Tang San, ever fond of preserving his reputation, secretly gloated: "Heh heh, this time let Xiao Wu give my detestable younger brother a proper thrashing!"
Xiao Wu tapped the ground with her toe. Her movements became even swifter and more agile, leaving a faint pink afterimage as she closed the distance to Tang Yi in an instant.
Her waist bent backward as though boneless, while her long, slender legs drew taut like a fully drawn bowstring. Carrying the full momentum and power of her body, she delivered a ferocious kick aimed squarely at Tang Yi's midsection. The strike appeared light and graceful, yet concealed ingenious force capable of knocking the breath out of an ordinary adult male.
Tang Yi remained seated in place, not even rising.
Facing Xiao Wu's fierce kick, he simply raised his left arm, bending it slightly and holding it horizontally in front of his body.
"Bang!"
A dull, heavy impact rang out!
Xiao Wu felt as though she had struck an iron pillar embedded deep in the earth. Instead of the expected sensation and rebound, a steady, profound, supremely yang and rigid force transmitted from the opponent's arm. It effortlessly neutralized the power in her leg and even hinted at a counter-shock.
"What?!"
Xiao Wu's pupils contracted. Borrowing the force, she flipped backward and landed, her eyes filled with shock and suspicion.
Though she had not used soul power in that kick, her physical foundation as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form—combined with the amplification of the Waist Bow technique—made her strength far from negligible.
How could this "waste" with only rank-one soul power deflect it so casually?
Failing in her first strike only deepened Xiao Wu's shame and anger.
With a sharp cry, she moved again—this time even faster. Her hands fluttered like butterflies through flowers, coordinating with her footwork to unleash more intricate Soft Skills: grabs, locks, joint manipulations, and trips. Every move targeted vital joints and weak points, raining down upon Tang Yi like a storm.
Tang Yi finally stirred—yet he still did not stand. His upper body merely swayed slightly in response to Xiao Wu's attacks. His left hand either blocked or parried, while his right hand occasionally transformed into a palm to lightly tap or curled fingers to flick. The movements appeared simple, yet invariably intercepted the strongest point of Xiao Wu's assault or redirected it with skillful force.
Nine Yang internal energy surged ceaselessly through his body, granting him immense power and defense while sharpening his senses to an extraordinary degree and accelerating his reactions to an astonishing level.
To Tang Yi, Xiao Wu's attacks—which appeared blindingly fast to others—seemed utterly ordinary.
"Pa! Pa! Pa!"
A rapid series of limb collisions rang out, staccato like rain striking plantain leaves.
The longer they fought, the more shocked Xiao Wu became. She discovered that all her techniques were completely restrained before Tang Yi's profound internal energy and precise anticipation—as though she had plunged into an invisible yet unbreakable net.
Tang Yi's arms, shoulders, and even chest felt incomprehensibly solid. The counter-shock numbed her hands and feet.
"How is this possible?! He clearly isn't using soul power!"
Xiao Wu was inwardly horrified. Rich in combat experience, she immediately recognized that what Tang Yi employed was not soul power but some strange, unfamiliar energy—condensed, fierce, and inexhaustible.
Unable to gain the upper hand after prolonged assault, Xiao Wu's pride could no longer bear it.
A fierce glint flashed in her eyes. Finally deciding to employ soul power—even if only lightly—she instantly elevated her speed and strength to a new level!
"Martial soul! Soft-Boned Rabbit—possession!"
Xiao Wu shouted, soul power erupting around her!
But Tang Yi reacted even faster. His right leg swept out like a steel whip, wrapped in surging Nine Yang internal energy, and struck Xiao Wu solidly across the body.
"Boom!"
An even deeper, more solid thud echoed!
Xiao Wu's entire body flew uncontrollably backward, tumbling awkwardly across the grass three or four zhang away before rolling twice and finally coming to a stop.
The pain wracking her body drove Xiao Wu into a frenzy. She screamed uncontrollably: "Aaaah! I'm going to kill you!"
As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the number of human soul masters whose lives she had taken already numbered in the thousands!
Being knocked down by Tang Yi this time awakened once more the ferocious beastly nature buried deep within her.
Sensing the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Xiao Wu, Tang San was just about to speak—
Several teachers approached from across the training field, escorting an elderly man.
The elder was Matthew Nuo, Soul Elder of the Notting City Spirit Hall branch, who had come to the academy to discuss certain cooperative matters with the dean.
At Matthew Nuo's signal, Su Yuntao—the twenty-sixth-ranked strong-attack system great soul master—let out a low roar: "Martial soul—Lonely Wolf possession!"
Su Yuntao's timely intervention immediately quelled Xiao Wu's momentum.
"Every soul master is a precious asset to the continent! How can classmates within the academy harbor such murderous intent toward one another?"
Su Yuntao admonished sternly.
Several academy teachers hurried over as well.
Tang Yi knew the fight would not continue today.
Xiao Wu, however, remained furious. She shot a glance at Matthew Nuo, whose beard and hair were completely white: "Old man, why are you meddling? If you hadn't let this great soul master interfere, with my Soft-Boned Rabbit martial soul possessed, I would have landed a decisive strike!"
Su Yuntao flew into a rage: "Young lady, insolent! This is Soul Elder Matthew Nuo—a lord of the Spirit Hall branch!"
Tang San, who frequently visited the Spirit Hall to collect subsidies, naturally recognized Matthew Nuo as the receptionist in charge—and his "financial backer."
Tang San hurriedly pulled Xiao Wu aside and apologized profusely: "Lord Su Yuntao, Xiao Wu is still young and immature! She lost her temper earlier!"
Su Yuntao glanced at Tang San and Tang Yi. He was fairly familiar with the Tang brothers: "Very well. Take this young lady away."
Then, somewhat surprised, Su Yuntao looked at Tang Yi: "I never expected your physique to be so robust! It is truly a pity that your innate soul power is only rank one and your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass…"
Tang Yi responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, cupping his hands: "There are no waste martial souls—only waste soul masters! Though my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, what my future achievements may be remains to be seen!"
Matthew Nuo nodded, a trace of appreciation appearing in his eyes: "Excellent—a child with ambition!"
"Since we have met by fate, today I shall bestow upon you a Hunting Soul Token—as encouragement for you to reach rank ten soul master as soon as possible!"
With that, Matthew Nuo directly handed Tang Yi a special Spirit Hall token engraved with the pattern of a Seven Killing Sword.
Tang Yi's heart leaped with joy. Though this was merely the most basic Hunting Soul Token, obtaining one was exceedingly difficult for commoner students.
According to the original story, not only was proof of hunting need from the Spirit Hall required, but three nobles had to provide guarantees before such a token could be issued.
Tang Yi was already a rank-nine soul master—entering the Hunting Soul Forest was now within reach.
With this token, securing entry to the forest would no longer be an issue!
"Thank you, my lord, for granting me this token! I will certainly cultivate diligently!"
Tang Yi expressed his gratitude.
......
On the other side, Xiao Wu—unable to fight and having suffered a major setback despite always considering herself the "big sister"—was thoroughly displeased.
On the way back, she vented all her resentment onto Tang San.
"It's all your fault, Third Brother! Your younger brother is truly detestable!"
"And if you ever dare sneak and eat rabbit meat again, I won't be friends with you anymore!"
Xiao Wu scolded angrily, puffing with indignation.
Tang San had grown up in a small mountain village. In his previous life, he had lived alone among the predominantly male Tang Sect. Last year had been the first time he met a lively and beautiful girl like Xiao Wu.
Naturally, he adored her immensely.
To placate Xiao Wu, Tang San solemnly vowed: "Rest assured, Xiao Wu! From now on, I will absolutely never eat rabbit meat again!"
Only then did Xiao Wu nod in satisfaction: "Fine! Third Brother, I still trust your character!"
"But from now on, you must keep your distance from that younger brother of yours, Tang Yi. He is cruel and ruthless—committing such heinous acts as roasting rabbits! Truly unforgivable!"
Xiao Wu continued grumbling resentfully.
Mention of Tang Yi brought a flicker of astonishment to Tang San. Xiao Wu's combat strength was considerable—yet his younger brother Tang Yi had defeated her with apparent ease.
Although the Spirit Hall and academy teachers had intervened before Xiao Wu could fully unleash her martial soul and combat power, this alone was sufficient proof of Tang Yi's extraordinariness.
"How has my younger brother changed so dramatically in just over a month?"
"Moreover, how was he able to recite Teacher's Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls so fluently?"
"Could it be that Father Tang Hao has secretly taught him a great deal? Is Father showing favoritism toward my younger brother?"
For some inexplicable reason, Tang San felt a surge of irritation.