Tang San possessed the cultivation method of the Mysterious Heaven Method, which meant that his future cultivation speed would inevitably be better than that of most Soul Masters. Master mentioned that the cultivation method he had researched probably followed a similar route to cultivating Inner Strength. How much effort must the Master have put in to reach this stage? It's important to remember that the Mysterious Heaven Method was the result of innumerable generations of predecessors from the Tang Sect pouring their heart and soul into its development. And yet the Master was on his own.
"Additionally, you should go to the Martial Soul Hall in Notting City now. Just ask around on your way, and you'll be able to find the location of the Martial Soul Hall; it's in the central area of the city. There, undergo the Soul Master appraisal. This will not only test your own Soul Power condition but also serve as your official registration at the Martial Soul Hall, so you can receive your monthly subsidy from now on. There's no need to continue being a work-study student."
Carefully, Tang San tucked the book the Master had given him into the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges. The true form of the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges was unclear, made of what seemed an extremely flexible material, capable of shrinking to its smallest size where it could just about fit around Tang San's youthful waist. However, if expanded, it could be worn by men with a waist girth of over four feet, and the width of the belt remained constant.
At this moment, Tang San was dressed in the uniform of the Notting Primary Soul Master Academy. With the belt given to him by the Master wrapped around his waist, his overall spirit, essence, and energy had completely changed compared to when he first arrived at the academy. As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Although he wasn't particularly handsome, his clean and tidy appearance did give a refreshing impression.
"Teacher, you should get some rest, I'll be off. I'll bring you back some food at noon."
Leaving the Master's room, Tang San happened to hear the bell signaling the end of classes. The Notting Primary Soul Master Academy's classes were not lengthy, and after classes ended at noon, there was still an hour's rest before the canteen opened for lunch.
Since classes had just ended, Tang San decided to first return to his dorm and greet his roommates to let them know he was back before heading out.
However, when he returned to the dorm, he was surprised to find that it was completely empty; not a single person was in sight. His own bedding was laid out just as he had left it, right next to Xiaowu's, with a bundle separating them.
Not a single person returned after classes ended? Tang San couldn't help but feel a touch of doubt in his mind. Turning around, he stepped out of the dorm and made his way to the training field.
Students from the opposite building—the last to leave the classroom—were making their way back to the dorms in pairs and groups. Just as Tang San was preparing to head to the Martial Soul Hall for the Soul Master certification as instructed by the Master, he overheard some older students, who seemed to be a few grades above him, whisper something about "work-study students."
Hurriedly focusing his mind, he used his Inner Strength to listen and locate sounds in order to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Those work-study students really don't know their own limits, daring to challenge boss Xiao from the sixth grade. I reckon we won't be seeing those work-study students in class tomorrow."
"That's not entirely true. It takes some guts for the work-study students to challenge the Academy's little overlord. Rumor has it there's a new work-study student, a first-year girl, who is quite powerful. All the work-study students call her sister Xiaowu. It seems she's the one who initiated this whole thing. The stakes they've set are quite serious too. If boss Xiao wins, then all the work-study students will become his pets. But if the work-study students win, then that sister Xiaowu will be our entire Academy's sister Xiaowu."
"These work-study students are definitely courting death. No matter how powerful a first-grade girl can be, she can't be that strong. Boss Xiao is one of the few sixth-grade students in our Academy who have reached the Soul Master state. It looks like boss Xiao is about to gain a flock of followers."
After hearing the conversation between the two higher-grade students, Tang San immediately tensed up. Although his interaction with Xiaowu had been brief, he had a decent understanding of her temperament. This seemingly delicate girl was not as gentle as she appeared, but rather somewhat fierce. Coupled with what Wang Sheng had previously told him about the bullying of work-study students, he was certain that what these two higher-grade students said must be true.
Tang San was also part of the work-study group, and naturally, he could not stand idly by while his roommates were being bullied.
"Seniors, may I ask where boss Xiao and those work-study students are?" Tang San approached the two senior students who were talking.
The two students were visibly taken aback, with the taller one on the left saying, "What for? Little junior, do you want to get involved too? Boss Xiao has enough people, and by the looks of it, you should be in the second or third grade, right? I advise you not to go. It wouldn't be good to get hurt by mistake."
Given Tang San's neat appearance and the seemingly good-quality belt around his waist, the two students obviously couldn't guess that he was a work-study student.
"Senior, I just want to watch from a distance," Tang San said without revealing his work-study status.
"They're probably fighting in the forest behind the Academy's mountain."
With accurate information in hand, Tang San sprinted away toward the back of the Academy.
The so-called mountain behind the Academy was not within the boundaries of Notting Academy but was a small hill located outside the back gate of the Academy. Seeing no one around, Tang San immediately employed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and dashed up the mountain.
The forest was eerily quiet, but that did not indicate peace. Instead, there was the tense atmosphere of an imminent confrontation.
All the work-study students, save for Tang San, stood behind Xiaowu. Opposing them was a group of more than twenty senior students.
One person stood at the front, dressed in the uniform of the Notting Primary Soul Master Academy. His figure was tall and strong. Although he still wore a youthful face, it had the beginnings of adulthood. He looked to be at least half a head taller than Xiaowu, and could be considered handsome. However, his face carried an expression of contempt and disdain, ruining the harmony.
"Little girl, it's not too late to regret now. Of course, I don't mind having another pet rabbit. Your Martial Soul is a rabbit, isn't it?"