On the second floor, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing heard the commotion downstairs. They exchanged knowing looks—just as expected, a conflict had broken out.
Xiao Wu thought for a moment and said, "We should check with Brother Su Ming first, just to make sure we don't expose anything."
The three of them went to Su Ming's room next door, and Xiao Wu knocked. After a long time with no answer, she began to wonder if he was in the middle of cultivation or something else. She hesitated to barge in, especially with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing present.
Then, an idea popped into Xiao Wu's head. Her mental power had increased significantly thanks to the system. She decided to use her spiritual power to check inside the room, thinking it wouldn't hurt to try.
Closing her eyes, Xiao Wu released her spiritual power and probed into the room.
Zhu Zhuqing asked, "Rongrong, what's Xiao Wu doing with her eyes closed?"
Ning Rongrong, who had also experienced an increase in spiritual power, sensed what Xiao Wu was doing and explained, "She's using her spiritual power to check what Su Ming is doing. With how close they are, even if he's changing and Xiao Wu sees, it wouldn't be a big deal. But I bet he's cultivating, maybe even breaking through."
After a few moments, Xiao Wu opened her eyes and said seriously, "Su Ming seems to be in the middle of cultivation and is on the verge of breaking through. I think he's about to reach level 44."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Then we shouldn't worry about the noise downstairs. We've got a good reason to stay here, and honestly, guarding Su Ming's breakthrough is better than helping out in a pointless fight. Fatty and Dai Mubai just can't stop themselves from causing trouble, even over a simple meal."
She continued, "From what I've heard, Canghui Academy is a prestigious advanced soul master academy. Their teachers are quite strong, and one of them is a Soul Emperor with illusion abilities. Even high-level Soul Saints avoid fighting him because of his special martial soul."
"Those guys are being reckless. What if one of the Canghui teachers decides to take revenge on them later?"
The others nodded in agreement. It made sense—they were the ones who had provoked the fight, and while Canghui Academy's students and teacher might lose in the moment, nothing was stopping them from seeking revenge later.
Half an hour later, Su Ming opened his door and found the three girls waiting outside. He knew why they had stayed, and he felt a warmth in his heart. Despite the chaos downstairs, they had chosen to stay by his side, guarding him during his breakthrough.
When they went downstairs together, they saw several areas in the restaurant had been damaged. Zhao Wuji and the others were already seated, getting ready to eat.
Su Ming noticed that, apart from Tang San, both Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had some injuries. Ma Hongjun's round face was now swollen, making him look even fatter than usual.
Ma Hongjun, after eating one of Oscar's sausages to heal himself, rubbed his face and saw Su Ming and the others coming down. He immediately complained, "Su Ming! Didn't you hear the fighting going on down here? Why didn't you come help?"
Su Ming, feigning confusion, replied, "What happened? I was cultivating and sensed I was about to break through, so I stayed in my room to focus. They stayed with me to guard."
Before Ma Hongjun could say anything, Dai Mubai, surprised, interrupted, "Wait, you broke through? So you're level 44 now?"
Su Ming nodded calmly.
Zhao Wuji, who had been silently watching, had initially planned to lecture Su Ming if he had intentionally avoided the fight. He believed that everyone should have a sense of teamwork. But upon hearing that Su Ming had broken through, his anger vanished, and he laughed heartily, "Good, good! Su Ming, your talent is truly remarkable. You've barely been at the academy, and you've already broken through again!"
Tang San remained silent, reflecting on how he had avoided injury using his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Purple Demon Eye, though it had cost him a lot of soul power. Yet, none of his attacks, including his hidden weapons, had worked. The Canghui Academy teacher's martial soul had formed a tough turtle shell that blocked his Dragon Beard Needle, and his other hidden weapons had no effect either. This only fueled his determination—after their trip to Star Dou Forest, he would definitely gather materials to craft the Zhuge Crossbow.
He also felt a twinge of jealousy. Why was Su Ming able to cultivate so quickly?
Xiao Wu, standing proudly with her hands on her hips, chimed in, "Su Ming's breakthrough is more important! So what if there was some conflict downstairs? It didn't affect us. But I can't believe it was you guys who caused the trouble!"
Su Ming shot a sharp look at Ma Hongjun. "Fatty, was it you who started the trouble? Did you get yourself in a mess by staring at some girl again?"
Ma Hongjun, guilty and avoiding eye contact, chose to remain silent.
Oscar quickly jumped in to explain, "Well, Fatty may have looked at a girl, but he didn't do anything inappropriate. It was the other side who started the fight."
"And besides," Oscar continued, "didn't the dean always say that soul masters who don't cause trouble aren't real soul masters? This is part of our training. Canghui Academy is a soul master academy, so we don't have to worry about anyone getting seriously hurt, just a few bruises at most."
Oscar's words seemed to be criticizing Ma Hongjun, but he was really defending him. He claimed it was the Canghui Academy students who made the first move and mentioned Dean Flender's teachings as justification.
Su Ming glanced at Oscar, feeling a growing disappointment. Did Oscar really believe that nonsense? He knew full well that if Ma Hongjun hadn't been ogling the girl and making inappropriate remarks, the fight wouldn't have started. And now Oscar was trying to downplay it all.
Su Ming decided not to argue further, but Ning Rongrong wasn't as patient. She raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Oh, really? Are you sure it wasn't you guys who provoked them first?"
"And about what the dean said—'soul masters who don't cause trouble aren't real soul masters'? That's pure nonsense!"
"All that talk about causing trouble is just an excuse for bullying the weak. If you're so bold, why don't you try provoking a Title Douluo instead? But no, you're too scared of dying!"
"In my clan, there are plenty of soul masters who don't cause trouble and still achieve great things. Flender's words are nothing but foolishness."
Zhao Wuji, standing nearby, had an awkward look on his face, feeling as though her words had indirectly criticized him as well.