Xiao Chenyu's face was grim, and Wang Youcai's expression was equally dark. Wang Sheng's words pierced their ears sharply.
In the past, Xiao Chenyu and Wang Youcai had mocked work-study students, belittling them as less than human. Now, they couldn't even deal with these work-study students; did that mean they were even worse than the animals they disparaged?
"Brother, let's do a wheel battle! We have so many people; we can wear him down!"
As Xiao Chenyu felt the weight of the situation, his cousin Wang Youcai whispered in his ear, "Among them, he's the only one with some ability. As long as we defeat him, the others will be easy to handle."
"No way," Xiao Chenyu refused.
"Brother?" Wang Youcai looked at Xiao Chenyu in confusion.
"They're just work-study students. If we resort to a wheel battle, we'll only lose more face," Xiao Chenyu insisted. As the leader of the academy, he had his own pride.
"I want revenge!" Wang Youcai said with malice.
"Revenge must be done openly and aboveboard. This fight is mine!" Xiao Chenyu declared, stepping forward. "I am Xiao Chenyu, a sixth-grade student. My martial spirit is the Wolf! Level 11, one-ring Battle Soul Master!"
A white soul ring rose beneath Xiao Chenyu's feet. Blue soul power condensed behind him into a shadowy figure with a wolf's head on a human body.
"Let's begin!" Mu Chen said calmly.
"Use your martial spirit!" Xiao Chenyu urged.
"No need. I don't need to use my martial spirit to deal with you!" Mu Chen scoffed.
"Are you sure? I have a soul ring," Xiao Chenyu reminded haughtily.
"Yes, a ten-year white soul ring!" Mu Chen chuckled lightly.
"You're looking down on me! Take this!" Xiao Chenyu angrily retaliated.
Although Xiao Chenyu's first soul ring was white, its age was close to a hundred years. A yellow soul ring wasn't something that could be easily obtained.
At the Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy, students typically had white soul rings for their first, and reaching level ten to become a soul master was a sign of excellence.
**First Soul Skill: Wolf Claw!**
With a fierce cry, Xiao Chenyu's wolf claw struck out toward Mu Chen.
Facing the oncoming attack, Mu Chen didn't even flinch and met it head-on with his fist.
"Going for a direct confrontation?"
"Seriously? That's a first soul skill!"
"Daring to clash with my cousin's wolf claw? Your bones won't remain intact!"
The surrounding students and teachers watched in shock as Mu Chen, without using any soul power, went toe-to-toe with a soul skill. It seemed like he was courting death.
"He's done for!" Tang San shook his head slightly.
To others, Xiao Chenyu's wolf claw was formidable. But only Tang San knew he was up against Mu Chen—someone capable of doing five hundred push-ups in a row.
Bang!
An unbelievable scene unfolded as Mu Chen, without using soul power or martial spirit, relied solely on physical strength to push Xiao Chenyu back.
"Take this!" Mu Chen stepped forward.
First, he threw a left punch, followed by a right punch, and then a kick.
Three strikes!
In just three moves, Mu Chen had Xiao Chenyu crouched on the ground, his face contorted in pain.
**Soul Power +700 Points.**
The shocking scene garnered Mu Chen another seven hundred emotional points.
He was now incredibly close to leveling up to ten.
"Defeated?"
Wang Youcai looked at Mu Chen in disbelief. Mu Chen had actually defeated his cousin, a one-ring level eleven Battle Soul Master.
"Do you want to continue?" Mu Chen's gaze locked onto Xiao Chenyu.
"I… I admit defeat. From now on, I, Xiao Chenyu, am willing to recognize you as my boss!" Xiao Chenyu reluctantly conceded.
**Ding dong!**
"Congratulations! You have defeated Xiao Chenyu and become the boss of the Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy students. Reward: 2000 soul power."
**Ding dong!**
"Congratulations! Your soul power is full; you have leveled up. Current level: Level 10 (1470/5750)."
**Ding dong!**
"Congratulations! You have defeated Xiao Chenyu, becoming the boss of the Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy students. Reward: One hundred-year spirit ring and one skill point."
"Who dares to hit my son?!"
Just after Xiao Chenyu's defeat, a powerful voice rang out.
"This is bad; it's Baron Wang Ning!"
The onlooking crowd instinctively parted to make way. A middle-aged man in ornate clothing approached, followed by eleven others. Ten of them wore the same uniforms, likely guards from the Wang family.
"She's so beautiful!"
The onlookers' gazes fell on a girl beside Baron Wang Ning.
"Could she be Baron Wang Ning's illegitimate daughter?"
"That must be it. Not only is Baron Wang Ning capable—he's a level four Soul Master—but he's also quite the womanizer, so it's no surprise he has illegitimate children."
"What a stunning girl! She'll definitely grow up to be a great beauty. No wonder she was selected as a candidate for the royal court!"
**Candidate for the royal court?**
What does that entail?
Noble daughters and those from official families selected to serve the emperor are known as candidates.
Curious, Mu Chen's gaze scrutinized the beautiful girl.
The girl had skin as fair as snow, a straight nose, and slightly delicate phoenix eyes, showcasing a stunning appearance. Though still in her early development, it was clear from her figure and looks that she would grow into a breathtaking beauty.
"Dad, sister, you're here!" Wang Youcai exclaimed joyfully, running to Wang Ning and the beautiful girl with a smile.
"Who hit you?" Wang Ning asked.
"He did!" Wang Youcai pointed at Mu Chen.
"It was you?" Wang Ning frowned.
"Yes," Mu Chen nodded.
"Then make sure to teach him a lesson!" Wang Ning ordered coolly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a middle-aged man stepped forward.
"You little brat, how dare you strike the young master? You've got some guts!"
"Be careful; his strength isn't weak!"
Bang!
Just as Wang Youcai warned, the guard swung a punch toward Mu Chen. The punch came quickly, but Mu Chen didn't dodge. Instead, he struck back.
Unprepared, the guard was sent staggering back three steps after being hit by Mu Chen's punch. He looked at Mu Chen in astonishment. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "Not bad, kid. I underestimated you. Let's see if you can handle another strike!"
The guard stepped forward, two soul rings appearing beneath him. The colors were white and yellow. Red soul power coalesced behind him into a fiery wolf with a human-like form.
**Sharingan!**
Mu Chen activated the Sharingan, not daring to be careless.
**First Soul Skill: Fiery Fist!**
The guard's fist, engulfed in flames, rocketed toward Mu Chen. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of him.
In the guard's triumphant gaze, his fist seemed to penetrate through Mu Chen's body.
"Not good!"
The guard realized too late.
With the perceptive ability of the Sharingan, Mu Chen could see the flow of soul power and react instantly. Unless his opponent had overwhelming combat strength, Mu Chen could easily detect their attack's trajectory.