Chương 41: Chapter 41: Even Rats Have Skin, But Some People Lack Manners (Part 2)

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On the way to the outer courtyard's Soul Dueling Arena, Ling Bai handed Han Ruoru a white jade vial, saying:

"Senior Sister, Xuan Water Pill."

Han Ruoru smiled, but firmly pushed Ling Bai's hand back. "No need, little junior brother. The Xuan Water Pill is indeed precious, but it's only effective for young Soul Masters whose cultivation is still shallow and whose abilities haven't fully formed. I've already broken through to Soul Saint. You should give it to someone who needs it more."

"This..."

Ling Bai naturally understood the principle of sharing with those who meet. Given his current understanding of Han Ruoru, if she said no, she meant it. In the end, he had to take back the Xuan Water Pill and said:

"Next time you visit Shrek City, I must treat you, Senior Sister."

Han Ruoru crossed her slender hands behind her back, feeling the moist evening breeze caress her cheeks. She said softly, "Alright, I'll follow your lead, Senior Sister."

Not far away, Huo Yuhao, hearing the two of them talking without any attempt to hide it, lowered his voice and asked Tang Ya:

"Teacher Xiaoya, what is the Xuan Water Pill? Is it very rare?"

"The Xuan Water Pill is worth a fortune," Tang Ya replied, startling Huo Yuhao with her first sentence. His brain raced, calculating that he sold twenty grilled fish a day, with a cost of three copper soul coins and a selling price of five copper soul coins, netting him forty copper soul coins a day. According to the exchange rate on the Douluo Continent, 1 gold soul coin equals 100 copper soul coins, so ten thousand gold soul coins...

He would need to go without food or drink for sixty-eight years! At this thought, Huo Yuhao felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

Tang Ya, not noticing her young disciple's emotional turmoil, continued:

"Xu San Shi comes from the Xuanming Sect of the Dueling Spirit Empire, the only place in the entire continent where they can refine the Xuan Water Pill. It is said that the refining process requires the essence blood of over a dozen water-type Spirit Beasts and dozens of water-type plants, all carefully blended to form the pill.

The Xuan Water Pill has a very mild nature, and any type of Soul Master can absorb its power well. For Soul Masters below level twenty, taking it will at least increase their soul power by one level. However, its most precious quality is its ability to cleanse internal impurities and perform Sinew Cleansing and Marrow Washing.

For Soul Masters with excellent innate talent, taking the Xuan Water Pill is like adding flowers to brocade. For someone like Ling Bai, who has an innate soul power of twenty, the effect is minimal. But for Soul Masters with ordinary talent like you and me, it is like sending coal in the snow.

The Sinew Cleansing and Marrow Washing effect of the Xuan Water Pill is equivalent to raising a Soul Master's innate soul power by one level. If a Soul Master's innate soul power is only one level at the time of their soul awakening, taking the Xuan Water Pill will raise it to two levels, which is a transformation of talent and the essence of the Soul Master!"

"What!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes immediately lit up. His innate soul power was only one level!

His cultivation path had been extremely difficult over the years. His finer and even somewhat blocked meridians made his cultivation speed extremely slow. It took him five whole years to advance from level one to level ten, and that was just the starting point for Soul Masters with full innate soul power!

Raising innate soul power is a fundamental change. If he could use the Xuan Water Pill to perform Sinew Cleansing and Marrow Washing, his cultivation speed would at least triple!

"Teacher Xiaoya, I..." Huo Yuhao stammered.

"No need to say more," Tang Ya placed her slender index finger to her lips and whispered, "Based on my understanding of Bei Bei, he must have already found a way to trick Xu San Shi. Little Yuhao, just wait for the Xuan Water Pill!"

"Senior Brother..."

Tears welled up in Huo Yuhao's eyes, and he quickly blinked to keep them from spilling over.

Due to the immense fame of the outer courtyard's twin stars and the announcement made by the Shrek Academy through the soul conductor amplifiers in the dormitory area, Bei Bei and Xu San Shi's soul duel attracted the attention of many students, regardless of their cultivation level. They encountered students from all grades, from white to yellow, purple, and black, along the way.

Seeing the red school uniforms of Ling Bai and Han Ruoru, the outer courtyard students immediately showed respect, automatically clearing a wide path for them and looking at them with starry-eyed admiration.

"Brother Bai!"

A clear and melodious voice reached their ears. Ling Bai turned to see two girls in white school uniforms sprinting toward them from a few hundred meters away.

"Xiao Tian, Wu Feng?"

Ling Bai stopped, and Han Ruoru, standing beside him, seemed to realize that these two were the disciples of the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower who entered the school with Ling Bai.

Ning Tian ran up to Ling Bai. As an auxiliary-type Soul Master with relatively weak physical strength, she was slightly out of breath, her slightly curved chest rising and falling, and her beautiful face flushed, causing Wu Feng, who was close behind her, to feel a pang of concern and glare at Ling Bai.

Ling Bai ignored Wu Feng's fiery gaze, gently patted Ning Tian's back to help her catch her breath, and smiled, saying, "Why did you run so fast? I've been here all along."

Ning Tian's breathing gradually steadied. She looked into Ling Bai's smiling golden eyes and said, "A day without seeing you feels like three autumns. I was afraid you might forget us after two days."

At the same time, she glanced at the gentle and graceful Han Ruoru as if it were a casual look, but it was clearly intentional.

Apart from the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower's patriarch, no one in the world understood Ning Tian better than Ling Bai. He immediately took Ning Tian's hand and pulled Wu Feng by the sleeve, introducing them:

"Inner Courtyard, Senior Sister Han Ruoru.

Outer Courtyard freshmen, Ning Tian, Wu Feng."

"Hello, Senior Sister!"

Ning Tian subtly intertwined her fingers with Ling Bai's and greeted Han Ruoru obediently. Wu Feng, reluctantly, mumbled a greeting.

"Hello."

Han Ruoru looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng, her gaze lingering on their intertwined hands, and a faint smile curved her lips.

Ning Tian, being only eleven years old, her claim of ownership was too obvious. Han Ruoru easily saw her possessiveness and nervousness, as if she was afraid Han Ruoru would take Ling Bai away.

"Little junior brother, I'm very happy today, so I won't disturb you. I'll go back to Sea God Island to rest."

Han Ruoru left to avoid causing any misunderstandings. She understood how much auxiliary sects like the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower valued external talents, and she guessed that Ning Tian had already chosen Ling Bai as her protector, or future husband.

Once Han Ruoru's figure disappeared from sight, Ning Tian's tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed. She couldn't blame her lack of security. She and Ling Bai were young and had not yet established a marriage agreement. Now, with Ling Bai in the inner courtyard and her in the outer courtyard, they couldn't spend every day together to further their relationship.

The inner courtyard was not short of excellent women with good looks, talent, and background, all in their prime. Ning Tian had heard that men easily fall in love with the first mature woman who teaches them what it means to be a man. If Ling Bai were seduced by a bad woman, Ning Tian would break down in tears.

"Brother Bai, how are you doing in the inner courtyard? Have the older students targeted you?" Ning Tian asked with concern.

"Everything is going well. How about you two?"

"Wu Feng and I were assigned to the same class and the same dormitory. Teacher Mujin, our homeroom teacher, seems strict in class, but she is very caring to us in private. A typical tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside type."

Ling Bai nodded slightly. Compared to the eccentric Teacher Zhou Yi, who would expel students for the slightest provocation, Teacher Mujin was a competent teacher.

"And Ning Tian is the class president!"

Wu Feng looked proud, then cleared her throat and added, "I'm the vice president!"

"What? You're the vice president?"

Ling Bai sucked in a breath. "Your class is doomed."

"...Ling Bai, I'll shark you!!!"

In the soul dueling area, the rest room.

As soon as they entered, Xu San Shi couldn't wait to say, "On the way, I saw Tang Ya and that inner courtyard big brother chatting. Do you know him?"

Contrary to their public display of animosity, the outer courtyard's twin stars were actually very good friends.

Bei Bei glared at Xu San Shi. "What big brother? Ling Bai is three years younger than you."

"What!"

Xu San Shi was stunned. "Then he's the same age as this year's freshmen!"

Bei Bei nodded. "That's right. Xiaoya broke through to level thirty before the start of the semester. While hunting soul rings in the Star Dou Great Forest, we met a group from the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower, led by Ling Bai. We traveled together from there.

San Shi, Ling Bai's talent far surpasses both of ours. Don't bear a grudge over today's matter, or you'll definitely suffer."

Bei Bei briefly explained how they met and didn't forget to warn Xu San Shi.

"I wouldn't dare hate him!"

Xu San Shi shrank back, like a frightened turtle retracting into its shell. "Do you remember Ma Xiaotao, who helps me with my evil fire?"

"Phoenix Soul Emperor, you always complain about how heavy-handed she is."

Xu San Shi pointed to his eyes and exaggeratedly said, "The other night, I saw Ling Bai pinning Ma Xiaotao down and beating her! A Soul Master beating a Soul Emperor, it's like the world has turned upside down!"

"But..."

Xu San Shi grinned, "I guess we're connected now. If I can get the big brother's favor with two Xuan Water Pills, I'll be in the black!"

Bei Bei covered his face. He knew Xu San Shi was shameless, but he didn't expect him to call Ling Bai 'big brother' so shamelessly.

"You haven't settled your account with the Tang Sect yet. Hurry up, give me a Xuan Water Pill!"

Bei Bei extended a hand. As Tang Ya had guessed, the moment he saw Xu San Shi give Ling Bai a Xuan Water Pill, he started thinking about his junior brother Huo Yuhao.

"Do you think Xuan Water Pills are a flea market!"

Xu San Shi was speechless. Was 'complaining' written on his forehead? Why was everyone extorting him today!

Bei Bei raised an eyebrow. "One thing at a time. You bullied my junior brother, shouldn't you compensate?"

"I'll pay two hundred gold soul coins and eat his grilled fish for a year."

Bei Bei felt a headache. Xu San Shi was very shrewd and wouldn't fall for his big trick. Huo Yuhao's talent desperately needed the Xuan Water Pill to improve. After some thought, he had an idea and said:

"I won't take advantage of you. Let's settle it with a soul duel. If you win, I won't pursue this matter. If you lose, the Xuan Water Pill is mine."

Xu San Shi smacked his lips and extended a finger. "One more condition. Tang Ya and Nan Nan are good friends. If I win, have her invite Nan Nan to the city gate. I want to give her a surprise."

"...You really like Jiang Nan Nan, don't you?" Bei Bei teased.

Although Jiang Nan Nan was known as the outer courtyard's top beauty, Xu San Shi's background, appearance, and talent were all top-notch. Bei Bei found it strange why Xu San Shi was so fixated on Jiang Nan Nan.

Xu San Shi's face turned red, and he pretended to be angry. "Hurry up, will you agree or not?"

"It's a deal."

Bei Bei hoped his good friend Xu San Shi would eventually win the beauty, and decided to help him with Tang Ya.

...

In the outer courtyard's soul dueling arena, in the audience seats.

After paying the viewing fee, the five of them found a seat. Ling Bai and Huo Yuhao, the two boys, sat in the middle, with Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Tang Ya on either side.

As soon as they sat down, Wu Feng complained, "Is Shrek Academy crazy for money? They charge a silver soul coin just to watch a soul duel!"

Huo Yuhao agreed. It took him five grilled fish to earn a silver soul coin. If not for the generous Ning Tian, he would never spend money to watch a duel.

Ning Tian leaned her head lightly on Ling Bai, her fingers tracing circles around his wrist, and smiled. "The academy is a big institution with various facilities that require maintenance. The soul arena houses many Spirit Beasts, and the daily expenses are substantial. Charging a fee is understandable."

Ling Bai didn't speak, silently tucking a few strands of Ning Tian's white-gold hair behind her ear. The scent of her hair wafted around his nose, and he looked around the outer courtyard's soul dueling arena.

The overall layout was similar to the inner courtyard's soul dueling arena, with the only significant difference being the audience seats. Considering the much larger number of outer courtyard students, the outer courtyard's soul dueling arena had two thousand seats.

As the two major figures in the outer courtyard, Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus Bei Bei and Mystic Turtle Shield Xu San Shi's every duel was thrilling. The arena was quickly filling up, with at least a thousand students coming to watch.

This scene made Huo Yuhao a bit nervous, and he whispered, "Teacher Xiaoya, can Senior Brother win?"

"Not necessarily," Tang Ya shook her head. "Xu San Shi has a top-tier defensive beast soul, the Mystic Turtle Shield, known as the outer courtyard's best defense. He and Bei Bei, the outer courtyard's best attacker, are equally matched. Their past duels have been evenly split."

"This..."

Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered with a hint of hesitation, his gaze shifting between the soul duelists' entrance, Ling Bai, and Tang Ya, as if he was considering something.

"Please, both contestants enter the arena!"

As the referee shouted, Bei Bei and Xu San Shi stepped out from either side, and the noisy arena instantly fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the two of them, afraid to miss a moment of the action.

"Fourth-year Bei Bei versus fifth-year Xu San Shi, the match begins!"

The referee quickly retreated, giving Bei Bei and Xu San Shi the entire arena. Both released their soul beasts at the same time.

Blue light gathered, and Bei Bei's right arm rapidly swelled, surrounded by countless electric sparks. The Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus soul beast was attached to his body, with two yellow and one purple soul rings ascending and descending around his dragon-like right arm.

Xu San Shi was not to be outdone, his body swelling to the point of straining his school uniform. The pitch-black Mystic Turtle Shield appeared, also with the optimal combination of two yellow and one purple soul rings.

The two slowly took steps to the side, their sharp gazes locked on each other. Intense soul power rose, the blue and black colors, the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus and the Mystic Turtle Shield, clearly distinct.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Ling Bai frowned. He sensed a faint spiritual force, a special fluctuation that inevitably occurred when releasing a spiritual soul skill.

He turned his head and, sure enough, saw that Huo Yuhao's originally deep blue eyes were now tinged with a faint gold!

The first soul skill of the Spirit Eye, Mental Detection Sharing!

Huo Yuhao wanted to use the stealth of his spiritual attribute to help Bei Bei win against Xu San Shi. He could hide it from the referee, who was far away, but how could he hide it from Ling Bai, who was right next to him!

"Boom—"

"Ah!!!"

Huo Yuhao cried out in pain, feeling as if his spiritual sea was being torn apart by a beam of golden light. The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, in its dying state, suddenly sat up, looking around in confusion, trying to repair the damage.

In the next second, Huo Yuhao met a pair of sharp, glaring golden eyes, and a low, cold voice followed:

"Huo Yuhao, are you... cheating?"

(End of Chapter)