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#21
Chapter 21 Returning to the Village, Attending the Feast
Chu Xinghe walked along the bustling street, his gaze lingering between the shops on both sides.
This time when I return to my hometown, I must bring some decent gifts for the villagers of Xiaoyuan Village. Those villagers who treat me like family deserve the best reward.
"Boss, I'll take all of these primers." Chu Xinghe stopped in front of a bookstore and pointed to several beautifully bound books.
The children in the village no longer have to pass around that tattered book, "100,000 Whys of the Soul Master World."
Turning the corner, he flashed his Soul Master token, and the owner of the farm tool shop immediately greeted him warmly: "Soul Master, your esteemed presence is an honor to our humble shop!"
Sharp sickles and sturdy hoes—these ordinary farming tools are nearly half the price under the Soul Master special offer.
Finally, he chose a plump, black-haired pig at the market.
The big, fat pig seemed to sense its fate, and grunted uneasily in its cage.
Chu Xinghe chuckled and patted its head: "Don't be afraid, I'll make your death quicker."
Two years of slaughtering experience gave him an intimate knowledge of the weaknesses of livestock.
"Brother, all of these are loaded!" the cart driver called out, tying the last item of goods onto the oxcart.
The flatbed cart, now fitted with guardrails, was crammed full of books, farm tools, live pigs, and several packets of tea for the village chief.
"Let's go." Chu Xinghe leaped onto the carriage shaft and glanced back at the towering city walls of Nottingham.
The oxcart creaked as it drove out of the city gate and slowly made its way along the country dirt road.
...
The afterglow of the setting sun painted the thatched roofs of Xiaoyuan Village red, and the oxcart creaked as it drove into the village.
Although the heavy cargo slowed down the journey, he managed to return to the small village that raised him before dark.
"Xinghe is back!" Aunt Wang, who was drawing water from the well, was the first to spot him, and her joyful shouts immediately attracted more villagers.
"Star River Kid, you brought so much stuff this time?"
"How are you doing in the city?"
The villagers warmly surrounded him, patting Chu Xinghe's shoulder with their rough hands.
He jumped off the oxcart and responded to the villagers' greetings one by one, his smile brighter than the sunset.
"Make way, make way!" Hurried footsteps came from outside the crowd. The white-haired village chief, Lin Manfu, walked quickly with his cane, his shoes still covered in mud from the fields.
"Grandpa Village Chief!" Chu Xinghe hurriedly went to greet him. "I've become a Soul Master!" He pointed to the oxcart behind him, which was full of gifts for everyone.
Lin Manfu's cane fell to the ground with a thud, and his wrinkled hands trembled slightly: "Wh...what? A Soul Master? Child, say it again?"
Chu Xinghe took out the token that rippled with soul power from his bosom. The emblem of the Spirit Hall shone brightly in the setting sun: "Look, this is a Soul Master certificate issued by the Spirit Hall."
The old village chief's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He turned around shakily and shouted with all his might, "Listen up, everyone! Our Little Garden Village has produced a Soul Master! We'll have a banquet tomorrow to celebrate Xinghe becoming a Soul Master!"
The villagers fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers.
Someone ran to ring the old bronze bell at the village entrance, spreading the good news throughout the village.
Looking at the bustling scene before him, Chu Xinghe patted the fat pig on the oxcart, thankfully he had come prepared.
"Old Li," Lin Manfu said to the old farmer beside him, wiping his eyes, "wasn't it twenty years ago that the village had a Soul Master?"
The evening breeze swept across the rice paddies, carrying the fragrance of the earth.
Standing amidst the jubilant crowd, Chu Xinghe truly felt for the first time that becoming a Soul Master was not only a personal honor, but also the pride of the entire village.
...
The next day.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated when Chu Xinghe pushed open the creaking wooden door, and the scene before him warmed his heart.
The villagers were already busy in the open space in front of his house.
Chickens and ducks brought by each family fluttered in their cages, fresh vegetables were still covered in morning dew, pots and pans clattered, and even Aunt Li, who was usually the stingiest, brought her treasured old wine.
Lin Manfu walked over, leaning on his cane, his silver hair and beard still glistening with morning dew: "Xinghe, come and say a few words to everyone. He is the Soul Master of our Xiaoyuan Village."
Tears of pride glistened in the old man's eyes.
Chu Xinghe shook his head helplessly: "Grandpa Village Chief, you're making me feel too bad."
But seeing the expectant looks on the villagers' faces, he took a deep breath and climbed onto the makeshift wooden platform.
"Dear uncles and aunts," his voice was particularly clear in the morning breeze, "I, Chu Xinghe, am now a formal Soul Master, registered with the Spirit Hall in Notting City, and recognized by the Heaven Dou Empire."
As he spoke, his fist clenched unconsciously. "This grand event will be etched in Xinghe's memory. I hereby swear that I will diligently cultivate myself until one day our Xiaoyuan Village—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every familiar face: "Surpass Holy Soul Village and become the wealthiest village in Notting City!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Holy Soul Village is a legendary village that has produced a Soul Saint. Even the city lord has to show it respect.
Although no one took Chu Xinghe's bold words seriously, his sentiments brought tears to the eyes of many elderly people.
"Good lad!" Blacksmith Uncle Zhang exclaimed, slapping his thigh. "Just for your sincerity, I'm going to get you drunk today!"
Amidst the laughter, Chu Xinghe quietly tightened his grip on the Soul Master token at his waist.
He knew that in the eyes of these simple villagers, becoming a registered Soul Master was already a great achievement.
But for him, this was merely the beginning of his journey.
The legend of Holy Soul Village?
One day, he will make this land write a new legend.
The large iron pot on the stove was bubbling and steaming, and the busy figures of the villagers moved about in the morning light.
Lin Manfu wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked to Chu Xinghe's side, and asked with loving eyes, "Xinghe, how long do you plan to stay this time?"
"About a month," Chu Xinghe replied, his gaze sweeping over the busy villagers.
Uncle Zhang, skilled at slaughtering pigs, watched several teenagers chasing after chickens and ducks, and Aunt Li leading the women to wash vegetables by the well... This familiar scene warmed his heart.
He turned to the old village chief, his voice unconsciously lowering a few decibels: "Grandpa Village Chief, I have applied to Notting Academy for early graduation. In a few days, I will be going to the War Madness Academy in the Kingdom of Sylves to continue my training... This trip will probably take several years before I can return."
Lin Manfu nearly dropped his pipe, his aged face a mixture of surprise and worry: "The Kingdom of Silves? That's so far away! Don't we have quite a few good academies in our Fasno Province?"
"The War Maniac Academy was specially chosen for me by Dean Yang," Chu Xinghe explained. "He said it was the best place for my development."
"Recommended by Dean Yang?" Lin Manfu's cloudy eyes immediately lit up.
In his mind, the dean of Notting College was an extraordinary figure.
The old man nodded quickly: "Go! We must go! The place that Dean Yang has chosen must be right!"
He grasped Chu Xinghe's hand with trembling hands: "Go and study without worry. Everyone in the village will take good care of your house and fields."
The old man looked at the village with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, his voice choked with emotion: "This will always be your home. You can come back whenever you want."
Chu Xinghe's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he nodded heavily.
The morning breeze swept across the rice paddies, carrying the familiar fragrance of the soil.
He didn't know how long it would be before he could return, but those simple smiles and familiar accents were already deeply engraved in his heart, becoming the warmest bond on his path to becoming a Soul Master.
The midday sun shone on the open space in the center of the village, and the rich aroma of meat filled the air along with the cooking smoke.
The pork stewing in the large iron pot glistened with an enticing sheen, and the villagers sat around a makeshift long table, their faces beaming with rare joy.
"This meat is stewed until it's so tender!" Uncle Zhang picked up a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, his eyes squinting with satisfaction.
The villagers, who usually eat simple meals, now have their bowls filled with fragrant dishes.
The banquet lasted from noon until evening.
The women were busy adding dishes and rice, the children were playing and laughing around the table, and even the oldest people were helped out to share in the joy.
As night fell, a bonfire was lit, and the villagers sang and danced around it.
The emergence of a Soul Master in the village is more worthy of celebration than the Lunar New Year.
In the days that followed, Chu Xinghe enjoyed a rare period of leisure.
At dawn, he cultivated his soul power on the hillside behind the village, his yellow soul rings gleaming in the morning sun.
In the afternoon, he would help the villagers with farm work, lifting a hundred-pound grain bag with one hand and turning over half an acre of land with a single stroke of his hoe.
These tasks, which would leave ordinary villagers with aching backs and sore waists, become easy and effortless in his hands.
"Xinghe, this bag of wheat..." Before Aunt Li could finish speaking, the boy lifted the large sack, which would have required two adult men to lift, with one hand.
"Where should I put it?" Chu Xinghe asked with a smile, not a drop of sweat on his forehead.
The villagers went from being amazed at first to taking it for granted later, but every time they saw Chu Xinghe display the power of a Soul Master, their eyes would still reveal envy and pride.
Chu Xinghe was happy to use this power to repay the villagers who raised him.
Carrying water, chopping wood, and tilling the fields—tasks that used to require multiple people working together—can now be easily accomplished by him alone.
As the sun sets, he often sits under the old locust tree at the village entrance, watching the smoke rising from the village chimneys.
Such peaceful days may be hard to come by again on his upcoming journey as a Soul Master.
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#22
Chapter 22 Wolf Thief
A month passed quickly, and the dirt roads of Xiaoyuan Village were crowded with villagers who came to see him off.
Chu Xinghe, carrying a simple bag, politely declined the various local specialties offered by the villagers, including pickled vegetables, cured meat, and newly woven cloth shoes...
He didn't have a storage soul tool, so these heartfelt gifts became a sweet burden at this moment.
"Be careful on the road!" Lin Manfu said, his voice choked with emotion as he leaned on his cane.
"Remember to come back and visit often!" Aunt Wang cried out, wiping away her tears.
Chu Xinghe nodded heavily, turned around and strode away.
His soul power flowed through his meridians, and his speed increased, as the country lanes flew past beneath his feet.
What would normally be a half-day journey was completed in just two hours with the aid of soul power, and the towering walls of Notting Academy came into view.
The college is currently busy preparing for tomorrow's graduation ceremony.
The servants wiped down every pillar, the students trimmed the lawn, and even the statues were repainted.
Yang Yaozong specifically instructed that brocade with gold trim be hung in the venue, since many nobles would be attending the ceremony this year.
The following morning, the college bells rang throughout the sky.
The venue was packed. Graduates in formal attire sat in the front row, while younger students squeezed into the back. On the stands on both sides were elegantly dressed nobles and their parents.
Chu Xinghe noticed that even Lord Notting City had brought his family to sit in the VIP section.
The ceremony was simple yet solemn.
After Yang Yaozong, dressed in a gold-embroidered dean's robe, delivered a speech, the graduates took turns going up on stage.
When the name "Chu Xinghe" was read out, a murmur of discussion broke out in the stands.
This gifted student, who graduated early, was already quite famous in Nottingham.
"Congratulations." As Yang Yaozong handed him the gold-embossed graduation certificate, he whispered almost imperceptibly, "See you at the school gate tomorrow morning."
Chu Xinghe understood immediately; tomorrow was the day he and the dean had agreed to depart for the Battle Maniac Academy.
...
The next day.
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, a black carriage with gilded trim slowly drove out of the gates of Notting College.
The emblems of the academy on both sides of the carriage gleamed in the morning sun, and two pure white horses marched in unison, attracting early-rising vendors to stop and watch.
Inside the carriage, Chu Xinghe sat upright, gazing through the crystal window at the gradually receding silhouette of the academy.
Opposite him, Yang Yaozong had changed his usual simple attire, wearing a dark-patterned brocade robe, with the Soul Sect badge pinned to his chest, and even his gray beard was carefully trimmed.
"Are you nervous?" Yang Yaozong suddenly asked.
Chu Xinghe withdrew his gaze: "A little. But I'm even more looking forward to sparring with the geniuses from the Battle Maniac Academy."
Upon hearing this, Yang Yaozong burst into laughter, the sound of which made the car window tremble slightly.
Behind the partition at the front of the carriage, Mr. Li, who was the driver, couldn't help but smile.
Teacher Notting, a Soul Master, was skillfully manipulating the reins, his soul power flowing through the whip to ensure the carriage moved at the smoothest possible speed.
"Sit tight!" Teacher Li suddenly called out softly.
The carriage sped up on the main road leading to the province of Fasno.
The two white horses simultaneously emitted a faint soul light, revealing themselves to be spirit beast bloodline steeds carefully bred by the Spirit Hall!
...
Seven days later, as the carriage rolled over the last mountain ridge, the setting sun had already dyed the western sky blood red.
Chu Xinghe narrowed his eyes; the silhouette of Qingmu Village in the distance appeared particularly silent in the twilight.
The sound of wheels rolling over gravel suddenly became shrill, because apart from that, the entire field was deathly silent.
"Stop!" Teacher Li suddenly tightened the reins, and the horse neighed anxiously.
Chu Xinghe took a deep breath, and his nostrils were immediately filled with a metallic, fishy smell.
That wasn't the smell of ordinary wild animals, but a mixture of rotting flesh, feces, and the stench unique to some kind of wild animal.
His stomach began to convulse uncontrollably, a primal reaction of his body to danger.
"It's wolf bandits." Yang Yaozong's voice was eight octaves lower than usual, like a dull knife scraping on a whetstone.
He dismounted, his boots sinking into the soft mud with a dull thud.
"At least twenty, and we've already succeeded."
Chu Xinghe jumped off the carriage and then noticed the farm tools scattered in the fields.
A hoe was broken in two, with five deep claw marks on the wooden handle.
A bucket of water not far away had been overturned, and the water inside had long since dried up, leaving only a ring of dark brown marks, the color of dried blood.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the three people, stretching all the way to the broken wall at the village entrance.
There should have been a wooden door there, but now only a few crooked wooden stakes remain, with a few tattered strips of cloth hanging from them, swaying helplessly in the wind.
"Ah—Help!" A heart-wrenching scream suddenly shattered the silence.
Chu Xinghe was startled. It was a little girl's voice, sharp as if a fingernail was scraping glass.
His fingers reacted before his brain could process them, and his martial spirit instantly possessed him.
Orange scales emerged from beneath the panel, covering the bare arms and neck.
The fingernails transformed into three-inch-long claws, gleaming with a metallic sheen in the setting sun. A yellow spirit ring rose from beneath their feet, emitting a faint glow.
"I'm going to save them!" Chu Xinghe didn't even wait for Yang Yaozong's response before his legs had already sprang forward.
He could hear Yang Yaozong shout something behind him, but the whistling wind drowned out everything.
The smell of blood grew stronger and stronger, almost solidifying and sticking to his throat.
As Chu Xinghe turned the corner of the last thatched hut, he abruptly stopped, his pupils contracting sharply.
In the open space in the center of the village, there were more than a dozen mutilated corpses scattered around.
An old man lay on his back, his chest cavity completely cut open, his internal organs scattered around him like toys discarded by a naughty child.
Not far away, a young man was cut in half at the waist, his lower body was nowhere to be found, and his upper body was still in a crawling position, his fingers digging deeply into the soil.
The most eye-catching feature is the iron cage in the center of the open space.
Five or six women were locked inside like livestock; two of them were already dead, their eyes still wide open in terror.
The few survivors huddled in a corner, their clothes torn to shreds, their exposed panels covered in bruises and bite marks.
Seven or eight wolves were tearing apart a fresh corpse.
They were nearly two meters tall, and their bluish-gray fur was stained with blood.
What's most terrifying are their eyes; their dark red pupils reveal no reason, only pure bloodlust.
They eat like wild beasts, more like a group of skilled butchers who know where to bite to prolong their prey's life.
But what froze Chu Xinghe's blood was the scene on the other side of the open space.
A wolf bandit of exceptionally large size was carrying a little girl in one hand, its gaping maw only inches from the girl's throat.
The girl was about seven or eight years old, with chubby cheeks, but at that moment she was as pale as a sheet of paper.
Her eyes were wide open, and tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
"Stop!" Chu Xinghe heard himself let out a roar that sounded inhuman.
The first soul skill, "Crimson Flame Dragon Claw," was activated instantly, with flaming claws aimed straight for the wolf bandit's back.
The wolf bandits reacted with astonishing speed.
It dropped the girl and twisted its body at an incredible angle, so that Chu Xinghe's claws only grazed the fur on its shoulder.
The wolf bandit's dark red eyes locked onto the uninvited guest, and a low growl came from his throat, like boiling mud.
Only then did Chu Xinghe see its full appearance.
This wolf bandit was half a head taller than its kind, and wore a necklace made of human finger bones around its neck. Each finger bone was carefully polished and gleamed a pale white in the setting sun.
It has an old scar on its right forearm, and the hair in the scar area is an unnatural grayish-white color.
"You beasts!" Chu Xinghe felt a surge of heat rush to his head and lunged forward again.
His movements were completely haphazard, driven entirely by instinct in his attacks.
The wolf bandit grinned, revealing a sneer that resembled that of a human.
Its speed suddenly increased dramatically. Chu Xinghe only saw a gray shadow flash by before a tearing pain shot through his chest.
Three deep, bone-revealing wounds stretched from the left shoulder to the right abdomen, instantly soaking the front of the shirt with blood.
"Ugh—" Chu Xinghe staggered back a few steps, his back hitting a section of broken wall.
Instead of pressing their advantage, the wolf bandits leisurely licked the blood off their paws, as if savoring an appetizer.
In the distance came the booming sound of Yang Yaozong's fourth soul skill erupting, and the sharp sound of Teacher Li's sword cutting through the air.
But Chu Xinghe knew that no one would come to his aid anytime soon.
Sweat mixed with blood slid into my eyes, causing a stinging sensation.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to suppress the buzzing alarm in his mind.
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#23
Chapter 23 The Wrath of the Dragon
"Calm down...you must calm down..."
Chu Xinghe dug his fingernails into the scales of his palm, the pain bringing him to a slightly more awake state.
The wolf bandits' strength far exceeded his expectations; they were probably already above level 20.
There is no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.
The wolf bandits seemed to have had enough of the cat-and-mouse game; their hind leg muscles suddenly tensed, and they shot forward like springs.
Chu Xinghe instinctively rolled over, his sharp claws aiming for the wolf bandit's ankle.
With a "plop," the claw tip sank into the flesh.
The wolf bandit roared in pain, but his movements did not slow down at all. He delivered a powerful whip kick to Chu Xinghe's waist.
Chu Xinghe felt as if he had been hit by a battering ram, and he flew several meters away before crashing into a small tree about the size of a bowl before coming to a stop.
"Cough cough..." He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and his vision began to blur.
The wolf bandit approached unhurriedly, its sharp claws raised high, ready to deliver the final blow.
At this critical moment of life and death, Chu Xinghe suddenly noticed a white crescent-shaped mark on the wolf bandit's throat.
Although that claw attack didn't cause a fatal wound, it did momentarily freeze the wolf bandits' movements.
"Weakness!" Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up.
He endured the excruciating pain and managed to turn sideways just as the wolf's claws were about to strike.
The claws grazed his cheek, drawing a string of beads of blood.
At the same time, his "Crimson Dragon Claw" aimed straight for the wolf bandit's throat.
"Pfft!"
The fiery claws pierced deep into the wolf bandit's throat, but at the last moment, the opponent tilted his head, avoiding a fatal blow.
Enraged, the wolf bandit slammed its other paw heavily into Chu Xinghe's chest.
Chu Xinghe heard the crisp sound of his ribs breaking, and he was slammed to the ground like a rag doll.
Blood kept spilling from the corner of his mouth, and the edges of his vision began to turn black.
The wolf bandit clutched his bleeding throat, a cruel glint in his eyes, and slowly raised his claws, ready to end the fight.
"Am I going to die?" Chu Xinghe's consciousness began to drift away.
In a daze, he saw the little girl who had almost been eaten huddled in the corner, trembling.
Inside the iron cage, a woman was trying to cover her companion's corpse with tattered cloth; at the village entrance, a mangled corpse still had a faded red rope tied to its wrist...
"No! I can't die!" An unprecedented power suddenly erupted from his dantian.
Chu Xinghe felt the Agumon Martial Soul within his body unleash a deafening roar, and scorching energy flowed throughout his entire body.
A system notification sounded in my mind:
[Host detected to be on the verge of death]
[Martial Soul Compatibility Breakthrough Threshold]
[Unlock Temporary Ability: Dragon's Fury (lasts 30 seconds)]
Chu Xinghe's pupils instantly transformed into vertical pupils resembling those of a reptile, his scales gleamed with a metallic sheen, and his claws extended more than twice their normal length.
He sprang to his feet in a somersault, so fast that he left a blur in the air.
Before the wolf bandits could react, a heart-wrenching pain shot through their throats.
Chu Xinghe's claws had completely penetrated its weak point, and crimson flames erupted from the wound.
"Impossible...!" The wolf bandit's eyes widened, unable to believe that he would be defeated by a mere level ten or so Soul Master.
Its claws scratched at Chu Xinghe's arm in vain, leaving only a few white marks on the scales.
Chu Xinghe suddenly pulled out his claws, and the wolf bandit spat out a large amount of black blood from its throat before its massive body crashed to the ground.
At the same time, a stream of pure energy flowed from the wolf bandit's corpse into Chu Xinghe's body.
[Defeat a Wolf Bandit (Level 23)]
[Gain excess digital energy]
[Soul Power increased to level 13]
Chu Xinghe knelt on the ground, the weakness after the Dragon's Fury state ended washed over him like a tidal wave.
His vision blurred and then cleared, and he saw his own blood pooling on the ground.
But a smile involuntarily crept onto his face; he had survived, and he had become stronger.
"Well done," Yang Yaozong's voice came from behind.
He was covered in blood, but it was all from the enemy. "The War Madness Academy needs madmen like you who can break through in desperate situations."
Chu Xinghe turned his head and saw that Teacher Li was using his sword to break the chains of the iron cage.
The little girl was being held tightly in a woman's arms, crying her heart out.
The rescued women huddled together, their eyes vacant, like walking corpses.
Chu Xinghe wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with trembling hands.
He never considered himself a noble person, but the emotions churning in his chest at this moment were so unfamiliar and intense.
Perhaps that's why he rushed out without hesitation at that moment.
There are some things that even the most selfish person cannot ignore.
"Can you still stand up?" Yang Yaozong stretched out a hand.
Chu Xinghe grabbed that hand and used it to stand up.
His legs were still trembling, but his eyes had regained their clarity. "Yes."
He answered briefly, his voice hoarse and unlike his own.
Yang Yaozong gave him a meaningful look: "First time killing someone?"
"Just killing animals." Chu Xinghe kicked the wolf bandit's corpse, his tone so calm that even he was surprised.
As night fell completely, Teacher Li led the survivors to a temporary camp outside the village.
Chu Xinghe leaned against the half-earth wall, using strips of torn cloth to bandage the wound between his ribs.
Each breath felt like a dull knife churning inside his chest, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
"You need to disinfect the wound with strong liquor first." Yang Yaozong appeared in front of him at some point and tossed him a leather liquor bag. "Unless you want your wound to fester and you get a fever tomorrow."
Chu Xinghe caught the wine flask, and when he uncorked it, the strong smell of alcohol made him frown.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked up and met Yang Yaozong's ambiguous smile.
"What? Afraid of pain?" Yang Yaozong squatted down. "Where did your courage go when you fought the wolf bandits just now?"
The moment the wine was poured onto the wound, Chu Xinghe's muscles tensed up instantly.
He gripped the wine flask tightly, his knuckles cracking under the strain, cold sweat rolling down his temples, but he didn't utter a sound.
Yang Yaozong suddenly laughed: "You little madman."
He magically produced a small porcelain bottle from his pocket. "Actually, there's some wound medicine in there. I just wanted to see how long you could endure it."
Chu Xinghe glared at the old man with a perverse sense of humor, feeling a lump in his throat that almost made him choke.
But when he saw Yang Yaozong applying ointment to his wound with unexpectedly gentle movements, his anger inexplicably subsided by more than half.
"How did it feel to kill someone for the first time?" Yang Yaozong suddenly asked.
Chu Xinghe looked at his blood-stained palm: "Simpler than I imagined..."
He paused, then added, "They're not human."
"In the world of Soul Masters, sometimes killing someone is easier than killing an animal."
Yang Yaozong's voice suddenly became very soft, as if he were talking to himself, "Answer this question when you encounter someone you have to kill."
The night wind swept through the ruins, carrying with it a faint, mournful sound.
Chu Xinghe noticed that when Yang Yaozong said this, his right hand unconsciously rubbed an old sword wound on his left wrist.
"That wolf bandit's crescent moon mark," Chu Xinghe changed the subject, "is it their weakness?"
Yang Yaozong gave him an approving look: "Good observation. The Crescent Wolf Thief is a mutated species, and the crescent moon on its throat is the point where soul power converges, and also its fatal wound."
He suddenly grabbed Chu Xinghe by the collar, "But do you know where you went wrong?"
Chu Xinghe was taken aback by the question.
"Reckless!" Yang Yaozong released his grip and snorted coldly. "If it weren't for your breakthrough on the spot, you would already be the wolf bandits' midnight snack. Soul Master battles are not street brawls; relying solely on hot-bloodedness will only lead to your quickest demise."
Chu Xinghe pursed his lips defiantly: "The situation was urgent at the time..."
"Bullshit!" Yang Yaozong suddenly raised his voice. "See the cage? The wolf bandits are capturing people alive to keep as food supplies. That child isn't in any immediate danger. You have a full three minutes to observe the surroundings and devise a strategy, instead of rushing in like a fool to get beaten up!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Chu Xinghe's head. He recalled the details of the battle; indeed, as Yang Yaozong had said, the wolf bandits had multiple opportunities to kill him, yet it was as if they were toying with their prey…
"I...I was too impulsive." Chu Xinghe lowered his head, his nails unconsciously digging into his palms.
Yang Yaozong's expression softened slightly: "Impulsiveness is a privilege of young people, but you can only grow by living."
He stood up, his shadow enveloping Chu Xinghe. "Remember how you felt today: fear, anger, pain... these are the best teachers."
From afar came Teacher Li's shouts. Yang Yaozong turned to leave, then stopped: "By the way, about that sudden outburst of yours..."
"It's a special ability of the martial soul," Chu Xinghe answered quickly. "It will automatically trigger in life-or-death situations."
Yang Yaozong gave a meaningful "Oh": "Interesting. It's best to use this ability sparingly, because every time you overuse it, you're draining your life force."
He waved his hand and walked into the darkness, saying, "We'll continue our journey tomorrow. You should get some rest tonight."
Chu Xinghe stared at Yang Yaozong's retreating figure and suddenly called out, "Dean! Those survivors..."
"Teacher Li will take them to the nearest town." Yang Yaozong said without turning his head. "In this world, it's a blessing to be alive."
Moonlight shone on the ruins, and Chu Xinghe touched the half of a jade pendant hanging at his waist, which he had picked up from beside the gnawed corpse.
The jade carving, once adorned with exquisite twin lotus blossoms, is now stained with blood.
He recalled a quote he had read in his past life: In this cannibalistic world, you either become the hunter or the prey.
The knuckles cracked, and the jade pendant shattered into powder in the palm of the hand.
As the night wind scattered the jade dust, Chu Xinghe's eyes had become colder than the moonlight.
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#24
Chapter 24 Arrival at the War Maniac Academy
After three days of travel, the majestic city walls of Hope City finally came into view.
Chu Xinghe rubbed his aching back and lifted the carriage curtain. The sight before him instantly brightened his tired eyes.
The towering, 20-meter-high gray-blue city wall stands majestically, constructed entirely of solid granite blocks, its surface bearing the marks of time and scars from swords and spears.
The city gate was bustling with activity, with dozens of caravans lining up to wait to enter the city.
Gold-trimmed silk, minerals gleaming with an unusual luster, rare soul beasts locked in iron cages...
These goods, rarely seen in Nottingham, are piled up on trucks here like ordinary junk.
"Hold on tight!" Teacher Li, who was driving, shouted softly.
The carriage slowly passed through the city gate with the flow of people, and Chu Xinghe was immediately overwhelmed by the sound.
"The finest Xingluo tea!"
"Centuries-old black iron, essential for forging weapons!"
"A well-tamed soul beast mount can travel a thousand miles a day!"
The shop signs on both sides of the street are lined up one after another, all made of solid wood with gold lettering that shines brightly in the sunlight.
What shocked Chu Xinghe the most was the pedestrians on the road; almost every hundred steps, he could see a figure wearing a Soul Master badge.
Mercenaries at the level of Great Soul Masters swaggered through the city carrying giant swords, noble ladies in gorgeous clothes were shopping for jewelry surrounded by guards, and even a five-ring Soul King rode a pure white Wind Chaser Steed through the main road, with passersby making way for him.
"Stop looking around." Yang Yaozong patted him on the shoulder. "The War Madness Academy is in the west of the city; you have to cross half the city."
As the carriage traveled west, the street scene gradually changed.
The ornate shops have been replaced by blacksmith shops and martial arts schools, and the air is filled with the smell of metal and sweat.
Every now and then, a Soul Master covered in scars would stagger out of the tavern, with blood-stained weapons tucked into his waistband.
"We've arrived," Yang Yaozong suddenly said.
Chu Xinghe looked up and saw a large gate made of black iron standing at the end of the street, with two giant battle axes crossed on the gate.
The four large characters "War Frenzy Academy" on the lintel are written in a flamboyant style, and upon closer inspection, they are actually pieced together from countless fragments of weapons.
The most eye-catching feature is the school motto inscribed on the stone tablet beside the gate:
"Born to fight, until death."
Yang Yaozong's rough, large hand pressed heavily on Chu Xinghe's shoulder, the force so great that the boy slumped slightly.
"Kid." Yang Yaozong's cloudy eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Remember, the assessment at the War Madness Academy is not some child's play like in Notting City. Every challenge here is forged in blood."
Chu Xinghe took a deep breath, letting the air, mixed with the smell of rust, fill his lungs.
He looked up at the academy gate, forged from black iron, where the giant battle axes crossed on the gate gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
"Don't worry, Dean." The boy's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "I will not let you down."
Yang Yaozong took out a letter with gold-embossed edges from his pocket. The edges of the parchment were worn, indicating that it had been taken out repeatedly.
When the burly man sitting at the registration desk raised his face, a hideous scar running from his brow bone to his chin twitched.
He took the letter of recommendation, his thick fingers tracing the paper, and suddenly sneered: "Notting Academy?"
The eyes beneath the scar scanned Chu Xinghe as if sizing up prey. "This rural academy dares to send people to us?"
"Yes." Chu Xinghe straightened his back, his gaze unwavering.
He noticed that the teacher's badge pinned to the other person's chest had the words "War Maniac" engraved on it, with dark red stains on the edges.
"Hmph." The scarred teacher pulled a form from under the table, the sound of the paper hitting the table making several students waiting to register nearby shudder.
"Fill it out and go test your soul power." He pointed to a scratched crystal ball in the corner. "Don't waste my time."
The crystal ball shone brightly in Chu Xinghe's palm, and the fluctuations of his level thirteen soul power caused the surrounding air to tremble slightly.
The scarred teacher finally looked at the unassuming boy properly, his scar contorting into a strange expression: "The first spirit ring in three hundred years? Interesting."
He suddenly leaned closer, and a strong smell of blood hit him. "But kid, here, soul power level is the least valuable thing."
"I understand." Chu Xinghe calmly withdrew his hand, the crystal ball still warm on his fingertips.
The scarred teacher suddenly grinned, revealing a few yellowed teeth: "Good! You have guts!"
He turned and pointed to the dusty field in the distance, "The first round of assessments starts in thirty minutes. I hope you don't die too badly."
Following the directions, Chu Xinghe arrived at an open space enclosed by an iron fence.
Dozens of candidates stood or sat, and the air was filled with a strange smell of sweat and blood.
Standing at the edge of the field was a teacher from the Battle Maniac Academy, dressed in black and with a tall, straight figure.
The man was around forty years old, with a resolute face and an imposing aura between his brows.
"Newcomer." The examiner's voice was steady and powerful. He gestured with his chin toward the black iron notice board beside him. "Read the rules carefully first."
Chu Xinghe approached the notice board and saw that the following words were neatly written on the black iron plate:
First Round Assessment: Extreme Sprint
Assessment venue: A simulated circular canyon surrounding the Starry Sky Forest (2 kilometers in circumference).
Assessment requirements: Complete 3 laps (6 kilometers in total) within 30 minutes.
Special rules:
The terrain is complex and contains natural obstacles such as swamps and rolling stones.
Soul beasts that are ten to one hundred years old will be released during the assessment period.
[Using environmental distractions is permitted, but directly attacking other examinees is prohibited.]
Chu Xinghe frowned slightly.
Such a rigorous assessment is indeed brutal for Soul Masters who lack practical combat experience.
Just as I was pondering this, a soft laugh came from behind me: "What? Did the kid from Nottingham City get scared?"
Turning my head, I saw a red-haired boy with his arms crossed, his eyes filled with obvious provocation.
The boy was dressed exquisitely, clearly a nobleman's son.
"Instead of worrying about others, you should think about how you're going to survive," Chu Xinghe replied calmly, turning to walk towards the waiting area.
Half an hour later, nearly a hundred candidates had gathered in the assessment area.
The examiner raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. He stood at the starting line, his voice carrying clearly throughout the arena: "The War Maniac Academy only accepts true warriors. Remember, here, speed, intelligence, and strength are all indispensable. Now, prepare to begin!"
The candidates assumed their starting positions, some sweating with nervousness, others with excitement gleaming in their eyes.
"The assessment begins!"
The examiner's deep voice boomed at the entrance of the canyon, and nearly a hundred candidates rushed out like startled birds.
Chu Xinghe did not follow immediately. He took a deep breath and allowed his soul power to flow smoothly through his meridians, maintaining a perfect rhythm as he stepped into the canyon.
As soon as you step into the canyon, the smell of damp earth hits you.
The steep cliffs on both sides soar into the clouds, cutting the sunlight into dappled patterns of light and shadow.
The ground was covered with gravel and tangled tree roots, so every step required extra caution.
Suddenly, screams erupted from ahead: "Watch out! It's a swamp!"
Chu Xinghe immediately stopped in his tracks.
Just ten meters ahead, the once solid ground had turned into a bubbling swamp.
The three candidates who rushed to the front were already deeply stuck in the mud, which was up to their waists. They struggled desperately, looking like trapped beasts that had fallen into the water.
"Calm down..." Chu Xinghe's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the swamp area.
Below the right-hand rock wall, he discovered a row of rocks half-submerged in the water, seemingly a deliberately left path for survival.
Without hesitation, he leaped up, his toes landing precisely on the first protruding rock.
The surface of the rocks was extremely slippery, but his sense of balance was excellent. With a few light and agile movements, he skimmed across the swamp like a dragonfly skimming the water.
A heart-wrenching cry for help came from behind. A short-haired student was frantically struggling in the mud, which had already reached his chest.
Chu Xinghe paused slightly, but the examiner's cold voice echoed through the canyon: "Continue forward! Helping others will be considered a forfeit!"
At this critical moment, a dark shadow suddenly flew down from above the canyon.
The examiner stepped onto the rock face and, with a few leaps, arrived at the center of the swamp.
He grabbed the short-haired candidate by the back of his collar with one hand, lifted him out of the mud like a chick, and landed him steadily in a safe area.
"The assessment is over," the examiner announced expressionlessly, casually tossing the soaking wet candidate to the ground. "You're eliminated."
The blonde examinee coughed violently, his face covered in mud and tears: "I...I can still continue..."
"At the Battle Maniac Academy, a mistake means death," the examiner coldly interrupted. "If you can't even protect your own life, what are you talking about cultivating?"
He turned to the other candidates, his voice booming: "Look carefully! This is what happens when you're not careful enough!"
Chu Xinghe witnessed this scene and his heart trembled slightly.
That's the cruelty of the War Maniac Academy; they won't give you a second chance.
He took a deep breath, turned around and continued running forward, his steps more determined than before.
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#25
Chapter 25 Passing the First Round of Assessment
Soul power surged through his meridians, and Chu Xinghe's steps were steady and swift.
While other test takers were still struggling on the first lap, he had already crossed the marking line and entered the second lap.
Just as we rounded a rock wall, the sound of "clicking" of machinery suddenly came from both sides of the canyon.
The rusty iron fence slowly rose, and several fierce roars of beasts echoed through the canyon.
Chu Xinghe's pupils shrank sharply as three wind blade wolves, two armored rhinoceroses, and several ghost vines rushed out of the cage!
"roar--!"
The lead windblade wolf was the first to lock onto its target; it was entirely grayish-white, with foul-smelling saliva dripping from between its fangs.
With a kick of its hind legs, it transformed into a streak of gray lightning and charged straight at the enemy.
"Agumon, possess me!"
Orange scales instantly covered his entire body, and his claws gleamed with a chilling light in the sunlight.
Chu Xinghe neither dodged nor evaded, but swept out with his right claw, accompanied by a whistling sound.
"Bang!"
Claws clashed with wolf fangs, sparks flying.
The Windblade Wolf howled and flew backward, rolling several times on the ground before regaining its footing.
But more soul beasts had already surrounded them, and the heavy footsteps of the armored rhinoceros made the ground tremble slightly.
"We can't linger in the fight..." Chu Xinghe's eyes sharpened, and he suddenly rolled to the side to dodge the armored rhinoceros's charge, then leaped onto a protruding rock.
He keenly noticed that these soul beasts seemed to be restricted by some kind of force and would not leave the specific area.
Using the protrusions of the rock face, he moved through the horde of soul beasts like a nimble lynx.
Whenever a soul beast approaches, a precise claw strike forces it back, but never acts rashly or greedily.
The poisonous thorns of the ghost vine grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody mark, but he didn't even flinch.
"Speed is the key..." Chu Xinghe silently recited in his heart, his figure moving nimbly like a fish amidst the siege of soul beasts.
The screams of other examinees could be heard in the distance, but he did not turn around. He simply channeled his soul power into his legs, increasing his speed even further.
Soon they arrived at the final lap, and the difficulty of the test suddenly increased.
The last loop of the canyon passage was shrouded in an eerie fog, and visibility plummeted.
Chu Xinghe's back was soaked with sweat, but his steps remained steady, each step precisely avoiding the protruding pebbles on the ground.
"Boom—"
Suddenly, a deafening roar came from overhead.
Chu Xinghe suddenly looked up and saw dozens of millstone-sized rocks rolling down from the top of the cliff, colliding with the rock face and creating dazzling sparks.
He spun around abruptly, and a sharp piece of gravel grazed his arm, instantly cutting a bloody gash.
Blood dripped down his arm, blooming like red plum blossoms on the dusty ground.
Even more dangerously, a century-old armored rhinoceros suddenly charged out of the fog ahead!
This enormous creature was three meters tall, with a thick layer of keratin covering its entire body. Its scarlet eyes were fixed on Chu Xinghe, and its thick hooves trembled as they pounded the ground.
"Oh no!"
With ferocious beasts in front and falling rocks behind, Chu Xinghe was instantly plunged into a desperate situation.
The armored rhinoceros charges at a speed far exceeding expectations; taking this attack head-on would surely result in broken bones and tendons.
At the critical moment of life and death, a sharp glint flashed in Chu Xinghe's eyes.
He suddenly exerted force with both legs, and his whole body soared into the air like an arrow released from a bow.
Just as the armored rhinoceros was about to crash into the rock, its right claw slammed into a crevice in the rock wall, leaving it suspended in mid-air.
"Bang!"
The armored rhinoceros crashed heavily against the rock wall, sending flying pebbles raining down.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chu Xinghe let go and landed, rolling over to dissipate the impact, and continued sprinting without looking back.
The armored rhinoceros roared furiously behind him, but he knew the behemoth was too clumsy to turn around and couldn't catch up with him.
With the finish line within reach, Chu Xinghe squeezed out the last bit of his soul power and sped up by three points!
"Whoosh—"
The moment he crossed the finish line, his legs buckled and he nearly collapsed to his knees.
But his inherent stubbornness allowed him to maintain his balance, supporting himself on one hand while breathing heavily.
The examiner looked surprised. He had deliberately set the highest difficulty trap combination on the last lap, but he did not expect that this boy from Nottingham City would not only pass the test, but also achieve the best result in nearly three years.
"Chu Xinghe." The examiner's booming voice echoed through the canyon. "Completion time: 18 minutes and 47 seconds!"
He rarely showed a smile of approval, "First round of assessment, passed!"
Chu Xinghe wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked into the depths of the canyon.
In the thick fog, several staggering figures could be vaguely seen still struggling. Among them, a striking red hair stood out, and it was the noble boy who had provoked them before the assessment.
The red-haired examinee had lost his previous arrogance. His gorgeous clothes were torn to shreds by thorns, and a deep wound on his right leg, exposing the bone, was bleeding profusely.
Behind him, two Windblade Wolves were baring their fangs and closing in step by step.
"Help...help me!" The noble boy stumbled backward in terror, tripping and falling to the ground.
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in the eyes of the lead windblade wolf, its hind leg muscles tensed, and it looked ready to pounce on its prey.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of cold light pierced through the air and landed precisely on the ground in front of the Windblade Wolf's forepaw.
The examiner's burly figure had appeared in the center of the battlefield at some point. He grabbed the red-haired examinee by the back of his collar with one hand and tossed him to safety like a sandbag.
"The assessment is terminated." The examiner's voice was as cold as ice. "Roderick, eliminated."
The red-haired boy slumped to the ground, his lips trembling: "My dad is..."
"At the War Maniac Academy," the examiner interrupted him, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "Your title and family background won't save you."
He turned to the other candidates, his voice booming like thunder: "See this clearly! This is what happens when you lack ability but dare to be arrogant!"
Chu Xinghe watched this scene quietly.
As the noble boy was carried away by the medical staff, those resentful eyes stared intently at him, but Chu Xinghe simply looked away calmly.
In this dog-eat-dog world, arrogance often leads to a quicker demise than weakness.
The examiner walked back to the finish line and gave Chu Xinghe a meaningful look: "Get ready for the second round of testing, kid."
...
at the same time.
Inside the deepest part of the War Mad Academy, the heavy oak door completely shut out the noise from the outside world.
The skull specimens of the spirit beasts hanging on the wall cast menacing shadows in the candlelight, and a faint smell of blood and rust filled the air.
Lord Roman Kleist put down his teacup for the third time, the bottom of the cup making a crisp sound as it collided with the mahogany tea table.
"Zhan Tiankuang." He stroked the jade ring on his thumb. "In this year's entrance examination, three noble children have already been forced to withdraw due to serious injuries."
The War Maniac Dean sitting opposite him remained motionless, his thick arms bulging with veins like coiled dragons.
The giant battle axe hanging on the wall behind him gleamed with a blood-red luster in the candlelight.
"So?" Zhan Tiankuang's voice was like sandpaper rubbing, each word carrying a metallic texture.
"Enough is enough." The city lord's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table. "Replace the hundred-year-old soul beasts with ten-year-old ones, and halve the number of rolling stone traps. You know very well what those children's families are like..."
"Heh." Zhan Tiankuang suddenly grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "Crest, you've been the city lord for twenty years, and you still don't understand."
He slowly rose to his feet, and the pressure of his level 68 Soul Emperor made even the candlelight momentarily pause. "The threshold of the Battle Mad Academy has always been forged with blood."
The city lord's forehead was beaded with sweat.
He clearly saw the bloodshot color appearing in the other person's pupils, a sign that the Fiery Demon Bear Martial Soul was about to awaken.
The violent aura of this top-tier offensive martial soul was something even a six-ring Soul Emperor like him could hardly withstand.
"Those good-for-nothings who can't even pass the assessment." Zhan Tiankuang grabbed the steel wine glass on the table, squeezing it into a disc with his fingers. "Entering the academy would just be suicide."
Zhan Tiankuang casually tossed the discus into the fireplace, sending sparks flying.
Lord Roman watched the burning flames in silence, knowing he couldn't persuade this madman.
Zhan Tiankuang, a level 68 Soul Emperor who is not yet fifty years old and only one step away from becoming a Soul Saint, certainly has the right to be arrogant.
"At least…" the city lord finally sighed in resignation, "give those noble children a chance to retake the exam."
Zhan Tiankuang suddenly burst into thunderous laughter, making the crystal chandelier jingle: "Great! Let him go to the 'Blood Arena' and win three matches, and I'll make an exception and take him in!"
The city lord frowned. The Blood Arena was a place for life-or-death duels. How could those noble children, who had almost no combat experience, possibly win?
Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the door.
A teacher excitedly reported: "Dean! A freshman named Chu Xinghe completed the first round of assessment in just 18 minutes and 47 seconds!"
Zhan Tiankuang's smile grew even more ferocious as he turned to the city lord with a bloodthirsty expression: "See? This is the kind of madman I want."
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