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Ye Zhiqiu faced the attacks with steady confidence. Black light surged around him as his first two soul rings glowed, sending a cold wave through the air.
Ning Tian's sword energy struck first, cutting through the chill and leaving a small mark on Ye Zhiqiu's shell, with sparks flying from the hit.
Ma Hongjun's flames followed, meeting the cold air. They didn't break through, but the fire stayed on the tortoise's back, burning steadily.
Ye Zhiqiu winced at the sharp pain and the persistent heat. 'That boy's sword energy is serious—it reached me from eight meters away. A few more hits like that, and I'm in trouble.'
Before he could react, Zhu Zhuqing appeared behind him, her claws aiming for his neck with Nether Thrust. Ye Zhiqiu pulled his head into his shell just in time.
Tang San took the chance, his Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Ye Zhiqiu's leg and tugged, knocking him off balance.
As Ye Zhiqiu's head emerged again, Ning Rongrong had already boosted Ning Tian with her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. With Zhao Wuji as the only Spirit Saint nearby, Ning Tian saw no need to hold back. His yellow-purple-purple soul rings appeared.
His first ring shone, and he swung his sword—a long blade of light, seven or eight meters wide slashing upward and sending Ye Zhiqiu into the air.
Ning Tian jumped after him, striking quickly and repeatedly, targeting the same spot he'd marked earlier.
A loud crash sounded as the tortoise shell broke apart.
Ye Zhiqiu didn't even have time to use his other soul skills before Ning Tian's flurry of strikes ended him.
"Teacher!"
The Cang Hui students rushed to help him stand. Ye Zhiqiu looked at the bloody cut on his chest caused by Ning Tian then shuddered.
"Who… who are you all?" he asked, his voice shaky.
They were only twelve or thirteen, yet each had soul power above level 25. And this "Han Li" was a Spirit Elder with two thousand-year rings. When had talents like this appeared?
He hadn't noticed Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, she'd hidden it after boosting Ning Tian, as he'd told her to. Otherwise, he'd have been truly alarmed.
Ning Tian spun his sword once, then sheathed it behind his back with a small smile. "Like I said, I'm Han Li, chief student of Tiannan Academy. He's Chang Gongmiao, he's Wu Yifan, she's Liu Tianxian, she's Liu Xiaoshi, she's Yang Mi, and he's Jia Nailiang."
He listed fake names for Tang San, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Oscar without hesitation.
Ye Zhiqiu's face grew stern. "Very well, Han Li and the rest of you. Cang Hui Academy will remember this."
With that, he turned and limped away, his students following behind, heads low.
The girl Ma Hongjun had noticed earlier glanced back at Ning Tian, but Xiao Wu's sharp stare made her hurry off. Even Zhu Zhuqing stiffened briefly, relaxing only when Ning Tian ignored it.
Ning Rongrong grinned, nudging him lightly. "Looks like she likes you, Ning Tian. It's hard not to, a twelve year old Spirit Elder with two thousand-year rings? Even I'm a little impressed."
Ning Tian laughed softly, brushing it off. "I'm flattered. Let's head back, Miss Ning."
Everyone knew she was joking, everyone but Oscar, who stayed silent, frustration building. 'He's already got Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu following him. Now Rongrong too?'
He didn't dare say it out loud. With no one supporting him, starting trouble was the last thing he needed.
"Oscar, are you coming? Ning's already ahead," Ma Hongjun called.
"Yes, I'm coming," Oscar replied quietly, forcing a smile as he hurried to catch up.
Xiao Wu tilted her head, curious. "Little Sixth, why did you make up Tiannan Academy and those fake names? We're from Shrek, right?"
Ning Tian glanced at Zhao Wuji, who watched from a distance. "Because Ching Hui has a Spirit Saint named Shi Nian. He likes targeting strong students from other academies to benefit his own. Use your real name if you want him chasing us."
A wave of discomfort ran through the group. Even Ning Rongrong grew pale—a Spirit Saint after them was serious trouble.
Ma Hongjun laughed, relieved. "Good thing we've got you, Boss Ning. Me and Oscar would've been in bad shape otherwise."
He'd started calling Ning Tian "Boss" naturally, convinced by his strength.
Ning Tian shrugged, keeping it casual. "Just don't start fights you can't handle. If someone comes at you, deal with it like we did—fight if you can, run if you can't."
"Understood, Boss!" Ma Hongjun said cheerfully.
Oscar, growing annoyed, muttered, "Fatty, Ning's younger than you. Doesn't calling him 'Boss' feel strange?"
"Age doesn't matter here," Ma Hongjun replied quickly. "The Dean said it's about strength. You do what he does, and I'll call you Boss too."
Oscar sighed, looking to Tang San for support. They were in similar positions, both interested in girls who seemed drawn to Ning Tian.
Tang San nodded slightly, his mind racing. Ning Tian's strength was growing too quickly. If this continued, he'd fall behind.
His thoughts turned to his hammer martial soul. 'Maybe it's time to train it.'
For the first time, Tang San seriously considered focusing on his second martial soul.
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