Chapter Ten: Another Encounter with Provocation

The rising sun brightened the sky. Having finished his meditation, Xiao Yu quietly stood up from the floor, washed up briefly, changed into the school uniform he had received from the academic office the day before, and left his dormitory for the teaching building.

Passing the dormitory manager’s office, Xiao Yu went in to report that his bed board had cracked, requested a replacement, and paid the fee. The manager was startled to hear that Xiao Yu had broken the bed board on his first day in the dormitory. After all, with the appearance of Miao, the Soul Saint, the principal had given countless instructions about Xiao Yu’s accommodation, making sure every piece of equipment in his room was brand new and of the finest quality.

Looking at Xiao Yu, who was still just a small child, the manager assumed he had simply been mischievous, jumping around on the bed, and reminded him not to be so naughty. Xiao Yu smiled sheepishly and nodded; he certainly couldn't tell the manager that it was his soul power bursting forth that had caused the damage.

Leaving the dormitory building, Xiao Yu had breakfast in the cafeteria and then strolled toward the teaching building. The location of Elite Class Two had already been explained to him by the principal and the director yesterday. Guided by the signs within the academy, Xiao Yu found the classroom easily. It was spacious, with many empty seats, and as he had learned yesterday, since there were few students in the elite classes, seating was not assigned—everyone chose their spot as they pleased, first come, first served.

Xiao Yu immediately selected a seat by the window. In his previous life as a student, he had always favored this position, as gazing out at the flowerpots, greenery, and the chirping birds brought him peace and helped adjust his mood.

The class schedule at the Soulmaster Academy resembled the university courses from Xiao Yu's previous life: a lesson lasted about an hour and a half, and after the morning theory class, students were free to arrange their time until lunch—whether for meditation and cultivation, sparring in the arena, or simply going back to sleep.

After this lesson, Xiao Yu felt he had gained much. Though he had read the original work in his previous life, its characters were all top-tier soul masters, and the fundamental theories were glossed over. Through this introductory class, Xiao Yu finally grasped the broad framework of the soul master system, filling four pages of notes.

Just as he finished packing up his desk to return and continue cultivating, he heard the desk in front of him scrape loudly as it was pushed aside. Six or seven tall, burly youths surrounded him, especially the one on the far left, whose expression was vicious, as though he wished to devour Xiao Yu.

This was Yao Yi, grandson of the recently dismissed vice principal Yao Liang. Yesterday, Gao Huan had reported the incident to the sects and powers backing the academy. Upon discovering Yao Liang had offended a Soul Saint, the elders who had once been close to the family quickly distanced themselves. Clearly, the Yao family would soon face hardship—and Xiao Yu was the culprit. How could Yao Yi not hate him?

That morning, he had learned from a trusted teacher that the academy leadership had already decided to expel him. Furious, Yao Yi thought that since he was being expelled anyway, he had nothing left to lose. Before leaving, he would vent his anger by teaching Xiao Yu a lesson. Even if the Soul Saint came seeking trouble, he would already be gone, leaving the academy leaders to deal with the consequences.

Seizing the moment before news of his grandfather’s dismissal spread among the students, he rallied several of the class’s top soul power students to cause trouble for Xiao Yu.

"Is there something you need?" Xiao Yu glanced at the group and spoke calmly.

"Kid, I heard you’ve caused trouble for Yao Yi since your first day at school!" The leader, a burly youth half a head taller than the others, glared menacingly at Xiao Yu.

Yao Yi?

Xiao Yu was momentarily puzzled, but following the direction of the burly youth’s finger, he saw the deeply resentful face of a boy who bore a striking resemblance to the vice principal he had encountered yesterday. The surname confirmed it.

"Oh, I bullied him. What can you do about it?" Xiao Yu sneered. He lived by the principle: if others leave him alone, he leaves them alone; if they provoke him, he retaliates. Now that they were confronting him, he wouldn’t back down.

"You admit it then!" The burly youth looked down at Xiao Yu, who was nearly a head shorter, and said arrogantly, "We’re not here to bully you. If you apologize to Old Yao and make amends, we’ll let you off!"

"Are you qualified to ask that of me?" Xiao Yu looked at the burly youth with disdain and said, "Three seconds. Get away from me, or I won’t let you off!"

The burly youth was momentarily stunned, then anger flared in his eyes. He pointed at Xiao Yu and shouted, "You—you’ve got some nerve!"

Xiao Yu slapped his finger away without hesitation. "I hate it when people wave their fingers in my face!"

"Fine, fine, fine!" The burly youth, enraged to the point of laughter, said to Xiao Yu, "You’ve got guts. If I don’t beat you into submission today, how am I supposed to show my face in school? The Soul Battle Arena—are you coming or not?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Xiao Yu was already tasked with becoming the top student. Judging by this confrontation, this burly youth was likely one of the class’s strongest. Sooner or later, they would clash.

To foster students' practical abilities, the academy encouraged sparring. When Xiao Yu and the others arrived at the training grounds, many students were already there, exchanging moves.

"Zhu Wang, level nineteen, one ring, assault-type soul master. Martial soul: Berserk Bear." As soon as the burly youth stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform, he activated his martial soul—a black-furred brown bear materialized, radiating murderous intent as it glared at Xiao Yu.

"Xiao Yu, level thirteen assault-type battle soul master. Martial soul: Apostle of the Netherworld." Xiao Yu calmly activated his martial soul and said to Zhu Wang, "Let’s get on with it. Don’t waste time."

"You really want to die!" Zhu Wang’s rage grew even stronger at Xiao Yu’s words. With a roar, he charged forward, hand raised to strike.

Xiao Yu shook his head. From yesterday’s duel with Chang Hao, he had already noticed that these assault-type martial soul students relied on brute force, charging straight ahead with little skill or technique.

Focusing his mind, Xiao Yu’s eyes flashed. He spotted Zhu Wang’s opening in an instant, moved like lightning, seized his opponent’s arm at the joint, and with a flawless over-the-shoulder throw, sent him flying.

Compared to yesterday’s duel with Chang Hao, Xiao Yu struck harder today. Yesterday had been an entrance exam sparring, and Chang Hao’s attitude was amicable. But today, someone had come to provoke him. Zhu Wang’s arrogant demeanor annoyed Xiao Yu deeply.