Chapter 166: I Believe in You

"If you really wanted to kill me, you wouldn't have waited until now." Xiao Wu stared at Tang Hao and said, "But you didn't. Not only did you not kill me immediately, but you also brought me to human society. What exactly is your goal?"

"Goal?" Tang Hao sneered, looking at Xiao Wu with a hint of mockery. "From the perspective of a soul master, I should have kept you captive, waiting until I no longer needed you, then killed you to absorb your soul ring and soul bone."

"But I didn't do that because you're still useful to me. That's the only reason I let you live."

"Little rabbit, if you're smart, you'd best not entertain thoughts you shouldn't have. I'll be watching you from the shadows. Sometimes, you need to understand—only as long as you have value can you survive on that value."

"The day I no longer need that value, you can die. Understood?"

After saying this, Tang Hao disappeared from Xiao Wu's sight without looking back.

"No, I can't just sit here and wait for death. At the very least, I need to find a way to save myself." As Tang Hao left, Xiao Wu fully grasped how dangerous her current situation was. Only by finding a way to ensure her survival would she have a chance to return to the Star Dou Forest.

Heaven Dou City, Seven Star Academy

As the first light of dawn painted the sky with a pale hue, Cheng Xiao had already completed his morning weight training.

Sitting on a green stone bench beside him was Ye Lingling, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the young man who had just finished an intense workout, gulping down water without caring about his image.

It had been more than a week since the semester began at Seven Star Academy. With the support of the royal family, the academy had enrolled many new students. Now, with less than six months until the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, everyone was training hard.

To grow stronger, Yu Tianheng and the others, who were preparing for the competition, had also joined Cheng Xiao's training regimen. However, at this moment, they were still in the middle of their ten-kilometer run while wearing fifty-kilogram weighted iron vests.

If it were just a normal ten-kilometer run, it would have been effortless for soul masters of their level. But since they were prohibited from using soul power—thanks to Dugu Bo, who thoughtfully sealed it—the training became a true test of physical endurance and willpower.

And it was exhausting.

After replenishing his fluids, Cheng Xiao sat down beside Ye Lingling. She handed him a towel to wipe his sweat.

"No wonder you're so much stronger than us. This kind of physical training without soul power must be exhausting, right?" Ye Lingling said gently as she wiped his sweat.

"It's not too bad. You get used to it," Cheng Xiao replied with a smile. For him, training his body had already become a daily habit. So rather than feeling exhausted, he found it relatively easy.

After all, every time he trained until he was utterly drained, all he needed was a good night's sleep, and his body would recover to peak condition—including his mental state.

If only there was a system interface to track his daily progress, wouldn't he just soar to new heights?

"Hmph." Ye Lingling pouted slightly and asked, "Has the team lineup been finalized?"

"Yes, it has," Cheng Xiao confirmed.

"That means Ning Rongrong will be participating too, right? I haven't had the chance to properly thank her for helping me last time, and now she's actually become my teammate." Ye Lingling was referring to the match between the Royal Fighting Team and Shrek Academy. Back then, Ning Rongrong couldn't bear to see her, a support-type soul master, being targeted, so she had used her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to enhance her. Because of this, Ye Lingling had a deep impression of her.

"There will be opportunities," Cheng Xiao said with a smile. He then glanced at his teammates, who had just finished their weighted training and were now sprawled on the ground, completely exhausted. Seeing their pitiful state, he couldn't help but laugh.

"They held on. That's impressive," Ye Lingling said with a soft smile.

"Yeah. You should heal them a bit. Otherwise, they might really not be able to get up." Cheng Xiao chuckled. "I'm going to take a shower first. See you in the cafeteria later."

"Okay," Ye Lingling nodded. "See you later."

In the Cafeteria

"Ah, damn… Boss, is Cheng Xiao's training even something a human can endure?"

"Yufeng, can you stop whining? You finished it, didn't you?"

"Come on, Oslo, don't you understand exaggeration? Do you have no sense of humor?" Yufeng gave Oslo a disdainful look before taking another big bite of his steamed bun and drinking his meat porridge. "I swear, this guy must have been trained into an idiot."

"By the way, Boss, should we invite Ning Rongrong over to eat with us?" Oslo glanced at the girl sitting alone at a table, looking somewhat isolated, and turned to Yu Tianheng.

"No need. She won't be alone for long," Yu Tianheng replied without even looking up, his focus entirely on his food. The training had left him utterly drained, making the simple meal of steamed buns and meat porridge taste unbelievably delicious.

"Huh?" Oslo scratched his head in confusion. When he looked at Ning Rongrong again, he noticed that three people had joined her table—Cheng Xiao, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan.

"Well, I guess she's fitting in faster than I expected." Shaking his head, Oslo turned back to his meal.

Ning Rongrong's Table

Seeing the three people suddenly sit down at her table, Ning Rongrong was momentarily stunned. Then, she lowered her head nervously.

Noticing this, Cheng Xiao teased her, "What's this? Our proud Miss Ning is actually nervous?"

Ye Lingling smiled and said, "Rongrong, welcome to our team. And thank you for helping me back then."

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong finally lifted her head and looked at Ye Lingling in surprise. "It was you?"

"I remember you wore a veil back then. No wonder I didn't recognize you when I arrived—you've taken it off now," she added.

Ye Lingling chuckled, glanced at their teammates who were still devouring their food, and said softly, "Yes, I no longer need the veil."

"I really envy the bond you all have," Ning Rongrong said sincerely.

"Don't just envy it. From now on, you're one of us too," Dugu Yan said with a smile. Then, she glanced at Cheng Xiao and reminded him, "Didn't you say you had a gift for Ning Rongrong? Give it to her now."

"A gift? For me?" Ning Rongrong was startled and instinctively wanted to refuse. However, before she could speak, Ye Lingling said gently, "Take it, Rongrong. This gift might help you break through the limits of your martial soul."

"Break… my martial soul's limits?" Ning Rongrong was stunned. She had never heard of anything that could accomplish such a feat. Was it some kind of miraculous elixir?

"Here, this is the Beautiful Silk Tulip. I'll tell you how to use it later. Follow the method I explain, and you'll experience an unexpected surprise."

Since the cafeteria was nearly empty except for their group, Cheng Xiao handed her the rare immortal herb.

Staring at the peculiar yet beautiful plant in front of her, Ning Rongrong was dumbfounded. She had never seen such an extraordinary herb before and was momentarily at a loss for words.

"No need for thanks. Also, welcome to Seven Star Academy." Cheng Xiao smiled.

"Mm!" Ning Rongrong carefully took the Beautiful Silk Tulip, inhaled its fragrance deeply, and grinned. "Then I'll go absorb it now. See you later!"

With that, she quickly left the cafeteria.

"You're really generous, huh? Giving away my grandfather's immortal herb so casually," Dugu Yan huffed.

"Yan, you can't blame Cheng Xiao. He's doing it for the team," Ye Lingling said with a smile.

"You… Ugh, you've really been stolen away." Dugu Yan sighed and then asked, "If that herb can break martial soul limits, why not let Lingling use it? Her martial soul has limitations too."

"I know," Cheng Xiao nodded. "But I don't know what effect it would have on Lingling. If it's good, great. But if it has adverse effects…"

"I can't take that risk. But just because there's no solution now doesn't mean there won't be one in the future. I'll find a way to help Lingling."

Ye Lingling smiled gently at him and said softly, "I believe in you."