Chapter 48: A Headache for Ning Fengzhi
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The first day was only the entrance exam, so there were no classes. Yang Xiong, Oscar, and Tang San were assigned to the same dormitory, while another dorm housed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Looking at his two roommates, Yang Xiong felt deeply uncomfortable. He had always lived alone since childhood and found it hard to adjust to dorm life, especially sharing a room with two other boys.
He had lived two lifetimes, and the last time he stayed in a dorm was decades ago on Earth. His body felt awkward, and his cultivation methods differed greatly from others.
Oscar seemed easygoing and pleasant to get along with. After helping each other carry the unconscious Tang San to his bed, the two exchanged some words.
Yang Xiong appeared to be the only one among everyone who didn't feel repulsed by Oscar's sausage-summoning incantation—a fact that earned him Oscar's favor.
"Yang Xiong, we'll be roommates from now on. I'm Oscar, my martial soul is the Sausage, and I'm a level twenty-nine Soul Master. My nickname is 'Sausage Specialist.'"
Yang Xiong smiled. "Nice to meet you, Oscar. I'm Yang Xiong, a level twenty-six Battle Soul Master. My martial soul is my body. I hope we can get along well in the dorm."
Oscar gave a sly wink. "Yang Xiong, that girl who came with you earlier is quite pretty. You two seem to have a good relationship, right?"
Yang Xiong shook his head. "Oscar, you're overthinking it. She's the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—I wouldn't dare to offend her."
Oscar's face lit up with envy. "So you're from the famous Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect? No wonder you two look different from ordinary students. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is the wealthiest sect on the continent."
Yang Xiong replied, "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect does provide excellent training for its students, but being part of a sect means we don't have as much freedom as you do."
After a brief introduction, the two began meditating separately.
Yang Xiong had just experienced a battle with Zhao Wuji, and it felt completely different from any previous fight he'd been in.
Zhao Wuji was a Soul Sage, and with his top-tier beast martial soul, he ranked among the strongest fighters at his level. Throughout the battle, Yang Xiong felt utterly crushed, with almost no opportunity to retaliate.
Even though Yang Xiong had used instant movement and his spiraling energy sphere repeatedly, the overwhelming disparity in strength left him feeling powerless. If Zhao Wuji had fought seriously, Yang Xiong doubted he could have even withstood a single blow.
The gap in soul power was simply too vast. Even Yang Xiong's instant movement was detected immediately by Zhao Wuji. At the Soul Sage level, they could sense fluctuations in soul power in the air, leaving lower-level soul masters with nowhere to hide.
Yang Xiong realized his offensive capabilities were severely lacking—both in variety and effectiveness. Perhaps he needed to research some battle techniques. Moreover, while his spiraling energy sphere was powerful, it consumed far too much energy. At level twenty-six, Yang Xiong could only use it four times in a single battle.
By evening, Tang San finally regained consciousness. Yang Xiong exchanged a few simple words with him, not dwelling on anything else. They weren't close, so there wasn't much to say. Oscar, however, remained friendly.
Early the next morning, Tang San asked Oscar about Xiao Wu's whereabouts and then left on his own. Around the same time, Yang Xiong also headed out, though he only planned to exercise around the academy grounds.
Since undergoing ice-fire tempering, Yang Xiong had noticed a significant improvement in his physical fitness. He carried a constant weight of about 100 jin (approximately 50 kilograms), which he never removed.
This weight included four 10-jin wristbands on his limbs and a 60-jin chest plate. These items were specially crafted for him from deep-sea silver steel, composed of countless small locks and covered with a layer of fabric, resembling soft armor. It didn't hinder his daily activities or irritate his skin.
While Yang Xiong quietly meditated through the night, things outside were far from peaceful.
Inside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi's expression was dark, especially as two equally somber figures stood before him—Sword Elder and Bone Elder.
The usually calm Sword Elder rarely showed anger. "Fengzhi, I thought this was a minor matter when you sent both me and Old Bone to handle it. I didn't expect you to send Rongrong away to some Shrek Academy. Are you saying our sect's education isn't good enough?"
Ning Fengzhi's expression was far graver than usual. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, it's precisely because you've spoiled Rongrong too much that I decided to send her away from the sect to study and train. This will benefit her in the future."
Sword Elder retorted, "I see no benefits. All I know is that Rongrong, a delicate girl, will suffer hardships outside. I'm going to bring her back."
Ning Fengzhi quickly interjected, "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, you must trust me on this. I've already written to Flender, the principal of Shrek Academy. He was once part of the legendary Golden Iron Triangle, so he should know how to handle things properly and won't let Rongrong come to any real harm."
"Besides, Rongrong is at a critical stage of growth. She needs to temper her character. Otherwise, how will she shoulder the responsibilities of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in the future? As her father, I care deeply for her, but I must send her out of the sect to cultivate."
The previously angry Sword Elder and Bone Elder fell silent. As top-tier soul masters, they understood the difficulties Ning Fengzhi faced in managing the sect.
At this moment, Sword Elder suddenly spoke again. "Fengzhi, why did you send that boy Yang Xiong with Rongrong? Don't think I don't know what you're planning. Rongrong is still too young to consider such matters. Moreover, although Yang Xiong is decent, his talent is far too mediocre. He'll struggle to reach the Title Douluo level in the future."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Uncle Sword, I sent Yang Xiong with Rongrong because he's mature and understands the importance of proper conduct. He can also protect her."
"Moreover, considering Yang Xiong's talent and contributions to the sect, he may have great potential in the future. It would be beneficial for Rongrong to personally win him over. Otherwise, I fear she'll struggle to maintain control later."
Sword Elder snorted coldly. "Fengzhi, whatever happens, if anything happens to Rongrong, I'll hold you accountable."
Ning Fengzhi could only force a bitter smile. After a moment, he turned to Bone Elder.
"Uncle Bone, I've already spoken to Yang Xiong. When he returns to the sect, I plan to ask you to take him as your disciple. With your guidance, he might achieve greater heights on his path as a soul master."
Bone Elder also snorted. "That Yang Xiong is still too green. Whether he can become my disciple depends on his future performance. And remember, Rongrong's safety is paramount. If anything happens to her, I'll hold you responsible."
Ning Fengzhi: …
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