LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 22: Laozi
Ye Feng turned his attention toward the source of the voice. A middle-aged man dressed in opulent brocade attire strode forward, accompanied by six imposing guards and a familiar figure—Xiao Chenyu, who had previously been defeated by Ye Feng.
"Xiao Chenyu?" Ye Feng frowned slightly, murmuring under his breath.
"Ye Feng, please don't misunderstand. My father insisted on intervening; I never intended for you to be expelled from the academy," Xiao Chenyu explained hurriedly, his face pale with anxiety.
"Ye Feng, are you the one who broke my son's rib?" the middle-aged man demanded coldly, his piercing gaze locking onto Ye Feng.
"So what if I am?" Ye Feng replied evenly, his tone devoid of fear.
"In that case, face me in a fight!" the man declared with a sneer.
"You're an adult, yet you want to bully a child? How disgraceful," Ye Feng retorted, his frown deepening.
"Save your excuses! As the wealthiest man in Nuoding City, if I don't retaliate after my son was harmed, what would become of my reputation?" The man, Xiao Xiao, scoffed disdainfully. His eyes glinted as he unleashed his martial soul. Three soul rings materialized around him—one white and two yellow. Behind him, a spectral wolf-shaped figure loomed, radiating a menacing aura.
The confrontation drew the attention of onlookers, including a dormitory teacher who stepped forward to mediate. "Mr. Xiao Xiao, this is an academy, not a place for personal vendettas. If you resort to violence here, it won't reflect well on you."
Xiao Xiao glared at the teacher, his voice icy. "Do you think this is the first time you've seen me act? Besides, these children are no longer students of this academy. They've been expelled, so don't meddle in my affairs."
The teacher faltered, silenced by the oppressive weight of Xiao Xiao's power and influence. In addition to his wealth, Xiao Xiao maintained connections with prominent nobles in the Heaven Dou Empire, making few dare to oppose him.
With the Crowd cowed, Xiao Xiao's gaze fell back on Ye Feng. "You broke one of my son's ribs, so I'll break two of yours. Don't resist, or you'll suffer even more!"
First Soul Skill: Wolf Claw!
The first soul ring around Xiao Xiao lit up, and with a savage growl, he lunged at Ye Feng, his claw-like fingers aimed directly at the boy's chest.
Blood sprayed into the air—but Xiao Xiao froze in shock. His claw had passed through thin air, encountering no resistance.
"An afterimage?" Xiao Xiao muttered, his face twisting in confusion.
Ye Feng reappeared a short distance away, unharmed. Beneath his feet, three soul rings shimmered—two yellow and one purple.
"Three soul rings?"
"He's a Soul Elder?"
"Nine Heart Begonia?"
The Crowd erupted in disbelief. Their eyes widened as they took in Ye Feng's extraordinary display. The presence of three soul rings meant Ye Feng's strength had surpassed level 30, a remarkable achievement for someone so young.
Among the spectators, Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted dramatically as he observed Ye Feng's martial soul. "It's not a Pear Blossom... That's the Nine Heart Begonia!" he muttered incredulously.
Tang San, standing beside Yu Xiaogang, couldn't hide his astonishment. "Teacher, is the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul that powerful?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded, his tone reverent. "The Nine Heart Begonia is a top-tier auxiliary martial soul. Regardless of the number of soul rings, its sole ability is area healing, which is immensely valuable. However..."
"However what?" Tang San asked eagerly.
"There's something unusual about Ye Feng's martial soul. While it resembles the Nine Heart Begonia, its coloration and texture are distinct. It appears to be a mutant martial soul. If my guess is correct, he must be a descendant of the Upper Three Sects, likely possessing a variation of the Nine Heart Begonia," Yu Xiaogang explained, his voice tinged with envy.
Tang San's curiosity deepened. "How could his soul power already exceed level 30? The certificate from the Spirit Hall stated that his innate soul power was only level 20."
Yu Xiaogang sighed. "It seems there was an error. His innate soul power must have been level 30 all along—a truly unprecedented case."
"Innate full soul power of level 30?" Tang San muttered, a trace of jealousy flashing across his face.
As the Crowd absorbed this revelation, another voice cut through the commotion. "Level 30 innate soul power? Spirit Elder?"
Heads turned as two figures approached. One was a stately middle-aged man, exuding an aura of elegance and authority. Beside him was an older man in the uniform of a Nuoding Academy teacher, his sleeves embroidered with gold thread, signifying his high rank.
"Dean!" someone exclaimed, recognizing the older man as the head of the academy.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes narrowed as he identified the other figure. "Ning Fengzhi!" he murmured, astonished to see the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in such a humble place.
Even Xiao Xiao's demeanor shifted drastically. Bowing obsequiously, he addressed Ning Fengzhi. "Master Ning, what brings you to this academy?"
The assembled teachers and students now realized that Ning Fengzhi, a powerful and influential figure, was the very nobleman Xiao Xiao had been boasting about being connected to. The atmosphere grew tense as all eyes turned toward Ning Fengzhi, awaiting his response.