"It's okay, it's just that the teacher is a little... odd."
After thinking about it, Tang Wulin politely described it with the word "odd."
"I don't know why, but she's very strict with our combat training. It seems like she wants us to defeat everyone... I think she wants us to pass the promotion tournament and move up a class, right?"
Xie Xie remembered the scene he witnessed when he was assigned to a class and fell silent.
I'm afraid it's not just about defeating the first class, but specifically the fifth class, right?
It's just unrequited love, what kind of hatred or grudge could have turned things into this?
Without sharing these thoughts with Tang Wulin, Xie Xie asked, "Is the training tough?"
"It's not tough. In fact, because of the combat training, I've improved a lot. After all, I have a lot of strength, and now I've become one of the qualifiers for the promotion competition."
Tang Wulin quickly finished a bowl of white rice and asked for another. "Don't just talk about me, how about you?"
"The Class one is treated very well, with all kinds of privileges. The teacher is also very friendly and taught us a new meditation technique. I'm about to become a two-ring Soul Master."
"Really? That's amazing!" Tang Wulin exclaimed.
"Amazing?"
Xie Xie's face darkened. "Do you remember the two people we met the day before classes started?"
"Of course I do." Tang Wulin nodded.
He had met Huo Yuhao a few times at the academy and exchanged names, so of course he remembered.
"They're the real monsters!" Xie Xie began to vent.
"One is level twenty-seven, the other is level thirty-three, and their combat power is comparable to a four-ring Soul Ancestor! I thought I was the most talented, but then I met them."
Tang Wulin's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Xie Xie, seeing that he wasn't lying. An idea formed in his mind.
Maybe I should go back and tell the teacher that our class shouldn't be compared to the class one...
"Help! Robbery!"
A shout echoed through the snack street.
Tang Wulin snapped out of his thoughts and looked in the direction of the sound.
He saw a middle-aged man running out of a small alley, his face pale, followed by two rough-looking men wielding knives.
"Keep shouting! I'll teach you a lesson today!"
Apparently frustrated that they hadn't caught the man, the two thugs grew angrier, ignoring the fact that they were chasing him in public.
Some passersby glanced at the size of the thugs and the knives in their hands, but no one dared to step forward and intervene.
Tang Wulin frowned and was about to get up to help when Xie Xie held him down.
"It's fine."
Xie Xie glanced at the thugs' outfits and sneered.
"They're not locals from Eastsea City. No wonder they dare to cause trouble here."
Tang Wulin was puzzled. What did that mean?
The shop owners around them watched the scene calmly, keeping a safe distance to avoid getting caught up in the chaos.
"What's going on?!"
Soon, a stern voice rang out, causing the two thugs to freeze.
They turned to see a burly man in a uniform approaching, a fierce smile on his face.
A security officer?
The thugs' faces changed, and they tried to run, but the security officer's exposed skin had already turned iron-gray, with scales rising on his neck.
Several soul rings emerged, though Tang Wulin couldn't see them clearly.
In a flash, the officer dashed forward and stood in front of the two thugs.
There were two loud bangs, and before the two thugs could react, they were knocked to the ground by the man.
Handcuffs were swiftly secured around their wrists.
"You didn't even bother to check who's protecting this street before coming here to rob?"
The man snorted coldly, tossed the two thugs to his companions behind him, clapped his hands, and retracted his martial soul.
He then walked over to Tang Wulin's side.
"Boss, give me three bowls of braised beef stew and ten bowls of rice. After patrolling East Sea City, your braised beef stew is still the most comforting."
"Alright, Captain Guang Long," Uncle Li replied, clearly familiar with the man.
"Haven't you been busy lately?"
"The neighborhood's security has been pretty good, so I've been sitting in the office so much that I'm starting to feel rusty."
Finding a seat, Guang Long smiled and said, "I didn't expect to run into two idiots while out eating with my colleagues."
"They probably didn't know the security forces were stationed nearby. Must be newcomers," Uncle Li responded with a smile.
By now, Tang Wulin had snapped out of his daze from the earlier scene and began studying Guang Longcarefully.
For some reason, when Guang Long had released his martial soul, Tang Wulin had felt an inexplicable throb in his heart, causing him to lose focus for a moment.
What was that about?
Still, he hadn't expected to witness a four-ring Soul Ancestor in action during a simple meal out.
Although his teacher was a powerful Soul King, he had never seen them fight...
"If it weren't for the fear that those two might accidentally harm the residents, he wouldn't have even used his martial soul," Xie Xie said, amused by Tang Wulin's cautious movements.
"So, don't be too impressed. Captain Guang Longis actually quite kind."
"Xie Xie, do you know him?" Tang Wulin asked, finally pulling his gaze away.
"Who around here doesn't know him? He's a bit of a local legend."
Xie Xie began to explain: Guang Long, the captain of the security team, was born into an ordinary family. His parents had passed away, leaving him with only an older brother. Both brothers possessed powerful martial souls, belonging to the Armoured Dragon lineage...
As Xie Xie recounted the story, Tang Wulin felt an odd sense of familiarity, as if he were looking at a reflection of himself.
He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of joy, and he ended up devouring seven bowls of rice.
This caught the attention of Guang Long, who glanced over curiously.
Good guy, seems to be able to eat better than me.
Smiling with interest, Guang Long was about to retract his gaze when he noticed Tang Wulin's bracelet, the one he always wore under his parents' instructions.
"..."
Pursing his lips, a hint of jealousy flashed in Guang Long's eyes. If he had something like that earlier, he could have gone further…
But after a moment of reflection, he smiled again, feeling relieved.
If it weren't for the support of the Spirit Pagoda, only one of him and his brother would have been able to obtain souls.
The other would have been left living with jealousy and resentment, unable to cultivate.
What kind of life would that have been?
Guang Long couldn't imagine it, but he knew it wouldn't have been a satisfying one... He was already doing well, so why feel jealous?
When Tang Wulin asked for another serving of braised beef stew, Guang Long sat down next to him with his own bowl and handed over the food.
"You guys were talking about me, weren't you? How about letting me hear your story?"
...
"Keep at it in the future. Don't waste your forging talent."
After listening to some of Tang Wulin's experiences, Guang Long left the payment, patted Tang Wulin's shoulder, and got up to leave.
Tang Wulin watched Guang Long's retreating figure with a puzzled expression. "Xie Xie, why is Captain Guang Long so interested in me?"
"You still don't know?" Xie Xie gave him a look that was a mix of admiration and exasperation.
"The soul tool on your wrist represents recognition from the Spirit Pagoda. Guang Long's brother has one too. I've seen it on this street before, which is why I recognized your bracelet at a glance."
Tang Wulin's curiosity piqued. "Brother?"
Xie Xie's expression turned unusually solemn.
"His brother is the captain of the East Sea Mecha Brigade, Guang Biao, a Seven-Ring Soul Saint! His status is comparable to that of the City Lord of the East Sea..."
Seven Rings?!
Those two words were all Tang Wulin could focus on.
His mind went blank, and his face grew slack.
It was a realm he couldn't even fathom, but according to Xie Xie, could he achieve something similar?
'Little Wulin, you're a forging genius. Do you want to join us?'
The words of the Spirit Pagoda's receptionist echoed in his mind, and Tang Wulin felt his heart pound fiercely.
Could he really reach that level?
He, can he too?