The announcement board outside Nuoding Academy was filled with murmurs as students crowded to check the newly posted rankings. Names were etched in gold spiritual ink for prestige and intimidation.
On the top:
1. Tang San.2. Tang Yan.
Below it, scribbled in wildly off-colored chalk, was:
"3. Rabbit Boss #1! - Xiao Wu's Declaration of Dominion."
System: "The host's popularity is 90%." Elegance: 4%. Trolling: Maxed out."Tianmeng Bug:"And here we witness a dorm hierarchy collapse in real time."
The noble students stared, jaws clenched. For years they had held power. Now two commoner twins, one scholarly and serene, the other a walking chaos beacon, were outshining them.
Shen Lin, a second-year with a proud family background and thin patience, stood glaring at the board.
Cafeteria Confrontation
The smell of stir-fried spirit rice filled the lunch hall. Tang Yan paused mid-sit, eyes narrowing. Something felt… wrong.
Tianmeng:"Don't eat that. Smells like hexleaf and soul-weakening vine resin. Basic, but dirty."System:"Detected: Martial Soul suppression agent. Targeting Host. Reaction recommended: Hurl tray at offender."
Without hesitation, Tang Yan casually flipped his tray with a flick. It spiraled midair and crashed directly into Shen Lin's lap.
"You forgot the flavor," Tang Yan said dryly. "Like honor and skill."
The room froze. Shen Lin stood, dripping broth, face darkening.
"You think you can humiliate me?"
"You tried to poison me with cafeteria slop. I call that an invitation."
Brother vs. Foe
Before the situation could explode, Tang San stepped forward calmly, interjecting.
"Leave him. This one's mine."
Shen Lin sneered. "What can Blue Silver Grass do against a true Martial Soul?"
Tang San's expression didn't change. He raised his hand, soul power flaring. A 420-year golden-yellow soul ring bloomed beneath his feet. His Blue Silver Spear emerged, radiating subtle but immense strength.
The cafeteria fell silent.
Shen Lin released his Martial Soul—a spiked chain—but the soul power fluctuations from Tang San dwarfed him. Their energies collided. Sparks and spiritual currents surged between them.
Tang San moved like a whisper. His Verdant Pulse Vein launched vines under Shen Lin's feet. In one fluid movement, he redirected Shen Lin's Martial Soul and closed the gap. With a hard twist, Tang San activated his second soul skill—Spear Bind Explosion—a modified soul ring technique that compressed energy into a devastating, contained burst.
The spear halted just inches from Shen Lin's skull.
Shen Lin crumpled to the ground, unconscious. No blood—but no pride left either.
System:"Calculated assault: 100%. Fatality: 0%. Message sent: Absolute."
Yu Xiaogang arrived just in time to see the final strike withheld.
"Tang San… you were an inch from a kill."
"That's why I stopped," Tang San answered quietly.
Judgment and Arrival
Shen Lin was dragged away. His ranking was stripped, Martial Soul records flagged for misconduct, and punishment delivered through internal academy rules.
Later, a Spirit Hall emissary visited—sent to survey Nuoding's talent. The figure observed the twins closely, especially the age and color of their soul rings.
"Unusual. Rare compatibility at such a young stage. Must be innate."
Yu Xiaogang respectfully interjected, "They are… gifted. But raised modestly, trained quietly."
System:"Understatement of the year award goes to: The Master."Tianmeng:"We're one flashy combo away from royal attention."
Dorm Reflections
That evening, Dorm 7 was silent. Xiao Wu sat cross-legged, nibbling on dried spirit melon.
"You could've finished him. Why didn't you?"
"Because killing him wouldn't have made me stronger," Tang San replied.
Tang Yan clapped slowly. "Bravo, big bro. You unlocked Level 1 Soul Sage Philosophy."
System:"Tang San: Philosopher. Tang Yan: Satirical monk."
Elsewhere: The Watchers Whisper
From within the trees, unseen by mortals, the guardians observed.
Gu Yuena: "So the gentle one sharpens his edge."
Ah Yin: "He restrained himself. But now, he knows his line."
Bi Ji: "Tang Yan doesn't have a line. He draws it fresh every day."
Tang Hao's voice cut in. "Let them grow. I'll test them personally… soon."
End of Chapter 64