Chapter 68: Status

"It's nothing, maybe I misread it," Tie Li said.

He said that, but Tie Li was certain he had just been watched; he's extremely sensitive to malice.

Tie Li ate the noodles quickly, finishing a bowl in a flash, then grabbed another bowl and started eating again.

Ning Ning ate in small bites, and hearing Tie Li's slurping sound gave her an inexplicable delight; she set down her chopsticks and just watched Tie Li eat.

The second bowl quickly went into Tie Li's stomach; seeing that Ning Ning still had noodles in her bowl but wasn't eating, he couldn't help but ask.

"Are you not eating?"

"Oh, I'm full."

"You still have so much left; let me finish it for you."

Tie Li stood up, took Ning Ning's bowl and chopsticks, placed them before himself, and devoured everything in a few bites.

At that moment, Chi Ru arrived here with Da Niu.

"Sister Ning, I guessed you'd be here," Chi Ru said, panting.

"What's up?" Ning Ning asked.

"You still don't know? The academy is buzzing about you and him," Chi Ru said, pointing at Tie Li nearby.

Ning Ning's face turned cold upon hearing that; being extremely sensitive to such matters, she instantly guessed who was responsible.

Before Chi Ru could mention Ke Xi, his voice came from behind.

"I knew you weren't telling the truth, Chi Ru; how could you possibly not know about this?"

Ke Xi appeared from another direction, with two Soul Masters following him; judging by the soul power fluctuations on them, they were only slightly weaker than Da Niu.

"You were stalking me?" Chi Ru was rather annoyed, even more angry that she hadn't noticed it herself.

"Heh, since you won't tell me the truth, I have no choice but to do this," Ke Xi said, turning his head toward Ning Ning.

"I think you understand my intentions; if you're willing to be with me, I can mobilize my family's power to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect value you, to let you…"

"Enough. I think I've made myself perfectly clear; stop entangling me;"

"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, don't use your ridiculous ideas to speculate about a being you cannot provoke?"

It was evident that Ning Ning's disgust toward Ke Xi had reached a certain level.

Ke Xi felt as if someone had slapped him hard in front of everyone, utterly losing face.

"You two go teach them a lesson," Ke Xi shouted at the two Soul Masters behind him.

Sensing something off, Da Niu immediately stepped in front of the crowd; the Soul Masters behind Ke Xi were two Five Ring Soul Kings.

"One white, two yellow, two purple!"

"One white, one yellow, three purple!"

Five Soul Rings coiled around them, entering Martial Soul Possession State, they leapt forward and launched an assault on Da Niu,

The onlookers nearby fled in droves; they didn't want to be caught in the Soul Masters' battle, lest they die in vain without any compensation.

Three Soul Kings collided within the city, causing considerable damage; someone noticing something amiss immediately ran to inform the nearest the Spirit Hall.

Roar

Da Niu let out a beastly roar, his body swelling to an absurd size, his bulging muscles as hard as granite.

His massive form charged at the two Soul Kings, Da Niu taking on both without losing ground.

Ning Ning summoned the Ruyi Tower Martial Soul, the First and Second Soul Rings ignited, amplifying a Soul King; the strain on her was huge, and she no longer had enough soul power to unleash the Third Soul Technique.

Da Niu received a power boost, instantly suppressing the previously evenly matched situation.

All three were Soul Kings, yet clear differences existed among them.

Beyond the disparity in Soul Rings, the quality of their martial souls differed even more.

Ke Xi, seeing his own Soul King wasn't a match for Da Niu, grew even more frustrated.

Yet, given his standing in the family, he could command at most two Soul Kings.

Ke Xi and Chi Ru's families were comparable in strength, each being one of the five great families of the Feiya Advanced Soul Master Academy, but their positions within their families were completely different.

Just by looking at Da Niu beside Chi Ru, one could see a Soul King constantly protecting her.

Ke Xi's pursuit of Ning Ning wasn't merely for her looks and Soul Master talent; her background mattered more.

Even a peripheral descendant could report the Ruyi Tower's powerful auxiliary martial soul and gain the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's attention.

Yet Ning Ning had never sought help from the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, clearly unwilling to entangle herself with them;

If Chi Ru hadn't inadvertently revealed Ning Ning's true identity at a gathering, no one would have known it, and Ke Xi wouldn't have persistently pursued her.

Ke Xi's motive was to leverage Ning Ning's identity to elevate his standing within the family.

Perhaps Ning Ning doesn't want ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, but if she truly became Ke Xi's woman, he would report her to the Sect without hesitation.

Regardless of outcome, the relationship between them was now out in the open, which was advantageous for Ke Xi.

This time he brought two Soul Kings, hoping to seize her, but with Da Niu present, such a seizure was clearly impossible.

"Bastard." Ke Xi cursed inwardly.

Boom

Da Niu unleashed the Fifth Soul Technique; the other two couldn't defend at all, sustaining serious injuries, clutching their wounded chests as they retreated in front of Ke Xi.

"Let's go." Ke Xi forced down his anger and could only lead them away first.

Da Niu originally intended to eliminate the opponent's two Soul Kings right then, but Chi Ru stopped him.

After Ke Xi left, Chi Ru let out a sigh of relief; after all, the interfamily relations were good, and she didn't want to offend the other side too severely.

"For a woman, using two of the family's Soul Kings, his standing in the family will become even worse; no need to worry about him seeking revenge," Da Niu suddenly said.

Chi Ru looked at Da Niu in surprise; she hadn't even grasped that one thing, yet Da Niu could understand it so thoroughly.

"I've spent a long time by my adoptive father's side, so I've picked up a bit," Da Niu said, rubbing his head, a little embarrassed.

"Sister Ning, what are you going to do about those rumors at the academy?"

Ning Ning frowned; this rumor can't be cleared up just by explaining, and if left unaddressed it will become increasingly exaggerated.

"What do you think we should do?" Ning Ning suddenly looked over at Tie Li.

"Do you care about your reputation at the academy? If you don't, then just ignore it."

If it were Tie Li, regarding this situation he would be too lazy to go out and explain at all.

Tie Li saw Ning Ning hesitating, did not speak to interrupt her, and instead got up and left.

After Tie Li left, Chi Ru couldn't help but ask.

"Sister Ning, why aren't you returning to the Qibao Liuli Sect? Otherwise, where would Ke Xi have the nerve to lay a hand on you?" Chi Ru asked with a puzzled expression.

(End of chapter)