Chapter 76: with translation of chapter title

76. Chapter 76: Agreement, Tang San's Challenge Letter

Yu Xiaogang had great confidence in his disciples; even if we searched the whole academy, we probably couldn't find any student who could beat Tang San.

In Tang San's previous matches against Xiao Wu, he had been holding back, which is why Xiao Wu could occasionally win.

Therefore, Yu Xiaogang believed that in the match between Dai Xiyu and Tang San, Tang San would surely win.

Since it was a life-and-death duel, even if Tang San accidentally killed Dai Xiyu, he would bear no responsibility.

Yu Xiaogang had his own ulterior motives, and Dai Xiyu's homeroom teacher, Teacher Hu, had them as well.

Seeing that the two were about to engage in a life-and-death duel, Teacher Hu hurriedly said solemnly:

"You're all classmates—how can you be so ridiculous? If you two still want to study well at the academy, settle down a bit!"

The other two teachers also spoke up, trying to stop the two from continuing to cause trouble.

Seeing that the three teachers were in agreement, Yu Xiaogang naturally could not make his bias too obvious, and finally spoke:

"All right, Tang San, this isn't entirely Dai Xiyu's fault either. I share responsibility—I didn't notice that the black python was in heat; otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten hurt."

With just the phrase "not entirely to blame," he defined Dai Xiyu's responsibility—truly a theory specialist like Yu Xiaogang, adept at wordplay.

After being advised by all four teachers, Tang San couldn't go too far, after all he still had to study at the academy.

But if he were to let it go just like that, Tang San would certainly not be willing.

After thinking, Tang San could only snort coldly and say:

"Dai Xiyu, I've noted today's affair. We'll settle this score at the academy's monthly evaluation next month!"

The monthly evaluation is just a minor test, hardly given any weight; even placing first wouldn't earn any reward.

In the academy, the relatively important exam is only the final evaluation; that is the major test.

Tang Hao was lurking nearby, but Dai Xiyu also didn't want to cause trouble in this place; after breaking through to Soul Douluo, he would have plenty of ways to dispose of Tang San.

Two million soul power isn't that much; with Xiao Wu around, it's easy to obtain.

So Dai Xiyu gave in, saying calmly, "Then I'll wait for you."

After Dai Xiyu said that, the matter was thus settled.

Because Yu Xiaogang was injured, they rested for a while before continuing onward.

The black python's bite force was astonishing; although non‑venomous, it completely shattered the bones in Yu Xiaogang's left leg and ankle.

Even with the medical technology of the Douluo Continent, if a royal‑court auxiliary soul master came over, it would still be difficult to heal this injury.

Moreover, Nuoding City is practically a poor, remote backwater, lacking any high‑level auxiliary soul masters or highly skilled doctors.

Even if we took him to Tiandou City now, it would be too late.

After standing up, Yu Xiaogang could only walk with Tang San's support; otherwise he couldn't move at all.

In the following encounters, most of the soul beasts they met were only a few decades old; it was rare to see one over a hundred years.

One of the students was luckier, obtaining a soul ring that happened to be exactly a hundred years old.

With a hundred‑year first ring, he now had a much better chance; breaking through to Soul Elder was no longer a dream.

The other student wasn't so fortunate; even as dusk fell, he still hadn't encountered a suitable hundred‑year soul beast.

In the end, that student had no choice but to accept fate, absorbing a soul ring of over eighty years.

Being able to absorb a soul ring is already no easy feat; after becoming a soul master, one receives a monthly subsidy of one gold soul coin, enough to guarantee food and clothing.

If one works hard and reaches the rank of Grand Soul Master, they can receive ten gold soul coins each month, making life quite comfortable.

For a commoner from a small place, achieving the rank of Grand Soul Master in this lifetime would be more than enough.

By then, becoming a minor instructor at the academy or seeking a petty post in the Spirit Hall would both be fine outcomes.

After that student absorbed his soul ring, the team turned around and headed back the way they came.

Midway, they encountered another ninety‑year soul beast, which also possessed a special ability in its eyes.

The three teachers joined forces to defeat the soul beast, and Teacher Hu looked at Dai Xiyu and asked:

"Dai Xiyu, it seems we won't find a suitable one today. Do you want to absorb it now, or wait a bit longer?"

When Teacher Hu said "wait a bit," he naturally didn't mean sending the team back into the forest for another hunt.

"Wait a bit" meant letting Dai Xiyu wait one semester, then try his luck again at the end‑of‑year soul‑hunt before graduation.

The academy organizes soul‑hunting events at the start and end of each semester, so a sixth‑year student like Dai Xiyu still has one more chance before graduation.

If he fails to absorb a soul ring this last time, after graduation he'll have to rely on himself; the academy's teachers won't help former students obtain soul rings.

Faced with Teacher Hu's goodwill, Dai Xiyu smiled, shook his head, and said, "Let it go; I'm not in a hurry—I'll wait for the next opportunity."

Teacher Hu nodded and said no more.

Although Dai Xiyu is twelve years old and has only just reached rank ten in soul power, his cultivation is somewhat slow.

However, Dai Xiyu possesses innate talent of rank two, which gives him great potential.

Seeking a better hundred‑year soul ring is also quite normal.

After all, if someone with innate rank‑two soul power absorbs a first soul ring of over a hundred years, it's very likely they could later break through to Soul Elder, or even Soul Ancestor.

Just like the vice‑dean of the Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy, whose innate soul power was also rank two.

Now, this vice‑dean is fifty years old and has just this year broken through to his fourth soul ring, becoming a distinguished Soul Ancestor.

Although he may find it hard to advance further in this lifetime, the status of a Soul Ancestor is completely different from that of a Soul Elder, far surpassing it.

In a few years, once the current dean is transferred away, this vice‑dean can basically be counted on to become the next dean.

So, with such an opportunity and innate talent, who would willingly give it up lightly?

Teacher Hu stood from Dai Xiyu's perspective, thinking of his best interests.

But he never imagined that Dai Xiyu doesn't need a hundred‑year soul ring at all.

Because after Dai Xiyu returns this time, he can immediately break through to rank eighty as a Soul Douluo.

This time, Dai Xiyu's estimate is to have his eighth soul ring reach the level of three hundred thousand years.

The sixth soul ring is 100,000 years, the seventh soul ring has reached 200,000 years, so the eighth soul ring has a chance to reach 300,000 years.

Even if each soul ring increases by 100,000 years, by the time the ninth soul ring arrives, it would be 400,000 years.

After absorbing the ninth soul ring, one becomes a titled Douluo, and the body's capacity to endure will greatly increase.

At that point, adding soul rings to the second martial soul, or even the third martial soul, would start at 500,000 years.

Furthermore, it is not impossible to later possess a martial soul with all million-year soul rings. (End of chapter)