Douluo: The Glory of the Peerless Angel

Chapter 41 Even a rat has skin, but a person lacks manners (Part 2)

On the way to the outer courtyard's fighting arena, Ling Bai handed Han Ruoruo a white jade porcelain bottle, saying:

"Senior sister, the Mysterious Water Pill."

Han Ruoruo smiled, but firmly pushed Ling Bai's hand back: "No need, Junior Brother. It's true that the Xuan Shui Pill is precious, but it's only effective for young Soul Masters whose cultivation is still shallow and whose abilities are not yet fully developed. I have already broken through to Soul Saint. You should give it to someone who needs it more."

"this……"

Ling Bai naturally understood the principle of sharing what you have. Based on his current understanding of Han Ruoruo, if she said no, she really meant no. In the end, he had no choice but to take back the Xuan Shui Pill and said:

"Next time we visit Shrek City, I have to treat my senior sister."

Han Ruoruo crossed her arms behind her back, feeling the damp evening breeze caress her cheeks, and said gently, "Okay, Senior Sister will listen to you."

Not far away, overhearing the two's undisguised conversation, Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and asked Tang Ya:

"Teacher Xiaoya, what is the Mysterious Water Pill? Is it very rare?"

"The Mysterious Water Pill is worth a fortune."

Tang Ya's first words startled Huo Yuhao, his mind racing. He could only think of selling twenty grilled fish a day, costing three copper soul coins and selling them for five, making a net profit of forty copper soul coins a day. Based on the exchange rate of 1 gold soul coin = 100 copper soul coins in Douluo Continent, that's ten thousand gold soul coins...

He only needs to go without food or water for 68 years!

Upon realizing this, Huo Yuhao felt an inexplicable urge to burst into tears.

Tang Ya, oblivious to her little apprentice's complex inner thoughts, continued:

"Xu Sanshi comes from the Xuanming Sect of the Douling Empire. They are the only ones on the entire continent who can refine Xuan Shui Dan. It is said that Xuan Shui Dan requires the blood essence of more than a dozen water-attribute soul beasts and dozens of water-attribute plants to be refined into a pill through special blending."

The Xuan Shui Dan has a very mild medicinal effect, and any Soul Master can absorb its medicinal power well. Soul Masters below level 20 can increase their Soul Power by at least one level after taking it. However, its most precious aspect is not the increase in Soul Power, but the miraculous effect of cleansing impurities in the body and transforming tendons and marrow.

For exceptionally talented Soul Masters, taking the Profound Water Pill is merely icing on the cake. For freaks like Ling Bai, who is at the innate level 20, the effect is negligible. But for Soul Masters like you and me with ordinary talent, it's a lifesaver.

The Mysterious Water Pill's effect of strengthening tendons and marrow is equivalent to increasing a Soul Master's innate Soul Power by one level. If one's innate Soul Power is only level one when their Martial Soul awakens, then after taking the Mysterious Water Pill, their innate Soul Power will become level two. This is a transformation of both talent and the Soul Master's essence!

"What?!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes immediately burned with fervor; his innate soul power was already at level one!

His cultivation path over the years has been exceptionally difficult. His meridians, which are thinner and even somewhat blocked than those of ordinary people, have made his cultivation speed extremely slow. It took him five years to advance from level one to level ten in terms of soul power, and this is only the starting point for a Soul Master with innate full soul power!

The improvement of innate soul power is a fundamental change. If he is fortunate enough to use the power of the Profound Water Pill to transform his tendons and cleanse his marrow, his cultivation speed will increase by at least three times!

"Teacher Xiaoya, I..." Huo Yuhao stammered.

"No need for further words." Tang Ya put her slender index finger to her lips and whispered, "Knowing Bei Bei as I do, he's definitely already figured out a way to trick Xu Sanshi. Xiao Yuhao, just relax and wait for the Xuan Shui Dan!"

"Senior Brother..."

Huo Yuhao's eyes were brimming with tears, and he blinked rapidly to prevent them from spilling out.

Due to the immense fame of the twin stars from the outer academy, coupled with Shrek Academy's broadcast through the soul-guided loudspeakers in the dormitory area, the soul battle between Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi attracted the attention of many students. Regardless of their cultivation level, they flocked to watch the battle, encountering students from the outer academy of all grades—white, yellow, purple, and black—along the way.

Upon seeing Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo's red school uniforms, the outer academy students instantly showed respect, automatically making way for them with wide eyes filled with admiration.

"Brother Bai!"

A clear, melodious shout reached his ears. Ling Bai looked up and saw two girls in white school uniforms running towards him from several hundred meters away.

"Xiao Tian, ​​Wu Feng?"

Ling Bai stopped in his tracks. Han Ruoruo, who was beside him, seemed to be deep in thought. As intelligent as she was, she immediately realized that these two were the disciples of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School who had entered the school with Ling Bai.

Ning Tian ran up to Ling Bai. As a support-type Soul Master with relatively weak stamina, running at full speed made her slightly out of breath. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her beautiful face had a blush. This made Wu Feng, who was following closely behind her, feel a pang of heartache and couldn't help but glare at Ling Bai.

Ling Bai ignored Wu Feng's fiery glare, gently patted Ning Tian's back to help her catch her breath, and chuckled, "Why are you running so fast? I've been here the whole time."

Ning Tian's breathing gradually calmed down. He gazed into Ling Bai's smiling golden eyes and said, "A day apart feels like three autumns. If we haven't seen each other for two days, I'm afraid you'll forget us."

At the same time, she glanced at the gentle and beautiful Han Ruoruo as if casually, her mind elsewhere yet with a hidden meaning.

Aside from the sect master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, no one in the world understood Ning Tian better than Ling Bai. He immediately took Ning Tian's hand and, incidentally, tugged at Wu Feng's sleeve, introducing them separately:

"Inner Courtyard, Senior Sister Han Ruoruo."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng, freshmen from the School of Foreign Languages.

"Hello, senior!"

Ning Tian quietly intertwined his fingers with Ling Bai's and greeted Han Ruoruo politely. Wu Feng had no choice but to reluctantly reply with a greeting to his senior.

Hello.

Han Ruoruo looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng, her gaze lingering on their clasped hands, a faint smile curving her lips.

Ning Tian was only eleven years old, and her act of asserting her dominance was too obvious and blatant. Han Ruoruo easily saw through her possessiveness and nervousness towards Ling Bai, as if she was afraid that she would take Ling Bai away.

"Junior brother, your senior sister is very happy today, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'm going back to Seagod Island to rest now."

Han Ruoruo, unwilling to cause Ning Tian to misunderstand, took the initiative to leave. She understood how much a support sect like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School valued geniuses from outside the family, and that Ning Tian had probably already chosen Ling Bai as his guardian, who would be his future husband.

Once Han Ruoruo's figure disappeared from sight, Ning Tian slowly relaxed the fist clenched behind her back. It's no wonder she felt insecure. She and Ling Bai were young and had not yet made a marriage agreement to establish a relationship. Now, Ling Bai and she were separated by two different courtyards, making it impossible for them to spend every day together and further develop their feelings.

The inner courtyard was teeming with outstanding women who possessed exceptional looks, talent, and backgrounds, and all of them were in the prime of their lives, developing gracefully and naturally. Ning Tian had heard that men were very easily drawn to the first mature woman who taught them what it meant to be a man, and if Ling Bai were to be seduced by a bad woman, Ning Tian would burst into tears.

"Brother Bai, how are you doing in the inner courtyard? Have any of the senior students been targeting you?" Ning Tian asked with concern.

"Everything went well. How about you two?"

"Wu Feng and I happened to be assigned to the same class and dormitory. Our homeroom teacher, Ms. Mu Jin, seemed strict in her teaching, but she cared about us a lot in private. She was a typical case of being tough on the outside but soft on the inside."

Ling Bai nodded slightly. Comparisons are odious. Compared to Zhou Yi, who was an oddball who would expel students at the slightest disagreement, Mu Jin was a qualified teacher.

"And Ning Tian is the class monitor!"

Wu Feng looked proud, then cleared his throat and added, "I'm the vice class monitor!"

"Huh? You're the vice class monitor?"

Ling Bai gasped, "Then your class is doomed."

"...Ling Bai, I'll kill you!!!"

Fighting Spirit Zone, Rest Area.

As soon as he entered, Xu Sanshi couldn't wait to ask, "I saw Tang Ya chatting and laughing with that older brother from the inner courtyard on the way here. Do you know him?"

Contrary to their public image of being sworn enemies, the two stars from the School of Foreign Languages ​​are actually very good friends.

Upon hearing this, Bei Bei glared at Xu Sanshi in annoyance: "What big brother? Ling Bai is three years younger than you."

"Wow!"

Xu Sanshi was dumbfounded: "Then he's the same age as this year's freshmen!"

Beibei nodded: "That's right. Xiaoya broke through to level 30 before the start of the semester. She happened to meet a group from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School while hunting for spirit rings in the Star Dou Great Forest. The leader of the group was Ling Bai, so we traveled together."

"Sanshi, Ling Bai's talent far surpasses ours. Don't hold a grudge against him because of what happened today, or you'll definitely suffer the consequences."

After briefly recounting how they met, Beibei didn't forget to warn Xu Sanshi.

"How could I dare to hate him!"

Xu Sanshi shrank back, looking just like a frightened turtle retreating into its shell: "Do you remember Ma Xiaotao, who often came to me to neutralize her evil fire?"

"Phoenix Soul Emperor, you always complain to me that she goes too far."

Xu Sanshi pointed to his eyes, his expression exaggerated, and said, "The night before last, I personally witnessed Ling Bai beating Ma Xiaotao up! The Soul Sect was brutally beating the Soul Emperor, turning against the Heavenly Gang!"

"but……"

Changing the subject, Xu Sanshi chuckled and said, "I guess I've formed a connection with him now. If I can exchange two Xuan Shui Pills for your kindness, brother, I'll have made a killing!"

Bei Bei covered his face. He knew that Xu Sanshi was shameless, but he didn't expect him to call him "Big Brother" so shamelessly.

"You haven't settled your score with the Tang Clan yet. Hurry up and bring me a Mystic Water Pill!"

Just as Tang Ya had guessed, Bei Bei stretched out a hand. The moment he saw Xu Sanshi give Ling Bai the Xuan Shui Pill, he began to plot for his junior brother Huo Yuhao.

"Do you think the Mysterious Water Pill is some kind of marketplace?"

Xu Sanshi was dumbfounded. Did the words "vengeful seed" have the words "resentful wretch" engraved on his head? Why was everyone extorting him today?

Beibei raised an eyebrow: "Let's keep things separate. You bullied my junior brother, shouldn't you make amends?"

"I'll pay him two hundred gold soul coins and eat his grilled fish for a year."

Bei Bei suddenly felt a headache coming on. Xu Sanshi was extremely shrewd and wouldn't fall for his tricks. Huo Yuhao's talent desperately needed the Xuan Shui Pill to improve. After thinking for a moment, a brilliant idea struck her:

"I won't take advantage of you. Let's settle this with a battle of spirits. If you win, I won't pursue this matter. If you lose, give me the Profound Water Pill."

Xu Sanshi clicked his tongue, then held up a finger: "Add one more condition: if your Tang Ya and Nan Nan have a good relationship, I win. You have to get her to invite Nan Nan to the city gate. I'm going to give her a surprise."

"...You really like Jiang Nannan." Bei Bei complained.

Although Jiang Nannan is known as the most beautiful girl in the Foreign Languages ​​Department, Xu Sanshi is top-notch in terms of background, appearance, and talent. Bei Bei finds it very strange that Xu Sanshi is so stubbornly fixated on Jiang Nannan.

Xu Sanshi blushed, feigning anger, and said, "Hurry up, will you agree or not!"

It's a deal.

Beibei still hopes that her good brother Xu Sanshi will eventually win the heart of the beauty, and decides to help him along with Tang Ya.

……

The arena for the outer courtyard battle, the audience seats.

After paying for the viewing fee, the five found a seat. Ling Bai and Huo Yuhao, the two boys, sat in the middle, with Ning Tian, ​​Wu Feng, and Tang Ya on either side of them.

As soon as he sat down, Wu Feng complained, "Has Shrek Academy gone mad with money? They're charging a silver soul coin just to watch a spirit battle!"

Huo Yuhao wholeheartedly agreed. To earn one silver soul coin, he would have to sell five grilled fish. If it weren't for the generous treat from the little rich girl Ning Tian, ​​he would never have been willing to spend money to watch the battle.

Ning Tian leaned her head lightly against Ling Bai, her fingertips circling his wrist as she smiled and said, "The academy is a large and powerful organization, and its various facilities require funding for maintenance. The daily expenses for the arena, which houses many soul beasts, are also a huge sum. It's only reasonable to charge some fees."

Ling Bai didn't speak, silently tucking a few strands of Ning Tian's long, platinum-gold hair behind her ear, the girl's delicate fragrance lingering in his nose, as he surveyed the outer arena.

The overall layout is almost identical to that of the Inner Court Battle Arena. The only significant difference is the seating area. Considering that the number of students in the Outer Court far exceeds that of the Inner Court, the Outer Court Battle Arena has a total of two thousand seats.

As two prominent figures in the outer academy, the battles between Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Beibei and Xuanming Turtle Xu Sanshi are always thrilling. At this moment, more and more students are gathering in the Soul Arena, and the crowd is so large that at least a thousand students have come to watch the battle.

This situation made Huo Yuhao a little nervous, and he whispered, "Teacher Xiaoya, can Senior Brother win?"

"Not necessarily." Tang Ya shook her head. "Xu Sanshi possesses the top-tier defensive beast spirit, the Xuanming Turtle, and is known as the number one defender in the outer academy. He and Bei Bei, the number one attacker in the outer academy, are considered twin stars. Their past encounters have always been evenly matched, with each side winning and losing.

"this……"

A fleeting hint of ambiguity crossed Huo Yuhao's eyes as he repeatedly weighed his options between the contestants' entrance area, Ling Bai, and Tang Ya, seemingly deep in thought.

"Please welcome both players to the arena!"

With a loud shout from the referee, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi strode out from both sides, instantly silencing the noisy battle arena. Everyone stared intently at the two, afraid of missing a single exciting moment.

"Fourth grader Beibei versus fifth grader Xu Sanshi, the match begins!"

The referee quickly retreated, leaving Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi with the entire playing field, and the two released their respective martial spirits at the same time.

Blue light concentrated, and Beibei's right arm rapidly swelled, countless bolts of lightning bursting forth and swirling around it. The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Martial Soul was attached to it, and three major soul rings—two yellow and one purple—rose and fell around the dragon-transformed right arm.

Xu Sanshi was not to be outdone. His swollen body stretched his school uniform taut, and the jet-black Xuanming Tortoise Shell Shield appeared, also with the best soul ring ratio of two yellow and one purple.

The two slowly stepped to the side, their sharp gazes locking onto each other, their intense soul power rising continuously, blue and black, blue lightning tyrannosaurus and dark tortoise, clearly distinct.

"Um?"

Suddenly, Ling Bai frowned. He sensed a faint spiritual force, a special fluctuation that was unavoidable when releasing a spiritual attribute soul skill.

He turned his head and saw that, sure enough, Huo Yuhao's originally deep blue eyes were now tinged with a faint gold!

The first soul skill of the Spirit Eye: Shared Spiritual Detection!

Huo Yuhao wanted to use the concealment of his mental attributes to help Bei Bei win against Xu Sanshi. He could hide it from the referee who was still far away, but how could he possibly hide it from Ling Bai who was right next to him!

"boom--"

"ah!!!"

Huo Yuhao cried out in pain, feeling as if his sea of ​​consciousness had been torn apart by a beam of golden light. Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, who was on the verge of death, sat up in fright and tried to repair it in a daze.

The next second, Huo Yuhao met a pair of sharp, piercing golden eyes, followed by a deep, cold voice:

"Huo Yuhao, are you...cheating?"

(End of this chapter)