"It's alright. It's just that the teacher is a bit... strange."
After thinking for a moment, Tang Wulin politely settled on the word "strange" to define her.
"For some reason, she's very strict with our practical combat training. She acts like she wants us to defeat someone... Probably hoping to move up to Class One through the Class Promotion Match, right?"
Xie Xie remembered what he had seen during class assignments and fell silent.
It probably wasn't about defeating Class One, but about defeating Class Five, right? Just unrequited love. What kind of grudge was this? How did it end up like this?
Not telling Tang Wulin any of this, Xie Xie asked:
"Is the training tough?"
"Not really. If anything, because we have practical combat training, I've actually gotten an opportunity. After all, I'm pretty strong, and now I'm even one of the pre-selection for the Class Promotion Match."
Tang Wulin quickly finished a bowl of rice and asked for another. "Don't just talk about me. How are you doing?"
"Class One has pretty good treatment all kinds of perks. The teacher is also very friendly. He taught us a new meditation method. I'm almost a two-ring Great Spirit Master."
"Really? That's amazing." Tang Wulin's face was full of admiration.
"Amazing?"
Xie Xie's face darkened. "Do you still remember those two people we met the day before class assignments?"
"Of course I remember." Tang Wulin nodded.
He had run into Huo Yuhao a few more times at the academy since then, and they had exchanged names. Of course he remembered.
"Those two are the real freaks!"
Tang Wulin's eyes widened. He looked at Xie Xie in shock. Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, a thought arose in his mind.
Maybe he should go back and tell his teacher that their class shouldn't bother competing with Class One...
"Help! Robbery!"
A cry of alarm rang out over the snack street.
Tang Wulin snapped back to reality and looked toward the sound. He saw a middle-aged man running out of a small alley, his face pale. Behind him were two burly men with ugly expressions, carrying knives in their hands.
"Keep shouting! I'll teach you a lesson today!"
Having apparently failed to corner their target, the two burly men flew into a rage, not caring that they were in public and still chasing the middle-aged man.
Some passersby compared body sizes, looked at the knives in the two men's hands, and did not dare to step forward to help.
Tang Wulin frowned and was about to get up to help when Xie Xie firmly pressed him back down.
"Don't worry."
Xie Xie glanced at the two thugs' clothing and sneered.
"Not locals. No wonder they dare to act so recklessly here."
Tang Wulin was startled. What did he mean?
The shop owners watched the scene around and remained fairly calm, simply carefully keeping their distance to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"What are you doing?!"
Soon, a powerful voice rang out, making the two thugs stop. They turned their heads and saw a strong man in uniform walking over, a fierce smile on his face.
The security team?
Their expressions changed. They wanted to run, but the security team member's exposed skin had already turned iron-gray, and raised iron-gray scales had grown on his neck. Several spirit rings rose, but before Tang Wulin could clearly see them, the man stamped his foot and charged at the two.
With two thuds, the two thugs were knocked to the ground before they could even react. Handcuffs were promptly fastened around their wrists.
"Didn't you bother to ask around and find out whose street this is before you started robbing people?"
The man snorted, casually tossed the two thugs to his companions behind him, clapped his hands, put away his martial soul, and walked over to Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
"Boss, give me three bowls of stewed pot beef and ten bowls of rice. I've eaten all over Eastsea City, and your stewed pot beef is the most satisfying."
"Coming right up, Captain Guang Long." Uncle Li was clearly very familiar with him. "Not too busy lately?"
"The security around here is pretty good. Sitting in the office all day, my body is practically rusting."
Finding a seat, Guang Long smiled and said, "I didn't expect to run into two fools while out eating with my colleagues."
"They don't know the police team's station is nearby. They must be new here." Uncle Li also smiled in response.
Just then, seeing Guang Long sitting a few meters away, Tang Wulin finally snapped out of it from watching the fight just now. He cautiously sized up Guang Long.
For some reason, when the other had released his martial soul, Tang Wulin had felt a strange throbbing, which was why he had momentarily lost focus... What was that about?
Come to think of it, he hadn't expected to see a four-ring Spirit Ancestor in action just by going out to eat. Although his teacher was a Soul King, he had never seen him fight...
"If he wasn't worried about those two hurting the residents here, he wouldn't have used his martial soul at all."
Xie Xie saw Tang Wulin's cautious movements and found it a bit funny. "So don't let Guang Long's burly appearance fool you. He's actually quite friendly."
"Xie Xie, you know him?" Tang Wulin withdrew his gaze and asked.
"Who around here doesn't?"
Xie Xie said, "He's practically a legend around here."
Guang Long, public security team captain. Born into an ordinary family, both parents deceased, leaving only an older brother. But the two brothers had a decent martial soul a Sub-Dragon Martial Soul. After awakening their martial souls at the Spirit Transmission Tower at age six and obtaining Spirit Souls, they gradually began to stand out...
As Tang Wulin listened to Xie Xie's story, he somehow felt like he was seeing a mirror version of himself. He inexplicitly felt happy and downed seven bowls of rice, which caught Guang Long's attention.
Wow. He seemed to eat even more than him.
Smiling with interest, Guang Long was about to look away when he saw the bracelet that Tang Wulin as his parents had instructed always wore when going out.
"..."
Guang Long's lips pressed together. A flash of envy appeared in his eyes. If he had had that back then, he could have gone even further...
But after thinking for a moment, he smiled a smile of relief.
If it hadn't been for the Spirit Transmission Tower's support, only one of him and his brother would have been able to obtain a Spirit Soul. The other would have been unable to cultivate and would have lived with jealousy and resentment. What kind of life would that have been?
Guang Long couldn't imagine it, but he still felt that it wouldn't have been a satisfying life... He was already living quite well. Why be jealous?
When Tang Wulin ordered another serving of stewed pot beef, Guang Long brought his own stewed pot beef and sat down next to him, handing the food to him.
"You were just talking about me, right? How about you let me hear your story instead?"
"Work hard from now on. Don't waste your forging talent."
After listening to Tang Wulin's edited version of his experiences, Guang Long left some money, patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, and stood up to leave.
Tang Wulin watched Guang Long walk away, a puzzled expression on his face. "Xie Xie, why was Captain Guang Long interested in me?"
"You still don't know?" Xie Xie showed an expression that was either admiration or looking at a fool. "That soul tool on your wrist represents a kind of recognition from the Spirit Transmission Tower. 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 was curious. "Brother?"
Xie Xie rarely showed a serious expression.
"His brother is the captain of the Eastsea Mecha Brigade — Long Biao, a Seven-Ring Soul Sage! His status is comparable to the Eastsea Executive Officer Executive Officer..."
Seven rings?!
Tang Wulin only saw these two words. He couldn't hear anything else. His expression gradually became dazed.
That was a level he didn't even dare to imagine. But according to Xie Xie, could he possibly achieve something similar?
"Little friend Wulin, you're a forging prodigy. Would you like to join us?"
The receptionist's words rang in Tang Wulin's ears. A strong sense of heartbeat arose in his heart.
Could he... also do it?
***
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