The two responded and walked to the empty seats to sit down. As soon as they sat, a boy with a round, honest-looking face leaned over and asked in a low voice:
"Are you really His Holiness the Pope's disciples? Innate Full Soul Power and Ninth rank? That's incredible!"
"Hu Sanpang, if you speak again, I'll make you leave right now!"
Before Su Yu could answer, a piece of chalk flew over and hit the boy right between the eyebrows.
Struck by the chalk, Hu Sanpang immediately shrank his neck, stuck out his tongue, and didn't dare speak again.
But his eyes still glanced curiously at Su Yu and Hu Liena.
Xu Yan adjusted his glasses and began explaining the connection between Soul Rings and Soul Power. Soon, only his steady voice remained in the classroom.
Su Yu and Hu Liena listened attentively, occasionally jotting down key points. Before they knew it, the class period was over.
When the bell rang, Xu Yan announced the start of cultivation practice, and the students began streaming toward the training grounds in small groups.
Hu Sanpang immediately leaned over again, his face wearing an envious smile:
"Are you really His Holiness the Pope's disciples? The teacher said one of you has Innate Full Soul Power and the other has Ninth rank Innate Soul Power. That's amazing!"
"Actually, it's not..."
Just as Su Yu was about to modestly respond, a mocking voice suddenly cut in.
"Why would His Holiness the Pope take someone like you as a disciple?"
The speaker was a boy in brocade robes, about ten years old, with his chin slightly raised and a hint of arrogance in his eyes.
"I heard your Martial Soul is just an insignificant little sapling."
"So what if you have Innate Full Soul Power? With a garbage Martial Soul, no matter how high your Innate Soul Power is, you'll never amount to much!"
Several students who appeared to be his followers also burst into laughter, their gazes full of contempt as they looked at Su Yu.
Hu Sanpang frowned and straightened his neck. "Zhang Hao, watch your words!"
"Su Yu is His Holiness the Pope's disciple. Who are you to criticize?"
Zhang Hao glanced sideways at him. "Hu Sanpang, this is none of your business."
"What does being His Holiness the Pope's disciple matter? What does Innate Full Soul Power matter?"
"If your Martial Soul is no good, even the highest Innate Soul Power is useless! My Martial Soul is the Blazing Sun Bird, with Seventh rank Innate Soul Power—far better than his pathetic sapling!"
Just as Hu Sanpang was about to continue arguing, Su Yu calmly pulled him back and looked at Zhang Hao:
"So what if my Martial Soul is a sapling? Dealing with a little wild chicken like you is still simple!"
"Hah, tough talk!"
Zhang Hao sneered, his Soul Power slightly stirring as a fiery bird phantom appeared behind him.
"Dare to have a match with me? I'll show you what real talent looks like!"
Hu Liena stepped in front of Su Yu, her small face tense. "Don't go too far! Brother Su Yu's Martial Soul isn't garbage!"
"Oh? So you're scared?" Zhang Hao pressed forward, the provocation in his eyes intensifying.
"If you don't even dare to compete, are you worthy of being His Holiness the Pope's disciple?"
Su Yu gently pulled Hu Liena back, took a step forward, and looked directly at Zhang Hao:
"I'll compete, but if you lose, don't cry about it."
"Who's crying remains to be seen!" Zhang Hao, provoked, turned and headed toward the training grounds.
"Come on! Let's go to the training grounds!"
Hu Sanpang stamped his feet anxiously. "Su Yu, Zhang Hao has already cultivated to the eleventh level. He's already a Soul Master now!"
Su Yu smiled at him. "It's fine. This is a good chance to test my skills."
With that, he followed Zhang Hao toward the training ground, with Hu Liena and Hu Sanpang quickly catching up.
Numerous curious students swarmed over, and soon a circle of spectators formed around the training ground.
On the central stage of the training ground, Zhang Hao stood with his arms crossed, a disdainful smirk on his face as he looked at Su Yu standing opposite him:
"Hey, little sapling, it's not too late to admit defeat now. I might go easy on you!"
"Otherwise, when I make you cry later, you'll embarrass the Pope herself."
Su Yu stood calmly in place, his gaze sweeping over the Blazing Sun Bird Martial Soul burning with pale red flames behind Zhang Hao. His tone was composed but carried a hint of mockery:
"Little chick, did you blow your soul ring out with your mouth? If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste so much breath?"
"You dare call me a little chick?!" Zhang Hao bristled, his face flushing red with anger. "You're asking for it!"
Before his words faded, his soul power erupted abruptly, a yellow hundred-year soul ring glowing at his feet.
The phantom of the Blazing Sun Bird behind him suddenly spread its wings, releasing waves of scorching heat in all directions.
"Blazing Sun Bird, first soul skill - Flame Impact!"
With his low shout, the Blazing Sun Bird dove down, transforming into a crimson stream of fire that shot straight toward Su Yu's face with blistering heat!
The surrounding students gasped in surprise, and Hu Sanpang nervously clenched his fists:
"Oh no, oh no! Zhang Hao's first soul skill is no joke, and Su Yu doesn't even have a soul ring yet!"
Hu Liena also held her breath, her large eyes fixed intently on the figure on the stage, her palms sweating.
Just as the flames were about to reach Su Yu, he stomped his foot firmly and quickly formed hand seals:
"Wood Style: Wooden Formation Wall!"
"Boom!"
The ground suddenly cracked open in several places as two rows of wooden pillars burst forth.
The pillars rapidly curved, forming an arched wall that shielded Su Yu within.
"Bang!"
The Flame Impact slammed hard into the wooden pillars with a dull thud. Orange-yellow flames raged fiercely across the wood, emitting streams of black smoke.
Seeing this, Zhang Hao showed a triumphant smile: "Useless! My flames can burn any plant to ashes!"
The next moment, his smile froze!
Although the wooden pillars were charred black by the flames, they showed no signs of breaking.
"How is this possible?!" Zhang Hao exclaimed in disbelief.
Su Yu's voice came from behind the wooden pillars, carrying a hint of amusement:
"I told you, my Martial Soul isn't as simple as you think."
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Su Yu shouted low, thrusting his right arm forward as several green wooden vines suddenly shot out from his arm!
Zhang Hao's pupils contracted, never expecting Su Yu's Martial Soul to be so agile.
"Come down here!"
With a twist of his wrist, Su Yu's vines precisely wrapped around Zhang Hao's waist. He yanked his arm back sharply, transmitting tremendous force.
Caught off guard, Zhang Hao instantly lost his balance. With a yelp, he was forcibly pulled down from mid-air and crashed heavily onto the stage.
Before he could get up, the vines wrapped around his waist rapidly grew and spread like bamboo shoots after rain.
Within just a few breaths, they had bound him into a tight bundle, leaving only his flushed red head exposed.
"How can this be! How could I lose to you!"
Zhang Hao cried out in shock and fury, struggling violently to break free from the vines.
His soul power surged wildly within him as he tried to shatter the wooden restraints.
The more he struggled, the tighter the wooden vines constricted, as if they had grown into his very flesh.