After returning to Nuoding City alone,
Lin Qingmo did not rush back to the academy.
Instead, he quietly gathered so information around the city.
What he was investigating was Tang Hao.
What he discovered turned out to be far more interesting than he had expected.
Not long ago, Tang Hao had destroyed a Spirit Hall branch once again and was now being hunted relentlessly by the Spirit Hall.
Nuoding City—where Tang Hao's whereabouts had first been discovered—was still under strict lockdown.
There were even Soul Douluo–level experts from the Spirit Hall stationed nearby, patrolling regularly.
Under these circumstances, Tang Hao probably wouldn't dare linger anywhere near Nuoding City.
Only after learning this did Lin Qingmo finally feel at ease and return to the academy.
What he didn't know— that all of this had been carefully arranged by his "good master," Dong Huang… no, Bibi Dong.
---
Back at Nuoding Academy.
His first stop was the Academic Affairs Office.
When the teacher saw Lin Qingmo, a look of confusion appeared on his face.
"You are…?"
Lin Qingmo's appearance had changed too much—he looked like a completely different person.
The teacher failed to recognize him right away.
"Teacher, it's —Lin Qingmo!"
After that, Lin Qingmo gave a pre-prepared explanation.
His original plan had been to use his soul ring as proof.
Unfortunately, a thousand-year first soul ring was far too outrageous, so he had to switch to a safer excuse.
The teacher was half-convinced.
But seeing that Lin Qingmo seed unhard, he didn't pursue the matter further.
Work-Study Student Dormitory
The mont Lin Qingmo pushed the door open—
A pink figure suddenly pounced on him and hugged him tightly.
"Ah Qing, you're finally back!"
It was Xiao Wu!
Lin Qingmo was hugged so tightly he could even sll the faint fragrance on her body.
But his mind was filled with massive questions.
'When did I get this close to Xiao Wu?'
Sowhat puzzled, Lin Qingmo asked,
"How did you recognize ?"
"I've changed so much… and why are you calling 'Ah Qing'?"
They had only t a few tis at most.
Why was Xiao Wu acting so familiar?
Xiao Wu's arms stiffened.
A look of panic flashed across her small face.
Oh no!
In her excitent, she had directly called him by his chat group nickna—"Ah Qing."
And she had recognized him instantly despite his drastic change in appearance.
Had she just exposed herself as a chat group mber?
Thinking quickly, she blurted out,
"B-because… intuition!"
"I'm a rabbit, you know! Rabbit intuition is super accurate!"
"Even if you change, I can still feel that it's you!"
"And as for 'Ah Qing'… um… It's because your blue hair and blue eyes look so clear and clean, like a lake, so I gave you that nickna!"
"Yes! That's it!"
She stumbled through her explanation, throwing together every excuse she could think of.
"Rabbit intuition?"
Lin Qingmo rubbed his chin.
To be fair, she was a rabbit.
And not just any rabbit—a hundred-thousand-year rabbit at that.
"When you put it that way… it kind of makes sense."
He didn't dwell on it.
After all, Xiao Wu had always been quirky and unpredictable.
"Who are you?"
"Let go of Xiao Wu!"
A cold voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu turned their heads at the sa ti.
They saw Tang San striding toward them.
His face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.
The hostility in his eyes toward Lin Qingmo was unmistakable.
He had just returned from cultivation outside.
And what he saw was a strange blue-haired boy holding the adorable Xiao Wu.
(Though, in reality, Xiao Wu was the one holding Lin Qingmo.)
Xiao Wu even looked happy.
This made Tang San extrely unhappy.
Why had Xiao Wu never smiled like that at him?
The jealousy born from desire and frustration made it impossible for him to stay calm.
Seeing it was Tang San,
Xiao Wu frowned, her face filled with undisguised disdain.
"Why are you here again?"
She genuinely disliked Tang San.
He was like an annoying little fly most of the ti.
And now he was even coming to ruin the mont when she was close to Ah Qing.
Lin Qingmo was also displeased by Tang San's sudden outburst.
He sized Tang San up.
Noticing the increase in his soul power, it was clear Tang San had already absorbed a soul ring.
"I'm who?"
Lin Qingmo sneered.
Not only did he not let go of Xiao Wu—he hugged her even tighter.
"I'm Lin Qingmo. Xiao Wu's friend."
"What's wrong with a hug?"
"And you—shouting out of nowhere—are you looking for trouble?"
"Friend?"
Tang San's gaze grew even colder.
His eyes were fixed on Lin Qingmo's hand around Xiao Wu's waist.
"It's you?!"
Tang San finally rembered.
The missing Lin Qingmo!
He had changed so much that Tang San hadn't recognized him at first.
But at this mont, Tang San didn't care who he was.
All he saw was Xiao Wu.
"Let go of Xiao Wu. Now."
"And if I don't?"
Lin Qingmo looked at him provocatively.
A smug, arrogant smile curled at his lips.
Finally, my turn to act cool.
Joke's on you.
He now had a Titled Douluo master backing him up.
Not to ntion, Tang San's father was still being hunted down like a dog.
Under these circumstances, why would he ever fear so nobody like Tang San?
"We're friends!"
Xiao Wu felt a surge of happiness when she heard that.
She deliberately leaned further into Lin Qingmo's embrace and made a face at Tang San.
"I like being held by Ah Qing. What does it have to do with you?"
"Xiao Wu!"
Seeing how close Xiao Wu was to Lin Qingmo, Tang San's heart shattered.
His eyes turned red.
He clenched his fists.
Soul power surged as his Blue Silver Grass martial soul erged from his palm.
"Lin Qingmo, I challenge you! Do you dare accept?"
"If you're not a coward hiding behind a girl, accept my challenge!"
As the saying goes—
People in love lose their intelligence.
Tang San was the perfect example right now.
He wanted to defeat Lin Qingmo.
To prove to Xiao Wu that he was the strongest—the one who could protect her!
"Challenge ?"
Lin Qingmo looked like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"You?"
"Heh. Do you dare or not?"
Tang San sneered, fists clenched tight.
He had been completely enraged by Lin Qingmo's arrogance.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Lin Qingmo snorted and finally let go of Xiao Wu.
He patted his chest.
"But let make one thing clear—against trash like you, I don't even need my martial soul or soul ring. I can still crush you."
"Arrogant!"
Tang San cursed angrily and turned toward the back of the dormitory.
"Follow to the back mountain."
"Gladly."
Lin Qingmo followed without hesitation.
Xiao Wu jumped excitedly and hurried after him.
She was already looking forward to watching Lin Qingmo beat Tang San senseless.
The other work-study students exchanged glances, then eagerly followed to watch the show.
---
On the open ground at the back mountain of Nuoding Academy, a crowd quickly gathered.
Lin Qingmo and Tang San stood facing each other.
The atmosphere was tense.
Tang San's eyes were icy as he released his martial soul and displayed his first soul ring.
When the students saw his hundred-year soul ring, they were completely stunned.
After all, the strongest student in the academy was Xiao Chenyu—The city lord's son.
A wolf martial soul.
Rank 13 Soul Master.
Yet even his first soul ring was only a white ten-year ring.
The shocked murmurs from the crowd boosted Tang San's confidence.
He introduced himself solemnly,
"Tang San. Rank 13 control-type soul master. Martial soul—Blue Silver Grass."
Then he looked at Lin Qingmo—
Only to find that Lin Qingmo hadn't released his martial soul at all.
Tang San raised an eyebrow.
Lin Qingmo spoke lazily,
"I already said it. I don't need my martial soul to beat you."
Tang San's expression darkened.
"Hmph. Arrogant. Don't bla when you regret it!"
His first soul ring flared.
First Soul Skill — Blue Silver Entanglent!
Several strands of Blue Silver Grass burst out of the ground, shooting toward Lin Qingmo to bind him.
Tang San even gave a smug reminder,
"My Blue Silver Grass is poisonous."
The surrounding students retreated in fear upon hearing that.
But Lin Qingmo remained calm and relaxed.
"Too slow."
He shook his head in disappointnt.
In his eyes, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass was painfully slow.
He didn't even need to circulate soul power.
With a few light movents—relying purely on physical reflexes—he effortlessly dodged every strand.
"Dodged it?!"
Tang San was shocked.
How could his Blue Silver Entanglent be avoided so easily?!
But shock aside, Tang San didn't forget this was a duel.
He had to win.
Imdiately, he activated the Tang Sect secret technique—Controlling Crane Catching Dragon.
He grabbed toward Lin Qingmo through the air with both hands, attempting to pull him over using soul power.
Yet Lin Qingmo didn't move an inch.
It was as if his feet were rooted to the ground.
Against Lin Qingmo's terrifying physical stability and strength,
The pulling force of Controlling Crane Catching Dragon felt like nothing more than a tickle.
"How is this possible?!"
Tang San's pupils shrank violently.
Disbelief finally surfaced on his face.
His Tang Sect secret technique…
Couldn't even pull a six-year-old child?!
Lin Qingmo silently shook his head.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Tang San, you're honestly disappointing right now."
Tang Sect secret technique—nothing special.
End of Chapter
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