Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xiao Lin was cultivating in the spring water to accelerate his training. Lei Lei's soul bone had completely become a formation tool for Xiao Lin to gather spiritual energy.
If Xiao Lin wanted to condense a soul core as early as level seventy, then his soul power reserves would absolutely have to surpass that of a Titled Douluo.
And since Xiao Lin intended to condense three soul cores, he needed to work even harder.
At present, Xiao Lin only had confidence in forming two soul cores, relying on the existence of his two dantians.
"My lord, can I go bring my son here?"
At this moment, Mei Mei—who had completely mastered her eighty-thousand-year cultivation—poked her head out and asked.
She did not dare enter the medicinal garden and could only ask from outside.
"Go ahead. Don't harm people casually, and don't let other soul masters see you," Xiao Lin replied casually, offering a friendly reminder.
With Mei Mei's current cultivation and potential, she was already comparable to many one-hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
If some powerful soul master noticed her and hunted her, Xiao Lin would suffer a huge loss.
"Thank you, my lord."
Mei Mei was overjoyed. After respectfully thanking him, she turned and headed toward the poisonous barrier.
After crossing the barrier, she immediately flew into the air and quickly departed.
After awakening the dragon bloodline, Mei Mei had naturally gained the ability to fly.
She's really troublesome…
Xiao Lin half-opened his eyes and watched Mei Mei disappear into the distance until she looked no bigger than a mosquito, thinking silently.
However, with Mei Mei's strength, even an ordinary Titled Douluo would no longer be her opponent.
Reassured, Xiao Lin closed his eyes again and continued meditating within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Xiao Lin had thought it through earlier—he still needed to cultivate until he reached Soul Emperor.
If he wanted to take advantage of the Angel God, the sixth soul ring would be absolutely crucial.
Furthermore, a hundred-thousand-year fire-attribute soul ring would allow the Fire Dragon King to temporarily emerge and assist him in battle. That would be a massive boost when facing Bibi Dong.
At worst, he could just pretend he was only at the Soul King level. As long as it didn't seem too outrageous, it would be fine.
No… maybe Soul Ancestor would be better.
The more strength he kept hidden, the easier it would be to unleash sudden bursts of power to protect Xiao Wu and Tang Ni.
…
Meanwhile.
After leaving Sunset Forest, Tang Hao and the others had already returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
With Tang Hao's flying soul skill, the three of them traveled extremely quickly.
On a deserted hill outside the academy…
Tang Hao was already eager to return to Sunset Forest. After briefly reminding Tang San and Xiao Wu of a few things, he flew away once again.
Tang San and Xiao Wu could only walk back to the academy.
After crossing the hill and entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the two noticed quite a few noble students pointing at them and whispering.
Tang San felt puzzled, so he secretly used a hidden-weapon listening technique to overhear them.
The moment he finished listening, Tang San's face instantly darkened.
"Yu Xiaogang, you already have a path to death."
Tang San's expression remained calm, but he said coldly in his heart.
Xiao Wu, whose hearing was extremely sharp, also heard the nobles talking.
"Look, those two."
"I heard Master Xiao Yan used a hundred-thousand-year soul bone to forcibly raise their innate soul power to full level."
"With weak martial souls like Blue Silver Grass and Soft Bone Rabbit, how could they possibly have full innate soul power without a hundred-thousand-year soul bone?"
"I think Master Yu Xiaogang was right."
Hearing those words and seeing their expressions, Xiao Wu felt uneasy.
When the noble students noticed Xiao Wu looking at them, they quickly avoided her gaze—clearly daring to talk behind her back but not daring to admit it openly.
From their reactions, Xiao Wu saw something else:
Greed.
These useless nobles seemed to be coveting the "hundred-thousand-year soul bones" they believed she and Tang San possessed.
Did they have such soul bones?
Xiao Wu knew very well they didn't.
"Third Brother?"
Xiao Wu suddenly felt uneasy.
Those noble students weren't a threat—but what if some powerful soul masters above Soul Emperor level believed the rumor?
What if they attacked them?
Especially since Xiao Wu herself truly could drop a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
"Don't worry. Let's go to the Emperor Team first."
Tang San sensed Xiao Wu's anxiety and gently held her hand to reassure her.
At a time like this, they absolutely couldn't appear guilty. Otherwise the rumors would spread even faster and become accepted as truth.
When many people repeat a rumor, it eventually becomes reality.
Soon, under the strange gazes of the academy's students, Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at the Emperor Team.
Once they reached the team's training area, they finally relaxed slightly.
Others might not know how quickly they had improved—but the team members certainly did.
It was all because of the immortal herbs.
Their arrival quickly caught the attention of Qin Ming.
"Tang San, Xiao Wu—why are you two here?"
Seeing them, Qin Ming cried out in surprise.
Recently, rumors had been spreading wildly throughout Heaven Dou City. If Tang San and Xiao Wu appeared there, they might easily encounter danger.
His voice also attracted the attention of the other students who had been cultivating.
Members of the Emperor Team quickly gathered around them, forming a circle.
During this period, the three academy chairmen had issued orders forbidding the Emperor Team from entering Heaven Dou City freely—at least until they captured Yu Xiaogang, the one responsible for spreading the rumors.
"We came through the back mountain of the academy, not through Heaven Dou City," Tang San explained honestly, feeling touched by everyone's concern.
"Good… that's good. From now on, you absolutely must not go to Heaven Dou City."
Qin Ming sighed in relief before asking another question.
"By the way… where's Xiao Lin?"
As soon as Qin Ming asked, the other team members also showed concerned expressions.
"Yeah, where's Brother Xiao Lin?"
"He didn't run into trouble, did he?"
…
"Brother Lin is cultivating in Senior Dugu Bo's medicinal garden."
After hearing this, Qin Ming finally relaxed.
Then Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng began explaining the recent situation to Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Not long after Xiao Lin and the others left…
Some small newspapers in Heaven Dou City published Yu Xiaogang's new research paper.
The content of this paper was almost entirely speculation—there was practically no evidence.
Yet despite that, the paper sold extremely well in Heaven Dou City.
Within two days, the story had spread to nearby cities and provinces.
The reason was simple:
The content was too sensational.
According to the newspaper, Xiao Lin and the other three had all had their innate talent enhanced by hundred-thousand-year soul bones from Master Xiao Yan.
And since Master Xiao Yan's reputation was currently extremely famous—and he had not publicly refuted the claim—many people had already begun to believe the rumor.
Because Xiao Lin's Qiu-Dragon Staff martial soul and Tang Ni's Golden Dragon martial soul were already top-tier martial souls, some people didn't think they possessed hundred-thousand-year soul bones.
Instead, all suspicion fell onto Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Another victim of the rumors was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
People claimed their medicinal bath technique was responsible for enhancing talents.
The clan denied it—but no one believed them.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had already publicly stated they would personally capture Yu Xiaogang, that useless man, and give him "another chance" to speak.
Yet this only made some people think the clan had been exposed and panicked—trying to silence him.
(End of Chapter)