Chapter 4: New Rules Established, Challenges Arrive: When a "Little Psychopath" Meets a "Devil Teacher"
The incident of breaking down the door spread like wildfire throughout the work-study student dormitory building.
While students from other dormitories were peeking and watching the door panel that flew out of dormitory 101, Ye Feng had already led more than a dozen children to start a big clean-up. These children, mostly from poor families in various parts of the Northern Territory, did not know each other before, but in one morning they were integrated into a disciplined team.
"The bed must be made so neatly that you can put a copper soul coin on it without it falling off." Ye Feng stood in the center of the dormitory, his Thousand Chance Umbrella lightly tapping the ground. "The blankets must be folded into squares, and all personal belongings must be placed in designated locations."
A tall, thin boy muttered under his breath, "We're not the army..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Feng's umbrella tip gently touched his chest: "Here, my word is law. If you have any objections, you can try pushing open this door and walking out."
Ye Feng glanced around, and the children all lowered their heads and continued working. He knew that this method was simple and crude, but in the Douluo Continent, a world where strength was paramount, especially in a place like the Northern Territory, weakness would only invite more oppression.
Ye Shaotian returned carrying a pile of cleaning tools he'd gotten from the warehouse. Seeing the changes in the dormitory, his eyes widened in disbelief: "Boss, it's only been half an hour..."
"Time is life, and efficiency is what we need." Ye Feng took a broom. "We're going to see Teacher Mingyue this afternoon, and we can't let her down."
Speaking of Mingyue, Ye Feng's feelings were somewhat complicated. The woman was unreasonable when she forced them to become her closed disciples, but she also paid out of her own pocket to buy them new clothes and was exceptionally careful when handling their enrollment procedures. This contradictory behavior made Ye Feng unable to see through her true intentions.
Around noon, dormitory 101 looked brand new.
The once messy room has become neat and tidy. Eight beds are arranged in an orderly manner, the floor is so clean that you can see your reflection, and all items are placed according to their functions. The children from other dormitories peek out from the windows, their faces full of disbelief.
"Now, everyone, eat your food," Ye Feng announced.
The canteen for work-study students is located in the most remote corner of the Northern Academy. The food is simple but the portions are generous. When Ye Feng led the students from dormitory 101 into the canteen, the originally noisy hall became quiet for a moment.
"Look, it's them..."
"I heard that the silver-haired guy kicked the door open..."
"I heard he also has an umbrella martial soul, which is very strange."
Ignoring the whispers, Ye Feng walked straight to the food serving window. The person serving the food was an old woman with a wrinkled face. When she saw Ye Feng, her eyes lit up: "Child, you're the new silver-haired kid with innate full soul power?"
"Yes, Grandma." Ye Feng didn't expect his reputation to spread so quickly. However, the truth was that Ye Feng had become famous in the academy because he had beaten up the guard of the Northern City Primary Soul Master Academy.
The old woman scooped a large piece of meat into Ye Feng's bowl: "Eat more, grow strong." Then she looked at Ye Shaotian behind her, "This little fat boy should eat more too."
Ye Shaotian grinned happily: "Thank you, Grandma!"
Just as they were finding a place to sit down, a group of people blocked their way.
The leader was a red-haired boy, half a head taller than Ye Feng, with a sturdy build. Behind him were five or six followers. Although their clothes were not luxurious, they were of much better quality than the uniforms of the work-study students.
"You're the new boy with innate full soul power?" The red-haired boy looked down at Ye Feng. "I heard you're pretty arrogant. You kicked down the dormitory door on your first day."
Ye Feng slowly placed the plate on the table next to him: "The door will be fixed. Do you need something?"
"My name is Yan Hu, I'm a second-year student and a level 16 Battle Soul Master." The red-haired boy patted his chest. "It's the rule at Northern Academy that freshmen have to give 'tribute' to their seniors. Considering your innate full soul power, I'll give you ten silver soul coins, and I'll protect you from now on."
The cafeteria was completely silent. All the work-study students were eating with their heads down, not daring to look this way. Yan Hu was a notorious troublemaker in the academy. His father was the garrison captain of the Northern Border City. His family had some influence and often bullied freshmen to collect protection money.
Ye Feng laughed: "Ten silver soul coins? My grandma doesn't earn that much in a year." The truth is that Ye Feng's grandma is not short of money at all, but Ye Feng doesn't know that his grandma is a Soul Emperor.
"Then don't blame me for being impolite." Yan Hu reached out to grab Ye Feng's collar.
Ye Feng didn't move, but Ye Shaotian next to him did.
Little Fatty was incredibly fast. Yan Hu only saw a blur before his wrist was firmly grabbed by a chubby hand. Ye Shaotian's honest face showed a serious expression: "Don't touch my boss."
"Let go!" Yan Hu struggled with all his might, but was surprised to find that he could not break free from the fat man's hand.
Yan Hu's followers swarmed forward. Ye Feng sighed, summoned the Thousand Chance Umbrella, and waved it gently.
Without using soul power, just pure skill, the tip of the umbrella touched the knee of the first boy who rushed up, and the boy screamed and knelt on one knee; the umbrella swept horizontally and hit the wrist of the second boy, and the wooden stick in his hand fell to the ground; the third person was kicked in the abdomen by Ye Feng and stumbled backward, knocking over a table.
The whole process took less than three seconds.
Ye Feng folded his umbrella and looked at Yan Hu, whose face had turned pale: "Do you still want Soul Coins?"
Yan Hu gritted his teeth: "You wait, private fights are not allowed in the academy, you have violated the school rules!"
"Who saw us fighting in private?" Ye Feng looked around the cafeteria.
All the work-study students shook their heads in unison.
Ye Feng released Yan Hu: "Get lost, don't disturb my meal."
Yan Hu and his henchmen slunk away, and a suppressed cheer erupted in the cafeteria. For many years, it had been common for work-study students to be bullied, but today was the first time someone dared to fight back and even won.
Ye Shaotian sat back down and whispered, "Boss, will they tell the teacher?"
"Telling a story?" Ye Feng picked up a piece of meat. "We were just acting in self-defense, and..." He looked towards the cafeteria entrance, where Teacher Mingyue was standing, looking at him with a half-smile.
"And what?" Ye Shaotian followed Ye Feng's gaze and choked, "Cough cough... Teacher Ming, Teacher Mingyue!"
Mingyue walked over, and the work-study students around her all stood up to greet her. She sat down opposite Ye Feng, rested her chin on her hand, and looked him up and down: "First day of school, fighting, vandalizing public property, you little pervert, you're quite the troublemaker."
Ye Feng remained calm: "Teacher, I'm just adapting to the academy's environment."
"Adapt to the environment?" Mingyue chuckled. "Yanhu's father is a squad leader in the city defense army. Although his official rank is not high, he is more than capable of dealing with a work-study student like you."
"Would a teacher protect his last disciple?" Ye Feng countered.
Mingyue narrowed her eyes: "You know how to take advantage of a situation. Two o'clock this afternoon, training ground area number three, I want to see just how much your innate full soul power really is. Bring the little fat guy along."
She got up to leave, but after a few steps she turned back and said, "By the way, I've already had the logistics department fix the door. The cost will be deducted from your closed-door disciple allowance next month."
Ye Feng smiled wryly; she really was a devilish teacher.
The training area number three was empty in the afternoon. Mingyue was already waiting there. She had changed into a smart training uniform and tied her long hair into a high ponytail. She looked less gentle and more dashing.
"Release your martial spirits," Mingyue commanded.
Ye Feng summoned the Thousand Chance Umbrella, while Ye Shaotian summoned a long sword that was entirely silver-white. The sword was slender, and there was a light blue gem on the hilt. It was his martial soul - the Frost Sword. Ye Shaotian only learned the name later. At first, Ye Shaotian thought that his martial soul was just an ordinary sword martial soul. However, no ordinary sword martial soul can have an innate soul power of level eight.
"Ye Feng, innate full soul power, martial soul... Thousand Manifestations Umbrella?" Mingyue approached and carefully examined the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella. "Interesting. I can sense that this umbrella is not simple. Little Fatty, your sword is not bad. It's an ice-attribute weapon martial soul. Combined with your innate level eight soul power, your future is promising."
"Now, attack me." Mingyue took a few steps back. "Use all your strength."
Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian exchanged a glance and moved at the same time.
Ye Shaotian charged forward, his Frost Sword aimed straight at Mingyue's face. Mingyue neither dodged nor evaded, and a white jade folding fan suddenly appeared in her hand—it was her martial spirit, the Bright Moon Fan. She gently unfolded the fan and accurately struck the sword. Ye Shaotian felt a gentle yet irresistible force coming through him, and his entire body was pulled off course.
At the same time, Ye Feng moved. Instead of attacking from the front, he quickly moved to the side and rear of Mingyue, and the Thousand Chance Umbrella thrust out like a spear.
As if Mingyue had eyes in the back of her head, she swung her folding fan backhand, causing the fan ribs to collide with the tip of the umbrella, producing a crisp sound. Ye Feng felt a force travel up his arm, making his tiger's mouth go numb.
"Good coordination, but not enough." Before Mingyue finished speaking, she suddenly disappeared from the spot.
The next second, Ye Feng felt a chill on the back of his neck as the edge of the Bright Moon Fan gently pressed against it. Ye Shaotian tried to help, but Bright Moon flicked her other finger, and a burst of soul power struck his wrist, causing the Frost Sword to fall to the ground.
"If I wanted to kill you, you would have died twice already." Mingyue closed her fan. "Now do you understand the difference?"
Ye Feng took a deep breath: "What level of Soul Master is Teacher?"
"Level 53 Soul King," Mingyue said calmly. "My fifth soul ring comes from an eight-thousand-year-old Ice and Snow Demon Ape. Just now, I was suppressing my strength when I fought you."
Soul King! Ye Feng was shocked. In Douluo Continent, a Soul King was already considered a strong person, especially in a place like the Northern Territory. A level 53 Soul King was enough to hold an important position. Why would she be a teacher in this junior academy? Mingyue looked to be only in her twenties, yet she had already reached this level. Her talent was definitely not low.
"Starting today, you will all come here for special training after school every day," Mingyue announced. "Ye Feng, your martial spirit is very special. I have never seen such a weapon martial spirit before. It must be more than just an ordinary umbrella, right?"
Ye Feng hesitated for a moment, but still decided to reveal some information about the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella: "It can transform, but my soul power is insufficient right now, so I can only maintain the umbrella form."
"A shape-shifting weapon spirit?" Mingyue's eyes lit up. "Then it's even more worthwhile to cultivate. Little Fatty, your Frost Sword is a standard offensive weapon spirit. Ice attributes have a natural advantage in the Northern Territory. I want to cultivate you two into the strongest students in the history of the Northern Territory City Soul Master Junior Academy."
The next two hours were hellish training.
Mingyue didn't teach them any soul skills, but focused on the most basic physical fitness and combat skills: running, push-ups, frog jumps, sparring... Ye Feng could barely keep up with his knowledge from his previous life, but Ye Shaotian was already collapsed on the ground and couldn't get up.
"Get up." Mingyue poked the little fat boy with her fan. "Soul Master battles often last a long time. Without enough stamina, even the strongest soul skills are useless."
As the sun set, the training finally came to an end.
Ye Feng and Ye Shaotian helped each other back to the dormitory, each step feeling like walking on soft cotton. Mingyue's words still echoed in their ears: "Starting tomorrow, meet at the training ground at five o'clock every morning. If you are late, the training volume will be doubled."
"Boss..." Ye Shaotian said weakly, "I think we're going to die..."
"She won't die." Ye Feng smiled bitterly, "but she really is a devil."
Back in dormitory 101, the children were shocked to see the two men in such a terrible state. Wang Hu carefully brought over two bowls of water: "Big brother, are you... alright?"
"Thank goodness, I'm still alive." Ye Feng took the water and drank it all in one gulp.
Just then, there was a knock on the dormitory door. A boy wearing glasses stood outside, holding a thick booklet in his hands: "Excuse me, is Ye Feng here?"
"That's me."
The boy pushed up his glasses: "I'm Li Mo, the clerk of the college's student union. Yan Hu reported your private fight to the college, and the academic affairs office requires you to come in tomorrow morning. This is the notice."
Ye Feng took the notification slip, which was stamped with the red seal of the Academic Affairs Office. Li Mo hesitated for a moment, then finally whispered, "Yan Hu's father came to the academy this afternoon and talked with the Dean of Academic Affairs for a long time. You... be careful."
After saying that, he left in a hurry.
The atmosphere in the dormitory became heavy. Wang Hu said worriedly, "Big brother, why don't you... go and apologize? The Yanhu family has some influence in Northern Border City..."
Northern City is not a small city. In the northern Snow Spirit Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, Northern City can be called the largest city. It also bears the important responsibility of guarding the northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire and has great strategic significance. Once Northern City falls, the northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire will also fall. Every once in a while, the soul beasts of the far north will charge towards Northern City, which is commonly known as the beast tide.
"Apologize?" Ye Feng looked at the notice in his hand and suddenly laughed. "Why should we apologize? We didn't do anything wrong."
"But..."
"No buts." Ye Feng stood up, his body aching all over, but his eyes were firm. "The old village chief is right. If we fight back this time, we'll be able to bully us in the future."
Ye Shaotian also struggled to his feet: "Boss is right! We can always fight again!"
Ye Feng looked out the window. The night sky over Northern Border City was sparsely populated with stars, and a crescent moon hung alone. He knew that tomorrow would be the first formal confrontation at Northern Border Academy. He would not only have to face Yan Hu's revenge, but also deal with the inquiries from the Academic Affairs Office.
Strangely, he wasn't afraid; on the contrary, he felt a faint sense of anticipation.
This world is ultimately a place where strength speaks, and what he and Ye Shaotian have in abundance is potential. Although Teacher Mingyue's special training is cruel, it is exactly what they need. As for Yan Hu, that kind of bully who relies on his power... Ye Feng clenched his fist.
"Shaotian."
"Um?"
"Tomorrow, let's teach the Northern Academy a lesson and show them what a true genius is."
It was late at night, but the lights in dormitory 101 were still on. Ye Feng sat on the edge of his bed, carefully studying the Thousand Chance Umbrella. Under the moonlight, the silver patterns on the umbrella surface shimmered. He could feel a strange connection between his martial spirit and himself.
Soul power flowed slowly within his body. Although he was only at level ten, the advantage of having innate full soul power was already evident—his soul power was much more abundant than that of other soul masters of the same level, and his recovery speed was also faster.
"The Myriad Manifestations Umbrella..." Ye Feng murmured to himself, "One day, I will make you recreate the ever-changing splendor of The King's Avatar in this world."
The sound of the night watchman's drum came from outside the window. Ye Feng blew out the oil lamp, lay down on the bed, and knew that tomorrow would be a difficult day, but also an opportunity to prove himself.
Life at Northern Academy truly begins tomorrow.