Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

Wang Dong was not only proud but also stubborn. Having lost face in his first encounter with Xiao Yan, there was no way he would swallow this humiliation. The next second, he pushed off from the ground with his left foot, launching himself like an arrow toward Xiao Yan with surprising agility and speed. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Xiao Yan.

Lifting his right leg, Wang Dong aimed a kick straight at Xiao Yan's chest. But Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with a golden light, as if he could predict Wang Dong's moves. Just as Wang Dong attacked, Xiao Yan sidestepped and, with a sharp pivot, drove his right shoulder into the root of Wang Dong's thigh.

This hit should have made any normal person lose their balance, but Wang Dong had remarkable physical control. His right leg merely lifted high, forming a split stance, while his left foot remained firmly on the ground.

"Quick reflexes, huh? But I refuse to believe I can't defeat you today," Wang Dong snarled, and with that, a pair of radiant blue wings unfurled from his back. His body was enveloped in a shifting layer of blue and purple, with clusters of golden light forming a V-shape on his massive wings.

At the same time, two soul rings—one yellow and one purple—appeared at his feet.

With a flash, Wang Dong's wings propelled him forward, shooting out golden streams that accelerated him to astonishing speeds. This wasn't even a soul skill; it was the innate ability of his Bright Goddess Butterfly martial soul, allowing him to reach high velocity almost instantly.

"A Grandmaster? And with a thousand-year second soul ring, no wonder he's so arrogant." Observing Wang Dong's sudden burst of speed, Xiao Yan's expression changed, muttering under his breath.

Wang Dong's first soul ring lit up as his soul power surged, pouring into his two front wings while his rear wings stabilized him mid-air.

"First Soul Skill: Wing Blade!"

Wang Dong's front wings turned a dazzling blue, as golden patterns radiated outward, forming a three-inch golden edge along the wing's edge.

"Let's see how you dodge this!" Wang Dong sneered, clearly aware of Xiao Yan's skill. Gripping his front wings by the inner edge, Wang Dong whipped his body around, aiming the deadly wings directly at Xiao Yan.

The wings struck with such speed that they were almost impossible for an ordinary person to evade.

As the forceful wind from Wang Dong's wings blew against Xiao Yan's face, his hair swayed, revealing his calm, dark eyes.

"Hmph, who says I have to dodge?" Xiao Yan smirked, his stance shifting slightly. He bent his knees and, in an instant, launched his fist forward.

Seeing Xiao Yan trying to counter without even releasing his martial soul, Wang Dong couldn't help but laugh. "Idiot, you've already lost!"

"Eight Extremities Collapse!" With a low, guttural shout, Xiao Yan's fist collided with Wang Dong's wings.

A dull thud echoed as the terrifying force of Xiao Yan's punch caused Wang Dong's face to pale. He hadn't expected such immense power from what seemed like a simple punch.

In the next second, Xiao Yan pushed his fist forward, sending Wang Dong flying backward like a ragdoll.

As Wang Dong lay on the ground, stunned and gasping, Xiao Yan exhaled a steady breath. His fist relaxed, and the tension in his sleeves dissipated.

The sharp pain in his chest brought Wang Dong back to his senses, and he managed to sit up, still in shock. He panted heavily, his voice hoarse. "What… what is your martial soul? How could you resist my first soul skill without using any skills? Are you… are you a Soul Elder?"

"My martial soul, huh?" Xiao Yan's eyes glowed faintly gold as he activated his Spirit Eye, and a white soul ring rose from his feet. Wang Dong's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight. "A ten-year soul ring? No… no, this can't be. How could a ten-year soul ring withstand my first soul skill, and even counterattack? This is impossible!"

"Hmph." Xiao Yan chuckled lightly, turning his back to Wang Dong as he said, "Nothing is impossible in this world. You could have approached this civilly, but you chose to be overbearing. Take today's punch as a lesson; if you act up again, I won't hold back."

"Learn to respect others. I'm not your father, so don't expect me to pamper you."

Wang Dong sat in stunned silence for a moment before rising, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yan's departing back. "Xiao Yan, you just wait. Next time, I will defeat you."

"Heh, anyone I defeat ceases to be my rival. I'll give you time to catch up, but don't expect to ever surpass me," Xiao Yan replied, not even glancing back as he raised a casual hand in farewell.

"Was that self-created soul skill? Impressive, looks like there are a few promising young ones at the academy this year…" Meanwhile, outside the dormitory, the elderly dorm supervisor muttered to himself with a wry smile as he rocked in his chair.

---

After leaving the dorm, Xiao Yan found Bei Bei, who helped him arrange to move off-campus and rent a small room nearby. However, Shrek City's cost of living was exorbitant; the room cost thirty gold soul coins per month.

Technically, students weren't allowed to live outside the academy, but Bei Bei's martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, afforded him special treatment. His family held high standing within Shrek Academy, and his friendly demeanor made him one of the academy's most popular students, so the teachers were willing to turn a blind eye.

In this world, connections were everything. Nobody would risk offending someone well-connected within the academy over a trivial matter.

For the first month, Xiao Yan borrowed the rent from Bei Bei. He used part of it to buy herbs from a local shop, planning to have Yao Lao refine some basic pills. With the earnings, he'd pay off his debt and cover living expenses.

In the quiet of his rented room, Xiao Yan unpacked his newly bought herbs. Yao Lao chuckled, "Looks like you've got me working hard again."

"Thanks, Teacher," Xiao Yan replied with a grin.

An hour later, Yao Lao had transformed the low-level herbs into several simple pills: Foundation-Building Pills, Healing Pills, and Soul Recovery Pills.

Storing the pills in jade bottles, Xiao Yan set off to Shrek City's largest auction house, the Treasure Pavilion.

Shrek City was vast, one of the most bustling cities in the Douluo Continent. Entering the city in the evening, Xiao Yan was taken aback by the noisy crowds and the bustling streets, with vendors calling out their wares in every direction.

Treasure Pavilion stood four stories high, towering over its surroundings. The building shone with a golden radian

ce, resembling a giant treasure chest, and its grandeur was unparalleled.