Just as everyone was still suspicious and murmuring among themselves, a light and hurried footstep drew Zhao Wuji's attention.
"Who's there?!"
Zhao Wuji's sharp gaze locked in the direction of the sound, soul power instantly surging to full alert.
"Teacher Zhao."
A slim figure emerged from the forest, and everyone froze.
It was Xiao Wu.
At that moment, she looked disheveled—her clothes were torn in several places, and her long braided ponytail hung loose and messy.
"Xiao Wu! You're still alive? That's amazing!" Zhao Wuji exclaimed with joy, then realized how that sounded.
"What do you mean by that, Teacher Zhao? Were you hoping I'd die or something?" Xiao Wu said, clearly annoyed.
"No, no, no! That's not what I meant! What I meant was…"
Zhao Wuji hurriedly waved his hands, flustered.
He was dying to ask how she had managed to escape from the Titan Giant Ape, but before he could ask, Xiao Wu suddenly rushed forward anxiously.
"How's my brother doing?!"
She looked terrified. At that moment, Tang San was in the final, critical phase of absorbing his soul ring.
The backlash from exceeding the soul ring age limit was severe—his pores were oozing a mist of blood, making him look terrifying.
Zhao Wuji immediately pulled Xiao Wu back and said seriously:
"Don't go near! He's absorbing a soul ring that's over 1,700 years old—it's triggering a powerful rebound.
We can't interrupt him, or it'll risk his life. Do you understand?"
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened.
"Then… is he going to be okay?"
"Right now, all we can do is trust Tang San," Zhao Wuji said solemnly. There was nothing more he could do.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to her again.
"By the way, Xiao Wu—how did you escape from the Titan Giant Ape?"
Everyone turned to look at her, curious and confused.
Everyone… except for Chen Feng, who already knew the truth behind this part of the story.
Naturally, Xiao Wu recited her usual story:
A strange, ox-like roar had suddenly called the Titan Giant Ape away.
On its way out, it had trampled through several soul beasts, and she took advantage of the chaos to kill a suitable one and break through to Soul Elder.
Chen Feng, already familiar with this stretch of history, remained unmoved.
But to Zhao Wuji, the explanation was shocking—and delightful.
This expedition to the Star Dou Great Forest had resulted in Oscar, Tang San, and now Xiao Wu all becoming Soul Elders.
And they were still so young!
Xiao Wu was even younger than Tang San—just twelve years old, wasn't she?
"You kids are a bunch of monsters…" Zhao Wuji exclaimed, grinning widely.
"You're all Soul Elders at this age? Who knows what you'll become in the future!"
And of course, he was secretly pleased with himself, too.
After all, when the Shrek Seven Devils rose to fame across the continent, everyone would ask who trained them.
Aside from the Grandmaster and Principal Flender, his name, Zhao Wuji, would be remembered too.
Heheh… just imagining it feels good.
Zhao Wuji clapped Chen Feng on the shoulder and smiled:
"Young man, since you helped Tang San hunt a soul beast, you must be quite capable. How old are you now?"
"I'll be twelve in a month," Chen Feng replied honestly.
Zhao Wuji nodded, satisfied.
"Not bad! A Soul Master at this age, huh?
Ever thought about joining Shrek Academy? I think you'd qualify.
I'll personally vouch for you—Principal Flender will give me that much face."
But Chen Feng looked at him and said earnestly:
"Teacher Zhao, I think you're mistaken. I'm not a Soul Master."
"Hm? Not a Soul Master? Then… what, are you still a regular Spirit Scholar?
Then how did Tang San end up teaming up with you? You wouldn't be much help at all…"
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in confusion.
But Chen Feng calmly replied:
"I'm not a Soul Master because… I'm already a Soul Elder."
"Ah, I see. Soul Elder, huh? That's—wait, what did you just say?!"
Zhao Wuji's triumphant grin froze mid-expression.
He blinked, thinking he must've misheard.
"Did you say… you're a Soul Elder?"
"Yes. I'm indeed a Soul Elder," Chen Feng nodded seriously.
"Heavens above…"
Zhao Wuji nearly passed out.
What the hell is going on? Did all the monsters gather in one place or something?!
He had thought his students were freakishly talented.
Now here was someone even younger, who was already a rank ahead!
The rest of the Shrek Seven Devils looked at each other, stunned.
They had always prided themselves on being geniuses among geniuses and held a natural sense of pride.
But now, in front of someone even more outrageous, they couldn't help but feel both humbled and a little defiant.
"You're not trying to fool us, are you?" Dai Mubai asked, arms crossed. "If you're a Soul Elder, show us your Martial Spirit."
"Yeah!" added Ma Hongjun, standing beside him.
Chen Feng spread his hands, looking helpless.
"Do I have any reason to lie to you? Besides, Martial Spirits aren't meant for showing off—what's the point of proving who's stronger in a pissing contest?"
"If you don't show us, then you're bluffing. Probably just talking big," Dai Mubai said coldly, chewing gum while throwing a challenging glance.
Chen Feng turned to Zhao Wuji.
"Teacher Zhao… are you going to say something?"
But Zhao Wuji rubbed his hands with a grin.
"Honestly, I'm a little curious too. Why not just show us?"
"Ugh…"
Chen Feng felt a headache coming on.
Like teacher, like students.
He rubbed his temples and sighed.
"Fine. Since you're all so eager, I'll indulge your curiosity."
As he finished speaking, Chen Feng released his Martial Spirit.
A shimmering azure-blue sword—the Seven Kill Sword—appeared in his hand.
At the same time, three soul rings spiraled up from his feet—
Yellow. Purple. Purple.
"What?!"
The Shrek students (except Tang San) all rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Was that a thousand-year second soul ring?!
Most of them had never even heard of such a thing, let alone seen it.
"See? I said I didn't want to show it, but you insisted.
Now you've seen it, satisfied?"
With a mumble, Chen Feng withdrew his Martial Spirit.
For a moment, the group stood there, stunned and speechless.
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong stepped forward excitedly.
"Your Martial Spirit is the Seven Kill Sword?!
What's your relationship with Grandpa Sword?!"
As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she knew everyone in the clan.
And she was certain she had never met anyone named Chen Feng before.
But Martial Spirits didn't lie.
The sword Chen Feng had summoned just now… was unmistakably the Seven Kill Sword!
That was the signature Martial Spirit of Sword Douluo Chen Xin—the sect's most powerful guardian elder, known as the strongest offensive Titled Douluo on the continent.
Even the sect leader, Ning Fengzhi, treated him with immense respect and addressed him as "Uncle Sword."
A man who had lived and breathed swordsmanship for his entire life, yet had left behind no heirs.
This had always been considered a great regret.
And now, in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest… they'd met another with the Seven Kill Sword Martial Spirit?
Just who is this Chen Feng?!