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*****
The first and third soul skills were shattered.
Ma Xiaotao felt a flicker of fear. Though fiery and impulsive in temperament, she was still just a thirteen-year-old girl.
The berserk aura radiating from the silver spear rattled her heart until it nearly stopped.
She hastily unleashed her second soul skill, Bathing Fire Phoenix, to boost her flying speed and evade.
Yet she suddenly discovered that within this field of gray energy, her second soul skill had been completely neutralized!
Worse, she felt an unseen malevolent force lock her in place, preventing any quick movement.
Jiang Shuo regarded his "prey" with icy detachment. For a descendant of a god, with soul power no lower than his opponent's, if he still couldn't defeat an enemy of a higher rank, he might as well have taken his own life.
The silver spear, its momentum undiminished, shot forward to pierce this future Evil Soul Master.
But then, the unexpected occurred.
The interference came not from the other youths trapped in the domain, but from a stranger's hidden presence in the void.
That figure emerged from the shadows, sighed, and extended a greasy palm to clamp down on the spear tip, which crackled with lightning.
With a slight squeeze from the greasy palm, the thunderous aura coating the large silver spear was instantly enveloped in an earthy yellow glow—then dissolved and disintegrated.
Jiang Shuo's heart sank.
Such an effortless counter.
The hand's owner was a disheveled, white-haired elder in filthy, unkempt clothes. After blocking the Dark-Demon Evil Lightning, he did not press the attack. Instead, with a simple push of his palm, he sent the youth flying back a hundred meters.
Right back to the side of the Taixu Douluo, Jiang Yundong.
Realizing this newcomer was far beyond what he could handle, Jiang Shuo looked to his grandfather.
Jiang Yundong glanced calmly at the newly arrived Gluttonous Xuan, but did not release his pressure on Zhang Lexuan. Instead, he intensified it.
The Inner Courtyard's Senior Sister's face flushed crimson, her bones trembling violently. With a loud thud, she was crushed to the ground, unable to utter a single word.
Witnessing this, Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen were profoundly shaken. Their worldview was shattered once again. How could someone dare to act so violently in front of the Gluttonous Douluo?!
Seeing her dear friend humiliated on the ground, Han Ruoruo was filled with shock and fury. She hurriedly bowed to the newly appeared Sea God Pavilion Elder.
"Elder Xuan, please save Senior Sister!"
"Haven't you always taught us to spare no effort against Evil Soul Masters? Shrek's honor is being trampled like this—how can you… how can you just…?"
Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, and the recently escaped Ma Xiaotao also turned their gazes to the Sea God Pavilion's Elder, hoping he would rescue their kind and caring Senior Sister, Zhang Lexuan.
However, the man they considered nearly invincible, the Gluttonous Xuan, wore a complex expression.
"They are not Evil Soul Masters. Say no more. I will handle the negotiations."
With that, Xuan stepped before the grandfather and grandson. He first wiped his greasy hands on his filthy clothes, then cupped his fists and bowed.
"This junior, Xuanzi, pays his respects to His Excellency, the Taixu Douluo."
"Ah!!"
"Elder Xuan, you!"
"How could you…"
The students did not recognize any "Taixu Douluo," but to see the revered Elder Xuan, a Rank 98 Super Douluo, behave so humbly was utterly preposterous.
Could it be? Was the old man in the dragon robe an Ultimate Douluo?
The Gluttonous Xuan paid no mind to the gasps behind him, remaining bowed. He knew exactly whom he was facing. Before him stood the Taixu Douluo—the longest-living, highest-cultivated, and most powerful figure among humans in the current era.
But no matter what, he had to save the girl. Zhang Lexuan was the Inner Courtyard's greatest prodigy in a century; she absolutely could not be allowed to perish here!
Xuan steeled himself and said, "Senior, you are a peerless powerhouse. Why lower yourself to squabble with these juniors?"
"I dare not deceive you, Senior. That young lady has close ties to the Dragon God Douluo… Would you be so magnanimous as to spare her?"
The Taixu Douluo, his hair like snow but his posture as straight as a pine, glanced coolly at Xuan, who had to invoke Mu En's name, unable to match him in a fight.
"Do you believe the sin of insulting Taixu can be so easily forgiven?"
"This… this… You must be joking, Your Excellency. Who in this world would dare insult the great god Taixu?"
"It was just a group of ignorant and fearless youths who unintentionally offended your grandson. I beg you to show mercy."
Xuan's face was a mask of distress as he hastily tried to explain, changing the subject. "I wonder if a fifty-thousand-year soul bone would be enough to appease your grandson's anger?"
Without waiting for Jiang Yundong's reply, he immediately took out a translucent, golden-glowing arm bone. He was about to offer it with both hands to Jiang Yundong, but he paused mid-motion, turned, and stuffed it into Jiang Shuo's hands instead, a benevolent smile spreading across his face.
"My, what an exceptionally talented little fellow!"
"You've only just awakened your martial soul, haven't you?"
"And from the looks of it… you have innate full soul power? And such a powerful spear-type martial soul! Little friend, have you ever considered studying at my Shrek Academy? It is the number one academy in the world, you know!"
Though slovenly, Xuan was sharp and knew how to find the crux of the matter. He launched a flurry of praise, hoping to use the grandson as a breakthrough point to dispel the Taixu Douluo's anger.
Jiang Shuo was genuinely stunned.
Although this Sea God Pavilion Elder was not as strong as his grandfather, he was still a supreme powerhouse. He never expected such a figure to be able to humble himself to this degree.
"This…"
Forced to hold the precious soul bone, the youth looked blankly toward his grandfather, Jiang Yundong.
The Taixu Douluo narrowed his eyes. After a moment's pause, he chose to retract his oppressive aura.
A wave of relief washed over Zhang Lexuan. She staggered to her feet, her legs numb, and gasped for breath. Her full chest heaved, and her fair forehead was beaded with glistening sweat.
In that moment, she felt as if she had just walked through the gates of hell, a feeling she hadn't experienced in many years.
Consequently, as she looked at the elder in the purple and gold dragon robe, not a trace of resentment remained in her eyes.
She lowered her head and walked back to the other students.
Jiang Yundong releasing his pressure made the Gluttonous Xuan heave a huge sigh of relief.
It seemed his strategy had worked.
An idea sparked in Jiang Shuo's mind. Since this old man had extended an olive branch, he might as well leave an opening for himself.
An opportunity to go to Shrek in the future.
After all, it was the number one academy in the world, a power on par with the Taixu Sect. It surely had its merits.
Besides, he didn't want to live under the wings of his elders forever.
"Since Senior has made the offer, this junior would truly like to witness the talents of Shrek for myself."
Jiang Shuo stuffed the golden soul bone into his storage soul tool and said in a serious tone, "Let's do this. In six years, when I turn twelve, I will enroll at Shrek."
A flash of pain crossed Xuan's face, but it was quickly overshadowed by surprise. His eyebrows, so dirty they were almost black, raised slightly.
He was just being polite! Did the number one sect in the world really need Shrek to educate its scions?
Would the Taixu Douluo even allow it?
Jiang Yundong looked at his grandson with equal surprise. He didn't speak immediately but instead studied him for a long moment, lost in thought.
Then, under the Gluttonous Xuan's incredulous gaze, the old man nodded.
"If my grandson wishes to go, then I shall accept your proposal."
(End of Chapter)