"Aunt Xuan, what Yan Shaozhe lost today is merely his dignity, but my mother lost her life!"
"Back then, when I brought Yue'er to Shrek City, I specifically informed your teacher. He readily agreed to take good care of my disciple. Yet today, you return her to me as a cold, lifeless corpse!"
"And now, you, a junior, dare to shift the blame onto my poor disciple right in front of me, even bullying her orphaned child! Yan Shaozhe, you've gone too far!"
Clutching the Darkgolden Xuanwu Shield, Xu Xiaoyun resembled a terrifying, peerless beast. One by one, soul rings—seemingly ablaze with fury—rose around him, causing Yan Shaozhe's eyes to widen in shock and fear.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red!
Nine soul rings, surpassing the optimal configuration recognized in the soul master world, manifested. Xu Xiaoyun's gaze turned as sharp as blades, his stature expanded, and his aged face regained youthfulness, as if returning to his prime. His eyes sparkled like meteors, and the massive Darkgolden Xuanwu Shield firmly protected Xu Tianxi behind him.
The vast room's atmosphere solidified, water elements fluctuated violently, and Xu Tianxi and the others seemed to hear the roaring of ocean waves in their ears.
"Senior, Elder Xu, you're a renowned figure in the soul master world. Please, don't lower yourself to our level..."
Under Xu Xiaoyun's overwhelming aura, Yan Shaozhe felt as if he were suffocating underwater. Sweat poured down his face, and he struggled to speak coherently.
At this moment, he was astonished to realize that the opponent's aura was even stronger than Elder Xuan's, exerting pressure second only to his own teacher.
This indicated that the opponent was a Level 98 Super Douluo! Moreover, his strength might not be inferior to Elder Xuan's!
But how could this be? Although the opponent was of the same generation as his teacher, he wasn't among the renowned prodigies of that era.
Elder Xuan, though a generation younger than his teacher, was only about ten years younger and hailed from Shrek, with a profound cultivation at the peak of Level 98. This Elder Xu wasn't from the Body Sect nor was he the famed Dark Holy Dragon. How could he possess strength comparable to Elder Xuan?
It's known that the Dark Holy Dragon had once studied at Shrek and received guidance from his grandmaster. This person shouldn't have attended the academy.
Zhang Lexuan's mouth opened in surprise. Xu Xiaoyun's aura made it hard to distinguish reality from illusion. He was undoubtedly a Super Douluo with profound cultivation, beyond her comprehension.
Xu Xiaoyun deliberately controlled his soul power pressure, so she didn't feel endangered. However, the strength he displayed seemed not inferior to Elder Xuan's, and even the Level 95 Dean Yan was overwhelmed.
At the Super Douluo level, each level difference is vast. To suppress Dean Yan, a Level 95 Super Douluo from Shrek, entirely through aura alone, even a Level 97 wouldn't suffice. One must reach Elder Xuan's realm.
"Sister Xiyue had already met the graduation requirements of the inner court and had such a teacher. Even if she left the academy, she wouldn't have to worry about cultivation. If not for hunting soul rings for me, how could she have died at the hands of that hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"
Gazing at Xu Xiaoyun's hundred-thousand-year eighth ring, Zhang Lexuan recalled the nightmare in the Star Dou Forest.
At the critical moment, Kong Xiyue, being the strongest among them, selflessly protected everyone.
That soul beast was a swift Dark Hunter. Without Sister Xiyue's desperate efforts, none of the twelve might have survived.
After seven companions perished, they finally saw hope. But the soul beast launched a final counterattack, targeting her and another inner court disciple.
Sister Xiyue sacrificed herself by detonating her martial soul to save them, but she...
Thinking back, if Sister Xiyue had left the inner court earlier and had this elder's protection, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
Not all top experts can be like Elder Xuan, right?
Xu Tianxi was also shocked by his master's strength.
No wonder he encouraged him to speak freely; he had absolute strength.
In the original work, the Xuanwu Shield martial soul was comparable to the ultimate martial souls, and Xu Sanshi's performance was outstanding. The Xuanming Sect was also a major supplier of elixirs. Having such an ancestor wasn't surprising.
After all, besides the Golden Tree, Shrek didn't have unique resources. Their top experts were the result of accumulation. Their elixir level might not match the Xuanming Sect, which could mass-produce Xuan Shui and Xuanwu Divine Pills.
The Taotie Xu Zi, whose "achievements" qualified him as the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Church, had Mu En's guidance. But without the Qiankun Creation Pill from Huo Hang, he might not have broken through even in a hundred years.
As Xu Tianxi recalled various aspects of Shrek from the original work, Xu Xiaoyun's pressure intensified. Yan Shaozhe felt as if a great force gripped his throat. He seemed submerged in heavy water, unable to release his martial soul, his face turning crimson.
"Elder Xu, I was wrong. Please forgive me... I apologize to you..."
Xu Xiaoyun glanced coldly at Yan Shaozhe and said,
"Apologize? What were you doing earlier? Now that I'm angry, you want to settle things? Too late!"
He then looked at the still-dazed Xu Tianxi, his face softening into a kind smile:
"Child, you spoke well. These Shrek people have gone too far, caring only for their so-called glory, ignoring your mother's life.
Since that's the case, you needn't be polite. Stand up and give this old man a few slaps! Consider it venting your anger for your mother!"
Hearing this, Xu Tianxi widened his eyes, pointing at himself and then at the flushed Yan Shaozhe, confirming:
"You mean I should slap him, not you?"
A child without an awakened martial soul slapping the Dean of Shrek Academy? Was the elder joking?
Not to mention, Yan Shaozhe, as a Super Douluo, likely had skin tougher than city walls. Slapping him might hurt his own hand.
Xu Xiaoyun maintained his kind smile and nodded:
"Exactly. You should do it. Slap this Dean of Shrek Academy. He insulted your mother; it's only right for a son to stand up for her!"
"Elder, this is too much! I'm a Super Douluo, the Dean of Shrek Academy! How can you let him..."
Yan Shaozhe shouted angrily, but Xu Xiaoyun didn't give him a chance to speak. His blood-red eighth soul ring lit up, and a giant beast's shadow rose behind him, merging into his body. A six-pointed black light surged from his right index finger, slowly pointing at Yan Shaozhe's dantian.
Yan Shaozhe's eyes widened in fear, desperately trying to summon his martial soul for protection.
With a phoenix's clear cry, the Light Phoenix spread its wings behind him. Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul rings—the optimal configuration—appeared, showcasing his Level 95 cultivation.
But! In front of a Level 98 expert, he had no resistance. Yan Shaozhe couldn't move, watching helplessly as the black light finger grew larger in his vision.
Finally, it touched his dantian!
"With such cultivation, you dare approach me? Junior, you overestimate yourself! Even Mu En didn't dare underestimate me two hundred years ago!"
Xu Xiaoyun said disdainfully. The six-pointed star array at his fingertip released a terrifying soul power wave, flooding Yan Shaozhe's meridians, like eternal ice and boundless heavy water, crushing his proud Light soul power.
Finally, sealing his dantian's soul core!
Feeling the changes within, Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted in shock. His cultivation was being sealed
"With a top-tier martial soul like the Light Phoenix and even a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, yet you've failed to break through Level 96 despite being nearly a century old. It seems you've grown quite complacent. Go home and train properly for a few more decades before you come looking for me again."
With that sharp rebuke, Xu Xiaoyun struck Yan Shaozhe squarely in the chest with a palm strike, pinning him in front of Xu Tianxi.
"To insult a mother is the height of disrespect! To slander a student is the pinnacle of shamelessness!
I may be of the same seniority as your teacher, so it wouldn't be right to bully you with my status.
But my junior is present here, and since you dared to defend that old beast Xuanzi, then taking two slaps from him is nothing less than what you deserve!"
After delivering his scathing words, Xu Xiaoyun's gaze softened as he looked at Xu Tianxi with warmth and expectation.
"Well then, little Tianxi? His cultivation has now been sealed by your grandmaster. His physical strength is greatly diminished.
Do you dare give him a couple of slaps?"
The atmosphere had built up to this point—if Xu Tianxi still hesitated, then he'd be losing face. Besides, he'd already been enraged by Yan Shaozhe earlier.
He got up from the bed, breaking free from Zhang Lexuan's embrace. Xu Tianxi raised his fair right hand, aimed at Yan Shaozhe's furious and fear-stricken face, and prepared to strike hard.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan, who had been silently watching for a long time, finally came to her senses. Her face paled, and she cried out urgently:
"Don't, Tianxi! He's still the Dean of Shrek Academy. If you hit him, the Academy will never let this go!
And Elder Xu, please consider the consequences for the Xuanming Sect too!"
Having spent many years cultivating at Shrek Academy, she was all too familiar with its power. The Sea God's Pavilion had over ten elders, all with seniority surpassing even the four deans. There were also prospective elders like the Beast King, Long Gong, and others—most were Titled Douluo, and Super Douluo were not uncommon.
If Yan Shaozhe were humiliated today, Zhang Lexuan didn't dare imagine what might happen next.
"Yes, yes! Boy, you mustn't—" Yan Shaozhe also remembered his status and yelled wide-eyed at Xu Tianxi.
"Smack!"
A sharp slap suddenly echoed through the room. Yan Shaozhe was stunned. Zhang Lexuan was stunned.
"Smack! Smack! Smack!"
Xu Tianxi went all in, alternating hands and delivering four crisp slaps to Yan Shaozhe's face. Each slap was louder than the last.
Shaking his sore hand—his palm stung from hitting Yan Shaozhe's thick-skinned face—Xu Tianxi turned with a bright, innocent smile and said to Zhang Lexuan:
"Aunt Lexuan, you've got to speak faster next time—otherwise, my hand just won't stop."
Xu Xiaoyun nodded in satisfaction, then grabbed Yan Shaozhe by the collar. With a glare full of terror in Yan Shaozhe's eyes, he ruthlessly slammed him into the ground.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, a human-shaped crater appeared on the floor. Though there was no blood, Yan Shaozhe's appearance was completely disheveled—his hair crown had flown off, his long hair covered his face, and his entire demeanor was utterly ruined.
Xu Xiaoyun said coldly:
"I've lived for over two hundred years. I've never been one to flaunt myself,
but I'll be damned if I let someone walk all over me without fighting back!
From now on, open your eyes wide. If you dare act up in front of me again, I won't hesitate to discipline you in Mu En's place—you shameless, disrespectful brat!"
"Now, get out of the Xuanming Sect's territory! And don't let me see your two-faced, disgusting mug ever again!"
As he finished, the light of Xu Xiaoyun's fourth soul ring shone brightly. His soul skill Xuanwu Displacement activated, and a black light from the Xuanwu Shield enveloped Yan Shaozhe, instantly teleporting him away without the slightest resistance.
And as if still not satisfied, Xu Xiaoyun, just as the black light was about to vanish, flew forward and kicked Yan Shaozhe square in the face. With a dull groan, the latter spat out a bright spray of blood in midair.
Zhang Lexuan stared blankly at the crater in the ground, a surreal sense of absurdity washing over her. A few seconds passed before she came to her senses, forcing a bitter smile as she said to Xu Xiaoyun:
"Elder Xu… Though Dean Yan's words were out of line, he is, after all, Mu En's disciple—an extraordinary figure.
Doing this… Shrek Academy might not…"
"Aunt Lexuan!"
Xu Tianxi cut her off, raising his clenched fist with righteous fury and said:
"All Yan Shaozhe lost today was his dignity, but my mother lost her life!
Wasn't it Shrek that was at fault here?
They got my mother killed, then slandered her name—why shouldn't we hit him?"
The words Zhang Lexuan had been about to speak caught in her throat. Her face froze, and she was momentarily speechless.
Yes… It really was the Academy's fault—then why was she trying to stop them?
In that instant, the sacred pedestal she held in her heart seemed to crack, dust settling where once there was reverence.
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