Golden Dragon Body

Tang San took a deep breath. "That kid kissed Dong'er."

Xiao Wu leaned over and glanced at the image. Wang Dong'er was chasing Jiang Wu toward the classroom, scolding him with a smile on her face. She didn't look truly angry at all.

Xiao Wu couldn't help laughing. "Isn't that a good thing? Dong'er's happy."

"What's she so happy about? She's only eleven!"

"What's wrong with eleven? When I was eleven, I chased you all over Nuoding Academy."

Tang San was at a loss for words. He turned to Xiao Wu, his expression complicated. "How is that the same?"

"How is it different?" Xiao Wu sat down beside him and leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. "I think that kid treats Dong'er quite well, and Dong'er's very attached to him. Don't you know how you treated me back then?"

Tang San fell silent for a moment, then stubbornly said, "I never stole a kiss from you back then."

"You stole plenty of kisses, didn't you?"

Tang San fell silent.

He glanced at the image again. Wang Dong'er was tugging Jiang Wu by the sleeve as they walked toward the classroom, chattering about something. Jiang Wu tilted his head to listen, occasionally replying and making Wang Dong'er stomp her feet in anger.

As Tang San watched, he suddenly sighed.

He finally understood why some fathers couldn't bear to see their daughters spend time with boys their own age.

Now, watching Jiang Wu's behavior, all he could think was that Jiang Wu already had a way to die.

"That kid had better really treat Xiao Qi well," Tang San muttered, picking up his tea and taking a sip. "If I find out he's bullying Dong'er..."

Beside him, Xiao Wu drawled, "You'll stab him with the Sea God Trident?"

"Yes."

"Then you'll have to get past me first." Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at him. "I think he's a good kid. Stop talking about fighting and killing all day."

Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu, his expression subtle. "Xiao Wu, aren't you being too lenient with him?"

Xiao Wu's hand paused on her teacup. Then she took a sip as though nothing had happened. "Am I? I just think Xiao Qi's happiness is what matters most."

Tang San stared at her for two seconds but didn't press the matter. He simply glanced at the image again.

Jiang Wu and Wang Dong'er were back in their seats. Wang Dong'er lay on her desk with her face buried in her arms, the tips of her ears still red. Jiang Wu was flipping through a book beside her, occasionally glancing at her.

Tang San turned off the image.

Out of sight, out of mind.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

After class, Jiang Wu and the other three came to the shore of Sea God Lake.

"Tell me, what was Shrek Academy thinking? They'd rather build a huge lake than a few more toilets and bathhouses?" Jiang Wu couldn't help asking as he looked at Sea God Lake.

Hearing Jiang Wu's words, Wang Dong'er and the other two all fell silent.

During this time, Shrek Academy's stinginess had truly opened their eyes.

Having a whole crowd fight over one toilet and one bathhouse was truly miserable for them.

Huo Yutong was the exception. She didn't think it was a big deal; at least it was much better than the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Wang Dong'er folded her arms, her face full of sympathy. "I finally understand why Shrek Academy's students are all so good at fighting. They learned it fighting for the toilet. Every morning, a whole crowd lines up, and anyone who runs too slowly can't even get near a stall. How could they not be quick on their feet?"

Huo Yutong added quietly, "The bathhouse too. The water keeps switching between hot and cold."

"Exactly!" Wang Dong'er warmed to the subject. "I was halfway through my bath yesterday when the water suddenly turned cold. I nearly froze unconscious. Did they build Sea God Lake this big to raise fish? Couldn't they use half of it to build a bathhouse?"

Jiang Wu stood by the shore, looking at the shimmering surface of the lake, and gave it some serious thought. "Maybe Sea God Lake is for cultivation, and the bathhouse is for tempering your will. Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy is to make you comprehend the cruelty of survival while fighting for toilets and baths."

Gu Yuena added expressionlessly, "Then they've been quite successful. My willpower is firmer every morning now than when I'm cultivating."

The group was standing by the lake, grumbling, when they noticed a red speck approaching from the distance.

Before long, Jiang Wu and the others could make out the red speck.

The figure was red from head to toe, radiating a fierce, chilling menace.

"This senior looks strong! Look, she can run across the lake without even releasing her Martial Soul," Wang Dong'er observed with some interest.

Huo Yutong said timidly, "I feel like something's wrong with this senior."

While they were talking, the figure had already come within a hundred meters of the shore, and a terrifying wave of heat swept over them in an instant.

Jiang Wu and the others' expressions changed drastically as they realized they were in danger.

Second Soul Skill: Illusory Charm Eyes

A deep purple light flashed in Jiang Wu's eyes. The figure in red was closing in at high speed across the lake, less than fifty meters from shore. The heat had already begun to curl the grass along the bank. The instant she was about to set foot on shore, Jiang Wu's spiritual power drove into her Sea of Consciousness like a sharp awl.

The red figure abruptly faltered.

In her vision, Sea God Lake vanished.

In its place was a primeval forest that blotted out the sky and sun. The ground beneath her feet shook, and deafening beast roars came from every direction.

Hundreds upon thousands of Soul Beasts charged out of the depths of the forest: ten-year, hundred-year, thousand-year, and ten-thousand-year beasts, their eyes red, bearing down on her alone with a towering, vicious killing aura.

But Jiang Wu's spiritual power was only at level thirty-one, after all, and his opponent's Soul Power Level was far above his.

The instant the illusion pressed down on her, the red figure merely paused. The red light around her surged, heat exploded outward, and a cloud of white mist rose from the lake. The illusion began to shatter in her Sea of Consciousness.

While the woman was under the Soul Skill's effect, the Third Soul Ring lit up.

Jiang Wu vanished from where he stood, appearing directly behind the red figure in the next instant.

First Blood Essence Soul Ring: Golden Dragon Body.

The Golden Soul Ring hovering around Jiang Wu, formed purely from blood essence rather than soul power, suddenly erupted with blazing golden light.

A deep, drawn-out dragon roar sounded from the depths of his chest. The blood essence coursing through his body surged, and his bones gave a rapid succession of fine cracks and tremors.

Fine, brilliant golden scales emerged from beneath his skin one after another, spreading along his arms, shoulders, and back to cover his torso.

The scales resembled refined purple gold, with a heavy, metallic texture.

Jiang Wu grew slightly taller, his muscles abruptly swelling and tightening. His strength, defense, and speed soared across the board. A fierce, overbearing draconic might spread outward, and even the air seemed to congeal beneath the pressure of his bloodline.

His eyes turned pale gold, their pupils vertical slits, and his presence was as steady as a mountain.

He struck the back of her neck with the edge of his palm.

Bang.

The red figure let out a muffled grunt. The red light around her abruptly dimmed, and the heat swiftly dissipated like a receding tide. She went limp, and Jiang Wu caught her by the back of her collar and carried her down to the shore.

From restraining her to taking her down, less than two breaths had passed.