Zhao Wuji: Why Do I Have to Take a Beating a Second Time?

The group arrived together in Suotuo City.

Suotuo City was one of the most prosperous cities in the Balak Kingdom, second only to the royal capital, and its streets were crowded even at night.

Li Yan led the group through a maze of twists and turns before finally arriving at the entrance to the Wang Clan Trading Company.

His father still didn't know they had come to enroll at Shrek Academy, so he needed to tell him to keep him from worrying.

Someone came to receive them soon after they reached the entrance. By now, Li Yan's face was enough to get him inside.

"Where's your shopkeeper?"

"The shopkeeper is discussing business with Shopkeeper Li. Young master, please wait here a moment. I'll go inform them."

Li Yan nodded. The Shopkeeper Li the attendant mentioned was his father, Li Gang.

Before long, Li Gang came over, followed by Wang Hong. Wang Hong's presence had grown even stronger, and he radiated an authority that needed no anger.

As a Soul Emperor, he was already one of the few powerful figures in Suotuo City. Aside from the people at Shrek Academy and the master of the Spirit Hall Branch, there weren't many stronger than him.

"My young friend, you're here... is something urgent? Weren't you still in school, as I recall?"

Li Gang was puzzled too. His three fine children had come to find him without a word of warning, and they had even brought two such pretty young girls with them.

"Dad, Uncle Wang, Xiao San and I have enrolled at Shrek Academy. These are our classmates, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu."

"Shrek Academy was founded by Flender and the others who helped me hunt for my fourth Soul Ring back then."

Li Gang couldn't help grumbling inwardly.

He greatly admired the strength of Flender and his companions, but they looked dirt poor at a glance. Could they really fund the construction and day-to-day upkeep of an entire academy?

As the head of a junior Soul Master Academy, Li Gang naturally knew the ins and outs all too well. The business looked good on the surface, but underneath it was nothing but a muddle of accounts.

Besides, what kind of geniuses were his son and his adopted son and daughter?

They were one of a kind on the continent. Could these Soul Saints really teach them?

Li Gang had high expectations for them. Even if a Titled Douluo didn't take them as disciples and pass on his legacy personally, shouldn't they at least have a Soul Douluo?

What good were a few mere Soul Saints?

"Old Li, your nephew has always had a mind of his own. Just let him go," Wang Hong said.

Wang Hong hadn't given it much thought.

"True. I can't control this matter anyway. The children have all grown up and have minds of their own."

The group gathered and chatted for a while longer. When they had said about all there was to say, Li Yan prepared to leave. After all, they still had to go to the Soul Fighting Arena that night and see the talent there for themselves.

"Dad, Uncle Wang, we'll be going now. We just came tonight to let you know we're safe."

Li Gang and Wang Hong saw the children out. As they watched them walk away, Wang Hong suddenly chuckled.

"Old Li, looks like you're going to have daughters-in-law, and two of them at that."

"What? Old Wang, what do you mean?"

Li Gang clearly wasn't an observant man. Anyone with eyes could see it, yet Li Yan's own father hadn't noticed anything amiss.

"Look at those two girls who came with them. Aren't they both edging closer to your son, whether they mean to or not?"

"Look, one of them even wants to put her hands on him."

"Congratulations! Looks like you'll be a grandfather soon, Old Li."

Li Gang snorted coldly.

"Like hell! My son is going to become the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent and break the record the Clear Sky Douluo set back then."

"He can't get married that early. Of course, if he's willing, I have no objection. After all, those two girls clearly aren't from ordinary families, so they're worthy of my son."

Wang Hong silently turned and walked away. Why didn't he have such an outstanding son?

Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji, who had taken a thorough beating during the day, was quietly cultivating in his room.

Suddenly, a presence that made his blood run cold appeared out of nowhere.

"Who's there! Sneaking around like that. Come out!"

Zhao Wuji snorted coldly. The presence was utterly unfamiliar and extremely overbearing. Its owner's Soul Power Level was at least that of a high-level Soul Saint, and there was even a considerable chance he was a Soul Douluo.

Could it be that people from the Spirit Hall have come after me again? That can't be right. I've hidden here for so many years, and the people at the Spirit Hall Branch have turned a blind eye. They've got no reason to come after me now.

Just as Zhao Wuji was trying to make sense of it, an indifferent voice came from outside the window.

"Zhao Wuji, come meet me at the back mountain."

Zhao Wuji shuddered. This was definitely a powerhouse at the Soul Douluo level or above!

Why would someone like that come looking for me? I don't remember offending him, either. But since he didn't attack me right away, there's room to talk.

Zhao Wuji leaped out of the window and headed toward the back mountain.

When he arrived, he found only a black-robed man standing on a tree trunk.

"Sir, may I ask what brings you here?"

"Weren't you quite arrogant when you bullied those children today?"

Zhao Wuji froze. Brother, were you really watching?

Wasn't I getting beaten the whole time today? When was I ever so full of myself?

And from the sound of it, he seemed to be here to settle the score. Could he be an elder of one of the newly enrolled children?

Zhao Wuji ruled Li Yan out first. He himself had helped the boy hunt for his fourth Soul Ring. Li Yan was a wild genius who hadn't joined any major power.

His second brother and third sister were naturally the same.

Then was it most likely someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Only a power like that could casually send out a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, right?

"Sir, are you a senior from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I came here today to warn you not to harbor any crooked intentions toward those children."

"I won't use my Martial Soul. If you can last an incense stick's time against me, today's matter will be dropped."

Zhao Wuji curled his lip. This man was picking a fight with him without using his Martial Soul. Did he really think he was a Titled Douluo?

Tang Hao jumped down from the tree trunk and walked toward Zhao Wuji step by step.

With each step, a Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

After nine steps, he stood before Zhao Wuji, nine Soul Rings beneath him: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.

Zhao Wuji swallowed. Where had this freak come from? Not only was he a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, but his ninth Soul Ring was also at the Hundred Thousand Year level.

When had someone like this appeared on the continent?

Tang Hao struck first. Zhao Wuji dodged, but his shoulder was still seized.

For the next incense stick's time, Zhao Wuji remained completely suppressed.

"All right. You didn't take that beating for nothing. I've opened the meridians in your body, so you'll advance to the Soul Douluo level faster."

"Help me take good care of those children. Consider this your payment."

Zhao Wuji climbed to his feet.

"Yes. I will heed your teachings, Your Excellency."

Though he had taken a beating, Zhao Wuji thought it wasn't bad. At the very least, if he encountered someone he couldn't beat in the future, he knew there was a Titled Douluo standing behind him—and one who possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring at that.

P.S. About the female lead

1: Multiple female leads

2: Chao Tianxiang as the sole female lead