Spirit Hall Arrives, Aggressive and Overbearing

At the entrance to Shrek Academy's dilapidated village, the atmosphere was tense.

Flender and Zhao Wuji stood side by side, their expressions grim as they watched the group opposite them. There were around a dozen people, all dressed in Spirit Hall's white uniforms, their auras sharp and capable. Leading them was a clean-shaven middle-aged man with arrogant eyes. He was Deacon Tony, one of Soto Spirit Hall Main Hall's deacons and Salas's trusted confidant.

Behind Deacon Tony stood two elderly men with profound auras, clearly Soul King-level experts. Such a lineup had obviously come with ill intent.

"Deacon Tony, what is the meaning of this? Bringing men to force your way into my Shrek Academy?" Flender asked coldly, adjusting his glasses.

Deacon Tony gave a false smile. "Headmaster Flender, there's no need to be nervous. We came here under Bishop Salas's orders to sincerely invite your academy's student, Ling Yun, to join Spirit Hall. A genius like Ling Yun can only receive the finest training in Spirit Hall, rather than be buried in this... backwater place."

His words carried obvious disdain, making Flender and Zhao Wuji's expressions turn even uglier.

"Ling Yun is my student. Whether he joins Spirit Hall should be his own decision," Flender said, forcefully suppressing his anger.

"Hehe, Headmaster Flender, that's not quite right." Deacon Tony shook his head. "Ling Yun is still young and may not understand what Spirit Hall represents. We're thinking of his future as well. Besides, the bishop cherishes talent and has already prepared generous terms for him, along with a Spirit Douluo-level teacher to personally instruct him. Such an honor is something countless people could only dream of."

Though his words were polite, the threat in his tone was impossible to miss. If Ling Yun refused, he would be disrespecting Spirit Hall, and the consequences would be difficult to predict.

Zhao Wuji had a fiery temper and could not hold back any longer. "Bullshit! Ling Yun belongs to Shrek. It's not Spirit Hall's place to tell him where he can go! You want to steal one of our people? First ask whether my fists agree!"

As he spoke, Soul Power surged from his body, and the phantom of the Great Vajra Bear flickered into view.

The two Soul King elders behind Deacon Tony stepped forward at the same time. Their powerful Soul Power pressure erupted and collided with Zhao Wuji's aura, causing the air to let out a dull boom.

"Zhao Wuji, are you trying to rebel?" Deacon Tony's expression darkened. "You dare obstruct Spirit Hall in the performance of its duties?"

Just as the conflict was about to erupt, the academy's students were alerted. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others ran out one after another. Seeing the scene at the entrance, they were all startled.

"What's going on? Why are people from Spirit Hall here?"

"Is it because of Ling Yun?"

"Are they trying to take Ling Yun by force?"

The students murmured among themselves, their faces filled with worry and anger.

At that moment, a calm voice rang out. "What do you want with me?"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Ling Yun walking out from the academy with A Qing at his side. His expression was as calm as ever, as though the tense confrontation before him had nothing to do with him.

When Deacon Tony saw Ling Yun, his eyes lit up. A smile immediately spread across his face as he stepped forward. "You must be Ling Yun, yes? Truly, heroes emerge in their youth! I am Deacon Tony of Spirit Hall. Under Bishop Salas's orders, I have come to invite you to join Spirit Hall! As long as you agree, Spirit Hall will provide you with the best resources and help you become a Titled Douluo in the future!"

He had offered incredibly tempting terms.

Everyone's gaze focused on Ling Yun as they waited for his answer. Flender and Zhao Wuji watched him nervously. They hoped he would stay, but also feared he might offend Spirit Hall. Tang San's expression was complicated. He wanted Ling Yun to leave, yet felt unwilling to see him go.

Ling Yun's gaze swept across Deacon Tony and the Spirit Hall members behind him before finally settling on Flender and Zhao Wuji. He gave them a slight nod, then looked back at Deacon Tony and spoke indifferently.

"Thank you for Spirit Hall's goodwill. However, I'm used to being free on my own and don't like restraints. So, I'll pass on joining Spirit Hall."

He had refused!

He had actually rejected Spirit Hall's invitation so decisively!

The smile on Deacon Tony's face instantly froze, turning ugly. He had not expected Ling Yun to refuse so directly, without leaving any room for negotiation.

"Ling Yun, you'd better think this through!" Deacon Tony's tone turned cold. "Not just anyone can refuse Spirit Hall's invitation! The consequences of refusal may be more than you can bear!"

It was a naked threat!

Flender and Zhao Wuji's expressions changed drastically as they prepared to step forward.

But Ling Yun waved a hand, signaling them not to act rashly. He looked at Deacon Tony, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint curve that carried a trace of disdain and mockery.

"Consequences? What consequences?" Ling Yun's voice remained calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "You bunch of nobodies think you can threaten me?"

The entire crowd was stunned!

Had he gone mad? Ling Yun actually dared to speak to a Spirit Hall deacon like that! He had even called them a bunch of nobodies!

Deacon Tony trembled with rage and pointed at Ling Yun. "You... you insolent brat! Take down this arrogant fool!"

A cold glint flashed through the eyes of the two Soul King elders behind him. They moved at the same time, one from the left and one from the right, reaching out to seize Ling Yun! Their Soul King-level pressure erupted in full force as they attempted to subdue him in one move!

"Courting death!" Zhao Wuji roared in fury, about to intervene.

However, Ling Yun moved even faster!

Facing the capture attempt of two Soul Kings, Ling Yun did not even take a step back. He merely raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together like a sword hand, and lightly pointed into the air.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two dark-golden gusts of finger force, condensed to the extreme like blades tearing through space, shot out in an instant!

The expressions of the two Soul King elders changed drastically. They sensed a fatal threat from those gusts of finger force! They tried to dodge, only to discover that the surrounding space seemed restrained by an invisible force, slowing their movements!

Pfft! Pfft!

With two soft sounds, the finger force accurately pierced through the shoulders of the two Soul King elders, sending up two sprays of blood!

The two Soul Kings cried out miserably at the same time. Their offensive instantly collapsed as they staggered back, clutching their bleeding shoulders, their faces filled with shock and disbelief!

One finger strike! Two Soul Kings severely wounded!

The entire area fell deathly silent!

Everyone seemed to have been frozen in place, staring at the scene with dumbfounded expressions!

Deacon Tony was even more terrified, his face drained of color as he fell onto the ground. Pointing at Ling Yun, his lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.

Ling Yun withdrew his finger. Without even glancing at the two injured Soul Kings, he fixed his gaze on Deacon Tony and said flatly, "Go back and tell Salas that I, Ling Yun, will walk my own path. If you dare bother me again, next time it won't be shoulders that get shattered."

His voice was not loud, yet it exploded beside everyone's ears like thunder!

Domineering! Incomparably domineering!

Deacon Tony scrambled to his feet, then fled Shrek Academy in a miserable state with the injured Soul Kings and his terrified subordinates. None of them even dared to leave behind a threat.

As the Spirit Hall group vanished into the distance, a deathly silence still hung over the entrance of Shrek Academy.

Everyone stared at Ling Yun as though he were some god or demon.

Defeating a Soul King with one finger! What kind of terrifying strength was that?! Was he really only a level-thirty Soul Elder?

Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance, each seeing shock and helplessness in the other's eyes. They knew that a true dragon like Ling Yun could no longer be kept in a small pond like Shrek. Moreover, after this incident, Spirit Hall would likely set its sights on Shrek Academy as well.

Tang San stared fixedly at Ling Yun, his fingernails digging deep into his palms as blood streamed down. He had originally believed the gap between himself and Ling Yun was shrinking, but now it seemed that gap was like an uncrossable chasm! A profound sense of powerlessness and jealousy nearly swallowed him whole.

Ling Yun ignored everyone's stares and said to Flender and Zhao Wuji, "Headmaster, Teacher Zhao, I've caused you trouble. I'll leave the academy tomorrow."

With that, he turned and headed toward the dormitories. A Qing hurriedly followed after him.

Flender opened his mouth, but in the end, it became nothing more than a long sigh.

He knew that Shrek Academy had risen to glory because of Ling Yun's arrival, and that Ling Yun's departure would surely bring a tremendous storm.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun had already turned his gaze toward the distance. Heaven Dou City and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might be a good place to start.