Reuniting with the Dragon Snake

"Hm?" Li Qing looked at Zhao Xuan curiously.

"Ahem, Senior, what do you think of me?" Zhao Xuan coughed a few times and spoke with feigned calm.

"Hm... a freak, a monster," Li Qing said thoughtfully. This was no joke; saying that Zhao Xuan's talent was unprecedented and would never be surpassed would not be an exaggeration.

A flash of delight passed through Zhao Xuan's eyes. Then, in an unconcerned tone, he said, "There are plenty of little monsters like me at our academy. Do you want to take a look?"

Li Qing glanced at Zhao Xuan, saw through his intentions, and could not help laughing. "You brat, you're quite interesting."

"First, tell me the name of your academy. I want to know what kind of academy could nurture a little monster like you."

"Shrek Academy."

"Shrek? That's quite a good name." Li Qing paused slightly, curiosity flashing through his eyes.

Zhao Xuan struck while the iron was hot. "That's right. Although our academy isn't well known, every student there has astonishing talent."

"Not to mention anything else, there are several people with Innate Full Soul Power!"

Li Qing was somewhat surprised. Although Innate Full Soul Power was nothing remarkable in his eyes now, it was still a symbol of talent. With proper cultivation and no accidents along the way, one would have a great chance of reaching the realm of Titled Douluo. Even he himself had only possessed Innate Soul Power of rank nine and a half.

"You little fellow have made me somewhat tempted." Li Qing silently sighed. If such an academy truly existed, then even as a Titled Douluo, he wanted to see it. Perhaps several more Titled Douluo would emerge from this academy in a few decades.

"Hehe, actually, a senior with your kind of personality would fit our academy quite well."

"Oh? Why?"

Zhao Xuan chuckled and told Li Qing about Shrek Academy.

Li Qing nodded after hearing it. "The teachers at your academy truly are rare."

"So... Senior, do you want to take a look?" Zhao Xuan asked tentatively.

Li Qing looked at him with amusement. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, "Fine. I've lived in seclusion here for many years, yet my strength has not improved. I'll go out with you and see just what this monster academy you speak of is like."

"That's wonderful." Zhao Xuan beamed with joy. Bringing back a Titled Douluo would give Shrek Academy much stronger protection, and something like this would not happen again.

At that thought, Zhao Xuan suddenly grew worried again. He wondered how Xiao Wu was doing.

Seeing that Zhao Xuan's expression was off, Li Qing asked curiously, "Is something wrong?"

Zhao Xuan slowly recounted what had just happened. Li Qing frowned and looked toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"It is indeed strange. As far as I know, Titan Giant Apes generally live deep within the forest and have always kept out of each other's way with humans. Its actions this time are certainly odd."

"Moreover, the depths of the forest are incomparably dangerous. Even ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts are commonplace there, and there may even be several hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts. In my opinion, your friend is likely doomed."

It would have been better if Li Qing had said nothing. Once he spoke, Zhao Xuan's expression became even more gloomy.

Li Qing immediately felt a headache coming on. After thinking for a moment, he added, "Don't be so pessimistic. Let's find your group first, then make plans."

Zhao Xuan nodded and asked, "Senior, is there anything you need to take with you?"

Li Qing smiled. "I'm all alone. Other than a thatched hut, I have nothing else. Let's go."

Zhao Xuan felt slightly better. Coming out this time and bringing a Titled Douluo back was not a bad gain.

Zhao Xuan could not remember which direction he had flown from, but Li Qing knew the way. As long as they followed this direction and traced the Titan Giant Ape's footprints, they could find the Shrek group.

As for continuing to track the Titan Giant Ape, Li Qing did not approve of that idea. The center of the Star Dou Great Forest had always been a human forbidden zone. Even Li Qing did not dare enter it alone.

Based on Li Qing's experience, Zhao Xuan's physical strength could rival that of a rank ninety-one strength-type Beast Soul master after possessing his martial soul. However, if he wanted to rely on that strength to venture into the center of the forest, he had to be prepared to die.

Zhao Xuan considered it. Setting aside whether he could successfully find the Titan Giant Ape, even if he did, he likely had no way to defeat it. According to Li Qing, the Titan Giant Ape was around a hundred thousand years old. Whether it was on the left or right was unknown, but its strength was at least above rank ninety-five Titled Douluo. Thus, Zhao Xuan gave up on the idea and decided to discuss matters with the Shrek group first.

The two quickly found the Titan Giant Ape's tracks. Zhao Xuan looked toward the depths of the forest, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and turned to follow Li Qing toward the forest's outskirts.

Zhao Xuan released his divine sense to detect the movements around them. Although it had only recently formed, it could cover an area within five hundred meters.

Li Qing gave Zhao Xuan a strange look. "Is that Spiritual Power?"

Zhao Xuan hesitated. "You could say that."

"I found them!" Zhao Xuan suddenly said, his eyes lighting up.

Zhao Xuan led the way while Li Qing followed closely behind. He seemed capable of controlling the wind; as he moved, he looked almost immortal.

"Other than Xiao San and the others, there are three more people?" Along the way, Zhao Xuan frowned. His divine sense had detected other people, and one of their auras was deep as the sea, likely possessing the cultivation of a Soul Douluo.

"Hurry over." Afraid something might happen, Zhao Xuan accelerated and rushed ahead.

Somewhere, the Shrek group was confronting three people. The area around them was a mess. Before them lay a Man Faced Demon Spider, and judging by the soul ring rising from it, the Man Faced Demon Spider was clearly dead.

Zhao Wuji's expression was ugly, and the Shrek group watched the three people opposite them with guarded faces. Two of those three looked very familiar: Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran, whom they had encountered not long ago.

As for the remaining old man, if their guess was correct, he was Dragon Duke Meng Shu of the Peerless Dragon Snake.

At this moment, both sides had revealed their soul rings, and the atmosphere was tense. Yet compared to Zhao Wuji's seven soul rings, the eight soul rings on Meng Shu brought even greater pressure.

"Who's there?" Meng Shu suddenly looked toward the forest to the side.

Zhao Xuan and Li Qing rushed out of the woods, revealing themselves before everyone.

"Zhao Xuan!" "Xuan?"

Cries of surprise instantly rang out from the Shrek group. Zhao Xuan nodded to Li Qing, then walked toward the Shrek group, while Meng Shu's gaze turned to Li Qing.

His heart tightened. This man was not simple.

"Xuan, are you all right?" Tang San asked anxiously.

"I'm fine, but Xiao Wu..." Zhao Xuan shook his head, stopping midway.

"What happened to Xiao Wu?" Tang San was startled. He instinctively grabbed Zhao Xuan's shoulders, his eyes reddening.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't bring her back." Zhao Xuan spoke dejectedly.

"It's fine, it's fine..." Tang San released Zhao Xuan's hand and let out a slight sigh of relief. As long as it was not terrible news, it was fine.

"Idiot," Hermione muttered from the side, her large brown eyes slightly red.

Zhao Xuan looked up at her, his heart stirring.

"Right, what happened here?" Zhao Xuan turned toward Dragon Duke Meng Shu, his expression unfriendly.

Ning Rongrong jumped out and pointed at the Man Faced Demon Spider furiously. "After you left, Xiao San chased after you. Then he accidentally ran into this Man Faced Demon Spider. Xiao San struggled to kill it alone, but then this family appeared and insisted on making things difficult for Xiao San. If we hadn't arrived in time, Xiao San might have already suffered at their hands!"

After hearing that, Zhao Xuan's face turned cold, and killing intent suddenly surged within him.

Ning Rongrong's voice was not quiet, so Meng Yiran on the opposite side heard it as well.

She said angrily too, "That Man Faced Demon Spider was originally our prey! It would have been one thing if your Shrek Academy stole my soul ring once, but you stole my soul rings twice in a row! Who am I supposed to reason with?"

Meng Yiran clenched her silver teeth, her face full of grief and indignation.

Zhao Xuan's expression turned strange. He glanced at Tang San, who nodded helplessly. This Man Faced Demon Spider indeed had some wounds on it.

So that was it? Zhao Xuan looked at the furious Meng Yiran. Her luck was really too terrible, wasn't it?

However, that was not a reason for them to bully others with their strength. Zhao Xuan's gaze turned cold. "Who can you blame for being useless?"

On the other side, Meng Yiran's family immediately changed expression. Snake Dowager's face darkened, while Dragon Duke Meng Shu withdrew his gaze from Li Qing and said coldly, "Brat, do you know that disaster comes from the mouth?"

Zhao Xuan disdainfully glanced at Dragon Duke. With his current strength, even if they used a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they would gain no advantage, much less...

"Senior, what do you think?" Zhao Xuan looked toward Li Qing.

Only then did everyone turn their gazes toward Li Qing. The Shrek group looked curious, while Zhao Wuji's heart stirred. This man gave him a very powerful feeling.

Li Qing laughed. "Brat, you're using me as a weapon already? Still, fighting between juniors is one thing, but bullying the weak with strength is another."

Li Qing looked calmly toward Dragon Duke, and nine soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet!

A Titled Douluo?!

Everyone present except Zhao Xuan felt their hearts leap, and Dragon Duke Meng Shu's imposing aura weakened considerably.

Zhao Wuji's eyes nearly popped out. In such a short time, where had Zhao Xuan gone to bring back a Titled Douluo?!