Victory Decided

A Titled Douluo?!

The scene immediately fell silent. Dragon Duke Meng Shu's aura instantly withered. He clearly did not have the nerve to act arrogantly before a Titled Douluo.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu's attitude changed in an instant. Shock filled his eyes before he respectfully asked Li Qing, "May I ask Your Excellency's title?"

Li Qing did not hide it and replied calmly, "Jade Lord."

"So it is Jade Lord Douluo himself. Meng Shu has been disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."

For some reason, Zhao Xuan felt that Meng Shu seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Li Qing's name.

"So it is Jade Lord Douluo. I am Zhao Wuji. Greetings, Your Excellency." Zhao Wuji seemed to have heard of Li Qing's name as well. Even someone as unruly as him respectfully bowed.

"So it's Jade Lord Douluo." Ning Rongrong's face was filled with shock as well.

Zhao Xuan raised a brow and quietly asked Ning Rongrong, "Is Senior famous?"

Ning Rongrong gave Zhao Xuan a strange look. You brought back a Titled Douluo yourself, yet you knew nothing about him?

But seeing Zhao Xuan's confused expression, Ning Rongrong could not help rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

"I really don't know how you managed to bring Senior back. Any Titled Douluo on Douluo Continent can be considered a renowned figure, and Jade Lord Douluo is naturally no exception."

"Jade Lord Douluo's real name is Li Qing, and his Martial Soul is the Clear Wind Sword. He has always been a lone wanderer who enjoys helping those treated unfairly. He has an excellent reputation across Douluo Continent and is widely respected for his kindness. Of course, this also offended many forces and nobles, but Jade Lord Douluo is immensely powerful, so no one dared cause him trouble. Still, he eventually grew tired of the secular world and went into seclusion five years ago. I never expected him to appear in the Star Dou Great Forest again."

Ning Rongrong's eyes shone brightly. This was a Titled Douluo, yet Zhao Xuan had simply brought him back. She wondered what kind of luck Zhao Xuan had stumbled into.

Zhao Xuan also came to understand. No wonder Dragon Duke had relaxed after hearing Li Qing's title. Given Li Qing's character, he would never use his strength to bully the weak.

Meanwhile, Dragon Duke carefully explained the cause of the matter to Jade Lord Douluo. With the Shrek Academy group standing nearby, he did not dare embellish anything and recounted the entire affair exactly as it had happened.

Li Qing glanced at the furious Meng Yiran, then at the pale-faced Tang San, and immediately revealed a helpless, amused expression.

He looked at Zhao Xuan and laughed heartily. "The monster academy you spoke of was no lie."

Zhao Xuan snorted and raised his brows. "I never lie."

Zhao Wuji watched from the side with his heart in his throat. My lord, who gave you the guts to speak to a Titled Douluo like that? Can't you see that even Dragon Duke is hiding off to the side and acting like a grandson now?

Li Qing was not offended. He looked at the Man Faced Demon Spider lying on the ground, then frowned slightly at Tang San. "Tang San, right? Are you really planning to absorb this Man Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring? From what I can tell, its cultivation is not low."

Tang San's face was somewhat pale. His eyes flickered before finally becoming resolute. "This Man Faced Demon Spider should not have exceeded the maximum limit for a third spirit ring."

Li Qing narrowed his eyes slightly. With his cultivation, he had naturally noticed Tang San's flickering gaze just now. This was a child who could not lie, and Li Qing had reached his conclusion.

But seeing Tang San's determined gaze, Li Qing's interest was piqued. "How did you determine the maximum limit for a third spirit ring?"

"Because he studies under Grandmaster," Zhao Xuan answered from the side.

"Grandmaster? The Grandmaster known as the foremost figure in the research world?"

Li Qing pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"That's right."

Tang San nodded, looking at Li Qing in surprise. He had not expected this Titled Douluo to have heard of Grandmaster as well.

"It seems Grandmaster has found a disciple capable of realizing his ideals." Li Qing gave Tang San a deep look. From his conversation with Dragon Duke earlier, he had also learned about Tang San. Twelve years old, rank thirty, and his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass!

It seems emerging from seclusion this time was not a bad decision after all. Li Qing had traveled the continent for many years, yet he had never encountered so many interesting things.

However...

Looking at the family quietly waiting nearby, Li Qing felt a headache coming on. They seemed to have mistaken him for one of Shrek Academy's group.

His gaze swept between both sides, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

He pointed at the iron box-like object in Tang San's hand. "Is that a Hidden Weapon?"

"Senior knows about Hidden Weapons too?" Tang San was surprised. In this world, he had never heard anyone else mention that term.

"I have traveled the continent for many years and seen them in certain places, though they are quite rare. Since you know how to use them, can you use those throwing knives?"

Li Qing suddenly pointed at Meng Yiran. Tang San turned to look, and his eyes lit up.

Meng Yiran looked at the two of them in confusion, her gaze falling on the Soul Breaking Blades fastened at her waist.

Her eyes lit up as well. "You're saying these are Hidden Weapons?"

Tang San nodded. "That's right. Weapons that can only display their full effect when used in secret are called Hidden Weapons."

Meng Yiran's eyes rolled thoughtfully. "Does Jade Lord Douluo mean we should use these to decide the winner?"

"Exactly. Do either of you have any objections?" Li Qing clapped his hands and smiled, apparently pleased that he had found a way to resolve the conflict.

"No objections." Meng Yiran's face glowed as she straightened her full chest and looked provocatively at Tang San, brimming with confidence.

"Me neither." A smile also appeared on Tang San's face.

The other Shrek Academy students wore strange smiles as well, with several of them glancing toward Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched, and he fiercely turned around to glare at them.

"I have heard that using Hidden Weapons comes down to two things: accuracy and surprise. There is no need for surprise right now, so we will compete in accuracy."

"How about this? In a moment, Zhao Xuan will shake a large tree twenty meters away and make its leaves fall. You two will throw your knives at the same time. Each leaf struck by a throwing knife counts as one point. Only throwing knives embedded in the trunk will count. What do you think?"

"No problem."

"No problem."

The two nodded in unison, both appearing completely confident.

Li Qing nodded, then said to Meng Yiran, "Then split your throwing knives equally between the two of you. Half each. How does that sound?"

"No problem."

Meng Yiran nodded without hesitation, secretly delighted. In truth, this gave her an advantage, since she was familiar with these throwing knives while Tang San had never even touched them.

"I have no problem with that either." Tang San remained calm. From the moment this contest had been arranged, he had already won.

Li Qing smiled. As expected, the outside world was far more interesting. He nodded toward Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan understood and walked to a large tree twenty meters away.

Once Tang San and Meng Yiran were ready, Zhao Xuan took a deep breath and slammed his fist into an ancient tree more than two meters in diameter.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rang out. Under Zhao Xuan's punch, the ancient tree shattered with a crash. Chunks of wood shot outward like cannonballs, while a powerful blast of force spread in every direction.

Li Qing's expression changed. The Clear Wind Sword on his back flew out with a ringing cry, while nine spirit rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

Clang! Fifth Spirit Skill, Sword Wall!

Countless shattered branches, dead leaves, sand, and rocks came hurtling over, but all of them were blocked by a white-jade-like Sword Wall before Li Qing. Anything that touched it was torn to pieces by the hidden sword energy within.

As the dust gradually settled, the already devastated area became even more ruined. Ancient trees had fallen everywhere, tangled roots exposing fresh earth. All kinds of broken branches and dead leaves had been swept clean away, leaving only bare branches on the trees. The ground looked as if it had been plowed over.

The people protected by Li Qing were dumbfounded. Zhao Wuji swallowed hard. How had this guy become such a monster after not seeing him for a while?! No, he had become even more monstrous.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu subconsciously tugged at Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang's sleeve. "This is the youth you said was a three-ring Soul Elder at twelve?"

Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang nodded blankly, her eyes dull.

How was this the combat power of a Soul Elder? Even their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which could contend with a Titled Douluo, could not produce such an effect.

"Zhao Xuan, what are you doing?" Veins bulged on Li Qing's forehead.

"Sorry. I still haven't adapted to my strength after breaking through." Zhao Xuan was drenched in sweat as he replied awkwardly.

The Shrek Academy group broke out in cold sweat. Brother, are you going to leave anyone else alive? You broke through again?

Zhao Xuan found another tree, then turned back to look at Meng Yiran and Tang San.

The two pulled back their nearly dropped jaws. After steadying themselves, they nodded to Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan settled his mind, then controlled his strength and punched the ancient tree beside him. The tree shook violently, and leaves rained down in a flurry.

A sharp gleam flashed through Meng Yiran's eyes. Both hands moved at once, sending streaks of silver light shooting toward the ancient tree. Her movements were clean and decisive, flowing as smoothly as flowing water.

Yet no matter how impressive Meng Yiran's performance was, no one paid her any attention. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Tang San. Even Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager, who had noticed something unusual, did the same. Tang San silently turned around and opened the cloth pouch that had originally hung from Meng Yiran's waist. Eighteen Soul Breaking Blades unfolded in sequence.

At the same moment Meng Yiran attacked, Tang San attacked as well. His hands trembled, and the pouch shook too. The eighteen Soul Breaking Blades nearly left the pouch simultaneously, flying toward the ancient tree along mysterious curved trajectories. They resembled streaks of flying rainbows, carrying naturally beautiful arcs.

After using her Hidden Weapons, Meng Yiran nodded in satisfaction. She then turned to Tang San and happened to see him turn around. Furious and alarmed, she demanded, "You didn't even attack. Are you looking down on me?!"

Tang San said nothing. He merely shook the now-empty cloth pouch in his hand.

Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager also walked over. They looked at Tang San with complicated expressions, then patted Meng Yiran on the shoulder. "Girl, let's go. A bet is a bet, and we accept defeat."

Meng Yiran was uncertain. "What?"

Suddenly, as though remembering something, she pushed Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager aside and ran toward Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan pursed his lips, signaling for her to see the result herself. She really would not give up until she hit a wall.

Meng Yiran did not dare meet Zhao Xuan's gaze and even moved aside slightly, somewhat fearful.

When she saw the throwing knives on the ancient tree, she froze, her expression becoming dazed and despondent.

"How is that possible?"

Zhao Xuan shrugged. The outcome had already been decided!