Ye... Mianxia

Late at night, Shrek Academy had fallen completely silent.

Of the day's examinees, aside from Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, not a single other candidate had passed the first three tests. Even so, this was the year Shrek Academy had admitted the most students in many years.

As the Vice-Dean, Zhao Wuji naturally had his own residence. At this moment, he was meditating alone in his room.

Suddenly, a voice sounded beside his ear.

"Zhao Wuji."

Zhao Wuji jolted awake from his meditation, anger mixed with gravity on his face. As a high-level Soul Sage, his Soul Power was already strong enough to form a strange field around his body, allowing him to clearly distinguish even the sound of a falling leaf within a hundred meters.

Yet at this moment, he could not sense anyone around him. Worse still, the voice had pierced directly into his ears, sounding as though someone were speaking right beside him. He was certain that the visitor's strength was no weaker than his own.

"Who's there?"

Zhao Wuji rose to his feet, a cold gleam bursting from his eyes. Back then, his reputation in the Soul Master World had not been particularly good, and he had made quite a few enemies. He had spent these years hidden within Shrek Academy in peace, but he had not expected a powerful opponent to suddenly appear now.

"Come out."

A faint, almost imperceptible aura locked onto Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji naturally would not cower. Without hesitation, he leaped through the window and arrived outside. His Soul Power instantly surged to its peak as he swiftly chased in the direction indicated by that aura.

Before long, he had left the grounds of Shrek Academy and entered a forest outside. That faint aura vanished here as well.

"Come out. I know you're here."

Zhao Wuji shouted in a low voice. At the same time, he immediately completed his Martial Soul Possession. Seven Soul Rings rose and fell around his body, flashing with dazzling light. The three black Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings in particular were astonishingly deep and ominous.

A black figure slowly emerged from behind a large tree. This person was entirely shrouded in black robes, with even his head covered by a black hood. From his appearance alone, Zhao Wuji could only tell that he was a tall man.

Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched violently as he stared at the man. He recognized him at once. Wasn't this Tang Hao, the man from the earlier Question and Answer Video whose limbs had been severed? What was this guy doing here looking for him?

"Looks like you already know who I am."

Seeing Zhao Wuji's expression, Tang Hao simply removed his hood, revealing a scruffy, bearded face. In an intentionally profound tone, he said lightly, "It is rare to encounter the Immovable Bright King in such a small place. Tonight, I merely wish to spar with you. It has been a long time since I stretched my limbs."

As he spoke, Tang Hao summoned his enormous hammer. At the same time, nine Soul Rings silently appeared around him, with the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring standing out in particular.

Seeing that the black-clothed man before him really was that shameless Tang Hao, Zhao Wuji felt his heart turn ice-cold. As a Soul Sage-level Soul Master, he understood better than anyone the disparity between high-level Soul Masters. Once one surpassed level sixty, let alone an entire rank, even a difference of one level could create a considerable gap in strength.

"Haotian Mianxia..."

After forcing out those four words, Zhao Wuji hurriedly bowed and saluted him. "Mianxia, please do not joke with a lowly one like me. How could I possibly be worthy of sparring with you?"

Tang Hao said flatly, "What does worthy or unworthy have to do with it? Didn't you bully that child rather well during the day? I have found that bullying others seems quite enjoyable. Let me bully you as well. Of course, you may consider this bullying the weak with strength."

Without releasing any imposing aura, Tang Hao held his massive hammer and walked toward Zhao Wuji step by step.

Zhao Wuji groaned inwardly. By now, he had figured it out. That boy called Lan Wu was most likely Tang San from the previous video.

As for why his appearance had changed so much, there were people on the Douluo Continent whose appearances changed after absorbing Soul Rings due to the influence of those rings. Such cases were simply rare.

Zhao Wuji was panicking now. Being beaten up badly would have been one thing. But the key was that the man before him was a wanted criminal of Spirit Hall, and his identity absolutely could not be exposed. Yet he had revealed it so openly in front of Zhao Wuji... No matter how he looked at it, this seemed like a setup to silence him forever!

Suddenly, Tang Hao stopped ten meters away from Zhao Wuji and said in a deliberately grave tone, "Since you are here, come out. What difference is there between one and two?"

As his words fell.

With a flash, someone appeared beside Zhao Wuji. The moment this person appeared, Zhao Wuji's expression relaxed somewhat. "Boss, this senior..."

The newcomer waved a hand at Zhao Wuji, signaling him not to speak. Facing the invisible pressure, he had no choice but to release his Martial Soul.

A pair of enormous wings spread from his back, while a layer of feathers covered his entire body. The pupils in his orange-yellow eyes became vertical, and seven Soul Rings of the same colors as Zhao Wuji's suddenly appeared, rising and falling around his body.

"Greetings, Haotian Mianxia."

This man wore glasses and had a very distinctive appearance—or rather, he was distinctively ugly. He was none other than Flender, the Dean of Shrek Academy.

Yet Tang Hao paid no attention to Flender's greeting. The casual look on his face gradually turned solemn. He directly ignored Flender and warily scanned the surroundings, as though he had sensed something.

"Who?!"

He shouted, his Soul Power erupting from within. The terrifying pressure made Zhao Wuji and Flender, who stood closer, feel as though they could barely breathe.

"It is quite lively here tonight."

A clear, bright voice suddenly rang out.

As the words faded.

He wore white robes embroidered with cloud patterns, understated and simple yet radiating an otherworldly temperament. His ink-black hair was tied up, with the rest cascading behind him, giving him an air of both propriety and freedom.

His handsome face was like that of a celestial god, and together with his attire, it made his entire being seem suffused with an immortal aura. At a glance, he did not seem like an ordinary man.

The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention!

"Ye... Ye Mianxia."

Zhao Wuji had initially wanted to call him by name, but quickly caught himself and changed his form of address. Since Ye Cheng did not yet have his own title, he could only address him directly as Mianxia.

"Greetings, Mianxia."

Flender was much calmer. He bowed unhurriedly, and Zhao Wuji quickly followed suit.

Ye Cheng calmly accepted their salutes. In this world, it was perfectly normal for lower-level Soul Masters to bow to higher-level Soul Masters. If he refused, they would instead think he was trying to provoke them, which was why he would not accept their respect.