Not Unworthy of Eternal Defense

"What do you know?!"

Wu Feng's voice wasn't quiet, and Xu Sanshi was a dignified High-Rank Soul Elder, so he heard every word she said.

At that moment, Wu Feng had broken through Xu Sanshi's defenses!

He immediately pushed Tang Ya, who was blocking his way, aside. Thick black light flared as his large hand shot toward Wu Feng's wrist!

Clearly, he wanted to teach her a lesson.

But halfway there, he abruptly stopped!

A fair hand had already grasped Xu Sanshi's wrist. It looked slightly more slender than his, yet its strength was in no way inferior. Fierce Soul Power directly broke through the black light around Xu Sanshi's hand, and an invisible aura spread in all directions.

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi's expression instantly turned solemn.

The displeasure from having Wu Feng break through his defenses vanished in an instant. He had even tossed her words to the back of his mind. In their place was a serious, even grave, look as he stared at the junior student before him, who was still a new student.

"If Senior Brother wants to exchange a few moves, I'd be happy to oblige."

"As for girls..." A smile curved across Chen Junting's lips, but his hand did not slow at all. With a twist of his wrist, a powerful force struck Xu Sanshi's wrist. "Being foul-mouthed should indeed be punished. But since I'm standing here, Senior Brother wouldn't be so lacking in grace, would you?"

"Interesting. A knight in shining armor?"

Xu Sanshi rolled his wrist and, unusually, did not lose his temper.

Instead, he gave Chen Junting a deep look.

"No. I just saw good prey and got excited."

Chen Junting stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

But his gaze remained locked on Xu Sanshi.

He truly wasn't lying.

First, Wu Feng had been foul-mouthed more than once, and she had made who knew how many mistakes without knowing how to correct them. She was the type who knew she had done wrong and admitted it, yet forgot again the next time and repeated the same mistake.

So letting her learn a proper lesson was appropriate.

Second, with his strength, it was difficult to find an opponent among the new students. Xu Sanshi, however, was just right. This caused the battle intent buried deep within Chen Junting's heart to surge forth.

Xu Sanshi had clearly noticed this as well.

"Little junior, you've got guts."

"If you dare, then come with me!"

With that, he headed toward the Soul Fighting Arena.

Ning Tian and the others naturally followed as well.

Only Tang Ya... excitedly ran toward the Dormitory Building, shouting as she went for Beibei to come watch Xu Sanshi suffer!

The Soul Fighting Zone was an extremely important area of Shrek Academy. It was located in the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department, near Shrek City. Under normal circumstances, the Soul Fighting Zone was also the only place where students were allowed to activate their Martial Souls and fight. If students had grievances with each other, most of them could come to the Soul Fighting Arena to settle them.

The entire Soul Fighting Zone also had specially assigned teachers serving as Referees, responsible for determining victory and defeat, protecting students, providing treatment, and offering assistance, among other things. Of course, all of this came at a cost.

The basic fee was ten Gold Soul Coins from each side.

In addition, Soul Fighting matches also awarded points, and these points were closely tied to each student's advancement in grade.

"Ning Tian, there are so many people here."

Wu Feng looked around. After hearing the conversations of the people nearby, she couldn't help exclaiming, "Ning Tian, they're actually all here for the Soul Fighting match between Xu Sanshi and that Sword Man! But thinking about it, that makes sense. A Soul Fighting match between a new student and a Fifth Year veteran—if it were me, I'd be interested too."

"Ouch!"

A red mark suddenly appeared on Wu Feng's forehead.

Ning Tian also said unhappily, "Why do you think they're fighting?"

"Ning Tian, I was wrong..."

"You know you're wrong, but you never change."

Seeing Wu Feng deflate, Ning Tian did not hold back. She knew Brother Junting's purpose. Wanting to fight was one aspect, and teaching Wu Feng a lesson was another. So next, she showed no mercy.

Huo Yuhao stood to the side, completely unable to get a word in.

He could only gaze down below, worry showing in his eyes.

"Brother Junting should be all right, right?"

"Little Yuhao, don't worry."

"Oh, Brother Bei."

Beibei had already sat down beside them.

Tang Ya was right behind him.

"Little Yuhao, Junior Sister Ning Tian, Junior Sister Wu Feng, long time no see." Beibei wore an elegant smile, but his own Teacher Xiao Ya immediately undermined him.

"What do you mean, long time? It's only been a few days."

"Xiao Ya..."

"Yes! What did you call me?"

"All right, all right, Teacher Xiao Ya."

Seeing the two of them flirting, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Huo Yuhao all wore awkward expressions. However, Beibei and Tang Ya quickly recovered. After smiling apologetically, Beibei began analyzing the upcoming Soul Fighting match.

"Of course, Xu Sanshi shouldn't be underestimated either."

A solemn expression appeared on Beibei's face. "His Martial Soul is the Profound Nether Turtle, an extremely powerful defensive Beast Martial Soul. In my opinion, it can be called the strongest defensive Beast Martial Soul in the world. It isn't inferior to Brother Chen's Seven Kills Sword."

"The Profound Nether Turtle."

Realization appeared on Ning Tian's face.

"So he's from the Profound Nether Sect."

Just then, a figure arrived before them.

"Huo Yuhao."

However, compared to before, he no longer had that overbearing attitude. This simple change alone made Huo Yuhao stare blankly.

Earlier, he had still been wondering whether, after falling out with this roommate, he should move to another dormitory.

He hadn't expected that now...

It seemed he wouldn't need to.

"Fifth Year student Xu Sanshi challenges First Year new student Chen Junting. If Xu Sanshi loses the match, he must pay an additional ten Gold Soul Coins." The Referee Teacher walked to the center of the arena and looked around at Chen Junting and Xu Sanshi on either side. "Any objections?"

"None." ×2

"Then the match begins."

The instant the words fell, both of them summoned their Martial Souls.

Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose from beneath Xu Sanshi's feet. His muscles swelled, his skin darkened, and his right hand gained a black turtle-shell shield roughly one and a half meters in diameter. Black Soul Power surged upward at once!

In Chen Junting's hand, meanwhile, appeared a Seven Kills Sword.

Although he saw no Soul Rings, Xu Sanshi did not let down his guard in the slightest.

The moment this junior summoned his Martial Soul, a vast and righteous aura tinged with a trace of ferocity had already spread out. It could even tear through Xu Sanshi's Soul Power.

This was also the result of Chen Junting's efforts over the past few days.

After obtaining that ferocious aura, he had continuously used the killing intent of the Seven Kills Sword to resist it, wear it down, fuse with it, and absorb it. Only a day ago had he gained his first results.

And this gain would become the first step in breaking free from the constraints left by Sword Dao Chen Xin ten thousand years ago.

"Buzz—"

The Seven Kills Sword hummed softly as the Long Sword Unsheathed.

Yellow light flashed, and a streak of Sword Qi shot out, tearing through the black Soul Power surrounding Xu Sanshi in an instant!

Yet this did not trouble Xu Sanshi much. After using the Profound Nether Turtle Shell Shield to block his entire body, pitch-black Soul Power surged from the shield, forming a black light barrier.

"Boom—"

As the rumble rang out, Chen Junting did not choose to close in. Instead, he slashed out six streaks of Sword Qi in succession.

This time, however, his killing intent was even stronger than it had been a few seconds earlier! Killing intent and Sword Qi intertwined, forming a huge character: "Kill."

It descended from above, striking toward Xu Sanshi!

Immediately afterward, the character "Kill" was dyed black.

Xu Sanshi was startled at once!

He could sense that the black within the "Kill" was his own Soul Power. Yet it had been completely wrapped up and carried along by that character, becoming the most effective weapon against him instead.

Despite his shock, his movements did not slow in the slightest.

His Third Soul Skill and First Soul Skill lit up in succession!

The air around him instantly grew moist. As the descending character "Kill" approached, a powerful black halo suddenly spread from the shield, covering more than ten square meters. It thrust outward like a massive air shield!

Yet the instant it came into contact with the character "Kill," the black halo was directly crushed. The character "Kill" did not lose momentum and slammed viciously into Xu Sanshi's Profound Nether Turtle Shell Shield.

However, surrounded by dense water elements, Xu Sanshi was merely knocked back a staggered step. His defenses were not broken.

But that staggered step was enough for Chen Junting to seize the opportunity.

His body moved like the wind, and his sword technique flashed like lightning!

One sword thrust toward Xu Sanshi's throat.

Xu Sanshi reacted extremely quickly as well. He raised his shield and forcefully blocked Chen Junting's attack. The Sword Edge collided with the shield, producing an ear-splitting impact as sparks flew in all directions!

"Second Soul Skill, Profound Nether Shield Array!"

Xu Sanshi shouted, and the enormous Profound Nether Turtle Shell Shield in his hand instantly split apart. Aside from the piece of armor blocking the tip of the Seven Kills Sword, the other shields spread out in all directions.

They faintly surrounded Chen Junting.

"Haah—"

A shout rang out, and the Soul Skill changed from defense to offense!

Shield after shield pressed inward toward Chen Junting at the center.

"Not unworthy of the Twin Stars of the Outer Academy's Eternal Defense!"

Chen Junting praised him aloud, but he did not retreat because of it.

He rapidly changed his moves, and his sword technique became even sharper! With almost no mistakes, his sword tip struck the shields surrounding him one after another. The incomplete Profound Nether Turtle Shell Shield could not withstand it at all, shattering repeatedly beneath his sword.

"Junior, you're not bad either."

Xu Sanshi had become exceptionally composed.

He had already discovered this new student's Soul Ring configuration.

A thousand-year Second Soul Ring!

Truly extraordinary.

"Then Senior Brother, be careful next!"

The instant his voice fell, one sword suddenly swept outward!

Terrifying Sword Qi instantly broke through the Profound Nether Shield Array!

Before he could suppress the backlash from having his Soul Skill broken, Xu Sanshi already felt Chen Junting's aura become even more terrifying!

The first and second five-pointed stars flickered with radiance.

Immediately afterward, the Seven Kills Sword swung down with overwhelming force!

It felt immensely heavy, yet it possessed not the slightest sharpness.

But this single sword forced Xu Sanshi to endure the earlier backlash and simultaneously unleash all three Soul Skills! Every piece of Profound Nether Turtle Shell radiated a black halo, blocking the Seven Kills Sword's path.

However...

"Crack, crack, crack, crack—"

The Seven Kills Sword advanced like a hot knife through butter, and the Profound Nether Turtle Shell cracked inch by inch!

Seeing the attack reach him, Xu Sanshi could only place the remaining Profound Nether Turtle Shell in front of himself. But it was useless. The heavy Profound Nether Turtle Shell Shield was instantly shattered!

Immediately afterward, tremendous force struck him. Before Xu Sanshi could feel even the slightest pain, the bones in his right arm had already issued a series of crisp cracking sounds, and the arm then hung limply at his side.

He could only watch as the Seven Kills Sword came to rest before him.

"Chen Junting wins."

The Referee's announcement rang out, and the Soul Fighting Arena instantly erupted in an uproar! Almost no one had expected the most famous Fifth Year Senior Brother to lose to a new student who had only just enrolled!

Chen Junting withdrew his Martial Soul and came before Xu Sanshi.

He handed him a healing pill.

"Senior Student Xu, thank you for the match."

Xu Sanshi did not stand on ceremony. He immediately took it and swallowed it. But his gaze remained fixed on Chen Junting as he asked curiously, "What was that move you just used called? Why did it feel completely different from your Martial Soul?" But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something and added awkwardly, "Of course, if it's inconvenient, forget I asked."

"It's only a name."

Chen Junting did not mind and then spoke.

"Seven Kills Sword Art, First Sword: Heavy Sword Without Edge."