Unexpected Conflict

By the roadside, recalling everything Feng Wuyu had told him last night, Gu You gazed at the sky thoughtfully. He truly wanted to take Feng Wuyu as his master. After all, they had known each other for three years, and he had even called him Master before. But he had to admit that if he wanted to become a Divine Craftsman, he had to study under Zhen Hua. Perhaps that was one small unfairness of the world.

For Gu You, the past three years had been rather dull. Forging, cultivation, and occasionally visiting Ya Li at the Sea God Pavilion in Shrek Inner Court—that was about it. Hardly anything else happened. The outside world still did not know his identity. If they did, he would become a big celebrity. And there was also his nominal master, Leng Yaozhu. They had not seen each other in so long; he wondered what she was feeling now.

Thinking of this, he had already entered Shrek Academy. The students guarding the volunteer mission station at the entrance had not recognized Gu You at first and refused to let him in. But after a voice suddenly sounded in their minds, their gazes became respectful, and they courteously opened the gates for him.

If not for his forging assignments and a few trivial matters, he should have broken through to level thirty by now, right?

Gu You looked at his hands. A dark purple strand of Soul Power quietly rose, then faded away just as calmly.

"Who is that? Why isn't he wearing a school uniform? I remember the rules say it's mandatory."

Spirit Ice Plaza was a place Gu You was visiting for the first time. Feng Wuyu had always directly sent him to the Inner Court before. For some reason, he had suddenly refused to do so today, forcing Gu You to make the long trek from the Forging Association to the Inner Court.

"Setting the facts aside, he looks so handsome without a school uniform!" Heart shapes practically appeared in the eyes of some female students in Spirit Ice Plaza. Many people gathered to watch, curious about this person who was not wearing a uniform. Honestly, there was rarely any gossip to enjoy at Shrek Academy. Most people desperately cultivated in hopes of competing for a place in the Inner Court.

Approaching nine years old, Gu You's appearance had undergone a complete transformation. His black eyes held a faint blue tint, his dark hair was slightly curled, and at one meter sixty tall, he was already nearly as tall as an adult. He also possessed a special aura that invited endless speculation.

Normally, Spirit Ice Plaza should have been sparsely populated. Even if anyone came, it was only to take missions, earn Contribution Points, or sweep the grounds. The reason so many people had gathered today was likely because classes had just ended, coupled with a few unexpected events.

Gu You swept his gaze around. Most of them wore white or yellow Shrek school uniforms—first- and second-year students.

Just like the Spirit Pagoda, different colors represented students of different levels.

"He's too arrogant! He isn't wearing a Shrek school uniform and is still strutting around in public. Does he think Shrek has no one? And you idiots are even defending him. Isn't he just a tiny bit more handsome than me?"

The first dissatisfied voice rose from the crowd. "Exactly! Exactly! Reporting someone for not wearing a school uniform seems to earn some Contribution Points. Today's luck is really good..."

A second voice chimed in.

Gu You said nothing and coldly walked through the crowd.

"Did I say you could leave?! Stay and explain yourself after the Enforcement Team arrives." A thick arm pressed down on Gu You.

"Let go." Gu You clenched his fist and calmly turned to look at the person behind him.

"Oh? What a temper. If you can leave today, then I won't call myself Zhou Tian." Zhou Tian looked at Gu You teasingly.

"I'll say it one more time. Let go." Gu You's tone grew slightly heavier.

"I'm so scared. I won't let go, I won't let go. What can you do about it? This is Shrek. Maybe you're even an illegal infiltrator. Once the Enforcement Team arrives, we'll know the answer."

"I support you!"

A thin, frail student stepped forward to stand before Gu You. Zhou Tian nodded. The kid knew what he was doing.

"Don't take this too far. The inspections outside the academy are so strict—how could any criminals possibly get in? I think he's probably a junior who just enrolled and doesn't know the rules yet." A timid girl with glasses spoke softly.

"Hmph! Just enrolled? Doesn't know the rules? Do you need to learn the rules to know you should wear a uniform to school? Which class are you from? Do you dare get on the arena and fight me?" Zhou Tian wore a ferocious expression as he glared at the girl. She immediately lowered her head and left in fear.

"Fine, time's up. I'm done playing with you. To be honest, I'm not a criminal, but... I'm not a Shrek student either." Gu You threw a light punch. Zhou Tian was overjoyed at the sight. His Martial Soul was the Mutated Diamond Baboon King, and he loved fools who did not know their limits and insisted on meeting strength with strength.

What Zhou Tian did not know was that Gu You had lost count of how many Diamond Baboons he had killed. Their fists collided. Zhou Tian had not even released his Martial Soul when a crack! rang out.

"Ah!"

The scream tore through the sky. Amid everyone's shocked gazes, Zhou Tian was sent flying.

What had just happened?

"Am I seeing things? Zhou Tian is a second-year student with level thirty-four Soul Power, and he was sent flying with one punch!"

"You're courting death!"

Zhou Tian clutched his arm in pain. Three Soul Rings lit up beneath his feet, and after his Martial Soul possessed him, brown fur began to spread across his entire body, making him look especially ridiculous.

"You should never have provoked me." Gu You remained calm as two Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, their purple radiance dazzling everyone around him.

"Th-Thousand-year!"

"His first Soul Ring is already thousand-year!"

Second Soul Skill, Divine Collapse Fist!

Zhou Tian had already entered a berserk state. His second and third Soul Rings lit up simultaneously, and a massive fist shadow carrying the force to shatter the earth blasted toward Gu You.

A petty trick!

Gu You gave a cold shout as his second Soul Ring lit up.

Purple Dread's Mighty Gaze!

"Submit to fear!!"

Gu You's eyes began to turn vertical, purple radiance spreading outward from them.

In Zhou Tian's eyes, Gu You's figure continuously enlarged. An aura that annihilated everything began to emanate, charging straight into his Sea of Consciousness. Scenes from all kinds of horror movies from his previous life suddenly flickered through his mind.

"No!"

"Ah!"

Zhou Tian went mad, his limbs convulsing. As for the Soul Skill from his earlier punch, it had long since been devoured by the Annihilation Attribute. This was one of the invincible traits of Gu You's Martial Soul. The ultimate Annihilation Attribute born from its mutation could destroy all Soul Skills and Soul Power, regardless of level. Even against a Titled Douluo, if that annihilating aura could not erase all the energy in their Soul Skill, it could still greatly weaken its damage. And this was merely the aura. If the Dragon Claw under the Martial Soul's augmented state pierced a human body, it would not simply dissolve Soul Power—you yourself might be torn apart.

Just then, terrifying auras suddenly descended from the sky. They came so abruptly that no one present had time to react.

The first to suffer were the first-year students, whose Soul Power was only around level twenty. They were forced to their knees. Next were the third-year students, who could only support themselves with one hand against the ground.

Gu You stood beneath the pressure as though nothing had happened.

"The Shrek Outer Court Enforcement Team is here! Who dares cause trouble?!"

Two figures descended from the sky and landed before the crowd. They both appeared to be in their thirties. Seven Soul Rings hovered beneath one of them and six beneath the other, but the frightening part was that both wore suits of shimmering armor.