Zhao Wuji looked at Snake Grandma and asked sternly, "Are you the Snake Grandma of the Peerless Dragon-Snake Couple?"
"Oh? You know this old woman?"
Zhao Wuji cupped his fists and replied, "Who wouldn't know the Peerless Dragon-Snake Couple?"
Seeing that he recognized her, Chao Tianxiang felt rather pleased. After all, the Peerless Dragon-Snake Couple's fame resounded throughout the Soul Master world. She confidently walked toward Zhao Wuji step by step.
Zhao Wuji frowned slightly. If it were only Snake Grandma, he would not have taken her seriously. But Dragon Duke and Snake Grandma were said to be inseparable. If Dragon Duke was nearby as well, things would become troublesome. He introduced himself, "I am Zhao Wuji."
Upon hearing Zhao Wuji's name, Snake Grandma's expression shifted. An ordinary Soul Saint would have been one thing, but Zhao Wuji's reputation was immense. "I was wondering how I could run into such a young Soul Saint so casually. So it's the famous Immoveable Yin King!"
Zhao Wuji said, "It is only an evil reputation. Senior, you said your granddaughter urgently needs this soul ring. By rights, this junior should yield it to you, but I can only apologize regarding this snake."
"You—this snake was ours to begin with." Meng Yiran immediately became displeased. She said unhappily, "I know you're a Soul Saint, but my grandfather is nearby."
At Meng Yiran's words, the expressions of the Shrek group turned ugly. The Peerless Dragon-Snake Couple's Martial Soul Fusion Skill could rival a Titled Douluo. They would not be easy to deal with.
Still, every one of them prepared for battle.
Snake Grandma asked darkly, "So you do not intend to return this snake to my granddaughter and me?"
Zhao Wuji sneered. "Listen to yourself. Every soul beast in the Star Dou Great Forest is ownerless. Why speak of 'returning' it? Perhaps you discovered this snake first, but we were the ones who caught it. You say it suits your granddaughter, but it also suits my student."
Snake Grandma looked at the Shrek group in surprise. "Immovable Yin King, are you saying one of these students has reached level thirty?"
"That's right." Zhao Wuji said proudly, "Oscar, Zhao Zilong, come here."
Snake Grandma looked at the two of them. Oscar was one thing, but Zhao Zilong looked to be only twelve or thirteen at most. She asked, "Children, how old are you?"
Oscar replied, "Senior, this student is fourteen."
"I'm twelve."
"What?" Snake Grandma and Meng Yiran were both greatly shocked upon hearing Zhao Zilong's age, staring at him in disbelief.
Meng Yiran had always been considered a genius girl at Beast Academy, yet she had only reached level thirty at fifteen. Hearing that Zhao Zilong had reached level thirty at just twelve, she rushed forward in disbelief. "Impossible! How could someone reach level thirty at twelve?"
Zhao Zilong looked at Meng Yiran, a teasing curve appearing at the corner of his lips. "If you don't believe it, why not test me?"
"Fine, let's test it." Meng Yiran moved to fight Zhao Zilong.
"Wait..." Zhao Zilong said.
Meng Yiran raised her chin proudly. "What? Afraid?"
"Afraid of what?" Zhao Zilong rolled his eyes and said to Snake Grandma, "Senior, that snake was poisoned by me. If we do not kill it soon, it will die from my poison. This snake's soul ring is not what I need, so I have a proposal. I will compete with this young lady. If this junior wins by luck, please let us handle the snake. Otherwise, it will belong to you."
Hearing Zhao Zilong call her big sister, Meng Yiran felt a little more favorably toward him. Before Snake Grandma could speak, Meng Yiran agreed, "Fine. It's decided."
Just as Meng Yiran was about to make a move, Snake Grandma suddenly called out, "Wait..."
"Grandma..." Meng Yiran said coquettishly.
Snake Grandma looked at Zhao Zilong. If he truly possessed level-thirty Soul Power, perhaps he had some sort of background. It would be best not to injure him. She asked, "Young man, which sect are you from?"
Zhao Zilong cupped his fists. "Well... my teacher does not permit me to reveal his name. Please forgive me, Senior."
Naturally, Zhao Zilong would not say that he had no sect. Otherwise, he would undoubtedly become a soft target for anyone to bully.
Upon hearing Zhao Zilong's words, the Shrek Academy group grew solemn as well. His words had revealed one thing: he had a teacher.
Seeing that Zhao Zilong refused to reveal more, Snake Grandma frowned slightly. She did not think he was lying. Without the guidance of a powerful teacher, it would be difficult to possess such Soul Power at such a young age.
Snake Grandma said again, "This is the Star Dou Great Forest. If your contest attracts soul beasts, it will benefit no one. Since you claim to be level thirty, I assume you would not refuse a contest of Soul Power?"
Zhao Zilong almost wanted to laugh. Though he only had two soul rings, his Soul Power had already reached level 31.5. Would he fear a simple contest of Soul Power?
"Fine. A contest of Soul Power it is." Zhao Zilong smiled confidently.
Then Meng Yiran and Zhao Zilong each stepped forward two paces. Meng Yiran introduced herself, "Meng Yiran, Martial Soul: Serpent Cane. Level-thirty, two-ring Soul Grandmaster."
"Zhao Zilong, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level-thirty, two-ring Soul Grandmaster."
Meng Yiran snickered. "Hehehe, Blue Silver Grass? Such a useless Martial Soul."
A smile curled Zhao Zilong's lips. "A useless Martial Soul? Perhaps. But we are competing in Soul Power, not Martial Souls. Do you want to change the rules and fight instead?"
"Hmph, no need." Meng Yiran said confidently.
Zhao Zilong first extended his left hand, then placed it behind his back, raising only his right hand. "Please."
"Bastard, you dare face me with one hand?" Meng Yiran flared up and immediately struck Zhao Zilong with her palm.
Zhao Zilong answered with a palm strike of his own, their palms colliding. Soul Power continuously flowed from their hands as Meng Yiran stood in place. Between their joined palms, purple and blue Soul Power continuously clashed.
Seeing Zhao Zilong handle her with one hand, Meng Yiran grew even angrier. She pressed her other palm against the back of her hand, increasing the Soul Power flowing from her palm with both hands. Zhao Zilong felt Meng Yiran's Soul Power intensify and found it slightly taxing, but he could still respond with one hand, firmly blocking her attack.
A contest of Soul Power was purely a drain on Soul Power. After only two or three minutes, Meng Yiran felt she had expended quite a bit, yet Zhao Zilong remained completely unmoved. Beads of fragrant sweat continuously ran down Meng Yiran's forehead as she gritted her teeth. "Damn it! I can't lose..."
On Shrek's side, they watched Zhao Zilong use one hand from beginning to end against Meng Yiran's two hands. He looked so dashing and composed that their confidence greatly increased. Snake Grandma saw that Meng Yiran was already barely holding on, while Zhao Zilong was clearly still at ease. Knowing the outcome had been decided, she said, "Enough, stop. Yiran, we lost."
Hearing this, Zhao Zilong looked at Meng Yiran, who was struggling to hold on, and said, "Then I'll count to three. How about we withdraw our power together?"
"Fine."
After counting to three, the two of them withdrew their Soul Power at the same time. However, the residual shockwave still sent them flying apart, and Zhao Wuji and Snake Grandma caught them respectively.
"Urgh, pfft..." Meng Yiran spat out a mouthful of blood after being blasted away, her body going limp. Seeing that Zhao Zilong on the other side seemed not to have suffered any backlash from her Soul Power, her pride took an even heavier blow.
Before you continue