Dai Mubai Steps Up

Seeing no one chasing after him, Ma Hongjun stopped, panting heavily as he cursed, "You two bastards, just wait for me!"

Ever since he was young, he had never suffered such humiliation in Suotuo City.

Once he returned, he would have a proper word with Flender. Those two fools who didn't know their place actually dared to offend him!

Hmph, just wait!

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.

Startled, he hurriedly turned around, and his face immediately broke into a smile. "Master, you have to stand up for me."

Flender waved a hand and took out two Gold Soul Coins from the pouch at his waist. "Go back and get some proper rest. Don't go to that place today."

As he spoke, he turned around.

The two honored guests were still waiting. If he did not return soon, they might leave.

Before leaving, he added, "Hongjun, you'll soon have a senior brother. Go back and tell Mubai that he'll have a formidable opponent in the future."

Before Ma Hongjun could press him for details, his figure vanished from where he stood.

"What's going on?" Ma Hongjun was baffled.

After standing there in a daze for a long while, he suddenly understood something.

Wu Qi's martial soul was also a bird, and he looked quite young!

Could it be that Master had taken a liking to that kid?

Ma Hongjun immediately became wary.

He had been taught a lesson by that guy today. If he became their eldest senior brother in the future, how was Ma Hongjun supposed to live?

An elder brother was like a father. If Wu Qi started managing him like a father, how could he continue living freely and happily?

"No, I have to give him a show of strength! Let him know that I have someone backing me too."

Ma Hongjun knew he was no match for Wu Qi, but Dai Mubai of Shrek Academy was the real boss.

Moreover, the two of them had an excellent relationship. Getting Dai Mubai to stand up for him was entirely possible.

Seeing that Flender had not returned, Wu Qi decided to leave for the time being.

The two had not gone far when, upon reaching a corner, they ran into the pursuing Flender head-on.

Wu Qi asked blandly, "Are you here to reclaim the 'stolen goods' from us?"

Flender adjusted his glasses. "Wouldn't I know whether you stole anything? So, did you find anything you liked?"

Wu Qi did not answer, but Qian Gu Changkong nodded seriously.

Flender greeted them warmly, "Come, come, come. Return to the shop with me and pick whatever you want."

In his heart, he had already regarded Wu Qi and Qian Gu Changkong as his own people.

Flender had many faults, but when it came to his own people, he would not play such petty tricks.

Wu Qi noticed the shift in Flender's attitude and found it rather baffling.

Of course, how could he possibly know how Flender's mind worked?

Inside the shop, Wu Qi casually selected several damaged Soul Tools and also picked up that piece of Crystal Gold Filament.

Qian Gu Changkong, meanwhile, sifted through the goods and chose a large pile of Soul Tools.

Wu Qi could not help clicking his tongue. "Why are you buying so many?"

After all, the Soul Tools sold in Flender's little shop were almost all defective goods, the kind that could barely still be used.

Most of these Soul Tools had originally possessed decent effects, but either due to a lack of maintenance or deliberate damage, less than a tenth of their original effectiveness remained.

At most, the Soul Tools Qian Gu Changkong had bought would be somewhat useful to Soul Masters below level twenty. If Flender intended to take this opportunity to inflate the price, then there would be no need to buy them.

"Boss, how much?" Wu Qi asked.

Flender thought for a moment before naming an unbelievable price. "One hundred Gold Soul Coins for the whole lot."

Wu Qi raised a brow.

In the original timeline, Tang San had spent one hundred Gold Soul Coins on a single piece of Crystal Gold Filament. They were buying more than a dozen items.

As far as Flender was concerned, these Soul Tools had cost him nothing. He had scavenged them all from the Star Dou Great Forest.

One hundred Gold Soul Coins was a friendship price—or perhaps, in his mind, a master-disciple price.

Wu Qi did not understand what Flender was thinking, but buying so many Soul Tools for one hundred Gold Soul Coins was absolutely worth it.

After paying, the two left the shop without looking back.

Just before they stepped out of the shop, Flender called out a reminder, "You two, we will meet again. I hope you won't be too surprised when that happens."

Wu Qi shrugged and did not stop.

After watching the two disappear from sight, Flender immediately shut the shop's doors.

The two might have exceeded Shrek Academy's age limit for admission. If he did not make arrangements in advance and they ended up unable to enroll, that would be quite the joke.

"Was that owner an idiot? So many Soul Tools, and he only charged a hundred Gold Soul Coins. Good thing we left quickly. Once he came to his senses, he might come after us for more money."

Having gotten such a huge bargain, Qian Gu Changkong could hardly put down the Soul Tools in his hands.

"Didn't you notice anything strange?" Wu Qi asked in return.

Qian Gu Changkong was no fool. After following Wu Qi for so long, he had learned a thing or two.

"Nothing more than trying to curry favor with us. We easily taught his disciples a lesson, so he probably guessed that we were no ordinary people and wanted to show goodwill."

That could not be denied, but Shrek Academy had operated for so many years without being swallowed up, which proved that Flender was unlikely to bow to the powerful and wealthy.

Perhaps Flender had misunderstood something and thus showed them goodwill. But who would turn down a bargain? Wu Qi certainly was not going to make up the difference for him.

"Did you buy so many Soul Tools to give to someone?"

These Soul Tools would be of great help to Soul Masters who had only recently begun cultivating. But Wu Qi had never heard that Qian Gu Changkong had any younger brothers or sisters.

Qian Gu Changkong lowered his voice. "You haven't been at the Worship Hall for long, and you spend most of your time cultivating. It's normal that you don't know."

The recipient of these Soul Tools was Golden Crocodile Douluo's granddaughter—Jin Yuting.

Jin Yuting was only eight years old, yet she had not inherited Golden Crocodile Douluo's Golden Crocodile King martial soul. On top of that, her Innate Soul Power was merely level five. To a top-tier Expert like Golden Crocodile Douluo, this was undoubtedly a humiliation.

Therefore, Golden Crocodile Douluo had never brought Jin Yuting into the Worship Hall. The other worshippers understood his helplessness and did not speak of the matter either.

As for Jin Yuting, she was currently studying in the junior division of Martial Soul Hall Academy's Soul Master Academy. However, she had never revealed her family background, and many higher-ups within Martial Soul Hall did not know where she came from.

Qian Gu Changkong remembered that before Jin Yuting awakened her martial soul, he had often taken her out to play. After she awakened it, Golden Crocodile Douluo hid her away to prevent her talent from being exposed and mocked.

"I didn't expect there to be something like this. Second Grandfather's feelings must be complicated," Wu Qi sighed.

According to the theory of martial soul inheritance, the stronger the parents were, the more likely their children would awaken high Innate Soul Power. However, accidents could not be ruled out.

Yu Xiaogang, for instance, was the textbook case of a great father and a worthless son.

Qian Gu Changkong sighed. "On Douluo Continent, Innate Soul Power determines everything. I just hope Yuting can live a better life in the future."

There's still a chance, Wu Qi thought.

If he obtained the immortal herbs in Dugu Bo's possession, he could defy fate and change her destiny.

Golden Crocodile Douluo had treated him well. If there was a suitable immortal herb, Wu Qi would not mind giving one to Jin Yuting.

Approaching Dugu Bo would be difficult; Dugu Yan was his way in. But he absolutely could not appear too abrupt. After all, he came from Martial Soul Hall, and that background would inevitably make Dugu Bo wary!