Xu Jiujiu: Devouring Soul Skill, Evil Soul Master, Shrek—what an impressive Shrek!

Xu Jiujiu had gambled and won. That arrogantly heaven-defying Shrek Inner Courtyard disciple indeed had not intended to kill her, and had even cast her a glance with that pride rooted in his very bones.

The emotion in his eyes—could it have been pity?

Heh, how unexpected. Who would have thought that such a madman could actually feel pity? Pity for her, the empire's Princess. In his eyes, her supposedly exalted status was truly pitiful.

Of course, that was how most Shrek People saw it as well.

"Hahahahaha... How laughable! Why would I want the life of the Star Luo Empire's Eldest Princess? Are you trying to drag me down with you?"

Xu Tianxi threw his head back and laughed, his face full of mockery as if he were ridiculing Xu Jiujiu's utter foolishness.

This time, he intended to make Xu Jiujiu—and even the Star Luo Royal Family—form an indelible grudge against Shrek. Killing Xu Jiujiu was impossible, but letting her off easily was impossible too. It would not fit his persona.

Xu Jiujiu was not the sort to send people looking for trouble on her own. That was probably the work of the two teachers leading the group. But the old man was too useless; he had nearly fainted from fright at the sight of a tiny token. He could only take it out on the other old woman.

The Battle Soul Sage dispatched by the Netherworld Zhu Family to protect Xu Jiujiu was a suitable target.

His gaze shifted to the middle-aged beauty, Zhu Wen. Xu Tianxi thought, It's you, then, and spoke again in a frigid voice:

"Let me tell you this: I came here today to carry out a mission to hunt down the 'Abomination Demon Soul' assassin group. I have no interest in anything else!

"Shrek Academy students have always disdained killing the innocent. But every debt has its debtor!

"If I'm not mistaken, this piece of trash beneath my foot was sent by you, wasn't he? You foolish woman from the Netherworld Zhu Family?! Hmm~?"

As he spoke, he ground his foot against the sole beneath him, a chilling curve lifting the corner of his mouth.

The masked youth stood in white, Purple Thunder coiling around him. He planted his foot boldly on a Quasi Soul King genius who had been high-spirited only moments ago, questioning without the slightest hesitation a powerful Soul Sage from one of the Star Luo Empire's top noble families!

This bloody, bizarre, and utterly overbearing scene made Xu Tianxi seem like a lawless god of slaughter. It was as though nothing in the world could enter his eyes. He radiated an oppressive force that looked down upon all living beings, and his powerful aura far surpassed his cultivation—even Titled Douluo could not compare!

"No! That's not it! Esteemed prodigy from Shrek Inner Courtyard, please don't misunderstand and wrong an innocent person! I'm only a Soul Sage—how would I dare do such a thing?"

Zhu Wen had been scared witless the moment Xu Tianxi produced the Inner Courtyard Token. Panic showed in her evasive eyes. Now that Xu Tianxi's blade-cold gaze swept over her, her plump, mature body immediately trembled like a sieve as she stammered out her defense.

Yet her appearance only strengthened Xu Tianxi's resolve to deliver a Lethal blow.

He sneered, his piercing gaze growing even more forceful and domineering. He pointed at Xu Jiujiu, who was kneeling on the ground with her head buried in the dust, then pointed at Zhu Wen, as if tallying up his prey.

"Soul Sage? Among all you pieces of trash, you have the highest cultivation and the greatest strength. If even you don't dare, then who among this lot does?

"I'd say that although the Eldest Princess isn't entirely honest, her mind is still clear. You, woman, are not only dishonest but also dare to act without taking responsibility. Do you think I'd wrong you for no reason?"

"Your Excellency, I truly didn't..." Zhu Wen defended herself with a deathly pale face. Her trembling legs had no strength at all; whether she tried to kneel or fight, she could not muster any power.

"Enough nonsense! Since you dared come looking for trouble with me, you should be prepared to die! Teachers, make your move!"

Xu Tianxi had no intention of listening to Zhu Wen's explanation. With a wave of his hand, he pronounced her death sentence.

If he wanted to forge a bitter enmity, how could he do so without killing anyone? Crushing ten Quasi Soul Kings was less useful than forcing a Soul Sage to her death! Especially when that Soul Sage belonged to the Netherworld Family.

"Understood! Martial Soul Avatar!"

Yue Lao and Zhi Sen replied coldly. The Seventh Soul Ring on each of them lit up, and they entered their strongest battle state.

Xu Tianxi had already transmitted the purpose of this matter to them. They would rather kill the wrong person than let anyone go!

Dark teal ghost-flower vines covered in barbs drilled out of the ground like Earth Dragons breaking through the soil. They seemed to have been lying in wait long ago. With Zhi Sen's attack, they erupted and formed webs as thick as spider silk in midair, radiating a terrifying aura capable of corroding everything as they descended over the panicked Zhu Wen.

The vines were like countless teal snakes filling the sky, launching a vicious assault of devouring against their prey.

A bloodthirsty, savage aura burst from Yue Lao's aged body. With a twist, he transformed into a massive Swordfish bearing the traits of an Evil Spirit Orca. He controlled a large number of Soul Tools into the air and, with a long cry, fired Soul Guidance Rays brilliant as rain.

The target was simple and direct: Zhu Wen.

"No! Martial Soul Avatar!"

Faced with a deadly crisis, Zhu Wen's fighting instinct as a Battle Soul Saint finally returned. Her Seventh Soul Ring shone brilliantly. Her fiery body leaped, and a several-meter-long, pitch-black cat appeared in midair, endless terror flashing in its pupils as it fled for its life!

Shrek's experts were synonymous with invincibility among those of the same rank. With her mind in chaos, she had no courage to face one of them alone, much less two against one!

As long as she could escape, she believed that the speed of her Martial Soul would let her flee to safety. Once she returned to Star Luo City and gained the protection of her family, she would be safe!

Zhu Wen's idea was beautiful, but she overlooked one thing—the cramped space inside the inn could not give an Agility Attack Type Soul Sage enough room to maneuver.

And among the two deadly gods trying to kill her, one was a Plant-Type Control Type Battle Soul Sage, the very thing that best countered an Agility Attack Type!

The earth-shaking dark teal vines spread everywhere, completely wrapping around the ground inside and outside the inn. They sealed heaven and earth, turning this place into a deathly cage.

The Hell Spirit Cat slammed into a gate woven from teal vines. In her panic, her attack lacked enough power to break through it.

She lit up her Soul Rings, displaying Soul Skills identical to those of Hell Spirit Douluo Zhu Zhuqing from ten thousand years ago. Her body became indistinct and insubstantial, and two additional Clones appeared, each possessing part of her original strength as they tried to break out in different directions.

Hell Stab, Netherworld Hundred Claws, Hell Slash, and other Soul Skills that merely scratched the surface were unleashed one after another. Yet aside from slightly slowing the Azure Ghost Vine's advance, they had no effect whatsoever.

Yue Lao and Zhi Sen responded with astonishing simplicity: blanket firepower, all three attacking at once!

The Azure Ghost Vine sealed the Hell Spirit Cat's room to maneuver. Three Level 5 Soul Cannon Shells imbued with Ice effects were loaded and fired. Under the vines' cover, they rapidly landed near Zhu Wen's true body and Clones, then exploded with a thunderous boom!

"Rumble—"

In such a cramped space, Zhu Wen, entangled by the Azure Ghost Vine, had no chance whatsoever of escaping the blast radius of the Level 5 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.

"Ah~ Ah!"

Beautiful yet tragic sprays of blood scattered through the air. Zhu Wen's screams were even more miserable than Chen Xiao Jie's. The two Clones vanished, leaving only a battered giant Netherworld cat, half its body blasted stiff as blood sprayed from it.

The corner of Zhi Sen's mouth lifted. His Third, Fourth, and Fifth Soul Skills flashed in succession, and great masses of Azure Ghost Vine transformed in midair into iron spears gleaming with icy light, raining down toward Zhu Wen.

At the same time, vast swaths of Azure Ghost Vine suddenly grew from within the Hell Spirit Cat's body, rendering her completely immobile!

One of the most common yet difficult-to-deal-with sudden Soul Skills of Plant-Type Soul Masters—Parasite.

The spears descended, piercing through the Hell Spirit Cat's defenses and greedily devouring her Soul Power. Under the stunned gazes of everyone in the inn, her body rapidly shrank. She screamed endlessly, yet the more she struggled, the weaker she became, her Soul Power quickly bottoming out.

"A Devouring Soul Skill? This Soul Skill is extremely powerful, but it's rather special too..."

Looking down over the entire scene like a general directing a battle, Xu Tianxi's eyes flickered as he realized that the Soul Skill Zhi Sen was using was none other than an incomparably domineering devouring ability.

He now somewhat understood why Zhi Sen always wore such a cold expression, and why Xiao Changfeng had once saved his life. He had probably experienced something unforgettable.

With such an "Evil Soul Master"-like ability, how could he hope to survive without backing?

Had he forgotten the lessons of Scorpion Tiger Douluo and Crow Douluo?!

At the same time, Xu Jiujiu, still kneeling on the ground and waiting for that "Inner Courtyard disciple" to spare her and her companions, flickered her eyes. A faint, barely perceptible mocking smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

What a Devouring Soul Skill. What an impressive Plant-Type Battle Soul Saint. Aunt Zhu had displayed her Spirit Cat True Body and so many Soul Skills, yet she had been utterly powerless to fight back. It looked as though she was about to die.

Shrek—what an impressive Shrek!

Only today did she understand how important strength truly was. Without it, even the most exalted status was nothing but an empty shell.