This chapter copied quite a bit. If you have read the first half before, you can skip it.
Although the Soul Power within Zhang Yang was about to break free of his control and begin circulating on its own, he still appeared calm and composed on the surface.
Seeing Zhang Yang remain so composed under the pressure of forty-level Soul Power, Meng Shenji could not help but praise him. The talent of a Mutated Beast Martial Soul truly made people take notice.
With that thought, Meng Shenji began increasing the pressure on Zhang Yang.
Level forty-one.
Zhang Yang's brows twitched, as though he had finally felt tangible pressure.
Level forty-two.
The corner of Zhang Yang's mouth twitched, as though he were already enduring the effects of the pressure.
Level forty-three.
Zhang Yang's entire body slowly began to tremble, the shaking already visible to the naked eye. Satisfaction appeared in the eyes of Meng Shenji and the other two Soul Douluo.
The three of them felt immensely gratified to have a student with such unyielding willpower and outstanding talent enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Finally, when the Soul Power pressure reached the level of forty-four, that stone finally appeared beneath Zhang Yang's feet.
Unable to resist the pressure Meng Shenji was imposing through his own strength alone, Zhang Yang had no choice but to use Martial Soul Possession to improve his ability to withstand it.
And Zhang Yang's decision to Activate Soul Power and directly enter Martial Soul Possession was precisely that stone that tripped him.
His Soul Power was currently circulating at high speed and already felt vaguely out of control. If Zhang Yang activated Soul Power to do something else at that moment, would that not be like adding another burst of force to a rapidly spinning hamster wheel?
Thus, Zhang Yang fell.
The circulation of his Soul Power instantly broke free of Zhang Yang's control. The Martial Soul that had been meant to possess him was released instead, and the towering Borsalino instantly appeared behind Zhang Yang. It still wore that crooked-mouthed expression, but the moment it appeared, much of the pressure Meng Shenji had placed on Zhang Yang was immediately shared.
With the pressure reduced, the uncontrollable Soul Power instantly rebounded and expanded at once, rapidly widening the Soul Power cultivation pathways within Zhang Yang's body.
"Ugh!"
Zhang Yang only had time to let out a pained groan as his Soul Power cultivation pathways were violently widened before dropping straight to his knees.
Everyone in the hall was stunned by the sight.
"Zhang Yang!" Master sprang up from his Chair and rushed toward Zhang Yang in long strides.
"What happened?" The three Soul Douluo were too alarmed to remain seated. They hurriedly released their Spiritual Power to examine Zhang Yang's condition.
The other Soul Emperor and Soul Sage experts in the hall also activated their Soul Power to investigate Zhang Yang's condition.
That examination caused the anxious expressions on everyone's faces to freeze. Then, they all turned into looks of helpless amusement.
Meng Shenji, who possessed the strongest Soul Power in the hall, sat back down with a wry smile.
"I thought my control over my Soul Power had not been precise enough and that I had hurt the child. I never expected that he had broken through under the pressure."
"Thank you, Soul Douluo Meng Shenji." Master reached the same conclusion. He rose with a smile and bowed to Zhi Lin.
With the disturbance over, both sides resumed their conversation, and the atmosphere in the hall became much livelier.
This test brought Zhang Yang quite a few gains. First, his Soul Power had broken through to level thirty-four. Second, the Soul Power cultivation pathways within his body had widened somewhat.
Widening the Soul Power cultivation pathways was like turning a six-lane road into an eight-lane road. Although the number of cars on the road remained the same, the wider road allowed them to travel a little faster.
By rough estimate, Zhang Yang's Soul Power circulation speed would remain at one and a half times its original speed until level thirty-six.
This would greatly benefit Zhang Yang, whether in cultivation or battle.
Zhang Yang also knew what sort of setting he was in, so he ended his cultivation as quickly as possible, climbed to his feet, and bowed to Meng Shenji. "Thank you, Soul Douluo Meng Shenji, for helping this student break through to level thirty-four."
Meng Shenji nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "This is the result of your own efforts. Your willpower is incomparably resilient, and your Physical Fitness far surpasses that of Soul Masters at the same level. A genius like you has truly broadened my horizons."
After testing Zhang Yang, Meng Shenji was in an exceptionally good mood. Just as Soul Douluo Zhi Lin beside him was about to test Tang San as well, the sound of two people approaching suddenly came from outside.
"Is Chief Meng Shenji here?" The people had not yet arrived, but their voices had already carried in from outside.
Meng Shenji froze for a moment. Why is he here? He hurried outside to greet them, while the other two members of the education committee followed behind him. Their expressions seemed to change slightly as well.
Very quickly, the three Soul Douluo escorted three people inside. One of them was familiar to everyone from Shrek Academy: Xue Beng, the two-ring Soul Master whom Dai Mubai had beaten up yesterday.
After Meng Shenji introduced both sides, everyone learned that this man was Prince Xue Xing, the member of the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family responsible for overseeing the academy.
Prince Xue Xing did not even glance at the Shrek group before sneering, "Shrek Academy? I have never heard of it. It must be some third-rate academy. Chief Meng Shenji, how could you allow people of unknown origin into our academy?"
Upon hearing that, everyone from Shrek Academy flew into a rage. Zhao Wuji, standing beside Dean Flender, was about to lash out, but Flender forcibly held him back.
Meng Shenji's expression changed. "Your Highness, that is not the case. Shrek Academy has trained countless outstanding Soul Masters. Teacher Qin of our academy, for instance, graduated from Shrek Academy."
"Dean Flender and the other teachers from Shrek Academy are all rare talents as well. Their willingness to teach at our academy is a wonderful thing for us."
Hearing Meng Shenji say that Qin Ming had also been trained by Shrek Academy, Prince Xue Xing's expression improved somewhat. Qin Ming was, after all, one of the continent's foremost geniuses. He had broken through to the Soul Emperor rank at thirty-four, and he would certainly reach the Titled Douluo rank before sixty.
The emergence of a Titled Douluo held great significance not only for an academy, but even for the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
Therefore, even Prince Xue Xing had no choice but to treat Qin Ming with caution.
However, Prince Xue Xing had clearly come looking for trouble, so naturally he would not change his mind because of Qin Ming alone. He continued, "Being able to produce Teacher Qin does indeed prove Shrek Academy's teaching standards, but..."
As he spoke, Prince Xue Xing looked at Meng Shenji. "I heard from Xue Beng that these 'Distinguished Guests' beat him up the moment they arrived at the academy yesterday. As a pillar of the empire, Heaven Dou Royal Academy cannot only consider teaching standards. The moral character of its teachers is equally important."
"I absolutely do not wish for the academy to hire arrogant and domineering people."
Xue Beng, standing nearby, revealed a pleased smile.
Only then did everyone in the room understand Prince Xue Xing's intentions. Everything he had said before was nonsense. He had clearly come today to seek justice for Xue Beng.
The three Soul Douluo sighed inwardly. It was precisely because the academy had so many brainless nobles that it could not nurture more outstanding talents.
Flender said calmly, "Then how does Your Highness intend to resolve this matter?"
Prince Xue Xing snorted. "I have always treated talents well. Since you have come to seek cooperation with Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Xue Beng was also at fault yesterday, let this matter end here. However..."
At this point, his gaze swept across Flender and the teachers of Shrek Academy. "You must prove to me that you truly are talented."
Flender suppressed his anger. "Fine. Then how does Your Highness wish us to prove it?"
Prince Xue Xing smiled faintly. "Very simple. As long as you can hold out for five minutes against Mr. Dugu, I will recognize you as talents, and all your treatment will be preferential. Otherwise, please return the way you came."
"Your Highness, do not go too far." Meng Shenji said angrily.
Prince Xue Xing replied calmly, "Chief Meng Shenji, if you believe I have gone too far, you may complain before His Majesty. But before that, as the academy's direct administrator, everything that happens within this academy is decided by me."
"You—" Meng Shenji was so furious that his beard and hair bristled, yet he could not speak.
Xue Beng, standing beside Prince Xue Xing, looked utterly smug.
Seeing that he had left Meng Shenji speechless, Prince Xue Xing gave Flender and the others a triumphant glance, then respectfully said to the Green Hair old man behind him, "Mr. Dugu, I will leave it to you."
The old man called Mr. Dugu nodded and looked arrogantly at Flender and the others. "Come at me together."
As he spoke, an intense layer of green light suddenly erupted from his body. Immediately afterward, rings of light rose one after another from beneath his feet. Yet his body itself did not change in the slightest.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black. A total of nine Soul Rings spiraled upward, their dazzling radiance turning the entire education committee hall brilliant and resplendent.
Everyone in the room changed expression. No one had expected this unkempt Green Hair old man to be one of the continent's greatest peak experts, a Titled Douluo with Soul Power above level ninety.
"Your surname is Dugu, and the stench of poison clings heavily to you. If I am not mistaken, you must be Senior Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo whose title is Poison." Master stepped forward, blocking the enraged teachers of Shrek Academy as he addressed the Green Hair old man.
"Hahahaha." The Green Hair old man gave a strange laugh. "I never expected anyone would still remember me. That is right, I am Dugu Bo. Since you know my name, why have you not gotten lost?"
Master's expression remained calm. He actually nodded seriously. "All right, we will get lost."
After saying that, Master faced the three Soul Douluo on the education committee. "My apologies, three seniors. Let today's matter end here. But we will never forget the warm hospitality you have shown us. Until we meet again."
"Wait." A fierce light burst from Meng Shenji's eyes as he stared at the Poison Douluo with nine shining Soul Rings. "Dugu Bo, let us three old fellows experience your poison."
Bai Baoshan, the Heavenly Star Furnace Soul Douluo, and Zhi Lin, the Azure Vine Soul Douluo, quickly moved behind Meng Shenji.
Powerful auras erupted from the three of them simultaneously as they released their respective Martial Souls.
Three eight-ring Soul Douluo against one nine-ring Titled Douluo.
The situation in the hall instantly became tense.
But at that moment, Flender, the person in charge of Shrek Academy, moved.
Flender stepped forward and gave the three Soul Douluo a slight bow. "I never expected that our visit would bring such trouble to the three seniors. Flender is ashamed."
"Since Prince Xue Xing is unwilling to keep us, how can we beg to stay? Even if we remain today, I fear we will not have peace afterward. Thank you, three seniors, for your care toward the juniors. Farewell for now. Flender will visit again another day."
The seventy-eight-level Agility Attack System Battle Soul Sage, Four-Eyed Cat Eagle Flender, who had been proud and unyielding for fifty years, had lowered his head for these old companions and these children.
"Dean Flender." Meng Shenji called out anxiously.
Flender did not turn back. He led the Shrek group outside in large strides.
The expressions of the three Soul Douluo alternated between red and pale. They were clearly furious to the extreme, but what could they do? Heaven Dou Royal Academy ultimately belonged to the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family.
Just then, a pretty Young girl ran in from outside, brushing past the Shrek group.
"Grandfather." The moment she entered, she threw herself at Dugu Bo, whose nine Soul Rings were shining.
Dugu Bo reached out and pulled the Young girl into his arms, his previous cold expression completely gone. He laughed heartily. "Yan Yan, good. Your strength has improved again."
As she brushed past the Shrek group, Dugu Yan naturally saw them, and her expression changed noticeably. Wrapping her arms around Dugu Bo's neck, she whispered something into his ear.
Upon hearing it, Dugu Bo suddenly lifted his head, his gaze shifting back and forth between Zhang Yang's and Tang San's retreating figures.
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