The Wagered Battle

Du Busi brought Lin Ran and Tang Ya back to face the Shrek Academy group, while Mu En returned to the Shrek Academy side.

"Elder Mu, are you all right?"

Everyone from Shrek Academy wore worried expressions.

They knew Elder Mu's physical condition well. He could not withstand a life-and-death battle between Limit Douluo, and Du Busi had now grown so powerful that he could fight Mu En, even after Mu En had used the Sea God's Light, without falling behind.

Mu En looked as calm as ever. He shook his head and said mildly, "I merely exchanged a few moves with Busi. It is nothing. Go, bring Bei Bei and that child Sanshi here."

Before long, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were brought before Mu En. Mu En said kindly, "Bei Bei, Sanshi, the two of you are now the strongest Soul Grandmasters in the academy. Go and exchange pointers with Du Busi's disciple. Do not feel pressured."

"Yes, Elder Mu."

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi exchanged a glance, both inwardly surprised.

At such a major gathering of Elders, one concerning the academy's safety, they were actually being asked, two Soul Grandmasters, to spar with someone else. This was surely no simple matter.

Mu En looked at Du Busi and said, "Busi, let these two children spar with your disciple on our side."

Du Busi snorted. "Mu En, what is this? Does Shrek Academy only know how to gang up on the few with the many? Why not call over every Soul Grandmaster in your academy?"

Mu En chuckled. "Busi, look at you, getting worked up again. I mean for each of them to spar with your disciple separately. It is not as though Shrek Academy cannot afford two wagers."

Du Busi looked at Lin Ran, his gaze questioning.

Lin Ran said indifferently, "Teacher, it is no matter. Neither of them is my opponent."

Only then did Du Busi beam. "Since Shrek Academy wishes to offer another great gift, then my disciple will gladly accept it."

Mu En's expression did not change. He merely patted Bei Bei lightly on the shoulder.

Bei Bei was the first to step forward. Though young, he already carried himself with a steady, composed air.

"Shrek Academy, Bei Bei, Soul Grandmaster. Please instruct me."

Lin Ran stepped forward twice. He looked at Bei Bei, then at the rather sturdily built youth behind him, and said calmly, "The two of you can come at me together. That way, we will not waste time doing this one at a time."

Bei Bei's expression shifted slightly. He said in a low voice, "You think too little of me."

Lin Ran said, "Whether I am underestimating you or not, will we not find out after we fight?"

Bei Bei clenched his fists and turned to look at Mu En. Mu En said calmly, "In that case, Sanshi, join Bei Bei and spar with that child."

Xu Sanshi agreed. He did not feel slighted at all. If being underestimated could give him even a slight advantage, he would be more than happy to accept it.

Xu Sanshi came to Bei Bei's side and looked eagerly at Lin Ran. "Kid, remember this. My name is Xu Sanshi."

"Got it, Xu Sturdy." Lin Ran nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

So he was Xu Sanshi, Douluo's Two-Faced Turtle? He had actually come to Shrek Academy this early? I wonder whether his martial soul had evolved yet?

Xu Sanshi's mouth twitched.

Beside him, Bei Bei silently committed the nickname to memory. From now on, he could alternate between calling him Stinking Turtle and Xu Sturdy.

"Get ready to begin." Lin Ran did not waste any more words.

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi's expressions both turned solemn.

On such an important occasion, and with it being two against one, they could not lose.

As the two sides faced off, Bei Bei was the first to undergo Martial Soul Possession. A dazzling blue light lit up from between his brows, then instantly spread downward from his forehead through his entire body. Strands of blue-purple lightning burst forth like small snakes, writhing around his body.

His right arm suddenly swelled, his sleeve exploding into ashes and revealing blue-purple scales covering the entire arm. His hand had already turned into a dragon claw, while the blue-purple serpentine lightning coiling around him continuously gathered upon or coursed through his arm. Two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet and circled around his arm.

Xu Sanshi underwent an equally dramatic transformation. Two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet. His originally fair skin immediately darkened, his muscles bulged, and his whole body expanded by a full size. In his right hand appeared a black Turtle Shell Shield roughly one and a half meters in diameter.

Lin Ran's gaze fell on Xu Sanshi, but he did not sense any trace of evolution from the Mysterious Nether Tortoise.

Facing the two imposing opponents, his expression remained calm as he advanced step by step. His appearance did not change much; only his eyes turned an enchanting blood-red, making his entire aura exceptionally mysterious and dangerous.

Soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet with every step—black, black.

They were actually two black soul rings.

Everyone from Shrek Academy widened their eyes.

They had not seen wrong. Du Busi's disciple had absorbed Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings as his first and second soul rings.

For a moment, their hearts grew heavy as they looked toward Mu En. The Body Sect had Du Busi, a Limit Douluo, holding the fort, and among the younger generation, they also had a monstrous existence like Lin Ran—

The Body Sect was about to rise.

Mu En's expression remained calm, but his gaze stayed fixed tightly on Lin Ran.

When Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei saw the two black soul rings beneath Lin Ran's feet, their hearts could not help but tighten.

Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings—not only did they signify a qualitative leap in the power of soul skills.

Being able to absorb Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings itself meant that a person's physical strength and Mental Power had reached the level of a Soul King.

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi exchanged a glance. With the tacit understanding of close friends, each saw the other's intentions in the solemnity on his face.

We have to seize the initiative and attack first!

Bei Bei took the lead, charging at Lin Ran. At the same time, the first soul ring on his arm lit up. Amid intense Soul Power fluctuations, a dragon claw formed from blue-purple lightning shot forth like a bolt, swiping at Lin Ran.

Xu Sanshi actually threw the Turtle Shell Shield from his hand. The heavy black shield spun as it flew toward Lin Ran.

Facing the attack, Lin Ran's body sank slightly. Then, with an explosive boom, a small crater appeared where he had just stepped. He shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, charging straight into the Thunder Dragon Claw, leaving Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi stunned.

What kind of explosive power was that? And why was he charging directly into the attack?

Before Bei Bei, who had realized something was wrong, could react, he saw Lin Ran's right arm covered in a golden-and-silver glow of Soul Power. Lin Ran threw a punch at the Thunder Dragon Claw and actually smashed it apart.

The golden and silver radiance covering Lin Ran's arm was naturally formed from the Yin-Yang Soul Power of the Longevity Skill. The Longevity Skill's Soul Power came with its own attributes, so Lin Ran covered his body with it, giving himself a fairly effective protective barrier.

After the dragon claw dispersed, the lightning on it did not fade. Instead, it spread out into an electric net that snaked over Lin Ran's entire body.

At the same time, Xu Sanshi's Turtle Shell Shield flew over to Lin Ran's side.

Xu Sanshi gave a sly chuckle as the first soul ring beneath his feet lit up. The black glow on the Turtle Shell Shield immediately intensified, and a powerful halo spread from the shield with a booming roar, suddenly striking toward Lin Ran.

Mysterious Nether Tremor—his first soul skill—could knock enemies back over an area and also had a certain stunning effect.

Lin Ran was now caught in a pincer attack. Once Mysterious Nether Tremor held him in place for an instant, the power of lightning would paralyze him. Xu Sanshi could practically see victory waving at him.