Douluo: Betrothal to Ning Rongrong, Reward: Heaven Shading Method

"Could it be that guy behind you? Don't be afraid. With us here, we'll protect you!"

The nervous Young Maiden nodded, then hid behind Ning Rongrong. Looking at Ma Hongjun following after them, she began to feel worried.

"Who are you two? Why are you protecting her? If you know what's good for you, get the hell out of my way!"

Hearing Ma Hongjun say that, Ye Xingchen could not help but smile faintly.

This guy had a kind heart, yet he always liked doing things like bullying men and women.

Especially when it came to romance, he always seemed different from everyone else, completely out of place.

"Did you hear me? I'm talking to you! Ignoring me? You must not know my reputation!"

With his arms crossed, Ma Hongjun slowly walked up to them. Seeing that they ignored him, an inexplicable rage immediately rose within him.

Especially after seeing Ye Xingchen's handsome face, he felt that his looks had been threatened.

"You fat bastard, what's so great about you? Bullying a woman here? Just watch how I teach you a lesson today!"

Ning Rongrong snorted with her hands on her hips and scolded Ma Hongjun without hesitation!

"Little girl, you're quite pretty. Want to be my girlfriend? Let's date!"

Ma Hongjun merely smiled, glanced at Ning Rongrong with his arms crossed, and teased her.

Hearing this, the Young Maiden hiding behind Rongrong immediately warned her:

"There's something wrong with his temper. Don't ever date him, or he'll only bully you. That's why I broke up with him!"

Hearing the woman's words, Ning Rongrong nodded and teased Ma Hongjun:

"You want this lady to be your girlfriend? Why don't you piss and take a look at whether you're worthy first?"

Ma Hongjun smiled dismissively as he looked at Ye Xingchen standing in front of Ning Rongrong.

He immediately pushed off with his heel and strode forward. With a raise of his hand, red Soul Power erupted!

"Whether I'm worthy or not, you'll find out soon enough. I'll first send that lackey in front of you running, then you'll know how formidable I am!"

Ye Xingchen remained unmoved and shook his head slightly. Looking at the rather arrogant Ma Hongjun, he felt a faint headache.

The moment Ma Hongjun drew near, Ye Xingchen's Heavenly Emperor Cauldron Martial Soul instantly appeared. As a piercing metallic clang exploded, Ma Hongjun was bounced away like a ball and crashed to the ground.

"Damn, what kind of Martial Soul is that? That defense is insane!"

Ma Hongjun climbed to his feet while clutching his chest, then looked at Ye Xingchen and cried out in shock.

When he had just attacked with seventy percent of his Soul Power, he had thought he could easily teach this guy a lesson.

Who would have thought that the instant his Soul Power made contact, an even stronger force of Soul Power would directly rebound against him?

In that instant, he saw a three-legged, two-eared cauldron enveloping the guy's body.

"If I don't give you a beating, you'll think everyone is easy to bully, won't you?" Ye Xingchen sighed softly.

Ma Hongjun climbed up from the ground and snorted. Looking at Ye Xingchen in his white robes, a trace of wariness appeared in his eyes.

With a casual wave of his hand, his Soul Power immediately erupted.

"You're the first guy who's dared speak to me like that. If I'm not mistaken, you're part of the new batch, right?"

"Today, I'll show you what I'm capable of and teach you what it means to respect your seniors!"

After saying that, Ma Hongjun stomped lightly. Wisps of flame immediately spread outward before him, while a phoenix quietly appeared above his head!

He glanced at Ye Xingchen and charged forward again. As his Soul Power burst forth, a flaming tornado swept toward Ye Xingchen!

"So even a pheasant can become someone's Martial Soul? That's rather amusing."

Ye Xingchen's expression remained calm as he shook his head slightly. After saying that, he took a step forward.

Immediately, the Spiritual Power and Soul Power within his body dispersed outward!

At the same time, the Cloud Pattern Long Sword quietly appeared in his hand. Glancing at the approaching flaming tornado, he slashed out a Sword Qi Blade without hesitation!

With an explosion, the flaming tornado vanished like shattered glass melting away.

Ma Hongjun, standing behind it, had a livid expression. Looking at Ye Xingchen, he gritted his teeth and said:

"I hate it most when people call my Martial Soul a pheasant Martial Soul. If you don't pay the price today, then I won't be called Ma Hongjun!"

After saying that, Ma Hongjun shifted slightly and immediately transformed into an Afterimage as he rushed forward.

The instant he neared Ye Xingchen, he raised his chubby fist and viciously smashed it toward Ye Xingchen's face.

Ye Xingchen did not move. He smiled at the incoming fist and did not choose to dodge.

As the Heavenly Emperor Cauldron Martial Soul appeared in an instant, a muffled groan sounded. Ma Hongjun, rebounded to the ground by the powerful force, shook his head.

Rubbing his reddened fist, he said bitterly:

"Your defense and attack are both so terrifying. It looks like Shrek Academy is destined to be lively this year!"

"But do you think I'll admit defeat just because of that? It's not over yet!"

Ma Hongjun slowly rose and sighed faintly. His red Soul Power immediately began to burn, and the Phoenix Martial Soul behind him let out a shriek.

His Soul Power instantly surged without limit. Accompanied by a phoenix cry, he charged toward Ye Xingchen once again.

Such a huge commotion immediately caught the attention of Dai Mubai, Oscar, Tang San, and the others.

When they arrived and saw the two fighting, traces of pity appeared in their eyes.

"Ma Hongjun actually picked a fight with Brother Ye. I'd say he's doomed to suffer."

Hearing Dai Mubai say that, Oscar asked curiously:

"Why do you say that? Ma Hongjun's pheasant Martial Soul is a little ridiculous, but his strength is no joke!"

Tang San smiled with his arms crossed, glanced at Ye Xingchen, and said calmly:

"If I told you that on the day of our entrance examination, he defeated Teacher Zhao Wuji by himself, would you still think he was easy to deal with?"

Hearing this, Oscar was utterly stunned. He turned to look at Ye Xingchen, a trace of wariness appearing in his eyes!

"Roar!"

As a furious roar rang out, red light shone in Ma Hongjun's eyes. Looking at Ye Xingchen, he pounced forward as if he had gone mad.

The phoenix Martial Soul above his head also transformed into a giant bird and followed after him!

Facing the overwhelming flames sweeping toward him, Ye Xingchen remained completely unmoved.

He looked at Ma Hongjun and sighed softly. Then, he clenched his hand into a fist and threw a vicious punch forward.

With a muffled groan, the flames around them instantly melted away like ice and snow.

Ma Hongjun lay on the ground with his head lowered, looking utterly dejected and devoid of all will to live.

Before him stood a Martial Soul resembling a pheasant, sticking closely behind him.

"I'm dying of laughter! Your Martial Soul is actually a pheasant, yet you insist it's a phoenix. You really dream every day about a pheasant turning into a phoenix, huh?"

Seeing Ma Hongjun defeated, Ning Rongrong could not help but laugh from where she had been watching behind them.

She walked over, glanced at the pheasant Martial Soul, and immediately teased:

"Now you know that there are always greater heights and stronger people, right? Be more polite when you see me from now on, or I'll beat you up every day!"

Ma Hongjun sighed in misery as he looked at Ye Xingchen, who seemed invulnerable and completely beyond his ability to challenge.

For the first time, he felt so helpless. Even against someone like Dai Mubai, he at least had the strength to put up a fight.

But against this guy, it was like throwing a punch at tofu: light and powerless, yet the tofu's rebounding force still injured him.

"I'm convinced. You're way too strong. I don't think even Dai Mubai is a match for you!"

Hearing Ma Hongjun say that, Ye Xingchen did not answer. He brushed the dust from his clothes, turned around, and patted Ning Rongrong's head. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others walking over!

"Boss Ye, that was way too cool! You took care of that pheasant in minutes. If it were me, I'd still need two or three moves!"

Dai Mubai, who had long acknowledged Ye Xingchen as his boss, quickly stepped forward and flattered him:

"You blind pheasant, did you see how amazing our Boss Ye is? Treat him better from now on, or be careful he beats you up every day!"

Ma Hongjun looked utterly bewildered at Dai Mubai's behavior and had no idea what was going on.

He looked at Oscar, only to see him spread his hands, indicating that he knew nothing either.

"You didn't lose unfairly at all. During the entrance examination, he defeated Teacher Zhao Wuji all by himself!"

Tang San smiled with his arms crossed, glanced at Ma Hongjun, and explained.

Ma Hongjun swallowed hard in shock. Looking at the white-robed figure before him, he did not know what to say.

If he had known that this guy could even defeat Teacher Zhao Wuji, how would he have dared to provoke him?

"I'm really speechless. Why didn't you tell me earlier? We almost had a flood wash away the Dragon King Temple—one family failing to recognize one another!"

"Um... Brother Ye, please don't hold it against me. I'm not a bad person..."

Looking at Ma Hongjun's forced explanation, Ye Xingchen smiled faintly. He naturally knew that this kid was not a bad person. He nodded and said calmly:

"Don't call me Boss Ye. I'm not your boss. It makes me feel rather embarrassed!"

He waved his hand, then patted Ma Hongjun's arm and said:

"In any case, I'll recognize you as my boss. As for the others, I don't know!"

"I don't think there's anything wrong with following the strong. I only hope Boss will look after me more in the future!"

Hearing Dai Mubai say that, Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance, then stepped forward with grins and said:

"There's no need to ask us. We usually follow Dai Mubai around anyway. Since Dai Mubai has acknowledged you as his boss, then you're our boss too!"

Tang San felt somewhat awkward seeing this. He could not help but sigh inwardly.

As someone who had transmigrated and been reborn, he was not unfamiliar with such scenes. However, believing himself to be of extraordinary origin, he did not state his position.

In his view, this guy was indeed strong, but he believed that one day he would be able to defeat him.

"It's just an empty title. Since you insist, I have no other choice!"

"From now on, follow me. How about we give our group a name: the Tang Sect?"

Tang Sect?

Hearing Ye Xingchen say that, Tang San nearly stumbled to the ground.

Looking at the guy before him, he could not help suspecting that Ye Xingchen had also transmigrated from the Tang Sect.

"Sure! This is the first time I've heard the name Tang Sect. Our little group can finally have a name!"

Dai Mubai said with a smile, his arms crossed:

"From now on, I'm a man with an organization. Aside from Boss Ye Xingchen and Sister-in-law, I'm second in rank. You guys are third and fourth!"

Ma Hongjun nodded with a broad smile and patted Oscar's arm.

"Then I'm definitely third. Oscar, you can be fourth. Who told you to have a food-type Martial Soul?"

Oscar smiled without fighting for the position. He glanced at them and said calmly:

"I don't like fighting over fame and profit at all. My reason for joining the Tang Sect is to follow Boss!"

Ye Xingchen nodded faintly. He secretly glanced at Tang San's face and saw that it had turned as dark as pig liver.

He felt a faint delight inside. The reason he had named it the Tang Sect was simply to disgust this guy.

"Tang San, what are you standing there for? This is the perfect chance to join the Tang Sect. It won't be so easy to get in later!"

"Exactly! Stop pretending to be shy. It's good to rest beneath a big tree. Don't you even understand that? We're all from the same academy now. With Boss looking after us, we'll be more formidable when we go out!"

"That's right, Tang San. What are you still dawdling for? Hurry and acknowledge Boss with us. You'll be fifth from now on!"

Tang San's expression was incomparably ugly as he heard Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun urging him. He felt rather helpless.