Yu Xiaogang: Impossible! Absolutely Impossible! | Seemingly Put on a Mask, Actually Took One Off

"Why... why was she... so strong...?"

Tang San clenched his fists, watching Zhu Zhuqing's retreating back as she left without a word, utterly unconcerned. His heart was filled with humiliation and unwillingness.

Damn it! Wasn't it just an eight-level difference?

He had lived two lives and possessed the supreme arts of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. In his previous life, he had been an unparalleled genius of the Tang Sect, and in this life, he was an exceptionally rare genius with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls.

Why was it that, against Zhu Zhuqing, he did not even have the strength to fight back?!

Why?!

"Brother... are you alright?"

Xiao Wu hurried over, her eyes full of concern as she looked at the bloody mark on Tang San's neck and his disheveled state.

"I'm fine..."

Tang San tried hard to maintain his outward composure. "My Soul Power is merely exhausted, and I suffered a few superficial injuries. It's nothing serious."

Though he said that, his voice was clearly trembling.

It was not pain from his body, but the wavering and trembling that came after the blow to the depths of his heart.

His Dao Heart had cracked somewhat.

"That's good..."

Xiao Wu sighed in relief and supported Tang San as they walked out.

The two left the Divided Battle Soul Arena and found the main Shrek group again.

"Tang San, Xiao Wu, why are you two so slow... huh?!"

Ma Hongjun grumbled reflexively.

Then he suddenly noticed Tang San's ragged clothes and injuries all over his body.

"Weren't you going to a Soul Duel? Tang San, what happened to you? You look like you just came back from a war!"

"I lost. I couldn't beat her. A crushing defeat."

Tang San answered with a deathly pale face as he ate Oscar's Big Sausage.

"That shouldn't be possible, right?"

Dai Mubai was puzzled. "With your strength, Tang San, even if you couldn't win, you shouldn't have lost this badly. What kind of opponent was she?"

Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks and said indignantly:

"That woman was acting all mysterious with a mask on. Her figure, Martial Soul, and temperament all looked extremely similar to that Zhu Zhuqing from before. Even the way she attacked was just as ruthless."

"Uh... heh heh~ Maybe it was just a coincidence..."

At the mention of Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai's heart sank. He gave an awkward smile.

"It wasn't a coincidence. She was Zhu Zhuqing herself."

Tang San suddenly spoke, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"What? How could that be?"

Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she blurted out, "Wasn't she called Xiao Yue? And she was already as high as Level 39!"

"It was definitely her."

Tang San's tone was incomparably certain.

"Though she wore a mask, the form she took after Martial Soul Possession, her fighting style, even that cold aura and all sorts of details were exactly the same.

And..."

He Paused, his voice low. "Her gaze was cold, but there was a clear fluctuation in her eyes whenever she looked at us."

"Could... could it really have been her?"

Xiao Wu looked confused and muttered, "No wonder I kept thinking she looked so familiar..."

"What are you talking about? Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Yue, Level 39?"

Oscar asked with a bewildered look.

Ma Hongjun also leaned closer. "Dai Boss, your former fiancée is that monstrous?! Wasn't she only Level 30 half a month ago?"

"I'll say it again, she and I have nothing to do with each other anymore..."

Dai Mubai's expression darkened at the mention of fiancée.

Yet he still shook his head, unable to believe it.

"You're joking, right? How could anyone rise nine levels in half a month..."

"Exactly, exactly. Are you really serious?"

Ning Rongrong nodded in agreement. "Tang San and Xiao Wu, you two were already Level 30 at twelve years old, and I thought you were monsters.

Was there really a... freakishly gifted monster in this world who was under twelve and already Level 39?"

"Sigh..."

Tang San did not answer. He merely let out a long sigh and sat there with his head lowered.

Right now, he only wanted some peace and quiet.

This reaction made the others certain that what Tang San had said might all be true.

Putting themselves in his shoes, they understood why Tang San had become so withdrawn.

Losing a match was not frightening.

What was frightening was losing to someone younger than yourself, someone with a higher level and greater strength.

More importantly, he had been completely suppressed from start to finish, without even the slightest ability to resist!

It was simply... suffocating.

"Xiao San, what are you all gathered here for?"

Yu Xiaogang and Flender walked over. Seeing Tang San in this state, both of them were startled.

After hearing the full account, Yu Xiaogang's brows knitted tightly together.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

His voice trembled slightly. "There absolutely cannot be such a genius in this world!"

As a Master of Theoretical Research, Yu Xiaogang knew the laws of Soul Master cultivation all too well.

From Level 30 to Level 39, even the most gifted genius, with sufficient resources, would need at least two or three years.

Half a month?

It was simply absurd!

"She must have encountered some enormous opportunity. Otherwise, there is absolutely no way she could have cultivated to such a high level!"

Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed his emotions and declared with certainty.

"I want to know what that little girl looks like."

Flender pushed up his glasses, interest flashing in his eyes.

"Should I try to recruit her into our academy?"

"She seems uninterested in joining Shrek."

Tang San gave a bitter smile. "Last time, she even rejected Teacher Zhao."

"Let's not talk about this anymore."

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand. "Go continue participating in Soul Duels. We can discuss this matter later... Don't let a temporary setback affect your state."

"Remember, you are monsters! True monsters!"

--

Elsewhere.

Zhu Zhuqing was in a good mood after leaving the Battle Soul Arena.

Some people seemed to have put on a mask, when in fact they had taken one off.

When she thought about how she had not only won the match, but had also thoroughly beaten Tang San up—and, more importantly, might learn those two mysterious techniques and footwork afterward—the corner of her mouth could not help but curl upward.

"How was my performance?"

She asked in her heart, raising her chin slightly like a little kitten asking its owner for praise.

"Oh~ Whose little kitten is this? She did sooo well!"

Bai Lu praised her in an extremely exaggerated tone.

"...Speak normally."

Zhu Zhuqing said: (¬_¬)ﾉ

"Your overall performance was good. You had a strong Sense of Propriety, paid attention to every detail, and successfully forced out most of Tang San's hidden cards."

Bai Lu gave a serious evaluation, then could not help sighing. "As expected of the genius I trained personally, perfect!"

"..."

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes at Bai Lu and asked the question she cared about most.

"Were those two Self-Created Soul Skills successfully copied?"

"I recorded them, but copying them will not be so easy."

Bai Lu said calmly, "Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track contain many techniques for exerting force and circulating Soul Power. It will take quite some time to figure them out just by watching."

"And..."

Bai Lu paused, then said seriously, "Compared to Soul Skills, my most important task right now is making Soul Rings change color."

Because of his abilities, turning other Soul Rings red was simple—it only required injecting enough Killing Intent and energy.

But changing them to other colors was not nearly so simple!

That required a deeper understanding of the nature of Soul Rings, as well as stronger application of Spiritual Power refraction and simulation.

"Oh, alright..."

Zhu Zhuqing responded calmly, but her tone revealed two words—disappointment.