You Can't Hide Your Wrinkled Knees

The depths of the sea.

Inside Luo Mo and Xiao Wu's dorm room.

Luo Mo, deep in thought, suddenly opened his eyes. The room was pitch-black, and moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a layer of cool silver across the floor.

He remained seated cross-legged, with Xiao Wu resting her head on his leg.

Carefully, he eased the girl onto the other side of the bed, then spread out his spiritual sense, searching for the figure who had vanished without a trace.

Now his spiritual perception covered a radius of over a hundred miles. He could sense even the tiniest disturbance.

"Found you."

Within the sea of his spiritual sense, a vast sky seemed to spread open. In an instant, he saw everything clearly, and a phantom formed: a young man eating and drinking merrily.

"Almost there."

Luo Mo smiled. He had located Tang Chen's residence.

At that moment, Tang Chen lay on his bed, tossing and turning. He couldn't stop thinking about the challenge from today's assessment. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He had only wanted to stretch his muscles, but somehow he had ended up challenging someone face-to-face.

In the past, he wouldn't have cared if the other guy had flattened him in a single move.

Ah, what a mess...

That was the little girl Xiao Wu, the one who'd called him a "little bear."

But things were different now. He was a teacher and vice dean at the academy, with a group of students to look after. If he handled things badly, it would reflect poorly on him.

Still, he was quite satisfied with Xiao Wu's strength. She was far more capable than he'd expected.

Luo Mo had no resentment toward her. She could use Soul Rings, and she also had control of an extremely powerful wood-type martial soul. Her Soul Skill was truly formidable.

Tang San's martial soul was the Blue Silver Grass, but his second martial soul was no less impressive.

That hammer in particular made him uneasy.

Xiao Wu's first Soul Skill was Teleportation, an extremely rare spatial-type ability.

Under her and Zhu Zhuqing's attacks, Dai Mubai had been thoroughly beaten.

"Hey, count yourself lucky today. You didn't end up becoming the academy's laughingstock. Next time you try to take me on, don't say I didn't warn you. Hmph. You're all grown up, so why are you still so childish? You're acting like a spoiled brat..."

Tang Chen muttered to himself, unable to keep a bitter smile from spreading across his face.

Luo Mo: "..."

The heavens: "..."

What a strange fellow. Was Tang Chen really going to make him wear little shoes?

"Hey, Tang Chen. I only came to take a look at you. Since you're not planning to let me in, I'll stop bothering you."

A strange glint flashed in Luo Mo's eyes.

The heavens were puzzled. "What are you planning to do?"

"Heh. You'll see soon enough."

"Tang Chen, you..."

Just as Tang Chen was wondering how he could get back at Luo Mo the next time they met, a faint voice suddenly drifted in from outside. It seemed to be calling his name.

His bitter smile vanished at once.

"Huh?"

He sprang out of bed, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Had one of his enemies found him?

"Tang Chen, come out here!"

The voice was so familiar that Tang Chen froze.

He knew he couldn't escape. He pushed open the door and stepped outside, enveloping himself in soul power as he cautiously scanned the surroundings. He watched for any possible ambush, his entire body tense.

There was no one in sight. He immediately headed in the direction that had drawn his attention.

A moment later, he had left Shrek Academy. Outside, the area was deserted, and the trace of resentment vanished right there.

"I'm here. Stop hiding."

Tang Chen narrowed his eyes, activating his martial soul.

A man in black emerged from the shadows, his build as sturdy as an ox.

"Who are you?" Tang Chen asked coldly.

The man in black didn't answer. He merely said indifferently, "I've come to visit Shrek Academy. I heard you bully the weak because you're strong, so I thought I'd see what you were really like."

Tang Chen: "Huh?"

Why did that sound so familiar?

Wait, wasn't that exactly what he'd said to Luo Mo earlier that day?

Luo Mo: "Huh?"

The heavens: "Huh?"

What a strange fellow. So the man had come to Shrek Academy too.

Just then, the man in black raised his right hand. A dark light gathered in his palm, taking the shape of a huge object.

At the same time, a second soul ring rose from beneath him.

Yellow, purple, black, black, black, black, black, black, red!

The final soul ring even gave off a faint golden glow.

Seeing the man in black release his soul rings, Tang Chen felt a chill creep up his spine. A cold dread washed over him, and his whole body began to sweat.

Luo Mo watched, realizing that the moment had come.

He immediately used his soul power to take control of the situation, calming Tang Chen's fear while amplifying the black-clad man's doubts.

Tang Chen, who had been a little confused, suddenly recovered his composure.

Although he couldn't make out the man's face, he had been a peerless expert who'd fought countless battles. After being challenged by Luo Mo again and again, and after what had happened that day, his anger had been simmering for quite some time.

"Could this strange guy be Luo Mo?"

Tang Chen: "Huh?"

"He's trying to pull the same trick again. Does he really think I'll fall for it? You'll have to try harder than that. The biggest mistake you've made is using the same trick you did during the day."

Tang Chen's face was full of the confidence he'd worn earlier.

Tang Chen: "..."

That's careless.

Hmph!

Before Tang Chen could respond, he lunged forward, ready to teach the man in black a lesson. In his mind, the man was certainly Luo Mo, who had come back to challenge him again.

But he had squandered his best opportunity.

As Tang Chen approached, the expression on his face couldn't help but turn smug.

He raised his fan-like right hand high and swung it down—

At the same time, his second soul ring lit up.

Smack!

But in the next instant, the grinning Tang Chen was sent flying by a kick. His huge frame smashed into a nearby tree.

"Ugh... cough, cough..."

Tang Chen coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with disbelief.

This... this was real.

"Now, do you admit defeat?" A terrifying aura suddenly appeared in Luo Mo's voice. He couldn't help but feel a little pleased with himself.

"Hah. If you want me to admit defeat, you'll have to keep dreaming."

Every time Tang Chen thought of Luo Mo taking his students away, he grew angry. There was no fear in his eyes, and even though he only had to take one step forward, the oppressive feeling Luo Mo gave him was impossible to shake.

Just then, the man in black stopped.

"Since you admit it, come out."

From another grove, a man wearing a pair of rimless glasses stepped out. He was the dean of Shrek Academy—Four-Eyed Cat Eagle, Flender.

Tang Chen was stunned at the sight of him.

"Dean..."

Flender gestured toward Tang Chen, then faced the man in black and respectfully bowed.

"I've heard much about you, Clear Sky Douluo."

"Bang!"

Tang Chen's heart jolted.

He'd really gotten himself into trouble this time.

Wait!

Clear Sky Douluo was Tang Hao—Tang San's father. The handsome young man he'd seen today resembled Tang San, and he'd described him in such detail.

Tang Chen: "..."

Grass!