Guang Long

When the four left the Stewed Beef Shop, Uncle Li watched their retreating backs and could not help sighing. "Kids these days can really eat!"

A meal of Braised Beef in Earthen Jar had not only brought the four of them satisfaction and warmth, but also invisibly drawn them closer together.

Afterward, the four wandered from one end of Snack Street to the other. By the end, only Tang Wuyang had never stopped eating.

"I'm so full." Xie Xie supported himself on Tang Wulin's shoulder as he walked with difficulty.

Gu Yue was similarly leaning on Tang Wuyang's shoulder. Tang Wuyang supported Gu Yue with one hand while continuously stuffing food into his mouth with the other.

While they were teasing each other, Gu Yue suddenly pointed in a direction. "Huh? What's going on over there?"

Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie looked where Gu Yue was pointing. There seemed to be some commotion at the entrance to Snack Street, where quite a crowd had gathered.

That spot was exactly where the Stewed Beef Shop they had visited earlier was located!

"Let's go take a look." Xie Xie no longer bothered arguing with Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang and hurried over.

Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Gu Yue followed behind Xie Xie.

"You can't do this, you can't! Those are the tools I rely on to make a living!"

The moment they squeezed into the crowd, the four heard Uncle Li's anguished cry.

They slipped through the gaps in the crowd and made their way to the front.

The stove in front of the Stewed Beef Shop had already been overturned. Earthen jars lay scattered across the ground, smashed to pieces.

Beef soup flowed across the ground, and the rich aroma of meat mingled with steam. The place was a complete mess.

Uncle Li lay at the entrance to his shop, blood at the corner of his mouth and one eye swollen shut. His face was filled with grief and anger.

Three burly men stood outside the shop. The leader was bald, bare-armed despite the cold weather, with dragon tattoos on his arms.

The other two were also tall and powerfully built, their fierce brows and glaring eyes making them look like no good people.

"Li, a wise man knows when to submit."

"No one on this street has ever dared refuse to pay protection fees. You keep stalling every day. Do you think I, Guang Long, am some beggar who comes here every day just for your scraps?"

"If it weren't for the fact that your Braised Beef in Earthen Jar is actually pretty good, Laozi would've crippled you long ago. Cut the nonsense. If you can't produce the money today, don't bother opening this shop again." The bald man spoke with a cold gaze. Though many people had gathered around, not one dared make a sound.

"Big Brother Guang Long, it's not that I refuse to pay the protection fee. It's just that my wife is seriously ill. Every bit of money I earn working from dawn to dusk goes toward her treatment."

"You can't smash up my business! If you do, my wife won't survive, and neither will I."

Guang Long burst out laughing. "Fine! Are you threatening me with your life? Do you think Laozi cares about your worthless life?"

"If you're gone, I can just get another shop to set up here and pay me protection fees all the same. If you can't pay, get lost. Don't hog the space."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and kicked the stove at the entrance over. In an instant, the front of the Stewed Beef Shop became an even bigger mess.

Uncle Li cried out in anguish. "Guang Long, I'll fight you!" He barely managed to get up, lowered his head, and charged straight at Guang Long.

Guang Long gave a sinister grin and kicked him over. "Fight me? In front of Laozi, you don't even have the right to risk your life.

"Don't forget, Laozi is a Soul Master."

"Does being a Soul Master mean you can bully people?" Xie Xie shouted as he rushed in front of Uncle Li and helped him up. Tang Wulin glared at Guang Long.

Tang Wuyang and Gu Yue also stepped up beside the three of them, staring at Guang Long.

Guang Long froze for a moment. "Aiyo, there's really no one left on this street, huh? A few little brats dare meddle in my business? Scram. Laozi doesn't hit children."

Tang Wulin stood in front of Guang Long. "How can you treat Uncle Li like this? Do you have any humanity at all?"

Guang Long snorted. "Can humanity fill your stomach? You little bastard, get lost. Don't delay Laozi's business." As he spoke, he raised a hand to shove Tang Wulin's shoulder.

A glint flashed in Tang Wuyang's eyes. He suddenly swung at Guang Long's palm, stopping him from pushing Tang Wulin.

Bang! Guang Long staggered from the blow.

Tang Wuyang was also startled. Even caught off guard, this guy had managed to keep his balance. His strength was no joke too!

"Good kid, you've got some strength." Guang Long spread his hand again, but this time his gaze shifted. He reached directly for Tang Wuyang's shoulder, the muscles in his bare arms bulging as a vicious expression crossed his face.

Strength was Tang Wuyang's greatest specialty. Facing the incoming huge hand, he felt no fear and raised his fist to meet it.

Another muffled impact rang out, but this time, Tang Wuyang was the one forced back.

He only felt Guang Long's palm was like an iron plate, and immensely powerful.

This was the first time Tang Wuyang had suffered a loss in terms of strength. Even Tang Wulin had never been able to surpass him in raw power before.

Guang Long was equally shocked. He had used considerable force in that grab, yet the strength from the youth's fist had jolted him and prevented him from catching hold.

"You brat!" Guang Long took another step forward and reached for Tang Wuyang again.

At that moment, Tang Wulin behind Tang Wuyang opened his right hand. A faint blue light glowed in his palm as Blue Silver Grass Vines surged out.

In almost an instant, they entwined Guang Long.

Guang Long's legs went weak as he felt his feet sink into the ground, leaving him unable to exert force.

Immediately afterward, a figure leaped into the air, wrapped his legs around Guang Long's shoulders, and placed a dagger directly against his throat.

Caught off guard, Guang Long found Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger pressed to his throat.

Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie had trained together for over two months. They already had an extremely tacit understanding with one another.

Seeing Tang Wuyang lose out in strength, Tang Wulin and Gu Yue behind him, along with Xie Xie, who had been helping Uncle Li up, coordinated to launch their attack.

When Tang Wulin saw Xie Xie's move, he drew back the Blue Silver Grass. He had great confidence in Xie Xie.

"Apologize to Uncle Li and compensate him for his losses, or I'll kill you!" Xie Xie's voice was icy. Seeing kind Uncle Li being bullied, he was filled with rage.

"Don't be impulsive, little brothers. We can talk this out." Only then did the other two burly men react.

These thugs were quite good at judging situations. If an adult had acted, they would not have been too afraid. After all, few people dared kill in the street.

Children, however, were more troublesome. Because of their age, they were more likely to act rashly without considering the consequences.

"There's nothing to discuss with people like you." Xie Xie said coldly. "Compensate Uncle Li for his losses and pay his medical fees, or I'll kill this bald head."

Guang Long suddenly laughed. "Little fellow, you're a Soul Master, right? Just One Ring."

"I, Guang Long, have been around this street for so many years. Do you think I could keep collecting protection fees here without any skills? Go ahead. I'd like to see how you plan to kill me."

The Light Dragon Dagger pressed down. Xie Xie did not really dare kill anyone, but his hatred for Guang Long had made his head grow hot.

Yet as the Light Dragon Dagger pressed down, he suddenly felt that the bald man's neck was incredibly hard. The dagger could not press any farther.

"Watch out!" Tang Wulin warned in time. Gu Yue also released a fireball toward Guang Long's chest as Guang Long's right fist fiercely struck upward at Xie Xie.

At the same time, two rings of light rose from beneath his feet—two Soul Rings, one white and one yellow.

All the skin exposed on his body turned iron gray, while raised iron-gray scales appeared around his neck.

Xie Xie flipped backward, avoiding Guang Long's fist, as a powerful aura burst forth from Guang Long's body.

Two Rings, a Soul Grandmaster! This guy was actually a Soul Grandmaster with Soul Power above Level 20 and two Soul Rings!

Two small Soul Spirits appeared on Guang Long's shoulders. They looked somewhat alike: one was an earth-yellow lizard, while the other was an iron-gray lizard. The iron-gray one was clearly larger.

For Soul Masters, each additional ring meant a tremendous gap in strength, whether in Soul Power or Soul Rings.

With the appearance of the Soul Rings, Guang Long's body visibly swelled in size. His muscles became even more exaggerated, and combined with his scales and iron-gray skin, he gave off an extremely savage impression.

"I didn't expect you little fellows to all be Soul Masters. No wonder you dared meddle in my affairs. Let Laozi show you what I'm capable of."

As he spoke, he stomped his right foot hard on the ground and charged toward Tang Wuyang.

"Wuyang, be careful!" Gu Yue cried out. Streams of light shot continuously from her hands as she tried to control the ground beneath Guang Long's feet.

But after releasing his Martial Soul, Guang Long's physical qualities seemed to have reached an utterly terrifying level.

He easily broke free from the swamp forming beneath his feet, while every Elemental Attack Gu Yue released against him was blocked by his tough skin.

Was this guy's Martial Soul actually such a formidable one?

Moreover, he was probably not merely a Soul Grandmaster. His Soul Power Cultivation was likely above Level 25.

Guang Long's Martial Soul was the Ironclad Dragon, a subspecies of Earth Dragon that excelled in strength and defense.

Moreover, he possessed Innate Superhuman Strength. Otherwise, he would not have been able to overpower Tang Wuyang from the very start.

With his First Soul Skill, Ironclad Body Attachment, he could withstand Gu Yue's attacks head-on. Even Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger could not break through his defense.

One against four, yet he completely overwhelmed Tang Wuyang Four in both strength and aura.

Tang Wulin instantly switched Martial Souls and charged at Guang Long alongside Tang Wuyang, who held the Thousand Refinement Tungsten Steel Hammer.

Bang! The thunderous sound of metal colliding made the surrounding spectators cry out. Many covered their ears and staggered back.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's faces turned pale. They retreated several steps before barely regaining their footing.

Xie Xie lunged from behind, driving the Light Dragon Dagger in his hand straight toward Guang Long's back. Guang Long did not even turn his head, simply allowing the attack to strike him.

When the Light Dragon Dagger fell upon Guang Long, the person who shared its name, it only left pale marks and could not break his skin at all.

Gu Yue raised both hands with a solemn expression. Fire flickered at the fingertips of her right hand, while green light swirled around the fingertips of her left as she slowly brought her hands together.

A small two-colored red-and-green whirlwind immediately blew toward Guang Long. This was the Wind-Fire Vortex created by the fusion of the two elements she could currently control.

Guang Long, who had intended to pursue Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, stiffened all over. Cracks began appearing across his skin as scorching Wind Blades crazily sliced at his body.

Roar! Guang Long shouted and slammed both fists against his chest. The yellow Soul Ring on his body lit up, activating his hundred-year Soul Skill.

A faint layer of silver appeared over his iron-gray skin. Even his eyes lit up with silver light, and his body expanded again.

Intense Soul Power Fluctuation surged through his entire body. His hands visibly enlarged, his knuckles protruded, and Claws more than three inches long grew from their fronts.

Second Soul Skill: Iron Armored Dragon Body!

Guang Long's Ironclad Dragon Martial Soul was quite a good one, but because he came from poverty, he had been over eighteen by the time he obtained his Soul Spirits and had missed the best period for cultivation.

That was what had led to his cynical personality. Later, after finally becoming a Soul Grandmaster and obtaining his second Soul Spirit, his age made it difficult for him to improve further, so he took up this business that required no capital.

But the Ironclad Dragon Martial Soul was indeed considered a high-grade Martial Soul, and the two Soul Spirits he had chosen were also excellent.

As his Second Soul Skill erupted, both his offense and defense rose to an entirely new level. His Level 27 Soul Power fully erupted, immediately exerting enormous suppression on Tang Wuyang Four.

Gu Yue's Wind-Fire Vortex was dispersed by his tyrannical Soul Power almost the instant his Second Soul Skill was released.

Taking advantage of the moment, Tang Wuyang switched the Thousand Refinement Tungsten Steel Hammer in his hand for the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer. At the same time, he used Martial Soul Possession and condensed water into ice.

He formed five Ice Swords and sent them all toward Guang Long, while giving Tang Wulin a meaningful look.

Tang Wulin understood and switched back to his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, attempting to Entwine Guang Long.

With an angry roar, Guang Long broke free of the entwining Blue Silver Grass Vines and slapped toward the Sinking Silver Hammer.

Bang, bang, bang! Three explosions sounded against Guang Long's palm. To everyone's surprise, his palm merely trembled slightly and bounced back a little, while Tang Wuyang and the Sinking Silver Hammer were both sent flying.

What tremendous power. Even the Stacking Hammer effect had been neutralized.

At that moment, a Light Blade struck Guang Long's body from behind. Silver Light flashed across his back, directly shattering the Light Blade into Light Spots that scattered through the air.

Xie Xie's Light Dragon Slash had failed. Guang Long's eyes filled with ruthlessness as he pushed off the ground and charged at Tang Wuyang, even faster than before.

Tang Wulin tried to use Blue Silver Grass to interfere with Guang Long, but Guang Long's eyes were fixed solely on Tang Wuyang as he rushed straight toward him.

Tang Wuyang swung the Sinking Silver Hammer in his left hand at him.

Bang! Hammer and claw collided. An overwhelming force surged through him, and Tang Wuyang let out a Muffled Groan as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall of the Stewed Beef Shop.

He felt a tremendous force invade his body. His chest tightened, and he nearly spat out blood.

"Wuyang!" Gu Yue cried out. In a flash, she stood in front of Guang Long as he tried to pursue Tang Wuyang. A burst of brilliant light erupted, dazzling Guang Long's eyes.

Xie Xie also circled from behind to the front, waving the Light Dragon Dagger in his hand and tracing beams of Light Ray through the air. At the same time, Tang Wulin thrust the Holy Dragon Spear toward Guang Long's right side.

Guang Long spread his arms, completely ignoring Xie Xie and Tang Wulin's attacks. He lunged forward, bringing both arms together around Gu Yue. The four little fellows had thoroughly enraged him.

An Earth Wall rose before Gu Yue, only to be smashed apart by Guang Long in the next instant.

With her control over the elements, she could have used Space Element control to remove herself from the front line, but she did not retreat.

Because behind her was Tang Wuyang, who had just been sent flying!

At that moment, Gu Yue suddenly felt her waist tighten. The next instant, she was pulled backward and fell into an embrace that gave her an immense Sense of Security. Tang Wuyang's resolute voice rang out. "You're not allowed to hurt her!"

Tang Wuyang then stood in front of Gu Yue and charged forward again. What he did not see was Gu Yue's pretty face flushing red behind him.

Tang Wuyang swung the Sinking Silver Hammer and attacked Guang Long together with Tang Wulin.

Guang Long gave a sinister grin and threw both fists out. With both Iron Armored Dragon Body and Ironclad Body Attachment active, Guang Long's Physical Strength had reached an utterly monstrous level.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin were both blasted away. Tang Wulin slammed directly into a wall, letting out a Muffled Groan as blood spilled from his mouth and nose. His Left Hand clutched his chest as he dropped to one knee.

Tang Wuyang was no better off. Thin streams of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as his body continued flying backward.

Xie Xie reacted quickly and appeared behind Tang Wuyang in time, trying to catch him.

But he had underestimated the force carried by Tang Wuyang's body. Under that powerful impact, both of them became tumbling heaps on the ground.

This was a complete crushing advantage in strength. Guang Long shook his arms but did not continue his pursuit, instead looking at the surrounding spectators.

"See that? This is what happens to anyone who dares resist. These little fellows may be Soul Masters, but they're still far behind Laozi. Whoever dares resist, be careful that Laozi's Ironclad Dragon Claw doesn't tear them apart."

"Hiss, that hurts! Xie Xie, your Light Dragon Dagger stabbed me." Tang Wuyang cried out in pain from the ground.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." Xie Xie had also been knocked senseless.

Ignoring Tang Wulin, who had fainted nearby, Gu Yue ran to the two of them. She was about to release some Water Element to help Tang Wuyang treat his External Injury.

Suddenly, she sensed a strange aura radiating from Tang Wuyang's body.

So hot!

Tang Wuyang's body trembled slightly. A scorching sensation came from the wound on his back and spread throughout his body almost in the next instant.

The burning sensation he had not felt in a long time appeared once more, traveling from his tailbone straight into his brain.

His whole body was like a bonfire being ignited, instantly releasing intense heat. The tightness in his chest from being struck by Guang Long vanished completely.

The Soul Power inside Tang Wuyang's body also began to boil. His mind felt slightly muddled, but his strength was increasing at an astonishing rate.

He subconsciously looked at his right hand. As expected, specks of gold emerged from the Back of the hand, and his entire arm trembled faintly as if electrified.

It was Golden Scales. Months had passed, and Tang Wuyang had nearly forgotten about it, yet it appeared again at this critical moment.

With a low roar, Tang Wuyang sprang to his feet and charged straight at Guang Long.

Xie Xie failed to grab him and immediately shouted, "Wuyang, wait! Don't go!"

Gu Yue said nothing, because she clearly saw Golden Scales emerging along one side of Tang Wuyang's neck. Her gaze at the person before her had become dazed.

What was that...