I Hate Minotaurs Most!

"Then I'll have to ask whether Na'er agrees." Nan Liujing pinched his chin, looking troubled.

Ye Xinglan's hand, which had punched Nan Liujing's chest, trembled slightly. Her azure eyes widened. Why had I never realized my childhood friend was such a goofball before?

Nan Liujing put away his smile and looked at Ye Xinglan seriously. "Be careful around that fatty from now on, in case he tries some sleazy stunt again."

"At such a young age, he should focus on studying. How else will he contribute to the Federation in the future?"

Ye Xinglan froze. Seriously, buddy?

Those words actually came out of your mouth?

Who was it that grabbed it and refined it on the spot just now?

"I know what to do." Having spent so long without discussing anything important, Ye Xinglan could not help changing the subject. "By the way, what did you want from me?"

Nan Liujing smiled. "Teacher gave me a mission. I'll be leaving Shrek City for a while."

Hearing that her childhood friend was leaving, Ye Xinglan's lips trembled. She asked instinctively, "How long will you be gone?"

"Can't bear to part with me?" Nan Liujing asked with a grin.

"Tch." Ye Xinglan turned her head away awkwardly, her golden ponytail swaying gently. She snorted. "You complain about being tired every time we go shopping. Now it'll just be Na'er and me, which will be more comfortable."

"Listen to you. I'm still the one paying." Nan Liujing moved closer. His scent washed over her. "I'm leaving soon, and you're not even a little reluctant to see me go?"

Ye Xinglan's pretty face flushed beneath the gaze of those dark blue eyes. She turned slightly, then suddenly drove her elbow hard into Nan Liujing's stomach.

"Hiss!" Nan Liujing sucked in a sharp breath at just the right moment. There weren't even basketball games on the Douluo Continent. Where had she learned that move?

Ye Xinglan had already seen through him. Smiling, she said, "Stop pretending. With your physical strength, even if I stabbed you with a sword, you'd be fine."

Nan Liujing coughed dryly. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head, and he chuckled. "Come to think of it, I'm about to have a junior sister too. That's kind of interesting."

"Junior sister?" The smile in Ye Xinglan's eyes instantly turned to vigilance.

Wu Sidao had not even been dealt with yet. Why was another one showing up?

Nan Liujing nodded slightly and looked toward Sea God Lake. "My junior sister comes from a remote area and hasn't seen much of the world. Teacher wants me to assess her and get familiar with her. That way, when she comes to Shrek City, she can better adapt to her new life."

Ye Xinglan asked a question that even surprised herself. "What does this junior sister of yours look like?"

"Normally, you should be asking about her talent," Nan Liujing corrected her.

Ye Xinglan pursed her lips. "Then how is her Cultivation Talent?"

"I don't know." Nan Liujing shook his head.

Ye Xinglan swung her elbow again like lightning. With a smack, Nan Liujing caught it in anticipation. "She isn't as pretty as you."

Ye Xinglan tried to spot a flaw in Nan Liujing's face, but his expression was terrifyingly natural. He did not even blush when lying.

The tension in her heart quietly eased, and then she heard Nan Liujing's gentle voice. "After I leave, I'll video call you every other day, okay?"

Ripples quietly stirred in Ye Xinglan's heart.

Just as she was about to say something, her delicate body was domineeringly pulled into Nan Liujing's embrace. Her blood nearly froze at that instant.

Breathing in the elegant fragrance drifting from her golden hair, Nan Liujing looked at her snow-white neck, which was gradually flushing red, and chuckled. "If you need help with anything like this in the future, come find me anytime. I'm happy to help."

"Get lost!" Ye Xinglan pushed him away in shame and anger, turning her back on him indignantly.

Nan Liujing turned and walked toward the Shared Bicycle. Once he mounted it, he lightly rang the bell.

Amid the jingle, he smiled. "I'll get lost first, then."

Ye Xinglan froze and hurriedly turned around, but all she could see was her childhood friend's receding back.

"Hey, remember what you said," she called out instinctively.

On the bicycle, Nan Liujing curled his lips into a smile and waved to show that he had heard.

"Ge, I can't swallow this insult!"

Letting out a breath, Xu Cang stared out the window with a grim expression. On the sofa behind him, Xu Lizhi's eyes were bloodshot, his breathing as heavy and rapid as an enraged bull's.

Ye Xinglan's actions were like a sharp carving knife, leaving an unforgettable, painful image upon his heart.

As the older brother, Xu Cang sympathized with his younger brother's experience. If he saw the girl he liked kissing another man, he would probably go dark and rush out to kill someone on the spot.

Damn it, I hate Minotaurs most.

No, wait! They seemed to be the true-love couple. His little brother was the one who wanted to be a Minotaur.

Xu Cang frowned. "Now that your actions have been exposed, you've most likely aroused Ye Xinglan's vigilance. Listen to Ge's advice. Cut things off while you can. Besides, with the Xu Family's strength, pretty women are nothing. It's not like you can't find another one."

Thinking of how Silver Moon Douluo, who had close ties to the family, had suddenly been informed by the academy that she was entering seclusion, combined with the incident of someone reporting them that day, it was difficult not to suspect that there was some unspeakable reason behind it.

Therefore, keeping a low profile was what they needed to do now.

Xu Lizhi said nothing. There were plenty of extraordinarily beautiful women in the world, but women with a hint of heroic spirit between their brows were rare. That was exactly the type he liked.

Thinking of the bastard who had kissed his goddess, Xu Lizhi's breathing became even more rapid. He stood up and said hoarsely, "Ge, as long as you help me get rid of that person, I'll fully support you in competing for the position of family head from now on."

Xu Cang's eyes suddenly lit up.

As a Food System Soul Master, his cousin could never inherit the position of family head and thus could not become a future competitor. On the contrary, with his talent, he would most likely go farther than Xu Cang at Shrek Academy in the future.

With that support, quite a few troubles would certainly be reduced.

Xu Cang's expression turned solemn. "You're my closest brother in the family. Even if you hadn't said it, I would have helped you."

Xu Lizhi's eyes clearly brightened.

"Don't ask about this matter anymore. Ge will find someone to help you. Remember, you and I have never discussed fighting or killing." Xu Cang warned him.

Xu Lizhi shrank his neck. "Don't worry, Ge. I understand."

Ring-ring!

Suddenly, a phone began to ring.

The piercing sound startled the brothers, making their bodies twitch. After awkwardly rubbing his nose, Xu Lizhi took his phone out of his pocket and answered it. A cool female voice sounded. "Is this Xu Lizhi?"

Xu Lizhi and Xu Cang's expressions changed slightly. They recognized the owner of that voice.

"Teacher Shen, it's me." Xu Lizhi calmed himself.

"Come to my Office immediately." On the other end, Shen Yi, the White-haired Witch of Shrek Academy, spoke calmly.

"Yes." The moment Xu Lizhi responded, the call ended.

"Ge, I'll leave it to you." Xu Lizhi put away his phone and swiftly headed outside.

Xu Cang merely watched him, his expression unreadable.

He had heard a rumor that the academy had been invited by the East Sea Alliance to participate in an Exhibition Match. The teacher leading the team was Inner Court senior Shen Yi.

Although it was only an Exhibition Match, when the East Sea Alliance Competition was held, media outlets from all over would report on it. It was an excellent opportunity to become famous across the entire continent.

"Since Lizhi was selected, it seems the academy values his talent even more than I imagined. I need to handle this favor perfectly."

A cold gleam surfaced in his eyes.

Sunlight slanted down from the firmament, bathing the entire city in hazy radiance, as though one had stepped into an old film.

Between the clusters of skyscrapers, streams of vehicles flowed by, while office workers carrying coffee cups hurried along the roadside.

A Soul Guide Vehicle slowly stopped outside the East Sea City Spirit Pagoda.

The passenger got out, and the car departed. Nan Liujing looked up at the towering structure, far smaller in scale than the Heavenly Spirit Tower. Its glass reflected the azure sky like crystal.

Two years had passed, yet the scenery nearby remained the same, with hardly any changes.

On his way from Shrek City, Nan Liujing had already spoken in advance with Leng Yi, the Tower Master of the East Sea City Spirit Pagoda.

Following the surrounding office workers, he walked straight into the first-floor lobby and showed his identification to the staff at the front desk.

After confirming his information on the computer, the eyes of the two receptionists instantly widened, as if they had seen something unbelievable.

Such a young Patrol Envoy?

After taking back his identification, Nan Liujing thanked them politely. Under the stunned gazes of the two receptionists, he walked alone toward the Tower Master's private elevator and skillfully pressed the floor where Tower Master Leng Yi was waiting.

As soon as the doors opened, he saw Leng Yi, the branch Tower Master whose status was equal to that of Eastsea City's governor.

"Greetings, Young Master." Leng Yi bowed.

As Leng Yaozhu's personal disciple, Nan Liujing held a higher status than nearly everyone in the Leng Clan. However, his identity had not been publicized before outsiders. Leng Yi was one of their own, so there was no need to hide it.

Nan Liujing smiled. "I'll have to trouble you during this period."

Leng Yi smiled. "Your arrival shows that the family head trusts me. This is an immense honor. This way, please."

The two entered the Office. Leng Yi took the initiative to make tea, but what Nan Liujing did not expect was that a light screen floated in the center of the Office, displaying the Spirit Ascension Platform World.

Suddenly, Nan Liujing's gaze sharpened as it locked onto a black-haired girl.

With a pretty face four or five tenths similar to Na'er's and an expression that kept strangers away, who else could she be but Gu Yue? But if she was already showing her original face, why had she changed her hair color to black?

It was obvious that the area around Gu Yue was filled with venomous spiderwebs. Several other figures sat cross-legged nearby, using the spiderwebs to kill Soul Beasts and absorb the spiritual energy they left behind.

Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi!

"Is today the day the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform opens?" Remembering something, he asked Leng Yi without turning his head.

"Yes." Leng Yi approached with the teapot. "Speaking of which, I was about to report this to you. This girl named Gu Yue came today with teachers and students from Eastsea Academy for their final assessment. Once it ends, I'll notify her to come see you."

Since Leng Yaozhu had not yet issued instructions to take Gu Yue as her disciple, Leng Yi's attitude toward Gu Yue was rather ordinary, neither close nor distant.

Nan Liujing nodded and said nothing further, keeping his eyes fixed on the light screen.

He keenly noticed a situation completely different from the Original Timeline.

Gu Yue was also absorbing spiritual energy, but she had kept some distance from Tang Wulin and the others rather than sitting right beside them.

After absorbing the spiritual energy, the group stood and discussed matters briefly.

Tang Wulin was clearly the core of the team. The other boys gathered around him to talk, and only after they had decided on their next direction did Tang Wulin ask Gu Yue for her opinion.

The expression on Gu Yue's face remained ice-cold. In response to Tang Wulin's question, she merely nodded indifferently.

Just like in the Original Timeline, when they had worked together against the Man Faced Demon Spider, after absorbing the spiritual energy, they cautiously left the area covered in webs and headed deeper into the forest.

"Let me guess. They'll soon run into the brother and sister, Xu Xiaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan."

Nan Liujing took the teacup Leng Yi handed him, gently sipped from it, and thought to himself.

Sure enough, a Six-armed Fire Snake appeared in Tang Wulin's path and blocked the way. Just as they were preparing to act, an Ice Wheel fell from the sky and split it apart.

Immediately afterward, two figures, one large and one small, appeared on the screen.

The boy was seventeen or eighteen years old, with two yellow and one purple Soul Rings floating beneath him. His face was handsome enough, but the coldness at the corner of his lips gave him an arrogant, distant air.

Beside him stood a delicate little girl, following cautiously. Her soft pale-blue hair was braided into two pigtails.

Just as expected.

Xu Xiaoyu was drawn by the spiritual energy that had yet to fully merge into Gu Yue and the others. He arrogantly demanded that they leave the spiritual energy behind before withdrawing from the Spirit Ascension Platform himself.

However, unexpectedly, after Xie Xie exchanged a few barbs with him and Xu Xiaoyu frowned before launching an attack,

the person who should have acted, Gu Yue, was replaced by Tang Wulin and Wang Jinxi taking the lead, with Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi assisting in the group attack.

Gu Yue remained standing in place without moving.

A faint smile curled across Nan Liujing's lips. He turned to Leng Yi and said, "I plan to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform. Are there any slots left?"

Leng Yi immediately understood. "There are."

Nan Liujing nodded and walked straight out of the room. "Please place me near Gu Yue."

Since the Timeline was correct, Tang Wulin and the others would soon encounter the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and be instantly defeated.

He would reluctantly take that Soul Bone first.

"Damn it!"

Xu Xiaoyu clenched his teeth. As his Martial Soul, the Ice Staff, was released, his long blue hair fluttered wildly in the surging Soul Power. He had already begun regretting his arrogance and foolish choice.

Although the four young men before him looked only around ten years old and their cultivation was far lower than his, they coordinated like a pack of wolves. In just two exchanges, they had forced him into a desperate situation, leaving him no choice but to tell his younger sister to hide farther away.

Directly in front of Xu Xiaoyu, Tang Wulin held two Deep Silver hammers. With each consecutive swing, cold light flashed. The Ice Wheel Slash did not even leave a white mark on the hammerheads.

Tang Wulin had not used the power of his bloodline or Martial Soul. With trustworthy teammates around him, he could preserve his strength against any sudden danger.

As Tang Wulin took care of the threatening Ice Wheels head-on,

a black shadow flashed to Xu Xiaoyu's left, and a bone claw tore through the air with a piercing shriek. Wang Jinxi, whose body was lean and thin, had long since transformed his right arm into a bone claw. Faint poisonous light coiled around its pale finger bones.

In his haste, Xu Xiaoyu repeatedly formed ice shields. The Bone Dragon Claw left deep marks on them, while its venom corroded the ice with hissing sounds. The ice shields, which had consumed considerable Soul Power, visibly disintegrated.

"Darkness Curtain."

A clear shout came from above.

Xu Xiaoyu had barely raised his head when he saw Zhang Yangzi, who had manifested wings and taken flight, unleash his Second Soul Skill.

In an instant, his entire field of vision plunged into pitch-black darkness where he could not see his own hand.

Alarmed, he suddenly heard footsteps tearing through the air beside him.

An invisible dagger flashed out like lightning, stabbing directly into Xu Xiaoyu's kidney.

With a squelch, Xu Xiaoyu immediately let out a scream.

My kidney!

After landing the strike, Xie Xie left the battlefield with a mischievous grin.

When the darkness dispersed, Xu Xiaoyu stood there with one hand gripping his Ice Staff and the other clutching his kidney.

His face was pale, sweat continuously sliding down his cheeks.

Xie Xie returned to Tang Wulin's side. The boys laughed and bumped fists, celebrating their successful battle.

Xu Xiaoyu's lips trembled violently. If looks could kill, Xie Xie would have died countless times already.

"Ge, save me!" A cry for help came from Not Far Away.

Xu Xiaoyu turned toward it, only to see Gu Yue, who had been standing still, use Space Teleportation to seize his sister by the back of her neck.

Xu Xiaoyan's beautiful eyes were full of tears. She looked pitiful and helpless.

Gu Yue gathered cold air in her right hand and formed it into an ice blade, aiming it at Xu Xiaoyan's neck. Xu Xiaoyu hurriedly said, "Let her go. I surrender."

Gu Yue calmly withdrew the ice blade. "Press your signal device first. Don't try anything."

Xu Xiaoyu's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. For his sister's sake, he could only obey. He pressed it immediately, turning into a stream of light and vanishing.

"Pretty sister, can you let me go now?" Xu Xiaoyan looked back at Gu Yue. They said beautiful women were drawn to one another, and as she gazed at that refined, otherworldly, exquisite face, she could not help but freeze.

"You're so pretty."

"Press it yourself." Gu Yue's voice softened slightly.

"Okay!" Xu Xiaoyan immediately followed the order and vanished with a whoosh.

"A Soul Elder isn't much after all." Xie Xie looked relaxed and at ease.

"There are always stronger people beyond stronger people, and higher skies beyond higher skies. Eastsea City is, after all, a Soul Master Desert. We haven't encountered any true experts yet." Tang Wulin spoke calmly. "We absolutely cannot be as arrogant as that Ice Staff guy just now. Otherwise, when we step into an unknown world, we'll only end up smashing our heads bloody."

Xie Xie lowered his gaze and put away the smile on his face.

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi understood this well. Otherwise, they would not have been knocked off their position as Class One by Tang Wulin and the others.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Suddenly, violent tremors erupted from the ground, as if an earthquake had begun.

"A Soul Beast group is coming this way." Tang Wulin's expression changed as he looked toward the dense forest in the distance. "Move."

No one wasted any time.

Gu Yue traced patterns with her fingertips, and several streams of azure light spread out.

With the Wind Element's enhancement, everyone's running speed abruptly increased by around thirty percent.

"This is bad. It's a Flame Lion group."

They had only run a hundred meters when Zhang Yangzi, relying on his Soul Spirit Little Black Eagle to observe the route ahead, changed expression.

"How many?" Tang Wulin remained calm.

"More than thirty," Zhang Yangzi answered quickly.

Xie Xie said, "The lion group was probably drawn here by the spiritual energy on us. There's a river nearby. We can head there."

Tang Wulin said, "Lead the way."

Xie Xie pushed his speed to the limit and rushed to the very front of the group.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Chamber, the image suddenly zoomed out.

Wu Changkong and Eastsea Academy's Dean of Studies, Long Hengxu, who were watching the battle, both changed expression.

Several hundred meters from the direction Tang Wulin and the others were racing toward, a terrifying Dark Gold Giant Beast was sniffing the spiritual energy in the air, its cold Beast Pupils turning toward them.

"This is trouble." Long Hengxu had been satisfied to see the children survive for so long in the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform, but he also understood that if they continued forward, they would be walking right into the bear's jaws.

That was a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, one of the most terrifying killers in the world of Soul Beasts.

Before it, a Man Faced Demon Spider was like a digestive tablet at most—only enough to whet its appetite.

"Get the tranquilizers ready!"

The staff inside the Spirit Ascension Chamber sprang into action as well.

"That is..." Wu Changkong's sharp eyes suddenly froze.