"Master, Little San, do you know Su Ze too?"
Seeing the expressions on Master and Tang San's faces, Qin Ming couldn't help looking curious.
"Hmph! If the Su Ze you're talking about has a Mutated Lightning Attribute Martial Soul, then I know him."
"Oh, yes. Su Ze's Martial Soul is a Mutated Lightning Attribute Martial Soul. Its special ability lets him hover in the air, just like the legendary Thunder God."
At Qin Ming's words, Yu Xiaogang's expression immediately darkened.
He detested Su Ze.
That lowborn commoner had merely gotten lucky.
After awakening a Mutated Martial Soul, he'd gotten arrogant. Not only had he questioned Yu Xiaogang's knowledge, he'd also shown him no respect whatsoever.
As the Grandmaster of theory, Yu Xiaogang was respected wherever he went.
How could he accept Su Ze treating him like that?
"I had no idea Su Ze had done something like that to you, Master. You'd never have guessed."
Qin Ming's face showed anger and disdain.
"Don't worry, Teacher. If I run into Su Ze again, I'll teach him a harsh lesson."
"I'll finish what I couldn't accomplish at the academy."
Tang San spoke coldly.
"If he's an enemy of Little San and Master, then he's an enemy of Shrek."
"So, Su Ze, is it? When I see him, I'll make sure he learns not to mess with us."
Dai Mubai had just walked over. Hearing Tang San's words, he immediately thumped his chest and promised.
"That's right, Little San. What happens to you happens to me."
"Then we'll let that arrogant brat taste my Phoenix Flame."
"I'll show him what I, Ma Hongjun, the Evil Fire Phoenix, can do."
Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who had come along, chimed in as well.
As students of Shrek, they naturally shared both good fortune and hardship.
Hearing Dai Mubai and the others, Qin Ming could only shake his head helplessly.
"Junior brothers, you may not know this, but Su Ze has powerful connections. He's not only a disciple of the Ye Family Patriarch, the head of the Nine Hearts Begonia family..."
"He's also connected to the Crown Prince and Poison Douluo."
Dai Mubai's expression didn't change at Qin Ming's words.
When it came to connections, he was a prince of the Star Luo Imperial Family himself.
A flicker of surprise crossed Tang San's face, but he quickly regained his composure.
So what if Su Ze had connections? As the rarest of Twin Martial Souls, Tang San was destined to become a powerful expert.
What did the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou matter?
Poison Douluo, though, could be a little troublesome.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar's expressions stiffened when they heard Qin Ming.
Shrek Academy's motto was that those who avoided trouble were useless.
Still, going up against a Titled Douluo right away was asking a lot.
They didn't have the means to do that.
Beside them, Ning Rongrong listened as everyone spoke ill of Su Ze.
Her brows furrowed slightly. At that moment, she regretted coming to Shrek Academy.
In the nearly half a year she'd spent there, the academy hadn't taught her anything special.
Worse, the lustful Dai Mubai had crudely told her he'd rape her first, then kill her.
That crude idiot had already made her furious.
And Yu Xiaogang, the so-called Grandmaster of theory, made her run around with a rock on her back one day and soak in medicinal baths the next.
It was beyond annoying.
She could run anywhere. And the medicinal baths were nothing compared to the ones at her sect.
What she couldn't stand any longer was hearing these people put Su Ze down.
Compared to the unfamiliar Su Ze in Master and Tang San's stories, Ning Rongrong would rather trust the Su Ze she knew.
In the eyes of her father and Grandpa Jian, Su Ze was a once-in-a-generation genius.
He was a powerful expert who trained hard every day.
Ning Rongrong thought it was only natural for a hardworking genius with such outstanding talent to look down on Master.
A fraud like him deserved it.
Grandpa Jian had warned her never to make an enemy of Su Ze.
Now, was she supposed to help people she'd known for less than half a year go after him?
Ning Rongrong was already thinking of dropping out.
After all, she was the next heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
She couldn't go after a genius who might one day surpass Grandpa Jian for the sake of classmates she'd known for less than half a year.
"Su Ze has connections like that?"
Yu Xiaogang had originally wanted Qin Ming to help him teach Su Ze a lesson.
But hearing about those connections, he immediately abandoned the idea.
At the same time, he detested Su Ze even more.
That lucky commoner, born to an ordinary family, had somehow managed to make connections with a Titled Douluo.
It seemed that after going to Heaven Dou City,
the commoner had spent no small amount of time currying favor.
No matter. He had Tang San, a Twin Martial Soul wielder, as his disciple.
As the son of Clear Sky Douluo, Tang San would eventually become a top expert.
He would make everyone acknowledge Yu Xiaogang's theories.
Su Ze would pay for this one day.
"Ah, it's a pity Shrek Academy can't compete in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament."
"Otherwise, you could teach Su Ze a harsh lesson in the tournament."
Qin Ming sighed regretfully. As a graduate of Shrek Academy, his greatest wish was to return to it
and lead Shrek to victory.
Unfortunately, Shrek wasn't an advanced Soul Master academy, so it couldn't take part in the grand event.
Yu Tianheng nodded in agreement at Qin Ming's words.
He'd already witnessed Tang San's strength.
He was nowhere near capable of taking him on.
His uncle had taught a genius like Tang San, which showed just how capable he really was.
Su Ze had clearly been blind to his uncle's talent.
It was a shame Yu Tianheng couldn't stay by his uncle's side all the time.
If his uncle had been there to guide him, he wouldn't have lost to Su Ze at the academy.
"Who says Shrek Academy can't compete?"
"I plan to have the children go to Heaven Dou City and borrow an academy's name to compete."
"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is a grand event on the Douluo Continent."
"All the continent's geniuses will take part. The children need this tournament to gain experience."
"Flender, what do you think?"
At Qin Ming's lament, Yu Xiaogang immediately shared his plan, turning his gaze to Flender, who had just come out.
There was anticipation in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. The children needed this opportunity, and so did he.
Through this tournament, he would prove to the entire continent that he, Yu Xiaogang, was a true Grandmaster of theory.
"That's right. The children do need experience. In that case, let's go to Heaven Dou City."
Flender thought it over and nodded. Yu Xiaogang was right—the children needed an opportunity.
The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was also the best chance for Shrek to make a name for itself.
The two quickly agreed and decided to head to Heaven Dou City.
Their target was Blue Tyrant Academy, which was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
At first, Yu Xiaogang had wanted to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
But he considered that Su Ze was there, and that the Crown Prince and Poison Douluo had taken a liking to him.
He couldn't very well take away Su Ze's spot on the team.
So he settled for the next best thing and chose Blue Tyrant Academy.
Nearby, Ning Rongrong, who had been listening to Xiao Wu badmouth Su Ze, made up her mind as well.
She planned to return to her sect as soon as they reached Heaven Dou City.
In Heaven Dou City, Su Ze looked at the invitation from the Crown Prince's Mansion and shook his head helplessly.
Here we go again. For the past few years, Qian Renxue had invited him to the Crown Prince's Mansion almost every month.
With Poison Douluo backing him, and Di Tian in his corner,
Su Ze had always politely turned down the Crown Prince's recruitment.
He'd have to go through the motions again.
Su Ze shook his head. After meeting Gu Yuena and seeing how forthright she was, he'd lost interest in Qian Renxue.
As he walked through the vermilion gate, Su Ze's gaze immediately fixed on something in the distance.
Beneath the eaves of the Crown Prince's Mansion stood a stunning young woman in a white dress, her golden hair falling around her as she leaned against a pillar.
Sunlight fell across her exquisite face, making her seem even more otherworldly.
Even Su Ze, who had seen his fair share of beauties,
was momentarily stunned at first sight.
Of course, it wasn't because of her beauty.
He already knew who the girl was.
Qian Renxue!
She had golden hair, and her Soul Power was at level fifty-two. In the Crown Prince's Mansion,
Su Ze couldn't think of anyone else it could be.
Looking at Qian Renxue before him, Su Ze wasn't interested in her beauty at all.
He was assessing her talent. As the future Angel God, Qian Renxue was the most talented person the Angel Clan had seen in ten thousand years.
Her level was currently fifty-two, while his was already fifty-five.
As long as he kept it up, he'd definitely become a god one day.
As Su Ze was thinking, Qian Renxue saw him stop in his tracks. A smile appeared on her pretty face.
She quickly walked over to him and asked softly, "You're Su Ze, right?"
"Just call me Qian Xue. I'm the Crown Prince's newly adopted younger sister."
"He sent me to meet you."
At Qian Renxue's words, Su Ze gave her a once-over.
He looked calm on the outside, but he could barely contain his urge to complain.
Qian Xue!
So that was how she was playing it!
"Sorry for the trouble, Miss Qian."
Su Ze kept his voice as calm as possible. He didn't know what Qian Renxue was up to.
But since she'd made her move, he'd just have to take things one step at a time.
Su Ze entered the reception hall. The next moment, he saw Xue Qinghe, who greeted him with a warm smile.
Looking at Xue Qinghe, Su Ze reflexively glanced at Qian Renxue beside him.
What was Qian Renxue doing?
Why had she brought someone in to impersonate Xue Qinghe?
Wait, the Soul Martial Hall could find someone to impersonate Xue Qinghe?
Then why had they sent a genius like Qian Renxue to carry out this sort of mission?
He didn't get it.
Su Ze couldn't make heads or tails of the Soul Martial Hall's or Qian Renxue's actions.
But, as the saying went, meet soldiers with generals and water with earth.
So Su Ze calmly greeted Xue Qinghe.
"Brother Xue, it's been a while."
At Su Ze's greeting, Xue Qinghe, still wearing that warm smile, waved a hand.
"Brother Su, it's only been two or three months. But I had no idea you'd been hiding your abilities so well!"
"According to the Education Committee, your Soul Power has already reached level fifty-five, and you've secured a spot on Heaven Dou's main team."
"You've truly opened my eyes."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe looked toward Qian Renxue, who stood beside Su Ze.
"This is my newest adopted younger sister. Her name is Qian Xue. She heard about your talent"
"and wanted to see it for herself. Would you do me the honor, Brother Su?"
Xue Qinghe smiled.
Hearing the disguised Xue Qinghe, Su Ze now understood what Qian Renxue was up to.
It seemed that after hearing about Su Ze's cultivation, she had come looking to challenge him.
That was a good thing for Su Ze, too.
He wanted to experience Qian Renxue's Martial Soul and test her strength.
"Of course. I, Su Ze, enjoy challenging geniuses from all walks of life."
As he spoke, Su Ze turned to look at Qian Renxue beside him.
When she saw Su Ze looking her way, Qian Renxue smiled and said, "You're Su Ze, right? I've heard my big brother talk about how you're a once-in-a-million-year genius in Heaven Dou City."
"The Blue Electric Twin Stars of Heaven Dou Imperial City can't compare to you at all."
"But I'm a genius, too, and I'd like to see what you can do."
Qian Renxue looked at Su Ze and raised an eyebrow, a fighting spirit in her eyes.
After learning about Su Ze's strength, Qian Renxue had been astonished.
For the past few years, Su Ze hadn't fought anyone.
So Qian Renxue had no idea how strong he actually was.
Then she heard from the education committee that Su Ze had already reached level 55.
She was utterly stunned.
At the same time, her pride as a genius rose up within her.
Qian Renxue had always believed that one day she would become the ruler of the world and the next god of Douluo Continent.
With that conviction, she was incredibly proud.
She didn't believe anyone her age could compare to her.
Su Ze's arrival had shattered all of that.
Despite being almost an entire generation younger than her, his Soul Power was actually higher than hers.
More importantly, Su Ze was the very genius she had resolved to recruit back then.
Yet after several years, this genius she had hoped to recruit showed no intention of submitting to her.
What was more, his network of connections was beginning to put him on an equal footing with her.
He had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind him, along with Sword Douluo, and even the Nine Hearts Begonia Ye Family.
The proud Qian Renxue couldn't accept this, and so she wanted to challenge him.
She would defeat Su Ze head-on.
For one thing, she wanted to defend her pride as a genius.
For another, defeating Su Ze as Xue Qinghe's sworn younger sister would make it easier to recruit him in the future.
She had chosen to use her original appearance because she'd heard that Su Ze spent most of his time with beautiful women at the academy.
And recalling the incident when Su Ze had bought Whale Rubber, Qian Renxue had also decided that after defeating the genius Su Ze, she would use her beauty as leverage to attract him and make him submit to her.
At the thought of a genius like Su Ze submitting at her feet, a hint of anticipation showed in Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes.
A golden long sword radiating Holy Light appeared in her hand.
"Su Ze, everyone at Heaven Dou Royal Academy says you're the greatest genius in the Heaven Dou Empire. Today, I'll see for myself."
Su Ze had no idea how complicated Qian Renxue's thoughts were.
Only one thing was on his mind: fighting someone like Qian Renxue, who would become a god in the future.
It would help him understand himself better.
If he could defeat Qian Renxue easily, then he would surely be able to become a god in the future, too.
At this thought, a hint of fighting spirit appeared in Su Ze's eyes.
"Good. Miss Qian, let's fight."
As he spoke, powerful, sacred, golden-white lightning burst from Su Ze.
Before you continue