"Pfft—"
Those bloodthirsty words didn't frighten Zhang Lexuan in the slightest. If anything, they made her laugh.
Her gentle eyes, clear as autumn waters, curved into crescents. She reached out a slender hand and gently ruffled Su Chen's head, turning his already-messy hair into a bird's nest.
"You're still so young. Why is your head full of fighting and killing?"
Zhang Lexuan's tone was indulgent, as if she were coaxing a child who wanted to play the hero.
"Having such a strong bloodlust isn't good. Be careful you don't grow up to be a cold-faced menace—then no girls will dare to like you."
Su Chen pouted. He was just about to retort, "Having you is enough for me," when Zhang Lexuan gently cut him off.
"Don't worry. Your big sister is doing just fine at Shrek."
She lifted her head slightly, sunlight gilding her delicate profile with a sacred golden edge.
"Everyone treats me well. No one dares bully me. After all..."
As she said this, she puffed out her chest, a confident, proud smile tugging at her lips.
"Your big sister is the senior-most disciple of Shrek Academy's Inner Court! I'm a member of the Sea God Pavilion Meeting and the designated successor to the next Sea God Pavilion Master!"
"An Eight-Ring Soul Douluo before the age of thirty! A talent like mine is a rare sight across the entire continent!"
The more Zhang Lexuan spoke, the more animated she became, her face brimming with the pride of a heaven-blessed genius.
But in the next moment, she seemed to remember something. Her gaze fell on Su Chen, and her previously buoyant tone suddenly weakened. She muttered, a little dejectedly:
"Mm... though compared to my little Chen, I really am behind by just 'a tiny bit'..."
"Honestly, how on earth do you cultivate, you little monster? You've even made your big sister feel discouraged."
Seeing the usually aloof and imposing senior sister act like a little girl, whining and complaining to him, a warm feeling welled up in Su Chen's heart.
Perhaps protecting that smile was what it meant to grow stronger.
In the days that followed, Zhang Lexuan didn't hurry back to Shrek. Instead, she spent more time keeping Su Chen company.
The usually cool and haughty senior sister now seemed like a gentle young wife, staying by your side all day, fussing over you, straightening your clothes, and even making soup for you herself.
The tenderness of it left the rough men of the Body Sect, who knew only how to fight, gaping in astonishment.
At the same time, news that Du Busi had made an exception and taken Su Chen on as his personal disciple spread throughout the sect as if it had grown wings.
In an instant, you became the center of a storm.
All eyes turned to Su Chen. There was envy, jealousy, and, above all, skepticism.
The debate over who deserved the title of "Number One of the Younger Generation" became especially heated.
Before you appeared, that title had always belonged to one person—Long Aotian!
Long Aotian was every bit as arrogant as his name suggested.
He was two years older than you. At just ten years old, he had already broken through level thirty and become a Soul Elder! His Martial Soul was an exceptionally rare Skin Martial Soul, and he was hailed as the Body Sect's future hope.
"Have you heard? That new kid, Su Chen, actually has a Body Martial Soul?"
"A Body Martial Soul? Doesn't that make him like the sect master? Looks like Senior Brother Long's in trouble..."
"I still think Senior Brother Long has the edge. That new kid Su Chen only just awakened his Martial Soul. If the arena trials were a few years from now, it'd be hard to say who'd win."
"But as things stand..."
The disciples discussed it among themselves.
The upcoming arena trials had taken on a special significance.
This was more than a showdown between a "Skin Martial Soul" and a "Body Martial Soul." It was also a battle for the position of "Young Sect Master"!
The winner would receive the sect's full backing and rise to greatness overnight!
The loser would be reduced to a mere supporting player.
The temptation was enough to drive anyone mad.
Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the Body Sect was unusually lively.
Sunlight broke through the clouds and spilled across the enormous training ground.
Hundreds of disciples from across the sect gathered in front of the main hall. The crowd surged, and the atmosphere was electric.
The Body Sect's training ground was packed, and the noise was deafening.
On the high platform, Du Busi sat in the central seat, with Elder Jin and a group of Titled Douluo elders seated on either side.
Their imposing presence alone made the air below feel thick and heavy.
Looking at the young faces below, all eager and raring to go, Elder Jin stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Silence!"
His voice wasn't loud, yet it boomed beside everyone's ears like thunder. The noisy training ground fell silent in an instant.
"Now that everyone is here, I hereby announce that the arena trials are officially beginning!"
Elder Jin swept his gaze across the crowd, his eyes sharp as lightning.
"The Body Sect has no need for fancy rules. There's only one thing you have to do—hold the arena!"
"Whoever stays in the ring the longest and knocks down the most opponents will be the winner!"
"Of course, you're all fellow disciples. Know when to stop, and don't kill anyone. Is that clear?"
"Understood!"
The disciples answered in unison, their voices shaking the sky.
But most of them knew exactly what was going on.
They were only here to watch and help build the excitement.
The real stage belonged to those two monsters.
Almost instinctively, everyone's gaze converged on two spots.
On one side stood you.
Su Chen wore black and looked composed, as though the commotion around him had nothing to do with him.
On the other stood a man built like an iron tower.
He was nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a wide back. Muscles bulged like granite, radiating explosive strength.
His long, reddish-brown hair whipped in the wind, and his whole body exuded a wild, domineering aura.
The former Number One of the Body Sect's younger generation—Long Aotian!
Their gazes met in midair, sparks seeming to fly between them.
"Little Chen, don't let your guard down."
Zhang Lexuan reached out and gently straightened your collar, concern shining in her beautiful eyes.
She knew just how absurdly strong her little brother was, but this was an internal Body Sect trial, and those lunatics fought as if they didn't care about their lives.
"Don't worry, Sis."
Su Chen's lips curved into a confident smile.
"Even a lion gives its all when hunting a rabbit. I never underestimate any opponent—and I won't give them a single chance."
As he spoke, you took a step forward.
You moved like lightning, crossing dozens of meters in an instant and landing squarely in the center of the arena.
At that moment, your entire bearing changed.
The gentle, refined boy became a drawn sword in an instant, his edge fully revealed!
"That's..."
The disciples below held their breath.
You held out your right hand, and a jet-black cross-shaped longsword appeared from thin air, radiating the frigid aura of the underworld.
Martial Soul—Pluto Sword!
The moment the sword appeared, the temperature around the arena seemed to drop several degrees. A chilling aura of death spread through the air.
Then came the most shocking sight of all!
Hum—!
Light shimmered beneath your feet as three profound Soul Rings, black as black holes, slowly rose and circled around your body.
Black! Black! Black!
Three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings!
The entire arena fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared at you as if you were a monster.
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as his First Soul Ring? Was he even human?!
Seeing the dazed faces below, you felt no particular emotion.
You knew exactly what to do: the Body Sect disciples were all muscleheaded. There was no point trying to reason with them.
If you wanted them to accept you as their Young Sect Master, there was only one way—fight!
Fight until they hurt, fight until they feared you, fight until they were convinced!
The cure for every kind of defiance!
Su Chen held the Pluto Sword, its tip angled toward the ground. He swept his gaze across the crowd, his voice clear yet edged with an invisible pressure:
"Su Chen, Martial Soul: Pluto Sword."
"Level 36 Tool Soul Elder."
"Senior Brothers, please... teach me!"
Before you continue