Douluo: Starting by Building Guns

While Shen Feng and the others were talking, Oscar had already eaten three Lemon Sour Sausages in a row.

It wasn't that he didn't want to eat any more; his teeth were so sore they had almost gone numb.

After eating three Lemon Sour Sausages, his soul power recovered by a full sixty percent, and the Spiral Ball in Oscar's hands immediately regained its one-meter diameter.

As one side waxed, the other waned. Oscar was now showing signs of pushing back.

"A Soul Elder? Is that all?"

"Let me tell you something: in the past year, at least eight or ten Soul Elders have died by my hand. And you're going to be the next one."

As he spoke, Oscar gathered his killing intent and pressed it toward Dai Mubai with all his might, trying to shake his resolve.

For a Food-Type Soul Master to go head-to-head with a Battle Soul Master was a terribly unwise choice.

If he weren't trying to do Flender and Zhao Wuji a favor, Oscar would have shot him long ago.

Now he was using his killing intent only to make his victory more certain. After all, Dai Mubai still had a newly acquired Third Soul Skill he hadn't used.

With the situation unclear, Oscar didn't dare get too reckless.

Losing wasn't a big deal, but seeing Dai Mubai gloat would really annoy him.

Seeing Oscar's aura suddenly surge, with his Soul Power also showing signs of a sharp rise, Dai Mubai was dumbfounded.

He'd been on the verge of winning—what the hell was this?

What kind of Food-Type Soul Master could go toe-to-toe with a Battle Soul Master and even gain the upper hand?

Was the world changing too fast, or had Dai Mubai really fallen behind?

Feeling his Soul Power rapidly draining, Dai Mubai knew he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

He dispelled his Second Soul Skill and leaped backward.

"Oscar, you're truly powerful. For a Food-Type Soul Master to have such formidable combat ability is enough to make you a legend for the ages."

"But this ends now!"

"Third Soul Skill: White Tiger Descends the Mountain!"

His purple thousand-year Third Soul Ring suddenly lit up. Dai Mubai crouched low, then pushed off with all four limbs and leaped high into the air like a real tiger, lunging fiercely toward Oscar.

While airborne, Dai Mubai quickly adjusted his posture. He stretched out both hands, fingers spread, holding them one above the other as if embracing something. Together, they formed a huge tiger's maw, with the sharp claws at his fingertips serving as its deadly fangs.

"Roar!"

A muffled tiger's roar came from Dai Mubai's throat. His arms abruptly spread wide, like a ferocious tiger opening its bloody jaws.

Oscar, directly in front of him, was the prey caught in those jaws.

"Mubai! (Xiao Bai!) Stop!!"

Flender and Zhao Wuji could now see how dangerous the move was.

A tiger pouncing on its prey—once it pinned its target down, a storm of attacks would follow. It wouldn't stop until the enemy was torn to pieces.

But Dai Mubai was moving too fast, and his attack was especially vicious. Even Flender, an Agility Attack System Soul Saint, wasn't absolutely certain he could save Oscar without injury.

The two of them both regretted it now. This farcical fight should never have happened in the first place.

Shen Feng, however, was smiling. He trusted that Oscar, who had already faced death several times, could handle a little situation like this.

As the fierce tiger pounced with its jaws wide open, Oscar closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.

Then his eyes snapped open, a glint flashing in his handsome, peach-blossom eyes.

A surge of Soul Power burst from beneath his feet, shattering the ground. Oscar's push-off left a deep crater.

Oscar lowered his body slightly. In midair, Dai Mubai was already smiling, seemingly certain of victory.

In the blink of an eye, Oscar walked straight into the tiger's jaws, throwing himself between Dai Mubai's hands.

A sliding tackle—

Oscar slid along the ground, narrowly evading Dai Mubai's pounce.

Dai Mubai's sharp bone claws skimmed past Oscar's nose. Their tips cut through the air like knives, stinging Oscar's face.

But Oscar's lips curled into a smile, while Dai Mubai above him wore an expression of utter disbelief.

Dancing on the edge of a blade, finding life in the midst of death: if the seemingly safe path behind you offered no way out, then the only way to survive was straight through the most dangerous route.

Fortunately, after several brushes with death, Oscar had developed nerves of steel and exceptionally sharp combat instincts.

"Idiot!"

After taunting him again, Oscar bent his arms, palms facing the ground, and suddenly arched his body. He kicked upward with both feet in a rabbit-kicking-an-eagle move, landing a heavy blow to Dai Mubai's completely unguarded abdomen.

"Argh!"

With a strange cry, Dai Mubai flew out again, tossed away like a broken sack.

His body spun through the air. Dai Mubai hadn't realized that Oscar had gone easy on him at all. He turned and landed, touching the ground with all four limbs once more before unleashing his Third Soul Skill again and pouncing fiercely toward Oscar.

He was certain the same move wouldn't work on him again.

This time, he would win.

Bang—

A gunshot rang out. Dai Mubai immediately halted his charge. A bowl-sized crater had suddenly appeared in front of him, and a wisp of smoke was slowly rising from its bottom.

Shen Feng raised the firearm in his hand and aimed it at Dai Mubai's forehead. "Once or twice is one thing, but not a third time. Everything has its limits. Don't take kindness for weakness."

The dark muzzle pointed straight at his forehead. Dai Mubai finally backed down, shrinking his neck and daring not to bare his teeth again.

Dai Mubai knew exactly how powerful firearms were. Even the few little handguns at Shrek Academy were more than he could dodge without injury, let alone the custom firearm in Shen Feng's hands.

"Xiao Feng, do me a favor and let it go."

Zhao Wuji stepped forward and placed a hand on the barrel of the gun in Shen Feng's hands.

"Xiao Bai is young and hotheaded. He acted rashly in the moment. Let's let it go this time."

Shen Feng glanced at Zhao Wuji. "Teacher Zhao, among us, he's the oldest!"

"Hotheaded? He doesn't know any better? Did all those extra years of his life go to the dogs?"

"I can let it go this time for your sake, Teacher Zhao. But if he comes looking for trouble again, don't blame me for crippling him!"

Bang—

The gun fired. A scorching bullet grazed Dai Mubai's scalp and instantly pierced a large tree behind him, leaving a hole the width of a bowl straight through its trunk.

"Let that be a warning!"

With that, Shen Feng turned and walked over to Oscar. He reached out to support Oscar, who was somewhat drained. "Xiao Ao, you fought beautifully. That was amazing!"

Oscar chuckled. "I've got something even better. After that fight just now, I think I'm about to break through."

Shen Feng was overjoyed. "That's great, absolutely great. Then hurry up and cultivate. Hold on to that feeling and try to break through as soon as possible. I'll guard you."

Oscar nodded. "Mm. Sorry for the trouble."

With that, Oscar immediately sat cross-legged on the ground. He focused his awareness inward and began guiding the Soul Power within his body, concentrating on breaking through his bottleneck.

Shen Feng stood guard by Oscar's side without leaving, glaring at Dai Mubai.

Given Dai Mubai's behavior earlier, Shen Feng seriously suspected he might do something that would hurt others without benefiting himself—like rushing over and interrupting Oscar's breakthrough.

Seeing Oscar's condition, Flender's face brightened. But when he happened to notice the resentful look in Dai Mubai's eyes, he suddenly froze.

He sighed and said helplessly, "Old Zhao, Xiao Ao seems to be breaking through. Keep an eye on things here for a while. I'll take Mubai back first."

Zhao Wuji glanced at Dai Mubai, who was badly injured, and saw the resentment in his eyes as well. His brow furrowed, and he nodded slightly. "The Star Dou Forest is dangerous at night. Be careful."

Flender shook his head gently. "It's fine. We haven't gone deep into the Star Dou Forest yet. I'll fly all the way back. Nothing will happen."

As he spoke, Soul Power surged through Flender's body, and a pair of black-and-gold wings, like those of a golden eagle, spread from his back.

His wings beat. Flender bent down and grabbed Dai Mubai, then disappeared into the darkening sky.

Hearing the commotion, Shen Feng turned and asked Zhao Wuji, "Did the dean take him away?"

Zhao Wuji smiled and nodded. "A lack of unity within a team is a major taboo, especially in the Star Dou Forest."

"Besides, Xiao Bai's injuries aren't light. It's good to take him out early."

Shen Feng replied noncommittally, "That's true. I didn't feel comfortable with him here, anyway."

Zhao Wuji was at a loss for words. "You seem to have a real grudge against Xiao Bai."

Shen Feng shook his head. "It's not that I have a grudge against him. I've simply never thought much of him."

"He's a guy with arrogance but no backbone. I, Shen Feng, am ashamed to associate with him."

Zhao Wuji paused, then laughed. "All right. These are your own affairs, so I won't interfere too much."

"You were never people from the same world. Forcing you together would only cause trouble down the line."

Shen Feng was taken aback. "Teacher Zhao, you know about his background too?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled softly. "I've roamed the continent for decades. If I didn't have that much insight, the grass on my grave would be several feet tall by now."

"Teacher Zhao, Big Brother Shen, what are you talking about? I can't understand a word."

Shen Feng glanced at Ma Hongjun. "Nothing. Sometimes it's better to be a little clueless. The more you know, the more troubles you'll have."

Ma Hongjun nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. Ignorance doubles your happiness. There's nothing wrong with being a carefree spectator."

Hearing that, Zhao Wuji and Shen Feng both gave Ma Hongjun a thumbs-up. "Well said!"

Meanwhile, high above the Star Dou Forest, Flender carried Dai Mubai beneath him as the cool wind rushed past, flying at full speed toward the edge of the forest.

"Dean, do you think I really am useless?"

"He was a Food-Type Soul Master, and I still couldn't beat him."

Thinking back to his fight with Oscar, Dai Mubai still couldn't understand why he had lost so badly when he had the advantage in every innate attribute.

Flender sighed. "A flower carefully nurtured and grown under someone's protection may look prettier, but it'll be useless in every other way."

"Mubai, you're severely lacking in combat experience."

"Combat experience?" Dai Mubai asked, confused. "My win rate in the Great Soul Arena is as high as eighty percent. How is that not enough combat experience?"

Flender shook his head. "It isn't. It's nowhere near enough."

"You didn't start Soul Fighting until you were level twenty-eight, and your win rate is still only around eighty percent."

"Do you know when Xiao Feng and Xiao Ao started Soul Fighting? Do you know what their win rates are?"

"Xiao Ao started Soul Fighting at level twenty-one, and his win rate has consistently hovered around seventy percent."

"Xiao Feng started at level twenty-two, and his win rate has consistently hovered around ninety percent."

"With that kind of combat experience, what do you have to compare?"

"I'm a level thirty-one Soul Elder, while he's only a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster!" Dai Mubai roared indignantly.

Flender looked at him with disappointment. "So what?"

"Do you know how many yellow-level missions Xiao Feng and Xiao Ao completed over the past year?"

"Eight. Eight in all."

"Do you remember the day we went to the Soul Hunting Tavern and ran into Xiao Feng and the others turning in a mission?"

"All five boxes were filled with the heads of Soul Masters: one Soul Ancestor, one Soul Elder, and three Soul Grandmasters."

"Do you still think you're so impressive?"

"I'm always telling you to have backbone, not arrogance. Backbone makes people fearless, while arrogance only hurts others and yourself."

Dai Mubai stubbornly retorted, "Dean, you said that not daring to cause trouble makes you a mediocrity. I've always acted according to your principles."

Flender snorted. "Not daring to cause trouble makes you a mediocrity? What about the second half—'being able to settle the trouble you cause is what makes a true hero'? Why didn't you remember that at all?"

"Mubai, once we're out of the Star Dou Forest, go back. Go back to where you belong."

Dai Mubai was dumbfounded. "Dean, you—you're kicking me out?"

Flender shook his head. "I'm not kicking you out. It's just that I truly can't do anything about that arrogance of yours."