The nine of them had been enjoying their meal when the small inn's door was suddenly kicked open by a very short person. Jiang Huai and the others turned to look.
Jiang Huai glanced over and said, "Canghui Academy?"
Dai Mubai leaned back in his chair, sipping his wine. Ma Hongjun picked up a freshly served chicken leg and looked over. The moment he saw the girls from Canghui Academy, he couldn't keep his Evil Fire in check. "Boss Dai, those girls from Canghui Academy are pretty good-looking."
Jiang Huai picked up a chicken leg with his chopsticks and placed it in Gu Yue's bowl. After finishing the wine in his cup, Dai Mubai looked over and snorted. "It's just a tiny Canghui Academy. What are they putting on airs for?"
At this, Jiang Huai asked, puzzled, "What's this about?"
Oscar explained, "It's what the dean says: A Soul Master who doesn't cause trouble while traveling isn't a good Soul Master."
Jiang Huai wasn't too pleased with the saying, but decided it was better to keep watching. If he argued, he had no idea where that would leave Dai Mubai and the others.
Canghui Academy's teacher, Ye Zhiqiu, didn't pay them any attention. He walked over to Jiang Huai's chair and struck out with one palm.
Instead, Ye Zhiqiu was sent flying. He stared in disbelief. "You... How is that possible?"
Jiang Huai stood up and stretched his limbs, his voice cold. "The thing I hate most is being interrupted while I'm eating. You've succeeded in making me angry."
Jiang Huai hadn't started this. Ye Zhiqiu had provoked him first, so Jiang Huai had only stepped in to teach him a small lesson.
Jiang Huai charged forward and knocked Ye Zhiqiu out of the inn. Ye Zhiqiu had a steady stance, though, and managed to land on his feet after flying some distance.
Ye Zhiqiu said coldly, "Which academy are you from? Who's your teacher, and where are they?"
Jiang Huai was a little annoyed. Ye Zhiqiu was acting as if he didn't even see the people in front of him. Leaning back in his chair, Dai Mubai said coldly, "You want to know? You're not worthy."
Jiang Huai knocked Ye Zhiqiu back with his bare hands. Ye Zhiqiu tried to retaliate, but Jiang Huai rushed up and dislocated his joints.
Then Jiang Huai punched Ye Zhiqiu in the face. As the saying went, you shouldn't hit someone in the face, but Douluo Continent didn't care about that sort of thing. Some Titled Douluos had long since lost all face.
Jiang Huai slapped him hard. Ye Zhiqiu lost three teeth. Dai Mubai and Oscar, sitting at the table, cheered with an "Oh!"
Ye Zhiqiu waved his hand in surrender, but Jiang Huai punched him in the mouth. He clutched his mouth in pain.
Then Jiang Huai kicked him again, leaving Ye Zhiqiu with a permanent injury. Ye Zhiqiu grabbed his crotch with both hands and howled in pain on the ground.
After getting his fill, Jiang Huai turned and headed inside. But Ye Zhiqiu, still not knowing when to quit, gathered ice in his mouth.
"Xuanshui Ice Seal."
Jiang Huai's lips curled up. "You're asking for death!"
In an instant, Jiang Huai appeared in front of Ye Zhiqiu and struck him under the chin with his elbow. The moment Ye Zhiqiu's mouth snapped shut, his teeth shattered. Then Jiang Huai grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.
Zhao Wuji had been monitoring the fight with his Soul Power. Seeing that Jiang Huai was ready to kill, he hurried over and grabbed Jiang Huai's right hand to calm him down.
"Xiao Huai, don't kill him."
At that, Jiang Huai regained his senses and dropped Ye Zhiqiu to the ground. Then he kicked Ye Zhiqiu and broke his right arm.
When Jiang Huai entered the inn, no one dared to look up at him.
Jiang Huai sat beside Gu Yue and used his chopsticks to pick up food and place it in his bowl, eating slowly. Gu Yue picked up a piece of meat and placed it in his bowl.
Soon, everyone finished eating and returned to their rooms. Jiang Huai and Gu Yue shared a room with a large bed.
Jiang Huai sat cross-legged on the balcony and tried to break through the level-forty barrier. Soul Masters faced three major bottlenecks: the first was the barrier between level thirty-nine and level forty, the second was between level sixty-nine and level seventy, and the third was between level eighty-nine and level ninety.
There was no need to worry about the other two for now. Jiang Huai would first try to break through to level forty. If he succeeded, his combat strength would increase significantly, and he would become the youngest Soul Ancestor on the continent.
Before long, the night passed. Xiao Wu knocked on the door, waking Gu Yue. After opening it, Gu Yue gestured for her to be quiet.
Gu Yue whispered, "A-Huai is at a critical point in his breakthrough. We may have to delay our departure for a while."
Xiao Wu nodded. Hunting Soul Beasts was important, but not as important as someone in the middle of a breakthrough. If someone's attempt to break through a bottleneck was interrupted, it could cause irreversible harm.
Jiang Yi had been standing guard on the roof all night. She hadn't closed her eyes once, using her Soul Power to stave off her exhaustion. She was afraid that if she closed her eyes, she'd miss her younger brother's breakthrough.
Gu Yue went to inform Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji was surprised too. Did this mean they'd have to hunt for one more Soul Ring on this trip?
Zhao Wuji had no choice but to tell the others they'd have to delay entering the forest. Jiang Huai's aura was growing both weaker and stronger by turns.
Zhao Wuji knew that Jiang Huai was close to breaking through. Once the strong overcame the weak, the youngest Soul Ancestor on the continent would be born.
By noon, the other six had gone to eat. Xiao Wu, who was Jiang Huai's adopted younger sister in name, stayed behind to keep anyone from disturbing him. Gu Yue, Jiang Huai's girlfriend, remained by his side, keeping watch over him without a moment's pause.
Suddenly, the fluctuations in Jiang Huai's aura reversed. Startled, Gu Yue immediately went to call Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji hurried over. After seeing what had happened, he breathed a sigh of relief. "The strong has overcome the weak. Now all that's left is the final push. If nothing goes wrong, we'll be able to enter the forest this afternoon."
At that, Gu Yue and Xiao Wu happily hugged each other. Tang San brought them their food, then returned to his room.
Soon, afternoon came, and Jiang Huai's aura grew stronger. The powerful aura of a Soul Ancestor began to spread.
Outside the door, Zhao Wuji laughed. "As expected of Shrek's strangest monster. Even his breakthrough to Soul Ancestor gives off such a powerful aura."
Jiang Huai stood up and floated in the air for a moment. He looked at his hands and said, "This breakthrough was even faster than I expected."
Zhao Wuji had stayed outside the room because two girls were inside. The girls were in the room while Jiang Huai was on the balcony, and he was a big, rough man who didn't feel comfortable going in, so he'd stayed outside to keep watch.
Jiang Huai went to the sink and washed his face. He immediately felt much more refreshed.
Oscar and Dai Mubai walked into the room and punched Jiang Huai on the shoulder. Dai Mubai spoke first. "Congratulations on becoming the youngest Soul Ancestor on the continent."
Oscar chimed in, "Yeah, yeah. We're both food-type Soul Masters, so why is your cultivation speed so fast? I don't even go to those places of ill repute!"
Dai Mubai's face darkened at that, and he smacked Oscar on the back. Oscar scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward. He'd forgotten that the biggest boss of Yi Hong Brothel was standing right beside him.
Soon, everyone set off for Star Dou Forest. Just as Zhao Wuji had said that day, Jiang Huai, Dai Mubai, and Gu Yue led the way. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing followed behind Jiang Huai. Oscar and Ning Rongrong stayed beside Zhao Wuji, while Ma Hongjun watched their surroundings from the air.
At that moment, Jiang Huai and Tang San both grew alert and prepared for battle. Ma Hongjun landed and said, "A winged snake is approaching."
Jiang Huai thought for a moment, then asked, "What does the snake look like?"
Ma Hongjun replied, "I can't see clearly."
Jiang Huai wordlessly slapped his forehead, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, climb a tree and take a look."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, activated Nether Possession, and quickly climbed a tree, coming to a stop on a branch. Jiang Huai asked again, "What does the snake look like?"
"There's a large fleshy crest on its head," Zhu Zhuqing said.
At that, Jiang Huai and Tang San said in unison, "A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!"
Before you continue