Three months later.
Outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a super-luxurious Soul Tool carriage large enough for ten people stood waiting. It was pulled by four Snow Mane Horses with unicorn bloodlines. Their coats were snow-white, and they looked exceptionally majestic.
"I finally... made it out alive."
Yu Feng dragged his suitcase over to the carriage. Looking up at the sun, he felt an almost irresistible urge to cry.
Although his skin had grown a shade darker, the restless air of a noble young master had vanished from his eyes, replaced by the sharp gaze of a hawk.
"Quit talking and get in."
Osler followed close behind, his face cold. He had changed the most. His once delicate air had grown even more menacing; he walked without a sound, and even his fingernails gleamed coldly in their natural state. Over the past three months, he had caught so many rabbits in Sunset Forest that he was sick of them, but he had also honed terrifyingly explosive reflexes and capture skills.
Next, two figures like iron towers approached.
The muscles of the Shi Brothers were even more exaggerated than they had been three months ago, as if they had been carved from granite. But what surprised everyone most was their gait: steady yet light, no longer carrying the clumsiness of defensive Spirit Masters.
"The captain's here."
Everyone immediately straightened up.
Yu Tianlei walked ahead with his hands behind his back, smiling. Though he was the captain, even he, a Soul Ancestor, had been put through the wringer by that "perverted vice-captain" over the past three months—all in the name of "setting an example as the big brother."
At the very back of the group was that familiar trio.
Yu Tianyu walked in the middle, wearing a black casual trench coat with his hands in his pockets and a piece of Blue Silver Grass in his mouth (purely for the sake of looking cool).
On his left, Dugu Yan linked her arm through his. She wore a tight-fitting dark green leather jacket and a miniskirt, with a tactical dagger strapped to her thigh. She looked wild and untamed.
On his right, Ye Lingling still wore a black dress and a veil. But in her visible eyes, there was less cool detachment and more affection for the young man beside her.
"Is everyone here?"
Yu Tianyu looked around at the group and nodded in satisfaction. "You all look sharp. Seems like those three months of training weren't wasted."
"You bet!" Yu Feng puffed out his chest. "Brother Yu, you have no idea. Now, whenever I see a furry animal, I just want to tear it apart. You brought this out of me!"
"That's the spirit."
Yu Tianyu snapped his fingers. "Keep that 'villain' energy up. Suotuo City isn't a place for saints and gentlemen."
"Get in! Destination: Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena!"
The carriage was incredibly spacious, like a small palace on wheels. Thick velvet carpets covered the floor, and a long table in the middle was piled with fine fruits and wine.
The Imperial Fighting Team members each found a comfortable seat.
Yu Tianyu claimed the long sofa at the very back without a hint of shame.
"I'm exhausted. I spent all night trying to break through the bottleneck at level thirty."
Yu Tianyu yawned and lay down.
"Lingling, lend me your legs."
Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't refuse. She obediently shifted her position, letting Yu Tianyu rest his head on her firm thighs. Then she lifted her slender fingers and gently massaged his temples.
"Now that's comfortable..." Yu Tianyu sighed contentedly.
Dugu Yan wasn't having it. She picked up a peeled grape and popped it right into Yu Tianyu's mouth. "Eat! Go on, stuff yourself, young master! Who was it that said he didn't need anyone's help last night and insisted on forcing his way through his meridians?"
"Heh, wasn't that just so I'd look wise and mighty?" Yu Tianyu chewed the grape and spoke indistinctly.
Watching the scene, Yu Feng and Osler could only silently turn their heads and look out the window.
That unbearable stench of romance!
"Ahem."
Yu Tianlei, the team captain and a confirmed bachelor, coughed twice and forcibly steered the conversation back on track.
"Tianyu, what's our main goal in Suotuo City? Just earning points?"
At the mention of business, Yu Tianyu didn't get up. He continued enjoying the pillow service, though his eyes grew clearer.
"Points? We can get those without even trying."
Yu Tianyu spoke coolly. "Our goal is to train the team. Find the toughest opponents and fight the hardest battles."
"As far as I know, a few tough characters have recently appeared at Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena."
"For example, the Mad Battle Team. Their methods are a little dirty, but they'll make good practice for you."
"Of course..."
A playful glint flashed through Yu Tianyu's eyes. "Most importantly, there's a team called the Shrek Seven Devils."
"The Shrek Seven Devils?" Yu Feng blinked. "Never heard of them. Are they strong?"
"They're not strong yet. Just a mixed team of Soul Grandmasters and Soul Elders."
Yu Tianyu's lips curved into a mocking smile. "But their lineup is interesting. They have a White Tiger, a Phoenix (a grass chicken), a rabbit, and a cat."
"They're practically a zoo."
"But don't underestimate them. Their teacher is a shameless Spirit Saint, and the students he's taught are a bunch of freaks, too. And..."
Yu Tianyu paused. "Their core Control System Spirit Master, Tang San, has plenty of tricks. Hidden Weapons, poison, crowd control—he's good at all of them."
"Poison?" Dugu Yan gave a disdainful snort. "He wants to use poison against me, with my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor? Is he asking to die horribly?"
"Don't get careless, Yan Yan."
Yu Tianyu patted Dugu Yan's hand. "His poison isn't as good as yours, but he's devious. Still, don't worry. With me around, his little bits of scrap metal—his Hidden Weapons—won't cause any trouble."
"We're going to stomp those so-called 'freaks' into the ground in front of the whole arena."
"Then they'll know who the real genius on this continent is."
After two days on the road, the carriage finally entered Suotuo City.
As the granary of the Balak Kingdom, Suotuo City couldn't match Heaven Dou City's prosperity, but it had a bustling charm of its own.
It was evening, and the city lights were just coming on.
The Imperial Fighting Team's carriage stopped right outside Suotuo Grand Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Suotuo City.
In the original story, it was where Dai Mubai often brought twins for a night together, as well as where the Shrek students sometimes came to enjoy a better meal.
"This is the best hotel in Suotuo City?"
Yu Feng jumped out of the carriage and looked around with disdain. "It'll do, I suppose. Still nowhere near as good as the academy dorms."
"Enough. Stop being so picky."
Yu Tianlei stepped down, displaying the calm of a captain. "When we're away from home, we make do."
(Aside: You call booking the top three floors "making do"?)
As soon as the group entered the lobby, countless eyes turned their way.
After all, the group was exceptionally good-looking. The men were handsome and imposing, and the women were stunning. Their matching uniforms, embroidered with golden patterns, especially gave off an air of "we're rich and we can fight."
"Waiter, the best private rooms on the top floor, and two portions of every specialty on your menu."
Osler casually tossed over a Gold Soul Coin card. "Also, don't let any random people come up and disturb us."
"Yes, yes! This way, honored guests!" The manager took one look at them and knew important people had arrived. He hurriedly bowed and led the way.
Second-floor dining room.
Though they had booked a private room, Yu Tianyu found it too stuffy and insisted on sharing a table by the window in the main dining area. He said he wanted to see Suotuo City at night (though really, he was hoping to run into someone from the story).
The meal was halfway through.
Just as everyone was enjoying their conversation, a noisy set of footsteps suddenly came from the stairs.
A group of people in moon-white robes came up right after.
At their head was a potbellied, middle-aged man in his forties with a somewhat lecherous gaze. Behind him followed seven or eight teenage boys, each with his nose in the air and an arrogant look on his face.
The badge on their chests bore two words: Canghui.
"Teacher, that group sure is arrogant."
A handsome but frivolous-looking male student spoke quietly. "They don't even look as old as us, yet they've taken three tables."
The middle-aged teacher, Ye Zhiqiu, the head of Canghui Academy's external affairs department and a Black Tortoise Spirit Master, narrowed his eyes as he looked over the Imperial Fighting Team.
When he saw the peerless beauty of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, a flash of admiration crossed his eyes. But when he noticed how intimately they were acting with Yu Tianyu, a nameless anger rose in his heart.
"Young people these days have no manners."
Ye Zhiqiu deliberately raised his voice. "When you're eating out, you should know how to keep a low profile instead of flaunting your wealth. I wonder which family spoiled these young wastrels."
His voice rang out loudly enough for everyone in the dining room to hear.
The Imperial Fighting Team members put down their chopsticks.
Yu Feng set down his wineglass and picked at his ear. "Osler, did you hear that? Sounds like some old tortoise is making a fuss."
"I heard." Osler elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled darkly. "Sounds like a jealous old tortoise, too. He probably saw how well we're eating while he's stuck chewing rotten vegetables and couldn't take it."
"You bastards!"
The frivolous male student from Canghui Academy slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "Who are you calling a tortoise?!"
"Whoever answers," Yu Feng replied with a shrug, looking perfectly innocent.
"You're asking for it!"
Several of the Canghui Academy boys flew into a rage. One by one, they stood up and surged with Soul Power, ready to start a fight right there in the dining room.
"Stop."
Ye Zhiqiu held back his students, but then he walked over himself.
The oppressive aura of a Soul King above level fifty poured out without restraint, bearing down on the Imperial Fighting Team.
"Little brats, a sharp tongue won't do you any good."
Ye Zhiqiu spoke coldly. "I'm Ye Zhiqiu of Canghui Academy. Since you're still young, come apologize to us and give up your seats. Then I'll let this go."
His oppressive aura fell like a mountain.
The other diners were so frightened that they fled.
Yet not a single plate on the Imperial Fighting Team's table even shook.
Yu Tianyu kept peeling his shrimp without so much as looking up.
"Shi Mo, Shi Mo."
He called out casually. "Someone's acting like the ancestor of all tortoises right in front of you. Can you put up with that?"
"No."
Two deep voices answered at the same time.
The next second—
Boom! Boom!
The Shi Brothers, who had been quietly eating in the corner, stood up.
They rose like two mountains bursting from the earth. Their height of nearly two meters and broad shoulders immediately blocked Ye Zhiqiu's imposing aura.
"Black Tortoise, possession!"
Without another word, the brothers roared together. An ochre light burst forth, and the illusory forms of heavy tortoise shells appeared before their chests and backs.
Yellow, yellow, purple!
The best Soul Ring Configuration rose beneath both of them.
Though they were only Soul Elders, the aura of their top-tier defensive Martial Souls held back the pressure of Ye Zhiqiu, a Soul King!
"Black Tortoise?!"
Ye Zhiqiu's expression changed drastically. "You're... from that family?"
As a Spirit Master with a turtle-type Martial Soul himself, he felt a natural reverence for the Black Tortoise, the emperor among defensive Martial Souls (along with the discomfort of having his own bloodline suppressed).
"Old man, didn't you just say you wanted to teach us a lesson?"
Shi Mo spoke in a deep, rumbling voice and took a step forward.
Thud!
The entire second-floor room trembled.
"You're nothing but a mongrel tortoise. What makes you think you can?"
"Impudent!"
Ye Zhiqiu flew into a rage. How could he tolerate being called a mongrel tortoise by two juniors right to his face?
"Black Tortoise, possession!"
He released his Martial Soul as well. Five Soul Rings—one white, two yellow, and two purple—rose slowly beneath him. His Soul Ring Configuration was trash, but he was still a level fifty-three Soul King.
"Mystic Water Ice Seal!"
Ye Zhiqiu opened his mouth and spewed a stream of cold, black water, trying to freeze the Shi Brothers in place.
"Child's play."
Shi Mo snorted.
Three months ago, they might have simply huddled inside their shells and defended themselves.
But now...
"Third Spirit Skill: Turtle Shell Burst Charge!" (Modified skill)
The brothers didn't defend. Instead, they did something that left everyone gaping.
They directly removed the illusory turtle shells from their backs and used them as both shields and battering rams, charging straight into the stream of Mystic Water with an unstoppable momentum!
"Break!"
Boom!
The two enormous turtle-shell shields slammed into the Mystic Water.
Under the brute-force charge of the Black Tortoise, a top-tier Martial Soul, the seemingly sinister stream was knocked apart!
"What?!" Ye Zhiqiu cried in shock.
Before he could react, the brothers had already charged right up to him.
"Old tortoise, try this!"
Shi Mo roared. A ring of sharp sawteeth suddenly sprang from the edge of the turtle-shell shield in his hand (a Soul Tool attachment Yu Tianyu had suggested they add, or perhaps a mutation of their Spirit Skill).
"Spin! Death Spinning Top!"
The two brothers spun at high speed, their serrated tortoise shells turning them into two terrifying meat grinders as they attacked Ye Zhiqiu from both sides.
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Black Tortoise Body Protection!"
Ye Zhiqiu was scared out of his wits and hurriedly withdrew into his shell.
Szzzzzzzz—!!!
The teeth-grating sound of friction rang throughout the restaurant.
Sparks flew everywhere.
Ye Zhiqiu's Spirit King-level defense, of which he was so proud, was as fragile as paper under the "meat grinder" tactics of two top-tier Soul Elders.
It lasted barely three seconds.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of breaking.
Ye Zhiqiu's shell had cracked!
"Ah—!!!"
With a scream, Ye Zhiqiu was sent flying along with the shattered pieces of his shell. He smashed through the restaurant wall and crashed into the street.
As for the Canghui Academy students, they had already been knocked to the ground by the violent shock wave. They were so terrified that they wet themselves, trembling all over.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Two Soul Elders had beaten a Spirit King head-on?
Ye Zhiqiu might have been a fake Spirit King, but the gap between their ranks was still ridiculous!
"Tch, he couldn't take a hit."
Shi Mo put away his Martial Soul, picked up half a piece of shell from the ground, and tossed it aside disdainfully. "It's not even as hard as the rocks behind our academy."
The battle in the restaurant was over, but the commotion had clearly caught the attention of some observant people.
In an inconspicuous corner of the restaurant,
a table of seemingly ordinary diners had witnessed the entire battle.
They were a group of boys and girls of about the same age.
A cute girl with a scorpion braid had her eyes wide open. The carrot in her mouth had even fallen out.
"Bro... did you see that? Those two big guys are so strong! They actually sent that old turtle flying!"
Beside her, the unremarkable-looking boy, Tang San, wore an unusually grave expression.
His Purple Demon Eye had been active the whole time.
He wasn't watching the Shi Brothers. He was watching the black-clad youth sitting by the window, who had been peeling shrimp the entire time without even looking up.
Just a moment ago,
when Ye Zhiqiu released his pressure, Tang San had clearly sensed an extremely faint, yet terrifying aura emanating from the black-clad youth.
That aura... was more unnerving than that of Teacher Zhao Wuji, whom he had met. It even felt more frightening than a Titled Douluo—though he had never actually met one.
It was like a slumbering... giant beast.
"Boss Dai, do you know that group?" Tang San asked in a low voice, turning to the golden-haired, odd-eyed man beside him.
Dai Mubai also wore a solemn expression, his evil eyes full of wariness.
"If I hadn't seen their uniforms, I wouldn't know."
"But judging by those clothes... they're from Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"And..."
Dai Mubai stared fixedly at the green-haired girl who was still feeding grapes to Yu Tianyu, and the cool, masked girl beside her.
"Those two women are top-notch beauties."
The chubby Ma Hongjun beside him added, drooling, "Boss Dai, that green-haired one has an amazing figure! She's way hotter than your twins!"
"Shut up, Fatty."
Tang San cut off Ma Hongjun's lewd fantasies. "This group is dangerous."
"Especially their leader, who hasn't moved a muscle."
Just then,
Yu Tianyu, seated by the window, seemed to sense something.
He slowly turned his head. His mismatched eyes passed through the noisy crowd and landed precisely on Tang San.
Their eyes met.
Tang San felt a sudden buzz in his mind, as if a giant dragon had fixed its gaze on him. The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul on his back even began to tremble uncontrollably.
Yu Tianyu looked at Tang San, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
He raised his wineglass and gave Tang San a toast from afar.
Then his lips moved, silently forming a sentence.
Tang San understood what he was saying.
It was—
"I use poison too. Want to spar sometime?"
Before you continue