The wind in Soto City is a bit dry; the people from the Imperial Team are a bit wild

Three months later.

At the entrance of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a super-luxurious spirit tool carriage capable of holding ten people was parked. Pulling the carriage were four "Snow Mane Horses" with unicorn bloodlines; they were snow-white all over and exceptionally majestic.

"Finally... I made it out alive."

Yu Feng dragged his suitcase to the side of the carriage and looked up at the sun, feeling an urge to cry.

At this moment, although his skin had darkened by a shade, the restless arrogance that originally belonged to a young noble had vanished from his eyes, replaced by a sharpness akin to a hawk.

"Stop the nonsense, get on."

Oslo followed behind with a cold face. His transformation was the most significant; his originally effeminate temperament had become even more chilling. He walked without a sound, and his fingernails glinted with a cold light even in their natural state. Over these three months, he had caught rabbits in the Sunset Forest until he felt like vomiting, but he had also forged a terrifying level of explosive power and capture techniques.

Immediately after, two iron-tower-like figures walked over.

The brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo had muscles even more exaggerated than they were three months ago, as if carved from granite. But what was most surprising was their footwork—steady yet agile, completely devoid of the clumsiness typical of a defense-type Spirit Master.

"The captain is here."

Everyone immediately stood at attention.

Yu Tianlei walked in front with his hands behind his back, smiling. Although he was the captain, over these past three months, he—a Spirit Venerable—had been tortured quite severely by that "perverted vice-captain," under the guise of "a big brother needing to lead by example."

And at the back of the team was the familiar trio.

Yu Tianyu walked in the middle, wearing a black casual trench coat, his hands in his pockets, a stalk of Blue Silver Grass dangling from his mouth (purely to look cool).

On his left, Dugu Yan held his arm, dressed in a dark green tight-fitting leather outfit paired with a miniskirt, a tactical dagger strapped to her thigh, looking full of wild energy.

On his right, Ye Lingling was still wearing her black dress and veil, but the eyes exposed beneath it held less coldness and more attachment to the young man beside her.

"Is everyone here?"

Yu Tianyu scanned the group and nodded with satisfaction. "Good spirits. It seems these three months of training weren't in vain."

"That goes without saying!" Yu Feng puffed out his chest. "Brother Yu, you have no idea, I feel like tearing apart any furry animal I see now. This was all forced out of me by you!"

"That's exactly right."

Yu Tianyu snapped his fingers. "Keep that 'villainous' edge. The Soto City we're heading to isn't a place for the faint of heart."

"Board the carriage! Destination—Soto City Great Spirit Arena!"

The interior of the carriage was extremely spacious, like a small mobile palace. It was covered with thick velvet carpets, and in the center was a long table laden with various exquisite fruits and fine wines.

The members of the Imperial Fighting Team each found a comfortable spot to sit.

Yu Tianyu unceremoniously occupied the long sofa in the back row.

"I'm exhausted. I spent the whole night struggling to break through the level thirty bottleneck."

Yu Tianyu yawned and lay down directly.

"Come here, Lingling, lend me your lap."

Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not refuse. She obediently adjusted her sitting posture, letting Yu Tianyu rest his head on her supple thighs, then extended her slender fingers to gently massage his temples.

"Comfortable..." Yu Tianyu let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Dugu Yan, sitting nearby, wouldn't have it. She picked up a peeled grape and stuffed it directly into Yu Tianyu's mouth. "Eat! Choke to death, you big young master! Who was it that said they didn't need help last night and insisted on forcing their meridians alone?"

"Hehe, that was just to make myself look wise and powerful," Yu Tianyu chewed the grape and said indistinctly.

Watching this scene, Yu Feng and Oslo across from them could only turn their heads away and look at the scenery outside the window.

The stench of this sickening sweetness!

"Ahem."

Yu Tianlei, the captain and a single man, coughed twice, forcibly steering the conversation back on track.

"Tianyu, what is our main goal for this trip to Soto City? Is it just to farm points?"

Hearing that they were talking business, Yu Tianyu didn't get up, still enjoying the lap pillow service, but his eyes became a bit clearer.

"Points? That stuff is within our grasp."

Yu Tianyu said calmly, "Our goal is to train the troops. Find the fiercest opponents and fight the toughest battles."

"As far as I know, the Soto City Great Spirit Arena has had a few tough characters appear recently."

"For example, that 'Mad Battle Team'. Although their methods are a bit dirty, they are perfect for you all to practice on."

"Of course..."

A playful glint flashed in Yu Tianyu's eyes. "The most important thing is that there is a team called the 'Shrek Seven Devils'."

"Shrek Seven Devils?" Yu Feng was stunned. "Never heard of them. Are they strong?"

"They aren't strong yet. Just a mixed team of Spirit Masters and Spirit Venerables."

Yu Tianyu's mouth curled into a mocking smirk. "However, their composition is very interesting. There's a White Tiger, a Phoenix (a grass chicken), a Rabbit, and a Cat."

"It's practically a zoo."

"But don't underestimate them. Their teacher is a shameless Spirit Saint, and the students he teaches are also a bunch of monsters. Furthermore..."

Yu Tianyu paused. "Their core control-type Spirit Master, that Tang San, has many tricks up his sleeve. Hidden weapons, poison, hard crowd control—he's proficient in everything."

"Playing with poison?" Dugu Yan let out a disdainful snort. "Playing with poison in front of me, the Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor? Is he trying to die in a miserable way?"

"Don't be careless, Yan Yan."

Yu Tianyu patted Dugu Yan's hand. "His poison might not be as good as yours, but he is insidious. Don't worry, though; with me here, those pieces of junk (hidden weapons) of his won't be able to stir up any trouble."

"This trip is about stepping on these so-called 'monsters' in front of the entire audience."

"Let them know who the true geniuses are on this continent."

After a two-day journey, the carriage finally drove into Soto City.

As the granary of the Bala Kingdom, Soto City was not as prosperous as Heaven Dou City, but it had a unique liveliness of its own.

It was currently dusk, and the lights were just beginning to flicker on.

The Imperial Fighting Team's carriage stopped directly in front of the most luxurious hotel in Soto City—the Soto Grand Hotel.

This was the place where Dai Mubai often brought twins to rent rooms in the original story, and also where the Shrek members occasionally came to improve their meals.

"This is the best hotel in Soto City?"

Yu Feng jumped off the carriage and looked around with disdain. "It's barely passable. It's far worse than the academy's dorms."

"Alright, stop being so picky."

Yu Tianlei stepped off the carriage, displaying the composure of a captain. "When we're out, we keep things simple."

(Narrator: You call booking out the entire top three floors "simple"?)

The group walked into the lobby, immediately attracting countless gazes.

After all, the appearance of this group was simply too high-end. The men were handsome and imposing, and the women were stunningly beautiful. Especially their uniform team outfits, embroidered with gold patterns, exuded an aura of "I am very rich and also very capable of fighting."

"Waiter, the best private room on the top floor, and two of every signature dish you have."

Oslo skillfully tossed out a Gold Soul Coin card. "Also, don't let any idlers come up to disturb us."

"Yes, yes! Please head upstairs, my lords!" The manager, seeing this display, knew he was dealing with big shots and immediately bowed and scraped to lead the way.

Second-floor restaurant.

Although they had booked a private room, Yu Tianyu felt it was too stuffy and insisted on pushing tables together in the lobby by the window, claiming he wanted to see the night view of Soto City (in reality, he wanted to see if he could bump into any plot characters).

After several courses.

Just as the group was chatting happily, a burst of noisy footsteps suddenly came from the stairwell.

Following that, a group of people dressed in moon-white robes walked up.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in his forties, pot-bellied, with a lecherous look in his eyes. Behind him followed seven or eight teenagers, each with their noses in the air and arrogant expressions.

On the badges on their chests were two words—Canghui.

"Yo, looks like we don't have to wait until we get to the Fight Arena."

Yu Tianyu was peeling a large shrimp; seeing this group, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "The first stepping stone has delivered itself to our doorstep."

The people from Canghui Academy were clearly also here to eat.

But because the Imperial Fighting Team had occupied all the best window seats, and the tables were filled with delicacies, the aura of luxury made the students of Canghui Academy somewhat jealous.

"Teacher, that group is so arrogant."

A male student who looked quite handsome but had a frivolous look in his eyes whispered, "They don't look older than us, yet they've occupied three tables."

That middle-aged teacher, who was none other than the Foreign Affairs Department Director of Canghui Academy, Ye Zhiqiu (Martial Soul: Mystic Turtle), squinted his eyes and scanned the Imperial Fighting Team.

When he saw the peerless beauty of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes, but then, seeing their intimate actions with Yu Tianyu, an inexplicable fire rose in his heart.

"Young people these days really don't understand the rules."

Ye Zhiqiu deliberately raised his voice. "Eating out, not knowing how to keep a low profile, but instead being so extravagant. I don't know which family raised such spoiled brats."

His voice was loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.

The members of the Imperial Fighting Team put down their chopsticks.

Yu Feng set down the wine glass in his hand and picked at his ear: "Oslo, did you hear that? It sounds like an old turtle is squawking?"

"I heard it."

Oslo elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin and laughed sinisterly. "Seems like an old turtle with a strong sense of jealousy, too. Probably because he sees us eating well while he can only chew on rotten vegetable leaves, and he's feeling unbalanced."

"Bastards!"

On the Canghui Academy side, that frivolous male student slammed the table and stood up. "Who are you calling a turtle?!"

"Whoever answers is who I'm calling it." Yu Feng shrugged, looking innocent.

"You're courting death!"

Several male students from Canghui Academy were instantly enraged, standing up one by one, their soul power surging; they were actually about to start a fight right there in the restaurant.

"Stop."

Ye Zhiqiu stopped his students, but he walked over himself.

A pressure belonging to a Spirit King above level fifty was released without restraint, bearing down on the Imperial Fighting Team.

"Little brats, having a sharp tongue is not a good thing."

Ye Zhiqiu said coldly, "I am Ye Zhiqiu of Canghui Academy. Considering you are still young, come over and apologize to us now, then give up your seats, and I can choose not to hold this against you."

The pressure was like a mountain.

The surrounding diners were all scared away.

However, on the Imperial Fighting Team's table, not even a single plate wobbled.

Yu Tianyu continued peeling his shrimp, not even raising his head.

"Shi Mo, Shi Mo."

He called out indifferently, "Someone is acting like the ancestor of turtles in front of you; can you tolerate this?"

"We cannot."

Two dull voices sounded simultaneously.

The next second.

Boom! Boom!

The Shi Brothers, who had been sitting in the corner eating silently, stood up.

Their standing was like two mountains rising from the ground. Their height of over 1.9 meters, combined with their broad shoulders, instantly blocked Ye Zhiqiu's momentum.

"Black Tortoise, possess!"

There was no nonsense.

The two brothers roared in unison, and an earthy yellow light erupted. Thick turtle shells appeared in the phantom images in front of their chests and behind their backs.

Yellow, yellow, purple!

Beneath both of their feet, the optimal configuration of three Spirit Rings rose simultaneously.

Although they were only Spirit Venerables, the aura of that top-tier defensive Spirit actually held off the pressure of Ye Zhiqiu, a Spirit King, by force!

"Black Tortoise?!"

Ye Zhiqiu's expression changed drastically, "Are you... people from that family?"

As a Spirit Master who also possessed a turtle-type Spirit, he held a natural sense of awe (and the displeasure of having his bloodline suppressed) toward the Black Tortoise, the king of defensive Spirits.

"Old thing, you said you wanted to teach us a lesson just now?"

Shi Mo said in a muffled voice, taking a step forward.

Thud!

The entire second-floor floorboards trembled.

"With just you, this crossbred turtle, you think you're worthy?"

"Insolence!"

Ye Zhiqiu was furious from embarrassment. Being pointed at and called a crossbred turtle by two juniors—how could he endure this?

"Mystic Turtle, possess!"

He also released his Spirit, and five Spirit Rings (one white, two yellow, two purple) slowly rose. Although his Spirit Ring configuration was trash, he was, after all, a level 53 Spirit King.

"Mystic Water Ice Seal!"

Ye Zhiqiu opened his mouth, and a stream of cold black water gushed out, attempting to freeze the Shi Brothers.

"Small tricks."

Shi Mo snorted coldly.

If this had been three months ago, they might have only shrunk into their turtle shells to defend.

But now...

"Third Spirit Skill: Turtle Shell Burst Charge!"

The two brothers did not defend; instead, they performed an action that shocked everyone.

They actually tore off the phantom turtle shells from their backs, using them as shields and like battering rams, charging straight into the Mystic Water with an unstoppable momentum!

"Break!"

Boom!

Two massive turtle shell shields slammed fiercely into the Mystic Water.

That seemingly sinister Mystic Water was actually shattered upon impact by the brute force of the Black Tortoise, a top-tier Spirit!

"What?!" Ye Zhiqiu was shocked.

Before he could react, the two brothers had already charged right in front of him.

"Old turtle, taste this move!"

Shi Mo roared, and a circle of sharp serrations suddenly popped out from the edges of the turtle shell shields in his hands.

"Spin! Death Spinning Top!"

The two brothers spun their bodies at high speed, their serrated tortoise shells transforming them into two terrifying meat grinders as they pincered Ye Zhiqiu from the left and right.

"Fifth Spirit Skill: Black Tortoise Body Protection!"

Terrified out of his wits, Ye Zhiqiu hurriedly retracted into his tortoise shell.

Screech, screech, screech—!!!

A teeth-grinding friction sound echoed throughout the entire restaurant.

Sparks flew in every direction.

Ye Zhiqiu's pride and joy, his Spirit King-level defense, proved as fragile as paper under the "meat grinder" tactics of the two top-tier Spirit Venerables.

It lasted for only three seconds.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

Ye Zhiqiu's tortoise shell had cracked!

"Ah—!!!"

Accompanied by a miserable shriek, Ye Zhiqiu was sent flying along with his shattered shell, smashing through the restaurant wall and crashing onto the street outside.

As for the students from Canghui Academy, they had long since been knocked to the ground by the violent shockwave, each of them trembling in fear, having wet their pants.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Two Spirit Venerables had defeated a Spirit King head-on?

Although Ye Zhiqiu was a subpar Spirit King, this gap in power was still far too exaggerated!

"Tch, what a pushover."

Shi Mo retracted his martial soul, picked up a fragment of the tortoise shell from the floor, and tossed it aside with disdain. "With hardness like this, it's not even as good as the rocks back on our mountain."

Although the battle in the restaurant had ended, the commotion had clearly attracted the attention of those with keen eyes.

In an inconspicuous corner of the restaurant.

A table of seemingly ordinary diners had witnessed the entire fight.

It was a group of boys and girls of similar age.

One cute girl with a scorpion braid had her eyes wide open, the carrot in her mouth dropping to the floor.

"Brother... did you see that? Those two big guys are so fierce! They actually sent that old turtle flying!"

Beside her, the plain-looking youth (Tang San) wore an exceptionally grave expression.

His Purple Demon Eye had been active the entire time.

He wasn't watching the Shi Brothers, but rather the black-clad youth sitting by the window, who had been peeling shrimp from start to finish without even lifting his head.

Just a moment ago.

When Ye Zhiqiu released his pressure, Tang San had clearly sensed an extremely faint, yet terrifyingly immense aura radiating from that black-clad youth.

That aura... it was more heart-stopping than even his teacher Zhao Wuji, or perhaps even a Title Douluo (though he had never seen one in person, that was the feeling it gave him).

It was like a slumbering... behemoth.

"Boss Dai, do you recognize that team?" Tang San asked the blonde man with heterochromatic eyes beside him in a low voice.

Dai Mubai was also wearing a serious expression, his evil eyes filled with wariness.

"If I ignore their uniforms, I don't recognize them."

"But looking at those clothes... those are people from Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"And..."

Dai Mubai stared fixedly at the green-haired girl (Dugu Yan) who was still feeding grapes to Yu Tianyu, as well as the cold, masked girl (Ye Lingling).

"Those two women are top-tier."

The fatty Ma Hongjun drooled as he added, "Boss Dai, that green-haired one has such a hot figure! She's way better than your twins!"

"Shut up, fatty."

Tang San interrupted Ma Hongjun's lewd fantasies. "This group is very dangerous."

"Especially the leader who hasn't made a move yet."

Just then.

Yu Tianyu, sitting by the window, seemed to sense something.

He slowly turned his head, his heterochromatic pupils cutting through the noisy crowd and landing accurately on Tang San.

Their eyes met.

Tang San felt a "buzz" in his mind, as if he were being stared at by a giant dragon, and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul began to tremble uncontrollably behind his back.

Yu Tianyu looked at Tang San, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his lips.

He raised the wine glass in his hand, offering a distant toast in Tang San's direction.

Then, his lips moved slightly, silently forming a sentence.

Tang San understood the lip-reading.

It was—

"I use poison too; care for a spar sometime?"