Dai Mubai Flees (Part 2)

"Teacher Li, good morning!"

Teacher Li Yusong's dormitory was the closest to the Shrek Academy playground. Since Le Bai wanted to start sparring with Dai Mubai as soon as possible, there was naturally no reason to go far when he could stay near.

"Le Bai, and little Ao and Hongjun, what are you all up to?"

Li Yusong didn't have any classes today and had nothing to do, so he was just sunning himself by the door of his dormitory.

"Teacher Li, the Dean brought a new student today named Dai Mubai, a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. I'd like to spar with him, and I was wondering if you could act as the referee."

Le Bai introduced him to Li Yusong, then turned to Dai Mubai and said, "This is Teacher Li Yusong, a Tool Soul Emperor."

"Hello, Teacher Li!"

Dai Mubai greeted Li Yusong very politely: "I'll have to trouble you to be the referee."

"You want me to be the referee, huh."

Li Yusong didn't agree immediately. He first looked at the eager Le Bai, then at the calm-looking Dai Mubai, and finally at Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who were watching the show with a "pass the popcorn" expression. He asked Dai Mubai, "Child, may I call you Mubai?"

"Of course you can!"

Dai Mubai was very polite: "You are my elder!"

Li Yusong was very satisfied with Dai Mubai's attitude, just as most elders prefer polite children: "Mubai, how much do you know about Le Bai's strength? Why did you agree to spar with him?"

Thinking that Li Yusong was worried he might hit Le Bai too hard, Dai Mubai explained: "Don't worry, Teacher Li. Although this is the first time I've met Le Bai, we are already companions. During the spar, I will definitely hold back."

"No, I'm not worried about Le Bai, I'm worried about you."

Li Yusong said very seriously: "You might not believe it, but Le Bai's strength is very high, especially his actual combat ability."

Dai Mubai looked at Li Yusong with a puzzled expression: "But Teacher Li, his... Le Bai's Martial Soul is of the Food System, it has no attack power, right?"

"Forget it, you probably won't understand just by me explaining it."

Li Yusong gave up on the idea of explaining it to Dai Mubai in detail; after all, it had taken him quite a while to understand and accept this fact himself.

Li Yusong stood up from his recliner: "I will act as the referee for this spar. Let's get this straight: if I step in to stop it, you are not allowed to continue."

Although Dai Mubai felt strange about Li Yusong's attitude and became somewhat vigilant, based on his own common sense and knowledge of Martial Souls, he still believed in his heart that Le Bai posed no threat to him: "Understood, Teacher Li, I will be careful."

"Sigh, I was talking to Le Bai..."

Li Yusong sighed softly: "Le Bai, go easy on him later."

"Ahahaha, I'll try my best, though I suspect I'll be troubling you, Teacher Li."

Le Bai felt a bit embarrassed, feeling that he had caused Li Yusong trouble: "Regardless, it wouldn't look good if I knocked out a new student on his first day."

Dai Mubai felt that his long-held understanding was being challenged, but he also felt that being cautious couldn't hurt. He decided to use his full strength once the fight started: "Anyway, since Teacher Li trusts this Le Bai so much, even if I don't hold back, I probably won't be reprimanded."

Next to Li Yusong's dormitory was a fairly large open space, usually used for him to exercise. After all, as a Battle Soul Master, even if one became a teacher, one would regress without regular physical activity.

The academy had considered this, so all teachers' dormitories had an accompanying "Martial Arts Arena." Although it was just a slightly larger open space, it received unanimous praise from the teachers.

Le Bai and Dai Mubai stood facing each other at opposite ends of the clearing, separated by about five or six meters.

Li Yusong stood between them: "Before I say start, you are not allowed to release your Martial Souls, nor are you allowed to use your spirit power."

The two nodded and stood still.

Li Yusong retreated to the edge of the clearing and raised his hand: "Ready--start!"

As his hand fell with the word "start," spirit power fluctuations surged from Le Bai and Dai Mubai almost simultaneously.

But Le Bai was faster.

The onlookers felt the spirit power arrive in two waves, with the latter wave being significantly stronger than the first.

Two Century Soul Rings appeared on Dai Mubai's body, shining with golden spirit power radiance.

In comparison, the single white Decade Soul Ring on Le Bai looked extremely shabby.

"His First Soul Ring is actually just a Decade Soul Ring?"

Dai Mubai subconsciously looked down on Le Bai a little more: "I won't use a soul skill first, just test him out."

Just as Dai Mubai prepared to rush over for a "basic attack" to test him, Le Bai moved. He was very fast; before Dai Mubai could even finish lifting his foot, before his sole had even left the ground, Le Bai had already rushed in front of him and thrown a punch.

"So fast!"

Dai Mubai was startled, but he could still keep up with the speed. He threw a punch of his own to meet Le Bai's: "But also so stupid! Not knowing how to use your speed advantage, you actually attack head-on! I am a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master!"

Thud!

Their fists collided, emitting a dull sound.

Under the "as expected" gazes of the onlookers, Dai Mubai's tall body retreated several steps, an expression of disbelief on his face.

Le Bai didn't retreat even half a step, though the ground beneath his feet had sunk slightly.

"Tsk! Truly worthy of a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the attack power bonus is so high! Without using a soul skill, and without putting much spirit power into it, just a normal punch made my hand ache a little!"

Le Bai shook his slightly aching hand in place, his fighting spirit burning like a raging fire: "But that's exactly why it's good! If it weren't like this, it wouldn't feel like a real fight! Spirit Power Overclocking!"

Dai Mubai steadied himself, enduring the obvious pain in his right fist, and stared nervously at Le Bai. He discovered that the spirit power fluctuations on Le Bai's body were beginning to intensify, but they were also becoming harder to perceive.

It feels like a venomous snake hiding in the grass, ready to strike!

Dai Mubai gave a start, no longer daring to hold even a shred of contempt for Le Bai: "First Soul Skill: White Tiger Protection Barrier!"

"Buffs all set? Then here I come!"

Le Bai laughed loudly as he charged forward, throwing a punch with double the speed and power of his first attempt: "Round two!"

Dai Mubai didn't feel intimidated in the slightest, clenching his fist to meet the attack head-on!

Due to the age gap, the disparity in spirit power and strength between Dai Mubai and his older brother was vast, which made him feel that he could never surpass his brother, leading to thoughts of giving up and running away.

However, Dai Mubai remained a confident and arrogant guy. He didn't feel for a second that he would lose to a Support System Soul Master like Le Bai, especially one with much lower spirit power than his own: "Don't look down on me!"

Dai Mubai roared loudly, as if trying to vent all the grievances he had suffered at his brother's hands. His spirit power surged, his explosive strength forcing Le Bai back. At the same time, his second soul ring lit up, and a ball of intense golden light began to brew within his mouth: "Second Soul Skill—"

Such strong pressure. As expected of a second soul ring; to reach the same level of power, I would have to expend several times more spirit power! With my average talent, if I didn't have the Panel, I wouldn't be able to compete with these people at all.

Le Bai maintained a steady rhythm of breathing, his focus at its peak. He pushed Parallel Thinking to the limit of its current level, maintaining Spirit Power Overclocking, and concentrated his compressed spirit power as much as possible into his next attack: My total spirit power is enough for two minutes of all-out combat... No! With Teacher Li here, it doesn't matter if I can't hold back! I'll concentrate all my spirit power; this is the moment to decide the outcome in one strike!

Le Bai's emotions ran high, determined to emulate the passionate youths of his dreams.

Sensing the fluctuations in their spirit power, Li Yusong also began to condense his own, preparing to intervene and stop them at any moment.

Dai Mubai reached his maximum charge and suddenly opened his mouth: "White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"

A golden beam of light, a full meter thick, surged toward Le Bai!

"Ultimate move—"

Le Bai didn't dodge or evade; he met the beam head-on, clashing directly: "Serious Punch!"

It was just an ordinary punch, poured with all his spirit power.

Le Bai didn't know any martial arts techniques, nor did he have the talent to create his own. Furthermore, due to the limitations of his Martial Soul, Le Bai couldn't execute the attack techniques of this world that were created around Martial Souls.

All Le Bai could do was a simple, direct basic attack, and pour in more spirit power.

But that was enough!

The punch, condensed with all of Le Bai's current spirit power, forcibly shattered the White Tiger Intense Light Wave released by Dai Mubai.

This caused a portion of the spirit power condensed on Le Bai's fist to be consumed, but enough remained.

Hit—it didn't land. Le Bai's fist stopped just a hair's breadth away from making contact with Dai Mubai's forehead.

The pressure from his fist displaced the air, creating a strong gust that sent Dai Mubai's golden hair fluttering.

"Le Bai, what was it you said earlier?"

Li Yusong's overwhelming spirit power forcibly halted Le Bai's advancing fist: "You call this 'trying your best'?"

"I knew you would definitely step in, Teacher Li, ahahaha..."

Le Bai was in the wrong, his laughter lacking conviction: "Sorry, Teacher Li, I got a bit carried away."

"You, oh you."

Li Yusong shook his head, let go, and turned to the still-dazed Dai Mubai: "Alright, Mubai, now you know how strong Le Bai is. Although you might not find another Support System Soul Master like him in the entire world of Soul Masters, underestimating your opponent is never a good habit."

"Yes, Teacher Li, I will remember that."

Dai Mubai bowed in sincere conviction, tucking away the last bit of his arrogance.

"The sparring is over, you should be leaving now."

Li Yusong sat back down on the recliner in front of the door: "I'm going back to my rest."

"Thank you, Teacher Li! Goodbye, Teacher Li!"

Le Bai shouted toward Li Yusong, then looked at Dai Mubai, opened his palm, and said with a smile: "That was a fun fight today. I hope we can spar and exchange pointers more in the future, Mubai!"

Dai Mubai instinctively reached out and shook his hand: "We will!"

"Oh, by the way, Mubai,"

Le Bai's smile remained unchanged: "There is something I want you to do."

"What is it?"

Dai Mubai had the self-awareness of a loser: "Just say it."

"No need to be so serious, it's a good thing for you."

Le Bai said: "I want you to become the 'boss' among us."

"Boss?"

Dai Mubai was very surprised: "Why? You're stronger than me; you should be the one to be the boss."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Oscar complained: "I have no objection to you being the boss, Le Bai, but Mubai is only older and has higher spirit power; his actual strength is very average. If he can do it, why can't I?!"

"You don't have the temperament for it."

Le Bai shook his head at Oscar: "Besides, you're lucky if you can even take care of yourself."

As for himself: "And as for me, forget it. The role of a boss isn't just about who is the strongest."

"Then what about me?"

Ma Hongjun complained, "Why didn't you mention me?"

Le Bai and Oscar said in unison, "You're too young!"

"Is this your request?"

Dai Mubai nodded calmly, "Understood, I will do as you say."

"That will do."

Le Bai nodded, "From now on, when we're out there, you are our Boss Dai."

Thanks to [Book Friend 20170619202634666] for the suggestion.

Now revised once again.

Revision time: November 30, 2020