Tang San's Shock, Genius and Mediocrity

A low shout rang out.

"Bang!"

A dull, heavy sound of flesh impacting flesh, though not particularly loud.

The white shadow's right foot struck the inner side of the blue-clad woman's wrist with pinpoint precision as she held her dagger.

"Snap!"

A clear sound of bone fracturing.

"Ah—!"

The woman let out a shrill scream; the dagger flew from her hand and clattered onto the ground in the distance.

The immense force sent her flying, slamming her heavily against the wall on the other side. She slid down limply, curling up on the ground while clutching her wrist, groaning in agony and unable to climb back up for the moment.

Only then did the white shadow land steadily and reveal his form.

The newcomer was none other than Dai Mubai. He was still carrying two bulging cloth bags filled with fresh ingredients in his left hand, his right hand hanging casually at his side.

After the strike, Dai Mubai deactivated his Martial Soul Possession, the two yellow and two purple soul rings beneath his feet vanishing in a flash.

It all happened too quickly.

From the girl's sudden outburst to Dai Mubai's appearance, the kicking away of the dagger, and the girl being sent flying, no more than two or three breaths had passed.

It wasn't until Dai Mubai landed that the two men who had been playing the villains seemed to snap out of a dream. Fear washed over their faces, and they couldn't help but retreat a step; they hadn't even seen how Dai Mubai had appeared.

The two exchanged a glance, let out a strange cry, and turned to flee deep into the alley without hesitation, not even sparing a glance for their fallen accomplice.

Dai Mubai glanced in the direction of their escape but did not pursue.

He set down the cloth bags in his left hand, brushed the non-existent dust from his hands, and then looked at the still-shaken Xiao Wu and the stunned Tang San.

"Are you alright?"

Dai Mubai's voice was not loud, carrying a composure born of experience.

Xiao Wu finally regained her senses, patting her chest with lingering fear. "I-I'm fine, thank you so much for just now!"

Though impulsive, she was not stupid; she immediately understood that if this golden-haired youth hadn't intervened in time, she likely would have been injured or even taken hostage.

Tang San quickly stepped forward, pulling Xiao Wu behind him to a safer position before bowing solemnly to Dai Mubai. "Many thanks for your assistance, brother! This Humble One is Tang San, and this is my younger sister, Xiao Wu. If not for your help, we would have nearly fallen into their trap."

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Dai Mubai's feet. Although the soul rings had been retracted, the four rings that had flashed by—especially those two deep purple ones—left an indelible impression on him.

Four soul rings! Two yellow, two purple! The optimal configuration! And judging by his age, he was definitely no older than fifteen!

A monstrous wave surged in Tang San's heart. He possessed the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and his cultivation speed far exceeded that of ordinary soul masters.

Yet even so, at twelve years old, he was only at level twenty-nine, still a hair's breadth away from level thirty.

He considered himself an absolute genius in Nuoding City, and his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, had also said he was gifted.

But the youth before him, who seemed no more than two or three years older than himself, was already a four-ringed Soul Ancestor!

What kind of terrifying cultivation speed was this? Even with the Mysterious Heaven Skill, could he reach the Soul Ancestor realm by the age of fifteen?

Tang San felt he didn't have much confidence in that.

Leaving Nuoding City and arriving in this vast Suotuo City, the first soul master of his own age he encountered possessed such shocking strength.

This made him truly realize that the world of Nuoding City was too small; the outside world was far broader than he had imagined.

His own bit of talent and achievement seemed like nothing here.

This realization, while shocking him with Dai Mubai's strength, also filled the usually proud Tang San with a strong sense of urgency.

Dai Mubai didn't mind Tang San's gaze; he had seen such looks many times before.

He looked at the groaning woman on the ground and said to Tang San and Xiao Wu, "In a place like Suotuo City, where all kinds of people mix, this kind of 'honey trap' is nothing new."

"They use people's sympathy to lure them into quiet places, where their accomplices play the villain, and the victim is caught off guard by a sudden attack to rob or even kidnap them."

"Since you are new here, you should be more careful in the future. Don't easily follow strangers to quiet places, and don't easily trust so-called 'weaklings'."

Tang San nodded earnestly, taking these words to heart. This lesson was profound enough.

"May I ask your name, friend? Seeing your extraordinary skills, are you a local soul master of Suotuo City?"

Dai Mubai picked up the cloth bags from the ground and said casually, "Dai Mubai. I suppose so. I study at Shrek Academy outside the city."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai scanned Tang San and Xiao Wu. Seeing that they were young and their auras far exceeded those of their peers, he guessed their purpose in coming to Suotuo City.

"Are you here to apply to our Shrek Academy?"

Shrek Academy!

Tang San and Xiao Wu's eyes lit up simultaneously. They hadn't expected to encounter a student of Shrek Academy so quickly, and such a powerful one at that.

"Exactly! We were recommended by our teacher to apply to Shrek Academy!"

Tang San's tone carried a hint of respect. His teacher was right after all; Shrek Academy was definitely worth attending!

Dai Mubai looked at them and nodded. "The academy is enrolling students these past two days. Follow this road out of the city, head south for about three miles, and you'll see a village. The one with the wooden arch at the entrance is it."

"The enrollment assessment should still be underway. I have things to buy and need to get back, so I won't accompany you. I wish you good luck."

After saying this, he nodded at the two of them, picked up the cloth bag, and turned to walk out of the alley with steady strides, quickly disappearing around the corner.

Only Tang San, Xiao Wu, the groaning swindler on the ground, and the dagger dropped in the distance remained in the alley.

Tang San walked over, carefully picked up the dagger with a piece of cloth, and glanced at the substance coating the blade; having dealt with poisons for many years, he could tell at a glance that it was poison.

In an instant, Tang San's gaze turned colder. He put the dagger away into the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges and checked the woman, confirming that her wrist was broken and she no longer posed a threat, then ignored her.

"Xiao Wu, let's go."

Tang San took Xiao Wu's hand and stepped out toward the end of the alley.

Tang San did not want to kill anyone in front of Xiao Wu, nor did he want to invite unnecessary trouble in this place; as mere Soul Grand Masters, provoking local soul masters would make their future lives difficult.

Before leaving, Xiao Wu looked back at the unconscious woman, then hurried her pace to follow closely behind Tang San.

Thinking of what she had just done, Xiao Wu couldn't help but whisper an apology to Tang San: "Brother San, I was impulsive today and almost put us in danger. I'm really sorry!"

Hearing this, Tang San stopped in his tracks, stood in front of Xiao Wu, smiled, and patted her head, comforting her in a low voice: "Xiao Wu, this isn't your fault. Your kind heart is not a mistake; the ones at fault are those who exploit the kindness of others for profit! Continue to be kind in the future, Xiao Wu!"

If you ever encounter something like this again, I will definitely protect your safety!

Tang San did not say this last sentence aloud; he did not want to burden Xiao Wu, and protecting his younger sister was something he should do regardless.

With Tang San's comfort, Xiao Wu swept away the gloom from just moments ago and began skipping along again.

"Brother San, that soul master named Dai Mubai is so amazing. He doesn't look much older than us, yet he is already a Soul Ancestor. Could it be that all the students at Shrek Academy are this strong?"

"I don't know, but I believe that as long as we go to Shrek Academy, we can also become strong experts like Dai Mubai!"

Tang San was silent for a moment, slowly exhaling as he gazed in the direction where Dai Mubai had disappeared.

"Xiao Wu, let's go. Next stop, Shrek!"