My Teacher Is Sword Douluo Chen Xin

Oscar successfully absorbed the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Soul Ring and obtained his third Soul Skill, which allowed him to fly for one minute. Everyone was delighted for him, and the tense atmosphere eased considerably.

Seeing that they had achieved their goal, Zhao Wuji told everyone to prepare to return to the academy.

However, just as they had finished packing and were about to set off, a powerful wave of Soul Power suddenly erupted from Tang San without warning!

The surge came swiftly and violently, as if even the air around them had frozen. Tang San grunted and sat cross-legged, a trace of pain flashing across his face, though there was far more delight than pain in his expression. The Mysterious Heaven Skill within him surged into motion, and the bottleneck at level twenty-nine, built up through successive battles and mounting pressure, burst open with a roar!

"Level thirty! Xiao San's reached level thirty too!" Xiao Wu was the first to cry out in delight.

Everyone exchanged glances, their faces bearing expressions of disbelief mixed with a hint of numbness. Two students had broken through to level thirty in a single day. Shrek Academy really was a gathering place for monsters.

Zhao Wuji rubbed his still-throbbing temples and grimaced, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Damn it, now we've gone and made a wasted trip, and we still have to head farther in. That old rogue Flender's already gone back, so it's all on me now."

Despite his complaints, helping students obtain Soul Rings was a teacher's duty. Zhao Wuji could only brace himself and lead the group deeper into the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, searching for a suitable Soul Beast for Tang San.

Lin Yi remained quietly at Ning Rongrong's side, but he understood what was coming. He knew that, according to the "plot," they were about to encounter that great calamity. He silently adjusted his condition, letting the Soul Power of his Snow Lotus Martial Soul flow slowly through his meridians, ready to respond to anything unexpected.

Finding a thousand-year Soul Beast suitable for Blue Silver Grass, a control-type Martial Soul, was no easy task, especially given Tang San's specific requirements regarding the creature's kind and traits. The group made their way carefully through the dense forest, encountering several thousand-year Soul Beasts along the way, but none of them quite fit the bill.

The sky gradually darkened, and the forest grew more eerie and dangerous. Zhao Wuji was about to order everyone to find a place to camp for the night and continue their search tomorrow.

Just then—

"Roar—!!!"

A terrifying bellow, as if it had come from the distant primordial past, exploded like thunder, making the entire forest tremble! An indescribable, terrifying pressure, as tangible as a tsunami, swept out from deep within the forest and instantly engulfed everyone!

Thud! Thud!

Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong, the weaker members of the group, collapsed beneath the pressure, their faces deathly pale and even breathing a struggle. Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu barely held on, their bodies trembling violently, their eyes filled with horror.

Zhao Wuji's expression changed dramatically. He instantly released all seven of his Soul Rings, and his Martial Soul Avatar, the Vajra Bear, enveloped him as he tried to withstand the pressure. At the same time, he roared, "Everyone, gather close! Prepare for battle!"

But before his voice had even faded, a gigantic figure, as vast as a mountain, appeared at the edge of their field of vision, its every step splitting the earth.

It was a giant ape covered from head to toe in black, iron-like fur. It stood over fifteen meters tall, its muscles knotted and brimming with explosive strength. Its lantern-sized, amber-yellow eyes radiated a cold, savage aura.

The Titan Giant Ape! One of the forest's kings, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

"Er Ming..." The instant Xiao Wu saw the Titan Giant Ape, a complicated look flashed through her eyes, though worry soon overtook it. She couldn't let Er Ming hurt her friends!

Zhao Wuji's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. He knew that fleeing would be futile against such a being; they could only fight to the death! He roared and charged at the Titan Giant Ape with all his might, his Seventh Soul Ring blazing as he tried to buy the students a sliver of hope.

But the gap in strength was too great. The Titan Giant Ape casually swatted with one enormous palm, and an irresistible, terrifying force burst forth. Zhao Wuji's seemingly impenetrable defense was no stronger than paper. His massive bear form was sent flying, smashing through several giant trees before crashing heavily to the ground. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and he was left gravely injured and unconscious!

"Teacher Zhao!" Tang San and the others cried out.

Just then, the Titan Giant Ape's gaze seemed to settle on Xiao Wu. Its enormous hand reached out again—not to attack, but to scoop up the startled Xiao Wu with a gentleness that seemed impossible for a creature of its size. It turned and began striding toward the forest's core, the ground groaning beneath its feet.

"Xiao Wu—!!!" Tang San could only watch as Xiao Wu was carried away. He let out a heart-rending roar, his eyes instantly turning blood-red. He barely hesitated before snatching the Flying Mushroom Sausage Oscar had just made, stuffing it into his mouth. Pale red wings sprouted from his back, and he became a streak of light as he raced after the Titan Giant Ape without a second thought.

Everything had happened too quickly. From the Titan Giant Ape's appearance to its abduction of Xiao Wu, only a few breaths had passed.

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others managed to recover somewhat from the terrifying pressure. Seeing Zhao Wuji gravely injured and unconscious, Xiao Wu abducted, and Tang San in pursuit, they panicked.

"Teacher Zhao!" Ning Rongrong cried, her face drained of color as she stared at Zhao Wuji, motionless on the ground.

"Stay calm!" A steady voice rang out, like a pillar holding the sea in place, and the panicking group steadied somewhat.

Lin Yi had somehow already appeared beside Zhao Wuji. His expression was grave, but his gaze remained calm. He quickly examined Zhao Wuji's injuries: his internal organs were shaken, several bones were broken, and his Soul Power was in disarray. His injuries were severe, but fortunately, his life was not in immediate danger.

"Mubai, Zhuqing, keep watch. Be careful in case other powerful Soul Beasts were drawn here. Oscar, keep making Mushroom Sausages in case we need them. Hongjun, watch the sky." Lin Yi issued his orders swiftly, his tone leaving no room for argument. His calm and decisive manner made Dai Mubai and the others obey instinctively.

Once he had given his instructions, Lin Yi crouched down and held his palm above Zhao Wuji's chest. A gentle white light welled from his hand and flowed into Zhao Wuji like warm spring water. It was the first Soul Skill of his Snow Lotus Martial Soul—Healing Light.

But unlike ordinary Healing Light, the Soul Power Lin Yi infused was purer and more abundant, carrying the distinctive life-purifying aura of the Snow Lotus Martial Soul. It efficiently repaired Zhao Wuji's damaged organs and meridians while stabilizing his chaotic Soul Power.

At the same time, the second Yellow Soul Ring beneath Lin Yi's feet flickered faintly. A translucent phantom of ice-lotus petals quietly unfurled, enveloping Zhao Wuji and Lin Yi. It was his second Soul Skill, Ice Lotus Protection. It wasn't meant to defend against attacks, but to block any outside disturbances or auras and ensure the treatment went uninterrupted.

As everyone waited anxiously, roughly the time it took to burn a stick of incense passed. Zhao Wuji suddenly coughed several times, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slowly awoke. Though he was still weak, his life was no longer in danger. He looked at Lin Yi with shock and gratitude. He knew how badly he had been hurt. To pull him back from the gates of death in such a short time—Lin Yi's healing abilities were surely far beyond anything he had imagined.

"Teacher Zhao, how are you feeling?" Ning Rongrong asked hurriedly.

"I'm not dead yet..." Zhao Wuji rasped, struggling to sit up. "Where's Xiao San? He went after them?"

Dai Mubai nodded gravely.

"Foolishness! He's going to his death!" Zhao Wuji cried out, both anxious and angry.

"There's no use talking about that now." Lin Yi steadied Zhao Wuji and spoke calmly. "The most urgent thing is to find Tang San. Teacher Zhao, your injuries haven't healed, so you shouldn't exert yourself. Rongrong, you and the others stay here and look after Teacher Zhao. Mubai, Zhuqing, and I will follow the trail and look for Tang San."

His plan was entirely reasonable, and no one objected. Lin Yi, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing immediately followed the tracks left by Tang San and the Titan Giant Ape.

Tracking them was no easy task. The Titan Giant Ape's strides were so long that its trail came and went. The three were frantic with worry, afraid they would arrive too late and find only Tang San's corpse.

At last, after crossing an area shrouded in a faint poisonous haze, they heard sounds of fighting ahead, followed by a shrill cry.

The three hurried forward, and the sight before them made them gasp.

In a wrecked clearing, a massive spider-type Soul Beast with a hideous human face—the Man Faced Demon Spider—lay in a pool of blood. It had clearly been killed only recently. Tang San was kneeling beside it, pale and panting, his body smeared with green blood and dirt, but his eyes were unusually bright. He seemed to be clutching something tightly in his hand...

He'd done it! He had actually killed a powerful Man Faced Demon Spider, more than two thousand years old, all by himself despite being outmatched!

Yet before Dai Mubai and the others could step forward to congratulate him, two powerful auras suddenly locked onto them from the woods to the side.

It was the Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang, who had returned!

Dragon Duke Meng Shu's gaze swept over the Man Faced Demon Spider's corpse, then the strangely composed Tang San, and finally settled on Lin Yi and the others. His eyes were sharp as a blade, and he released the pressure of a Soul Douluo without restraint. "Hmph! What a small world! We had our eye on this Man Faced Demon Spider first and chased it for half the day. I never expected you to steal it from under our noses! Boy, what do you have to say for yourself this time?"

The immense pressure left Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing pale and gasping for breath. Tang San also forced himself to his feet, his expression grave.

Just as the atmosphere grew thick with tension, Lin Yi stepped forward, placing himself between Tang San and Dai Mubai. Facing the overwhelming pressure of Dragon Duke Meng Shu, he remained calm and cupped his hands slightly in greeting, neither cringing nor arrogant. "This junior, Lin Yi, pays his respects to Senior Dragon Duke and Senior Snake Granny."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu snorted but did not ease his pressure.

Lin Yi seemed not to feel the suffocating pressure at all and continued calmly, "My friend Tang San killed this Man Faced Demon Spider at the risk of his life to obtain his third Soul Ring. He had no intention of contending with you, Senior. I ask you to see this fairly."

"At the risk of his life? A Soul Grandmaster did that?" Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang scoffed. "Boy, don't spout nonsense! We're taking this Soul Beast today, no matter what!"

Lin Yi lifted his head and met Dragon Duke Meng Shu's gaze. His voice remained even, but what he said sent a tremor through everyone present—including Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San behind him.

"If Senior insists, then though this junior's strength is meager, I cannot disgrace my teacher's name. I'm sure you two seniors have heard of my teacher, Chen Xin."

"Sword Douluo, Chen Xin?!"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang cried out almost in unison. The arrogance and killing intent on their faces froze instantly, replaced by deep shock and apprehension!

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the world's strongest attacking Titled Douluo, had slain countless powerful foes with his Seven Kill Sword! His reputation alone could awe the entire Soul Master World! Though the Peerless Dragon and Snake couple were well-known, they were nothing before that decisive, blood-soaked pinnacle of swordsmanship!

Dragon Duke Meng Shu stared hard at Lin Yi, as though trying to find a sign that he was lying. But all he saw was bottomless calm and a composure far beyond his years. Thinking of Lin Yi's healing abilities and the backing of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was already seven or eight tenths convinced.

To offend the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over a thousand-year Soul Beast—and especially to provoke that terrifying Sword Douluo? That would be the height of stupidity!

The muscles in Dragon Duke Meng Shu's face twitched several times. At last, his immense pressure ebbed like the tide. He gave Lin Yi a long look, then glanced at the strangely composed Tang San. With a cold snort, he said nothing, grabbed the still-reluctant Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang, and swiftly vanished into the dense forest, as if afraid even a moment's delay would be too long.

Only after their auras had completely disappeared did Dai Mubai and the others finally breathe a long sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat. They looked at Lin Yi, still standing there calmly, their expressions too complicated for words. A mere name had sent the powerful Peerless Dragon and Snake couple fleeing!

Tang San watched Lin Yi's back, his heart in turmoil. He had thought he already knew how formidable this guard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was, but he hadn't expected his background to be so astonishing! A disciple of Sword Douluo... No wonder he had such strength and bearing.

Lin Yi turned around as though he had just done something trivial and said to Tang San, "Hurry and absorb the Soul Ring. We shouldn't stay here long."