The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny withdrew, and the crisis was temporarily averted. Tang San didn't dare waste time and immediately began absorbing the purple Soul Ring from the two-thousand-year-old Man Faced Demon Spider.
The process was clearly far more dangerous than Oscar's absorption of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Tang San's body convulsed violently from time to time, and something seemed to writhe beneath his skin. His face alternated between expressions of pain and determination.
Lin Yi, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing stood guard nearby, tense with worry. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were especially anxious, their hearts in their throats.
They knew all too well how dangerous it was to absorb a Soul Ring beyond one's level, let alone one from an exceedingly evil and domineering Soul Beast like the Man Faced Demon Spider.
Time passed minute by minute. Just as the eight Spider Lances on Tang San's back had completely solidified and fused perfectly with his spine, the Soul Ring's energy had stabilized, and the absorption was about to succeed—
"Third Brother!"
A clear, anxious female voice, tinged with tears, came closer and closer. Xiao Wu came charging out of the woods like a whirlwind. Her hair was somewhat disheveled, and her clothes were dust-stained, but she seemed unharmed. Her big eyes were red as she rushed straight to Tang San, who had just opened his eyes and still looked a little dazed.
"Xiao Wu! Are you all right?" Seeing her return unharmed, Tang San was instantly overwhelmed with joy, and the fatigue from absorbing the Soul Ring vanished. He gripped her shoulders tightly and looked her over.
"I-I'm fine..." Xiao Wu's eyes flickered as she quickly explained, "After that big gorilla grabbed me, I don't know why, but it carried me to a place and dropped me there. Then it left. I-I was worried about you all, so I hurried back..."
Her explanation was full of holes. Why would a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like the Titan Giant Ape go to all that trouble to abduct someone, only to drop her off somewhere? And besides, the aura around her...
Lin Yi stood to one side, his gaze calmly sweeping over Xiao Wu. As far as he could sense, Xiao Wu's Soul Power had already broken through level thirty!
Her aura was stable, too, nothing like someone who had just broken through. It was more like she had already obtained her third Soul Ring. He understood. That clumsy excuse might fool Tang San, whose concern for her clouded his judgment, and Dai Mubai and the others, who didn't know the truth.
Naturally, though, he didn't expose her. He simply added, "It's good that you're back. The most important thing is that you're safe."
Only then did Xiao Wu notice Lin Yi, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing nearby. When she saw Lin Yi's deep, tranquil gaze in particular, her heart tightened for no reason, as if he'd seen through her secret. She quickly lowered her head and changed the subject by showing concern for the "spider legs" on Tang San's back.
Although everyone found Xiao Wu's experience strange, they were relieved to see her return safely. They gathered around to examine Tang San's peculiar External Soul Bone, the "Eight Spider Lances."
Dai Mubai couldn't help patting Lin Yi on the shoulder. "Brother Lin Yi, we owe you one this time! If you hadn't invoked Senior Sword Douluo's name, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny probably wouldn't have backed down."
Zhu Zhuqing also cast Lin Yi a grateful glance.
Tang San retracted the Eight Spider Lances and cupped his hands respectfully toward Lin Yi. "Brother Lin, words can't express my gratitude. If you ever need anything, I'll do everything I can to help."
Lin Yi waved a hand, his tone still calm. "It was only my duty. Don't give it another thought. This place isn't safe to linger. Let's go back and meet up with Teacher Zhao and the others."
After this incident, the Shrek students' attitude toward Lin Yi changed noticeably.
Before, they might have seen him as nothing more than a capable guard. But now that they knew he was Sword Douluo Chen Xin's personal disciple, they couldn't help feeling both respect for him and a desire to befriend him.
Even Ning Rongrong regarded Lin Yi with a little less casualness, her gaze now carrying a complexity that was hard to decipher.
The group safely rejoined Zhao Wuji, Ning Rongrong, and the others. Seeing Xiao Wu back unharmed and Tang San successfully absorbed his Soul Ring, Zhao Wuji finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With Lin Yi's continued support from Healing Light, his injuries had also stabilized considerably.
The group didn't dare linger any longer and immediately set off for Shrek Academy.
Not long after they returned to the academy, a theoretical master—Yu Xiaogang, Tang San's teacher—arrived at Shrek Academy and officially took over the training of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Grandmaster's teaching methods were completely different from Flender's. They were more systematic and strict, and could even be called devilish training.
From physical fitness to Soul Power control, from theoretical knowledge to teamwork, he pushed everyone's potential to the limit. Ning Rongrong complained bitterly, but when she saw that even Tang San was completing every task to the letter, she could only grit her teeth and persevere.
After learning that Lin Yi was Sword Douluo Chen Xin's disciple, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang sought him out.
"Lin Yi," Yu Xiaogang said, pushing up his glasses, his tone carrying a scholar's meticulousness. "I can see that your foundation is solid, and your use and understanding of Soul Skills far surpass those of your peers. You're also Senior Sword Douluo's prized disciple. I'm currently training Rongrong and the others. Would you be willing to lend me your assistance and help train them? You could make a great difference to them, especially in practical combat techniques and the use of Soul Power."
Yu Xiaogang's intentions were good. Guidance from Sword Douluo's disciple would undoubtedly benefit Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others.
However, Lin Yi didn't even think it over. He shook his head and refused outright, his tone distant and firm. "I appreciate your kind offer, Grandmaster. But my duty is to protect Miss Ning Rongrong, not to teach at Shrek Academy.
"Training the students is the responsibility of you and the other teachers. It's not my place to interfere, nor do I have any obligation to do so.
"I trust you understand. I also need to cultivate, and I don't have time."
His refusal was crisp and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yu Xiaogang was taken aback, his face falling. He had thought that invoking the noble purpose of training the students would earn him at least some consideration, especially since Ning Rongrong was one of them.
But when he thought of the man backing Lin Yi—Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the killing god who dared to storm the Pope's Palace—he ultimately didn't dare say more. He could only give an awkward smile and turn to leave.
Lin Yi watched Yu Xiaogang walk away, his gaze indifferent.
He wasn't deliberately targeting anyone. He was simply sticking to his own duties. He was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's blade and Ning Rongrong's shield, not Shrek Academy's free coach. Getting involved too much would only bring unnecessary trouble.
The training continued. One day, Fatty Ma Hongjun went out to deal with his Evil Fire, only to come running back looking battered and bruised, his face swollen. Clearly, he'd come off worse. It turned out that in Suotuo City he'd run into a lecherous Soul Master named Bu Le, who was harassing a young woman. Ma Hongjun couldn't stand by and wanted to "play the hero," but the other man, a Soul Ancestor over level forty, gave him a thorough beating.
Naturally, the Shrek Seven Devils couldn't let a beaten companion go unavenged. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun immediately set out to get even.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar had originally wanted to go with them, but Lin Yi stopped them, citing safety concerns. Zhu Zhuqing remained as aloof as ever and didn't join them.
Lin Yi hadn't wanted to bother with such a minor scuffle. But considering that Bu Le was a Soul Ancestor over level forty, while Tang San and the others were only in their thirties at most, he went along anyway to ensure Ning Rongrong's safety.
Events unfolded almost exactly as he remembered from the "story."
Using her innate Charm Skill and Waist Bow in tandem with Tang San's Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Xiao Wu performed a classic "Eight-Stage Throw," beating Bu Le, a Soul Ancestor, so thoroughly he couldn't fight back. He lay limp on the ground, utterly miserable.
Looking at Bu Le groaning on the ground, terror in his eyes, a cold glint flashed through Tang San's gaze. He proposed a punishment that would "make him suffer as he had made others suffer"—cutting off Bu Le's tool of the trade.
Just as Dai Mubai thought it was a little too ruthless, Ma Hongjun thought it was immensely satisfying, Xiao Wu hesitated, and Tang San was about to act—
A cold flash of light, like lightning in the dead of night, swept past without a sound.
A soft, wet sound rang out as a blade pierced flesh.
Bu Le, who had still been groaning and begging for mercy, suddenly stiffened. A thin line of blood appeared across his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief and terror, then quickly lost their light. His head lolled to one side, and his breath stopped instantly.
Tang San froze with his hand in midair. Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu all stared in shock at Lin Yi, who had suddenly appeared beside Bu Le's corpse.
At some point, Lin Yi had drawn a crystal dagger as thin as a cicada's wing. It was now slowly fading away. He wiped his fingers, though there was no blood on them, his expressionless face making it seem as if he'd merely swatted a fly.
"Brother Lin Yi... you..." Tang San was at a loss. He had wanted to punish Bu Le, but he hadn't meant to take his life outright.
Lin Yi lifted his head and looked across the four shocked faces, then turned his gaze to Bu Le's corpse. His tone was so calm it held not a ripple, yet his words carried a chilling resolve:
"Any potential threat to Miss's safety, or any possible danger, has no reason to be allowed to exist."
He paused and looked at Tang San, his gaze profound.
"Mercy to your enemy is cruelty to yourself. If you spare his life today and he bears a grudge, then secretly goes after Rongrong—or any one of you—who will bear the consequences?"
"Once you've made an enemy, finish it completely. Put an end to it once and for all."
With that, he didn't spare the corpse another glance. He turned and walked toward Shrek Academy, his cool voice carried back on the wind.
"Remember to clean it up. Leave no trace."
Tang San and the others watched Lin Yi walk away, then looked at Bu Le, whose breath had already stopped. A chill quietly rose from the depths of their hearts.
For the first time, they clearly realized that this man, who was usually quiet and seemed to be nothing more than a conscientious guard, hid such ruthless decisiveness beneath the surface.
Sword Douluo's disciple... truly was no ordinary person.
Lin Yi's heart, meanwhile, remained cold.
He wasn't bloodthirsty, but in this world, where the strong preyed on the weak, eliminating hidden threats was the most direct and effective solution.
As for Soul Masters, he'd already killed one when he was nine...
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