Refuse Yu Xiaogang, Decisive Killing

The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny retreated, and the crisis was temporarily resolved. Tang San dared not delay and immediately began to absorb the purple soul ring from the two-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider.

The process was clearly much more dangerous than Oscar absorbing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Tang San's body twitched violently from time to time, as if something foreign was wriggling beneath his skin. His face alternated between expressions of pain and resilience.

Lin Yi, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing stood guard nervously nearby, especially Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, whose hearts were in their throats.

They knew the dangers of absorbing soul rings beyond one's level, let alone from a soul beast as evil and overbearing as the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Time ticked by. Just as the eight spider lances on Tang San's back completely solidified, perfectly fused with his spine, and the soul ring's energy began to stabilize, indicating imminent success.

"Third Brother--!"

A clear, childish voice, laced with tears and anxiety, approached from afar. Xiao Wu rushed out of the forest like a whirlwind. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her clothes were stained with a bit of dust, but she seemed unharmed. Her large eyes were red as she rushed to Tang San's side, who had just opened his eyes, still looking a bit dazed.

"Xiao Wu! Are you alright?" Seeing Xiao Wu return safely, Tang San's joy instantly overwhelmed the fatigue from absorbing the soul ring. He tightly gripped her shoulders and looked her up and down.

"I, I'm fine..." Xiao Wu's eyes flickered as she quickly explained, "After that big ape grabbed me, I don't know why, but it took me somewhere and then threw me down before leaving. I, I was worried about you all, so I hurried back..."

Her explanation sounded full of holes. Why would a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like the Titan Giant Ape go to such lengths to abduct someone, only to take them somewhere and abandon them? Moreover, her aura...

Lin Yi stood by, his gaze calmly sweeping over Xiao Wu. In his perception, Xiao Wu's soul power fluctuations had clearly broken through level thirty!

Furthermore, her aura was stable, not at all like someone who had just broken through, but more like... she had already obtained her third soul ring? He understood. Such a clumsy excuse could only fool Tang San, who was blinded by worry, and the unsuspecting Dai Mubai and the others.

However, he naturally wouldn't expose her, merely adding calmly, "It's good that you're back. Your safety is what matters most."

Xiao Wu then noticed Lin Yi, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing beside her. Especially when she saw Lin Yi's deep, calm gaze, she felt an inexplicable tightness in her heart, as if her secret had been seen through. She quickly lowered her head, using her concern for the "spider legs" on Tang San's back to change the subject.

Although everyone found Xiao Wu's experience bizarre, they were relieved to see her safe return and gathered around to examine Tang San's peculiar external soul bone, the "Eight Spider Lances."

Dai Mubai couldn't help but pat Lin Yi on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Brother Lin Yi, we owe you a great debt this time! If you hadn't invoked Senior Sword Douluo's name, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny probably wouldn't have let it go."

Zhu Zhuqing also cast a grateful glance at Lin Yi.

Tang San retracted his Eight Spider Lances and solemnly cupped his fists in salute to Lin Yi, "Brother Lin, words cannot express my gratitude. If you ever need anything in the future, Tang San will do his best."

Lin Yi waved his hand, his tone still calm, "It was within my duties, no need to dwell on it. This place is not suitable for lingering. Let's return and rendezvous with Teacher Zhao and the others."

After this incident, the attitude of the Shrek group towards Lin Yi changed significantly.

Before, they might have seen him as merely a capable bodyguard, but now, knowing he was Sword Douluo Chen Xin's personal disciple, a sense of awe and a desire for friendship naturally arose.

Even Ning Rongrong's gaze towards Lin Yi held less of the casualness of looking at an ordinary guard and more of a complex, unreadable emotion.

The group successfully reunited with Zhao Wuji, Ning Rongrong, and the others. Zhao Wuji was finally relieved to see Xiao Wu return safely and Tang San successfully absorb his soul ring.

With Lin Yi's continuous Healing Light assistance, his injuries had also stabilized considerably.

The group dared not linger any longer and immediately set off back to Shrek Academy.

Not long after returning to the academy, a theoretical master—Yu Xiaogang, Tang San's teacher—arrived at Shrek Academy and officially took over the teaching of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Master's teaching methods were completely different from Flender's, being more systematic, rigorous, and even described as devil training.

From physical fitness to soul power control, from theoretical knowledge to team coordination, he pushed everyone's potential to the limit. Ning Rongrong complained bitterly, but seeing that even Tang San completed every task meticulously, she could only grit her teeth and persevere.

Upon learning that Lin Yi was actually Sword Douluo Chen Xin's disciple, Master Yu Xiaogang sought him out.

"Young friend Lin Yi," Yu Xiaogang adjusted his glasses, his tone carrying a scholar's rigor, "I observe that your foundation is solid, and your understanding and application of soul skills far surpass those of your peers. You are also a distinguished disciple of Senior Sword Douluo. I am currently training Rongrong and the others. I wonder if you would be willing to condescend to assist me in training them? Especially in terms of practical combat skills and soul power application, I believe you could bring them significant improvement."

Yu Xiaogang's idea was sound; having the guidance of a Sword Douluo's disciple would undoubtedly be immensely beneficial to Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others.

However, Lin Yi shook his head without a second thought, his tone distant and clear, "I appreciate Master's kind intentions. However, my duty is to protect Miss Ning Rongrong's safety, not to be a tutor for Shrek Academy.

Training the students is Master's and the other teachers' responsibility. It is inconvenient for me to interfere, nor do I have such an obligation.

I trust you can understand, and I also need to cultivate and do not have the time."

His refusal was swift and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had thought that by invoking the righteousness of training, the other party would at least give him some face, especially since Ning Rongrong was among them.

But considering that behind him stood Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the God of Slaughter who dared to storm even the Papal Palace, he ultimately didn't dare to say anything more and could only give a sheepish smile before turning to leave.

Lin Yi watched Yu Xiaogang's retreating figure, his expression indifferent.

He wasn't targeting anyone specifically, just adhering to his own responsibilities. He was the blade of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the shield of Ning Rongrong, not a free coach for Shrek Academy. Excessive involvement would only bring unnecessary trouble.

The training continued. One day, Fatty Ma Hongjun went out to deal with his "evil fire" problem but returned covered in dust and bruises, clearly having suffered a loss. It turned out that in Suotuo City, he had encountered a lecherous soul master named "Bu Le" who was harassing girls. Ma Hongjun, unable to stand by, tried to "save the damsel in distress," only to be severely beaten by the other party's level forty-plus Soul Ancestor cultivation.

When their companion was beaten, the Shrek Seven Devils naturally couldn't stand for it. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun immediately set out to seek revenge.

Ning Rongrong and Oscar also wanted to go, but Lin Yi stopped them, citing "safety concerns." Zhu Zhuqing, as usual, remained aloof and did not participate.

Lin Yi initially didn't want to bother with such trivial matters, but considering that Bu Le was a level forty-plus Soul Ancestor, while Tang San and the others were at most level thirty-plus, he followed along to ensure Ning Rongrong's safety.

The development of the situation was almost identical to the "plot" in his memory.

Xiao Wu used her charm skills and waist bow, combined with Tang San's Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, to perform a classic "Eight Section Fall," leaving Bu Le, the Soul Ancestor, utterly defenseless and collapsing on the ground in a miserable state.

Watching Bu Le groan on the ground, his eyes filled with fear, a cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. He proposed a punishment of "an eye for an eye"—to cut off Bu Le's tools of wrongdoing.

Just as Dai Mubai felt it was a bit too ruthless, Ma Hongjun felt it was immensely satisfying, Xiao Wu hesitated, and Tang San was about to act.

A cold, sharp glint, like lightning in the dark night, swept by silently.

Pfft!

A faint sound of a blade piercing flesh was heard.

Bu Le, who had been groaning and begging for mercy, suddenly stiffened. A thin blood line appeared on his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief and terror, then his gaze quickly dimmed, his head lolled to the side, and his life instantly extinguished.

Tang San's movements froze mid-air. Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu were all stunned, staring at Lin Yi, who had suddenly appeared beside Bu Le's corpse.

At some point, Lin Yi had acquired a short blade as thin as a cicada's wing, made of ice crystal, which was now slowly dissipating in his hand. He expressionlessly wiped his fingers, which had no blood on them, as if he had just casually swatted a fly.

"Lin, Brother Lin Yi... you..." Tang San was caught off guard. While he wanted to punish Bu Le, he hadn't intended to take his life directly.

Lin Yi raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the shocked quartet before finally settling on Bu Le's corpse. His tone was flat, devoid of any emotion, yet carried a chilling decisiveness:

"Anything that could threaten Miss's safety, or any potential danger, has no reason to exist."

He paused, then looked at Tang San, his eyes deep:

"Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself. If you spare him today, and he harbors resentment tomorrow and secretly attacks Rongrong, or any one of you, who will bear the consequences?"

"Since enmity has been formed, it must be resolved completely. Once and for all."

With that, he didn't spare the corpse another glance and turned, walking in the direction of Shrek Academy. His clear, cold voice drifted back on the wind:

"Remember to clean it up thoroughly. Leave no trace."

Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the other two looked at Lin Yi's departing back, then at Bu Le's lifeless body on the ground. A chill quietly rose from the depths of their hearts.

For the first time, they clearly realized that this guard, who was usually taciturn and seemed merely diligent, harbored such a decisive and ruthless side within him.

A disciple of Sword Douluo... truly extraordinary.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi's heart was cold.

He was not a bloodthirsty person, but in this world of the strong preying on the weak, eliminating potential threats was the most direct and effective method.

As for soul masters, he had killed them since he was nine years old...