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Tang San's face turned ashen. He wanted to retort but couldn't find his words.

He had indeed seen the angle of Dai Mubai's attack, and it was... too vicious.

But as a brother, he couldn't stand by and watch Dai Mubai be crippled without doing anything.

"No matter what, you went too hard," Tang San said coldly. "Shrek remembers this debt."

Qin Yuan laughed, a wild, unrestrained laugh. "So what if you remember? Want revenge? We'll be waiting anytime."

He glanced at the Shrek group. Where his gaze fell, except for Tang San who remained composed, Ma Hongjun and Oscar instinctively avoided his eyes.

Just then, Xiao Wu suddenly noticed Ning Rongrong's expression.

Ning Rongrong had stood by the side the entire time, her expression calm. There was no anger, no shock, not even a hint of surprise.

A faint smile even played on her lips, and her eyes held a knowing look of "as expected."

Xiao Wu's heart stirred. She tugged Ning Rongrong's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Rongrong, you... you're not surprised at all?"

Ning Rongrong looked at Xiao Wu, blinked, and said nothing.

Xiao Wu then recalled Ning Rongrong's laughter on the road earlier, that inexplicable, meaningful laugh.

She suddenly understood something, her beautiful eyes widening.

"Rongrong, you knew all along?" Xiao Wu's voice held a trace of disbelief.

"You knew how strong Ling Tian was from the start? You knew Boss Dai would lose?"

Ning Rongrong looked at Xiao Wu and nodded gently.

"You..." Xiao Wu didn't know what to say. "Then why didn't you say anything sooner?"

Ning Rongrong sighed softly and looked at the spirited young man on the stage, a complex glint flashing in her eyes.

"Before I joined Shrek Academy, I met Ling Tian once."

Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all turned to look at Ning Rongrong upon hearing this.

Ning Rongrong continued, "My father personally invited Ling Tian to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

The moment she said this, everyone was stunned.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, and the Sect Master Ning Fengzhi personally invited him?

"My father's evaluation of Ling Tian was: a once-in-a-century genius, a man destined to stand at the pinnacle of the Soul Master World."

Ning Rongrong's voice was calm, but every word struck the hearts of the Shrek group like a heavy hammer.

Tang San's expression changed completely.

A once-in-a-century genius? Who was Ning Fengzhi? The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had seen countless geniuses and prodigies. For him to give such an evaluation, Ling Tian's strength...

No wonder, no wonder he could defeat Dai Mubai with one move.

No wonder he could crush him without releasing his Martial Soul.

It turned out that from the very beginning, they had underestimated their opponent, and by a huge margin.

Zhu Zhuqing heard this and looked at Ning Rongrong with her beautiful eyes, glaring at her with annoyance.

"Then why didn't you say so earlier! You made me worry for so long!"

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, looking a little embarrassed.

"I couldn't stand that lecherous and arrogant guy Dai Mubai for a long time.

You have no idea, back when he was in Suotuo City, he was always surrounded by women. I've wanted Ling Tian to teach him a good lesson for ages."

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. Recalling Dai Mubai's past actions, she somewhat agreed in her heart.

But she still said, "You should have told me in advance, though. I was really afraid Ling Tian would suffer just now."

Ning Rongrong spread her hands helplessly. "Would you have believed me if I had told you? Besides, I didn't expect Dai Mubai to be so vicious, attacking Ling Tian's vital spot right from the start. This move has completely angered Ling Tian."

She looked at Dai Mubai, who was curled up on the ground screaming, without sympathy, only coldness in her eyes.

"He brought this upon himself. If he hadn't attacked first, Ling Tian would have at most defeated him, not dealt such a heavy blow. He can only blame himself for his wicked intentions."

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then nodded gently.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly remembered something and hurriedly turned to run towards the stage.

"Brother Ling Tian!" She ran to Qin Yuan's side and looked him up and down. "Are you injured? Did Dai Mubai's move hurt you?"

Qin Yuan looked at Zhu Zhuqing's anxious expression, his heart warming.

He shook his head. "I'm fine. He couldn't hurt me with that."

Zhu Zhuqing checked him carefully, confirming that Qin Yuan was indeed unharmed, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

However, this scene made everyone present fall silent.

Did he look like someone who was injured?

He sent Dai Mubai flying with one punch, shattered his vital spot with one kick, and not a speck of dust had settled on him, nor had his clothes even wrinkled.

This was what they called being injured?

Tang San and the others looked at each other, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

The Boss Dai they prided themselves on couldn't even last a single move against him.

He hadn't even released his Martial Soul or lit up his spirit rings, yet he easily crushed them like ants.

This gap was beyond what effort could bridge.

Qin Yuan looked at Zhu Zhuqing's nervous expression and suddenly smiled.

He reached out, domineeringly wrapping his arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender, soft waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Zhu Zhuqing was caught off guard and cried out in surprise, "Ah—"

She struggled instinctively, but Qin Yuan's arm was like an iron hoop, impossible to break free from.

Moreover, the warm aura emanating from Qin Yuan rushed towards her, causing her heart to race.

The struggle lasted only a moment before Zhu Zhuqing gave up.

She lowered her eyelids, her long lashes trembling slightly, and a blush spread across her cheeks, all the way to the roots of her ears.

Her rapidly beating heart was filled only with joy and shyness.

She buried her face in Qin Yuan's chest, not daring to look at anyone.

Below the stage, Ning Rongrong saw this scene, a knowing smile appearing on her lips, her eyes curving into crescents.

She muttered softly, "Oh my, this display of affection is just too sweet."

Xiao Wu also pursed her lips and chuckled, nudging Tang San's arm.

Tang San's expression was grim, and he had no intention of paying attention to them.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar exchanged glances, seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Boss Dai had been beaten like this, and they were still being lovey-dovey on stage. What kind of mess was this?

Qin Yuan, holding Zhu Zhuqing, slowly walked off the stage and approached the Shrek group.

Dai Mubai was still screaming, his voice hoarse, curled up on the ground, twitching uncontrollably.

Flender and Yu Xiaogang were urgently treating his injuries, their faces as dark as could be.

Qin Yuan stopped and looked down at Dai Mubai, saying coldly:

"Zhuqing is my woman. If you dare to have any improper thoughts about her again, I'll kill you."

His voice wasn't loud, but the chilling killing intent made everyone present shiver.

Dai Mubai wanted to say something, but the intense pain only allowed him to let out muffled groans.

Flender looked up sharply, glaring at Qin Yuan, "You—"

"Dean Flender," Meng Shenji's voice rang out at the opportune moment, with undeniable authority, "On the competition stage, fists and feet have no eyes, and injuries are inevitable. Moreover, it was your Shrek student who made the first underhanded move; Ling Tian was merely retaliating. This matter ends here."

Flender trembled with anger, but facing three Soul Douluo-level powerhouses, he could only suppress his rage.

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, suppressing the killing intent in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Committee Member Meng is right; injuries are inevitable in stage competitions. We Shrek accept what happened today."

He stood up and looked at Qin Yuan, his eyes as cold as knives, "However, young man, mountains don't turn, and rivers don't flow. We've noted this debt."

Qin Yuan shrugged, completely unconcerned, "I'll be waiting anytime."