"Want to spar?"
Dai Huabin raised an eyebrow.
"Who's afraid of whom?"
Xu Sanshi sneered, rolling his broad shoulders. His Soul Power rippled outward like waves.
The students who had gathered to watch were forced back several steps by the pressure of his Soul Power.
Xu Sanshi pointed at Dai Huabin's nose. "Freshman, at Shrek, strength is the rule. I'm taking these two grilled fish today."
Huo Yuhao clutched the fish fork tightly in his hand. He looked at Xu Sanshi, then at Dai Huabin, who stood a short distance away.
He desperately wished the two of them would take each other down, but all he could do was put on a frightened expression.
Wang Dong'er had regained her footing. Hiding behind Dai Huabin, she poked her head out and called in a clear voice,
"You big lout, don't you have any shame? Stealing from your junior classmates, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a Shrek senior?"
"Heh, you little brat. Pretty face, poisonous tongue." Xu Sanshi gave a hearty laugh.
Just as Xu Sanshi was about to release his Martial Soul, an urgent voice rang out.
"Xu Sanshi! Stop!"
Tang Ya came running over and grabbed Xu Sanshi by the arm, shouting,
"Bei Bei! Hurry over here! Xu Sanshi's going berserk again!"
The crowd parted on its own, and a gentle-looking boy in a blue uniform walked out.
Bei Bei hurried over. He glanced at Dai Huabin first, then helplessly put a hand on Xu Sanshi's shoulder.
"Sanshi, what are you doing? If people hear you're stealing from freshmen, Jiang Nannan will want even less to do with you."
At the mention of Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi's imposing aura weakened at once.
He turned around and saw Jiang Nannan standing at the edge of the crowd with a cold expression. She was clearly disgusted by his behavior.
"Nannan, I only wanted to get you something tasty," Xu Sanshi hurriedly explained.
Jiang Nannan didn't even reply. She only looked at him with disappointment, then turned and disappeared into the depths of the snack street.
"Nannan! Wait up!" Xu Sanshi started after her, but Bei Bei held him firmly in place.
Bei Bei smiled warmly at Dai Huabin and nodded in greeting.
"Dai junior, we meet again."
"Senior Bei Bei." Dai Huabin nodded back.
Xu Sanshi looked at Bei Bei suspiciously. "You know this kid?"
"He's the junior who helped Xiao Ya and me catch a Mandala Snake in the Star Dou Great Forest," Bei Bei explained quietly.
"He's Dai Huabin, the legitimate heir of the White Tiger Duke Mansion."
Xu Sanshi paused. The White Tiger Duke Mansion was renowned throughout the Star Luo Empire, after all. A thousand years ago, it had been the royal family of the Star Luo Empire.
The Mysterious Underworld Sect was no weaker, but it was still best not to make enemies without a good reason.
Xu Sanshi studied Dai Huabin carefully, then glanced at the four pretty girls standing behind him. He muttered,
"He looks like a pretty boy. No wonder the girls like him."
"Who are you calling a pretty boy?" Wang Dong'er planted her hands on her hips, looking indignant.
Xu Sanshi couldn't be bothered with her. His thoughts were all on Jiang Nannan, and he waved a hand at Bei Bei.
"Fine. Since he's an acquaintance, I'll let it go this time. If I run into you in the Soul Fighting Arena again, I won't hold back."
With that, he hurried off in the direction Jiang Nannan had gone.
Tang Ya patted her chest, then sauntered over and gave Dai Huabin a thumbs-up.
"Not bad, junior! You've got guts! You're the first at Shrek to stand up to that hardheaded Mysterious Underworld Turtle."
Dai Huabin replied calmly, "He is strong, but I'm not weak either."
Bei Bei stepped forward and said apologetically, "Sanshi's just a little hot-tempered, but he means well. He especially tends to act rashly when it comes to Jiang Nannan. Don't take it to heart, Dai junior."
"It's fine." Dai Huabin glanced at the grilled-fish stall. "Now that the trouble's settled, can we take the fish?"
Huo Yuhao had remained silent the whole time. Lowering his eyes, he deftly packed up the two grilled fish and handed them to Wang Dong'er.
Wang Dong'er took the fish, let out a loud snort, and glared at Huo Yuhao, apparently blaming him for the awkward situation too.
Huo Yuhao said nothing and kept tending the fire.
Bei Bei looked at Dai Huabin, then at Zhu Lu and Wang Dong'er beside him. He couldn't help marveling at the boy's impressive circle of friends.
"Dai junior, I promised to treat you to a good meal when we got back to the academy. Today's not a good time, but I'll make it up to you another day."
"Sounds good," Dai Huabin replied politely.
Only after Bei Bei and Tang Ya left did the commotion on the snack street gradually die down.
Zhu Lu had been standing close beside Dai Huabin. Now she finally asked softly,
"Huabin, that senior seemed extraordinary."
Cui Yajie chimed in from the side,
"Of course. That was the famous Thunderbolt Bei Bei, one of the Outer Academy Twin Stars. His Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and he's a three-ring Soul Elder."
Xiao Xiao looked at Dai Huabin curiously. "Class monitor, how do you even know the seniors?"
"I got lucky and ran into them in the Star Dou Great Forest," Dai Huabin explained briefly.
Wang Dong'er was devouring the grilled fish. She took a bite and sucked in a breath at the heat, but still managed to mumble,
"Mmm... this fish really is good. Hey, Dai... Dai Huabin, thanks... for earlier."
Dai Huabin glanced at her and teased, "For what? For saving you, or for keeping you from putting on a pratfall in front of the whole school?"
Wang Dong'er's face reddened. She glared at him. "Can't you say something nice for once? Who... who fell flat on her face? He caught me by surprise!"
"All right. We've eaten the fish. Time to head back." Dai Huabin set off toward the school gate.
The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, stretching the five of their shadows long.
But Dai Huabin wasn't nearly as relaxed as he appeared.
Although he was already level thirty-three and far ahead of his peers, he had clearly felt the pressure when facing Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei just now.
Both of them had Soul Power around level thirty-eight or thirty-nine, and one had the bloodline of the Black Tortoise while the other had the bloodline of the Radiant Sacred Dragon.
As for Dai Huabin's strongest trump card, it was the Hell White Tiger. But in a one-on-one match in the Soul Fighting Arena, he couldn't use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Though he didn't want to admit it, at that moment, Dai Huabin really couldn't beat either of the Outer Academy Twin Stars.
Dai Huabin needed resources—an endless supply of resources!
At the same time, he was even more eager to know when Electrolux would wake up.
Zhu Lu had been keeping an eye on Dai Huabin.
Ever since they left the grilled-fish stall, he had hardly said a word.
His brows were drawn low, and his steps were heavier than usual.
"Huabin, are you all right?"
Zhu Lu reached out and lightly hooked her fingertips around Dai Huabin's sleeve.
Dai Huabin stopped and breathed out a long, stale breath.
"I was thinking about those two from earlier."
Wang Dong'er pursed her lips and flicked the fish bones she had left into the nearby trash can with perfect accuracy.
She brushed the dust off her hands, looking a little glum.
"Xu Sanshi really is strong. I can't believe he knocked me back just now."
"That was pretty embarrassing."
Wang Dong'er clenched her fists, clearly still hung up on what had happened.
Dai Huabin looked at her and shook his head.
"Dong'er, don't underestimate him."
"Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul is called the Mysterious Underworld Turtle, but he has the bloodline of the Black Tortoise within him."
"Once that bloodline awakens, his defense is hard to match in the Outer Academy."
"He didn't even use his true strength just now."
Wang Dong'er froze, her steps slowing by half.
"Black Tortoise Bloodline? That legendary divine beast?"
Dai Huabin nodded and continued,
"And there's Bei Bei. Don't let his constant smiles fool you."
"His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul also has the bloodline of the Radiant Sacred Dragon."
"He can briefly awaken his Martial Soul as the Radiant Sacred Dragon, boosting his combat strength."
Xiao Xiao looked shocked and edged closer to Cui Yajie.
"That sounds terrifying. Are there a lot of geniuses like that at our school?"
Cui Yajie's foxlike eyes held a trace of worry in the moonlight.
"I heard the Outer Academy Twin Stars are already set to become candidates for the Shrek Seven Devils."
"The gap between us and them seems pretty big."
Before you continue