Pre-Shrek Commotion

Chen An had already finished his business. After briefing Lin Ran on the current situation, the two of them headed toward the direction of the two juniors.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, things had gone exactly as expected—a bit of trouble had arisen.

In front of the gates of Shrek Academy.

Zhu Zhuqing was currently in discussion with a little devil, or rather, a little beauty.

"This beauty, I feel we are fated. I wonder if you have any interest in joining our Phantom Star Academy?"

This line sounded very familiar, as it was exactly what Chen An had said to her when he recruited her, just with a slight modification.

"Oh, but I've already asked first. Why don't you two fight over it?"

Zhu Zhuqing and Luo Xiaoshi had been here for a while. Shrek kept rejecting applicants, and Luo Xiaoshi was responsible for approaching those who had been turned away.

At first, people were skeptical and didn't believe them, but once Luo Xiaoshi revealed his past, things became much easier.

His personal experience and his current level served as the best recruitment brochure.

Seeing this particularly promising seedling, Zhu Zhuqing had a hunch that she could become her junior sister, so she took the initiative.

"?? You little brat, where did you come from? How dare you come to our Shrek to poach people?"

The old man presiding over the site was a teacher at Shrek and a level 60 Spirit Emperor. He had been watching Zhu Zhuqing and Luo Xiaoshi's actions all along.

He hadn't interfered before simply because he believed that anyone rejected by them was trash.

But now that they were going after a real talent, he immediately grew anxious.

"Even if she stays with you, she'll just be wasted. It would be better to hand her over to us."

Zhu Zhuqing replied with a smile, though her hand was already secretly gripping the talisman Chen An had given her earlier.

"Oh?"

The Spirit Emperor immediately released his pressure, his sharp gaze locked onto Zhu Zhuqing.

Yet, Zhu Zhuqing continued as if nothing were wrong.

"You only know how to bully the young. I'm just stating a fact. That person behind you is a student of your academy, right? All show and no substance—a complete waste."

This made the old man treat her with seriousness. It was strange that a young person could remain completely unaffected by his Spirit Emperor pressure.

Dai Mubai recognized Zhu Zhuqing as the woman who had fought him that day, and he also recognized her as his fiancée.

But to be insulted so brazenly—even a Buddha would lose his temper.

Before he could speak, however, Zhu Zhuqing spoke up again.

"I think your academy's students can't even beat my junior brother here."

"Talk is cheap. You think I can't beat him?"

Dai Mubai was still relatively restrained at the moment; he was recruiting at the academy gate and represented the face of Shrek.

"If that's the case, just have a match with my junior brother and you'll find out."

"Fine. I won't interfere in the affairs of the young. Mubai, go have a match, and remember to show some 'care'."

Zhu Zhuqing breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally taken the bait. She silently tucked the talisman away, a faint smile appearing on her face.

She remembered when they were mingling in the crowd, Luo Xiaoshi had taken the initiative to say to her:

"Senior Sister, why don't you provoke that old man later and bait the guy behind him into making a move? I want to have a fight with him."

"Why? Do you have a grudge?"

Zhu Zhuqing hadn't understood at the time. Logically, her junior brother didn't know Dai Mubai. If anyone was going to fight, it should be her, so why was he volunteering?

She couldn't figure it out, but she had wanted to confront them anyway, simply because she couldn't stand the sight of Dai Mubai. Since her junior brother had suggested it, she had even more reason to do so.

"I just don't like him. I feel like our auras don't match. Plus, looking at him, he seems like a scumbag."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but laugh out loud, which left Luo Xiaoshi confused as to what his Senior Sister was laughing about.

"Senior Sister, if there's no opportunity, then forget it. The big picture matters most."

Who would have thought that Zhu Zhuqing neither agreed nor refused, but instead asked:

"How confident are you in winning?"

"If I don't win within three minutes, consider the deal off."

Just before they started, Tang San and Xiao Wu happened to arrive.

Watching the two who were poised for battle, they understood the situation and began to wonder how many moves it would take for Dai Mubai to put his opponent down.

"Dai Mubai, level 38."

"Luo Xiaoshi, level 23."

The crowd erupted in an uproar after the announcement, everyone whispering about how Luo Xiaoshi dared to challenge a level 38 with only level 23.

"Are you sure you want to fight?"

Dai Mubai said with a cold face.

He didn't really want to fight anymore. If he won, it was just bullying the weak, which wasn't worth bragging about; if he lost, he would be humiliated beyond repair.

The stakes were completely lopsided.

"Enough with the nonsense. No holds barred—if you have the skill, then beat me to death."

Zhu Zhuqing, watching from the sidelines, frowned slightly; this didn't sound like something Luo Xiaoshi would say.

She could only silently pull out a talisman just in case; if things truly went south, she would still have to save him.

"Fine."

Having received his confirmation, Dai Mubai had no intention of holding back and planned to strike first.

"Second Spirit Skill: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"

He spat a milky-white ball of light from his mouth that flew straight toward Luo Xiaoshi. Luo Xiaoshi could have dodged it, but he had no intention of moving.

Most martial arts contained something known as "momentum"—once the momentum was established, one had to press forward without hesitation.

Furthermore, he had roughly judged that this energy ball wasn't particularly strong.

His Golden Body was more than enough to take it head-on.

"Arhat Golden Body!"

A real fight wasn't a turn-based game, and what Chen An taught wasn't just for show.

Luo Xiaoshi responded immediately. His first spirit skill was useless here and would only waste his stamina.

He simply opened with his second spirit skill, Spirit Monkey Transformation, and layered the bonuses from the Great Sage Scripture on top of it. In the blink of an eye, his aura was already approaching the threshold of level thirty.

He moved in with the Five-Tiger Bagua, his staff whistling through the air.

This kid knows how to stack momentum? Did Master teach him in secret? That's impossible.

The people present still didn't believe Luo Xiaoshi would win; the only ones who truly saw what was happening were Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San.

And Tang San simply maintained his belief that his own cultivation method was the best in the world.

"Qilin Step moves like a flying horse; Yin-Yang Agility strikes without a trace."

Relying on the techniques of the Five-Tiger Bagua staff and the agility of the Spirit Monkey, he caught Dai Mubai off guard for a moment.

Dai Mubai activated his third spirit skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and his first spirit skill, White Tiger Guardian Barrier. He became tougher and his stats increased, but he also became even more like a spinning top.

More like a spinning top than a sudden spinning top.

"Hah!"

Another staff strike landed, forcing Dai Mubai to retreat several steps as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You've lost!"

Luo Xiaoshi raised his wooden staff to point at Dai Mubai, a smile curling onto his face as he spoke.

It must be said, the way he performed that action carried a hint of "who else but me."

But looking at his expression, Dai Mubai had no intention of admitting defeat in front of such a large crowd.

He spat in anger, "Damn it."

Then, he exerted all his strength. Perhaps out of shame and anger, he went for the kill this time.

He wanted to take Luo Xiaoshi down in one blow and wash away this stain.

"Huh?"

Luo Xiaoshi's momentum had already begun to wane. If he tried to raise his guard now, he probably wouldn't be able to block it.

His expression soured. If I'd known it would come to this, I should have hit harder earlier. Now that it's come to this, I'll probably be scolded by Teacher when I get back.

Dai Mubai's attack was closing in. He could only take this blow head-on, but then he thought, If I'm going down, you're not getting away unscathed either.

"Heh, take this staff from your grandfather!"

He was well-versed in trading injury for injury; this was the exact same move he had used against the Long-Armed Ape.

Now it was just a matter of who had the thicker skin.

"Boom!"

The blow landed, but instead of the expected mutual injury, a middle-aged man with a messy hairstyle and a signature goatee flew out from the crowd.

He shoved Dai Mubai aside and then countered Luo Xiaoshi's strike.

"Hmph, is the Phantom Star Academy so bloodthirsty? It seems you are in need of discipline."