Thunder Suppresses Evil, Conspiracy Revealed

Lin Chen let out a cold shout, his ink-colored soul power surging like a dark, rolling tide. With his Ink Shadow Spirit Cat martial soul fully manifested, his ears pricked up alertly and his claws gleamed with a chilling, lethal light. His extreme speed erupted in an instant—surpassing even Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat by a wide margin—as he lunged straight toward the leader of the men in black.

These bandits, merely at the Soul Grand Master level, stood no chance against someone like Lin Chen, who possessed a mastery of soul power essence and combat experience far beyond his peers. Just as the lead man in black attempted to activate his martial soul to retaliate, he felt a dark shadow flicker before his eyes. A pair of icy claws were already pressed against his throat. His thick soul power was ruthlessly suppressed by Lin Chen's own, leaving him unable to mobilize even a sliver. He froze in place, his body rigid, his face a mask of shock and disbelief.

"How is this possible... how can your strength be this terrifying!" the man in black exclaimed, his eyes filled with nothing but fear. Having roamed the Soul Beast Forest as a bandit for years, he had never encountered a soul master so young yet so monstrously powerful. That crushing pressure left him unable to even conceive of the thought of resistance.

Seeing this, the other two bandits panicked and turned to flee, but the coordination of the Shrek Seven Devils had long been polished to perfection by Lin Chen, leaving them no opportunity to escape. Dai Mubai fully unleashed his White Tiger martial soul, firing a White Tiger Intense Light Wave that forced one of them back with a golden wave of soul power. Ma Hongjun leaped into the air, his Phoenix Fire Line erupting to seal the other's retreat with raging flames. Xiao Wu moved with fluid agility, her Soft Bone Lock snapping into place; her slender arms, like supple vines, tightly restrained the bandit. Zhu Zhuqing transformed into a ghostly afterimage, her claws striking directly at the opponent's vitals with sharp, decisive movements that left no room for error.

Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone with increasing brilliance, its seven-colored soul power precisely enveloping every companion. With attack, speed, and defense attributes boosted to the maximum, the team's combat power was elevated to a new level. Oscar's hands moved in a rapid rhythm, accurately passing Recovery Sausages to everyone and ensuring a constant supply of soul power throughout the skirmish. In just a few short breaths, both bandits were thoroughly subdued and left paralyzed on the ground. The entire battle was clean and efficient, a testament to the results of their daily training.

Xiao Wu clapped her small hands and hopped back to Lin Chen's side. Looking up with a proud expression, she instinctively took his arm, her soft, sweet voice filled with adoration: "Brother Chen is too amazing! These bad guys were no match for you at all!" Her intimate posture was completely unreserved, showing her total reliance on the person closest to her.

Zhu Zhuqing walked over slowly, the sharp, hostile aura of her martial soul fading away. The coldness in her gaze toward Lin Chen had largely dissipated, replaced by a clear sense of admiration. Though she remained taciturn, she gave Lin Chen a gentle nod, expressing her approval in the most direct way she knew. The faint red tint on her earlobes was even more pronounced than before, standing out vividly against her fair skin.

Ning Rongrong also let go of the sleeve she had been clutching, her eyes filled with peace and certainty as she said softly: "With you here, we will never be afraid of any danger." The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spun gently in her palm, its seven-colored light reflecting in her obedient, bright eyes. The spoiled nature of the young miss she once was had vanished, replaced entirely by absolute trust in Lin Chen.

Lin Chen gave a faint nod. After offering a gentle, reassuring look to the three girls, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the dark shadows of the forest. His tone was bone-chillingly cold, devoid of any warmth: "You've been watching for so long—aren't you tired of hiding there?"

At these words, the rest of the Shrek group froze. They followed Lin Chen's gaze, faces full of confusion and surprise, completely unaware that anyone else was lurking in the shadows.

Tang San, hidden in the dark, felt his heart sink. His face turned deathly pale, and his fingers, gripping his Blue Silver Grass, tightened until his knuckles turned white. He frantically calculated a way to escape, unable to fathom how he—having hidden so perfectly, completely suppressed his soul power, and deliberately avoided everyone's perception—had been so precisely pinpointed by Lin Chen!

Seeing no response, a mocking curve touched the corner of Lin Chen's mouth. With a slight shift of soul power beneath his feet, he instantly flashed to the bush. With a kick, he sent the dense branches flying, exposing Tang San, who had been hiding within, to everyone's sight.

"Tang San? Why are you here?" Dai Mubai frowned, his face full of astonishment. "Weren't you following at the back of the team? Why were you hiding here alone?"

Tang San forced himself to stay calm, suppressing the overwhelming panic in his heart. He feigned confusion, keeping his tone as level as possible: "I sensed a violent fluctuation of soul power here and came over quietly to investigate, fearing an accident. I hid myself to avoid alerting the enemy. Lin Chen, what do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean?" Lin Chen sneered. He increased the pressure under his foot, causing the lead bandit to groan in pain, and swept a cold, piercing gaze over Tang San. "You spent soul coins in secret to hire these bandits to ambush the Shrek team, specifically targeting Ning Rongrong of the support system in an attempt to disrupt our formation and cause me trouble. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

He had long since seen through Tang San's sordid schemes. From the precise timing of the bandits' appearance and their highly targeted objective, to the faint, familiar aura of soul power lingering in the shadows, every clue pointed to Tang San. During the battle, he had kept Tang San's position firmly locked, waiting only to resolve the bandits before exposing this despicable conspiracy in public, leaving him nowhere to hide.

Upon hearing this, the bandit's face changed drastically. He scrambled to defend himself, but Lin Chen's soul power instantly sealed his throat, preventing him from uttering a single word. He could only stare with wide, panicked eyes at Tang San, a reaction that confirmed Lin Chen's accusation.

Tang San was truly panicked now. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to not only see through the plot but to possess such clear evidence. He could no longer maintain his composure; his eyes darted around, and he stammered in defense: "I didn't! Lin Chen, don't you dare slander me! We are all students of Shrek; how could I possibly do something to harm my companions!"

At this moment, he no longer possessed his usual gentle and humble appearance. The panic and the deep-seated malice in his eyes could no longer be hidden, leaving him looking utterly wretched.

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others were shocked, looking at Tang San with disbelief. They never imagined that Tang San, who usually seemed kind and diligent in his cultivation, would commit such a dirty act as hiring bandits to ambush his own companions. For a moment, they all wore expressions of contempt and anger.

Xiao Wu was so angry her face turned red. She stepped in front of Lin Chen and rebuked Tang San sharply: "Tang San, you've gone too far! We are all partners training together; how could you harm us all just for a personal grudge!" She had already been growing distant from Tang San, and now, she felt only pure disgust.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned, her gaze toward Tang San filled with disdain and detachment, her already cold temperament becoming even frostier. She had always loathed such underhanded, backstabbing behavior, and the last shred of camaraderie she felt for Tang San vanished completely.

Ning Rongrong was also furious. She raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm, seven-colored soul power surging as she looked at Tang San with profound disappointment: "Tang San, to target Lin Chen, you were willing to sacrifice the interests of the entire team. It's truly pathetic! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect never associates with such vicious, petty people!"

Facing the accusations and contempt of the group, Tang San's face turned from pale to green. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood without him even noticing. The hatred for Lin Chen in his heart grew like a wild, poisonous vine, spreading frantically and threatening to shatter his reason. The conspiracy he had meticulously planned had not only failed to harm Lin Chen in the slightest but had instead been exposed in public, turning him into a laughingstock. The humiliation made him wish he could vanish into the earth.

Lin Chen looked coldly at Tang San's disheveled state, his tone indifferent yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Considering we are all Shrek students and currently in the middle of our training, I will not pursue this further today. But mark my words: if there is a next time, do not blame me for disregarding our ties as classmates and settling this once and for all."

He was not being soft-hearted; rather, they were in the Soul Beast Forest, and it was not the time for internal strife to disrupt their training. Furthermore, Tang San's amateurish schemes were nothing more than the antics of a clown in his eyes. Keeping Tang San around would allow him to observe what other tricks he might pull, so he could finish him off completely when the time was right.

Just then, Zhao Wuji's burly figure walked slowly out from the forest. Seeing the scene before him, he frowned, his face full of dissatisfaction. He had been following in secret to provide protection and had witnessed everything. His gaze toward Tang San carried a clear reprimand, though he did not erupt on the spot, merely saying in a deep voice: "Internal fighting and causing trouble during training are strictly forbidden! Tang San, behave yourself. If there is another incident, you will be expelled from Shrek Academy immediately!"

Tang San's hands, hanging at his sides, trembled slightly. He kept his head down, hiding the resentment and hatred in his eyes, and stood there in silence, radiating a suppressed, malevolent aura.

Lin Chen didn't spare Tang San another glance. He turned to the Shrek group, his expression returning to calm, and ordered methodically: "Clean up the scene, collect the soul beast materials and soul coins from the bandits, and continue deeper into the forest. Do not let this trivial matter distract you."

The group responded in unison. After this incident, their conviction in Lin Chen's command, strength, and magnanimity grew even stronger, and their team cohesion became stronger than ever before. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong stayed close to Lin Chen's side, never leaving his proximity, their hearts filled with trust and devotion.

Sunlight dappled through the dense leaves, and the soul power fluctuations in the forest gradually returned to normal. The occasional roar of a soul beast only served to heighten the tension of their training. No one noticed that in Tang San's lowered eyes, a monstrous hatred was brewing; a more hidden, more vicious plan for retaliation was quietly fermenting in his heart.

Lin Chen walked with steady, measured steps, leading the team deeper into the Soul Beast Forest. His sharp edge was hidden, yet his presence grew increasingly composed. He scanned the surroundings with indifference, firmly controlling the rhythm of the team's advance. No matter how many conspiracies or crises lurked in the shadows, he was ready to crush every obstacle with absolute strength!