With a cold shout, Lin Chen unleashed the ink-colored Soul Power surging around him like waves in a dark night. The Ink Shadow Spirit Cat Martial Soul fully possessed him, its ears pricking up alertly and its claws gleaming with a chill light. His speed erupted in an instant, surpassing even Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat by a good margin as he charged straight at the lead bandit!
Against a powerhouse like Lin Chen, who had mastered the essence of Soul Power and possessed far more combat experience than his peers, the bandit at the Soul Grandmaster level had no chance to fight back. The leader had only just tried to summon his Martial Soul when a dark blur flashed before his eyes. A cold claw was already pressed against his throat. Lin Chen's Soul Power crushed his own, leaving him unable to summon even a trace of it. He stood frozen in place, his face full of shock and disbelief.
"How is this possible...? How can you be this strong?" the black-clad man cried out, terror filling his eyes. He had spent years robbing people in the Soul Beast Forest, but had never encountered a Soul Master so young and yet so terrifyingly powerful. The crushing pressure left him unable even to think of resisting.
The other two black-clad men panicked at the sight and turned to flee, but Lin Chen had long since drilled the Shrek Seven Devils' teamwork to perfection, leaving them no opening. Dai Mubai unleashed his White Tiger Martial Soul at full force, sending the White Tiger Intense Light Wave roaring forth; a golden tide of Soul Power drove one man back head-on. Ma Hongjun leaped into the air and sprayed out the Phoenix Fire Line, its blazing flames instantly sealing off the other man's escape route. Xiao Wu darted forward with nimble movements, her Soft Bone Lock snapping into action as her slender arms, supple as vines, held a bandit fast. Zhu Zhuqing transformed into a streaking Hellish shadow, her claws striking straight for the enemy's vitals with swift, ruthless precision.
The light of Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda grew ever brighter, its multicolored Soul Power precisely enveloping every companion. Their attack, speed, and defense were all boosted to the limit, raising the group's combat strength by another level. Oscar's hands moved swiftly as he passed out Recovery Sausages to everyone, ensuring the whole team had a steady supply of Soul Power. In only a few short seconds, the two black-clad men had been thoroughly subdued and lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move. The fight had been clean and decisive, a testament to the results of their daily training.
Xiao Wu clapped her hands and bounced back to Lin Chen's side. She gazed up at him, her face brimming with pride, and instinctively hooked her arm around his. Her soft voice brimmed with adoration. "Brother Chen, you're amazing! These bad guys were no match for you!" She made no effort to hide her affectionate closeness, relying on him as naturally as she would on family.
Zhu Zhuqing walked over at an unhurried pace, slowly reining in the fierce aura of her Martial Soul. Most of the coolness in her gaze toward Lin Chen had melted away, replaced by unmistakable admiration. She remained taciturn, but gave him a gentle nod, expressing her approval in the most straightforward way she knew. The faint blush on the tips of her ears was even more pronounced than before, standing out against her fair skin.
Ning Rongrong finally released the sleeve she had been clutching. Her gaze was full of relief and certainty as she said softly, "With you here, we're never afraid of any danger." The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda turned gently in her palm, its colorful glow illuminating her sweet features. Her usual spoiled heiress demeanor had vanished without a trace, replaced by complete trust in Lin Chen.
Lin Chen gave a faint nod, his gentle gaze briefly reassuring the three girls before abruptly fixing on the shadows among the trees. His voice turned ice-cold, utterly devoid of warmth. "You've been watching for so long. Aren't you tired of hiding there?"
At his words, the other Shrek members froze. They all followed Lin Chen's gaze, their faces full of confusion and surprise, completely unaware that anyone else was lurking nearby.
Tang San's heart sank. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and his hand tightened unconsciously around the Blue Silver Grass until his knuckles whitened. He rapidly calculated how to escape, unable to understand how Lin Chen had pinpointed his location. He had hidden himself carefully, completely suppressed the aura of his Soul Power, and even deliberately avoided everyone's senses!
When no one answered, Lin Chen's lips curled in a mocking smile. He stirred his Soul Power beneath his feet and instantly darted to the nearby bushes. One kick sent the thick branches flying, revealing Tang San, who had been hiding inside, to everyone.
"Tang San? What are you doing here?" Dai Mubai asked, frowning in surprise. "Weren't you bringing up the rear? Why were you hiding here alone?"
Tang San forced himself to stay calm, suppressing the panic raging in his heart. He feigned confusion and tried to keep his tone even. "I sensed a violent fluctuation in Soul Power over here, so I quietly came to check in case something had happened. I hid so I wouldn't alert anyone. Lin Chen, what did you mean by that?"
"What did I mean?" Lin Chen gave a cold laugh, pressing down harder on the lead bandit until he let out a pained grunt. Then he swept his icy gaze over Tang San. "You secretly paid these bandits to ambush the Shrek team, specifically targeting Ning Rongrong, our support-type Soul Master. You wanted to disrupt our formation and cause trouble for me. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
He had already seen through Tang San's despicable scheme. The precise timing of the bandits' appearance, their highly targeted choice of victims, and the faint, familiar aura of Soul Power lurking nearby—all the clues pointed straight to Tang San. During the fight, Lin Chen had secretly kept track of his location. He had only waited until the bandits were dealt with before exposing the despicable plot in front of everyone, leaving Tang San nowhere to hide.
At Lin Chen's words, the bandit's face changed drastically. He hurried to defend himself, but Lin Chen sealed his throat with Soul Power in an instant, leaving him unable to utter a single word. All he could do was stare wide-eyed at Tang San in panic. His reaction was proof enough that Lin Chen was telling the truth.
Tang San panicked completely. He had never expected Lin Chen not only to see through his scheme, but to have such clear evidence. He could no longer keep up his calm facade. His eyes darted about as he stammered, "I didn't! Lin Chen, don't make false accusations! We're all students at Shrek. How could I ever do something that would hurt my teammates?"
The appearance he had worn for so long—a seemingly gentle, humble young man—was nowhere to be seen. His panic and deep-seated malice were now impossible to conceal, leaving him utterly disheveled.
Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others stared at Tang San in shock and disbelief. They had never imagined that he, who usually seemed kind and quietly devoted to his training, would hire bandits to ambush his own teammates. Disgust and anger showed on every face.
Xiao Wu's face flushed with anger. She stepped directly in front of Lin Chen and shouted at Tang San, "Tang San, you've gone too far! We're all companions who train together, yet you'd hurt all of us just because of your own grudge!" She had already been growing distant from Tang San, and now she felt nothing but disgust for him.
Zhu Zhuqing knitted her brows, her gaze full of disdain and detachment. An icy edge sharpened her already cool demeanor. She had always detested underhanded schemes, and the last shred of goodwill she had felt toward Tang San as a fellow student vanished completely.
Ning Rongrong was furious too. She slightly raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm, colorful Soul Power surging around it as she stared at Tang San in disappointment. "Tang San, you were willing to harm the whole team just to target Lin Chen. You've made yourself utterly contemptible! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never associate with a vicious, petty man like you!"
Under the others' accusations and scorn, Tang San's face turned pale, then livid. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood, but he didn't even notice. His hatred for Lin Chen grew like a poisonous vine, spreading wildly until it nearly shattered his reason. His carefully planned scheme had failed to hurt Lin Chen in the slightest. Instead, it had been exposed before everyone, turning him into a laughingstock. The humiliation made him wish he could crawl into a crack in the ground!
Lin Chen watched Tang San's loss of composure coldly, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority. "Since we're both students of Shrek and are in the middle of training, I'll let this go for now. But mark my words: if there's a next time, don't expect me to spare you for the sake of our schoolmates. I'll settle the score once and for all."
It wasn't that he was softhearted. They were in the Soul Beast Forest, where an internal conflict could disrupt their training, and Tang San's petty tricks were nothing more than a clown's antics in his eyes. Keeping him around would let Lin Chen watch and see what else he might try, so he could put an end to it all at once.
Just then, Zhao Wuji's burly figure emerged at an unhurried pace from the trees in the distance. He took in the scene, his brows furrowing with displeasure. He had been following along in secret to protect them and had seen everything that happened. His gaze toward Tang San held clear reproach, but he didn't lose his temper on the spot. Instead, he said in a low voice, "Infighting and troublemaking are strictly forbidden during training! Tang San, you'd better watch yourself. If you make another move, you'll be expelled from Shrek Academy immediately!"
Tang San's hand hanging by his side trembled slightly. He lowered his head, hiding the venom and hatred in his eyes, and gritted his teeth without saying a word. An oppressive aura of malice radiated from him.
Lin Chen didn't spare Tang San another glance. Turning to the Shrek team, he regained his composure and issued his orders in an orderly fashion. "Clear the area, collect the Soul Beast materials and Soul Coins from the bandits, and continue deeper into the forest for training. Don't let this little matter distract you."
Everyone answered in unison. After this incident, their trust in Lin Chen's leadership, strength, and magnanimity grew even stronger, and the team's unity reached unprecedented heights. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong stayed close at Lin Chen's side, never leaving him, their hearts full of trust and devotion.
Sunlight dappled through the dense canopy, and the fluctuations of Soul Power in the forest gradually settled. The occasional roar of a Soul Beast only made the atmosphere of their training feel more tense. No one noticed the seething hatred in Tang San's lowered eyes. A more secretive, more vicious plan for revenge was quietly taking shape in his heart.
With steady strides, Lin Chen led the team deeper into the Soul Beast Forest, his sharpness concealed, yet his bearing growing ever more composed. He calmly surveyed the surroundings and kept firm control of the team's pace. No matter how many schemes and dangers lurked in the shadows, he was already prepared to crush every obstacle with absolute strength!
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