Meeting Dai Yueheng!

Beside him stood a black-clad young man with a longsword strapped to his back. His face was stern, his gaze sharp.

Chen Zifeng, Soul-Chasing Sword martial soul, assault-type Soul King.

There was also a petite girl dressed in tight leather armor.

Xi Xi. Lightning Leopard martial soul, agility-attack-type Soul King.

A girl in an ice-blue long dress stood quietly at the edge of the group.

Ling Luochen, ice-element control-type Soul King.

The last was an exceptionally burly man. He looked only eighteen or nineteen, yet he stood over two meters tall, his entire body packed with knotted muscles that stretched his academy uniform taut.

He stood at the back of the group like a wall, exuding the oppressive solidity of an immovable mountain.

Yao Haoxuan, Heaven-Shaking Ape martial soul, auxiliary defense-type Soul King.

Seven people, all Soul Kings or above, and the oldest was barely in his early twenties.

These were Shrek Academy's elite of this generation, the... official team members preparing to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

"Oh, I was wondering who it was. So it's Du Busi."

The scruffy old man, Xuan Zi—the Taotie Douluo and an elder of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion—swallowed his last bite of chicken, wiped the grease from his mouth, and let out a resounding belch.

Only then did he lazily raise his head to look at Du Busi. He grinned, revealing two rows of smoke-yellowed teeth.

"What, has the Body Sect run out of people? You actually had to lead the team yourself..."

Du Busi snorted coldly, a flicker of chill flashing through his emerald-green eyes.

"Xuan Zi, you're not dead yet? I thought some Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had eaten you as a snack long ago because of your gluttony."

"Hehe, no chance." Xuan Zi took another huge swig of wine and exhaled in satisfaction.

"I'm tough as nails, I enjoy every meal, and living to a hundred won't be a problem. But you, Du Busi—I hear the Body Sect has been going downhill these past few years. You can't even produce a decent disciple. What, are you still planning to forfeit the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament this time, or are you sending a few worthless scraps up there to make fools of yourselves?"

As soon as those words fell, all seven members of Shrek Academy laughed.

Their laughter was soft and restrained, but the undisguised superiority and mockery in it stabbed like needles into the hearts of Du Busi, Long Aotian, and Dai Tu.

Long Aotian's expression darkened instantly. His amber eyes narrowed, and Soul Power began to surge around him. Like an enraged lion, he was ready to pounce at any moment and tear apart those who dared mock his sect.

But Du Busi waved a hand, signaling for him to calm down.

"Xuan Zi, your mouth is as foul as ever." Du Busi's voice was calm, but beneath that calm lay suppressed fury. "Whether our Body Sect is capable or not is none of your concern. As for your Shrek Academy, you call yourselves 'the best under heaven' every year, but what exactly have you raised? Fast runners? High jumpers? Or... people with quick tongues?"

He paused, sweeping his gaze over the seven young people. It lingered a moment longer on Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao before he gave a derisive snort.

"They look decent enough, but whether they're any good will only be known after a fight. Don't let them get onto the arena only to be knocked flat by our Body Sect disciples in three punches and two kicks, then run home crying for their mothers. That would be... humiliating beyond belief."

Xuan Zi's expression darkened as well.

He set down his wineskin. His eyes, usually clouded from years of drunkenness, were now terrifyingly clear, gleaming with cold light.

"Du Busi, you'd better watch your words. Shrek's disciples are not for you to judge."

"What, can't I say it?" Du Busi laughed, his smile cold and mocking. "If words won't do, then let's settle it with our fists. Xuan Zi, how about you and I have a little spar first? Let me see what skills you've gained these past few years besides putting on fat."

The air froze instantly.

The Soul Power of two Titled Douluo collided soundlessly in the air. There was no earth-shaking roar, yet the surrounding space began to distort, the temperature plummeted, and even the light grew dim.

The leaves of the towering ancient trees rustled without wind, as though trembling in fear.

The expressions of Shrek Academy's seven young members changed.

They could sense two unimaginably immense currents of Soul Power clashing silently above their heads. Even the aftermath of a confrontation at that level would be enough to grind them into dust.

Ma Xiaotao instinctively stepped half a pace forward, shielding her companions as faint crimson flames flickered around her. Dai Yueheng clenched his fists as well, a trace of gravity flashing through his golden pupils.

Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, Xi Xi, Ling Luochen, and Yao Haoxuan all entered combat readiness. Soul Power surged frantically through their bodies as they prepared for a battle that could erupt at any moment.

But just then, Dai Tu suddenly spoke.

"Teacher."

His voice was soft and calm, like a pebble dropped into a still lake, instantly breaking the tense atmosphere.

Du Busi and Xuan Zi both looked at him.

Dai Tu did not look at Xuan Zi or any of the Shrek members. He merely looked at Du Busi and said calmly,

"We didn't come here to fight. We haven't found the soul ring yet. Don't waste time."

Du Busi stared at Dai Tu for two seconds, then slowly reined in his Soul Power.

"Fine, I'll listen to you." He patted Dai Tu's shoulder, then shot Xuan Zi another glance and sneered. "I'll let it go today for my disciple's sake. Xuan Zi, take your people and get lost. Stop being an eyesore."

Xuan Zi was so furious that even his beard trembled, but he also knew that fighting would benefit no one.

This was deep within the Star Dou Great Forest. If they attracted powerful soul beasts, or if both sides were wounded and someone else reaped the reward, that would be a disastrous loss.

"Hmph, we're leaving." Xuan Zi flicked his sleeve and turned away.

The seven members of Shrek Academy hurriedly followed, but before leaving, they could not help looking back at Dai Tu and Long Aotian several more times.

Dai Yueheng in particular.

His gaze rested on Dai Tu for roughly two seconds. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as though he found the black-haired youth somewhat familiar but could not recall where he had seen him before.

In the end, he shook his head, cast the thought aside, turned around, and followed Xuan Zi.

The group soon vanished into the depths of the forest.

Only after their figures had completely disappeared did Long Aotian let out a long breath. Looking at Du Busi, he gave a bitter smile. "Teacher, were you really going to fight Elder Xuan just now?"

"If we fought, we fought. Why should I fear him?" Du Busi snorted, though his expression relaxed somewhat. "But Dai Tu was right. We came to handle important business. There's no need to waste time on that bunch of hypocrites."

He paused and looked at Dai Tu, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes. "Kid, you did well just now. You stayed this calm under that old bastard Xuan Zi's pressure. You've got good composure."

Dai Tu said nothing, only nodded.

His attention was still on that group from before.

No—more precisely, it was on Dai Yueheng.

"Junior brother," Long Aotian moved closer to Dai Tu and asked in a lowered voice, "do you know that blond guy?"

Dai Tu fell silent for two seconds, then said two words. "His surname is Dai."

Long Aotian froze, then understood at once.

Duke of White Tiger, Dai Hao.

That blond young man was also surnamed Dai. And judging by his appearance, his bearing, and that arrogance ingrained in his bones...

"He's Dai Hao's son?" Long Aotian's voice turned cold.

Dai Tu nodded. "His eldest son, Dai Yueheng. An inner-court disciple of Shrek Academy. He should be... level sixty."

"Level sixty..." Long Aotian narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing through his amber pupils. "He looks about my age, and his Soul Power is about the same. Heh. The White Tiger Duke Mansion did produce someone worthwhile."

He paused, looked at Dai Tu, and asked seriously, "Junior brother, what do you want to do?"

Dai Tu raised his head and looked in the direction where Dai Yueheng had disappeared. There was no emotional fluctuation in his eyes, only bottomless coldness.

"Since we've run into him, we definitely can't just let him go."

Dai Tu revealed a chilling smile.