Suppression, Crippling the Tiger, Breaking the Staff

Inside Suotuo City.

The four of them walked along the bluestone path as the bustling crowds around them began their daily activities.

"Hey, have you heard? Shrek Academy in the southern suburbs outside the city has started enrollment. The line has been incredibly long these past few days."

"Is that the Shrek Academy that only recruits monsters?"

"That's the one. The entrance requirements are high, too—a level 21 Soul Grand Master at twelve years old."

"Is it really that impressive? My kid is twelve and level 18; I have to take him to try his luck and see if the Lord Soul Master at the academy will make an exception."

"Ah, what a pity my daughter is over the age limit, otherwise I would have had to try no matter what."

Dugu Yan frowned as she listened to the conversation beside her. She had never heard of this academy, and regardless of where one was on the Douluo Continent, a twelve-year-old Soul Grand Master was a genius. If this academy had such strict enrollment criteria, it should be quite famous throughout the Douluo Continent.

"Yang Fan, go to the Martial Soul Branch Hall in Suotuo City and summon the Hall Master to Shrek Academy. It is time to clean up the vermin of the soul master world."

Su Zhen instructed Yang Fan, who was behind him.

"Yes, Young Master."

Yang Fan replied and vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

"Didn't you say you were from the Thunder God Palace? Why are you looking for Martial Soul Hall?"

Dugu Yan was instantly suspicious upon hearing Su Zhen's arrangement and immediately asked.

"My teacher is a high-ranking member of Martial Soul Hall and holds a certain amount of influence there."

"You didn't tell me that before."

Dugu Yan took a step back. The warmth of the ten days they had spent together was wiped away, and her eyes were filled with wariness. When her grandfather became a Titled Douluo, he had been recruited by Martial Soul Hall; when he refused, he was attacked and injured. In her eyes, Martial Soul Hall was cut from the same cloth as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"I am aware that Senior Dugu had old grievances with Martial Soul Hall, but Martial Soul Hall cannot be represented by a single Pope. The faction I belong to is on good terms with Senior Dugu; otherwise, Senior Dugu would not have entrusted you to me before passing away."

Faced with Su Zhen's explanation, the wariness in Dugu Yan's eyes faded slightly, but she still did not step forward to stand with him.

Seeing this, Su Zhen did not offer further explanation. After asking a passerby for the location of Shrek Academy, he turned and left with Li Hao.

Dugu Yan watched their retreating figures. After standing in place and pondering for a moment, she followed them. She was in urgent need of a backer now, even if that backer was Martial Soul Hall. As long as she could take revenge on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she could join any faction.

The three of them exited the south gate and walked for a while before seeing a long line of adults and children in front of a village.

In the middle of the queue, Su Zhen spotted a thin figure dressed in blue, standing all alone. He wondered where his sister had gone.

Su Zhen walked toward the village entrance just as a child finished their assessment.

"Bone age 12, Soul Power Level 16. Failed."

The old man sitting at the table announced the child's results.

"Lord Soul Master, my child's grades at the primary soul master academy have always been first place. Please, just make an exception."

The child's parent pleaded humbly with the examiner, hoping to secure a good learning environment for their child.

"No means no. Our Shrek Academy only accepts monsters. Do you know what a monster is? Your child's talent is far too mediocre. Get lost! Don't hinder this old man's recruitment."

"Fine, I'll leave, but give me back my ten Gold Soul Coin registration fee."

Seeing that his pleas were hopeless, the parent reached out to demand his registration fee back; ten Gold Soul Coins were enough to support his family for several years.

"Once a registration fee is paid, it is non-refundable. Mubai, clear the area."

"You got it, Teacher Li."

The blond youth leaning against a large tree nearby walked up to the parent.

The blond youth looked down at the parent from his height, then activated his Martial Soul Possession. Two yellow and one purple soul rings appeared beneath his feet, and a massive white tiger manifested behind him. A terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the parent.

"If you want your registration fee back, you can try beating me."

"Is that so? As long as I beat you, I can get my money back?"

Hearing someone speak, the blond youth turned his head to look at the youth before him and couldn't help but sneer.

"Where did this wild brat come from? If you want to stand up for someone else, you should see if you're even qualified."

After speaking, the blond youth kicked toward Su Zhen. He couldn't feel a shred of soul power fluctuation from Su Zhen and assumed he was just an ordinary person looking to show off.

Su Zhen easily dodged the kick, then instantly appeared in front of the blond youth and punched him in the abdomen.

The blond youth was sent flying by Su Zhen's punch; he snapped a large tree behind him and rolled several times on the ground before his body finally came to a stop.

"Bastard! I, Dai Mubai, am a prince of the Star Luo Empire! How dare you hit me!"

Dai Mubai stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and roared. He wanted to rush forward to teach this youth a lesson, but as soon as he took a step, his throat went sweet and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His body also reverted from its Martial Soul Possession state.

"You... you destroyed my dantian! How dare you? My Star Luo Empire will not let you off!"

Dai Mubai could no longer feel his soul power. His dantian was like a deflating balloon, and the soul power stored within was leaking out frantically. He had been crippled by a single punch from the youth before him.

Su Zhen paid no mind to Dai Mubai's threats and turned to walk toward the recruitment teacher at the entrance.

"Are all of Dai Tianfeng's spawn such unreasonable, bullying pieces of trash who only know how to oppress the common folk?"

Li Hao stepped in front of Dai Mubai, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked at this descendant of the Dai Clan.

"What are you, to dare speak the name of the Star Luo Emperor? Do you believe I won't make sure you don't live to see tomorrow's sun?"

Dai Mubai threatened the man before him. Having just been beaten into a cripple and now being mocked by this same man, his heart was filled with rage.

"Ah!"

Li Hao kicked Dai Mubai right between the legs, then proceeded to snap both of his legs. The intense pain that followed forced a scream from Dai Mubai.

"If you called Dai Tianfeng here, would he dare to say those words? A piece of trash from the Dai Clan like you dares to speak to me like this? I'll collect some interest from you today; write a letter telling him to wash his neck clean and wait for me in Star Luo City."

Li Hao stomped on Dai Mubai a few more times before leaving and walking toward Su Zhen.

"I have defeated Dai Mubai; return the registration fee to that parent."

Su Zhen arrived at the table by the entrance and spoke to the admissions teacher.

"I have already said that once the registration fee is paid, it is non-refundable. Are you deaf?"

The admissions teacher shouted, simultaneously activating his Martial Soul Possession. A black staff appeared in his palm, and six spirit rings emerged beneath his feet, displaying his terrifying cultivation level.

"This old man is Li Yusong, a Level 63 Power Attack System Spirit Emperor. Friend, state your name; this old man does not strike at nobodies under his staff."

Li Yusong's terrifying spirit power pressure rose, bearing down entirely upon Su Zhen.

"Su Zhen, a pitiful man who speaks up for the commoners."

Su Zhen announced his name, then slowly stepped forward until he stood before Li Yusong, the Spirit Emperor's pressure having no effect on him whatsoever.

Su Zhen clenched his right fist and struck Li Yusong in the face, sending the terrifyingly powerful Spirit Emperor flying directly into the fence at the village entrance.

"For you to bully commoners like this, you are unworthy of being Spirit Masters."

"Is that so? You little brat, your strength isn't bad, but what does that make you, bullying the teachers and students of my Shrek Academy?"

A thick, booming voice came from within the village. A burly man walked slowly toward them, his thunderous voice and massive frame making him look just like a walking brown bear.

"Those who bully others will always be bullied in return."

Su Zhen turned to look at the burly man who had reached the village entrance.

"No wonder the teachers and students of this academy act this way. With someone like you, the Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji who slaughters commoners, leading the way, it would be a miracle if this academy could ever be decent."

"Who are you? How could you recognize my identity?"

Zhao Wuji was shocked that the person before him had exposed his identity in a single breath. Upon hearing that the burly man slaughtered commoners, the surrounding civilians quickly fled the area.

"Regardless of who you are, since you dare to smear the reputation of my Shrek Academy, today you have only one path: death."

Zhao Wuji roared in fury. After activating his Martial Soul Possession, seven spirit rings appeared, and his massive body charged straight at Su Zhen.

"How bold!"

Li Hao instantly arrived in front of Su Zhen, extending a hand to block Zhao Wuji's full-force strike. Beneath his feet, nine spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—lit up the area.

"A Titled Douluo!"

The surrounding crowd gasped in surprise and hurriedly knelt to pay their respects, leaving only one blue-haired youth standing motionless in the crowd.