Boom!
The instant their Martial Souls emerged, a tremendous force descended from above, pressing down on them.
Wang Dong got off lightly; his Martial Soul was merely forced back. Xiao Yulü, on the other hand, was pinned flat to the ground.
Seeing his friend suffer such treatment, Xiao Yan instantly switched into battle mode, a terrifying heat radiating from his body.
"I don't know which teacher this is, but we were only fooling around as classmates. Is it really necessary to take sides so blatantly?"
However, his words sank like a stone into the sea. There was no response at all.
Xiao Yan looked around for a while, then fixed his gaze on the old man napping peacefully in a deck chair outside the dormitory.
Was it you, Mu En?
If Mu En had made a move, then continuing to dig in his heels would mean he didn't know when to quit.
He hurried forward to help Xiao Yulü, who had been pinned down, to his feet. But just then, a crushing force came surging toward him.
Xiao Yan nearly lost his footing and was forced to the ground. Gritting his teeth, he cursed Mu En inwardly. Did the old bastard really intend to suppress him too?
Fortunately, Little Fire Dragon was a Beast Martial Soul, and possessing it greatly increased his resilience. This pressure might have knocked him down if he'd been caught off guard, but now that he'd reacted, holding his ground wasn't a problem.
He even had enough strength left to help Xiao Yulü, who was also being crushed by the pressure. When the immense force failed to knock Xiao Yan down, it surged even stronger. Xiao Yan felt a sudden pain in his back, as if his internal organs and bones were about to be crushed.
"Heh, I refuse to believe old Mu En would actually try to kill me..."
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and discreetly pulled out two Dragon Blood Pills. He swallowed one and stuffed the other into Xiao Yulü's mouth.
These pills, which temporarily increased physical strength, worked well in pressure tests. As soon as the pill entered his mouth and its medicinal power spread, Xiao Yan felt his muscles grow noticeably firmer.
With the Dragon Blood Pill's help, Xiao Yulü was no longer helpless beneath the pressure. The two of them gradually straightened their bent backs.
"Oh? Interesting..."
The instant he stood up straight, Xiao Yan seemed to hear a voice by his ear. He was almost certain that old Mu En was the one putting pressure on him, but...
If it had been anyone else, Xiao Yan might have gritted out a Buddha Fury Fire Lotus and hurled it at them. But this old bastard was Mu En.
There was nothing for it. The old bastard might not have many years left, but while he was still alive, Xiao Yan had to show him at least a little respect.
Xiao Yulü, on the other hand, wasn't nearly so reasonable.
Xiao Yan was just cupping his fists in salute when his good buddy beside him bellowed:
"Which son of a bitch snuck up on me?! Come out and fight your young master Xiao Yulü for a hundred rounds! What kind of skill is a sneak attack?!"
"..."
Xiao Yan could only give him a sympathetic look.
Sure enough, the moment Xiao Yulü finished speaking, another tremendous force pressed down on him, making him cry out in pain.
Even with the Dragon Blood Pill's help, Xiao Yulü couldn't withstand the pressure of a Titled Douluo.
And judging by the look of things, Xiao Yulü wasn't getting up anytime soon.
By now, Wang Dong had gotten back to his feet and was ignoring Huo Yuhao, who was doing the same. Seeing Xiao Yulü's pleading look, Xiao Yan could only shrug to show that he couldn't help.
"Ahem, break it up, everyone. Nothing to see here. Don't stand around blocking the way."
Xiao Yan could only chase off the onlookers. Huo Yuhao helped too; truthfully, he was quite grateful to Xiao Yulü for standing up for him. Wang Dong returned to the dormitory alone, and once the show was over, no one else gathered around.
It only took a moment to disperse the crowd.
"Xiao Yan, is it really okay to leave Yulü lying there?"
"Can't be helped. You go back first."
Xiao Yan led Huo Yuhao into the dormitory like a child, then turned around and went back to find the old man sleeping soundly in the deck chair by the entrance.
"Sir, Xiao Yulü is still very young. If he spends the night lying outside, he'll get sick."
Xiao Yan wasn't pleading. He merely stated the facts:
"He's a talented Soul Master who reached Soul Power Level 17 at just nine years old. If he's humiliated in front of all the new students today, what will he think of himself in the future? How will he look at Shrek?"
The old man slowly opened his eyes and chuckled.
"I didn't expect you to understand so much."
Xiao Yan met his gaze, neither servile nor arrogant.
"I'm just stating the facts."
Mu En looked at the boy. His Soul Power Level was a little lower than Xiao Yulü's, yet he'd performed much better. And besides...
"Hmm? Your First Soul Ring is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
Xiao Yan's lips curled upward, but then he remembered that someone in this dormitory had a Million-Year Soul Ring and forced his smile back.
"That's right."
"Hmm. Your talent and temperament are both quite good. No wonder the Xiao Clan recommended you for admission to Shrek Academy."
Mu En nodded, stroking his beard.
"Very well, I'll release the pressure on that boy. After all, using your Martial Soul against a classmate on school grounds is something that deserves a little Punishment."
"Even if there was a reason for it, the same rule applies."
As Xiao Yan listened to the old bastard, he couldn't help finding it ridiculous.
Ma Xiaotao could openly attack other students on campus without being punished, but Xiao Yulü was being punished for standing up for a classmate?
What kind of bullshit logic was that?!
"Heh, even if there was a reason, you still deserve Punishment?"
"If Shrek Academy really is this fair and impartial, then I hope it stays that way forever."
"And not that Inner Court students can bully Outer Court students with impunity."
Xiao Yan's expression slowly turned cold, all warmth draining from his face. Even in front of a Titled Douluo, he dared to challenge him and demand an answer.
Mu En was a little surprised. Xiao Yan was only a child, yet he was willing to stand up for his companion and challenge someone stronger?
Such a temperament...
After saying that, Xiao Yan stopped paying attention to Mu En and turned to leave.
He didn't expect Mu En to take his words to heart, but it would be different if Beibei spoke to him.
As this old man's great-grandson, Beibei had at least a little influence.
Still... he wondered what Beibei and Tang Ya had been up to these past few days.
When he returned to the square, Xiao Yulü was still pinned down by Mu En. Xiao Yan brought him some bread from the commercial street by the school gate. In his current position, even a proper meal would be impossible to eat, so he could only have some bread to tide him over.
"Man... you really are a good friend, Old Xiao."
Xiao Yulü took a bite of the bread Xiao Yan handed him and sighed.
"Quit talking and eat."
Xiao Yan couldn't be bothered to waste words with him. Since Mu En had him pinned down, Xiao Yulü had no choice but to eat like that.
By the time Mu En released the pressure on Xiao Yulü, it was already nearly evening.
He'd been pinned down in the square outside the dormitory the entire time. Every student who passed by had seen his miserable, dog-like state. But since he'd been the one to use his Martial Soul against a classmate first, the punishment was deserved.
After returning to the dormitory, he didn't even feel like taking a bath. He simply climbed into bed and hid himself under the covers.
It wasn't until the next day that school officially began.
Before you continue