Tang Ya's Enthusiasm

"Such immense power..." Bei Bei felt a jolt of shock in his heart. If the mere shockwave carries such force, then the center of that direct collision...

His gaze shifted toward the heart of the explosion, his pupils constricting sharply.

The crimson fireball, capable of melting steel, had lasted less than a second against the golden blade of light!

The golden blade sliced into the fireball as easily as a hot knife through butter, meeting no resistance, and then—

"Pfft!"

The fireball was cleaved in two, transforming into two balls of uncontrolled flame that erupted outward, blasting two charred, deep craters into the ground.

The golden blade, its momentum undiminished, continued its strike toward the Red-Winged Dragon!

"Awoo—!!!"

The Red-Winged Dragon let out a desperate roar. It wanted to flee, to dodge, to defend itself with its remaining strength. But under the suppression of the Angel Domain, the Soul Power within its body was nearly exhausted; it could barely maintain flight, let alone execute an effective evasive maneuver.

It could only watch helplessly as the blade, resembling a giant golden sword, rapidly magnified in its pupils.

"Sshhh—!!!"

The sound of a sharp blade slicing through flesh was clearly audible.

The golden blade struck the Red-Winged Dragon's chest with precision, then swept downward without resistance, cutting all the way from its chest to its tailbone!

The massive body of the Red-Winged Dragon froze in mid-air. The madness and brutality in its crimson eyes gradually faded, replaced by a blank emptiness.

The next moment, a thin line of golden light extended from its forehead all the way to its tail.

"Boom!"

The Red-Winged Dragon's body split neatly into two halves, collapsing to either side and crashing heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Dark red blood gushed out like a fountain, quickly forming two pools on the earth.

A deep purple soul ring rose slowly from the split corpse, hovering in mid-air and radiating the powerful fluctuations unique to a five-thousand-year soul beast.

The five-thousand-year Red-Winged Dragon was dead.

Silence.

Deadly silence.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya stared blankly at the scene, their brains nearly ceasing to function.

From the moment Su Chen deployed his domain to the moment the Red-Winged Dragon was slain by a single sword strike, the entire process had taken barely a dozen seconds. Yet, everything that occurred within those few seconds completely overturned their understanding of the word "genius."

"Five thousand years... a Red-Winged Dragon equivalent to a Soul Elder... just like that... dead?" Tang Ya muttered to herself, her voice trembling.

Bei Bei's shock was even deeper. As a level thirty-four Soul Elder, he knew all too well how terrifying the strength of a Red-Winged Dragon was. Only a short while ago, he and Tang Ya had joined forces and barely managed to escape the beast's claws, suffering significant injuries in the process.

But Su Chen?

A Soul Grand Master with two thousand-year soul rings had slain this terrifying soul beast—which had left two Soul Elders helpless—in just two strikes... no, strictly speaking, one and a half strikes!

"His strength... is already no longer below mine." Bei Bei bitterly admitted the fact. "No, I should say... it has already surpassed me. If we were to fight to the death, I fear I wouldn't even have a thirty percent chance of winning."

This realization left Bei Bei with a complex mix of emotions. Since childhood, he had been a genius at Shrek Academy, hailed as one of the students most likely to enter the Inner Court in this generation.

Yet today, in front of this boy who appeared to be only twelve, all his pride had been shattered.

After a long while, Bei Bei suppressed the shock in his heart and took a few deep breaths, struggling to regain his composure. He straightened his tattered clothes, stepped forward, and bowed deeply with a solemn, cupped-hand salute toward Su Chen, who was slowly descending from the air.

This bow was deep, his attitude sincere to the extreme.

"Many thanks for your assistance, little brother." Bei Bei's voice carried unmistakable respect. "I am Bei Bei, and this is Tang Ya. We are both students of Shrek Academy. This debt of life, I shall never forget."

He paused, looked up, and fixed his gaze on Su Chen, asking tentatively, "May I ask for your honorable name?"

Su Chen had already put away the Angel Holy Sword, and the six wings were slowly retracting into his back, yet that divine and majestic aura had not dissipated. He looked at Bei Bei and Tang Ya, his expression remaining calm: "Su Chen."

The simple two-word name sent a jolt through Bei Bei's heart.

"Brother Su Chen." Bei Bei weighed his words, his gaze lingering for a moment on the six wings behind Su Chen. A trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but he asked nonetheless, "I saw the martial soul Brother Su Chen displayed just now—three pairs of wings, divine and majestic... could it be the legendary Six-Winged Angel?"

As he asked the question, Bei Bei's heartbeat involuntarily accelerated.

The Six-Winged Angel! The supreme heritage of the Martial Soul Hall from ten thousand years ago, the bloodline martial soul of the Angel God Qian Renxue! If this super martial soul, long thought to be extinct, had truly reappeared on the Douluo Continent...

Su Chen glanced at the two of them. The characteristics of the Six-Winged Angel were too obvious; anyone with even a slight understanding of soul master history could recognize it. Concealment was meaningless.

He nodded and admitted it frankly: "Indeed."

"Hiss—"

Despite having guessed it, when Su Chen admitted it himself, Bei Bei and Tang Ya could not help but gasp in unison.

Tang Ya covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with shock: "It really is the Six-Winged Angel... the legendary martial soul... has reappeared on the Douluo Continent..."

Bei Bei's expression grew even more solemn. He had thought deeper than Tang Ya—what did the reappearance of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul signify? Although the Martial Soul Hall had been destroyed ten thousand years ago, no one could guarantee that no legacy had been left behind. And the faith in the Angel God still lingered in some remote areas of the Douluo Continent.

Tang Ya had also recovered from her shock by now. Looking at Su Chen's handsome, almost unreal face and his calm, composed demeanor, she could not suppress her curiosity and stepped forward to ask: "Su Chen, how... how old are you this year? What is your Soul Power Level?"

After asking, Tang Ya felt she had been a bit abrupt, her cheeks turning slightly red. But it was truly because Su Chen was so dazzling that she couldn't help but want to know more.

Su Chen's gaze fell upon Tang Ya. Although the purple-haired girl's clothes were tattered and her face pale, one could still see her beautiful features and spirited temperament. Especially those purple eyes, which were currently looking at him with a bright, curious, and indescribable emotion.

"Twelve," Su Chen replied. "Level twenty-seven Soul Power."

"Twelve... level twenty-seven..." Tang Ya repeated, shock flashing in her eyes. "This... this is already the level of a top-tier genius!"

Bei Bei felt as if a storm were raging in his heart. Twelve years old, level twenty-seven, two thousand-year soul rings, possessing a domain, and combat power comparable to or even exceeding an ordinary Soul Elder...

How could "top-tier genius" even begin to describe this? This was a monster! A freak! In the ten thousand years since Shrek Academy was founded, one could likely count such existences on one hand!

I must recruit him into Shrek! Bei Bei made up his mind in an instant.

If such a monster were allowed to leave or were snatched up by another faction, it would be a massive loss for Shrek Academy! He might even become a formidable rival to Shrek in the future!

Thinking of this, Bei Bei wore an even more sincere smile: "Brother Su Chen, I wonder what your plans are for the future?"

Su Chen remained silent for a moment, his mind racing.

His current strength was still too weak. Although he had two thousand-year soul rings and the Angel Domain, he was only level twenty-seven after all. Once his Six-Winged Angel martial soul was exposed, it would inevitably attract the hunt of Evil Soul Masters—in the original work, Evil Soul Masters held a near-paranoid hatred for holy-attribute martial souls.

To develop safely, the best choice was to find a powerful faction for protection. And Shrek Academy was undoubtedly the best choice at present.

First, Shrek Academy had a profound foundation and abundant resources, capable of providing him with the best cultivation environment.

Second, Shrek Academy held a transcendent status; even Evil Soul Masters would not dare to easily lay a hand on Shrek students.

Finally... a profound light flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

Shrek Academy had been hostile to Martial Soul Hall ten thousand years ago, eventually leading to the downfall of Martial Soul Hall. If he could enter Shrek, gradually seize control of its forces, and perhaps even bring the entire Shrek under his command in the future...

Wouldn't that be the best "repayment" for the grievances of ten thousand years ago?

Of course, this was a long-term plan. What mattered most right now was to use Shrek's resources to grow rapidly.

Thinking of this, Su Chen looked at Bei Bei and said: "I originally intended to train in the Star Dou Great Forest, but now..."

He glanced at the corpse of the Red-Winged Dragon and the wound on Tang Ya's shoulder: "I am... somewhat interested in Shrek Academy."

Bei Bei's eyes lit up, and he quickly said: "If Brother Su Chen is interested in Shrek, that couldn't be better! Shrek Academy is the number one Soul Master Academy on the continent, with a strong faculty, rich cultivation resources, and many geniuses of the same age to exchange pointers with. With Brother Su Chen's talent, if you enter Shrek, you will surely receive the best training!"

He paused and added: "Moreover, Shrek Academy has always valued geniuses. For a student like Brother Su Chen who reached level twenty-seven at twelve years old and possesses such a powerful martial soul, the academy will definitely attach great importance to you, and you might even be directly admitted to the Inner Court for training!"

Tang Ya also nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of anticipation: "Yes, Su Chen, Shrek Academy is really great! There are many amazing teachers and seniors in the academy, and, and the atmosphere in the academy is also very good; everyone is very friendly..."

As she said this, her eyes remained fixed on Su Chen, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost as faint as a mosquito's buzz by the end.

Su Chen took in the reactions of both, understanding everything. He nodded: "In that case, I will have to trouble the two of you to lead the way."

"No trouble at all, no trouble!" Bei Bei was overjoyed. "It is the academy's honor that Brother Su Chen is willing to join Shrek! Let's set off now and return to the academy as soon as possible!"

Tang Ya also smiled happily. She looked at her disheveled appearance, then at Su Chen, and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed: "Um... Su Chen, Bei Bei and I aren't in the best state right now, we might need to rest for a little while..."

"Very well," Su Chen said calmly.

After resting for about an hour, the three of them had recovered quite a bit. Bei Bei processed the Red-Winged Dragon's corpse, taking some valuable materials, and then the three set off, leaving the Star Dou Great Forest and heading toward Shrek City.

Along the way, Tang Ya appeared exceptionally lively.

"Su Chen, where are you from?"

"Su Chen, how did you awaken your Six-Winged Angel martial soul? Hasn't this martial soul been extinct for ten thousand years?"

"Su Chen, did you cultivate alone before? Did you have any teachers guiding you?"

"Su Chen, what do you like to eat? There are many delicious things in Shrek City; I'll take you to eat them when we arrive!"

She found topics to chat with Su Chen almost without stopping, her purple eyes always sparkling, and her cheeks always carrying a faint blush. Sometimes, when she asked questions that were too private, she would stick out her tongue in embarrassment, but she would quickly find a new topic.

Bei Bei followed behind the two, watching Tang Ya's rare, lively demeanor with some surprise, but he didn't think much of it. He only assumed that Tang Ya was being so enthusiastic about introducing the academy and the city because Su Chen had saved them and was interested in Shrek Academy.

"Xiao Ya is really talkative today," Bei Bei thought, shaking his head with a smile. "But that's fine; a genius like Su Chen should indeed be made to have a better impression of Shrek."

He did not know that Tang Ya's thoughts at this moment were far more complex than simply recruiting talent for the academy.

Su Chen is really so handsome... Tang Ya secretly glanced at the golden-haired youth beside her, her heartbeat involuntarily accelerating. He's strong, his personality is calm, he's much better than that block of wood, Bei Bei...

As soon as this thought appeared, Tang Ya was startled. She quickly shook her head, trying to shake off these messy thoughts, but her gaze couldn't help but fall on Su Chen again.

Su Chen naturally noticed Tang Ya's unusual enthusiasm. While responding casually to her questions, he calmly analyzed the situation in his heart.

Tang Ya, the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect. Although the Tang Sect had declined, it was once the number one sect on the continent. Moreover, the Tang Sect had close ties with Tang San; if he could control the Tang Sect through Tang Ya...

That is indeed a good opportunity, Su Chen thought to himself.

Of course, he wouldn't entirely use Tang Ya. If possible, he wouldn't mind a deeper development with this lively and kind girl. After all, Tang Ya herself had good talent and was very beautiful, and her martial soul had the potential for mutation. Even if it went out of control, he would be there; if she grew up in the future, she would be a decent asset.

More importantly... if he could take down the Tang Sect, wouldn't that be equivalent to slapping the face of that Tang God King from ten thousand years ago? The sect he founded would ultimately fall under the command of the successor of the Angel God...

Thinking of this, a faint, imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Su Chen's mouth.

"Su Chen, what are you smiling at?" Tang Ya asked curiously.

"Nothing," Su Chen suppressed his smile and looked ahead. "Just thought of something interesting."

"Oh..." Tang Ya nodded, appearing to understand, though she didn't quite grasp it.