A Challenge to Xu Sanshi

He took the wooden board and a pen, scribbling out an advertisement.

"Huo Yuhao's Grilled Fish Grand Sale!"

"Ten copper soul coins for one!"

"Twenty copper soul coins for three!"

"Thirty copper soul coins for five!"

This kind of common promotional tactic was extremely prevalent back on Blue Star in his previous life.

Although common, the results were quite impressive.

The more they bought, the greater the discount, which was a better way to attract consumers.

Most importantly, there was a living signboard like Mu Chen.

Just by standing there, he could capture the gazes of passing female students.

Coupled with the fact that Huo Yuhao was truly a master at grilling fish, he quickly attracted quite a few customers.

A rich, savory aroma swept across the entire street, almost overpowering the scents of the delicacies at other stalls.

"Boss, give me a grilled fish!"

"I want three!"

"Give me five!"

Since the unit price became cheaper the more one bought, most customers started with at least three.

Huo Yuhao was so busy grilling that he was practically flying, yet the smile on his face grew increasingly radiant.

Although the money earned from grilling fish wasn't much, it would be enough to cover his food and tuition over time.

In less than half an hour, the fish in the basket were nearly gone.

Huo Yuhao clapped his hands: "Closing up shop, closing up shop. I'll grill the remaining few for you guys to eat."

Tang Ya had specifically instructed him to save one for her, and Huo Yuhao also set aside one each for Mu Chen and Bei Bei.

Mu Chen had never tasted Huo Yuhao's grilled fish before and was quite curious about what it tasted like.

With no other customers left at the stall, Huo Yuhao began to grill the fish for the three of them.

"Boss, could you make it a bit cheaper? Ten copper soul coins is a bit too expensive, how about five?"

Hearing this, Mu Chen looked up at the person standing before the stall.

Long golden hair paired with a pair of stunningly long legs, eyes carrying a hint of melancholy, and a gorgeous face—she was a beauty through and through.

Without even needing to hear her name, Mu Chen had already guessed her identity.

Jiang Nannan, known as the number one beauty of the outer courtyard.

"I'm sorry, Senior, the fish for today are sold out. These remaining three are for my friends."

Jiang Nannan was not an unreasonable person; hearing Huo Yuhao say this, she turned to leave with a look of disappointment.

Whoosh.

A golden light flew over.

Mu Chen raised his hand and firmly caught the object in his palm—it was a Gold Soul Coin.

"Kid, don't be ungrateful. Nannan wants to eat your grilled fish, so hurry up and sell it to us!"

Seeing the newcomer, a look of disgust appeared on Jiang Nannan's face.

The man had short red hair, wore the Shrek outer courtyard uniform, and had an arrogant expression on his face.

He walked up to Jiang Nannan, his face full of fawning expressions: "Nannan, don't worry, I'll definitely buy this grilled fish for you."

There was no need to guess; this was Xu Sanshi.

Huo Yuhao looked at Xu Sanshi with a grim expression: "Senior, I already said the remaining three are for my friends."

Before Xu Sanshi could say anything, Tang Ya walked up to him with her hands on her hips.

"I'm telling you, Xu Sanshi, didn't you see me standing here? How dare you bully a disciple of my Tang Sect!"

"Tang Ya, I'm not bullying him. I just want to buy a grilled fish for Nannan, and besides, I offered a price many times higher than the asking price."

Facing Xu Sanshi's sophistry, Tang Ya wouldn't listen at all: "That was reserved for us by Huo Yuhao, why should he sell it to you?"

"Listen, Tang Ya, don't think that just because Bei Bei is backing you, I wouldn't dare touch you!"

Seeing that Xu Sanshi was about to make a move, Bei Bei stepped out to block him: "Xu Sanshi, if you're not convinced, let's go to the Arena and settle this."

Just like in the original story, the two initiated a duel.

"Fight then, do you think I'm afraid of you? Let's make it clear: the stakes must be equal to the value of a Mysterious Water Pill."

Bei Bei nodded.

Just then, Mu Chen stepped forward.

"Brother Bei, let me be the one to fight him."

"Mu Chen, this is my protection as your senior brother for my junior brother."

Mu Chen looked at Tang Ya, "Didn't Tang Ya say before that she hoped I would join the Tang Sect? Now that I'm joining, wouldn't I also be a member of the Tang Sect?"

Tang Ya was overjoyed to hear this, "That's great! Mu Chen, go and fight Xu Sanshi!"

She had witnessed Mu Chen's strength; he had killed a thousand-year Datura Snake in one move, and Xu Sanshi's turtle shell would not be able to stop him.

Bei Bei looked at Xu Sanshi with a cunning expression, "Xu Sanshi, this is my new junior brother, a first-year student in the outer courtyard. How about it, do you dare to fight?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? A first-year, right? Don't say I, Xu Sanshi, am bullying people. If he wins, I'll take out three Mysterious Water Pills! If I win, Bei Bei, you still only have to take out one."

"It's a deal."

Bei Bei didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt about scamming Xu Sanshi.

Just like that, news of the strongest defense in the outer courtyard fighting a first-year freshman spread rapidly. That night, Mu Chen and Xu Sanshi stepped onto the Arena.

"Kid, if you can't win later, hurry up and surrender, so people don't say I, Xu Sanshi, am bullying a freshman!"

Mu Chen didn't have the habit of talking trash before a fight; after all, villains die from talking too much.

He beckoned to Xu Sanshi, "Let's begin."

Xu Sanshi immediately released his martial soul.

A dark green shield appeared in his hands.

Mystic Turtle Shell Shield, a defense-type martial soul containing the bloodline of the Black Tortoise.

Two yellow and one purple soul rings appeared at his feet.

"Xu Sanshi, martial soul Mystic Turtle Shell Shield, level 38 defense-type Soul Elder!"

He looked at Mu Chen with a smug expression. In his view, a first-year student in the outer courtyard was at best a high-level Soul Grand Master. He was certain he would win this fight.

Just then, Mu Chen released his martial soul.

Waves surged, and the aura of the Ocean rushed toward them.

Sea breezes swept across the entire Arena.

A Trident appeared in Mu Chen's left hand, followed by four soul rings.

Yellow, purple, purple, black.

Four soul rings, three colors!

In the stands, Bei Bei looked at Xu Sanshi with a hint of sympathy on his face, "Poor Xu Sanshi, he's about to be crushed by Junior Brother Mu Chen."

"Mu Chen, martial soul Ocean, level 43 assault-type Soul Ancestor!"

First year, level 43, ten-thousand-year soul ring.

Xu Sanshi felt his brain was about to crash.

He looked toward the stands, where Bei Bei was.

"Bei Bei, you bastard, you scammed me!"

Mu Chen didn't care about his mental breakdown; he raised his Trident and charged forward.

Although there was a large gap in strength between the two, Xu Sanshi wouldn't retreat without a fight.

He raised the Mystic Turtle Shell Shield in his hands to meet Mu Chen's Trident.

The Trident struck the shield, emitting a violent crashing sound.

Xu Sanshi was sent flying directly to the edge of the ring, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The defense he was so proud of couldn't even withstand a single move from Mu Chen.

It wasn't that Xu Sanshi's defense was weak, but rather that Mu Chen's attack power was too strong.

How could a shield possessing only the bloodline of the Black Tortoise compare to a divine artifact? Added to the gap in cultivation, he naturally couldn't compete with Mu Chen.