Battle with Xuan Zi

Shen Zhou's tone was as calm as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather. "Enter the tower and kill Soul Beasts. You can increase the age of your Soul Rings.

"A Hundred-Year Soul Ring can become a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and a Thousand-Year Soul Ring can become a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

"Impossible."

Xuan Zi blurted out, "Once a Soul Ring is attached, it can never be changed for the rest of one's life.

"That has been an ironclad rule of the Soul Master world for thousands of years."

Shen Zhou glanced at him. "If Elder Xuan doesn't believe it, you can go in and try it yourself."

Xuan Zi fell silent.

Of course he wanted to try.

He was a Level 98 Super Douluo. His Soul Ring configuration consisted of two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red ring—already an exceptional configuration among Titled Douluo.

But if he could raise those two Hundred-Year Soul Rings to Thousand-Year Soul Rings, or even turn those Thousand-Year Soul Rings into Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings... his strength could rise by at least another level.

Breaking through to Level 99 might truly be within reach.

But he could not try.

He was an elder of Shrek Academy and the backbone of the Inspection Group.

He had come here to investigate, to make a show of force, and perhaps even to fight—not to improve his cultivation.

"Dean Shen is joking."

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Xuan Zi chuckled. "At my age, what would be the point of improving my Soul Rings?"

Shen Zhou did not press him. He merely smiled faintly and continued forward.

Cafeteria.

Shen Zhou pushed open the cafeteria doors and stepped aside to let his guest enter.

"Elder Xuan has come from far away. You must be hungry.

"Just some simple fare. Please don't take offense."

Xuan Zi entered the cafeteria and swept his gaze around, intending to exchange a few polite words.

But when his eyes fell upon the table, every word at the tip of his tongue was swallowed back.

Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Dragon Meat.

Red Blood Shrimp.

Soul-Bewitching Clam.

Golden Thread Bird's Nest.

Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Honey Roast Duck.

Each dish radiated dense Soul Power fluctuations. Their aroma filled the air, making mouths water.

Xuan Zi's throat bobbed.

He had spent decades at Shrek Academy and had seen his share of fine things.

Mu En occasionally brought out precious ingredients to entertain the elders, but things like Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Dragon Meat, Red Blood Shrimp, and Soul-Bewitching Clam... even at a Sea God Pavilion banquet, one might not get to eat them once in an entire year.

Yet here, they were merely "simple fare."

"Elder Xuan, please sit."

Shen Zhou pulled out a chair.

Xuan Zi sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and placed a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Dragon Meat into his mouth.

The meat melted on his tongue. Rich Soul Power flowed down his throat and spread through his limbs and bones, and he could even feel the upper limit of his Soul Power increase by the slightest trace.

The medicinal potency contained in the meat seeped into his depleted meridians, bringing a warm, comfortable numbness.

He closed his eyes and savored it carefully.

Then he opened them, and the way he looked at Shen Zhou had changed.

It was not wariness, nor was it hostility. Rather, it was... a complicated emotion that he could neither describe nor understand.

Just who was this young man?

Where had he obtained so many resources?

Why had he built this academy?

"Elder Xuan, how does it taste?"

Shen Zhou asked.

Xuan Zi set down his chopsticks, took a gulp of wine, and let out a long breath.

"Good."

Just one word, but Shen Zhou heard the weight behind it.

Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng did not sit down to eat.

They stood behind Xuan Zi, their vigilant gazes sweeping over every corner of the cafeteria.

The four Inspection Group members were even more on edge, their hands resting on their Martial Souls as they prepared to strike at any moment.

Shen Zhou glanced at them but said nothing.

He knew these people had not come for dinner.

They had come to investigate.

They had come to make a show of force.

Perhaps... they had even come to fight.

"Elder Xuan."

Shen Zhou spoke, his tone still calm. "Since you're here, why not make things clear?

"You brought the Inspection Group to my Martial Soul Academy in the middle of the night. Surely you didn't come just to freeload a meal?"

Xuan Zi set down his wine cup and looked at Shen Zhou.

"Dean Shen speaks plainly, so I won't beat around the bush either."

He paused, his gaze turning sharp. "Someone reported that your Martial Soul Academy is connected to the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago, that you are plotting something improper and threatening the stability of the continent."

"So the Shrek Inspection Team came to investigate?"

"Correct."

Shen Zhou smiled. "Then what did Elder Xuan find?"

Xuan Zi stared at him for a moment before slowly speaking.

"I found that this place is indeed extraordinary.

"An ancient Spirit Locust Tree, a Spirit Pagoda, Ten-Thousand-Year ingredients... even the two great empires could not produce such things.

"You are only a young man. What gives you the right to possess all this?"

Shen Zhou did not answer.

"And," Xuan Zi continued, "I heard that several Titled Douluo serve under you, and that you yourself possess the strength of a Titled Douluo. Your Soul Ring configuration also includes two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings."

He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"Dean Shen, who exactly are you?"

The atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly grew tense.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul was already stirring restlessly, while Dai Yueheng clenched his right hand into a fist.

The four Inspection Group members released their Martial Souls as well, Soul Rings spinning around them as they prepared to attack at any moment.

Shen Zhou looked at Xuan Zi, the smile on his face unchanged.

"Elder Xuan, if I said I was an ordinary person, would you believe me?"

"No."

"Then what if I said I had nothing to do with Spirit Hall?"

"I wouldn't believe that either."

Shen Zhou smiled. "Then what does Elder Xuan intend to do?"

Xuan Zi rose to his feet, his wine gourd hanging at his waist as his hunched back slowly straightened.

A terrifying aura spread from him. The pressure of a Level 98 Super Douluo descended upon everyone's hearts like a mountain.

Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng's expressions changed, and they instinctively took a step back.

The four Inspection Group members went pale, their legs turning weak.

"I want to—test what you're made of."

The moment the words left his mouth, Xuan Zi waved his right hand, sending a terrifying gust of Soul Power straight at Shen Zhou.

He had not used his full strength, but even a casual strike from a Level 98 Super Douluo was enough to leave an ordinary Titled Douluo in a sorry state.

Shen Zhou did not move.

He did not even blink.

The gust suddenly dispersed when it was a foot away from him, as though it had struck an invisible wall.

Xuan Zi's pupils contracted slightly.

"Trivial tricks."

Shen Zhou said calmly, "Elder Xuan, this is my Martial Soul Academy. Before making a move, you'd best think carefully."

He raised his right hand, and a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear appeared in his palm out of thin air. Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—one yellow, two purple, four black, and two red.

The light of the two red Soul Rings dyed the entire cafeteria blood-red.

Xuan Zi stared fixedly at those two red Soul Rings, his throat tightening.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

They truly were Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

And there were two of them.

His right hand slowly lowered, and the pressure radiating from him subsided somewhat.

"Good lad."

Xuan Zi chuckled, returning to his slovenly appearance. "You've got some skill."

Shen Zhou put away his Martial Soul, and his Soul Rings faded. The pressure in the cafeteria dropped sharply.

"You flatter me, Elder Xuan."

At that moment, the cafeteria doors were pushed open.

Qian Daoliu walked in. His golden hair gleamed beneath the lights, and his brilliant golden eyes swept across the room before finally settling on Xuan Zi.

"Xuan Zi."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an irresistible authority.

Xuan Zi turned around and looked at the golden-haired middle-aged man, his pupils contracting once more.

A Limit Douluo.

A genuine Limit Douluo.