Challenging Xu Sanshi

The icy mist slowly cleared, and two figures, a man and a woman, emerged and walked toward Cao Longyan and the others.

The boy wore a fifth-year uniform. He was handsome, but his face was full of arrogance. The girl, in a fourth-year uniform, nestled in his arms, her eyes carrying a hint of timid apology.

"Xu Sanshi!"

Tang Ya frowned deeply and stepped forward, shouting angrily.

"What are you trying to do? You dare ambush and hurt someone in broad daylight?"

Xu Sanshi gave a scornful laugh. His gaze swept arrogantly over the grilled-fish stall before settling on the grilled fish in Huo Yuhao's hand, his possessiveness plain to see.

"My Meier just wanted this grilled fish. Tang Ya, why are you getting so worked up?"

Bei Bei stepped forward, putting himself between Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao. His gaze was icy.

"Xu Sanshi, are you trying to forcefully take my junior brother's things?"

"Your junior brother? Me, take it?"

Xu Sanshi gave another scornful laugh.

"Bei Bei, you've misunderstood me. I was just afraid the grilled fish would be gone, so I had no choice but to resort to that. I'm willing to pay ten times the price for this one. How about it?"

Tang Ya pointed at Xu Sanshi and said furiously,

"Xu Sanshi, so what if you have a little money? Who cares? This grilled fish is Nannan's. You can't take it!"

Xu Sanshi glared at Tang Ya, displeased. He was just about to speak when Hu Meier hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and whispered in his ear,

"Sanshi, forget it."

She hurriedly turned to the others and apologized repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. We acted impulsively... Sister Nannan, I'm sorry about that. I hope we didn't scare you."

Bei Bei and Tang Ya's expressions softened at this.

Jiang Nannan gave her a slight nod, but her gaze toward Xu Sanshi remained cool. She showed him no warmth.

Hu Meier breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Huo Yuhao, her tone gentle.

"Junior, I'm sorry for disrupting your business... Will you be back tomorrow? What time? We'll come earlier and buy a few more."

Huo Yuhao was still dazed from what had just happened. Hu Meier's question finally brought him back to his senses.

"Senior, I'll be back tomorrow, and I should have more fish, too... As for the time, probably about an hour after our first-year classes end in the afternoon."

"Thank you, junior. We'll definitely come tomorrow."

Xu Sanshi pursed his lips. Seeing that even Hu Meier had said this, he couldn't make a fuss anymore. He spoke to her softly,

"Then, Meier, let's go. I'll come early tomorrow. You can rest in the dorm."

Xu Sanshi's attitude toward Hu Meier was like night and day compared to before, making the others feel strangely uncomfortable.

But just as they turned to leave, a voice, cold enough to pierce the bone, suddenly rang out, striking the soul of everyone present.

"Stop."

Cao Longyan walked forward, his blue hair stirring lightly. His blue eyes held not a trace of warmth as he fixed his gaze on Xu Sanshi's back and spoke, each word distinct.

"Apologize! To Yuhao and Sister Nannan!"

The entire area fell silent.

Xu Sanshi whipped around. Only then did he notice the boy who had just knocked the folding fan from his hand with a single blow.

A first-year student?

He was startled at first, but Cao Longyan's icy, condescending gaze soon enraged him completely.

"What are you supposed to be? A first-year brat, ordering me around?"

Xu Sanshi laughed in his fury. Soul Power stirred faintly around him, giving off the aura of a Soul Ancestor and the divine beast, the Black Tortoise.

Cao Longyan felt it too, and couldn't help feeling surprised.

That ritual... It seemed Xu Sanshi had completed it... and perfectly, at that.

"What if I don't apologize? What can you do to me?"

But Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong were all frozen in place.

They were completely stunned by Cao Longyan's spontaneous "Sister Nannan."

Since when had Longyan and Jiang Nannan gotten so close?

As for Jiang Nannan, her delicate body trembled violently.

She stared fixedly at Cao Longyan's back, so familiar it was carved into her bones.

He really is little brother Longyan...

Six years... I finally get to see him again...

Six years apart. Back then, he hadn't even been as tall as me, yet he stood in front of me. Now he's taller than I am. He's shed his childishness and grown more aloof and handsome. But what hasn't changed is that he's still standing in front of me...

Jiang Nannan's eyes reddened slightly, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.

Cao Longyan paid no heed to everyone's shock. He kept his cold gaze on Xu Sanshi, his voice calm but domineering, leaving no room for argument.

"Do you dare fight me in the Soul Fighting Zone? If you lose, you apologize."

Xu Sanshi froze for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed as if he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Hahaha! A first-year brat wants to challenge me, a fifth-year? I'm known as the strongest defender in the outer court. Can you even break through my defenses? And if you get beaten, don't go crying to your mommy!"

Suddenly, his eyes turned sinister. He changed his tune and sneered,

"Fine! I accept! But if you lose... you'll kneel and apologize to me in front of everyone, slap yourself ten times, and get the hell out of Shrek!"

"Xu Sanshi, you've gone too far!"

"Don't you dare bully people like this!"

"I'll fight you!"

Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan spoke up almost simultaneously, denouncing him angrily.

Cao Longyan simply gave them a faint smile, politely declining their offers. He raised a hand to show them they didn't need to worry.

He looked at Xu Sanshi, his eyes full of contempt. His voice remained cold, utterly devoid of feeling.

"Fine. The Soul Fighting Zone. Now."

Half an hour later.

Shrek's Soul Fighting Zone was packed to capacity.

"Did I hear that right? A first-year student wants to challenge Xu Sanshi? Xu Sanshi, the strongest defender in the outer court?"

"Has he gone crazy? Xu Sanshi's a fifth-year Soul Ancestor!"

"He's dead for sure. He'll be crushed to bits!"

"But... that blue-haired kid is way too handsome! That face ought to be against the rules!"

In the stands, Hu Meier kept apologizing to Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan.

They both shook their heads. It wasn't her fault.

Waiting Area

Xu Sanshi folded his arms and looked at Cao Longyan with a mocking grin.

"First-year brat, admit defeat now and kneel to me. I'll go easy on you. Otherwise... when you get up there and start bawling for your mommy and daddy, it won't be a pretty sight... Hahaha!"

Cao Longyan stood with his eyes closed, icy mist swirling around him. He didn't even glance Xu Sanshi's way.

He ignored him completely... utterly and shamelessly.

Xu Sanshi's face turned livid. He ground his teeth, but said no more.

He wanted to see how this ignorant brat, who didn't know the height of heaven or the depth of the earth, would get ground into the dirt in front of all of Shrek.

"Both contestants, enter!"

The referee's shout rang out.

Cao Longyan and Xu Sanshi stepped forward at the same time, entering the Soul Fighting Platform.

In an instant, the Soul Fighting Zone erupted in a deafening uproar!

"Xu Sanshi! Xu Sanshi!"

"Crush him! Show him how powerful our upper-year seniors are!"

"A first-year student dares to act so arrogantly? He really doesn't know when to quit!"

The crowd was almost entirely against Cao Longyan. Nobody believed in him.

Except for the five seated in a corner of the stands: Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Jiang Nannan.

Their eyes were fixed on the blue-haired figure in the arena, filled with trust and anticipation.

Jiang Nannan most of all...

She clasped her hands tightly and gazed at Cao Longyan without blinking.

Little brother Longyan... You definitely won't lose.

Cao Longyan stood at the center of the Soul Fighting Platform, looking coolly up at Xu Sanshi before him. His presence was chilling.

Xu Sanshi could now feel his Martial Soul trembling because of that aura.

What's going on? What is his Martial Soul, and what is this aura? How could it make my Black Tortoise of Mystery Martial Soul, with its fully awakened divine beast Black Tortoise Bloodline, feel fear? Th-this is impossible!

Right, it's an illusion... It has to be...

Xu Sanshi forced down his shock, keeping his expression under control. The mocking grin never left his face as he looked down at Cao Longyan, though when he met his eyes, he felt as if he were the one being looked down on.

Before he could think any further, the referee came over to them.

"Are you ready?"

They both nodded almost at the same time.

"Then let the Soul Fighting begin!"