Zhao Wuji's Hard Luck

"Teacher Li!"

After using his Soul Skill to make several recovery Big Sausages, Oscar hurried over and steadied Li Yusong, who was swaying on his feet, then gave him a sausage.

But it was no use. Recovery sausages made by a Soul Grandmaster couldn't heal a Soul Emperor's injuries.

The crowd erupted in an uproar, looking around in terror.

That dreadful aura made everyone shudder.

The person who had so easily grievously wounded Li Yusong, a Soul Emperor—what kind of powerhouse could he be!?

Tang San wondered to himself as he activated his Purple Demon Eye to search the area. But at his current level, finding Dugu Bo was harder than reaching the heavens.

A trace of unease rose in Xiao Wu's heart. She had faced a human Soul Master of Titled Douluo rank in the Star Dou Great Forest, so she knew that sense of oppression all too well.

She instinctively looked at Wang Dong'er, her lips trembling. For a long moment, she couldn't make a sound.

"What's wrong?"

Wang Dong'er reached out and took Xiao Wu's little hand in hers, asking softly.

"Nothing... I was just startled by that sudden surge of Soul Power."

Xiao Wu managed a faint smile. The warmth she felt in Wang Dong'er's hand put her somewhat at ease.

Even though her aura was completely concealed, she still worried that encountering a powerhouse might expose her identity... What she feared most wasn't being captured, but being separated from Wang Dong'er.

"It's all right..."

Wang Dong'er leaned closer and whispered in Xiao Wu's ear.

"When I become strong, I'll find whoever scared you and make them pay."

"You're so sweet... Ah, if only you were like this with me alone."

Wang Dong'er's heartwarming words filled Xiao Wu with sweetness. The only thing she wasn't happy about was that Wang Dong'er wasn't like this with her alone.

"Which esteemed senior has graced us with their presence? We've been terribly remiss in welcoming you. I'm Zhao Wuji, the academy's vice dean. Please, senior, show yourself."

A burly man, about one meter sixty tall, had appeared at some point. He bowed respectfully to the empty air in front of him.

Under the curious and astonished gazes of the crowd, a streak of green light twisted the space. A shadow flashed before everyone's eyes, and Dugu Bo appeared out of thin air in front of Zhao Wuji.

Dugu Bo glanced at him casually and spoke with a rueful air.

"Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji, weren't you a wanted criminal pursued by Spirit Hall? How did you end up working at an academy recommended by Spirit Hall?"

"I've never heard that Spirit Hall called off its hunt for you."

"This... This..."

Zhao Wuji was in a panic and had no idea how to explain himself. He prayed that Flender would hurry back. Otherwise, Shrek Academy's reputation would be completely ruined.

At those words, Zhao Wuji's eyes widened, and his heart sank.

Another burst of discussion broke out among the group.

Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji—his name and title had been among the most notorious in recent years.

Back then, he had gone on a drunken rampage, and when Spirit Hall sent people to arrest him, more than a dozen officials had been seriously injured.

Later, he went into hiding, stirring up turmoil across several cities along the empire's border.

In the surrounding villages, even elderly folk nearing seventy would spring to their feet at the mention of Zhao Wuji's name. Children as young as six or seven would be too frightened to cry aloud when they saw his portrait.

And this ferocious criminal was actually the vice dean of Shrek Academy!?

Shrek Academy claimed that Spirit Hall had approved and recommended it. Could it be that Shrek Academy really was a Swindler Academy?

Everyone turned to look at the father and son who had been turned away.

That was it. It had to be!

If this wasn't a Swindler Academy, why hadn't they clearly explained the enrollment rules beforehand?

"Once registered, no refunds..." Wasn't that just a way to get their hard-earned Gold Soul Coins, saved up by ordinary Soul Masters?

"What a bunch of dogs!"

Someone spat on the ground, stepped out of the line, and respectfully bowed to Dugu Bo in gratitude.

If Dugu Bo hadn't spoken up, they would all have been swindled.

Once one person left, a second was bound to follow. Besides, the atmosphere was tense. What if they got caught up in the fallout by staying?

After the second and third people left, whispers rose from the line again.

"I think Shrek Academy's just here to scam everyone out of their registration fees."

A parent who knew the ropes said, "The most important thing for a Soul Master is their cultivation environment... With facilities like these, Shrek Academy probably doesn't even have a Mimicry Training Ground. I'd suspected something was off for a while. Now it's clear: Shrek Academy's making false claims. Which advanced Soul Master academy doesn't have a Mimicry Training Ground?"

"Let's go, let's go!"

The crowd left. Only Wang Dong'er, Xiao Wu, and Tang San remained in the line.

There were also Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who sat on a boulder by the road, enjoying the show.

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, anger flaring in his heart.

He wasn't made of clay. He was a hot-blooded man who had faced countless brushes with death.

Shrek wasn't just Flender's life's work; he had poured a great deal into it over the years, too. He'd planned to spend his old age at the academy. Now Dugu Bo had ruined everything, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

"I've treated you with respect because you're my senior, but you came all this way just to sabotage us. Today, even if I have to burn through my life, I'll tear off a strip of your hide!"

Titled Douluo were exceedingly rare during the era of Douluo I. The Titled powerhouses known publicly could be counted on one's fingers.

Zhao Wuji didn't believe he could be so lucky as to have a Titled Douluo show up to pick a fight with him. From what Dugu Bo had just said, he was sure Dugu Bo wasn't with Spirit Hall.

"Die!"

With a roar, Zhao Wuji's muscles swelled until his clothes split.

He grew to nearly two meters tall, his arms and legs thick as tree roots.

Coarse brown fur, stiff as steel needles, covered his body. His bear paws were nearly fifty centimeters wide, larger than Wang Dong'er's head.

The full aura of a Soul Saint erupted, sending out a terrifying gust that made Dugu Bo's long robe snap like a battle flag.

Whoosh!

Zhao Wuji leaped high into the air and instantly unleashed his Soul Skill. An invisible force of gravity descended upon Dugu Bo, but his expression didn't change. He didn't feel the slightest pressure.

Facing Zhao Wuji's strongest killing move, the Vajra Bear Claw, Dugu Bo merely cast him a cool glance and gently breathed out a mouthful of cold air. The moment the oppressive might of a ninety-fourth-level Titled Douluo poured out, Zhao Wuji lost the ability to move. It was as if a giant hand had slammed him down from the sky and driven him deep into the ground.

His bones creaked all over, as though they might shatter at any moment.

Zhao Wuji strained with all his might, barely managing to lift his head under the pressure and draw in a thin breath of air.

The blood in his mouth wouldn't come out. His bear eyes were already bloodshot, and he could choke on his own blood at any moment.

"Much better..."

Wang Dong'er discreetly glanced at Xiao Wu beside her.

In the original story, Xiao Wu... Well.

She hadn't been very bright and had used a mental attack on Zhao Wuji, only to suffer a backlash.

It wasn't really Zhao Wuji's fault, and it hadn't happened here, either. But for some reason, Wang Dong'er just felt like doing something for Xiao Wu.