Trouble at the Spirit Hall Branch

When Zhu Shen returned to the dormitory, the sky was already bright. Tang San was packing his things, and seeing Zhu Shen enter, he immediately hurried over.

"Teacher, you've returned." Tang San's face was filled with worry. "Were you injured?"

"I'm fine." Zhu Shen waved his hand and sat down on the edge of the bed. "The people from the Evil God Temple have been dealt with, and Su Nuo has been taken away by Tang Hao."

Tang San breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great."

"However, we cannot let our guard down." Zhu Shen said, "The Evil God Temple will not let this go; there are surely other strongholds. Furthermore, there might be trouble from the Spirit Hall Branch."

As he spoke, a commotion erupted outside. Zhu Shen frowned and walked to the window to look down. He saw the fat, elderly branch master of the Spirit Hall leading several Spirit Masters toward the dormitory building.

"It seems trouble has arrived." Zhu Shen smiled. "Come, let's go down and see."

The two arrived downstairs to find the fat old man already waiting there with his men. Seeing Zhu Shen, he immediately hurried over with a fawning smile on his face.

"Grandmaster, you've finally returned." The fat old man rubbed his hands together. "We've already heard about what happened last night. You are truly incredible to have saved so many children from the Evil Soul Masters."

"A trivial matter." Zhu Shen said indifferently. "Is there something you need by coming here?"

The smile on the fat old man's face stiffened before returning to normal. "It's like this, Grandmaster. We received a report claiming that you are colluding with Tang Hao to harbor Evil Soul Masters."

Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who reported it?"

"This..." The fat old man stammered. "It was an anonymous report. However, we are just following procedure, so we ask for your cooperation, Grandmaster."

"Cooperation?" Zhu Shen laughed. "How should I cooperate? By letting you arrest me?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." The fat old man waved his hands frantically. "We just want to invite you back to the branch to make a statement."

Zhu Shen looked at the few Spirit Masters behind him; they were all two-ring Great Spirit Masters. He smiled disdainfully. "Do you really think you can take me away with just the likes of you?"

The fat old man's expression changed. "Grandmaster, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to resist the law?"

"Resist the law?" Zhu Shen stepped forward and released his Dragon Might. "What kind of law do you represent? Does the code of the Spirit Hall allow you to frame innocent people at will?"

The Dragon Might spread out, leaving the fat old man and the Spirit Masters behind him gasping for air. The fat old man turned pale, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

"Grandmaster... it's a misunderstanding... all a misunderstanding..." the fat old man said with great difficulty.

"A misunderstanding?" Zhu Shen snorted coldly. "I think you came here looking for trouble on purpose."

Just then, Tang San suddenly spoke up. "Teacher, it seems they are here for me."

Zhu Shen looked at Tang San, then back at the fat old man. He understood; these people were after Tang San's twin Martial Souls.

"What do you intend to do to my disciple?" Zhu Shen's voice was icy.

The fat old man dared not hide the truth. "It... it is an order from the Spirit Hall headquarters to bring Tang San back to the main branch."

"Spirit Hall headquarters?" Zhu Shen frowned. "On what grounds do they have to take my disciple?"

"This..." The fat old man was speechless.

Zhu Shen stepped forward, his Dragon Might intensifying. "Tell the people at your headquarters that Tang San is my disciple, and no one is taking him away."

The fat old man and his subordinates were terrified, scrambling away in a panic.

Zhu Shen watched their retreating figures with a grave expression. With the people from the Spirit Hall headquarters involved, things had become complicated.

"Teacher, what should we do?" Tang San asked.

"Don't worry." Zhu Shen patted his shoulder. "With me here, no one can take you."

Just then, a system notification sounded.

[Triggered Opportunity Quest: Protect Tang San and repel the people from Spirit Hall. Reward: Evolution Points +100, one ten-thousand-year God-Bestowed Spirit Ring.]

Zhu Shen's eyes lit up; this was a good reward. He looked at Tang San and smiled. "Little San, it seems we have more trouble coming. But it doesn't matter; it's a perfect chance to improve our strength."

Tang San nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes.

The next day, the people from the Spirit Hall headquarters arrived. Leading them was a man in a black robe, his face obscured by a mask. Behind him followed several Spirit Masters, all at the Spirit King level.

"Yu Xiaogang, hand over Tang San." The man's voice was cold.

Zhu Shen stood in front of Tang San, released his Dragon God Martial Soul, and said, "If you want to take my disciple, you'll have to get through me first."

The man sneered. "Just you, a four-ring Spirit Ancestor?"

The Spirit Masters behind him released their Martial Souls simultaneously, their spirit rings lighting up. Zhu Shen was undeterred; he swung his dragon claw, sending golden light surging toward them.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle. The power of Zhu Shen's Dragon God Martial Soul was immense, quickly suppressing the opposition. Seeing this, the man took action himself, releasing his own Martial Soul.

It was a giant bat, radiating an evil aura. The man's spirit ring configuration was two yellow, two purple, and three black—the strength of a Spirit Saint.

"Blood Bat Martial Soul?" Zhu Shen frowned. "Are you from the Evil God Temple?"

The man sneered. "What do you think?"

He lunged at Zhu Shen, his bat wings flapping and emitting a piercing sonic wave. Zhu Shen released his Dragon Might, neutralizing the sonic attack.

The two traded blows, locked in an intense struggle. Zhu Shen's Dragon Breath skill had a restraining effect on the Blood Bat, and he soon gained the upper hand.

Seeing this, the man pulled out a black box, opening it to release a wave of evil energy. Zhu Shen's expression shifted; this was the malevolent aura of the Evil God Temple.

"You really are from the Evil God Temple!" Zhu Shen roared, his dragon claw swiping at the man.

The man failed to dodge in time and was slashed by the dragon claw, blood streaming from the wound. Daring not to continue the fight, he turned and fled.

Zhu Shen did not give chase, instead looking toward Tang San. "Little San, are you alright?"

Tang San shook his head. "Teacher, I am fine."

Zhu Shen breathed a sigh of relief as the system notification chimed.

[Congratulations to the host for completing the mission: Protect Tang San and repel the people from Spirit Hall. Rewards obtained: Evolution Points +100, one ten-thousand-year God-Bestowed Soul Ring.]

Zhu Shen opened the system panel and discovered that his Evolution Points were now sufficient to increase the purity of his Dragon God Bloodline. He chose to upgrade, and a surge of heat welled up from within his body as his bloodline purity rose to 50%.

[Bloodline purity increased to 50%. Dragon God Set effects enhanced. New soul skill added: Dragon Scale Guard.]

Zhu Shen felt the changes within his body and nodded in satisfaction. He looked at Tang San and said with a smile, "Little San, our strength has improved once again. Next, it is time to go and cause trouble for the Evil God Temple."

A flash of excitement crossed Tang San's eyes. "Teacher, when do we set off?"

"We leave now," Zhu Shen said. "The people from the Evil God Temple will not give us much time."

The two packed their belongings and headed in the direction of the Soul Hunting Forest. They knew that a much greater battle awaited them.