By the time Zhu Shen returned to the dormitory, it was already broad daylight. Tang San was packing his things. The moment he saw Zhu Shen come in, he hurried over.
"Teacher, you're back." Tang San's face was full of worry. "You weren't hurt, were you?"
"I'm fine." Zhu Shen waved a hand and sat down on the bed. "The people from the Evil God Temple have been dealt with, and Tang Hao took Su Nuo away."
Tang San let out a sigh of relief. "That's great."
"But we can't let our guard down," Zhu Shen said. "The Evil God Temple won't just give up. They must have other strongholds. And there may be trouble from the Spirit Hall Branch, too."
Just then, a commotion came from outside. Zhu Shen frowned and went to the window to look down. The fat old branch hall master from the Spirit Hall Branch was heading toward the dormitory with several Soul Masters.
"Looks like trouble's here." Zhu Shen smiled. "Come on, let's go see."
The two went downstairs. The fat old man was already waiting there with his people. When he saw Zhu Shen, he hurried over, a fawning smile on his face.
"Grandmaster, you're finally back." The fat old man rubbed his hands together. "We've already heard about what happened last night. You're truly amazing—you managed to rescue so many children from the Evil Soul Masters."
"It was nothing." Zhu Shen's reply was cool. "What brings you here?"
The smile on the fat old man's face stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal. "Well, Grandmaster, we received a report that you and Tang Hao colluded to hide an Evil Soul Master."
Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who reported me?"
"Well..." The fat old man stammered. "It was an anonymous report. But we're just following procedure. We ask that you cooperate, Grandmaster."
"Cooperate?" Zhu Shen laughed. "How? By letting you arrest me?"
"Of course not!" The fat old man quickly waved his hands. "We'd just like you to come back to the branch hall with us and make a statement."
Zhu Shen glanced at the Soul Masters behind him. They were all Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters. He scoffed. "And you think the few of you can take me away?"
The fat old man's expression changed. "Grandmaster, what do you mean by that? Are you planning to defy the law?"
"Defy the law?" Zhu Shen took a step forward and released his Dragon's might. "What law do you represent? Are the rules of the Spirit Hall Branch there to let you frame innocent people?"
His Dragon's might spread. The fat old man and the Soul Masters behind him could barely breathe under its pressure. The old man's face turned deathly pale, and his legs gave way. He nearly fell to his knees.
"Grandmaster... It's a misunderstanding... It's all a misunderstanding..." the fat old man managed to say.
"A misunderstanding?" Zhu Shen snorted. "Looks to me like you came here looking for trouble on purpose."
Just then, Tang San spoke up. "Teacher, it seems they're after me."
Zhu Shen looked at Tang San, then at the fat old man. He understood: these people had come for Tang San's Twin Martial Souls.
"What do you want with my disciple?" Zhu Shen's voice was ice-cold.
The fat old man didn't dare hide the truth. "It... It was an order from Spirit Hall Headquarters. They told us to take Tang San back there."
"Spirit Hall Headquarters?" Zhu Shen frowned. "What gives them the right to take my disciple?"
The fat old man had no answer.
Zhu Shen stepped forward, his Dragon's might growing stronger. "Tell your people at headquarters that Tang San is my disciple. No one is taking him away."
The fat old man and the Soul Masters behind him were terrified. They scrambled away, stumbling over themselves.
Zhu Shen watched them leave, his expression grave. Now that people from Spirit Hall Headquarters had arrived, things had become complicated.
"Teacher, what should we do?" Tang San asked.
"Don't worry." Zhu Shen patted him on the shoulder. "As long as I'm here, no one can take you away."
Just then, the system notification rang out.
[Opportunity Quest triggered: Protect Tang San and drive off the people from Spirit Hall. Reward: Evolution Points +100, one Divine-Gifted Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.]
Zhu Shen's eyes lit up. Not bad rewards. He looked at Tang San and smiled. "Xiao San, looks like we're in trouble again. But it's fine—we can use this chance to get stronger."
Tang San nodded, determination flashing in his eyes.
The next day, people from Spirit Hall Headquarters arrived. At their head was a man in a black robe, his face hidden by a mask. Several Soul Masters followed behind him, all with the strength of Soul Kings.
"Yu Xiaogang, hand over Tang San." The man's voice was cold.
Zhu Shen stood in front of Tang San and released his Dragon God Martial Soul. "If you want to take my disciple, you'll have to get past me first."
The man sneered. "A Four-Ring Soul Ancestor like you thinks you can stop me?"
The Soul Masters behind him released their Martial Souls at the same time, their Soul Rings lighting up. Zhu Shen didn't flinch. He swept out a dragon claw, sending golden light surging toward them.
The two sides launched into a fierce battle. Zhu Shen's Dragon God Martial Soul was powerful, and he soon had the enemy on the back foot. Seeing this, the man stepped in himself and released his Martial Soul.
It was a gigantic bat, radiating an evil aura. The man's Soul Ring Configuration was two yellow, two purple, and three black. He had the strength of a Soul Saint.
"Blood Bat Martial Soul?" Zhu Shen frowned. "Are you from the Evil God Temple?"
The man sneered. "What do you think?"
He pounced at Zhu Shen, his bat wings beating as they sent out a piercing sonic attack. Zhu Shen released his Dragon's might, neutralizing the sound waves.
The two traded blows, locked in a fierce stalemate. Zhu Shen's Dragon Breath skill countered the Blood Bat, and he soon gained the upper hand.
Seeing this, the man took out a black box. When he opened it, a wave of evil energy poured out. Zhu Shen's expression changed. It was the evil aura of the Evil God Temple.
"So you really are from the Evil God Temple!" Zhu Shen roared and swiped at the man with his dragon claw.
The man couldn't dodge in time. The dragon claw tore into him, and blood streamed from his wound. He didn't dare keep fighting and turned to flee.
Zhu Shen didn't chase after him. Instead, he looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, are you all right?"
Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine, Teacher."
Zhu Shen let out a sigh of relief. The system notification rang out.
[Congratulations, Host. Quest complete: Protect Tang San and drive off the people from Spirit Hall. Rewards obtained: Evolution Points +100, one Divine-Gifted Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.]
Zhu Shen opened the System Panel and discovered that he had enough Evolution Points to raise the purity of his Dragon God Bloodline. He chose to upgrade it. A warm current surged through him, and the purity of his bloodline rose to 50%.
[Bloodline purity increased to 50%. Dragon God Set effects enhanced. New Soul Skill: Dragon Scale Guard.]
Zhu Shen felt the changes within him and nodded with satisfaction. He looked at Tang San and smiled. "Xiao San, we've gotten stronger again. Next, we should go deal with the Evil God Temple."
A spark of excitement flashed in Tang San's eyes. "Teacher, when do we leave?"
"Right now," Zhu Shen said. "The people from the Evil God Temple won't give us much time."
The two packed their things and headed toward the Soul Hunting Forest. They knew an even greater battle was waiting for them.