"Good, Dugu Yan's all right. That's all that matters. Then I'll take my leave." Qin Ming was deferential, a clumsy smile on his face.
"Wait."
Han Yu and Chen Xin stepped out from behind the tree.
Qin Ming turned around, his face full of shock. He bent his ramrod-straight back at a ninety-degree angle, his eyes blazing with fervor.
"Lord Sword Douluo, I'm Qin Ming. It's an honor to meet you."
Chen Xin smiled and nodded.
Han Yu glanced discreetly at Chen Xin beside him.
So Qin Ming was a fanboy, too. Han Yu suspected that half of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's prestige came from Chen Xin, that heartthrob.
"Lord Sword Douluo, I'm your idol—no... that's not right... You're my idol." Qin Ming looked flustered, his face red as he bowed again and again in apology. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Dugu Bo, who had felt a little guilty just moments ago, pursed his lips.
The contrast was just too stark, even if the person he was being compared to was the Sword Douluo, whom he also deeply respected.
"It's all right, young man. What's your name?" Amused by Qin Ming's antics, Chen Xin shook his head lightly and asked.
"My lord, my name is Qin Ming. I'm a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Qin Ming answered respectfully.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy? They haven't even equipped you with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring? What a farce," Chen Xin said, indignant.
Qin Ming was moved by his concern. A bitter smile rose to his lips, and he managed to explain with a strained smile, "My lord, I actually came from Shrek Academy. I only went to teach at Heaven Dou Royal Academy after graduating."
"Shrek Academy? What's that?" Chen Xin furrowed his brows, puzzled.
Han Yu barely managed to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
Shrek Academy might not be very famous in this era, but ten thousand years later, it would be a sacred place all Soul Masters on the continent yearned to attend.
But for now, it didn't even have a proper plot of land.
"Qin Ming, Lord Chen Xin only pays attention to the major powers. Don't take it to heart," Dugu Bo said, reading the room.
Chen Xin nodded in agreement.
Qin Ming hurriedly waved his hands and straightened his back. With a hint of pride in his voice, he continued, "Our Shrek Academy is outside Suotuo City. It's not large, but our dean is a Soul Saint, and we have several Soul Emperor teachers."
At those words,
a chill rose around Chen Xin, and his gaze turned sharp.
Chen Xin had agreed to follow Ning Fengzhi's father and join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect because he couldn't stand watching the powers and sects exploit ordinary Soul Masters. He wanted to give talented people who had never found their chance a path forward. He had seen plenty of outrageous things, but this was the first time he had been so shaken.
What did Qin Ming mean, an academy with a Soul Saint and Soul Emperors had given a talented student a thousand-year Soul Ring for his fifth? Were the teachers just eating for free?
"Teacher," Han Yu reminded him softly.
Chen Xin took a deep breath, and his aura settled.
At that, Qin Ming looked toward Han Yu. Envy flashed deep in his eyes, and his fists clenched for a moment before relaxing.
"Alas, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still has a long way to go," Chen Xin said with a sigh, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Young man, you..."
Kreee!
A piercing cry rang down from the sky.
A giant bird burst through the clouds, a huge bump on its head and a Soul Beast clutched in its talons.
Dugu Bo took a closer look. It was the furious little pig he had just thrown. His aim had been pretty good; he had hit a bird-type Soul Beast squarely.
Han Yu's lips twitched as he held back a laugh and steadied himself. Golden light gleamed in his eyes as he made out the giant bird's shape.
It was a roc nearly five meters long, with a wingspan of about fifteen meters.
Its entire body was covered in black, scale-like feathers, each edge glimmering with purple lightning. Two dark-gold talons were sunk deep into the Rock-Armored Pig's hard shell.
"Teacher, it's a Thunder Roc, twenty thousand years old," Han Yu said excitedly. "A lightning-attribute flying Soul Beast. It excels at aerial ambushes and has astonishing mastery over lightning. It can even achieve something like instant teleportation."
This was the Soul Beast he and Gu Rong had considered the best fit among all the Soul Beasts. Who would've thought it would come straight to them today?
Chen Xin smiled and lightly patted Han Yu on the head.
Han Yu's luck was simply too good. Just like that, Chen Xin had lost his chance to show off.
"Dugu Bo, take that young man and leave," Chen Xin said.
Dugu Bo nodded and led the bewildered Qin Ming away from the clearing.
"I'll cover you. You handle it yourself," Chen Xin said softly, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Han Yu stepped forward confidently and smiled. "Yes, teacher."
The Thunder Roc's eyes shifted. It let out a shriek, dropped the Rock-Armored Pig, and hovered in the air without rushing into an attack, staring straight at Han Yu.
Its sharp gaze swept over Chen Xin behind him. Its pupils trembled violently, purple lightning flickering across its wings as it abruptly turned and fled.
Once a Soul Beast reached ten thousand years of age, it developed intelligence like a human's. It had clearly sensed the terrifying pressure coming from Chen Xin and had chosen to flee without a fight.
"Hmph, you cunning beast," Chen Xin snorted.
He pointed his fingers skyward, and a huge net made of razor-sharp sword qi descended from above. It enveloped the entire surrounding forest and sky, completely sealing off the Thunder Roc's escape route.
The Thunder Roc stubbornly slammed into it and let out a miserable shriek. A brand appeared on its forehead, and it obediently flew back to where it had been. Fury blazed in its eyes as it transformed into an arrow and shot toward Han Yu.
Han Yu's third Soul Ring lit up. Gripping the Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords, he met it head-on, turning into an arc of golden lightning as he shot toward the Thunder Roc and thrust his sword.
Bzzzz—
The Thunder Roc vanished, reappearing above and behind Han Yu. It raised its razor-sharp talons and slashed viciously at his head.
Han Yu was dead.
The Thunder Roc landed on the ground, clutching Han Yu's headless corpse as it roared triumphantly at the sky.
"Foolish," Han Yu's voice suddenly rang out.
At the sound, the Thunder Roc looked around. Everything around it broke apart into shards of light and shadow, and a vast shadow spread across the ground beneath its feet.
It cocked its head and pondered, then raised it in confusion.
A huge golden-and-azure sword of light was already right in front of it, its thick, broad hilt shoved against the Thunder Roc's shocked face.
Kreee!
Golden light flashed in the Thunder Roc's eyes. A golden glimmer flickered through the purple lightning covering its body, and its massive head jerked a few inches to the side.
Boom!
Dust billowed everywhere. Han Yu held the Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords upright before him. Two purple Soul Rings alternately flashed beneath his feet. Scales covered his body, and he had activated his Soul Bone Skill, Godspeed, at full power. Golden light blazed in his eyes.
As the dust settled,
the Thunder Roc, so cocky and triumphant moments earlier, was now in a terrible state. Half of its right wing had been sliced away. It swayed in the air, struggling to stay aloft, its eyes full of wariness.
Han Yu stared at the Thunder Roc with surprise and curiosity.
He had intended to play it safe, but he had waited until Killing Sword Intent sent the giant sword right up to the Thunder Roc's face before taunting it. He hadn't expected the Thunder Roc to possess a trace of ancient bloodline, allowing it to briefly burst into several times its usual speed and dodge the vital blow.
He let out a soft sigh. From now on, he'd keep to the shadows. No shooting, no making a scene. Playing it safe was the way to go.