Xie Xie's Twin Light and Shadow—Do You Even Understand Dimensional Suppression?

"I'm not free at noon. If you've got something to say, just say it. It's not like it can't be said in front of others."

Jiang Yan frowned slightly and spoke calmly.

Even if Xie Xie and Wang Dong were somewhat alike in certain ways, this bizarre turn of events was still completely unnecessary!

"That's right!"

"You there, whatever your name was—Xie something."

"What do you want with our boss?"

"If you've got something to say, say it. If you need to fart, let it out. Why are you beating around the bush?"

Wei Xiaofeng couldn't stand it anymore. He slapped the table. Even if your name was Xie No-Meat, you couldn't act wild in front of the boss!

"No, I'm not trying to do anything. I just heard you were strong, so I got interested."

Xie Xie seemed to realize that his words had been inappropriate. He quickly waved his hands and spoke in a fluster.

"Jiang Yan, I'll be direct."

"My father said you're a top genius with a dragon-type Martial Soul. Let me introduce myself. My Martial Soul isn't just an ordinary dagger—it's a pair of daggers born from the Light Dragon and Shadow Dragon."

"I have Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. I'm also a genius Eastsea City hasn't seen in a century. I want to—"

"Challenge you!"

Because of the pressure Jiang Yan constantly exuded, Xie Xie felt the pressure multiply with every word he said. Hesitation flashed through his emerald eyes, but he still blurted it all out in one breath.

He had come specifically to challenge this powerful dragon soul master.

So what if Jiang Yan was the Holy Dragon King?

Jiang Yan would definitely become Xie Xie's defeated opponent!

"What? Challenge the boss?"

Hearing that, Wei Xiaofeng and the other two widened their eyes. They didn't even have time to notice that the other party's two daggers were Twin Martial Souls.

Because the scene of Jiang Yan releasing his Martial Soul still seemed vivid in their minds.

That Martial Soul, that presence... just one glance had been enough to make them tremble.

Could it really...

be defeated?

For a moment, the three of them stared blankly in Xie Xie's direction. They didn't know whether to admire his courage or despise his stupidity. In the end, all their thoughts turned into anticipation.

At least they knew that if Jiang Yan accepted... wouldn't they get to see the boss fight today?

"Challenge me...?"

"Is that what you want?"

Jiang Yan froze for a moment, then smiled. He hadn't expected the person before him to make such a request. Xie Xie, Xie Xie...

Have you always been this brave?

In the original story, it was one thing for him to use two little daggers against the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King bloodline holders. But now he wanted to fight Jiang Yan too?

Just because he had two daggers, he thought he could go head-to-head with the Dragon God?

Interesting.

As he pondered, the sound of a system mission thundered through his mind once more:

[Growth Mission: First in the Grade]

[In your daily academy life, you face a challenge from Xie Xie, the two-dagger youth—an unprecedented genius in Eastsea City for a century, possessor of Twin Martial Souls, one of the academy's top geniuses, and one of the future Shrek Seven Monsters.]

[Defeat him and tell him who the true number-one genius is!]

[Mission Reward: During your time studying at the academy, the growth rate of abilities besides Soul Power Level will increase, such as spiritual power; one million Federation Coins.]

"Looks like I have no choice but to beat him up."

Since the system had issued a mission, Jiang Yan, who had never planned to refuse in the first place, had even less reason to decline. After all, who wouldn't want a free enhancement effect?

He came back to his senses and gave Xie Xie a friendly smile, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.

In that case... thanks for coming to hand me some achievements.

"I accept your challenge."

Jiang Yan spoke.

"Good! Then after school today, we'll meet at East Sea Park. If you agree—"

Xie Xie's eyes lit up. Smiling, he was about to settle on a time, but before he could finish, Jiang Yan had already silently shaken his head.

"No need. Let's do it now."

"R-right now?"

Xie Xie was confused. At first, he thought Jiang Yan meant in the classroom. Looking at all the students around them, he hesitated. Fighting in this kind of setting didn't seem ideal, did it?

"Not here. On the training ground. If it's just a spar between us, one break is more than enough."

Jiang Yan shook his head and pointed outside the window. A fighting platform on the training ground was clearly visible.

For the two of them to spar, even one minute would be too much.

Since Xie Xie dared challenge him, then Jiang Yan would let this so-called Eastsea's number-one genius see what a real genius looked like.

"..."

Eastsea Academy encouraged its students to spar. The training ground had dedicated platforms for students and teachers to fight and practice on.

After all, combat reigned supreme on the path of a soul master's cultivation. Sparring with one another was naturally one of its most important aspects.

On the training ground, Jiang Yan and Xie Xie quickly arrived at a fighting platform and faced each other. Beneath the platform, however, a crowd gradually began to gather.

Thanks to the Eastsea teachers' spontaneous promotion, Jiang Yan's name had already become known among the students yesterday. So even though this was only a short break, many people came.

Who knew how many people gave up their nap time to come to the training ground, all to watch the battle for Eastsea's number-one genius.

"So that's Jiang Yan? That absolute monster who became a soul master in his first year of the junior division? Damn, he's pretty handsome too!"

"Forget that he's only a soul master. With that Martial Soul, I'd believe you if you told me he was a Soul Emperor!"

"But what's with the guy across from him? Holding two little knives and cosplaying some wind swordsman?"

A crowd of curious spectators gathered there, including quite a few upper-year students. Mu Xi from the intermediate division had come as well.

"Go, Jiang Yan!"

She quietly squeezed to the front. Looking at the calm boy, anticipation filled her face. She definitely wouldn't have cared if it were someone else, but since it was Jiang Yan, she had to watch closely.

"..."

"I don't understand."

"How did he even dare?"

Beneath the challenge platform, Wang Jinxi, who was usually quiet, couldn't help speaking among the earliest arrivals. His tone was full of shock.

Even if they only compared their Martial Souls, the outcome between the boss and Xie Xie was already obvious.

Both were soul masters and both possessed a century-old Soul Ring, but the presence they displayed was completely different—

The instant Jiang Yan released his Dragon God Martial Soul, the massive dragon wrapped in nine-colored energy filled the entire space with pressure, destruction, and elemental power.

The Dragon God's power swept across the field with divine might. The powers of different elements flickered and intertwined through the air, as though the entire world's center had been drawn to Jiang Yan.

Was this really power a soul master should possess? Every teacher and student who had ever seen it was involuntarily captivated by the sight.

With this kind of display, those who knew understood it was a spar. Those who didn't might think it was a small-scale world-destroying disaster.

This was the power Jiang Yan displayed, vividly revealing the brilliance of a young genius soul master. And then there was Xie Xie.

A golden Soul Ring gleamed beneath his feet. It was a century-old Soul Ring, and beyond that...

there was nothing remarkable.

He tightly gripped two golden daggers. They looked short and weak—and in truth, they really weren't all that impressive.

He was a weapon Martial Soul soul master. Releasing his Martial Soul merely summoned daggers. At that moment, he held the two golden daggers tightly in both hands. They looked short and weak—and in truth, they really weren't all that impressive.

A dagger was ultimately just a dagger. Even if it possessed dragon bloodline, how much could it possibly amplify? Especially now...

Compared with Jiang Yan's overwhelming presence, his overly "holy" Martial Soul looked even more like a joke.

"This Xie Xie... does he have a death wish?"

Wang Jinxi took a deep breath. He himself possessed a dragon-type Martial Soul, so he knew all too well what it felt like to be suppressed by the boss.

Even he was like this, while Xie Xie's Martial Soul was only a weapon with dragon attributes. Wouldn't he get minced into meat paste?

As one of the people involved, Xie Xie was just as far from calm.

"No one told me..."

"...that there was such a huge difference between a dragon and dragon daggers?"

Xie Xie's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but his legs were already trembling beneath him. He couldn't help gritting his teeth.

Looking at Jiang Yan, who combined handsomeness, strength, ruthlessness, and coolness in one person, a thought silently surfaced in his heart: perhaps he didn't need to be this so-called genius anymore.

Could Jiang Yan really be defeated?

"Xie Xie."

"You attack first."

Jiang Yan saw Xie Xie's unease. With a smile, he calmly spoke.

"Alright—"

Xie Xie nodded. The arrow was already on the string; he had no choice but to fire it. No matter how afraid he was, it was time to fight.

He wasn't a coward!

In an instant, the first Soul Ring beneath Xie Xie shone brightly. The two daggers in his hands erupted with even fiercer light as he charged directly at Jiang Yan.

This was his first Soul Skill, Light Dragon Blade. It enhanced the power of his Martial Soul and briefly boosted his movement speed, allowing him to launch a surprise attack.

It was also his strongest Soul Skill, as well as the primary offensive method of a speed-attack soul master like him.

"..."

Jiang Yan did nothing. The moment the Dragon God's power spread out, Xie Xie's confident first Soul Skill lost over half its strength. Its energy effect melted away like cream.

The Dragon God Martial Soul stood at such a high level that it could easily suppress even true dragon Martial Souls, much less...

a tiny Light Dragon Dagger?

"My Soul Skill...?"

Xie Xie froze. Seeing his Soul Skill vanish just like that, his expression changed instantly. He hadn't even seen Jiang Yan make a move, yet his Soul Skill had disappeared in such a manner.

How the hell was he supposed to fight this?

"First Soul Skill, Shadow Dragon Blade!"

Xie Xie snorted. An invisible flash of light seemed to pass over the dagger in his hand as his Martial Soul silently switched—the Shadow Dragon Dagger!

The first Soul Skill of his second Martial Soul, Shadow Dragon Blade! It greatly increased both speed and attack speed, making it the best method for closing in while continuously breaking through defenses.

"Flexible as the Wind."

Jiang Yan caught his little move.

Before Xie Xie could rush before him, Jiang Yan merely raised a hand. A thin gust of wind suddenly surged forth, gentle yet resilient. In just half a second, it completely devoured the power of Xie Xie's Shadow Dragon Blade.

Xie Xie himself was swept down by the wind in the same instant, landing on the ground in a pitiful heap.

"The power of wind?"

Xie Xie's expression stiffened. No matter how he looked at it, this Martial Soul clearly had nothing to do with wind!

"You've already used both of your Martial Souls and Soul Skills."

"In that case, next..."

"...it's my turn."

Jiang Yan said with a smile. Since he was going to suppress him, he might as well do it thoroughly. He gave this second male lead the respect he deserved.

A faintly visible Soul Ring of colorful light shone brilliantly beneath his feet. The Dragon God's aura abruptly condensed at that moment.

"First Soul Skill, Dominating the World!"

Golden light suddenly appeared in Jiang Yan's eyes.

The power of the Dragon God exploded behind him. That terrifying aura belonging to the creator of all beasts blanketed the entire academy.

Martial Souls originated from soul beasts, and the ancestor of soul beasts was the Dragon God. The Dragon God's suppression naturally stood above all else.

At that moment, everyone in the academy shuddered beneath Jiang Yan's immense presence. As for Xie Xie, who was the closest...

he was already trembling as he collapsed onto the ground.

The two daggers in his hands had long since vanished. Due to the overwhelming Martial Soul suppression, they had already been forcibly recalled.

At that moment, Xie Xie looked up at Jiang Yan standing high above him. Fear filled his eyes, and regret flooded his heart.

Challenging Jiang Yan...

He didn't want to anymore. He really didn't!

[Congratulations, host, for obtaining the achievement: First in the Grade.]

[Reward issued: During your time studying at the academy, the growth rate of all cultivation besides Soul Power will increase; one million Federation Coins.]

The system's voice quietly appeared. Jiang Yan didn't pay it much attention. He merely looked at Xie Xie before him and spoke faintly.

"The outcome has been decided."

"You won't be my opponent."

His tone was calm.

"I..."

"I know."

Xie Xie shakily climbed to his feet and nodded repeatedly. Looking at the boy who was about the same age as him, the thought that their strengths could be comparable completely vanished from his heart.

All that remained was endless fear and reverence.

A Martial Soul like that could probably be called the strongest in the world!

As for his own "strongest Martial Soul," those two daggers were nothing more than the final fantasy of a frog at the bottom of a well.

"Go back."

"There are still classes."

Jiang Yan glanced at him. Only after seeing that Xie Xie hadn't suffered any problems from the suppression did he turn around.

He hadn't even moved. If mere basic pressure was enough to frighten Xie Xie speechless, then he would have been far too weak.

Fortunately, Xie Xie was still Xie Xie.

"You three, stop standing around too."

"It's time to go back to class."

Jiang Yan's gaze swept over Wei Xiaofeng and the other two as he spoke.

"Sure thing, Boss!"

The three of them looked like devoted little fans now. They answered respectfully and hurried after him.

"Um, please wait!"

Xie Xie's cold voice came from behind them.

"What, you're not letting our boss leave?"

Zhang Yangzi turned around, his expression chilly.

"Yangzi, hear him out."

Jiang Yan shook his head and looked at Xie Xie.

"No, it's not that I don't want you to go back."

"I mean..."

"Can I call you Boss too?"

With a hint of embarrassment on his face, Xie Xie looked at Jiang Yan expectantly and nervously as he asked softly.

Such a powerful boss.

Could he call him that too?

"Oh?"

"You want to join us too, huh?"

Before Jiang Yan could respond, Wei Xiaofeng, the liveliest one in the group, brightened at once.

"Boss, Boss, this kid's talent is pretty amazing too. Why not let him join us? Then we can be the East Sea F5."

"How about we take him in?"

He looked eagerly toward Jiang Yan and asked.

"..."

PS1: What? Spread the word—we're taking Xie Xie in.

PS2: This chapter was 4,000 words! Call me Changbai Mountain! There's another chapter coming later—please vote with monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!!!