Battle Flender

Shi An looked at the middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared and had already guessed his identity.

A bird-type martial soul, a shoehorn-shaped face, and the fact that Dai Mubai was a student of his academy.

Then he had to be Flender, the notorious miser.

"Oh?" Shi An looked at him and slowly said, "You really don't know?"

Flender naturally understood Dai Mubai's temperament, but with so many people watching, he certainly could not admit that his own student had been in the wrong.

"Even if Dai Mubai did something wrong, you shouldn't have tried to kill him! How ruthless of you! Aren't you afraid of Spirit Hall's enforcers?"

"Which eye saw me trying to kill him?" Shi An asked mockingly, a sneer tugging at the corner of his lips.

"If I hadn't arrived in time, Mubai would probably already have been killed by you. How else can you deny it?"

"I only wanted to scratch his itch. Is there a problem with that?"

"You used a spear to scratch an itch?" Flender's brows shot up.

"Is there a problem?" Shi An replied indifferently. Even if the heavens themselves came down, he would still give Dai Mubai a good scratching.

"You, you, you!" Flender glared at Shi An, unable to find a response for a moment.

"So many people are watching. What else can you possibly deny?"

"Oh?" Shi An raised a brow. "Your student attacked me in broad daylight and even intended to forcibly abduct a woman. What impressive prestige your academy has. Anyone who didn't know better might think your academy was planning to seize innocent women and persecute them."

That accusation immediately made Flender's face flush red.

This concerned Shrek Academy's reputation. How could he tolerate Shi An slandering it?

"Boy, shut your mouth! Didn't your elders teach you any manners?"

Flender roared, and the aura of a level seventy-eight Soul Saint abruptly spread outward. "Today, I'll teach you what it means to respect your elders and what proper manners are!"

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven Soul Rings descended, with the three black rings nearly filling the entire street.

The immense pressure of Soul Power crashed down, forcing the surrounding pedestrians to retreat in pain.

Shi An's brows furrowed slightly.

This was becoming troublesome.

He had originally planned to rob Dai Mubai, but Flender had suddenly appeared instead.

If they fought, Shi An would definitely be at a disadvantage.

After all, Flender was a flying Soul Master. Aerial combat was his specialty.

Shi An narrowed his eyes slightly, excitement and eagerness glinting within them.

If they really fought, he was not afraid.

With a god-tier martial soul and his endless array of methods, he could strike first and confine Flender to low altitude, or directly set up a barrier to trap him.

An owl in a cage was nothing to fear!

Flender studied Shi An. He looked younger than Dai Mubai, yet his strength could utterly crush Dai Mubai's. A genius like this, appearing at this time...

He must be here for Shrek Academy!

Thinking of that, Flender grew somewhat excited.

Such a monstrous genius was destined to become a top powerhouse renowned across the continent.

But... his temperament still needed some tempering.

Being too ostentatious could lead to an early death.

The tallest tree in the forest was the first to be destroyed by the wind.

Let this headmaster teach you properly!

"Boy, get ready!"

"Third Soul Skill: Eagle Claw Rend!"

Flender gave him a warning. He did not flap his wings and take flight, merely stomping the ground as his figure rapidly closed in on Shi An.

The ground beneath Shi An's feet writhed, dragging him swiftly away. At the same time, Earth Spikes, Earth Palm, and Quicksand Vortex were all unleashed at Flender.

Flender was somewhat surprised. Shi An had not summoned his martial soul or used any Soul Skills, yet these abilities had appeared.

He did not believe someone behind Shi An was responsible.

After all, not a trace of Soul Power had leaked out.

That could only mean Shi An possessed some treasure capable of concealing Soul Rings and Soul Power.

His background was definitely not simple.

Could he be a direct disciple of one of the Upper Three Sects?

Flender considered this, but his hands did not slow. His eagle claws shattered the Earth Spikes and Earth Palm, and with a flap of his wings, he directly escaped the quicksand.

Watching Flender's relaxed appearance, Shi An thought to himself, As expected of a Soul Saint. He's far stronger than Dai Mubai.

Flender hovered in midair, looking down at Shi An. Seeing the grave expression on his face, he smiled like an old fox.

"If I don't show you my strength, how would you ever join Shrek Academy?"

"Boy, you're quite strong. Are you here to join Shrek Academy?" Flender asked with a smile, looking increasingly pleased with Shi An.

A sect disciple should be quite wealthy, right?

"What Shrek Academy? Never heard of it," Shi An said with a disdainful curl of his lip.

Hearing that, Flender's face immediately darkened.

After a moment of inner struggle, he looked at Shi An and slowly said, "Boy, how about a wager?"

"If you lose, you join Shrek Academy. If you win, I won't pursue Mubai's matter."

"What a shameless old bastard. That sickly cat was clearly the one who started this, but you make it sound like we're the ones at fault."

"Then how about this? If you win, I'll have Mubai apologize to you."

"Headmaster!" Dai Mubai cried out, but Flender's sharp glare made him swallow the rest of his words.

"He should have apologized in the first place." Shi An glanced at Dai Mubai and spoke slowly.

"You've got quite the sharp tongue. It seems I really need to temper that temperament of yours."

Shi An quietly considered the situation. Tang San had perhaps already arrived in Suotuo City, which meant Tang Hao had to be nearby as well.

The commotion here was considerable, but only people from several nearby streets had come to watch.

He needed to leave before Tang Hao noticed this place.

"Tell me, then. What kind of wager?"

Flender had been about to attack again, but upon hearing Shi An's words, delight flashed through his eyes.

There was hope!

"One incense stick's worth of time."

"If you can hold out against me for one incense stick's worth of time, you win."

"If not, you must follow me and join Shrek Academy."

"What do you say?"

"Fine!" Shi An narrowed his eyes. "But add one more condition: this lustful tiger with a head full of filthy thoughts has to apologize!"

Dai Mubai immediately grew angry at being insulted, then obediently lowered his head without daring to make another sound.

Flender glanced at Dai Mubai and nodded. "Fine!"

In his view, there was no way he could lose.

He was a level seventy-eight battle Soul Saint, while the opponent was only twelve or thirteen at most, probably no higher than a Soul Elder. Before one incense stick's worth of time passed, Shi An's Soul Power would likely already be exhausted!

The advantage was his!

Shi An looked at Flender as battle intent rose within him.

A Soul Saint...

He wanted to see just how strong a Soul Saint truly was, and how great the gap between himself and a Soul Saint was!