From Su Ge's Intimidation

Su Ge glanced at Ning Rongrong, but in the end, his gaze shifted to a grove not far away.

"If we get the chance, perhaps we can work together someday."

"But there's no need for me to join. I'm still used to doing things alone."

He gave that direction a meaningful look, then turned back to Ning Rongrong with a faint smile.

"People always say this is a world where the strong prey on the weak..."

Su Ge withdrew his gaze and waved to Ning Rongrong over his shoulder.

"Perfect. I've always had a hearty appetite!"

Ning Rongrong hadn't been surprised by Su Ge's refusal, but she had understood the meaning behind his glance.

She, too, looked toward the place Su Ge had been watching. A few dangerous glints flashed in her eyes.

She naturally knew that the sect was keeping an eye on her and protecting her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to openly berate Flender, a Soul Saint. But if she dared to listen to everything, she would be acting like a fool!

Most importantly, Su Ge had noticed them!

"Get out here!"

Hearing the commotion behind him, Su Ge wasn't surprised. His words had been meant for Ning Rongrong, but they were also a message for Ning Fengzhi!

As for where his confidence came from? Once he returned and absorbed the few pieces of Whale Rubber Deng Jilin had brought him, he shouldn't be far from reaching level fifty.

By then, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't be the one calling the shots. Ordinary Titled Douluo wouldn't be able to threaten him!

Speaking of Deng Jilin, the show of force he'd sent should have arrived by now, right?

In Suotuo City, Flender's mood gradually settled. After registering the others, they would be assigned their Soul Fighting rankings.

He had Dai Mubai take them to the Gambling Soul Fighting Zone, gave a few brief instructions, then went straight into the Soul Fighting Arena.

He knew those Little Monsters' strength all too well. Whenever he placed a bet on them, he was guaranteed to win big. How could he pass up such a fine chance to make money?

At the thought, his earlier foul mood vanished. A smile tugged at his lips as he headed to place his bets after the Soul Fighting rankings were announced.

But halfway there, he ran into a man who immediately drew his attention!

The man looked young—even much younger than Flender, only in his thirties.

By rights, with the strength of a level-seventy-eight agility-type Battle Soul Saint, Flender could hardly claim to rule Suotuo City, but he had nothing to fear from most people.

Yet the man before him sent a chill rising from the soles of his feet, while a sense of danger set alarm bells ringing in his mind!

The man's strength was definitely no less than his own!

And judging by the way he stood, he seemed to be waiting specifically for Flender!

"You're Flender?"

Deng Jilin sized Flender up. Once he confirmed that the man matched the person he was looking for, he spoke.

"I am indeed Flender. May I ask who you are...?"

"You don't need to know who I am. I'm just here to deliver a message and make sure you understand one thing."

Flender frowned, his voice turning low. "I don't recall ever offending you. There's no reason for you to act like this without warning, is there?"

Deng Jilin had no intention of explaining or wasting words on Flender.

"Just remember this: watch what you say, and watch what you do!"

"Otherwise..."

Flender instinctively used Martial Soul Possession. Two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings appeared around him, and the Cat-Eagle's dynamic vision fixed on Deng Jilin.

But in the next instant, his vision blurred. Before he could react, a bone-deep chill swept over him!

His movements faltered. In that brief moment, a blade wreathed in frost had already come to rest on his shoulder, its sharp edge only two or three inches from his neck!

Only then did Flender see the situation clearly. Somehow, an ice coffin had appeared behind him, encasing his entire body!

An instant Soul Skill!

Flender had a good eye. Seeing that Deng Jilin hadn't revealed any Soul Rings, he immediately understood that this was a Self-Created Soul Skill. No wonder he hadn't been able to react in time!

"Next time, this sword will take...your life!"

His pace of speech remained unchanged, his tone just as icy as before. But the chill radiating from the blade around him and on his shoulder left Flender feeling cold all over.

He forced down his fear of death and slowly nodded.

Once he saw that Flender had understood, Deng Jilin put away his Martial Soul. The ice coffin promptly crumbled, turning into pure Soul Power that flowed back into his body.

This was the combat instinct he had honed in the wilderness: use as little Soul Power as possible.

"I hope you remember: there's always someone stronger, and there's always a higher sky. The fact that I'm speaking to you civilly is already your greatest good fortune."

After saying that, he followed the path Flender had come along and walked out of the Great Soul Arena, as if he had merely taken care of some minor business.

What he'd said wasn't wrong. Fortunately, Su Ge had only asked him to deliver a message and intimidate this man called Flender.

He didn't understand why Su Ge wanted him to do this, but he'd done as asked.

In his mind, if Su Ge had acted personally, there would have been no need for all this trouble.

Of course, it wouldn't have been as simple as a warning and a show of force, either.

So, as far as he was concerned, Flender was incredibly lucky that Su Ge had only asked him to act.

Only Flender remained where he stood, unable to recover for a long time.

He touched his neck, as if he could still feel the chill from before.

And this, in the other man's eyes, was still "speaking civilly" and a stroke of good fortune?!

Could I have gone too far? Was this a warning from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Or could it be... Su Ge?

Flender's mind was a tangled mess. For a moment, he couldn't make sense of what had happened.

As the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi wouldn't lightly go back on his word, especially with the letter as proof.

As for Su Ge? Xiao Gang had clearly said that only the former Nuoding City Lord had helped him in the past. Even if that man had later risen in rank, there was no way he could summon a powerhouse like this!

Flender closed his eyes. As his Soul Power circulated through his body, his temperature gradually returned, and he began to feel warmth again.

He could sense that the other man's Soul Power Level wasn't actually that high—in fact, it was even lower than Old Zhao's. But his strength certainly couldn't be measured by Soul Power Level alone!

Besides, to reach the Soul Saint realm at only a little over thirty, he was clearly no ordinary person!

"Ah, what a troubled time!"

For the first time, Flender felt that leading the Shrek team was no easy task!

"Never mind. The matches are about to start. I'd better go place my bets first."