Meng Yiran and Chao Tianxiang

"Who? Who killed my Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?!"

An angry feminine shout rang out. Su Sanjia, Zhao Wuji, and the others turned to look, only to see a teenage girl holding a serpent-shaped scepter, two yellow Soul Rings gleaming around her.

Two Hundred-Year Soul Rings?

A trace of disdain appeared in Zhao Wuji's eyes. What right did a mere two-ring Soul Grandmaster girl have to act so arrogantly before a Soul Saint like him?

"Your Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent? Little girl, why don't you tell me exactly why!"

Two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings—seven in total—rose and fell around Zhao Wuji's body. As fellow Soul Saints, the powerful pressure of his Soul Power surged like ocean waves toward Meng Yiran in the distance. Her face paled. After all, she was only a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. But at that moment, an aged voice, as ragged as torn cloth, sounded from behind her.

"Yiran, stay calm!"

"Greetings, esteemed Soul Saint!"

As the Serpent Grandmother, Chao Tianxiang, revealed herself and spoke, three yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Ring appeared around her, offsetting the pressure from Zhao Wuji's Soul Power. When Ma Hongjun saw that she was merely a Soul Emperor—and one without even the optimal Soul Ring configuration—he could not help muttering:

"Tch, just a Soul Emperor. Our academic affairs teacher is a Soul Saint!"

The moment his words fell, Su Sanjia beside him suddenly knocked him on the head.

"Six rings, with a serpent-type scepter Martial Soul. This must be Senior Chao Tianxiang, the Serpent Grandmother of the legendary Unrivaled Dragon and Snake duo. Hongjun, do not be rude!"

Seeing a young junior recognize her so easily, surprise flashed through Chao Tianxiang's eyes. Zhao Wuji's expression also gradually shifted from relaxed to solemn. The Serpent Grandmother, Chao Tianxiang, was not much to fear, but the Dragon Duke, Meng Shu, was an eight-ring Soul Douluo! If the Dragon Duke was nearby as well, they might be in trouble today.

As he considered this, Lu Qibin and Li Yusong stepped up beside Zhao Wuji, releasing their Soul Rings in a show of strength. Chao Tianxiang's pupils contracted when she saw that they had one Soul Saint and two Soul Emperors.

With the strength of Zhao Wuji and the other two, even if the Dragon Duke were here, taking them down easily would be impossible.

"Greetings, Senior Chao Tianxiang. I am Zhao Wuji, the Immovable King."

Zhao Wuji spoke with a smile. Chao Tianxiang smiled as well and hurriedly returned the greeting, though she was already cursing inwardly.

Damn it, why did we run into this unreasonable old rogue? That Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent has probably been dead for a while. Its Soul Ring is likely gone too...

With the Dragon Duke absent, it would already be impressive if Chao Tianxiang could last three minutes against Zhao Wuji and the other two alone. Yet leaving just like this still left her unwilling.

"Brother Zhao, we found this serpent first! There are wounds on its abdomen left by this old woman's Soul Skill. What do you think about today's matter?"

"Oh, then I truly am sorry. This serpent's Soul Ring has already been absorbed by my student! Had I known it was your prey, I would never have hunted it. But now... sigh, I truly apologize!"

Zhao Wuji's reply was flawless, but the meaning behind his words was clear: the serpent already belonged to someone, so returning it was impossible, and offering compensation was even more impossible! Zhao Wuji had never been a kind man. His reputation in the Soul Master world was notoriously bad. Trying to get an advantage out of him? That was no easier than making Flender pay to treat someone to a meal!

"You!"

Young people were the most impulsive. Meng Yiran gritted her teeth. She had to teach these people a lesson, or she would never swallow this anger. Her gaze swept around before finally settling on Su Sanjia.

He looked somewhat older than the other Shrek Academy students. With the enhancement of his three Soul Rings and his naturally monstrous physique, Su Sanjia appeared to be around seventeen.

"You! Come out and fight me. If you win, I, Meng Yiran, will leave without another word! But if you lose, you must give us an explanation for this!"

Everyone was shocked by those words. Chao Tianxiang's expression changed drastically. The Dragon Duke was nowhere nearby. If Zhao Wuji and the others developed murderous intent, burying both of them here would not be difficult. The Star Dou Great Forest was so vast that no one would ever find them! Under such circumstances, angering a Soul Saint was far from wise. She instinctively wanted to apologize to Zhao Wuji, yet she saw the strange expressions on Su Sanjia and the others' faces.

"Oh, you mean me?"

Su Sanjia had never expected this matter to involve him! Besides, a two-ring Soul Grandmaster was challenging him, a level-forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor? What, was her Martial Soul the Golden Dragon King or the Silver Dragon King?

"Pfft!"

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others behind him burst out laughing.

"Fine, it's a deal! Sanjia, go spar with Senior Chao Tianxiang's granddaughter. Remember, it is only a spar. Stop before things go too far!"

Zhao Wuji was suddenly in the mood to watch a good show. He was not worried about Su Sanjia's safety in the slightest. Let alone Meng Yiran—even Chao Tianxiang lacked the ability to injure Su Sanjia! Every teacher at Shrek Academy had poured their efforts into that boy. His abilities were so strange and troublesome that he simply could not be judged by common sense.

Zhao Wuji and the others' reactions confused Chao Tianxiang, but also made her secretly more vigilant. Her gaze locked onto Su Sanjia as she examined him from head to toe, yet she could not discern his true strength.

"Fine, it's a deal! Yiran, this is only a spar. Stop before things go too far!"

Chao Tianxiang still had confidence in her granddaughter. At Myriad Beasts Academy, Meng Yiran had already become invincible among those of the same rank. He was just a lazy-looking boy; even if he had some ability, what could he do? Her granddaughter had defeated even Soul Elders! Moreover, Meng Yiran had thirty-six Soul-Breaking Knives, her ultimate trump card!

"Meng Yiran, Martial Soul: Serpent Cane! Level-thirty Soul Grandmaster. Please advise!"

"Uh, since you insist, all right! Su Sanjia, Martial Soul: Radiant Light! Level-forty Soul Elder. Please advise!"

A full ten levels of Soul Power separated them!

It was as though two invisible bolts of lightning had struck down from the heavens, leaving Meng Yiran and Chao Tianxiang utterly stunned! This youth, who appeared to be around Meng Yiran's age, was actually already a level-forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor?

A genius—an absolute genius!

Chao Tianxiang shot Meng Yiran a worried look, but Meng Yiran could not possibly surrender without fighting! Gritting her teeth, she took the initiative to attack.

With such a tremendous gap in strength, if she did not attack first, she might not even get another chance to make a move!

"First Soul Skill, Tongue Blade!"

A blade shot out from the Serpent Cane, stabbing straight toward Su Sanjia's chest. Faced with such an attack, Su Sanjia remained standing where he was.

To be honest, it had been a long time since he had faced such a weak opponent...

Although Meng Yiran's Soul Power was somewhat higher than Tang San's and the others', her Soul Rings were far too ordinary, and her Soul Skills were equally ordinary! Judging from the colors of her first two Soul Rings, they probably did not even add up to eight hundred years. And with such a straightforward attack, hitting Su Sanjia was nothing more than a fool's dream!

Su Sanjia did not use his Martial Soul. Just as the serpent blade was about to touch his body, just as a triumphant smile had already appeared on Meng Yiran's face, his chest was suddenly covered by a black substance with a metallic sheen!

Armament Haki from another world!

Clang!

The serpent blade struck Su Sanjia's chest, striking the Armament Haki. Yet Meng Yiran felt as though her attack had hit a massive mountain forged from Deep-Sea Dark Iron!

"That was a very powerful Soul Skill. I almost died!"

Su Sanjia, unable to stop himself from being sarcastic, spoke instinctively.

Zhao Wuji: ...

Chao Tianxiang: ...

The Shrek group: ...

"You bastard!"

Meng Yiran's face reddened with rage. Her delicate features, paired with that expression, made Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun stare wide-eyed.

But Su Sanjia had no such thoughts. He scratched his head. In truth, Meng Yiran's Soul Skill was somewhat stronger than he had expected. Judging by the power of that strike, another thousand or two thousand hits would definitely exhaust his Armament Haki...

Well, that counted as recognition, didn't it...?