Extorting Them Again

Just as expected.

The highly compressed azure airflow transformed into that great bow in his hands once more, and this time, it even possessed a true physical form.

Complex patterns surfaced across the bow's body, giving off a faint azure glow as though it were a divine artifact passed down from ancient times.

"Bang!"

Xuan Xiao drove the great bow into the ground. The bow sank half a foot into the earth and stood there firmly.

He planted one foot to steady himself and used the other to pin down Bow Abyss, bending the massive bow body. The bowstring tightened with a creaking whine.

A huge azure arrow condensed in his hand. The entire arrow was transparent, with liquid-like wind-element energy flowing within it. A blinding white glint flickered at its tip, radiating a terrifying pressure.

Xuan Xiao gripped the arrow and leaned his whole body backward, curving himself like a bow as he poured all his strength into this shot.

He refused to believe that an Azure Kite Piercing Demon Blast containing seventy percent of his Soul Power could not kill a mere scrub chicken!

"Stop!"

A furious shout came from the direction of Sea God's Pavilion. Immediately afterward, a golden figure shot out at astonishing speed, leaving a golden afterimage in the air.

Mu En truly could not remain seated any longer.

He was certain that if this arrow landed solidly, even a Soul Sage-level powerhouse would be crippled, if not outright killed.

He had merely wanted to use Ma Xiaotao to test the boy's abilities and see just how capable he was in real combat, as well as how sharp his battle instincts were.

Who could have expected the brat to strike with lethal intent right from the start, showing absolutely no mercy?

"Boom!"

The instant the azure arrow collided with the golden Soul Power barrier, a violent explosion erupted.

The blast was so powerful that the waters of Sea God's Lake surged into waves dozens of feet high.

The trees along the shore were blown askew by the shockwave, while several cracks split open across the ground.

Azure wind blades and golden fragments of Soul Power scattered in all directions, intertwining in the air into a dazzling yet dangerous spectacle.

The backlash forced Xuan Xiao back two steps. Once he steadied himself, he raised his head and fixed an icy gaze on the figure that had suddenly appeared, his voice carrying a hint of accusation.

"Who are you? Why did you save that evil Soul Master?"

Of course, he knew who it was. He was merely doing this to seize the initiative.

First, put the accusation on them. Then it would be easier to negotiate terms afterward.

As the explosive azure flames dissipated, the scene within was revealed.

Mu En held Ma Xiaotao in one hand while maintaining the golden Soul Power barrier with the other. The barrier was covered in cracks, clearly showing that the power of that arrow had far exceeded his expectations.

His expression was rather ugly at the moment, purely because he had been holding his breath.

The Heaven-Shaking Gale Domain was still active. In a vacuum, where was he supposed to get air?

Even a Limit Douluo in their prime would not dare remain in such an environment for long, much less an old dog on the verge of death like him.

His face was flushed crimson, veins bulged across his forehead, and his breathing was rapid and labored. He looked like a fish hauled onto shore.

Seeing his condition, Xuan Xiao secretly felt delighted, but he still put on an indignant expression and pointed at Ma Xiaotao as he shouted.

"You old man! Shrek actually dares to raise an evil Soul Master!"

Mu En looked around and let out a long breath. Fortunately, it was class time, and there was hardly anyone by Sea God's Lake. Otherwise, if this got out, Shrek's reputation would be ruined.

He took a deep breath, calmed his breathing, and began, "Her name is Ma Xiaotao. She is..."

"Don't explain," Xuan Xiao cut him off directly. "Looking at her like this, if I said she wasn't an evil Soul Master, would you believe me?"

He had figured it out. This brat wanted benefits.

Mu En had lived for so many years; what kind of people had he not seen? He saw through Xuan Xiao's little scheme at a glance.

With a wave of his hand, golden light enveloped the two of them. In the next instant, they returned to Sea God's Pavilion.

Mu En placed Ma Xiaotao on a nearby chair, then sat in his own seat. He took a sip from his teacup to settle his emotions before finally asking.

"Go on, boy. What do you want?"

Xuan Xiao did not stand on ceremony and went straight to the point. "One Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."

Mu En frowned. "This..."

Before he could say anything further, Xuan Xiao removed his brooch. Set into it was a transparent gemstone.

At that moment, it projected a screen of light displaying the entire sequence of events at Sea God's Lake just moments ago.

From Ma Xiaotao pouncing on him, to his counterattack, to the moment he fired that arrow.

Every detail was crystal clear. Even Ma Xiaotao's out-of-control expression had been recorded perfectly.

Everyone knew that there was no Photoshop on the Douluo Continent in this era, so this footage was irrefutable evidence.

Mu En's expression turned rather ugly as he reached out, intending to take the brooch.

But Xuan Xiao was quicker. He put it away with a smile.

"Don't rush. I have another recording here. You might want to take a look."

He took a disc from his storage Soul Tool ring. The disc was silver-white all over, its surface as smooth as a mirror. One look was enough to tell that it was no ordinary item.

He placed the disc on the table, and a screen of light appeared, displaying what Xuan Zi had done in the Far North.

In the footage, Xuan Zi had refused to spend his own money, resulting in Shrek losing five Titled Douluo, who were cut into bloody mist by that black shadow's single slash.

Mu En's face went completely dark.

He never could have imagined that Xuan Zi would do something like this.

For the sake of saving one Soul Bone, he had let five Titled Douluo die?

Those were Titled Douluo! They were Shrek's backbone!

And they were just gone?

Mu En felt as though his heart were bleeding.

Watching his pained expression, Xuan Xiao secretly reveled in it, but he kept an innocent look on his face and spread his hands.

"You didn't think you were the only clever ones, did you? Some of our people went to the Far North too, and they happened to record the stupid thing you did."

Mu En took several deep breaths before barely managing to suppress the rage in his heart.

Compared to that, however, he was clearly more concerned about the mysterious black shadow.

He looked at Xuan Xiao, his voice grave. "Do you know what that black shadow was?"

Xuan Xiao shrugged, looking utterly unconcerned.

"How would I know? But according to information sent back by my family, it might have been a dark-attribute Elemental Spirit from ancient times."

"According to unverifiable legends, Elemental Spirits were not originally Soul Beasts. They were only forcibly classified as Soul Beasts later because of some rule."

Elemental Spirits?

Mu En's brow furrowed even more deeply.

It really was possible.

According to scattered fragments passed down from ancient times, the Spirit Clan had indeed once existed on the Douluo Continent. They were lives even older than Soul Beasts.

If that black shadow truly was an Elemental Spirit, then its strength made sense.

After all, it was a life-form that had existed before Soul Beasts were even born. Having lived for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, it was not strange for it to possess such strength.

Mu En remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking.

"Shrek does indeed possess Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones, but they are all treasures that uphold the academy. They cannot simply be given away."

Xuan Xiao smiled, a teasing note in his voice.

"That's fine. Our family's recording Soul Tools are connected to a central terminal anyway. Even if you snatch them now, it won't help."

"Once they return, millions of copies of the recordings will spread throughout the entire continent."

Mu En's expression grew even uglier.

He knew Xuan Xiao was not joking.

Although the continent did not have such Soul Tools, judging by the boy's confident manner, his family might truly possess them.

If that footage were really released, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Shrek's reputation would be utterly destroyed, and Xuan Zi's actions would bring shame upon the entire academy.

At that point, Shrek would truly be finished.

Mu En remained silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed, as though making an extremely difficult decision.

"Fine. I'll give you one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. But you must guarantee that footage will never spread."

Xuan Xiao smiled and nodded, extending his palm. "Deal."

"Smack!"

The two extended their palms and clapped hands in oath.

The crisp sound echoed through the room, symbolizing the completion of the deal.

They looked at each other and smiled, each harboring his own thoughts.

Mu En was thinking about how to recover the loss from somewhere else after giving away this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Xuan Xiao was thinking about whether he should sell the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone for money once he got it, or keep it for himself.

No matter what, he would not lose out.