Jiang Nannan's Kiss

The Dueling Zone was located northwest of the Martial Soul Department. Dedicated teachers served as referees, determining victory and defeat, ensuring student safety, and providing treatment and medical aid. Of course, the prerequisite was payment.

For a soul duel, both sides had to pay ten Gold Soul Coins as a venue fee. Though expensive, the Academy's students still flocked to it. There were no restrictions on making a move here, nor did they need to worry about causing trouble by striking too heavily. The teachers serving as referees were not just for show.

Every soul duel also earned a certain amount of academic credits, which provided bonus points during advancement examinations.

The Soul Tool Loudspeakers in the Dueling Zone were connected to those on the Academy grounds. Under the loudspeaker announcements, news that Gu Shengge and Xu Sanshi would be having a soul duel quickly became known to everyone.

On the Academy grounds, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and the others had just finished dinner and were preparing to return to their dormitory when they heard the broadcast from the Soul Tool Loudspeakers and stopped in their tracks. The students around them, upon hearing that there was a soul duel to watch, all headed toward the Dueling Zone.

"Young Mistress, why is the class monitor up against Xu Sanshi? He even went onto the Soul Duel Platform?"

Wu Feng's beautiful eyes revealed surprise and confusion. Naturally, she had heard of Xu Sanshi's reputation. He was one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, known as the "Outer Court's Greatest Defense." His Soul Power was formidable, and it was said that he was not far from becoming a Soul Ancestor.

Although the class monitor possessed three 100,000-Year Soul Rings, his Soul Power was only level thirty-three. With such a huge gap in Soul Power Level, Soul Rings alone probably could not make up for it, could they?

When Nanmen Yuner heard that Gu Shengge was going to duel a senior student, traces of worry appeared on her alluring face.

Ning Tian glanced at the Soul Tool Loudspeaker and said to the two women beside her, "Let's go watch the class monitor's duel."

Wu Feng and Nanmen Yuner nodded, and the three girls headed for the Dueling Zone together.

In the teaching building, Mu Jin also heard the Soul Tool Loudspeaker's announcement. A trace of astonishment appeared on her delicate face. How had that child ended up facing Xu Sanshi?

Compared with Wu Feng and the others' concern, Mu Jin did not believe Xu Sanshi could defeat Gu Shengge. In the early stages, the gaps between Soul Masters were not particularly obvious. Throughout Shrek Academy's history, there had been no shortage of people who defeated opponents one level, or even several levels, above themselves.

Whether in Martial Soul quality, Soul Ring configuration, or even possible Soul Bones, Xu Sanshi was far inferior to Gu Shengge. A mere five-level difference in Soul Power had long been smoothed over by those advantages.

In Mu Jin's eyes, Xu Sanshi was bound to lose.

Still, this was her student's first soul duel. As his teacher, she could not possibly miss it.

Mu Jin turned and headed for the Dueling Zone as well.

When Han Yue heard that his boss was dueling a senior student, he brought several friends along to watch.

At that moment, in a lounge within the Dueling Zone.

Jiang Nannan looked worriedly at the young man before her. She had only just met him, yet she had already brought him such a huge problem. Her heart was filled with guilt as she softly reminded him.

"Shengge, be careful. Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul is the Xuanming Turtle. It has extremely strong defensive power and excels at drawn-out battles. It's best not to clash with him head-on."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. He dared to pester and harass you, so watch me smash his turtle shell to pieces."

Gu Shengge comforted Jiang Nannan. Even without using his Martial Soul, he could pin Xu Sanshi to the ground and hammer him with physical strength alone, just like how Zhao Wuji had crushed Blue Sunshine Academy's Xuangui Soul King in the first novel.

Seeing his confident expression, Jiang Nannan's slightly suspended heart gradually settled. Her graceful body leaned forward, and her face moved close to Gu Shengge's before—

Mua~

Her soft, rosy lips kissed his cheek. Gu Shengge immediately felt the warm softness and moisture of Jiang Nannan's lips, and his mind wavered slightly.

After the kiss, a flush spread across Jiang Nannan's pretty face. Her rosy lips parted as she encouraged him, "Good luck. I'll cheer for you from below."

"Mm."

Gu Shengge touched the cheek she had kissed, a smile rising on his handsome face. He nodded at Jiang Nannan, then turned and strode out of the lounge.

Meanwhile, more and more students were gathering in the Dueling Zone. After all, this soul duel was far more interesting than an ordinary one.

On one side was a new student who had only enrolled and attended classes for a single day.

On the other was Xu Sanshi, one of the Outer Court's Twin Stars, known as the "Outer Court's Greatest Defense."

It was also a soul duel over the Outer Court's number one beauty, Jiang Nannan. The spectacle alone was enough to draw a crowd.

Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and the others took seats near the Soul Duel Platform. Huo Yuhao looked around and roughly counted at least seven or eight hundred people, most of them new students.

A duel where a new student challenged an old student from below naturally drew even more attention from the new students.

Ning Tian and the others happened to run into Teacher Mu Jin, so they sat together. Unable to contain herself, Nanmen Yuner asked Mu Jin, "Teacher, do you think the class monitor can win?"

"He can." Mu Jin nodded.

With the teacher's confirmation, Nanmen Yuner's slightly suspended heart gradually eased. Her gaze turned toward the Soul Duel Platform.

On the Soul Duel Platform, Xu Sanshi held an iron fan and struck a pose as the shrieks and cheers of several female students rang in his ears.

When he saw the white-clothed youth walking onto the platform, he sharply noticed the faint lip print on Gu Shengge's right cheek. At once, the hand gripping his iron fan crackled, his teeth clenched tight, and Lie Yans of jealousy burned in his eyes!

Nannan actually kissed him?! Damn it!!

The referee teacher appeared between them and was also rather surprised as he looked at Gu Shengge and Xu Sanshi. A new student who had just enrolled was dueling a fifth-year student. There did not seem to be much suspense here.

Without knowing Gu Shengge's true capabilities, the referee also believed Xu Sanshi was certain to win.

The referee teacher said, "State your names."

Xu Sanshi flicked his iron fan. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, while an Xuanming Turtle Martial Soul resembling a Black Tortoise, though without a snake tail, appeared behind him. With a dragon's head and turtle's body, it looked rather ferocious as it opened its jaws and roared furiously at Gu Shengge.

"Xu Sanshi, Martial Soul: Xuanming Turtle. Level thirty-eight Battle Soul Elder. Please instruct me."

Gu Shengge did not summon his Martial Soul. He tucked his left hand behind his back and made an inviting gesture with his right.

"Gu Shengge, Martial Soul: Holy Angel. Level thirty-three Battle Soul Elder. Please instruct me."

Seeing that he had not revealed his Martial Soul, Xu Sanshi frowned. What did this mean? Was he planning to fight without his Martial Soul? Was he looking down on him?

"What do you mean by this? You're fighting me without using your Martial Soul?"

The students in the spectator stands were all deeply puzzled by this sight. A new student Soul Elder was impressive, but Xu Sanshi was stronger. Refusing to use his Martial Soul was far too arrogant, wasn't it?

Ning Tian and the others were equally confused. Mu Jin told them not to worry, as she vaguely guessed why Gu Shengge was doing this.

He was probably trying to emulate Vice Dean Zhao Wuji.

Seeing this, nervousness appeared on Jiang Nannan's pretty face.

What is Shengge trying to do?

On the Soul Duel Platform, Gu Shengge nodded and said with a smile, "I'm afraid that if I use my Martial Soul, you won't even have the courage to duel me. So I'll fight you without it. That's fairer, and it'll save someone from saying I bullied them later."

"You bastard!"

Xu Sanshi had not expected Gu Shengge to be so arrogant. He truly could not understand why Jiang Nannan liked him. Since he was acting so smug, then he could not blame him.

For Nannan's sake, he would go a little easier on him later.

The referee teacher gave Gu Shengge another look. What was this child thinking? His Soul Power was lower than his opponent's, yet he had chosen not to use his Martial Soul. Did he want to lose with a little more style?

The referee teacher leaped onto a raised platform to the side and spoke again.

"Begin the soul duel!"

The instant his words fell, Gu Shengge shot forward like a cannonball that had been charged for ages. His five fingers clenched into a fist as he punched at Xu Sanshi!

PS: The anime and the original novel differ greatly. In the anime, Xu Sanshi is a fourth-year student, while in the novel, he is a fifth-year student.