Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao

"My first soul skill is called Razor Bone Thorn. Its effect is to release sharp bone spikes that damage enemies. This soul skill can be used at range or in close combat. When used at range, it fires a large number of bone spikes from my palms to attack distant enemies. In its close-combat form, hard-as-iron bone spikes grow from my finger bones, allowing me to fight enemies at close quarters."

As he spoke, Ye An demonstrated both the ranged and close-combat forms of the soul skill for Du Busi and Jin Peng.

Du Busi's gaze lingered briefly on the fifty-centimeter-long sharp spikes growing from the finger bones of Ye An's right hand before he nodded in satisfaction.

The effects of this soul skill might have sounded rather ordinary, but for a soul skill granted by a thousand-year Soul Ring, it was already more than adequate—perhaps even outstanding.

The ranged bone spikes covered an extremely wide area, making them difficult for enemies to evade completely. The close-combat spikes, meanwhile, were exceptionally hard, no weaker than some powerful tool Martial Souls.

"Also, my soul power has reached Level 14."

"Oh?"

Du Busi gave a soft cry of surprise, but quickly found it understandable.

Ordinary Soul Masters would at most reach Level 11 or 12 after absorbing their first Soul Ring. But Xiao An had absorbed a thousand-year Soul Ring, so gaining two extra levels of soul power was only natural.

A thousand-year first Soul Ring truly was terrifying!

"Alright, it's getting late. We need to leave the Star Dou Great Forest as soon as possible. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to sleep here tonight."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound came from nearby.

Du Busi frowned slightly and looked toward the sound.

The bushes in the distance shook violently. Then, two figures emerged from within. The leader was a handsome middle-aged man dressed in white, his posture as straight as a pine. Behind him followed a small figure.

She was a little girl who appeared to be seven or eight years old, slightly shorter than Ye An. She wore red, and a hint of curiosity shone in her eyes.

That man was... Yan Shaozhe, the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department?

Du Busi narrowed his eyes slightly. He quickly recognized Yan Shaozhe, and killing intent abruptly rose within him.

The Body Sect and Shrek Academy could absolutely be called mortal enemies. His elder brother, Du Bisou, had lost to Mu En and died at Mu En's hands. That hatred could never be easily resolved.

Yan Shaozhe was the dean of the Martial Soul Department. If he could be left behind in the Star Dou Great Forest... it would be an enormous loss for Shrek Academy.

Though Du Busi did not state his thoughts aloud, Jin Peng, the Golden Body Douluo who had known him for many years, instantly understood. He shifted his feet slightly, and his expression gained a trace of hostility.

Still, he did not act rashly. Ye An and Zhang Lexuan were behind them. If a reckless move ended up harming those two Body Sect prodigies, the loss would far outweigh any gain.

Du Busi was clearly considering the same point.

With his strength as a Level 98 Super Douluo, along with Level 96 Jin Peng, taking down Yan Shaozhe would not be difficult. But if they drove Yan Shaozhe to self-detonate... even with both him and Jin Peng present, it would be hard to protect Xiao An and Xiao Xuan without harm.

Unless... Jin Peng took Xiao An and Xiao Xuan away immediately, while he remained behind alone to kill Yan Shaozhe.

On the other side, Yan Shaozhe's expression changed slightly as well.

Not long ago, he had discovered Ma Xiaotao's talent and accepted her as his disciple. He had come to the Star Dou Great Forest this time to hunt her first Soul Ring, only to unexpectedly encounter Du Busi of the Body Sect!

Of course, he understood the enmity between Shrek Academy and the Body Sect.

At this very moment, Du Busi might even have been calculating how to kill him!

Yan Shaozhe secretly regretted it... but at this point, he could only force himself to speak. "I never expected to encounter Senior Du Busi, the sect master of the Body Sect, here."

"Not long ago, my teacher mentioned Senior Du Busi to this junior."

Yan Shaozhe could only hope that invoking Mu En's name would frighten Du Busi into retreating.

But... if Du Busi truly attacked, determined to leave him here forever, then even Mu En would have difficulty discovering who had done it.

Teacher?

That old bastard Mu En wasn't dead yet?

Du Busi's eyes shifted slightly.

After his elder brother Du Bisou's battle with Mu En, there had been no news of Mu En for a long time. There was no trace of him anywhere on the continent, and Mu En had never appeared again at Shrek Academy. Du Busi had always believed that Mu En had perished together with his elder brother.

Now... Yan Shaozhe had actually revealed on his own that Mu En was still alive?

Is he trying to scare me off this way? Or... is Mu En really not dead?

Du Busi lowered his gaze and smiled without warmth. "Oh? How did Mu En speak of me?"

Mu En?

Ye An frowned slightly. He had not yet figured out the identities of the two men.

The teacher of this middle-aged man was Mu En, so... he should be Yan Shaozhe?

Then the little girl in red beside him was Ma Xiaotao?

Thinking of the feud between the Body Sect and Shrek Academy, Ye An pulled the somewhat bewildered Zhang Lexuan behind Jin Peng. That way, if Du Busi attacked later, Jin Peng could immediately take him and Zhang Lexuan away.

Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath, forcing out a smile. "Teacher said that Senior Du Busi is one of the most renowned powerhouses of this era. Among those of the same level, few could defeat you."

As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe shielded the curious Ma Xiaotao behind him.

Du Busi neither confirmed nor denied it, but he had already abandoned the idea of attacking Yan Shaozhe.

First, if Yan Shaozhe self-detonated, Xiao An and Xiao Xuan's safety could not be guaranteed. Second, he was not sure whether Mu En was truly still alive.

Although Du Busi was more inclined to believe that even if Mu En was alive, he was merely barely clinging to life... with Ye An and Zhang Lexuan present, the Body Sect was destined to stand at the peak of the continent in the future. There was no need for him to take such a risk.

If Mu En really was alive and in fairly good condition... then if he still risked Yan Shaozhe's self-detonation to kill him, the Body Sect and Shrek Academy would undoubtedly clash head-on.

No matter the final outcome, it would not benefit the Body Sect's future development.

Du Busi gave Yan Shaozhe a deep look. Without saying anything further, he turned and left with Ye An and Zhang Lexuan.

Jin Peng remained behind at the end. After giving Yan Shaozhe a slightly cold look, he finally turned and departed.

Only after Du Busi and Jin Peng's figures gradually disappeared into the distance did Yan Shaozhe quietly let out a breath of relief.