"So, he's the Holy Son of Spirit Hall."
"I was wondering why the young master had such extraordinary bearing. Now it all makes sense."
"Xiao Wu must have been saved by the Titled Douluo beside the Holy Son."
Zhao Wuji respectfully bowed, then offered a reminder.
He wanted Tang San and the others to understand that Li Qinglian might have powerful experts at his side, lest these youngsters who knew no better provoke the Holy Son.
Those who dared not cause trouble were mediocrities.
But that depended on whom they provoked.
If it was someone from Canghui Academy, then naturally they could provoke them. If Zhu Zhuqing and the other female students had not been in the group, they could even have taken some advantage of Canghui Academy's pretty female students.
But provoke the Holy Son of Spirit Hall? No one whose brain worked properly would do that.
Although Shrek Academy's group had always shown Spirit Hall little respect, they were actually giving face to those Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings from Spirit Hall who carried out missions. If they truly encountered a Soul Douluo or even a Titled Douluo, how would they dare behave so recklessly?
Titled Douluo!
Upon hearing those four words, everyone's expressions turned grave!
Those four words represented the pinnacle experts of the entire continent!
Shrek Academy's strongest expert was only a Soul Saint.
Yet Titled Douluo were not particularly rare within Spirit Hall.
"Vice Dean, you are too courteous. Since I brought Xiao Wu back safely, I cannot leave empty-handed."
"I see that none of you are particularly satisfied with how this Soul Beast is to be distributed."
"How about this Man Faced Demon Spider goes to me?"
Li Qinglian looked at the Man Faced Demon Spider.
He could not care less about such a minor Soul Beast.
But he still valued an External Soul Bone greatly.
In the human world, External Soul Bones were recognized as treasures second only to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.
But in Li Qinglian's view—
External Soul Bones were more important than Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.
As the transformed form of the Death Divine Tree, he had no interest whatsoever in absorbing Soul Bones.
Even the bones of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast were not worthy of his absorption.
Unless it was the finest dragon bone or some other beast bone with extraordinary effects, it was utterly meaningless to Li Qinglian.
But External Soul Bones could evolve, and after absorption, they could be influenced by the body's internal power and merge into something truly one's own.
Even in the Star Dou Great Forest, there were fewer than ten Soul Beasts that had produced External Soul Bones within their bodies.
"If these eight lances of the Eight Spider Lances merged with me, wouldn't they resemble the branches of the Death Divine Tree?"
"Since Your Highness wants this Soul Beast, I, Zhao Wuji, have no objections."
At those words, Zhao Wuji was overjoyed.
He knew that what had happened earlier had already displeased the Unrivaled Dragon and Snake.
He had only managed to suppress the two by relying on these students' family backgrounds.
If they truly fell out with him, he would be no match for them at all.
But since Li Qinglian wanted it, this hot potato had been handed off.
"Since the Holy Son is interested in this thing, this Soul Beast shall belong to the Holy Son."
Dragon Duke Meng Shu said with a smile, showing goodwill toward Li Qinglian.
"Since you saved Xiao Wu, this Soul Beast shall serve as Tang's gift of thanks."
Tang San looked deeply at Li Qinglian.
For some reason, he felt that this person would become his great enemy in the future!
No!
The entirety of Spirit Hall would become his enemy!
He did not know why, but he vaguely felt it.
His father's sudden departure without farewell was connected to Spirit Hall.
Their relationship with Spirit Hall was absolutely not friendly. They might even be mortal enemies.
"I have long heard that the Holy Son of Spirit Hall is an unparalleled genius of this age. Though Tang San is unworthy, I wish to exchange pointers with the Holy Son."
Tang San spoke earnestly.
Tang San knew that his talent should be considered exceptional.
After meeting geniuses like Dai Mubai, he had become even more certain of it.
But he was very curious how he compared to a supreme genius such as the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.
"Little San, do not be rude."
Zhao Wuji's expression changed slightly.
"Vice Dean, I merely wish to spar and test my strength. I do not mean to provoke him."
Tang San turned his head and explained to Zhao Wuji.
"You want to spar with me?" Li Qinglian had been bending over to cut off the Man Faced Demon Spider's eight spider legs. Hearing this, he straightened and fixed his gaze on Tang San.
That young face carried the calm restraint unique to a Tang Sect disciple, yet an unyielding sharpness lay hidden between his brows.
"I ask the Holy Son to grant my request." Tang San bowed once more. His attitude was respectful, but his back remained perfectly straight.
Li Qinglian looked at the sharp edge concealed beneath Tang San's respectful manner and suddenly smiled.
He patted dust from his hands that did not exist, stored the eight spider legs in the Dragon Abyss Ring, and a faint glimmer flashed across the silver-white ring beneath the sunlight.
"Sure."
"I also want to see just how capable Shrek's genius really is."
Li Qinglian was genuinely curious.
Just how strong Tang San's ultimate combat power was at this stage.
Although the original story had described Tang San during this period—
In truth, none of Tang San's peers, whether Dai Mubai or the Fierce God Team he later encountered, had pushed him to his limit.
At this point, there was no one who could truly force Tang San into a desperate situation.
The two each retreated several steps and took their positions at opposite ends of the clearing.
The wind through the forest suddenly became distinct, stirring the fallen leaves on the ground into spirals as they swept between the two.
Sunlight filtered through gaps in the branches and leaves, casting alternating light and shadow over them.
Everyone held their breath without prior agreement.
"Do you think Third Brother can win?"
Ning Rongrong's lively eyes moved back and forth between Li Qinglian and Tang San, her voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.
Tang San was the most monstrous person she had ever seen. With those strange iron devices, he had even managed to injure Zhao Wuji. On the day of the academy examination, Tang San had genuinely wounded Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, with those things!
And Li Qinglian was the most monstrous person she had ever heard of.
Zhu Zhuqing beside her did not answer immediately.
Her cold catlike eyes stared at Li Qinglian.
"The Holy Son of Spirit Hall, Li Qinglian, could defeat a Soul Elder six years ago. He was only six years old at the time."
"What? A six-year-old defeated a Soul Elder?"
"Are you serious?"
Ma Hongjun and Oscar's expressions changed.
"The information released by Spirit Hall cannot be false."
"Moreover, that match was fought openly before everyone on Pope Mountain. His opponent was Yan of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation—at the time, he was a level thirty-one Soul Elder."
Seeing Ma Hongjun and Oscar so shocked, Dai Mubai slowly spoke.
His gaze carried a measure of gravity.
Tang San was indeed monstrous, but Li Qinglian was practically a legendary figure.
And he knew very clearly—
Li Qinglian had Innate Soul Power at level twenty!
After awakening his Martial Soul and obtaining Soul Rings, he could directly become a Soul Grandmaster!
That was also the foundation that had allowed Li Qinglian to defeat Yan!
Six years had passed. Li Qinglian might already have cultivated to the Soul Elder rank!
And with his combat strength, he should be capable of threatening Soul King-level experts!
"Damn. I almost took the initiative to challenge Li Qinglian just now. Good thing the words never left my mouth. Otherwise, wouldn't I have been courting death?" Ma Hongjun's face turned deathly pale with fright. He did not possess Tang San's freakish strength. Besides, if he provoked Spirit Hall's Holy Son, life would not be easy for him afterward.
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