Wang Dong: Lu Chen Did That on Purpose

Before long, the group arrived at the open clearing.

News that Lu Chen was going to fight Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu spread like wildfire.

Not only the new students, but even some older students gathered around, packing the clearing so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Although Shrek Academy advocated that those who never caused trouble were mediocre, it was still extremely rare for new students to start fighting on their first day of school.

What was more, the renowned White Tiger Duke's Mansion was involved.

In the clearing, Lu Chen and Huo Yuhao stood facing Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

"Yuhao, don't be nervous. Just focus on supporting me later."

"Leave the rest to me."

Sensing Huo Yuhao's nervousness, Lu Chen patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Mm, I understand, Brother Lu."

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily.

"Spirit Avatar!"

On the other side, Dai Huabin let out a low roar, and surging Soul Power erupted instantly.

Dai Huabin's muscles swelled all over his body, a white character for "king" appeared on his forehead, and his hands transformed into sharp tiger claws.

Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose in succession beneath Dai Huabin's feet.

At the same time, Zhu Lu, the black-haired girl, also completed her Spirit Avatar. Her figure became nimble, and two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath her feet as well.

On Lu Chen's side, Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, and a white Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

"White? A ten-year Soul Ring?"

"Am I seeing things? Shrek Academy actually has someone whose first Soul Ring is only ten years?"

"I... how is he supposed to fight like that?"

At the sight of Huo Yuhao's Soul Ring, waves of surprise and doubt immediately erupted from the surrounding crowd.

At Shrek Academy, students' first Soul Rings were basically all hundred-year yellow Soul Rings.

A ten-year white Soul Ring was something one might not see even once in several years.

Wang Dong stood at the edge of the field. Seeing Huo Yuhao's white Soul Ring, he frowned slightly, concern appearing in his eyes.

Although Lu Chen was powerful in battle, Huo Yuhao's Soul Ring configuration was simply too poor.

This battle could practically be considered Lu Chen fighting two opponents alone.

When Dai Huabin saw that white Soul Ring, he sneered disdainfully. "Trash is trash. Even your Soul Ring is the lowest-grade white one. Huo Yuhao, if I were you, I'd surrender immediately."

Lu Chen kept both hands in his pockets, his posture casual. He merely raised an eyebrow. "You talk too much. If you want to fight, then hurry up."

"Since you're in such a rush to die!"

"Then I'll grant your wish!"

Dai Huabin shouted furiously. He exchanged a glance with Zhu Lu, and the two moved to either side at once.

"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Barrier!"

Dai Huabin was enveloped in white light, and his right fist, accompanied by a howling gust of wind, shot straight toward Lu Chen.

At the same time, Zhu Lu's figure flickered. She unleashed her first Soul Skill—Nether Thrust—and melted into the shadows, coordinating with Dai Huabin's frontal assault.

Their strategy was obvious: take down Lu Chen first.

Then wouldn't the remaining useless Huo Yuhao be theirs to deal with however they pleased?

Seeing Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu attack Lu Chen from both sides, Huo Yuhao's face paled. His eyes became even more focused as he called out softly, "Spiritual Detection, Spiritual Sharing!"

As Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill activated, Lu Chen clearly felt a strange ripple rapidly spreading outward and attempting to establish a connection with his mental sea.

Lu Chen opened his mental sea and accepted the spiritual connection from that strange ripple.

In an instant, an incomparably clear three-dimensional image appeared in Lu Chen's mind.

Centered on him, every movement within a fifty-meter radius entered his field of vision.

The trajectory of Dai Huabin's incoming fist, the angle of Zhu Lu's claw strike.

Even Wang Dong's worried little expression as he watched from the side appeared in perfect detail.

"He scanned everything around him with his Mental Power, then shared it with his teammate."

"As expected of a Soul Skill granted by a million-year soul beast. Its effect is truly powerful."

Feeling the effects of Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill, Lu Chen could not help but marvel inwardly.

Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill was somewhat similar to the Observation Haki Lu Chen knew of.

Except Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill was even more powerful.

Observation Haki only allowed its user to possess the visual information, while Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill could share that vision with his teammates.

This omnidirectional, blind-spot-free god's-eye view was practically a divine skill for team battles.

It was also Flash Step's greatest nemesis.

Lu Chen even felt that Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill had far more than just these two effects.

With the support of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu's seemingly flawless, lightning-fast pincer attack.

Looked slowed down in Lu Chen's eyes, its weaknesses clear as day.

Just as Dai Huabin's fist and Zhu Lu's claws were about to touch Lu Chen.

Lu Chen shifted slightly to the side, and Dai Huabin's fist grazed past his clothes.

"What?!"

Dai Huabin's pupils contracted. That punch was packed with power, and both its speed and angle had been nearly perfect.

Yet it had been evaded so casually!

As Lu Chen sidestepped, he sharply raised his right leg, his knee slamming toward Dai Huabin's abdomen like a cannonball.

"Pfft!"

Dai Huabin's eyes bulged as his whole body curled into a shrimp. His feet left the ground, and the force of the knee strike sent him flying before he crashed heavily onto the ground. Clutching his stomach, he curled into a ball, unable even to scream.

At the same time, from the shadow to Lu Chen's left, Zhu Lu's Nether Thrust silently arrived.

Her sharp cat claws, wrapped in black Soul Power, struck from a viciously tricky angle, aiming directly for the back of Lu Chen's neck.

That strike was clearly intended to kill in a single blow.

But Zhu Lu did not know that every one of her movements had long since been exposed to Lu Chen and Huo Yuhao.

Lu Chen merely turned half his body at an unhurried pace, and Zhu Lu's claws swept past the back of his neck.

Zhu Lu was shocked. She wanted to pull back and attack again from another angle.

But Lu Chen's hand had already caught her wrist from the side.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone displacement rang out.

Zhu Lu let out a muffled groan, and the sharp pain instantly drained all strength from her body.

Holding Zhu Lu's wrist, Lu Chen pulled her back without haste.

Zhu Lu stumbled forward uncontrollably, her body crashing into Lu Chen's chest.

Zhu Lu instinctively tried to struggle, but Lu Chen's other hand had already risen and firmly gripped her throat.

The movement was clean and decisive, without a single wasted motion.

At the sight before them, everyone around the clearing froze.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, who had seemed certain to win, had been suppressed by this boy named Lu Chen after only one exchange.

Lu Chen lowered his head and leaned close to Zhu Lu's ear. He was so close that she could feel his warm breath brush past her ear.

Yet that warmth made her feel as though she had fallen into an ice cellar.

"You're quite pretty."

"Too bad you followed the wrong person."

Lu Chen's voice was soft, carrying a lazy hint of amusement, as though he were appraising a work of art.

"That bastard did that on purpose!"

Watching Lu Chen pull Zhu Lu into his arms, Wang Dong knew Lu Chen was deliberately provoking Dai Huabin, but he was still extremely displeased by Lu Chen's behavior.

Zhu Lu's cheeks instantly flushed red, and a flash of humiliation and fury passed through her eyes.

But the hand around her throat prevented her from saying a single word.

Seeing his fiancée held in Lu Chen's arms while he lay on the ground, Dai Huabin's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!

It was no different from receiving a vicious slap across the face.

What man could endure such humiliation?