Shrek Academy! Conversation Between Dai Mubai and Flender!

When Dai Mubai left the Great Soul Arena, it was already past nine o'clock.

The healing Soul Masters worked in the back for a long time to completely disperse the chaotic lightning-attribute Soul Power that had rampaged through his body.

The middle-aged healing Soul Master wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to the assistant beside him, "Alright, his external injuries aren't severe, but the lightning-type Soul Power seeped into his meridians. Half an hour later, and his meridians would have suffered damage for sure; this kid is lucky."

When Dai Mubai slowly regained consciousness, he felt every single muscle in his body aching and swelling. Although the wound on his chest where the Raikiri had pierced through was already healed, a persistent tingling numbness lingered beneath his skin, feeling like countless fine needles poking back and forth inside the gaps of his bones.

He propped his body up to sit, lowered his head to take a look at his chest, and saw a hole torn in his clothes exposing the undamaged skin underneath. Yet, that needle-like pain reminded him that what happened moments ago was real, not a dream.

He had been knocked flying by punches and kicks, and beaten down by Soul Skills, but never had any time made him feel as desperate as today.

The image of that milky-white electric light tearing through the White Tiger Radiant Wave and piercing his chest replayed in his mind over and over, and each replay sent a chill down his spine.

Dai Mubai silently put on his clothes, refused the healing Soul Master's suggestion to lie down a bit longer, walked out of the arena's back rooms, and headed toward Shrek Academy alone along the street.

The chilly night wind blew against him, making him shiver and quicken his pace.

The nearby villagers of Shrek Academy saw him looking like this, his hair still wildly messy and sticking up, a hole torn in his clothes, and his face as pale as paper, and they were all startled. "Young Master Dai, what happened to you?"

"Nothing."

Dai Mubai waved his hand, not wanting to say much, and lowered his head as he briskly walked into the academy.

The hour was quite late, and most of the dormitories in the academy had their lights turned off, with only a dim light still shining over by the administrative building.

As Dai Mubai was walking toward his own dormitory, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Mubai?"

Dai Mubai paused his steps, looked back, and saw Flender standing at the entrance of the administrative building, holding a cup of hot tea and squinting as he sized him up.

Flender hadn't slept tonight; he was calculating accounts in his room when he heard footsteps outside and came out to take a look, never expecting to see his academy's proudest student looking like this.

Flender's gaze moved from Dai Mubai's messy hair to his torn clothes, lingered on his pale face for a few seconds, and his brows furrowed. "What happened to you? Did you get into a fight with someone?"

Dai Mubai's lips moved, not really wanting to speak.

Today's defeat was too humiliating. As the dignified Evil-Eyed White Tiger, he was beaten by a newcomer in public without the slightest power to fight back, and even after using his third Soul Skill, he was still finished off by a single move.

With words like that spoken aloud, where would he put his face?

But Flender was his dean and one of the people he respected most. After hesitating for a few seconds, Dai Mubai still braced himself and spoke. "Today at the soul arena, I met a newcomer... and lost."

He said the last two words very softly, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

The teacup in Flender's hand paused, and an expression of astonishment appeared on his face. "Lost? You?"

Dai Mubai nodded, his throat dry. "The opponent was also a Soul Elder, peak level-thirty-nine, agility system, code-named The Flash. His speed was too fast; I didn't even touch a corner of his clothes the whole time."

He paused and added another sentence, "He used a self-created soul skill, condensing a mass of white lightning on his hand, and directly shattered my White Tiger Radiant Wave, and... pierced through my chest. Even though it didn't bleed, the lightning-attribute Soul Power poured into my meridians, and I passed out on the spot."

As Flender listened, his expression changed from astonishment to solemnity.

Peak Level-Thirty-Nine Soul Elder.

Agility system.

Speed so fast that Dai Mubai couldn't even touch the corner of his clothes.

A self-created soul skill condensing white lightning on the hand.

An image suddenly flashed through his mind.

This afternoon, that teenager wearing a black half-face mask in his shop cursed "Get lost" right to his face, and then transformed into a streak of lightning, vanishing without a trace.

His storage ring had vanished just like that, and he searched the sky for half a day without finding even a single hair.

That teenager was also an agile-type Soul Master with terrifyingly fast speed, and also at the Soul Elder level...

It couldn't be such a coincidence, right?

Flender swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked tentatively, "That Flash you mentioned... how old is he?"

Dai Mubai was stunned for a moment, recalling, "I don't know the specifics either. He wore a black half-face mask, his build didn't look large, and judging by his voice, he's probably only around twelve or thirteen years old."

The teacup in Flender's hand almost tipped over.

Twelve or thirteen years old.

Terrifyingly absurd speed.

Appearing in Suotuo City on the very same day.

He pictured that teenager spitting out the word "Get lost" and his lip movements before leaving, along with his own empty finger, and suddenly felt a spasm in his heart.

"Are you sure he's a Soul Elder?" Flender asked persistently, unwilling to give up.

"Yes, he is a Three-Ring Soul Elder, and moreover he didn't reveal his spirit rings the entire time, but I can confirm he is a peak Soul Elder; that fluctuation of Soul Power can't be wrong," Dai Mubai answered truthfully.

Flender fell silent.

Twelve or thirteen years old, ultimate speed, also called Lightning, appearing in Suotuo City on the exact same day, stealing his ring, and beating up his student.

Aside from that same brat, who else could it be?

Flender placed the teacup onto the nearby windowsill, clenched his fists, and the expression on his face alternated between red and white.

He wanted to curse, but didn't know who to curse at, much less where to direct it.

That kid was elusive; even Dai Mubai couldn't touch a single hair of his. What could he, Flender, do even if he found him?

He had chased him through the sky all afternoon and hadn't managed to touch a damn thing.

He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and looking at Dai Mubai's battered state, patted his shoulder with a complicated tone. "Alright, go back and get a good rest. That kid... is no ordinary opponent."

Dai Mubai was slightly stunned. "The headmaster knows him?"

Flender's mouth twitched. He remained silent for two seconds, then squeezed a sentence through his teeth. "I don't. Now hurry up and get back to bed."

Although full of doubts, seeing Flender's face as dark as the bottom of a pot, Dai Mubai wisely asked no more and turned toward the dormitories.

Flender stood alone at the entrance of the administration building, gazing up at the night sky and remaining silent for a long time.

After a good while, he drew a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Brat, you stole my ring and beat up my student... You'd better hope I don't run into you on the street."

He said that, but in his heart he knew very well that even if he did run into him, what could he possibly do to the fellow?

He couldn't catch him in a chase, and couldn't hit him in a fight. By then, not only would he fail to get the ring back, but he'd end up losing another ring as well...

A sharp ache gripped Flender. He rubbed his heavy chest, turned, went back inside, and shut the door.

If we could rope him into joining Shrek Academy, it would also wipe the slate clean.