Strong Slap in the Face! Ya Li Appears

"Zhen Hua's student? Do you deserve to be?"

Chen Xing initially couldn't be bothered to argue with her, but the moment those words came out, his eyes grew cold as well.

Cai Yue'er wasn't finished yet.

She crossed her arms, adopting an arrogant posture, swept a condescending glance over Tang Wulin, and then looked at Shen Yi.

"Shen Yi, I'll remind you one more time. If you dare to bring them into the Inner Court today, I'll dismiss you from the Outer Court."

Shen Yi's face turned pale, and the corners of her eyes even grew red.

Tang Wulin's fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Chen Xing, however, reached out to press down on his shoulder and stepped forward.

"Dean Cai."

Chen Xing raised his head.

"You keep running your mouth about how I'm a zero soul power trash, unworthy of being Teacher Zhen Hua's student, and unworthy of entering Shrek. Then I'd like to ask, as the dean of the Shrek Outer Court, do you even deserve to represent the entirety of Shrek?"

Cai Yue'er sneered.

"A piece of trash like you dares to ask if I deserve to?"

Chen Xing nodded.

"Fine, then today I'll use this zero soul power to teach you what respect is!"

As his voice fell, he raised his hand and pressed it against his chest.

The next second, a tearing roar echoed from the sky.

A crimson streak of light pierced through the clouds and arrived, crashing down before the gates of Shrek Academy with a terrifying wave of air.

Starblazer landed on one knee, its metal soles causing the stone-paved path to crack inch by inch.

A violent gale whipped up dust, blowing everyone's robes into a fierce flutter.

Cai Yue'er's expression finally changed.

"A Mecha? You dare make a move at Shrek Academy?"

"Why wouldn't I!"

Chen Xing smiled.

He leaped directly into the cockpit.

The next moment, Starblazer's eyes instantly lit up with a crimson-gold radiance.

"You!"

Cai Yue'er laughed out of extreme anger.

A series of soul rings rose from beneath her feet:

Purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red, red!

Nine rings, a Super Douluo! Her martial soul was Silver Moon.

With a direct strike, she unleashed a Moon Palm toward Starblazer.

"Boom!"

Yet when that palm force struck Starblazer's chest, the armor stood steadfast on the ground, not moving so much as an inch.

Starblazer lowered its head to look at her.

"Dean Cai, didn't you eat?"

Cai Yue'er's expression stiffened, and she intended to execute an even stronger soul skill.

In the next instant, however, Starblazer abruptly raised its hand, its mechanical arm sweeping horizontally with a gale force.

It didn't use beam cannons, nor did it use a greatsword; it merely used the flat of the sword to sweep across.

"Slap!!!"

Cai Yue'er flew out like a kite with a snapped string, slamming heavily into the stone pillar beside the academy gates.

The moment she struggled to her feet, nosebleeds were already streaming down, and her left eye rapidly swelled shut.

"You... you dare!"

Starblazer took a step forward, and the flat of the sword swept down once more.

"This strike is for Teacher Shen."

"Slap!"

Cai Yue'er was struck into a spin on the spot, the right side of her face swelling high.

"This strike is for my brother."

"Slap!"

Cai Yue'er tumbled to the ground, half her teeth loosening.

"This strike is because your mouth is foul."

"Slap!"

Starblazer retracted its hand. Cai Yue'er was already battered and bruised, her hair disheveled, retaining none of her earlier high-and-mighty appearance.

Shen Yi covered her mouth, utterly dumbfounded.

Tang Wulin swallowed hard and whispered,

"Brother, please don't beat her to death..."

"Relax, I know my limits. I'm only hitting her face."

"..."

Cai Yue'er lay on the ground, still wanting to curse at Chen Xing.

Right at that moment, a gentle yet helpless voice arrived.

"Stop, all of you."

A woman with dark green hair hurried over, and she was none other than Ya Li.

When she saw Cai Yue'er's bruised and swollen face, she was stunned at first, then gently sighed.

"Little friend Chen Xing, put the Mecha away first, alright? This is the academy."

Seeing when to stop, Chen Xing leaped down from the cockpit, put away Starblazer, and bowed slightly.

"Dean Ya Li."

Ya Li first walked over to Cai Yue'er's side, inspected her injuries, and asked softly,

"Does it hurt severely?"

Cai Yue'er covered her face, feeling aggrieved and furious.

"Dean Ya Li, he..."

"I know."

Ya Li gently patted her shoulder. "I'll heal you later once I return. I saw everything that happened today. You were the one who acted improperly first, and you shouldn't have spoken to Grandmaster Zhen Hua's disciple that way."

Cai Yue'er was unwilling to accept this.

"But he beat me into this state!"

Ya Li looked at her, her tone remaining mild.

"His strike was heavy, and I will speak to him about it, but if you hadn't used your soul power to pressure others, or used your status to block them, matters wouldn't have reached this point. Yue'er, Shrek's prestige isn't earned by stepping on others."

Cai Yue'er opened her mouth, ultimately able only to slink away despondently.

Yet Chen Xing could detect that deep beneath the other party's gaze, a shred of venom was clearly hidden.

That venom wasn't directed at just him, but at Ya Li as well.

Only then did Ya Li turn back to Chen Xing, letting out a light sigh.

"Little friend Chen Xing, resorting to violence within the academy is improper in any case. However, today's affair was indeed Yue'er's fault first. I can understand you acting out of self-preservation, but next time, don't beat people into such a state, alright?"

Chen Xing bowed slightly.

"I heed the dean's words."

Ya Li smiled, her gaze gentle.

"Grandmaster Zhen Hua's disciple truly lives up to the rumors. As for the matter of cooperation, I agree to it. You may come to discuss the details with me shortly. Shen Yi, take them for a tour first; both Inner and Outer Courts are fine, just mind the boundaries."

Shen Yi hurriedly acknowledged the order.

Ya Li glanced at Chen Xing once more, her tone soft.

"If anyone gives you trouble again, you may come find me. Shrek is not a place where one relies on power to bully others."

Chen Xing nodded.

To be honest, Ya Li as a person was intellectual and kind-hearted; she was indeed a good person.

Yet this kindness of hers was unsuited for managing Shrek.

Today's Cai Yue'er was an example.

Still.

She was currently one of the targets Zhen Hua wanted to discuss cooperation with.

Using this connection might come in handy in the future.

There was no need for him to hold onto a grudge, either.

Besides, he'd already delivered this wave of slaps.

The most important matter right now was still taking Tang Wulin to the Golden Ancient Tree.

He turned his head to glance at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin was looking back at him with a bewildered expression.

Chen Xing leaned in and lowered his voice. "Wulin, listen to my arrangements later."

Although Tang Wulin didn't understand, he still nodded.

Shen Yi led the two of them into the academy.

Shrek Academy was vast, with Sea God Lake separating the Outer and Inner Courts.

Shen Yi introduced things as they walked, but Chen Xing's mind was entirely on the Golden Ancient Tree.

He needed to find an opportunity to take Tang Wulin off on his own.

"Teacher Shen," Chen Xing suddenly spoke up, "can we take a look at the Inner Court side?"

Shen Yi was slightly stunned.

"The Inner Court isn't usually open to outsiders, but Dean Ya Li just said it was fine."

"I'll lead you over."

Chen Xing nodded, following Shen Yi in the direction of Sea God Lake.

Just as the three of them passed the Outer Court Martial Arts Arena, a figure abruptly blocked their path.

That was a young male teacher who looked to be in his twenties, wearing a faculty uniform with fairly decent features.

Yet his gaze was distinctly full of displeasure.

"Teacher Zhou?"

Teacher Zhou?

Who?

Was there a character like this in the original plot?