Can This Be Opened?

That was Shrek's glory!

Shrek's glory could not be trampled!

No one could stand in its way!

With that, Zhou Yi stopped concealing her aura.

The pressure of a Soul Emperor descended on Jiang Hao like an invisible hand. Stone slabs shattered and flew like dust, driving his greatsword into the ground and carving a deep furrow.

Only then did Jiang Hao barely manage to stop!

The violent impact forced a mouthful of blood from him, and his heartbeat resumed.

"That move was vicious! But it still wasn't enough!"

Jiang Hao had also gained some insight into his own weaknesses.

For one thing, his Main Body had no means of attacking at range!

Without a speed-type Soul Tool, the speed of his Body Martial Soul alone could not get him close to certain control-type or flying Soul Masters!

Fortunately, his body was tough, and he had plenty of ways to bolster it. He could withstand this much pressure.

Jiang Hao slowly pulled out the greatsword, leaned back, twisted at the waist, and hurled it like a shot put!

Then he charged at Zhou Yi at breakneck speed.

Across from him, Zhou Yi panicked!

Something's wrong! How did he get so much faster all of a sudden?

Jiang Hao caught up with the flying greatsword. Zhou Yi had only just raised a hand to block it when he seized the hilt again, spun with the momentum, and slashed at her chest!

But Zhou Yi sensed the danger, channeled her Soul Power, and struck out with all her might.

As the greatsword hung in midair, Jiang Hao gathered Soul Power and poured it madly into the blade.

"This time, you can have your fill! Absorb!"

As Soul Power drained from Jiang Hao's body, the greatsword's weight under its momentum increased tenfold!

It crashed down on the massive palm of Soul Power Zhou Yi had thrust toward him!

A piercing boom rang out!

Two trails of blood flew backward. Jiang Hao, still gripping his sword, pitched headfirst onto the stone slabs.

The blow from her Soul Power left his organs aching. Blood seeped out with every movement!

Jiang Hao coughed up mouthful after mouthful of blood. Zhou Yi, on the other side, was no better off: her entire right arm was broken! The greatsword had struck her chest, caving it in and breaking at least five ribs.

"I think that Outer Court teacher should be dismissed!

Arrogant and conceited, she underestimated a child. She didn't even bring out half her strength before he seriously wounded her!

How can someone like that teach Shrek's students?"

Yan Shaozhe said to Wang Yan beside him, then vanished from the spot.

Up in the stands, Shrek's students and teachers fell silent before erupting into cheers.

It had happened so fast that no one had managed to react.

Had that teacher lost?

The Blue-Haired Girl's eyes lit up. Beside her, a young man murmured,

"There aren't many teachers like her in the Outer Court. She'll probably be fired, or transferred to another teaching post.

Come on, Xiao Ya. I'll take you to the freshmen's dormitory!"

Meanwhile, at the edge of the Soul Fighting Platform, Gong Changlong looked down at Zhou Yi and said impatiently,

"Are you dead? If not, get off the stage. Stop making a spectacle of yourself."

Rage surged through Zhou Yi, and she collapsed with a thud.

After Zhou Yi was carried away on a stretcher, Jiang Hao slowly climbed to his feet.

Seeing the Shrek students around him waiting quietly for him to stand, he silently put away his greatsword.

He left the Soul Fighting Zone to the sound of cheers!

"Foster Father, Auntie! I'm planning to move out of Shrek Academy."

Xian Ling'er tended the cut Zhou Yi had left on Jiang Hao's arm. His other, internal injuries had already been rapidly healed by his External Soul Bone.

Even Xian Ling'er was amazed!

Yan Shaozhe had told her Jiang Hao had obtained an External Soul Bone, but she had never expected it to heal him, much less with such power.

"This is because of Zhou Yi, isn't it? A teacher in Shrek's Outer Court!

She's used to throwing her weight around with students.

And she even dared to bully a child with her strength. No one can protect her this time!

I'll have her guard the gates of Shrek City!"

Xian Ling'er gave an angry snort.

"Qian Duoduo, say something!"

Qian Duoduo was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "She's Fan Yu's ex-girlfriend!"

"She'll certainly be punished. Doesn't she teach third-year students in the Outer Court? In a few years, we'll find a reason to move her to the first year.

Then we'll dock her pay and benefits. That alone will leave her half-dead.

Let's see how long she lasts at Shrek Academy without Soul Tools or Fan Yu backing her up."

For once, Qian Duoduo was serious.

"As for Hao'er, you should keep living at Shrek Academy!

You've lived in that house in the Bamboo Grove since you were little. We'd hate to see you move out now."

As he spoke, Qian Duoduo stepped forward, patted Jiang Hao's shoulder, and took a Soul Tool Ring from his robes.

"This is for you. It belonged to your parents. Take a look when you get home tonight."

Qian Duoduo tapped the antique-looking ring. Jiang Hao slipped it on, and the dark gemstone at its center gave off a faint glimmer as Soul Power activated it.

"Thank you, Foster Father, but I still plan to move out.

Today's fight showed me just how much I still lack.

I'm going to live in Shrek City. It'll be easier to come and go from there.

Besides, I've grown up. I need to toughen myself up."

Qian Duoduo made an OK sign.

"Don't worry! It'll be fine."

After lunch,

Qian Duoduo and Xian Ling'er stood at the door and watched Jiang Hao leave.

Then both their expressions darkened.

"Find out everything about that bastard Zhou Yi!

I want to know what she's done all these years!

She dared drive our Hao'er out of Shrek Academy!

I'll make sure she pays!"

Xian Ling'er slammed a hand on the table.

"Those Elders of the Sea God Pavilion have bullied Jiang Hao for years. They wouldn't even give him a place to live.

Mu En finally gave Hao'er a little courtyard below Sea God Island, and after barely two days there, an Outer Court teacher drives him out of Shrek!

I don't believe for a moment there's no one behind this!"

"Don't worry. I'll put someone I trust on it. The truth will come to light soon enough!"

Qian Duoduo's face was stern. Gone was the grinning merchant he usually played.

Looking more like a father, he left with a grim face.

After leaving Shrek Academy, Jiang Hao walked through the streets of Shrek City.

Merchants called out around him, and the city had regained its usual bustle.

His aim this time was to rent a place, so he found a Shrek City property agent at random.

The agent took him near Shrek North Gate.

"This is closest to the East Gate!

And this place will do. The little courtyard is cozy."

Jiang Hao sat down and looked over the contract.

"A wealthy merchant used to live here, but he went bankrupt, moved out, and sold us the deed.

If you want to rent it, it's six thousand Gold Soul Coins a month. For a year, I can give you a discount: seventy thousand!

If you'd rather buy it, I can make it six hundred thousand."

"Only six hundred thousand? No one died in this house, did they?" Jiang Hao jerked his head up and stared at the agent.

Something was off. In Shrek City, a house like this should not cost a mere six hundred thousand!

"Come now, of course not. Our properties are perfectly clean. Plenty of tenants wanted to snap this one up before you." The agent's gaze darted about as he rubbed his hands together.

"Forget buying it. I can't afford it."

Jiang Hao had only a little over five hundred thousand in all. If he spent it, he would be left to drink the northwest wind!

"But I'll rent it for three years!

Here's two hundred and ten thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Jiang Hao handed over a Gold Soul Coin card and sat down at the courtyard's stone table.

The house really was impressive.

It fell a little short of Qian Duoduo's place in the Bamboo Grove,

but it had a front hall and a back courtyard. The flowers and potted plants had gone untended for some time, and the artificial rockery in the pond had turned a little green.

None of that was a problem.

After seeing the agent out, Jiang Hao shut the wooden gate and inspected the place carefully.

He stacked all his Mental Attribute Soul Masters within himself.

His Spiritual Power spread outward, and a pair of owl eyes slowly surveyed the surroundings.

"Looks like no one followed me."

With Beans taking shape, the owl burst out of his body.

It hooted twice and landed on Jiang Hao's shoulder.

"Keep watch here from now on!"

Jiang Hao pointed to the large tree in the courtyard. From there, the owl would have the whole property in view.

"You'll spot the slightest stir right away. At night, go back to the forest and continue keeping watch."

Jiang Hao then disguised himself and hurried out through the back gate.

Dressed in a black robe with a pure white mask over his face, he slowly walked out of Shrek City!

He went to a spot not far from the city.

It was by Shrek City's west gate.

His shadow had been following the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's group. Judging by their route, they should pass through here.

"When they do, I'll put on a show for you."