Arresting Xiao Wu

Suotuo City.

"I almost forgot. Shrek City doesn't exist yet."

Xu Xiaonian walked down the streets of Suotuo City with the three women, murmuring to himself.

"Shrek Academy is still in a remote village outside Suotuo City at this point."

Passersby kept turning to look at their group. After all, they hardly looked like residents of Suotuo City.

"Master, where are we going now?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"Where?" Xu Xiaonian thought for a moment, then asked her instead, "What do you think of the Star Luo Imperial Family? What do you think of Dai Mubai?"

"What I think..." Zhu Zhuqing barely needed to consider it before shaking her head.

"They're incredibly overbearing and dangerous to cross. The imperial family often forces marriage alliances on our Netherworld Zhu clan, dressing it up as a way to strengthen both sides."

"In reality, it's to control our Netherworld Zhu clan, an imperial noble clan second only to the Star Luo Dai clan, and prevent us from rebelling."

"They're utterly hypocritical. It's disgusting."

Hearing her assessment, Xu Xiaonian asked in surprise,

"Who told you all this? Your clan elders dared instill these ideas in you right under the imperial family's nose in the Star Luo Imperial City? Aren't they afraid of being discovered?"

"No." Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly. "Ever since our clan elders and clan head learned of your existence, Master, they've spoken all the bitter grievances they'd kept bottled up in their hearts for so long."

"You did the right thing." Xu Xiaonian smiled and said lightly,

"With me here, even if the entire Star Luo Imperial Family pours out of its nest, they won't be able to do anything to your clan."

His confidence bordered on arrogance, yet neither Zhu Zhuqing nor Zhu Zhuyun felt even a trace of doubt.

Having spent the past six years by Xu Xiaonian's side, day and night, they knew he was telling the truth.

"For now, let's collect a little interest from the Star Luo Imperial Family."

The Rose Hotel.

Tang San and Xiao Wu entered, intending to book the last room, only for Dai Mubai to arrive and snatch it away with his strength and money.

"Do you want a fight?"

Dai Mubai looked utterly disdainful. Even outside the Star Luo Empire, he was still a prince. What right did some commoner brat have to fight him for something he wanted?

Of course, if this brat named Tang San had some ability, that would be another matter.

The strong always appreciated one another! As long as it wasn't some worthless lowborn wretch provoking him.

"Then I'll fight you to the end."

Tang San's gaze sharpened. Rule number... of the Tang Sect's code. Whatever the number, he couldn't let a provocation go unanswered.

Soon, after a bout,

Tang San lost without using his hidden weapons, but both men developed a mutual appreciation for each other.

"You can have this room."

Dai Mubai waved a hand, intending to do them a favor.

Just then,

"I'll take this hotel."

A calm, overbearing voice rang through the hotel lobby, its tone brooking no argument.

The newcomers were none other than Xu Xiaonian and his group.

Standing between the three women, Xu Xiaonian looked at Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the twin sisters, then said calmly,

"You lot can get lost."

"Oh, and this girl and those twins are staying."

Dai Mubai frowned. "Arrogant!"

Tang San's eyes widened in fury. "If you want to hurt Xiao Wu, you'll have to get through me first!"

"Then come at me together. Don't waste my time." Xu Xiaonian's expression remained calm, his whole bearing casual and indifferent.

He simply couldn't muster any seriousness against these two.

Perhaps Tang Hao's arrival would make him take things a little more seriously.

Drawing Tang Hao out was precisely why he was doing this.

Dai Mubai was the first to lose his patience. He couldn't tolerate anyone being more arrogant than he was.

"White Tiger Protection Barrier!"

Watching Dai Mubai charge toward him, Xu Xiaonian lifted his eyelids slightly, then spoke slowly.

"Second Soul Skill, Holy Light Chant!"

The Holy Spirit Purcell martial soul appeared behind him. With eyes tightly shut, the martial soul slowly opened its mouth, uttering strange, sacred syllables that sounded like words from scripture.

The next instant,

Those strange, sacred syllables turned into peculiar golden symbols that clung to Dai Mubai's entire body.

Bang!

With every bone in his body shattered by the blast, Dai Mubai collapsed to the floor like a heap of sludge and howled in agony!

"Aah! How is this possible?!"

"How could my White Tiger Protection Barrier shatter at a touch?!"

Xu Xiaonian had deliberately held back, so Dai Mubai hadn't died yet. The person who would kill him wasn't Xu Xiaonian.

It was...

"Dai Mubai! To think someone from the Star Luo Dai clan would meet an end like this. How satisfying."

Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows behind him, her face icy. After mocking Dai Mubai, she turned to Xu Xiaonian with admiration written all over her face.

"But with Master taking action, this outcome was only to be expected."

"Zhu Zhuqing?" Of course Dai Mubai recognized the woman he had fallen for at first sight when he was nine. Then fury overwhelmed him. "Zhu Zhuqing? What did you call this man? Master?!"

"No! How could you betray me?!"

"Aah!"

Crack!

Dai Mubai screamed.

A whip mark appeared across his face. Holding a long whip, Zhu Zhuqing stared coldly at him.

"You? Worthy of my betrayal? You're not even worth that."

"Enough." Xu Xiaonian signaled for her to stop. "I don't want to see anything too bloody. Give him a painful end."

"Yes, Master." Zhu Zhuqing raised her whip and aimed it at his throat, saying coldly, "Master is kindhearted. You're getting off far too lightly."

"Aah!"

Tang San's eyelid twitched as he watched Dai Mubai die right before his eyes. Worse still, that brief exchange had given him no insight into Xu Xiaonian's true abilities.

He had instantly killed Dai Mubai, who was stronger than Tang San, with a single move. His strength was utterly unfathomable.

Still...

"If you want to hurt Xiao Wu, you'll have to step over my corpse first!" Tang San's gaze was resolute.

"Brother San!" Deeply moved, Xiao Wu was just about to face their enemy alongside him when she heard what sounded like the summons of the god of death.

Xu Xiaonian slowly raised a slender, elegant hand and said coldly,

"Third Soul Skill, Wrath of Radiance!"

Whoosh!

The sky darkened, thick with black clouds.

A golden pillar of light carrying an aura of annihilation locked onto Tang San and Xiao Wu, striking toward them with lightning speed.

"Aah!! I'll fight you to the death!"

"...How is this possible?!"

Tang San was soon dumbfounded. His hidden weapons and Clear Sky Hammer struck the pillar of light like clay oxen sinking into the sea, unable to impede it in the slightest!

The pillar of light was about to descend upon his head.

At that moment,

Xu Xiaonian suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile curling his lips as though everything was in the palm of his hand.

"Tang Hao, you've finally arrived."

"In that case, I'll add another strike. Let's see whether you can protect both of them from my attacks."

"First Soul Skill, Holy Shadow, Flowing Light Break!"

Boom!

The entire Rose Hotel was razed to the ground.

The innocent people Xu Xiaonian had specifically shielded remained unharmed. They trembled as they stared at the ruins beneath them.

Xu Xiaonian took a closer look.

Tang San was nowhere to be seen, while on the ground...

Xiao Wu lay at death's door, terror written across her face.