"Then thank you, Dean Yan."
Chu Ge spoke calmly.
"No need to thank me. I should be thanking you."
"With this Soul Bone here, we can give the Inner Court students something to strive for."
Yan Shaozhe smiled and shook his head repeatedly.
Perhaps because of the unavoidable conflict between the two sides, Chu Ge could not give this treasure directly to the Dai Family, but Yan Shaozhe certainly had no such problem.
As the dean of Shrek Academy, his first thought after obtaining a high-grade Soul Bone had been for his students. Even if word spread beyond the academy, it would earn him tremendous praise.
He placed far less importance on the academy's honor than his teacher did. At the very least, he would never insist that students sacrifice their lives to defend its honor simply because they had joined. Still, who would turn down a good reputation?
As for his relationship with the Dai Family...
Dai Hao was, at best, merely a Titled Douluo. Even if both his sons had the talent to become Titled Douluos, so what?
Compared with Chu Ge, there was no question about whom he should befriend.
Thus, this would be his first transaction with the Dai Family, and also his last. He, Yan Shaozhe, had always known how to see the bigger picture.
In fact, because he thought so highly of Chu Ge, he could already see the Dai Family bringing destruction upon themselves.
Provoking a twenty-year-old Titled Douluo was even more outrageous than provoking his teacher.
"However, there's one more thing. I hope you won't refuse, my young friend Chu Ge."
At that moment, Yan Shaozhe put those thoughts aside and spoke with a smile.
"Hmm?"
"What is it?"
Chu Ge responded noncommittally.
"I've always been curious about just how strong you are. I wonder..."
"Would you spar with me?"
With a composed smile, Yan Shaozhe voiced what was on his mind. He actually wanted to fight Chu Ge.
This was the greatest genius in the world today.
He had become a Titled Douluo at twenty and possessed three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings. Although Yan Shaozhe's cultivation was higher, he might not actually be a match for him.
The enhancements granted by red Soul Rings were unimaginable to someone like him, who had never obtained one. He was very curious about just how far the young man before him could go.
What strength would Chu Ge unleash against a veteran powerhouse like him, who possessed the top-tier martial soul, the bright phoenix?
"Of course."
Hearing this, Chu Ge's eyes immediately lit up, and he agreed without a second thought.
Yan Shaozhe was curious, but so was he.
He was now at rank ninety-three. Perhaps that did not place him among the continent's very strongest, but he was certainly no weakling. Moreover, he had twin martial souls, eighteen Soul Rings, and two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.
Even so, he had no clear understanding of his own strength. After all, he had never fought a powerhouse before.
Yan Shaozhe, standing before him, was a long-established Titled Douluo. Although he still had some way to go before becoming a Super Douluo, he was nevertheless at rank ninety-five. Fighting him...
That should not count as picking on someone weaker, right?
"Good!"
Anticipation flashed across Yan Shaozhe's face, and he nodded.
"Let's go."
With that, he left his residence and took to the sky, heading toward an open area on the outskirts.
"There's hardly anyone here, so we won't have to worry about students gathering to watch the excitement."
Yan Shaozhe withdrew his wings of light and spoke with a broad smile. His gaze burned with such intensity that it was as though he had spotted some stunning beauty.
Chu Ge...
Just how powerful was he?
"Come on."
"Don't hold back, my young friend Chu Ge."
Yan Shaozhe said no more, his expression turning serious. The next moment, nine Soul Rings appeared around him all at once: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Although he was a powerhouse, he had no Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, leaving him with what was known as the optimal configuration.
Radiant armor had already clad his body, while the enormous phantom of a luminous phoenix appeared behind him.
This was his martial soul, the bright phoenix.
As a veteran powerhouse, he had his own confidence. Even though the young man's Soul Ring configuration far surpassed his, he felt no fear.
They were only Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings. He might not have any, but that did not mean he had never seen them. There was no way he would chicken out.
"All right."
Facing Yan Shaozhe, Chu Ge smiled slightly. A dark-gold hammer appeared in his hand, held in an easy grip. It was his martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer.
Around him was the same configuration of six black and three red Soul Rings.
At once, the aura of a powerhouse poured from him in full force, sweeping over Yan Shaozhe. As Yan Shaozhe looked at him, awe inevitably appeared on his face.
Strong.
Far too strong!
If our Xiaotao really could end up with a man like this, she would truly be marrying far above her station!
"Brother Chu Ge, you're the junior here."
"You go first."
Yan Shaozhe smiled slightly, looking utterly unruffled in the face of danger. As a powerhouse of the older generation, he had his own confidence.
"Titan's Hammer."
Chu Ge did not refuse. As the second black Soul Ring around him blazed with light, a dark glow gathered over the Clear Sky Hammer.
"So what if it's Titan's Hammer..."
Bang-
Yan Shaozhe wore a brilliant, confident smile, maintaining his image as a powerhouse. He might even become this young man's father-in-law someday, so he still had to keep up appearances.
Yet the next moment...
When his defenses were completely shattered and he was sent flying along with them, Chu Ge could not help calling out.
"Why did you take it head-on?"
Looking bewildered, Chu Ge hurried over, his expression thoughtful.
This was the Clear Sky Hammer.
It had once been universally acknowledged as the world's greatest tool martial soul. Although its reputation on the continent was somewhat inflated, it was still one of the strongest tool martial souls.
Especially... his Clear Sky Hammer, whose nine Soul Skills all stacked attack power. Never mind knocking down a little kid with one punch-even a Super Douluo would have to fall to their knees.
"Uh..."
Yan Shaozhe's expression was grave as he slowly climbed to his feet and brushed the dirt off himself, lapsing into silence.
This was bad.
What remained of his image as a powerhouse seemed to have vanished!
"Again..."
Yan Shaozhe unleashed his sixth Soul Skill and looked at Chu Ge as though a great battle was about to begin. He, Yan Shaozhe, would never admit defeat.
But the outcome of all this had clearly been sealed from the moment Chu Ge sent him flying with a single hammer strike.
"Teacher, what happened to you...?"
A little while later, after failing to find Chu Ge, Ma Xiaotao returned to look for her teacher. Seeing him utterly exhausted, with even his clothes somewhat tattered, she looked bewildered.
In such a short time...
Had she missed something?
"Are you really my teacher?"
Ma Xiaotao asked after a silence.
PS: Some readers previously asked why I hadn't posted the protagonist's Soul Skills. That is indeed an issue, so I'll post the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Skills here first:
First Soul Skill: Endless Vitality.
Second Soul Skill: Blue Silver Has a Spirit.
Third Soul Skill: Windblown Rebirth.
Fourth Soul Skill: Light of Recovery.
Fifth Soul Skill: Blue Silver's Blessing.
Sixth Soul Skill: Blue Silver Domain.
Seventh Soul Skill: Blue Silver Avatar.
Eighth Soul Skill: Heavenly Rainfall.
Ninth Soul Skill: Ode to Life.
Those are the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Skills. The Clear Sky Hammer's Soul Skills simply stack damage; they are all enhancement skills, enough to flatten a little kid with each hit. (I'm truly hopeless at naming things. Does anyone have suggestions?)
(End of chapter)
Before you continue