Nothing but the law of the jungle

Just as Yang Jian's voice drew the attention of everyone from Shrek, a woman's voice rang out, as though it had crossed the air itself.

Immediately afterward.

No one had any attention to spare for why Yang Jian had made that remark berating Flender.

After all, never mind berating Flender-Yang Jian snapping at the others was hardly a rare occurrence either.

He had only reined himself in a little over the past three years.

So they chose to ignore the remark. Compared with outsiders, the danger posed by scolding and fighting among their own was naturally far smaller.

And that woman whose voice had crossed the air was clearly no gentle soul.

Anyone capable of transmitting her voice over such a distance with Soul Power was bound to be powerful.

Moreover, judging by her age, she had to be at least a Soul King.

"Who's there?!"

At this, Zhao Wuji, who had already withdrawn his Martial Soul, immediately summoned it again.

Seven Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet-yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black-the ideal configuration for a Soul Saint.

With a Soul Ring configuration like that, even another Soul Saint would have to weigh their options carefully.

"A mere Soul Saint dares question me?!"

Just then.

An old man's voice came from the direction of the woman's earlier call.

Upon hearing those words.

Even Flender went on full alert, no longer concerned with Yang Jian's earlier scolding.

He immediately stepped in front of the others and stood beside Zhao Wuji.

Although he did not summon his Martial Soul as Zhao Wuji had, simply standing there gave everyone ample confidence.

"So there's a Soul Saint here. No wonder you had the nerve to stay."

The words had barely faded.

Two elderly people, a man and a woman, appeared before them with a girl of about seventeen or eighteen.

The oldest of them held a Dragon-Headed Staff, and eight Soul Rings emerged beneath his feet-two yellow, three purple, and three black!

The elderly woman clutched a Snake-Headed Staff, with six Soul Rings beneath her feet-two yellow, three purple, and one black.

The newcomers were none other than an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo and a Six-Ring Soul Emperor.

"The Peerless Dragon Snake?!"

Once he saw them clearly, Yu Xiaogang suddenly exclaimed, "Their combined Soul Skill is said to rival a Titled Douluo's strength. At the very least, they're practically invincible beneath the rank of Titled Douluo!"

At Yu Xiaogang's exclamation.

Flender, who had remained composed until then, suddenly experienced a violent fluctuation in his Soul Power.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu, who had been watching the Shrek group all along, caught it instantly.

"Oh, it seems these old eyes missed something. There are two Soul Saints before me. No wonder you're so confident."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu spoke with a hint of mockery.

"Hehe, to think someone still recognizes these old bones after so many years."

"Well, that should make what comes next a little easier to discuss."

"How should we address you two Soul Saints?"

Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang spoke.

One spouse played the red face and the other the white face, their roles complementing each other perfectly.

With the balance of power against them, Flender immediately cupped his hands and said, "I am Flender, and this is our academy's vice dean, Zhao Wuji. I never imagined we would meet the Peerless Dragon Snake here today. It truly is an honor, hehe."

"Oh?"

"So you're Flender, the Flying Horn of the renowned Golden Iron Triangle."

"And the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji, is here as well."

"Forgive this old woman's lack of courtesy."

Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang courteously bowed to them both.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu maintained his cold expression, as though their reputations meant little to him.

"We've observed the courtesies. Now it's time for arms."

"This Soul Beast belongs to my granddaughter Yiran. You've detained it without permission. Surely you owe us an explanation?"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu suddenly pressed the attack.

This seemingly casual move put Flender and Zhao Wuji in a difficult position.

Soul Beasts had always been ownerless. Since when could one be said to belong to someone's granddaughter?

Dragon Duke Meng Shu's claim was sheer nonsense. To put it plainly, he simply wanted to seize it by force.

Had it been anyone else, Flender and Zhao Wuji would not have yielded an inch.

But the man before them was not only a Soul Douluo-level expert, he was also the renowned Dragon Duke.

If a fight really broke out.

Never mind the combined Soul Skill Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang could unleash, which rivaled a Titled Douluo's power.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu alone was enough to keep Flender and Zhao Wuji pinned down.

That still left a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, who could pose a lethal threat to Shrek Academy's children with their two or three rings.

Unless Yang Jian intervened, perhaps giving them a sliver of hope.

For some reason.

Flender and Zhao Wuji seemed to think of something, and both turned their gazes toward Yang Jian at the same time.

Seeing their looks, Yang Jian was clever enough to understand what they meant.

But clearly.

This time, Flender and Zhao Wuji's calculations would come to nothing.

Have Yang Jian help Oscar fight a Six-Ring Soul Emperor-and one who could perform a combined Soul Skill with an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo?

That was absolutely out of the question.

The risks far outweighed the rewards.

He did not care what Oscar would think of him, much less about Shrek Academy's reputation.

That was simply how this world worked.

Nothing but the law of the jungle.

If the Shrek group could rely on force to bully others, then others could naturally rely on force to bully them.

As for emotional ties.

Those certainly existed.

But most of the time, Yang Jian's relationship with Flender and the others was one of mutual benefit. If they truly settled the accounts, Flender and the others owed Yang Jian more.

Besides.

It had not reached a critical moment of life and death, had it?

Wasn't choosing not to act only natural?

"Heh, Flender, why are you all looking at Yang Jian?"

"Don't tell me you believe he can defeat the esteemed Peerless Dragon Snake?"

"Wake up!"

"If we lose a Soul Beast, we can find another. But if we offend the esteemed Peerless Dragon Snake, we'll be in real trouble."

Yu Xiaogang saw that Flender and Zhao Wuji would not even spare a glance for him, the "great contributor" who had identified their enemies.

Instead, they sought an answer with their eyes from a fifteen-year-old boy. What sense did that make?

Of course, there was another point, the most important of all: when Flender had introduced them to the Peerless Dragon Snake earlier.

He had left Yu Xiaogang out.

Clearly, he was taking him far too lightly!

Was that acceptable?

Absolutely not!

At the thought.

The anger Yu Xiaogang had only just managed to quell surged up once more.

"Hehe..."

"This gentleman speaks reasonably."

"Might I ask your name?"

Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang saw that someone in the opposing group was actually praising their side so lavishly.

Since she had never intended to fight in the first place, she naturally returned the peach with a plum and asked his name.

"Yu Xiaogang."

Yu Xiaogang announced his name with considerable smugness.

"Oh, the Grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory. Forgive my lack of courtesy."

"You're too kind, too kind."

"As expected of the Grandmaster, even your words show such discretion. In that case, please hand this thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent over to my granddaughter."

"Grandma, what do you mean, hand it over?! It was our Soul Beast to begin with! If they had any shame at all, they would have given it back ages ago!"

Yu Xiaogang and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang had been chatting amiably when her granddaughter, Meng Yiran, suddenly lost patience and sneered, "What do you mean, discretion? What waves could a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster like him possibly stir up?!"

At those words, Yang Jian's eyes suddenly lit up.