"All right, stop for a moment."
Du Weilun rose from the podium, his voice bolstered by the immense Soul Power of a Soul Douluo, drawing every eye on the field.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am your dean, Du Weilun. I also serve as director of education for the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy's outer court. If the outstanding students among you are fortunate enough to advance to Shrek Academy, you will see me again."
After a brief silence, cries of "Hello, Dean!" rose one after another across the playground.
With just a few words, the oppressive, deathly silence Jiang Dongjun had created through his string of victories was dispelled.
Though Jiang Dongjun was displeased, he showed none of it on his face.
He sank his awareness into his Sea of Consciousness and communed with the Light of Time and Space. Sensing that the two-fifths of the academy's fortune he had already brought under his control remained unchanged, he paid no further mind to Du Weilun's sudden interference.
"I am delighted by Student Jiang's performance today. I cannot help marveling at how Shrek City's blessed land nurtures exceptional people, producing heroes one after another!
"To say Student Jiang's Spiritual Power cultivation stands above his peers would no longer do him justice. Even among Shrek Academy's outer court students, not a single one under fifteen can compare with him in Spiritual Power cultivation!
"Such an outstanding performance must be rewarded, or I could hardly satisfy everyone. I have prepared a gift for Student Jiang. Once these matches conclude, he may collect it from Vice Dean Ji, who oversees logistics."
At these words, the entire academy's teachers and students looked enviously at Jiang Dongjun in the center of the playground.
Jiang Dongjun maintained a composed expression, but inwardly, his guard went up. They aren't pulling that "Lin Chong blunders into White Tiger Hall" routine on me, are they?
The moment we met, this old bastard Du Weilun was definitely hostile toward me.
But why? A grudge from our parents' generation?
How could Jiang Dongjun have guessed that the man had mistaken him for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast of the spiritual type that had taken human form?
"Thank you for your generous gift, Dean." Jiang Dongjun bowed slightly, then continued, "To repay your appreciation, Dean, I wish to continue these matches and challenge the fourth- and fifth-year divisions-the Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters. My results will prove your keen eye for talent."
Hmph! I don't care what medicine you're hiding in that gourd. Today, I, Jiang Dongjun, am taking all the fortune in this Elementary Soul Master Academy!
Not even Tang San can stop me!
"Good, good, good. Of course the matches can continue, but I believe we should change the format."
The dark-faced Du Weilun smiled. The map had unrolled, revealing the dagger beneath.
"Student Jiang, as your dean, I must teach you a lesson ahead of time. What matters most to a Soul Master is their Martial Soul and Soul Power cultivation. Spiritual Power cultivation is merely flowers added to brocade. The further you advance in cultivation, the less your innate advantage in Spiritual Power will remain.
"If you continue employing Spiritual Power in the coming matches, there will be no need to proceed. We can simply award you the title of 'Chief Student of Shrek City's Elementary Soul Master Academy.'
"As for how many people would accept that title? I imagine it would be a matter of debate."
For some reason.
At those words, Jiang Dongjun's gaze abruptly grew grave.
Damn it!
Those little brats he should already have beaten into submission had undergone a subtle change of heart because of a single remark from Du Weilun. They seemed to have developed thoughts of resistance again, their acknowledgment of his strength weakening.
Jiang Dongjun heard quiet murmurs gradually rising among the students around the playground.
"That's right. In the end, a Soul Master has to let their Martial Soul and Soul Power cultivation do the talking."
"So he was only relying on an innate advantage. The dean said it'll disappear later. That's great! He can only throw his weight around now."
"Heh, without his Spiritual Power advantage, we all know how strong a Fireball Martial Soul is."
"..."
Such an idiotic take, yet more and more of the little brats were buying it.
As a result, his hold over the two-fifths of the academy's fortune he had just brought under his control was shaken?!
Jiang Dongjun could not tolerate a duck that was nearly cooked pushing off the pot lid and flying away.
"Dean, how would you like me to fight the fourth- and fifth-years next? I'll take them on however you want!"
"Haha, I'm truly sorry for making you leave your comfort zone. However, Student Jiang, I will compensate you. If you can keep winning, I will prepare another gift for you-one that is the most precious gift any Soul Master could receive!"
Jiang Dongjun did not care about gifts. He only wanted fortune.
"Dean, just tell me. How are we fighting?"
"Very simply. Don't use your Spiritual Power to overwhelm others. Compete against the fourth- and fifth-year Soul Master students using only your Martial Soul, Soul Skills, and Soul Power cultivation."
Jiang Dongjun answered with action. A Gilded Fireball rose behind him as he swept his gaze over the field.
"This is my Martial Soul, a fireball!"
"Next, I'll defeat you using the most orthodox methods of a Soul Master. Anyone without a Hundred-Year Soul Ring shouldn't come up here and invite humiliation."
How much fortune could a Soul Master with a ten-year first ring possess?
Jiang Dongjun could not be bothered to waste Soul Power harvesting them. He was eager to devour the final, largest slice of cake.
"I'll challenge you. I'm Chen Yuan, a fourth-year."
"Jiang Dongjun!"
Ten-year-old Chen Yuan wore a well-fitted black outfit and stood ramrod straight, looking like a stern little schoolmaster.
The Soul King referee brought his hand down, announcing the start of the match.
An azure sword appeared in Chen Yuan's hand, over three feet long and three fingers wide. Water vapor swirled around it, and two Yellow Soul Rings encircled its blade.
At last, a Soul Grandmaster as his opponent!
The first ring lit up. Clearwater Sword Qi!
Chen Yuan rapidly swung his sword. Streaks of emerald sword qi, gleaming with watery light, shot forth and surged toward Jiang Dongjun like a tide.
They locked onto his aura, leaving no room to dodge!
In the original story of the Douluo World, the targeting mechanisms of Soul Skills had always been emphasized. Wang Dong's third Soul Skill pursued the ultimate burst of power without a target-locking effect because she had chosen it with Huo Yuhao's presence in mind.
How could an ordinary Soul Master's Soul Skills be so easy to dodge?
The Yellow Soul Ring around Jiang Dongjun likewise lit up. His aura abruptly surged, blazing like a brilliant sun. The Gilded Fireball hanging high above his head shed dusky yellow flames, which wove a gauzy energy robe around him.
Great Sun Golden Body!
Dusk's Blessing!
Then Jiang Dongjun erupted with terrifying speed, charging straight into the relentless storm of sword qi before him. His arms swept out, smashing every approaching streak of Clearwater Sword Qi apart without allowing it to inflict the slightest damage on his energy robe.
The afternoon sun blazed fiercely, granting Jiang Dongjun a 3.5-fold boost to all his attributes.
The energy robe was part of the fireball, with a density of four tonnes per cubic meter.
A monster had broken out of its cage!
Jiang Dongjun's explosive speed was inconceivable. He crossed the fifty-foot distance almost in the blink of an eye, the storm of sword qi between them failing to impede him in the slightest. His hand, wrapped in the energy robe, clenched into a fist and hurtled toward Chen Yuan's chest.
Chen Yuan barely managed to react. The second ring around his sword lit up, enhancing the Clearwater Sword's sharpness, and he hastily raised the blade to thrust at Jiang Dongjun.
The latter met the blade barehanded.
However sharp the blade and sword qi might be, neither could cut through that thin layer of dusk-colored energy gauze.
His knuckles slipped past the sword tip. Then his arm swept sideways, the back of his fist smashing hard against the flat of the blade and brutally knocking it aside.
An overwhelming force traveled through the sword into Chen Yuan's hand. His expression changed in horror, his wrist giving a teeth-grating groan and visibly swelling. Unable to maintain his grip, he lost the sword, and the Clearwater Sword spun through the air.
With their very first exchange, Chen Yuan's guard was already wide open!
"Hold back!"
Even without the Soul King referee's warning, Jiang Dongjun knew where to draw the line.
He was here to seize fortune, not kill anyone. He was also afraid a single punch would perform open-chest surgery on Chen Yuan, punching clean through him.
He reined in his strength, opened his fist into a palm, and struck.
Chen Yuan flew backward, vomiting blood in midair. The Soul King referee caught him, and his head lolled to one side as he passed out.
After examining him, the Soul King referee breathed a sigh of relief, handed Chen Yuan to his homeroom teacher, and announced the result.
"Jiang Dongjun wins!"
With the golden sun above his head and dusk-colored gauze draped over him, Jiang Dongjun smiled at the crowd.
"Everyone, do you like the look of my Martial Soul and Soul Skills? I wanted to sweep through the academy in the most elegant way possible. Who would have thought blood would still be spilled?"
"Ever since I stood here, my goal has been simple. I only want to beat every student in this academy into submission."
"Even without using my greatest strength, I'm still the strongest!"
"Fourth-years, next."
Jiang Dongjun waited with a bright smile for his next victim, diverting a little of his attention to check his Sea of Consciousness.
Oh? Has the fortune finally stabilized?
Du Weilun nearly ruined things for me.
Now I've gained another portion, too. My share has already reached three-fifths.
Looks like that boy was the fourth-years' chief student? Once he lost, all the other fourth-years submitted?
Before you continue