Mubai, there's no need to be so formal

CRACK!

Zhao Wuji was dumbstruck as he watched the flashing bolts of lightning.

The Thunder Emperor could mete out punishment on heaven's behalf!

Although Qin Xiao had not reached the realm where he could mete out punishment on heaven's behalf, lightning was still lightning. Its destructive power was not something ordinary people could withstand.

Lightning blanketed everything within a hundred meters of Zhao Wuji. His figure vanished beneath it, leaving only his intermittent screams to escape.

"He could suppress a Soul Saint with a mere lift of his hand. Is this the might of a Titled Douluo?"

Tang San murmured so softly that only he could hear himself, his gaze brimming with reverence as he looked at Qin Xiao.

He seems stronger than most of the Titled Douluo I've seen... Xiao Wu's eyes were filled with deep wariness.

Dai Mubai and Oscar instinctively shrank back. With someone this powerful, the farther away they stayed, the better.

After what felt like an eternity, the incense stick finally burned out.

The Thunder Pool dissipated, and Zhao Wuji appeared before them again.

Isn't he in a miserable state?

Everyone stared wide-eyed. Zhao Wuji's clothes were in tatters, and his face was pitch-black.

No.

To be precise, all his exposed skin looked as though it had been coated in black paint.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Your Holiness."

Zhao Wuji bowed to Qin Xiao from afar.

Yet even as he spoke, black smoke drifted from his mouth...

Qin Xiao nodded slightly.

Zhao Wuji ought to thank him. If he had not reduced the power of his Soul Skill, Zhao Wuji would probably have been reduced to nothing within little more than half an incense stick's time.

"May I ask whether I've passed the assessment now?"

Qin Xiao asked again.

The assessment?

Zhao Wuji froze for a moment, then caught on and immediately nodded like a chick pecking at grain. "You've passed. You've passed."

[Ding! Congratulations on working together with your teammates and barely lasting an incense stick's time against Zhao Wuji, passing the trial...]

Barely?

Qin Xiao laughed when he heard the system's notification.

He glanced at Zhao Wuji in the distance. Lasting more than half an incense stick's time beneath his Thunder Pool really had been a struggle.

As for his teammates?

Heh. They'd done nothing but stand around the entire time!

If not for completing the mission, Qin Xiao would not have bothered bringing them along.

[Mission reward issued.]

Immediately afterward, Qin Xiao felt his strength increase a little more.

Not bad at all.

But then he noticed another problem.

"System, why isn't there a new mission?"

He asked inwardly.

[Although you barely passed Zhao Wuji's trial, you also expended a great deal of energy and sustained minor injuries. Your condition is poor, leaving you temporarily unable to complete missions. Rest is recommended.]

I fought Zhao Wuji... and got injured?

There's no need to insult me like that.

I nearly beat Zhao Wuji to death!

Qin Xiao's blood surged at once. "What level of strength do I have?"

[Level 91 Titled Douluo.]

"Then how could I get injured fighting a Soul Saint?"

[Theoretically, you would not, but the host's physical condition has been detected as poor. Rest is recommended.]

Qin Xiao: *"..."*

However.

In the distance, Zhao Wuji shuddered. For some reason, he sensed killing intent coming from Qin Xiao.

"Dai Mubai, you little brat, hurry up and take Your Holiness somewhere to rest! Can't you see how fierce the sun is?"

"Oh, and take Your Holiness to the presidential suite our academy reserves for honored guests."

"I'll handle Your Holiness's registration myself later."

He hurriedly gave Dai Mubai his instructions.

He figured it was best to send this god of slaughter away as quickly as possible.

"Yes."

Dai Mubai's heart trembled, and he hastily said to Qin Xiao, "Your Holiness, please follow me."

All right. I'll rest first, then.

I'll see what tricks the system tries to pull later.

Qin Xiao nodded and followed Dai Mubai into the distance.

But the look he gave Xiao Wu before leaving nearly frightened her into fainting on the spot...

After watching Qin Xiao disappear from sight, Zhao Wuji unconsciously wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.

Too terrifying.

He was a Soul Saint, after all, a powerhouse in his own right. He even had the glorious achievement of breaking out of Spirit Hall's encirclement when they had tried to kill him.

Later, he had also escaped pursuit by that old gorilla from the Strength Clan.

Yet he felt that those past dangers were nothing compared with what had happened today.

No.

They weren't worth so much as a fart.

He felt like an ant. Qin Xiao could crush him to death with a single finger...

"What? Do you find me funny?"

Zhao Wuji glowered at the others, who were struggling to hold back their laughter.

"N-no..."

Oscar felt as though an invisible hand had clamped around his throat, his heart rising into it.

After all, in his mind, Zhao Wuji was practically a demon...

Ning Rongrong, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others also turned serious.

"What are you staring at? Yes, I'm talking about you. When I was exchanging blows with Your Holiness just now, you stood off to the side like ornaments. I couldn't see any use for you whatsoever. I've decided to assess you again."

Zhao Wuji swept a hand toward them all and spoke in a stern voice.

"What?"

"We have to take the assessment again?"

Ning Rongrong immediately burst into complaints.

"What? Anyone who objects can leave right now."

"Shrek Academy demands obedience, not questions!"

Zhao Wuji said sternly.

"You..."

Ning Rongrong frowned. Ordinarily, she would already have been thinking of leaving.

After all, she was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Never mind Ning Fengzhi-even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo treasured her like a pearl in their palms.

When had anyone ever dared speak to her in such a tone?

But then she reconsidered. This academy had actually managed to attract an eighteen-year-old Titled Douluo. Most of her anger faded, replaced by curiosity.

I'm not leaving now. I want to see what secrets this academy is hiding.

With that thought, a small, crystalline pagoda shimmering with seven-colored radiance appeared in her hand.

"Oh? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "Interesting."

"Your Holiness, Thunder Emperor."

"This is the finest accommodation in our academy."

Elsewhere, Dai Mubai led Qin Xiao to a small, two-story building.

It had to be said that this so-called presidential suite was decidedly shabby.

But Qin Xiao was not some pampered weakling. The conditions in which he had tempered his body on Solitary Peak were far worse than this.

Besides, he knew perfectly well that he had not come to Shrek to enjoy himself. He was here to complete that damned system's missions and improve his strength.

"Mubai, we're about the same age. You don't have to be so formal and call me 'Your Holiness, Thunder Emperor.'"

Qin Xiao smiled at Dai Mubai, who was showing him the way.

"Really?" Dai Mubai's eyes filled with delighted surprise.

How could he not be excited?

He felt that Qin Xiao was taking the initiative to show him goodwill. And to him, the favor of a Titled Douluo was especially important...

After all, he had another identity: he was a prince of the Star Luo Empire.

If he could establish a connection with Your Holiness and gain his support, the benefits would be immense.

In that brief instant, countless possibilities sprang into his mind.

But just then, Qin Xiao spoke again. "Just call me 'Your Holiness,' like the others. There's no need to mention 'Thunder Emperor' unless it's necessary."

"I prefer to keep a low profile."

What?

Dai Mubai was dumbfounded. This was not how he had imagined the script would go!