Dai Mubai crawled out of the rubble and dusted himself off. He ran back up to Tang Xuan and said defiantly, "I was careless just now. Let's start over."
Tang Xuan looked at the bedraggled Dai Mubai and said, "Sure. Get ready this time. I'll let you attack first, then I'll make my move." Today, Tang Xuan was determined to make Dai Mubai suffer a crushing defeat and teach him a lesson he would remember.
Dai Mubai scrutinized Tang Xuan again. This guy is ridiculously strong. He actually knocked me back with one punch. Could he be a Soul Ancestor above level forty? Impossible! He looks several years younger than me. How could he already be level forty? Ah, forget it. Whatever the case, I've lost far too much face today. I have to win it back. Even if I can't beat him, I need to fight him to a draw and salvage some dignity, Dai Mubai thought as he stared at Tang Xuan's composed face.
"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier!"
"Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!" Dai Mubai's yellow first soul ring and purple third soul ring lit up. With Martial Soul Possession, his body immediately grew a size bulkier, even splitting his clothes. Standing there, he resembled a fierce tiger poised to pounce. Confidence returned to his eyes.
Dai Mubai looked at his third soul ring. This is the Soul Skill I obtained from the fifteen-hundred-year-old Diamond Tiger I personally hunted when I broke through to level thirty. It boosts my abilities by fifty percent, making it my strongest Soul Skill right now. I should be able to put up a fight against Tang Xuan with this, right?
Yet Tang Xuan remained utterly calm across from him. Even Tang San and Xiao Wu standing nearby were composed, showing no surprise whatsoever at Dai Mubai's soul rings.
Tang San: I have a thousand-year Soul Skill too. I even have a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!
Xiao Wu: I've seen plenty of Thousand-Year Soul Rings. I've even seen something more outrageous-a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!
The three of them staying so calm undoubtedly felt humiliating to Dai Mubai, and Tang Xuan provoked him most of all. Dai Mubai had already used nearly all his strength, yet Tang Xuan had not even released his martial soul. He was openly looking down on him. At that thought, Dai Mubai grew even angrier.
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!" His reason swallowed by anger, Dai Mubai followed up with his second Soul Skill's attack, sending waves of immensely powerful light flying toward Tang Xuan. Enhanced by his third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave was several times stronger than before. To guard against Tang Xuan's attack, he had already activated his defensive first Soul Skill well in advance. But an attack like this posed absolutely no threat in Tang Xuan's eyes, and he smiled faintly. That smile made Dai Mubai's newfound confidence waver. Sure enough, the shock waves Dai Mubai unleashed stopped in front of Tang Xuan, unable to advance another inch.
Tang Xuan swiftly threw a punch, even faster and fiercer than his previous one. The light waves shattered with a crash before his fist, which landed on Dai Mubai's chest once again.
Bang, bang, bang! Three consecutive crashes rang out, receding into the distance. Dai Mubai smashed through a new hole beside the one he had made earlier and flew outside. He then knocked over the statue in front of the hotel before hurtling backward straight into the teahouse where Tang Xuan had just been drinking tea.
"Brother Xuan, you didn't beat him to death, did you?" Xiao Wu asked uncertainly.
In her and Tang San's estimation, Tang Xuan's performance just now had been overwhelmingly powerful. No matter how many attacks Dai Mubai unleashed, Tang Xuan answered with only one punch. He was simply absurdly strong. If Brother Xuan accidentally went too far and killed him, wouldn't the three of us become wanted criminals? Thinking that her wonderful life had only just begun, only for her to have to flee to the ends of the earth, Xiao Wu could not help growing anxious.
Tang Xuan froze at her words. "That can't be! I only used thirty percent of my strength! Surely he isn't really that fragile?"
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Brother Xuan, is your thirty percent anything like a normal person's thirty percent?" Xiao Wu knew all too well that Tang Xuan's physique could contend with Soul Beasts. The power he possessed was absolutely terrifying. Hearing her words, Tang Xuan hurried toward the teahouse where Dai Mubai had landed.
He's a main character in the original story. I can't beat him to death this early. Besides, how am I supposed to get by at Shrek Academy afterward? If I affect the development of the world's main storyline, the world's will might even target me.
So, Dai Mubai, Brother Dai! You can't die! Tang Xuan roared inwardly as he ran.
Inside the teahouse's main hall,
Dai Mubai lay amid the shattered rubble, staring blankly at the ceiling, with conspicuous traces of blood at the corner of his mouth. Tang Xuan rushed over and hauled him up.
"Old Dai, you can't die!" Tang Xuan shook Dai Mubai vigorously. Dai Mubai turned to look at him. Old Dai? Since when were we that close? And could you shake me a little more gently? You didn't beat me to death, but you're about to shake me to death! Also, how do you know my surname is Dai? I don't remember introducing myself!
"Cough, cough, cough! Stop! Don't shake me anymore." With Tang Xuan's support, Dai Mubai struggled up from the ground and looked at him with resentment and a little fear. Is he even human? One punch nearly killed me, Dai Mubai complained inwardly. He raised a hand to feel his side. At least three of his ribs were broken.
Seeing that Dai Mubai was not dead, Tang Xuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He took a bottle of pills from his Heaven and Earth Ring and handed it to Dai Mubai.
"These are Third-Grade Healing Pills. Take one, and your injuries will heal quickly." Tang Xuan had already noticed him clutching his side. The blood at the corner of Dai Mubai's mouth was still quite obvious, so his ribs had probably been broken by the impact, injuring his internal organs. Fortunately, Tang Xuan had used only thirty percent of his strength.
Dai Mubai took the pills and examined them. They really were third-grade pills. He poured one out, revealing three clearly visible pill markings on its surface, and immediately swallowed it. He had bought and used Healing Pills before. Even first-grade ones were extremely effective. These pills had only emerged in recent years, but their astonishing effects had made them hugely popular. However, only the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild sold them, so demand exceeded supply and prices were extremely high. A bottle of ten first-grade pills cost over a hundred gold coins, let alone these rarely seen third-grade pills. The moment he swallowed this third-grade pill, he felt his injuries improve noticeably. The pain where his ribs had broken had already vanished completely. Its medicinal effect was simply a hundred times stronger than a first-grade pill's. This entire bottle must cost thousands of gold coins! Yet Tang Xuan just casually gave it to me. Dai Mubai looked up at Tang Xuan, who was still standing casually nearby without the slightest trace of reluctance on his face.
Who exactly is he? He's so powerful, yet treats such precious pills like worthless weeds. Just what kind of background could someone like him have? Dai Mubai wondered.
While Dai Mubai pondered, Tang Xuan was thinking too. Did I knock this Dai Mubai stupid? Third-grade pills aren't sold in large quantities on the market yet, but it's not like they're unavailable! Why does he keep staring at them like an idiot? Surely a prince of the Star Luo Empire can afford pills? Or is he having a fit of delusions?
"Um, Brother Dai, are you all right?" Tang Xuan asked uncertainly.
Hearing Tang Xuan's voice, Dai Mubai snapped out of his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine." After thinking for a moment, Dai Mubai added, "I acted rashly this time and offended you all. Please forgive me." He bowed to Tang San and Xiao Wu. Behind Tang Xuan, Tang San pulled Xiao Wu along to return the courtesy.
Tang Xuan was quite pleased with Dai Mubai's behavior. He felt that Dai Mubai could still be saved and was not so spoiled and overbearing after all.
"Brother Dai, you're a student at Shrek Academy too, aren't you? We've also come to apply to Shrek Academy, so we may become classmates. There's no need to stand on ceremony. Once we're at the academy, I hope we'll have plenty of opportunities to spar, exchange ideas, and learn from each other." Tang Xuan deliberately emphasized the word "spar."
Dai Mubai, who had drifted back into his thoughts, snapped awake. What? They're applying to our Shrek Academy?
But that makes sense. Their ages and abilities definitely meet the academy's requirements. Tang Xuan is so strong that the two behind him can't be weak either. Dai Mubai thought it over and found it reasonable enough.
Wait, did he say he wants to spar with me again? Damn! Suddenly remembering Tang Xuan's invitation to spar, Dai Mubai broke into a cold sweat. Thinking back to those two punches, he felt that a long and healthy life might no longer be in his future.
"Uh, well, I still have something to do. See you at Shrek Academy!" With that, Dai Mubai shot off like a wisp of smoke. I'll avoid him for as long as I can. If I stay any longer, who knows what else he'll pull? he thought as he ran.
Watching Dai Mubai's hurried departure, Tang Xuan thought, Ah, he can still be saved as a person, but his intelligence might be beyond repair.
"President, here is the list of losses from this incident. Please have a look." The hotel manager who had previously tried to stop the fight respectfully handed Tang Xuan a sheet of paper.
The hotel manager looked at Tang Xuan's youthful face with great respect. He had only been transferred from Nuoding City and promoted to manager of the Rose Hotel last year. He had not expected to meet the president here again so soon. He told himself that he had to perform well and leave the president satisfied.
Tang Xuan examined the sheet in his hand. It listed the value of every item damaged in the incident in detail, totaling one hundred and twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins, including the losses suffered by the teahouse opposite. That teahouse was, of course, also Tang Xuan's property. Over the years, the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild had developed rapidly, and the businesses under his name now extended into all sorts of industries, large and small.
After reading the list, he said, "Double the original compensation for the damage. Young Master Dai certainly isn't short of money. This is also an opportunity for you to increase your profits. From now on, whenever anyone causes trouble inside the establishment, let them fight. If they break anything, make them pay double. If they try to refuse payment, report it to headquarters and have them send someone to deal with it. Don't let just anyone think they can run wild here!" Tang Xuan's unwavering business principle was that only a bastard would pass up money there for the taking. Since they wanted to hand him money, he certainly would not hold back.
"Yes, President. I understand," the hotel manager answered respectfully.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were following an attendant to their rooms. Hearing Tang Xuan's conversation with the hotel manager, both rolled their eyes. What a profiteer-he could squeeze through any crack to make a profit! With disdain in their eyes, the two went upstairs to their rooms.
Before you continue