Fighting Zhao Wuji (Part One)

Dai Mubai led them to a spacious clearing. A reclining chair stood in its center, and a powerfully built middle-aged man lay on it, resting with his eyes closed. Dai Mubai jogged over, gently shook the man's thick arm, then bent down to whisper something in his ear. The man immediately opened his eyes, sat up, and swept his gaze over Tang Xuan and the others. Zhao Wuji turned to Dai Mubai. "Mubai, bring them over. I'll oversee this year's fourth trial myself. Go explain my strength to them." His voice was rough and forceful; even Tang Xuan and the others could hear him from a distance.

Dai Mubai hesitated. "Teacher Zhao, isn't that a little inappropriate? They're only new students. With your strength..."

"What are you babbling about? If I tell you to go, go! The Dean isn't here, so I have the final say. Get moving!" Faced with Zhao Wuji's direct order, Dai Mubai could only obey.

I've been so idle lately that I'm practically growing mold. Now that new students have finally arrived, I can stretch my muscles and show them a little of my might, and you actually dare tell me it would look bad? Why is this brat Mubai getting less sensible by the day? Have I not shown you enough affection with my iron fists lately? Zhao Wuji thought as he watched Dai Mubai walk away.

Dai Mubai returned to Tang Xuan and the others, looking troubled. "You're in for trouble. Teacher Zhao will be testing you personally."

"Is this Teacher Zhao really that strong?" Xiao Wu asked. "He looks much younger than the teacher at the entrance. At most, he's probably a Soul Emperor." She figured that with the five of them working together, passing a Soul Emperor's test would not be too difficult.

"Don't get careless, Xiao Wu. Teacher Zhao is much stronger than the teacher at the entrance," Tang Xuan warned her. He could guess what she was thinking, and underestimating an opponent could cost them dearly.

"Stronger than a Soul Emperor? Brother, can you tell what level Teacher Zhao is?" Tang San asked.

"A Soul Saint. Teacher Zhao is a high-level Soul Saint," Tang Xuan said, looking at Zhao Wuji ahead of them.

"A high-level Soul Saint!" everyone else exclaimed at Tang Xuan's words.

"Tang Xuan is right. Teacher Zhao is very powerful. He's a level seventy-eight power attack system Battle Soul Saint, and his martial soul is the Great Strength Vajra Bear. He possesses formidable defense and attack power. He's the academy's deputy Dean and its second-strongest expert, behind only the Dean. I've never even seen him fight with his full strength, so you'll have to be careful during the test," Dai Mubai said.

After hearing Dai Mubai's warning, everyone's expression grew grave.

Level seventy-eight? That's not right. I remember Zhao Wuji should be level seventy-six right now. How did he gain two levels so quickly? Tang Xuan was puzzled by Zhao Wuji's level, but after a little thought, he understood. Flender must have taught Zhao Wuji the Soul Core Condensation Method, allowing him to advance two levels ahead of time. Other than that, Tang Xuan truly could not think of anything that would have raised Zhao Wuji's soul power by two levels.

Tang San was the first to recover. "Let's introduce ourselves first so we can work out our battle plan. I'll start."

"Tang San. Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level thirty-five control system Battle Soul Elder." Xiao Wu announced her level immediately afterward.

"Xiao Wu. Martial soul: Soft Bone Rabbit. Level thirty-one power attack system Battle Soul Elder."

They're both Soul Elders! Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed inwardly. All of them had met Shrek's admission requirements, so none should be older than twelve. But what did it mean to be a Soul Elder at twelve? Neither girl had ever heard of anyone reaching the Soul Elder realm at that age. Still, astonished though they were, neither was unfamiliar with the world. Once they composed themselves, they began announcing their levels as well.

"Ning Rongrong. Martial soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Level twenty-seven support system Soul Grandmaster." Ning Rongrong seemed a little hesitant, but she said it nonetheless.

"Zhu Zhuqing. Martial soul: Hell Spirit Cat. Level twenty-eight agility attack system Soul Grandmaster." Zhu Zhuqing's cold voice rang out. Standing to the side, Dai Mubai visibly froze when he heard the name Hell Spirit Cat. Zhu Zhuqing happened to glance at him as well.

Tang Xuan looked at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing. Their levels had changed too. Zhao Wuji's change was due to the Soul Core Condensation Method, while Ning Rongrong's and Zhu Zhuqing's changes were probably ripples caused by his own appearance. If Tang Xuan's guess was correct, the soul power levels of everyone at Shrek would generally change. The Shrek Seven Devils were almost all gathered, and the main storyline was about to begin.

The other four had announced their levels; only Tang Xuan had yet to reveal his. Everyone stared at him. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing wondered whether, since these three had come together and the first two were Soul Elders, the last one might be a Soul Elder too. Dai Mubai also listened intently from the side. He wanted to know exactly what level Tang Xuan had reached to be able to defeat him so easily. Under their gazes, Tang Xuan slowly revealed his strength.

"Tang Xuan. Martial soul: Godslayer Sword. Level thirty-nine power attack system Battle Soul Elder." Although Tang Xuan had continued suppressing and compressing his soul power ever since breaking through level thirty, he had still advanced to level thirty-nine.

"Level thirty-nine!" Ning Rongrong shouted outright. Zhu Zhuqing was not as visibly excited as Ning Rongrong, but inwardly, she was equally stunned. Level thirty-nine was already half a step from Soul Ancestor. We're all the same age, so why are you boys such monsters?

"Level thirty-nine?" Dai Mubai murmured. Yet he did not believe that represented the full extent of Tang Xuan's strength. He felt that Tang Xuan's actual combat power surpassed even a Soul Ancestor's! Don't ask why. If you did, the answer was firsthand experience. (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)

"Are you ready yet?" Zhao Wuji asked. "You only need to last against me for one incense stick to pass the test, and I won't use strength beyond the Soul Ancestor level. Hurry up. Stop wasting time." Waiting off to the side, Zhao Wuji had grown a little impatient.

He must be eager to get beaten up! Tang Xuan thought.

"I'll take the main offense, and San will handle control. Xiao Wu, you and Zhu Zhuqing will launch surprise attacks. Remember, whether your attack lands or not, retreat after one strike, then look for another opening. Don't get caught up in fighting." Tang Xuan had a reason for arranging things this way. Xiao Wu was somewhat rash, while Zhu Zhuqing liked to push herself, so he needed to remind them.

"Ning Rongrong, provide support from the rear. Everyone, remember one more thing: protect Ning Rongrong. Support system Soul Masters are extremely important in team battles, so Teacher Zhao is very likely to target her first. Once we lose our support Soul Master's assistance, we'll be at a disadvantage. Although Teacher Zhao promised not to use strength beyond the Soul Ancestor level, he's still a Soul Saint with deep reserves of soul power. A drawn-out fight won't favor us, so please remember what I've said. If you have any objections, feel free to raise them." Seeing that no one objected to his assignments, Tang Xuan turned to Zhao Wuji. "Teacher Zhao, we're ready. We can begin." Tang Xuan stood at the front, with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing on either side. Ning Rongrong stood at the rear, while Tang San took the center to control the entire battlefield.

At those words, Zhao Wuji took out an incense stick, lit it, and casually planted it in the ground. Everyone began releasing their soul rings. Two yellow soul rings appeared around both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, while Xiao Wu manifested three: two yellow and one purple. Their rings were fairly normal, but that changed with Tang San. His three soul rings were yellow, purple, and black-a ten-thousand-year third soul ring. The rising black ring stunned everyone. Tang Xuan and Tang San had obtained it after spending a month battling a ten-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider in the Star Dou Great Forest. Before anyone could recover from their shock at Tang San, Tang Xuan's even more dazzling display stunned them anew. His three soul rings were two purple and one black. His first soul ring was already a thousand-year ring, and he too had a ten-thousand-year third ring. Yet it was easy to see that Tang Xuan's ten-thousand-year soul ring was a deeper black than Tang San's.

Everyone present stared with wide eyes and gaping mouths. Heavens! What kind of godlike configuration was this?

Looking at the soul rings around Tang Xuan, Dai Mubai finally understood why Tang Xuan could defeat him so easily at level thirty-nine. He accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. Compared with Tang Xuan, he really was far too weak. A sense of dejection involuntarily rose within him.

Stunned though everyone was, the battle still had to continue.

"Seven treasures turn, revealing glazed tile. First: Strength! Second: Speed!" The two yellow soul rings around Ning Rongrong lit up as she enhanced everyone. While providing her boosts, she wondered, Where did these people come from? Geniuses like them shouldn't be nameless. When I get the chance, I must recommend them to Father. If they join the Sect, they'll certainly become a great source of strength for it.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Tang Xuan, then at his soul rings. No one knew what she was thinking.

Although Zhao Wuji was shocked, he had long since become impatient to strike. Tang Xuan's and Tang San's dazzling displays only fueled that urge. Zhao Wuji attacked without hesitation, and just as Tang Xuan had predicted, his target was Ning Rongrong! His iron fist descended from above, smashing the ground apart. Fortunately, Tang San pulled Ning Rongrong away with his Blue Silver Grass in time, sparing her from disaster.

After evading Zhao Wuji's attack, Tang San began restraining him.

"First soul skill: Entanglement!" Blue Silver Grass instantly bound Zhao Wuji.

"Second form: Strangulation!" The Blue Silver Grass around Zhao Wuji instantly tightened, cutting bloody welts into his body. Seeing this, Tang Xuan followed with a sword strike. Although the sword aura sliced apart the Blue Silver Grass, it also forced Zhao Wuji back step after step. Just as Zhao Wuji finally managed to stop, Tang Xuan threw a punch, driving him back again. Pressing his advantage, Tang Xuan closed in and engaged Zhao Wuji, while Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing launched surprise attacks.

"First soul skill: Netherworld Slash!"

"Second soul skill: Netherworld Hundred Claws!" Zhu Zhuqing unleashed two soul skills in succession, leaving two claw marks on Zhao Wuji's back. Xiao Wu landed three consecutive kicks against his waist. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Zhao Wuji lost his footing in the fight for a moment.

"Xiao Wu, Meteor Human Hammer!" Tang San called. After years of working together, the two needed only a glance to understand each other's intentions. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Xiao Wu and spun her rapidly through the air, building up power. With that tremendous momentum, Xiao Wu hurled herself at Zhao Wuji. He blocked with both hands, but the immense force still sent him flying. He landed on the ground in the distance, raising a great cloud of dust. Their entire sequence of moves had taken only a little over ten minutes.