Dai Mubai was sixteen this year, after all, and only level thirty-three. Even so, he was already considered a genius among geniuses.
"Young friend, please come into the academy for a chat."
Flender gestured respectfully to Zhao Su and welcomed him into the academy.
Flender was determined to keep Zhao Su at Shrek Academy, no matter what.
As Zhao Su entered the academy, he turned to look at the waiting line, his gaze settling on Ning Rongrong, the young girl who had cried out in surprise earlier.
The system's mission was to get close to Ning Rongrong and learn about Gu Rong from her.
Zhao Su understood that since the system had issued such a mission, Ning Rongrong must know something.
Although Ning Rongrong was not his only reason for coming to Shrek, he still had to make sure she appeared at Shrek Academy as she had in the book.
Seeing that Ning Rongrong had indeed arrived, Zhao Su relaxed and followed Flender into the academy.
After Zhao Su entered the academy with Flender, admissions continued.
Just as in the book, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing all made it through to the second round of testing.
With Dai Mubai's recommendation and their Soul Power test results, they advanced straight to the fourth round.
And they all successfully secured their places at Shrek Academy.
Zhao Su likewise became a teacher at Shrek Academy.
That night, a tall man in ragged clothes, radiating a powerful aura, appeared in the room of Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Wisdom King.
The visitor was none other than Tang Hao.
Clearly, Tang Hao had been watching everything from the shadows during the fourth round of testing that day.
"Don't bring out that battered hammer just to show off."
The instant Tang Hao appeared, Zhao Su had sensed the aura of the Clear Sky Hammer and come to Zhao Wuji's room with Flender.
"Zhao Su, don't be disrespectful to His Excellency Haotian."
Although Flender knew Zhao Su was a genius with a heaven-defying Soul Ring Configuration, he simply could not believe that Zhao Su, at level forty-two, could withstand an attack from a Titled Douluo.
Especially when that opponent was Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo, who possessed the strongest tool-type Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Do you really think having the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul and four Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings makes you invincible?"
Zhao Su had originally intended to let things slide with Tang Hao, but then he heard the faint contempt and mockery in his words.
His temper flared immediately.
Zhao Su had never been able to stand Tang Hao's constant swagger, as though he were invincible and the greatest man alive.
He was nothing but a useless fool who could not even protect his own wife.
"If you disagree, give it a try. I won't use my Martial Soul. Use whatever you like!"
Tang Hao had just said those words to Zhao Wuji, but Zhao Su was being even more brazen.
After all, Zhao Wuji was weaker than Tang Hao to begin with.
Zhao Su, however, was only level forty-two, and he was saying this to the famed youngest Titled Douluo on the Douluo Continent.
Their words might have been similar, but their implications were entirely different.
"Hahaha! Young man, you're far too arrogant."
Tang Hao sneered at Zhao Su, then attacked without hesitation.
He did not bring out his Clear Sky Hammer, though. In his eyes, dealing with a greenhorn like Zhao Su required neither his Martial Soul nor even his full strength.
"What kind of young man isn't arrogant?" Zhao Su dodged Tang Hao's attack with casual ease. "If you don't bring out your Clear Sky Hammer now, you won't get another chance."
Flender and Zhao Wuji stood watching from the sidelines, neither daring to make a sound.
For one thing, they feared Tang Hao's strength.
For another, they wanted to see whether Zhao Su was truly formidable or merely putting on a show.
When they saw Zhao Su easily evade Tang Hao's attack, however, disbelief flickered in their eyes.
After all, Tang Hao had already reached the terrifying realm of a level ninety-five Super Douluo.
Even without using his Martial Soul, his physical speed and strength were frighteningly powerful.
Yet a Battle Soul Ancestor of only level forty-two had dodged him with ease.
Most importantly, Zhao Su had not used his Martial Soul either, relying purely on his physical speed.
And he had done it so calmly, even finding time to mock Tang Hao.
"Hm?"
Even Tang Hao could not help feeling a trace of surprise.
Then Tang Hao stopped holding back, though he still did not summon his Martial Soul. Instead, he unleashed the strength of his powerful body and attacked Zhao Su.
"I told you, if you don't bring out your Martial Soul, you won't get another chance."
Watching Tang Hao's fist, as large as a sandbag, come hurtling toward him, Zhao Su spoke just as casually as before.
At the same time, he reached out and caught Tang Hao's fist.
"I'll give you one more chance!"
Zhao Su abruptly exerted his strength, gripping Tang Hao's fist and shoving him away.
"Impossible! How is this possible?"
Feeling the overwhelming force that had just pushed him back, Tang Hao stared in disbelief at the still-composed Zhao Su.
"Watch out. It's my turn now!"
As Zhao Su spoke, he drove his foot against the ground and charged toward Tang Hao.
He was still using his fists.
Tang Hao finally grew serious and stopped underestimating him.
A light rose from his right hand, followed by a surge of powerful Soul Power bursting from his body.
Tang Hao's nine Soul Rings appeared as well.
At the sight of that dazzling red Soul Ring, the corners of Zhao Su's lips curled upward.
Zhao Su knew that this red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring had come from Tang San's mother, Ah Yin, who had sacrificed herself to Tang Hao.
A plan had already begun forming in his mind.
Sooner or later, this Soul Ring will be mine.
But this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was not for his own use. He was preparing it for his beautiful master, Bibi Dong.
Xiao Wu, too, was being reserved for Bibi Dong.
He also had another plan, or perhaps it was better called an experiment.
After Xiao Wu sacrificed herself, Tang San had to return her Soul Ring to resurrect her. But after Ah Yin's resurrection, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring she had sacrificed to Tang Hao had not disappeared.
Zhao Su wondered whether, after Tang Hao resurrected Ah Yin, he could kill her again and harvest her Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
That would effectively give him two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.
But this was only Zhao Su's preliminary idea, and it was not yet fully developed.
By then, Tang Hao had also gripped the Clear Sky Hammer and swung it toward the charging Zhao Su.
"So this is the strongest tool-type Martial Soul? Nothing special!"
As Zhao Su spoke those casual words, the Emperor Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand.
His first black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring lit up, and the Emperor Seven Kill Sword blocked the Clear Sky Hammer as it smashed toward him with brutal force.
At the same time, a strand of sword intent pierced through the Clear Sky Hammer and slashed toward Tang Hao.
Tang Hao even sensed a trace of a god's aura within that sword intent and hurriedly retreated.
"The Asura God's Sword, with an innate domain?"
Tang Hao's expression turned ugly. He had always considered himself a genius, blessed with rapid cultivation and the uniquely powerful Clear Sky Hammer.
He had never regarded anyone as a threat. Even Qian Xunji, the former Pope of Spirit Hall, had been hammered to the brink of death by him.
Yet before Zhao Su, he could not help feeling powerless.
Tang Hao's conviction that he was an invincible powerhouse began to shatter, piece by piece, under Zhao Su's blows.
"You do have some knowledge. But this is merely a little insect-carving trick!"
As he spoke, Zhao Su withdrew his Martial Soul. Black-and-gold light enveloped his entire body as he looked at Tang Hao and continued, "Let me show you the ultimate strength of the flesh."
No sooner had Zhao Su finished speaking than Tang Hao, before he could react, felt a tremendous impact slam into him and send him flying.
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