As he spoke, Chen Xuanqing raised his foot, preparing to deliver that kick again.
At the sight, a flicker of terror flashed through Ma Hongjun's eyes. He knew what Chen Xuanqing intended to do, but he could do nothing to stop him.
"No! Don't!" Ma Hongjun cried in terror, but Chen Xuanqing remained unmoved.
"This kick will solve your problem of being unable to control the evil fire inside you once and for all. Don't thank me too much," Chen Xuanqing said coldly. Then he lashed out with his foot, striking Ma Hongjun squarely in the crotch.
Ma Hongjun let out a bloodcurdling scream, instantly collapsing to the ground and losing consciousness.
Chen Xuanqing looked down at Ma Hongjun without the slightest pity. The moment Ma Hongjun had attacked, they had become enemies.
Not far away, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing both frowned involuntarily when they heard Ma Hongjun's scream.
Although Zhu Zhuqing had no affection whatsoever for Ma Hongjun, seeing him in such a miserable state still stirred a trace of pity in her heart.
"Brother Xuanqing, is this really all right?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly.
Chen Xuanqing turned to look at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, saying evenly, "If we fell into their hands, would they show us any mercy?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently. She knew Chen Xuanqing was right. The world of Soul Masters was always cruel.
Xiao Wu, who had traveled across the continent with Chen Xuanqing, said nothing more. She knew her Brother Xuanqing had already shown restraint.
With the battle over, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny slowly approached from a distance with Meng Yiran.
Excitement shone in Dragon Duke Meng Shu's eyes as he exclaimed, "I never imagined I would meet the Number One Genius of the Douluo Continent here today. I, Meng Shu, must have amassed blessings over three lifetimes to enjoy such good fortune!"
The Dragon Duke, a Soul Douluo himself, spoke with a voice full of admiration and praise for Chen Xuanqing.
Snake Granny agreed. "Indeed, this young hero truly stands head and shoulders above the rest. He is far more capable than my disappointing granddaughter."
As she spoke, she cast a mildly reproachful glance at Meng Yiran beside her, seemingly chiding her for not taking the initiative to greet him.
Feeling her grandmother's gaze, Meng Yiran took a deep breath and stepped before Chen Xuanqing. She bowed respectfully and said in a clear voice, "I am Meng Yiran. Greetings, Lord Crocodile God!"
Chen Xuanqing looked at Meng Yiran before him, his gaze settling on her inadvertently. The young woman's beauty left him briefly taken aback.
She was already sixteen, in the bloom of youth. Her figure had developed just right, with graceful curves full of feminine charm.
Compared with the twelve-year-old Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran had a more mature air, a quality neither of them possessed.
Meng Yiran's brown eyes were like deep lakes, sparkling with intelligence and vitality.
Her long eyelashes trembled gently whenever she blinked, as light as butterfly wings.
Moreover, Meng Yiran was nearly as tall as Chen Xuanqing, and her figure was beautifully proportioned. Her slender waist swayed gently, like a nimble snake dancing, its supple grace mesmerizing.
Though a hint of petulance lingered on her face, it did nothing to diminish her beauty. Instead, it lent her a distinctive charm.
That blend of winsomeness and resilience was enough to make anyone fall for her.
Chen Xuanqing could not help stealing a few more looks at Meng Yiran, silently admiring her. With a slight smile, he nodded in acknowledgment of her greeting.
Seeing this, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were secretly delighted. Their granddaughter's acquaintance with a genius like Chen Xuanqing would undoubtedly be a tremendous help to her future growth.
Then Chen Xuanqing pointed at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent lying on the ground, already unable to fight, and said evenly, "Since those fellows from Shrek Academy no longer need this Soul Ring, let Yiran absorb the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Soul Ring."
The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny naturally nodded repeatedly, satisfied smiles appearing on their faces. They knew Chen Xuanqing's strength and standing well, so they had no objections to his arrangements.
Meng Yiran looked at Chen Xuanqing with both nervousness and anticipation, an inexplicable feeling welling up in her heart.
She hesitated, then gathered her courage and asked softly, "You... you're already calling me Yiran, so... could I call you Brother Xuanqing too?"
As Meng Yiran finished speaking, both the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny broke into knowing smiles.
Looking at their granddaughter's slightly bashful yet expectant eyes, they were filled with emotion. Their granddaughter finally knew how to take the initiative.
The anticipation in Meng Yiran's eyes softened Chen Xuanqing's heart as well.
So Chen Xuanqing smiled and nodded. "Of course. I've always found it difficult to refuse a beautiful woman's request. Yiran, you can call me Brother Xuanqing from now on!"
No sooner had he spoken than he felt two icy gazes boring into his back, almost tangible.
Without turning around, Chen Xuanqing knew Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were jealous. He could not help smiling wryly to himself. These two little girls really do get jealous easily.
Meng Yiran, however, did not notice the subtle tension behind him. When she heard Chen Xuanqing agree to her request, a delighted smile immediately blossomed on her face.
She nodded emphatically and said, "Thank you, Brother Xuanqing, for letting me have this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."
As she spoke, Meng Yiran sat cross-legged on the ground and took out a dagger, preparing to begin absorbing the Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Chen Xuanqing, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, the Dragon Duke, and Snake Granny stood around Meng Yiran to guard her, ensuring that nothing disturbed her while she absorbed the Soul Ring.
Just as Meng Yiran was fully absorbed in taking in the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Soul Ring, the ground suddenly began to tremble faintly, as though some colossal creature were approaching.
The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, who frequently visited the Star Dou Great Forest, naturally knew what was happening. They had never expected to encounter such an enormous beast tide.
Meanwhile, Tang San, who was hiding nearby and preparing to rescue the others, stared into the distance with a grave expression. He knew the drugs he had just used had attracted a large number of low- and mid-year Soul Beasts, but he had never imagined they would trigger such a massive beast tide.
Tang San immediately turned to Oscar and said, "Hurry, Little Ao! You rescue Fatty. I'll rescue Teacher Zhao and Boss Dai. This beast tide looks a little too large. We need to act fast!"
Having settled their plan, the two immediately sprang into action. Tang San and Oscar unleashed hidden weapons, then rescued the others and fled without looking back.
After blocking the hidden weapons, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny looked at Meng Yiran, who was still absorbing her Soul Ring, a flicker of worry crossing their eyes.
After all, being disturbed while absorbing a Soul Ring could cause one's soul power to regress and leave one severely injured at best. At worst, one's body could burst apart, killing them outright.
Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang exchanged a glance. Both resolved to hold back the beast tide for their granddaughter.
Before you continue