Meddling

The more Hu Fangyuan thought about it, the more excited he became. Even his steps quickened.

He had already begun running through the joint-refinement method in the Gu Canon in his head, working through the steps bit by bit.

As he walked, a commotion came from the intersection ahead.

His thoughts interrupted, Hu Fangyuan looked up.

"Does being a Soul Master give you the right to bully people?"

An angry shout rang out ahead. For some reason, Tang Wulin and his two companions had appeared at the front of the crowd watching the spectacle. Xie Xie hurried over to a middle-aged man and helped him up, while Tang Wulin glared at the burly man.

Guang Long froze for a moment. Seeing that it was a child, he immediately burst into another arrogant laugh. "Has this street really run out of people? Even a kid dares meddle in my business. A newborn calf really isn't afraid of the tiger. Get lost. I don't hit kids."

Tang Wulin came from an ordinary family, and nothing disgusted him more than the strong bullying the weak. He strode up to Guang Long. "How could you treat Uncle Li like that? Have you got any humanity?"

Guang Long snorted. "Can humanity put food on the table? He has a wife to feed, so what, I don't have an old mother to feed? I have my own rules, you little bastard. Get lost, and don't hold up my business."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pushed toward Tang Wulin's shoulder.

A light flashed in Tang Wulin's eyes, and he suddenly drove a fist into Guang Long's palm.

With a thud, Guang Long staggered, but Tang Wulin was taken aback too. Even caught off guard, this guy could keep control of his body. His strength wasn't bad either!

"Not bad, brat. You've got some strength." He spread his large hand, this time reaching to grab Tang Wulin's shoulder. Muscles knotted along his bare arms, and his face turned vicious.

Tang Wulin's greatest asset wasn't his Martial Soul, but his strength. He raised his hand and threw a punch.

Another dull impact sounded, but this time, he was the one driven back. Guang Long's palm felt as though it had been cast from bronze and iron, its strength astonishing. His own strength, which had never failed him before, had actually come off worse, and the impact forced him back two steps.

Guang Long was startled too. He had put considerable strength into that grab, yet the force coming from the boy's fist had also jolted him, preventing him from getting a grip.

"Not bad, brat. You've got some strength!" Guang Long took another step forward and reached for Tang Wulin again.

His palm, as large as a palm-leaf fan, swept through the air with a whistle, all five fingers spread as it went straight for Tang Wulin's shoulder. Soul Power suffused his hand. If he got a solid grip, he could lift this little brat right up and throw him out.

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened, and he was just about to raise his arm to block.

Whoosh-

A fist swept in diagonally from the side.

Guang Long felt his wrist jolt as a solid force struck the side of his forearm. He hurriedly changed his move, bringing his hand across to block.

Thud!

A dull impact sounded.

Guang Long abruptly stumbled back two steps, his feet scraping the ground and leaving two shallow trails. He looked up in bewilderment and saw a boy in an Eastsea Academy uniform standing beside Tang Wulin. He wasn't particularly muscular, but he stood ramrod straight.

It was Hu Fangyuan.

"Does everyone at Eastsea Academy stick their nose into everything? One after another! Instead of studying like students should, you're out here meddling!"

Guang Long rubbed his wrist, his eyes vicious. That blow had numbed the web of his hand. Why did every one of these kids have such freakish strength?

Hu Fangyuan smacked his lips and gave him a sidelong glance. "Even a hairless beast can strut around Eastsea City now? Since when did public order in Eastsea City get this bad? Or do you have someone backing you?!"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, striking straight at the other man's weak spot.

Guang Long's eyes abruptly narrowed, his gaze growing even darker as he looked at Hu Fangyuan.

"You little bastard. Got a sharp tongue, don't you!"

With a low growl, Guang Long pushed off the ground and lunged forward. He stood 1.9 meters tall, his entire body covered in knotted muscle. His lunge brought a fierce rush of wind, bearing down so heavily it was hard to breathe.

Hu Fangyuan's gaze sharpened.

He stepped forward without hesitation.

Soul Power flowed out of his Dantian through his meridians, surging into every limb and bone in an instant.

Copper Bone Gu, activate!

A series of fine cracks came from deep within his bones. His entire skeleton instantly hardened, its density soaring. A cold, hard, weighty force erupted from his bones and suffused his knuckles.

Hu Fangyuan neither dodged nor evaded. Clenching his right fist, he punched straight into the oncoming palm.

Thud!

A dull impact sounded.

Fist met palm.

Guang Long felt a terrifying force surge through his palm, heavy and hard, as though he had struck a piece of red-hot refined steel. He grunted, his arm abruptly going numb, and involuntarily retreated a step.

Hu Fangyuan remained where he stood, not moving an inch.

Guang Long was shocked.

This brat looks so small and skinny, and he isn't very old either. How is he so strong?

Uncertainty churned inside Guang Long as he stared at Hu Fangyuan, his gaze turning utterly dark. He had thought this was just an ordinary schoolboy he could deal with casually. He hadn't expected to kick an iron plate.

"Looks like I underestimated you."

Guang Long let out a low growl, no longer taking him lightly.

Humm-

Two deep-yellow Hundred-Year Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet.

Light flickered over his shoulders, and two small Soul Spirits appeared. One was ocher-yellow and the other iron-gray, both resembling lizards. The iron-gray one was noticeably larger, with clearly defined patterns on its scales.

The Ironclad Dragon Martial Soul!

A Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster!

As his Soul Rings and Soul Spirits appeared, Guang Long's body abruptly swelled.

The knotted muscles on his bare arms bulged one after another, like little rats burrowing beneath his skin. A layer of pale iron-gray scales emerged from beneath his skin, covering his arms and chest with a metallic sheen.

His entire presence instantly became far more ferocious.

"You little brat, all that schooling has ruined you! Today, I'll teach you a lesson on your parents' behalf!"

Guang Long stamped his right foot hard against the ground.

Boom!

The ground shook violently, even sending loose stones jumping.

He charged toward Hu Fangyuan. His steps were heavy, each one making the ground tremble slightly as he lunged straight ahead with a savage momentum.

"Watch out!"

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie shouted at the same time.

Gu Yue's gaze sharpened. She remained where she stood, but raised both hands.

Elemental light flickered at her fingertips.

The earth beneath Guang Long's feet instantly softened into a swamp. Mud churned, seeking to entangle his feet.

At the same time, several Wind Blades, ice needles, and Earth Spikes shot toward Guang Long from different angles.

She commanded six elements, linking them together as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water.

She wanted to restrict his speed and disrupt his charge.

Yet Guang Long seemed not to see any of it.

"Hmph!"

He snorted coldly and stamped his right foot down.

Smack!

The mire instantly burst outward beneath his foot, splattering mud in every direction. His legs were like iron pillars, pulling free of the swamp with ease, his speed barely diminished.

The Wind Blades, ice needles, and Earth Spikes struck his chest and arms with a series of metallic clangs.

Sparks flew from his scales, leaving only a few shallow white marks.

They couldn't break through his defenses at all!

The Ironclad Dragon Martial Soul excelled at defense and strength above all else.

Guang Long kept moving, still charging straight at Hu Fangyuan.

Gu Yue frowned slightly.

This guy's defenses are much stronger than expected.

Guang Long was about to reach Hu Fangyuan.

Hu Fangyuan stood where he was, not moving at all.

Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted.

"You're acting like you're the only Soul Grandmaster here!"

As his words fell.

Humm-

Likewise, two deep-yellow Hundred-Year Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath Hu Fangyuan's feet.

"Chirr-"

A clear, ringing cicada cry sounded from him.

A huge, translucent amber-colored Azure Cicada slowly appeared behind him. The patterns on its wings were distinct, as though carved from aged jade, warm in luster and ancient in style. It rested quietly, its wings trembling slightly.

This was the first time Tang Wulin and Xie Xie had seen Hu Fangyuan's Soul Spirit.