Gu Yue's chopsticks landed steadily in Xiao Chen's bowl, the tender crabmeat still giving off warmth.
The crab claw in Na'er's hand shattered with a crack. Her little face, which had been full of smiles, instantly darkened, and the hostility in her eyes almost spilled over.
No, she couldn't lose to Gu Yue.
She abruptly put down the utensils in her hands, picked up her chopsticks, and swiftly grabbed a plump piece of shrimp, depositing it in Xiao Chen's bowl without leaving room for argument.
"Brother, eat mine. Shrimp tastes better!"
Seeing this, Gu Yue raised her brows slightly, showing no intention of backing down. She immediately picked up a translucent kelp roll and placed it in Xiao Chen's bowl. "Chen, try this. It's soft and tender, just right for you."
"Eat mine!"
On either side of him, the air reeked of gunpowder, neither girl showing any sign of yielding.
Sitting between them, Xiao Chen watched the food pile higher and higher in his bowl, the corner of his mouth twitching as he increasingly felt that something was wrong.
Oh no, I've really become Tang Wulin.
These two haven't made some ridiculous bet again, have they?
He raised a hand and rubbed between his brows, saying helplessly, "I can use my own chopsticks. You don't have to go to the trouble."
"No, I'll do it!" Na'er and Gu Yue said in unison, picking up more food and placing it in Xiao Chen's bowl.
Xiao Chen completely lost the will to protest and could only accept their feeding, eating the food in his bowl one mouthful at a time.
Beside them, Xie Xie stared dumbfounded. Being fed by two beautiful girls-he could only dream of such treatment in this lifetime.
After his initial shock, Tang Wulin, who sat beside Xie Xie, soon withdrew his gaze and returned his attention to the Red Jade Shrimp in front of him.
Shrimp still tasted best. Everything else was just drifting clouds.
Ever since he discovered that the Golden Dragon King Divine Core inside him had disappeared, he could finally eat normally.
Before, he had eaten purely to stave off hunger. Now, at last, he could appreciate the taste of the food itself.
He wondered which powerful figure had helped him. If he met him, he would definitely have to thank him properly.
Also, Old Tang had disappeared along with the Golden Dragon King Divine Core. Old Tang hadn't looked like a good person at all. All that talk about the Golden Dragon King Divine Core being an immense opportunity had been lies.
Without the Golden Dragon King Divine Core, he lived more comfortably than anyone.
As though recalling some unpleasant memory, Xie Xie looked at Xiao Chen and cautiously asked, "Xiao Chen, are you taking part in the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition too?"
His voice carried some apprehension as he asked, afraid that Xiao Chen would instantly take him out in the arena just as he had last time on the Spirit Ascension Platform.
Hearing this, Xiao Chen stopped what he was doing and said evenly, "No, I'm only entering the forging competition."
As he spoke, he turned slightly, revealing the Level 5 Blacksmith badge gleaming metallically on his lapel.
The fine forging patterns on the badge were clearly visible, instantly overturning Xie Xie's and Tang Wulin's understanding of the world.
Xie Xie's eyes widened, his face filled with shock. "A... a Level 5 Blacksmith?!!"
But Xie Xie then breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have to fight Xiao Chen. Otherwise, it really would be a nightmare.
Tang Wulin stopped wolfing down his food too. Unlike Xie Xie, he stared at the badge in disbelief, then showed a trace of bitterness.
Well, he might as well surrender when the time came.
Sorry, Senior Sister. He had no options either.
"Wulin, you're on your own," Xie Xie said, offering Tang Wulin a moment of silent mourning.
The meal ended amid a subtle, slightly awkward atmosphere.
Xiao Chen settled Na'er's bill and, with a dark expression, marked down a debt against the grinning Na'er.
Everyone got up and, after leaving the restaurant, headed toward Tianhai Stadium.
Today was the opening ceremony of the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition. All of Skysea City was immersed in the lively atmosphere of the event. Competitors in school uniforms of every color could be seen everywhere on the streets, which thronged with voices and bustle.
Before long, they arrived at Tianhai Stadium.
The stadium was enormous, with room for tens of thousands of people. By now, every seat inside was already occupied, and the spectators' cheers rose one after another, resounding through the clouds.
In the center of the plaza hung an enormous competition timetable, clearly listing the schedule for each event.
Everyone gathered before the timetable and carefully checked the arrangements.
The morning's schedule mainly consisted of competitions for the four major professions, including forging, mecha manufacturing, mecha maintenance, and mecha design.
The afternoon featured the preliminary rounds for individual and team battles, while the evening's prime-time slot belonged to the eagerly anticipated seven-person team battle, the most closely watched event of this competition.
That was because it was a team match between Skysea's local team and the Shrek Team.
Just as everyone was checking their respective schedules, a slightly aggrieved voice tinged with urgency came from the crowd. "I'm so hungry. Does anyone have anything to eat?"
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a chubby boy in a dark green school uniform wandering through the crowd.
The chubby boy was Xu Lizhi. He had come to the stadium with Shrek Academy's group, but he was already hungry before the opening ceremony had even begun and couldn't resist searching the crowd for food.
As he wandered, he drew close to Tang Wulin and the others.
The moment he saw Tang Wulin, Xu Lizhi's eyes lit up. He immediately approached, looking pitiful, his eyes full of pleading:
"Big brother, do you have anything to eat?"
Looking at Xu Lizhi, Tang Wulin instantly felt a sense of shared suffering as a fellow food lover. Without the slightest hesitation, he took several bags of dried fish he had prepared from his Storage Soul Tool and handed them to Xu Lizhi:
"Here, have these to tide you over."
Xu Lizhi grabbed the dried fish, a delighted smile instantly spreading over his face. He hurriedly tore open a bag and began eating in great mouthfuls, mumbling through his food:
"Thank you. May a good person like you live a peaceful life!"
Within a few mouthfuls, a bag of dried fish was empty. Xu Lizhi looked at Tang Wulin and asked curiously, "My name's Xu Lizhi. What's yours?"
"My name's Tang Wulin. Just call me Wulin," Tang Wulin replied with a smile, his tone very gentle.
At that moment, Xiao Chen and Na'er were standing nearby. Na'er had also noticed Xu Lizhi. Her gaze fell on his dark green school uniform, and she couldn't help pursing her lips as she complained quietly to Xiao Chen:
"Brother, what school's uniform is that? It's actually green. Isn't that terribly tasteless?"
Xiao Chen glanced at it indifferently and replied casually, "It's only dark green. It's just a different design style. There's no need to care so much."
"But the design really is ugly. It doesn't look nice at all," Na'er muttered.
Na'er's voice wasn't loud, but she was very close to Xu Lizhi, so naturally, he heard her too. However, he was immersed in the delicious dried fish and paid no attention.
How could Shrek be as important as dried fish?
Just then, a voice came from behind Xu Lizhi.
"Hey, fatty, what are you doing over here?"
A cool voice carrying a hint of arrogance rang out, and a figure strode over.
The newcomer was Ye Xinglan. Dressed in Shrek Academy's uniform, she stood straight and tall, with a pretty face and a touch of arrogance in her eyes as she surveyed everyone present.
Seeing Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi immediately stopped eating and called out somewhat guiltily, "Huh? Sister Xinglan?"
"Who else would it be?" Ye Xinglan frowned as she looked at Xu Lizhi.
"You were told to stay with the teacher, but instead you're running around and hanging out with these disreputable people. What kind of behavior is this?"
Her words clearly included Xiao Chen, Na'er, and everyone from Class Zero, and she made no effort to hide the contempt in her tone.
Whatever else it taught, Shrek Academy certainly made offending people a required subject.
After all, one of Shrek's legendary school mottos was, "Those who dare not stir up trouble are mediocrities."
Hearing this, Xu Lizhi hurriedly tried to speak up for Tang Wulin and the others, but at the thought of Ye Xinglan's temper, he silently lowered his head again, not daring to say anything more, and stood behind her eating dried fish.
After hearing Ye Xinglan's words, Na'er refused to indulge her either. Her brows immediately knitted, and she retorted:
"Disreputable? Who are you calling disreputable?"
She couldn't stand that sort of attitude that treated everyone else as beneath notice, and she immediately fired back without the slightest courtesy.
Ye Xinglan glanced at Na'er and said flatly, "You, of course. What, do you have a problem with that?"
"You!" Na'er laughed in anger. "Fine, fine, fine. Since you're so arrogant, why don't you tell us what school you're from and what gives you the right to talk about us like that?"
"Shrek Academy."
Ye Xinglan raised her chin slightly, as though uttering that name alone was enough to crush everyone present. "The continent's number one academy. Haven't you heard of it?"
At the words "Shrek Academy," everyone present except Xiao Chen, Na'er, and Gu Yue-Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, and Xu Xiaoyan-froze briefly, a measure of awe appearing on their faces.
Shrek Academy's name rang like thunder across the continent. It was a sacred place in the hearts of all Soul Masters, and naturally, they didn't dare look down on it.
Seeing this, Ye Xinglan grew even more arrogant and gave a cold snort. "Hmph. Ignorant."
At this, a mocking smile curled Na'er's lips, and she said:
"Shrek Academy? What, are you Shrek people's mouths as ugly as your uniforms?"
"You! How dare you insult Shrek's honor! Apologize immediately!"
Ye Xinglan's expression instantly darkened, and she stared at Na'er with icy eyes carrying a hint of anger.
"Oh my, getting worked up?"
Na'er raised her brows and pressed her advantage.
"You're getting worked up over an offhand remark. Since you care so much about honor, I'll just call you Sister Honor from now on."
"You..." Ye Xinglan's face turned livid with anger, her fingers curling slightly. Clearly, she was truly furious and was about to step forward to teach Na'er a lesson.
Just then, Xiao Chen, who had remained silent, spoke. "Na'er, enough. No more talking."
Hearing this, Na'er immediately stopped speaking. How strange. Xiao Chen wasn't usually this easygoing.
The reason Xiao Chen hadn't spoken all this time wasn't that he was easy to bully, but that he had never liked verbal disputes and was more accustomed to letting his strength speak.
Now that Na'er had satisfied her urge to argue, it was his turn to act.
I'm no good with words. Better to use my hands.
Seeing Xiao Chen speak up to stop Na'er, Ye Xinglan assumed he was afraid. She snorted coldly and said haughtily:
"Hmph. Since you know to be afraid, hurry up and apolo-"
Before she could finish, Xiao Chen moved, instantly appearing before Ye Xinglan, so fast that no one could react.
He raised his hand and clamped it around Ye Xinglan's throat, leaving her unable to break free.
Immediately afterward, a trace of wither power flowed from his fingertips into Ye Xinglan's body, instantly eroding her soul power and leaving her unable to summon her martial soul, while also tormenting her nerves.
"Urgh-" Ye Xinglan's face instantly turned deathly pale. A strained, muffled groan escaped her throat, and her eyes lost some of their focus.
She could clearly feel that her soul power had been sealed. Her entire body was weak, and she didn't even have the strength to resist.
Xiao Chen's gaze was icy as he looked at Ye Xinglan before him and coolly uttered a single word. "Trash."
Before you continue