"Don't worry. With Little Black handling this, it won't take up much of your time."
Hearing Jing Shanshan's words, Zhao Wuji could truly say he now knew what it felt like to laugh in anger. He did not stop, continuing toward Jing Shanshan.
Seeing this, the black cat stepped forward. The next instant, the little creature Ning Rongrong had just considered docile and well-behaved suddenly swelled, every hair standing on end. Its body grew explosively, transforming in the blink of an eye into a giant, pitch-black tiger wreathed in cold, sinister Qi.
Its sharp claws gouged several shallow furrows, and a deep roar rolled from its throat. The sound pressed outward, loudly proclaiming its existence to the creatures around it!
The smile froze on Zhao Wuji's face, and he involuntarily sucked in a cold breath. The scent of death kept seeping into his nostrils, while the great bell named danger clanged madly inside his head!
Something's wrong. That black cat isn't an ordinary animal at all!
It's a Soul Beast.
A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast whose age is definitely beyond anything I expected!
Why does an arrogant kid have such an obedient yet terrifying Soul Beast?!
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply. With no time to think further, he circulated his Soul Power frantically. His Seventh Soul Ring lit up with black light, and without the slightest hesitation, he activated a Soul Saint's trump card: Martial Soul Avatar.
His Soul Power fluctuations surged abruptly, and every bone in his body crackled explosively. He grew far taller and bulkier as brownish-yellow fur sprouted wildly. The instant his body fully assumed a bear's form, his fur turned brilliant gold.
At that moment, standing before the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was a giant bear over five meters tall.
Was Zhao Wuji going to fight the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?
No. Zhao Wuji knew perfectly well that even with his Martial Soul Avatar, his chances of winning were extremely low. He intended to hold this terrifying Soul Beast back!
Until the others from Shrek Academy arrived to surround and attack this dangerous Soul Beast together!
Lu Qibin suddenly roared.
"Little Monsters! Run!"
Lu Qibin immediately stepped in front of Tang San and the others. Six Soul Rings emerged from his body, and the presence of a Soul Emperor spread out steadily.
"Um, there's really no need to be this nervous, is there?"
Ning Rongrong cautiously raised her hand and spoke.
"You!"
Hearing that, Lu Qibin was so angered by this year's students' audacity that he laughed.
With something that dangerous right in front of you, you're still not nervous?!
After Lu Qibin's shout, Tang San and the others finally snapped out of their fear of the disparity in strength.
Ning Rongrong looked at the black cat that had suddenly become a colossal creature, then at Zhao Wuji, who was so tense he had even brought out his Martial Soul Avatar. Finally, her gaze settled on the calm, composed Jing Shanshan.
"Look, although this... Soul Beast we've never seen before gives off a terrifying presence, at the end of the day, isn't it this blond kid's pet?"
As though recruiting an ally for her view, Ning Rongrong once again took hold of Zhu Zhuqing beside her.
Zhu Zhuqing froze. Instinctively, she wanted to argue, but after running Ning Rongrong's words through her mind, she swallowed what she had been about to say.
What Ning Rongrong said really does seem to be the case!
Not just Zhu Zhuqing, but everyone else turned their gazes toward Jing Shanshan behind the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. They could not help feeling somewhat less nervous as a thought surfaced.
That does seem to be the case.
Except for Zhao Wuji and Xiao Wu.
What's going on? What's going on?!
Xiao Wu shrank fearfully into Tang San's arms, not daring to look toward the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger at all.
Tang San had gradually been calming down and was trying to identify this somewhat familiar-looking Soul Beast from its characteristics. When he noticed Xiao Wu's fear, he immediately patted her back gently.
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Wu. Don't be afraid, Xiao Wu. With me here, you'll definitely be all right."
When Tang San looked toward Jing Shanshan, killing intent surfaced in his eyes once more.
For daring to do this to my Xiao Wu, even ten thousand deaths wouldn't be enough for you!
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had no such multitude of thoughts. Its enormous jaws opened, and a black-and-red blade of light, condensed almost to solidity, tore through the air.
The black-and-red light blade was extremely fast. One glance told Zhao Wuji he could not dodge it, and he immediately crossed his arms to block it head-on. Driving his Soul Power to its utmost, he rapidly raised layer upon layer of protective Soul Power.
Crack.
Several shattering sounds rang out almost simultaneously, and Zhao Wuji was shoved backward, sliding several zhang.
Tang San and the others were just about to cheer Zhao Wuji's ability to take a beating when they heard his incredulous voice.
"You've got to be kidding."
Zhao Wuji had barely blurted that out when blood suddenly spurted from his chest. An extremely deep wound split open from his chest to his left shoulder, and beads of blood trickled down his Soul Power armor.
Thud.
Unable to remain standing, Zhao Wuji dropped to one knee, his face deathly pale. His entire body rapidly reverted from a giant bear to human form.
Zhao Wuji's Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, had been broken!
Broken with a single strike!
Even Zhao Wuji himself could hardly imagine this reality!
After all, while using his Martial Soul Avatar, the power of all his Soul Skills rose to 150% of their original strength, while his defense increased by 200%.
Even so, he had failed to withstand what seemed like a casual strike from this Soul Beast and had been defeated outright!
If word of this got out, where would he, Zhao Wuji, put his face?!
A deathly silence fell over everyone.
"Haha, not bad! All the effort this king spent wasn't wasted. Little Black, come here!"
A childish voice shattered the silence. Upon hearing Jing Shanshan's words, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's previously vicious red eyes instantly revealed the clear innocence a child ought to have.
The collar around the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's neck flashed with faint golden light. Its body rapidly shrank, soon becoming that docile little black cat again.
"Good kitty!"
Stroking the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's sleek fur, Jing Shanshan felt increasingly satisfied. This was precisely the Soul Beast he had set his sights on.
Even though he had applied several buffs to the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, its casually defeating a Soul Saint with seemingly decent defenses in a single strike still exceeded his expectations.
Granted, with the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger returning to its original form like that, the Rejuvenation Potion's effect could be considered nullified.
But Jing Shanshan did not care.
In the first place, if the drinker's consciousness resisted the Rejuvenation Potion's effects, they could turn themselves from a juvenile back into an adult in their prime.
When he had originally tamed the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, he had used the Rejuvenation Potion on it entirely because its rejuvenating effect could weaken the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger further.
That would let the A Dou Spiked Club have a greater effect, preventing the then-dying Dark Demon Evil God Tiger from being beaten to death by the A Dou Spiked Club before it could be beaten into an idiot.
Jing Shanshan raised his eyes, his gaze landing on Tang San.
Tang San was not nervous inside, but his body was still trembling slightly. The moment he noticed Jing Shanshan's gaze, his entire body tensed, and he forcibly suppressed his trembling. He stepped in front of Xiao Wu, who was shaking uncontrollably, shielding her behind him like a Ferocious Beast guarding its food!
Jing Shanshan paid no attention whatsoever to Xiao Wu behind him. He merely met Tang San's gaze and calmly tossed out a single remark.
"Unfortunately, I haven't regretted it. And you, kindhearted fellow, seem to have had your legs shaking all along."