This Was Mu En's Promise to Me... to Keep Her Safe?

"Xuan Zi, eldest senior sister was taken by an Evil Soul Master!"

An inner court disciple at the Soul Saint rank shouted urgently.

There was no time to explain so much. Right now, saving her came first...

"Who?!!" Xuan Zi's expression changed abruptly as he roared.

"Lu... Cheng..." the Soul Saint disciple said hesitantly.

"Him?" Xuan Zi's expression shifted. Knowing how serious this was, he said, "Wait here. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back!"

With that, he turned into a streak of light and sped in the direction the Soul Saint disciple had pointed.

He was different from the other inner court disciples.

As a member of Shrek Academy's upper ranks, he naturally knew how bloodthirsty and savage that brat had become. He had stirred up several storms in the Sun Moon Empire, and the souls who had died at his hands were beyond counting.

He had even personally slain a Level 9 Soul Engineer!

He had nearly sparked a war between the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire.

If a desperado like him really took Lexuan away, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"They caught up?"

Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow. Looking at Zhang Lexuan, who gritted her teeth in his arms without uttering a word, his lips curved into a smile. "Speaking of which, you ought to thank me. If I hadn't dealt with that Blood-Eroding Devil Python, none of you would likely have lasted until Xuan Zi arrived."

"Let me go, and I'll persuade him to let you leave..." Zhang Lexuan suddenly said.

"Oh?" Lu Cheng looked surprised.

"Xuan Zi will kill you..." Feeling the terrifying presence drawing ever closer, sweeping toward them like wind and storm clouds, Zhang Lexuan spoke urgently.

"..."

Lu Cheng fell silent for a while.

Just as that immense presence was about to arrive, he glanced at Wu Ya. "Take her and go. We'll meet at the agreed location."

Wu Ya looked stunned. "Wait... you want to take on Xuan Zi? Sure, I've often made fun of how weak that fellow is, but he's still a Level 98 Super Douluo. Even I would be crushed in an instant and have to flee for my life."

"He can't kill me."

Lu Cheng spoke softly.

"..."

"All right." With a complicated look in his eyes, Wu Ya waved his hand. Numerous black crows coalesced around them, seized Zhang Lexuan's clothes in their beaks, and flew into the distance in a dense black mass.

"Lu Cheng!"

Zhang Lexuan's eyes filled with anxiety as she struggled desperately.

"You'll die!"

"Tsk, tsk, stop shouting..." one of the crows spoke in a human voice. "Trust that brat. He won't do anything he isn't confident about. His hands are probably just itching for a fight, and he wants to exchange a few moves with a top powerhouse. He'll settle down once he's had his fight."

Only then did Zhang Lexuan quiet down.

But a trace of worry remained in her eyes.

"Xuan Zi, long time no see. I've missed you dearly."

Lu Cheng smiled brightly.

"Lu Cheng, hand Lexuan over!"

Xuan Zi's eyes nearly spat fire as he spoke in a low voice.

An imposing force rolled forward behind him like yellow clouds. Earth-yellow Soul Power gathered behind him into an enormous Taotie, whose mouth seemed capable of swallowing everything.

The might of a Level 98 Super Douluo was on full display.

Facing the pressure of a top powerhouse, Lu Cheng remained unhurried and smiled calmly. "What is the meaning of this, Xuan Zi? I saved my junior brothers and sisters. Never mind a word of thanks, isn't it rather inappropriate to greet me with that attitude?"

"So you mean I should thank you?" Xuan Zi laughed in anger.

"What else? If you hadn't neglected your duties, Ruomu, Lexuan, and the others wouldn't have nearly died at the hands of a hundred-thousand-year Blood-Eroding Devil Python..." The smile faded from Lu Cheng's face as he stared coldly at Xuan Zi.

"Guh, a hundred-thousand-year Blood-Eroding Devil Python?"

Xuan Zi froze, then realized what had happened.

No wonder those inner court disciples had traces of crimson liquid on their bodies, with large patches of foul-smelling corrosion all around them. Come to think of it, had this brat really saved Lexuan and the others?

But a flash of shame and anger immediately crossed his face.

It seemed... he really had no comeback.

"In light of your saving them this time, I'll be magnanimous and spare your life. Hand Lexuan over to me," Xuan Zi said flatly.

"..."

A deathly silence fell.

Lu Cheng slowly closed his eyes and gently exhaled a breath of turbid air.

When he opened them again, an eerie blood-red sheen surged into them.

"Xuan Zi."

"When I entrusted Lexuan to Mu En, it was so you would keep her safe. Keep her safe... and let nothing go wrong."

"Now, if I hadn't appeared, she would most likely have died in this Star Dou Great Forest. Is this what Mu En personally promised me when he said he would keep her safe?"

Lu Cheng spoke softly, yet the presence around him climbed at a terrifying speed.

Xuan Zi: "..."

What?

What was all this about entrusting her to someone...?

"It seems you don't know, and Mu En never explained any of this to you." Lu Cheng's black robes snapped and fluttered in the wind as he stared calmly at Xuan Zi.

"But it doesn't matter. Once you return this time, Mu En will tell you everything."

"Brat, what mystical nonsense are you spouting?" Xuan Zi looked bewildered.

"Seventh Soul Skill, Sun-Shooting True Body!"

Lu Cheng murmured under his breath.

The Sun-Shooting Bow slowly appeared in his left palm. At the same time, the phantom of a crimson-bodied giant, seemingly hailing from the primordial wilderness, appeared behind him and raised an enormous bow in sync with him.

A crimson Soul Ring rippled up from beneath his feet.

What made Xuan Zi's pupils contract was that another crimson Soul Ring rippled up immediately afterward.

"Purple, purple, black, black, red, red, red, red..."

Xuan Zi looked stunned.

Four Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.

Even that old monster Du Busi of the Body Sect only had three red Soul Rings, yet now...

This brat actually had four red Soul Rings. Back at the academy, he had never displayed strength like this.

Had he really hidden himself so deeply?

A trace of gravity entered Xuan Zi's eyes.

"Brat, today, I will eliminate you!"

"Sun-Shooting!"

Lu Cheng slowly raised his head. The fiery-red arrow in his hand aimed at Xuan Zi, and the enormous phantom behind him did the same.

The arrow transformed into a three-legged Golden Crow and tore across the sky. He unleashed that shot with all his might, with the force to shake heaven and earth.

"Hiss... a killing move right off the bat?" Wu Ya glanced behind him. The sky had been lit into a fiery-red sea, and his pitch-black eyes filled with wonder.

"This fellow really has grown stronger again."

"Looks like this isn't asking for pointers at all. He's clearly venting his anger..." Wu Ya glanced at the beauty whose fingers were clenched tight, her face full of worry, and shook his head with a smile.

"No matter how strong that fellow Xuan Zi is, he probably won't come out ahead against this brat."

"This..."

The many Shrek disciples stared at the rising sea of fire and the terrifyingly powerful combat strength, their eyes filled with astonishment.

He truly lived up to his reputation as the legendary Great Demon King of the inner court.

He could actually battle a top powerhouse like Xuan Zi for a few exchanges?

Ruomu stood with support, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

This was the genius Mu En had once placed his greatest hopes in, the future Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy. What a pity...

He had been a member of the Holy Spirit Cult from beginning to end.

The corners of the other Soul Saints' and Soul Emperors' eyes twitched wildly.

That familiar feeling was back...