Ning Rongrong and Xue Na both recognized Flender immediately—this was that swindler uncle!
He was the one who sold them an ordinary stone for two hundred Gold Soul Coins!
Ning Rongrong, already spoiled by nature, grew furious as she recalled how unjustly those two hundred Gold Soul Coins had been spent. She rushed over to Su Yu's side, planted her hands on her hips, and glared at Flender, her crisp voice filled with dissatisfaction:
"Swindler uncle! So it's you!"
Flender was momentarily taken aback by the address "swindler uncle." He narrowed his eyes, studying Ning Rongrong, and after a moment seemed to recall something. Stroking his chin, he chuckled:
"Oh? It's you, little girl. What, wasn't the stone useful?"
"Useful, my foot!" Ning Rongrong fumed. "Selling a worthless stone for two hundred Gold Soul Coins—you're clearly a cheat!"
Su Yu patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder helplessly, signaling her to calm down, then said to Flender:
"Dean, Rongrong is young and speaks bluntly. Please forgive her."
Flender didn't mind; in fact, he laughed even more heartily: "No matter, no matter. The transaction was voluntary—I didn't force you to buy it."
"Besides," he added, "anything sold by me, Flender, even if it's just a stone, has its own merits."
Changing the subject, Flender turned his attention back to Su Yu:
"Enough of that. You just said you wanted to prove your strength?"
"Of course."
Su Yu nodded, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty.
"Dean Flender, I am a Soul Saint. My Martial Soul is my eyes. If you don't mind, I would like to spar with Teacher Zhao to prove my capabilities."
As he spoke, his eyes focused slightly, and a crimson hue suddenly emerged within his dark pupils. Three tomoe quietly materialized, resembling burning flames, exuding a strange and sharp pressure.
This was the "Copy Wheel Eye" he was currently using as his Martial Soul.
He had no intention of revealing his true identity and would simply use the Copy Wheel Eye as his Martial Soul.
The three tomoe coalesced into a cherry blossom pattern within his eyes, appearing both enchanting and somewhat eerie.
"Hmm?"
Flender, Li Yusong, and Zhao Wuji were all taken aback, their eyes fixed on Su Yu's. Surprise showed on their faces.
Such a peculiar Martial Soul was rare, especially with those eyes that seemed to possess a certain intimidating power.
"A Soul Saint?" Zhao Wuji frowned, scrutinizing Su Yu from head to toe.
"At your age, you're already a Soul Saint?"
It had taken him decades to cultivate to the Soul Saint level. How could this young man, who appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen, have reached such a realm?
Su Yu remained neither humble nor arrogant: "My strength will be revealed in our spar. If Teacher Zhao has no objections, I ask for your guidance."
A glint of sharp light flashed in Flender's eyes. Though he had sensed Su Yu's confidence earlier, he hadn't expected the young man to be at the Soul Saint level.
He looked at Zhao Wuji and smiled: "Old Zhao, since this young brother Su is eager, why not humor him with a few moves? Just keep it to a friendly exchange."
Zhao Wuji was never one to stand on ceremony. Spurred by Su Yu's challenge, he immediately thumped his chest:
"Why not! I'd like to see what tricks this eye Martial Soul has up its sleeve!"
With that, his Soul Power surged, and seven Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—lit up once again. The phantom of a Vajra Gorilla Bear materialized behind him, its presence fierce and imposing.
Flender stroked his beard as he watched the two figures confronting each other in the arena, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
Su Yu strode to the center of the square and reached for his waist, retrieving two peculiarly shaped weapons from his Soul Guiding Device.
They were two pitch-black kunai, their blades gleaming with a cold, sharp light. Shaped like curved short blades, their handles were wrapped in anti-slip black cloth.
These kunai were no ordinary items—they were specially forged by the highest-level blacksmiths of the Spirit Hall according to blueprints provided by Su Yu.
The material used was the hardest metal found on the continent, impervious to ordinary Soul Power attacks and even capable of absorbing a certain amount of Soul Power to enhance itself.
Such metal was typically reserved for crafting high-grade armor. To forge these kunai for Su Yu, Bibi Dong had specially authorized a portion of it. A total of ten were made, sufficient for his needs.
More importantly, Su Yu had long ago engraved a special mark only he could perceive—the Flying Thunder God Mark—using his Soul Power at the junction of the kunai's handle and blade.
Holding the kunai, he stood opposite Zhao Wuji, his crimson Copy Wheel Eye slowly rotating.
Though he hadn't deliberately released his Soul Power, an aura of sharp readiness emanated from him.
"What kind of weapon is that?"
Zhao Wuji frowned slightly as he observed the kunai in Su Yu's hand, having never seen such an oddly shaped blade.
Su Yu didn't answer, merely bending his knees slightly and adopting a stance that balanced offense and defense.
Flender and Li Yusong stood to the side, their expressions growing solemn.
In the next moment, Su Yu flicked his wrist, driving the kunai in his left hand firmly into the ground beside his feet.
The kunai in his right hand shot through the air with a whistling sound, aimed directly at Zhao Wuji's face!
Seeing this, Zhao Wuji instinctively raised his hand to swat the small object away.
But just as his palm was about to make contact with the kunai, Su Yu's figure abruptly materialized right in front of him!
"Huh?"
A chill ran through Zhao Wuji's heart before he could react, and he felt a gust of fierce wind rush toward his face.
Su Yu's left hand shot out like lightning, precisely catching the kunai that was about to be batted away.
His right hand, charged with dense Soul Power, delivered a heavy, wind-splitting punch squarely to Zhao Wuji's cheek!
Thud!
A dull impact echoed as a sharp pain shot through Zhao Wuji's cheek, his head ringing loudly.
The massive man was forced half a step sideways by the force of the punch, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"What?!"
Everyone in the square gasped in shock.
Flender rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. What kind of speed was that?
He hadn't even blinked, and Su Yu had abruptly appeared before Zhao Wuji to land a punch?
Zhao Wuji shook his head, thoroughly awakened by the blow, fury and fighting spirit blazing in his eyes:
"Good kid! You've got some skill!"
He abruptly channeled his Soul Power, and an earthy yellow defensive barrier instantly enveloped his entire body.
Simultaneously, he swung his left arm horizontally, tearing through the air with a fierce gust, aiming straight for Su Yu's chest!
For this strike, he had used half his strength!
Yet Su Yu neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, he twisted the kunai in his left hand sharply, the blade glowing faintly with a halo of Soul Power as it sliced accurately toward Zhao Wuji's arm.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying in all directions. Zhao Wuji felt a stinging pain shoot through his arm!
Using the recoil from that strike, Su Yu's figure drifted backward, landing steadily several meters away, once again putting distance between himself and Zhao Wuji.
He pointed the kunai in his hand toward his opponent from a distance, the crimson Copy Wheel Eye spinning even faster.
Zhao Wuji stared at the kunai in Su Yu's hand, then looked at those strange eyes of his, his expression finally turning extremely grave.
"This weapon of yours, and this speed... Old Zhao has truly met his match today!"
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