Chapter 105: So I'm Holding the Protagonist's Script After All?
Chao Tianxiang steadied herself and shifted her gaze to the remaining few.
"And these two young ladies?"
"I'm Ning Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong stepped forward, her delicate face carrying the unmistakable pride of the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Twelve years old. Rank 27 auxiliary-system Soul Grandmaster."
She lifted her hand. Multicolored light gathered in her palm.
A crystalline, exquisitely radiant pagoda slowly materialized.
"Martial soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"
Chao Tianxiang cried out in shock.
She stared fixedly at the pagoda, her mind buzzing.
One of the Three Upper Sects, the direct lineage inheritance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
How could someone of that status appear in this unheard-of Shrek Academy?
"Greetings, senior."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke calmly as well.
"Zhu Zhuqing, eleven years old. Rank 28 agility-attack system Soul Grandmaster."
Eleven years old, Rank 28.
Chao Tianxiang felt as if her heart could hardly withstand any more.
She mechanically turned her head to look at Dai Mubai and the others.
"And you…"
"Tang San, twelve years old. Rank 29 control-system Soul Grandmaster."
Tang San spoke in a low voice. There was no pride in his tone, only a faint gloom that was hard to conceal.
His pride had already been thoroughly shattered by Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu.
"Dai Mubai, fifteen years old. Rank 38 power attack system Battle Soul Elder."
Dai Mubai forced himself to stand straighter, though he still hadn't fully recovered from the shock of Xiao Wu's rapid advancement.
"Oscar, fourteen years old. Rank 30 food-system Battle Soul Elder."
Oscar scratched his head.
"Ma Hongjun, twelve years old. Rank 28 power attack system Soul Grandmaster."
Ma Hongjun let out a chuckle.
Chao Tianxiang felt like she could barely breathe.
She had lived many years. She had seen geniuses. She had seen monsters.
But a cluster of monsters gathered together like this… she had never even heard of such a thing!
Just where in the world had this Shrek Academy sprung out from?
Meng Yiran lowered her head, biting her lip. Her eyes were already red.
She had originally thought that reaching Rank 30 counted as decent talent.
But now… compared to this group before her, what did she amount to?
"Grandmother…"
Her voice trembled with tears.
Chao Tianxiang looked at her granddaughter's crestfallen expression, her heart aching and heavy.
She knew that the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent today was completely out of their reach.
With Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, present, they stood no chance.
Even if he weren't here, Meng Yiran still might not have been able to gain any advantage against these little monsters.
"Sigh… Yiran, let's go."
She sighed, preparing to take Meng Yiran away.
However—
"Wait."
Meng Yiran suddenly lifted her head.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her gaze turning resolute once more.
She turned and looked at Lin Qingmo.
"I still want to fight you."
"?"
Everyone was stunned.
With such a vast gap, what was there to fight?
"Yiran, don't be foolish!"
Chao Tianxiang frowned and scolded.
"Grandmother, I'm not being foolish."
Meng Yiran's voice was calm, yet stubborn.
She looked straight at Lin Qingmo, speaking each word clearly.
"Even if I lose, I want to lose with full understanding."
"I don't want to leave like this in confusion. If I did… I would look down on myself."
"…"
Lin Qingmo looked at her.
She was on the verge of tears, yet she still forced her back straight.
He smiled faintly.
"Alright."
On the open ground beside the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, the two stood facing each other.
Meng Yiran took a deep breath. Her Serpent Cane martial soul appeared in her hand.
Two yellow soul rings rose from beneath her feet.
She assumed a battle stance, her eyes sharp as blades.
"Meng Yiran. Rank 30 Battle Soul Elder. Please instruct me!"
Lin Qingmo did nothing.
He did not release his martial soul. He did not reveal any soul rings. He did not even circulate his soul power.
He simply stood there casually, hands in his pockets.
Calmly watching her.
"Come."
Meng Yiran bit her lip.
She felt belittled.
Suppressing her emotions, she turned all of it into momentum for attack.
"First Soul Skill: Serpent Blade!"
She moved.
Her figure shot forward like lightning. The Serpent Cane transformed into a streak of green light, stabbing straight toward Lin Qingmo's chest!
This strike was fast, precise, and ruthless.
She had used her full strength.
However—
Lin Qingmo merely tilted slightly to the side. The movement was minimal, the timing terrifyingly precise.
The cane brushed past the edge of his clothing, not even touching the fabric.
"?!"
Meng Yiran's pupils contracted.
She immediately shifted her attack. The cane swept horizontally as her second soul ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill: Serpent Body!"
Her body twisted like a snake, altering the angle of attack in an almost impossible manner.
Yet Lin Qingmo still did not truly move.
He simply raised his right hand and lightly tapped the air with his index finger.
The Serpent Cane was halted by an overwhelming force.
Meng Yiran's expression changed completely.
She finally understood why he hadn't even released his martial soul.
Because he didn't need to.
His control over timing had reached a level she simply could not comprehend.
And that terrifying physical strength…
Before him, she felt like a child waving a wooden sword in front of an adult full of flaws, naive and laughable.
She gritted her teeth and charged again.
The Serpent Cane danced, leaving behind streak after streak of afterimages.
Thrust, sweep, lift, smash… She used every technique, every soul skill she had.
But Lin Qingmo only sidestepped, shifted slightly, or raised a hand.
Each time, he narrowly avoided her attacks.
Each time, he effortlessly neutralized her soul skills.
From beginning to end, he never stepped more than a meter from his original position.
…
Three minutes later.
Meng Yiran stopped.
She was panting heavily. Sweat beaded across her forehead. The hand gripping the staff trembled slightly.
Not from exhaustion.
From… despair.
She looked at Lin Qingmo.
He remained composed and relaxed, and not even his breathing was disturbed.
As if that intense offensive barrage had been nothing more than a trivial game.
Meng Yiran lowered her head.
After a long while—
She suddenly withdrew her martial soul and dispersed her soul rings.
Then she lifted her head, a relieved smile appearing on her face.
"I lost."
She spoke calmly.
"I lost, and I'm convinced."
Everyone silently watched her.
A trace of heartache flashed through Chao Tianxiang's eyes, but more than that, there was relief.
Her granddaughter had finally grown up.
She had learned that beyond the heavens there are always greater heavens, beyond people, greater people.
And she had learned what it meant to lose with honor.
Meng Yiran took a deep breath.
Then she did something no one expected—
She quickly walked up to Lin Qingmo.
Rising onto her toes, she swiftly planted a kiss on his cheek.
A soft touch—gone in an instant.
"…"
Lin Qingmo's eyelids twitched.
Well now. In the original story, this treatment belonged to Tang San.
Now it belonged to him.
"Lin Qingmo!"
Meng Yiran's face was red as she stepped back several paces, but her eyes shone brightly.
She looked at him and shouted:
"I'll definitely work hard and catch up to you. Just you wait!"
With that, she turned and ran.
Like a startled deer, she quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest, leaving behind only a stubborn yet somewhat pitiful silhouette.
"Sigh, that child."
Chao Tianxiang shook her head with a bitter smile.
She cupped her fists toward Zhao Wuji.
"Brother Zhao, today's matter ends here. The Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent belongs to you."
After speaking, she turned and left as well, going after her granddaughter.
End of Chapter