"Feng Piaoling? The freshman who caused a stir throughout the Outer Court the moment he enrolled? No wonder you could defeat Xu Sanshi of the Black Tortoise clan. To think your third soul ring was absorbed from a thousand-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear—that is truly remarkable. I also heard you publicly refused Teacher Zhou Yi's tutelage and questioned her in front of everyone, leaving her in a very difficult position."
Zhang Lexuan had clearly heard of Feng Piaoling. After all, creating such a massive commotion right at enrollment was a rare feat in the entire history of Shrek Academy.
Feng Piaoling replied, "That Teacher Zhou... rather than teaching students, it would be more accurate to say she is filtering them. She weeds out those with slightly lesser strength or talent, as well as the 'disobedient' ones, all to bolster her so-called promotion rate. Even her theories are self-contradictory—forced explanations where she shoots the arrow first and then draws the target. I do not believe she is qualified to teach me."
Zhang Lexuan did not scold him. In fact, Feng Piaoling was not alone; even in the Inner Court, many were dissatisfied with Zhou Yi's teaching methods. Very few actually respected her approach. Given Feng Piaoling's innate talent and strength, it was only natural for him to look down on her style.
"I assume you all know that a major incident occurred at the academy. Teacher Xu Zhongyi from the Outer Court was murdered. It is highly likely the assailant was a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse. For the time being, it's best if you stick to the main roads and avoid venturing into the small groves."
After finishing her piece, Zhang Lexuan's figure flickered and vanished into the forest.
Nanmen Yun'er and Zhu Lu simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Nanmen Yun'er asked, "Class Monitor, who was that senior? She felt even more powerful than Teacher Mu Jin."
Zhu Lu felt the same way. The woman's sheer presence reminded her of her own father, the Duke of Netherworld—a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. No, even her father didn't seem to exert as much pressure as this woman. Should she expect nothing less from an Inner Court student?
"Perhaps," Feng Piaoling nodded. He remained impassive on the surface, but inwardly he couldn't help but sigh. She was merely another tragic soul just like him. The difference was that, with the experience of two lifetimes, he knew the truth. This woman, however, had been kept in the dark from beginning to end.
Meanwhile, at another clearing in the academy.
"Second Soul Skill: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
Dai Huabin, who had already activated his first soul skill, White Tiger Barrier, and his third, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, saw his second soul ring light up. White light gathered in his mouth before he rapidly spat out a sphere of white radiance. It shot toward Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao.
But for some reason, Wang Dong'er felt as though he was deliberately avoiding Huo Yuhao.
"First Soul Skill: Guillotine Wings!"
Without time for second-guessing, and with the help of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing, Wang Dong'er narrowly avoided the white sphere. Then, hovering in mid-air, she dived downward. The yellow ring among her yellow and purple soul rings lit up. The edges of her two front wings—part of her four azure wings—formed sharp golden light-borders. She slashed down hard against the White Tiger Barrier protecting the retreating Dai Huabin.
Crack!
Dai Huabin was sent flying. Cracks appeared in his white light shield. Wang Dong'er seized the momentum and her second soul ring glowed.
"Second Soul Skill: Light of the Butterfly Goddess"
The Bright Goddess Butterfly wings closed together and then snapped open. Orbs of golden light struck unerringly at the fractures in the white shield. The White Tiger Barrier shattered with a roar, and the remaining golden orbs slammed into Dai Huabin, knocking him back violently.
Whew!
Wang Dong'er let out a long breath and landed on the ground. She turned to Huo Yuhao and said:
"This must be the move you used to help Xu Sanshi cheat before. The support effect is decent, but don't expect everyone to be so kind as to ignore you and focus their attacks on a Battle Soul Master like me."
"You can rest easy on that front. As a disciple of the Tang Sect, I have my own ways of protecting myself."
Huo Yuhao kept in mind that she was a girl and recalled Zhou Yi's instructions to unite with his teammates, so he didn't take her words to heart.
"Tang Sect?" Wang Dong'er looked surprised. She was the young mistress of the Clear Sky School. Before she left for Shrek Academy, her "First Uncle" and "Second Uncle" had reminded her that although the Tang Sect had declined, it was, after all, the sect founded by their ancestor, the Sea God Tang San. They told her that if she encountered Tang Sect disciples, she should find a way to join.
However, the Huo Yuhao before her eyes was someone she found utterly loathsome. The mere thought of associating with a "despicable person" who liked to hurt others from the shadows filled her with revulsion.
While Wang Dong was feeling conflicted, Huo Yuhao had already rushed to Dai Huabin's side to help him up. "Brother Huabin, are you alright?"
In his mind, this was his half-brother. Though this person had once harmed his mother and had beaten him for two and a half months, he had now repented. Furthermore, when Zhou Yi had appointed Huo Yuhao as Class Monitor against all odds, Dai Huabin had been the first to stand up and support him. At this moment, Huo Yuhao had forgiven him. He believed all of this was the result of his own hard work.
Sooner or later, he would make everyone in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion realize their mistakes. Eventually, he would make Dai Hao kneel before his mother's grave and sincerely repent for his crimes.
"I'm fine. The Bright Goddess Butterfly truly lives up to its reputation as the most beautiful beast martial soul on the continent. Its attack sharpness is not inferior to my White Tiger martial soul at all. With your support, Yuhao, I am completely outmatched. But that's for the best; with our lineup, defeating Feng Piaoling and seizing the championship in the freshman assessment shouldn't be a problem."
Seeing Huo Yuhao's concern, Dai Huabin felt a warmth in his heart despite the stinging pain. While he praised Wang Dong'er—for whom he was becoming increasingly infatuated—he didn't forget to offer a few words of praise to his "good brother," Huo Yuhao.
"Exactly. We will definitely win the championship," Huo Yuhao replied, full of confidence in their team.
But at that moment, Wang Dong'er doused the brothers with a bucket of cold water:
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple. During the battle between Feng Piaoling and Xu Sanshi that day, one of you didn't show up, and the other fainted from the backlash of cheating. But I saw it clearly. Let alone the three of us, even if we doubled our numbers, we might not be his match."
"Besides, don't forget he isn't alone. Just as that old hag Zhou forced me, a Power Attack System Soul Master, to become an Agility Attack System Soul Master just so we could win, the teacher in charge of Class 9 will undoubtedly provide him with powerful teammates."
Dai Huabin and Huo Yuhao exchanged a look, both seeing gravity in the other's eyes.
Just then, Dai Huabin suddenly thought of something, an evil glint flashing in his eyes. "Perhaps we aren't without a chance of winning."
Hearing this, Wang Dong'er looked over at him, her clear, crystalline eyes showing an inquisitive gaze.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. "Brother Huabin, do you mean... a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Dai Huabin nodded. "Exactly. Remember what I told you before? The first time I felt your Spiritual Detection support, I felt your aura was very familiar. I assume you felt it too."
Huo Yuhao nodded. That had happened half a month ago, and it was after that incident that Brother Huabin had changed his ways and stopped hitting him. It was just that, up until now, the connection hadn't been very obvious.
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