"I'm back, children!"
Xuan Zi appeared at the lobby entrance at some unknown point, his ragged clothes swapped for something clean and tidy. His unkempt beard was shaved, and his slightly hunched back had straightened.
He looked like a new man.
Even Su Wen glanced over.
With a beard and some grooming, the old guy actually gave off a tough, iron-blooded impression—though only in appearance, of course.
"Old Xuan?!!"
Ma Xiaotao was drinking water and couldn't stop herself—she sprayed it all over Ling Luochen's face opposite her.
Water even came out her nose. She hurriedly fussed to clean up.
"Ma Xiaotao!"
Ling Luochen said angrily.
She was soaked.
Drenched by a mouthful of water.
She even suspected it was deliberate—after all, she had just used Ma Xiaotao's injury as a pretext to let Su Wen rest on her lap...
But she couldn't be bothered to squabble with Ma Xiaotao now.
Usually cold as frost, even she was a bit stunned at the sight of Xuan Zi. Her face twitched. "Wait, Elder Xuan, you..."
"Elder Mu said to remove my post as vice captain of the Inspection Team and hand it to Shaozhe temporarily. As for me—if I wanted to stay at Shrek, I had to shave off the scruffy beard and turn over a new leaf. He said if I wanted change—the first step was to change my appearance." Xuan Zi showed a wry smile.
"I want to stay at the academy and make some changes."
"Mm..."
Even Su Wen sat up for a moment.
He scrutinized Xuan Zi.
This time, Elder Mu was clearly determined.
Stripping Elder Xuan of the vice-captaincy left him only his Pavilion Elder title. Yet the old fellow accepted it sincerely and was even willing to remain at Shrek. That showed true loyalty to the academy—he was just too unreliable.
"But Elder Xuan, we do have something that needs you to make a run." Su Wen's lips curled.
"Oh?" Xuan Zi blinked.
"Killing." Su Wen's smile deepened.
"I'm good at that." Xuan Zi smiled knowingly.
"Killing a Title Douluo," Su Wen added.
"That's even more my specialty..." Xuan Zi's defiant aura slowly unfurled. The power of a level 98 Super Douluo pierced the hotel's top floor and shot toward the heavens. Earth-yellow soul power, heavy as mountains, made the whole hotel tremble.
"Cheng Gang! Get out here!"
…
Atop the city wall.
Xu Jiawei was chatting with the ministers, casually watching the matches. In the next instant, a soul-shaking voice rolled in from afar like thunder, echoing in everyone's ears.
"Your Majesty..." Dai Hao said gravely.
"Ah, what must come has come." Xu Jiawei sighed.
"So be it. The tournament continues. Heavenfiend Douluo, you preside personally. I will go handle this myself."
He nodded to the White Tiger Duke nearby. The two turned into streams of light and flew straight toward the Star Luo Royal Grand Hotel in the distance.
…
"You called for me!"
Perhaps out of pride, with so many watching, Cheng Gang felt he had to show himself and respond; otherwise it would be a loss of face. He stepped out decisively. (In the original, Cheng Gang dared attack Huo Yuhao directly because he thought only a Soul King was leading the team and he had no idea of Xuan Zi's strength—until he got thrashed and learned there's always someone stronger. He's a martial fanatic—one who's been in seclusion and is a frog at the bottom of a well.)
Su Wen sized up Cheng Gang, who in the original dared to strike at Huo Yuhao.
Being called the weakest Title Douluo by the Ice Empress likely meant he'd only barely stepped over the threshold, perhaps with outside help.
The old man had short dark-brown hair, a lean frame but spirited and bright-eyed—a practiced fighter's bearing.
He hovered in midair outside the top floor of the Star Luo Royal Grand Hotel, hands clasped behind his back, looking calmly at Xuan Zi.
Though his aura was intimidating, the Guardian Douluo was no pushover!
Throughout the hotel,
Many academy members who loved drama stuck their heads out to watch the stunning scene above.
Every year the first-seed team had the right to the hotel's top floor—undoubtedly Shrek's spot. Cheng Gang, one of the Star Luo Empire's Four Protector, had also been recognized. Clearly, the two sides had clashed...
But which side was stronger remained to be seen.
Still, this melon was juicy—explosive.
Su Wen of Shrek had just swept the field earlier today, and by evening, Shrek's old-timer had rushed a thousand km to kill his way here...
Not only the teams in the hotel,
Even on Star Luo Square ten thousand meters away, countless participating teams and spectators noticed the scene. If not for military discipline, chaos would have ensued.
"So it was you who killed Bai Lie last night!" The old man narrowed his eyes, staring icily at Su Wen behind Xuan Zi.
"Who's Bai Lie?" Su Wen asked, puzzled.
"My grandson!" Cheng Gang ground his teeth.
"Oh~" Su Wen nodded. "Next time, be specific. Idiots like that aren't worth remembering."
"Then who is worth remembering?" Cheng Gang said coldly.
The aura of a Title Douluo erupted. Two yellow, three purple, and four black rings rose beneath his feet. At the same time, his brows extended on both sides, spiraling up like antennae. His pupils split into countless thin slits, and a hard black carapace covered his body.
"So this is the might of a Title Douluo."
Inside the hotel,
Countless participants sighed.
For an academy, forget a Title Douluo—even having a Soul Douluo sitting in town would put them in a nation's top three. In reality, most so-called advanced academies had deans barely at Soul Sage.
For many, this would likely be the only time in their life seeing a Title Douluo.
Such strategic-level figures existed mostly in stories.
As Cheng Gang revealed his strength first, the scales in everyone's minds tipped toward him. This level of power was terrifying—he could level the surroundings with ease. Stronger? How much stronger could it be?
"Heh, for someone worth remembering... you're a bit short." Su Wen grinned, then glanced at the tool man waiting like he needed only a command, and spoke softly: "Elder Xuan."
"Sigh..."
"Alright!"
In the next instant,
Cheng Gang—who had just been radiating terrifying might—suddenly flew backward and crashed toward the ground like a meteor. He slammed down, shockwaves rippled out, and dust billowed.
Only Xuan Zi stood quietly where Cheng Gang had been,
His fist still extended.
Below,
Under countless horrified gazes, the scene slowly became clear.
In the crater,
Cheng Gang lay at the center, blood pouring from his mouth, eyes full of terror. He could only spit blood-foam; his throat was filling with blood, nearly choking him to death.
"Quick, save him!!!"
Medical teams rushed in from all sides, but seeing him on death's door, none dared approach—afraid he'd die while being carried.
"Make way!"
A beam of holy light fell.
A gray-haired old woman walked out slowly.
"The continent's number one healing-type soul master, Wang Xian'er? Long time no see." Xuan Zi smiled.
"Such a heavy hand? Was that necessary?" Wang Xian'er frowned.
"Heh, I haven't even settled accounts with your Star Luo Empire. Have Xu Jiawei come out!" Xuan Zi's face changed, his voice turning cold.
"Elder Xuan..."
Xu Jiawei's figure appeared slowly. He looked at the dying Cheng Gang and sighed.
"Did you really think Shrek Academy was made of mud?!!" Xuan Zi's voice rolled. In his eyes, a Title Douluo was just an appetizer.
Daring to block Shrek's students in the street and take them as warming playthings? Tired of living!
If this hatred wasn't repaid, the whole continent would think Shrek Academy was a soft persimmon to be kneaded at will.