How could the rest of the Blue Sunshine Academy swallow such a blatant insult? The six remaining uniformed students stood up in unison, glaring at the Shrek Academy table with murderous intent. They were about to rush over, but the middle-aged man raised a hand to hold them back.
Continuing to support the injured youth into a chair, the teacher leveled a dark, furious glare at Dai Mubai. "What academy are you from?" he demanded, his voice dangerously low.
A cold light flickered in Dai Mubai's evil eyes. His smirk widened. "You're asking us? What a pity. You people aren't worthy of knowing our name."
Having delivered that absolute disrespect, Dai Mubai calmly sat back down in his chair.
Beside him, Fatty had already taken full advantage of the distraction. When it came to eating, Ma Hongjun's hand speed was unmatched. Completely ignoring the deadly standoff in the room, he was already stuffing his face with the newly arrived food.
"Mmm, the taste isn't bad," Fatty mumbled casually through a mouthful of meat. "Just a little too hot. But the food is decent."
This ultimate display of total disregard drained the remaining color from the Blue Sunshine teacher's face, replacing it with pure, unadulterated rage. Veins bulged visibly on his forehead. "Fine. You arrogant little brats! Teach them a lesson for me!"
Following his command, the five able-bodied male students of Blue Sunshine Academy rushed forward simultaneously, charging straight for Tang San's table like a pack of rabid wolves, their hostile auras fully unleashed.
Seeing them approach, an enthusiastic, eager voice rang out from the Shrek table. "A brawl? I like the sound of that."
Xiao Wu leaped from her seat with undisguised excitement, charging forward without a sliver of hesitation to meet the five attackers.
Since neither side had officially summoned their martial spirits yet, the five Blue Sunshine youths abruptly slammed on the brakes. Instead of a burly fighter, the person rushing to intercept them was an incredibly cute and delicate young girl.
Although young, Xiao Wu was already around 170 centimeters tall. Blinking her large, innocent eyes and radiating an absolutely harmless aura, she caused the five young men to instantly lose their ferocious momentum, their anger evaporating into awkward hesitation.
Oscar leaned in and whispered frantically, "Aren't you guys going to step in? Hurry up and help Xiao Wu!"
Tang San didn't even flinch. He offered a faint smile and took a calm sip of his drink. "Trust me, those five are the ones who actually need help."
Kyle chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "If I interfere now, Sister Xiao Wu will scold me to death later."
Standing before the bewildered youths, Xiao Wu tilted her head, blinked her massive, doe-like eyes, and offered a sickeningly sweet smile. "Hello there, big brothers."
The five young men stared at each other, their faces flushing red, completely flustered and unsure of how to proceed against someone so adorable. But in that exact microsecond of absolute distraction, Xiao Wu struck.
Her foot seemed to slip on the floorboards, and she stumbled forward, falling helplessly toward the young man in the center. Subconsciously, the youth reached out his arms, intending to catch the delicate girl.
But suddenly, a thick, glossy black braid whipped through the air like a striking viper! Before his brain could process the movement, Xiao Wu's scorpion braid had wrapped securely around his neck.
Defying gravity, Xiao Wu halted her fall instantly. Her body arched backward with impossible flexibility. Flipping mid-air to place her back against his chest, she planted both her feet squarely onto the youth's stomach. Panicking from the chokehold and seeing her feet coming at him, the youth hurriedly crossed his arms to block the impending kick.
But he was severely mistaken. Xiao Wu wasn't attacking with a kick she was using his stomach as a fulcrum!
In a fraction of a second, demonstrating her peerless Soft Skill, Xiao Wu launched herself forward, using her body weight and her braid to hurl the large youth clean over her head.
Her movements were as fast as lightning and as fluid as water. While throwing the first man, her legs had already snapped out to sweep the second man, slamming him ruthlessly into the floorboards. In a mere flash, without summoning a single drop of spirit power, all five Blue Sunshine Academy students were left groaning in pain on the tavern floor.
The surrounding patrons were completely dumbfounded. Five enraged young men had charged forward, only to be effortlessly dismantled by a sweet-looking girl in the blink of an eye.
Tang San smiled softly, remaining silent. Beside him, Dai Mubai slowly rose to his feet, cracking his knuckles with a heavy, resonant sound.
"Xiao Wu, come back," Dai Mubai called out, his low voice dripping with predatory anticipation. "It's our turn now."
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and Kyle stepped forward in unison, swapping places with Xiao Wu, who calmly strolled back with a sweet, unbothered smile on her face.
"White Tiger, Spirit Enhancement!"
A violent burst of pale white light erupted from Dai Mubai's body. The phantom of a massive, ferocious white tiger materialized behind him, roaring silently. Three spirit rings rose from beneath his feet yellow, yellow, and purple. The deep, mesmerizing purple of that thousand-year spirit ring radiated an absolute, tyrannical pressure that made the hearts of the opposing Blue Sunshine Academy students tremble in fear.
Simultaneously, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Kyle unleashed their martial spirits.
"Phoenix, Spirit Enhancement!"
Blistering purplish-red light blazed from within Fatty. A majestic crimson phoenix projected behind him, swirling the air with searing heat. Even though he was physically shorter than his opponents, the moment the purple flames ignited, his imposing aura completely transformed. It rivaled the sheer dominance of Dai Mubai's White Tiger, suffocating the opposing students from the other side as if the air had been sucked straight from their lungs.
In contrast, Tang San and Kyle's spirit releases were tranquil yet equally lethal. Two yellow spirit rings rose around Tang San as thick, dark Blue Silver Grass silently sprouted, spreading outward from him like a creeping sea of thorns. Beside him, two yellow rings flared beneath Kyle's feet as twin spears of radiant light materialized firmly in his grasp.
What completely shattered the mental fortitude of the Blue Sunshine Academy students was the harsh reality staring them in the face: these teenagers looked significantly younger than them, yet the raw power and perfect spirit ring configurations they displayed were on an entirely different level!
"Stop!"
The Blue Sunshine Academy teacher finally couldn't hold back anymore. He rushed forward, waving his hand to pull his pale-faced students behind him.
While his students were suffering a mental breakdown, the teacher's own heart was reeling from profound shock. He realized with absolute clarity that the four youths standing opposite him were geniuses among geniuses. Whether it was the blonde boy in the center or the three kids flanking him who looked no older than twelve or thirteen—they were all unbelievable monsters. Especially the blonde youth; he possessed three spirit rings, stepping into the realm of a Spirit Elder! That thousand-year spirit ring was so dazzling it defied all his logic and experience.
"I am the Director of the External Affairs Department of Chang Hui Academy, Ye Zhi-Qiu," the middle-aged man announced, forcing his voice to remain steady. "Which academy are you from?"
Seeing Ye Zhi-Qiu step in front of the four of them, using only his base spirit power to withstand their combined pressure without even summoning his martial spirit, a chill ran through Dai Mubai's heart. From this display alone, he could be certain that the middle-aged man's spirit rank was vastly superior to his own.
"We are from Shrek Academy!"
Without waiting for Dai Mubai to speak, Fatty proudly puffed out his chest and declared.
Ye Zhi-Qiu looked blank for a moment. "Shrek Academy? I don't believe I've ever heard of it."
Dai Mubai let out a cold, arrogant snort, his evil eyes narrowing with disdain. "That just proves you are ignorant and entirely inexperienced."
Realizing that these youths were not disciples from some major sect or elite academy with powerful backing, Ye Zhi-Qiu breathed a secret sigh of relief. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exasperation and loss of face; the provocation from these teenagers was simply too outrageous to ignore. Deciding that he had to teach them an absolute lesson, Ye Zhi-Qiu no longer hesitated.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he unleashed his martial spirit.
"Black Tortoise, Spirit Enhancement!"
A dense, black ripple of energy erupted from Ye Zhi-Qiu's body, forcefully repelling the combined pressure of Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Kyle. Both of his arms were quickly coated in hard, scale-like shells, while his torso became completely encased in a thick, massive tortoise shell.
Amidst the flickering black light surrounding his body, five full spirit rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, orbiting him rhythmically. One white, two yellow, and two purple! The Director of External Affairs for Blue Sunshine Academy was actually a Spirit King expert, possessing a spirit rank above the fiftieth level!
Although Ye Zhi-Qiu's spirit ring configuration was not considered optimal, the raw, absolute power of a rank fifty-plus expert instantly crushed the combat pressure of the Shrek group. Everyone in the dining hall cried out in shock, holding their breath. On the Douluo Continent, a Spirit King was already considered a rare and highly formidable existence. In some kingdoms, an expert of this level could easily be granted the noble title of a Viscount or even an Earl.
Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically, turning exceedingly grim. His gaze drifted toward Tang San beside him. Through a single exchanged glance, Tang San naturally understood his meaning.
Giving a slow, subtle nod, Tang San's hands rose, his fingers gently brushing against the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges belt around his waist. To deal with an opponent whose spirit power so vastly outstripped their own, their only chance of securing a victory was by relying on hidden weapons. After all, the man standing before them was not Vice Dean Zhao Wuji, and it was highly unlikely that this stranger would hold back or show them any mercy.
With a haughty expression and a tone dripping with feigned magnanimity, Ye Zhi-Qiu demanded, "You are too young. Call for your academy's teacher."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun immediately sneered. "An old turtle like you is dreaming about meeting our teacher? Bah, the four of us are more than enough to deal with your shell!"
"Honorable Spirit Master guests, I beg of you... please do not fight inside my humble shop. It is but a small business, please..."
At this point, the innkeeper had no choice but to rush out from hiding, his face deathly pale and on the verge of tears. If he didn't intervene now, his fragile livelihood would undoubtedly be leveled to the ground in the blink of an eye by their clashing spirit power.
However, Fatty's insult had struck Ye Zhi-Qiu's absolute greatest taboo. Calling a tortoise spirit user an "old turtle" was an unforgivable disrespect. Furious anger boiled violently within his heart, but he forced a chillingly calm facade, desperately trying to maintain his status in front of the crowd.
"Very well," Ye Zhi-Qiu hissed, his voice laced with suppressed killing intent. "Since your teachers are hiding, I will act in their stead to properly educate you. I will wait for you outside."
Having spat out his threat, Ye Zhi-Qiu turned around and marched out of the inn with heavy, deliberate strides. The students of Blue Sunshine Academy quickly followed behind him, glaring venomously at the Shrek group.
Watching them leave, Tang San narrowed his eyes, his mind rapidly formulating a strategy. He turned to his teammates and spoke in an incredibly calm, analytical tone.
"His martial spirit is the Black Tortoise. From that alone, I am certain he is a purely defensive-type Battle Spirit Master. His defense might be formidable, but his offensive power is severely lacking that is his fatal weakness. As long as we coordinate our attacks, we will not lose."
Tang San looked at his teammates, his voice calm but brimming with tactical authority. "Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and I will lead the frontal assault; the three of us are the fastest. Xiao Wu, you will act as close-combat support. The Black Tortoise is a water-attribute spirit, which completely counters Fatty's Phoenix fire. Water can suppress fire, but a strong enough fire can evaporate water just the same. Fatty, you will bombard him relentlessly from the outer perimeter, sustained by Oscar's recovery sausages. Kyle, your job is to pin him down and restrict his movements. We have the advantage in numbers; we will exploit his lack of threatening offensive methods to grind him down."
"Tang San, what about me?"
Ning Rongrong's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she stared at Tang San with wide, demanding eyes.
Tang San stared blankly for a moment. The truth was, he had deliberately excluded her from the formation because he simply didn't trust her. After witnessing her unreasonable and arrogant temperament, Tang San was genuinely afraid she would disobey orders and sabotage their coordination. Gathering his thoughts, he replied neutrally, "Your spirit is special. Just observe and assist according to the situation on the battlefield."
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. Feeling the slightly awkward and alienating gazes from the others, a fierce, unyielding determination quietly ignited in her heart.
The tactical discussion concluded, and the group walked out together. Having survived a brutal real-combat session against Zhao Wuji, their mental fortitude was rock solid. Pushing their limits against a higher-ranked opponent was the perfect catalyst for their own growth.
As Ning Rongrong walked at the very back of the group, a low, gentle voice suddenly reached her ears.
"If you want everyone to acknowledge you, use your actions to prove that you are truly a part of Shrek."
Startled, Ning Rongrong lifted her head, just in time to see Oscar—whose face was now covered in a full, coarse beard from summoning his spirit—smiling warmly at her. For some inexplicable reason, the fragile walls around her heart crumbled, and the rims of her eyes instantly grew red. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she gave Oscar a firm, earnest nod.
The group quickly arrived outside the inn. Perhaps it was because the five spirit rings swirling around Ye Zhi-Qiu were far too dazzling, but a massive crowd of spectators had already gathered in the small town's streets. Having cooled his head slightly in the night air, Ye Zhi-Qiu watched the eight teenagers approach.
"I will give you one last chance," Ye Zhi-Qiu said, his voice low and imposing. "There is still time for you to admit your mistakes and apologize."
Dai Mubai let out an evil smirk, his eyes glinting with a challenging, condescending light. "Defeat us first, then you can talk."
His patience finally exhausted, Ye Zhi-Qiu could no longer hold back. He let out a furious snort, his body radiating a chilling aura. "Come at me, all of you together! Today, I will teach you some manners on behalf of your academy!"
Fatty smiled darkly, his grin looking mischievous yet incredibly dangerous. "Remember this well, Uncle. We are not humans... we are monsters!"
Without wasting a second to let Ye Zhi-Qiu set up his defensive stance, Kyle instantly seized the initiative to launch the first strike. The two spirit rings on his body flared brilliantly at the same time.
"Twin Spear of Light! Expansion!"
Channeling the surging power, Kyle executed his combat technique: "Six Realm Technique: First Style: Twin Force Pierce." His body dashed forward, tearing through the wind like a bolt of lightning. He focused every ounce of his destructive force into the very tips of his massive twin spears, ruthlessly thrusting them directly at Ye Zhi-Qiu's body with full power.
CRACK!
Although the devastating strike didn't completely penetrate and injure Ye Zhi-Qiu directly, the sheer, explosive kinetic force successfully formed severe, jagged cracks that spiderwebbed across the surface of his proud black tortoise shell. Ye Zhi-Qiu's eyes widened in profound shock; his absolute defense had almost been breached by a mere kid!
At the exact moment Ye Zhi-Qiu's defensive concentration was shaken by Kyle's assault, Dai Mubai had already charged in. The second yellow spirit ring around his body lit up brightly. A sphere of intensely condensed, deadly white light the White Tiger Light Wave had already formed and shot out forcefully from his mouth, aiming straight for Ye Zhi-Qiu's blind spot.
Simultaneous to Dai Mubai spitting out the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, Zhu Zhuqing's body flashed diagonally, accelerating with ghostly speed as she maneuvered around Ye Zhi-Qiu's flank. Tang San acted at the exact same moment, charging at Ye Zhi-Qiu from the opposite side. Ma Hongjun's first spirit ring lit up brilliantly, spewing a torrent of purplish-red Phoenix Fire Wire directly at their opponent. The relentless, multi-angled combination assault successfully struck and injured Ye Zhi-Qiu's left arm and right leg, which were left unprotected by his massive shell.
The battle had only just begun, but Ye Zhi-Qiu was forced to immediately employ two of his spirit ring abilities. One was the Black Tortoise Protective Form, and the other was Black Water Freezing. His goal was incredibly simple: sort out these arrogant kids in the shortest time possible. However, the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave detonated violently against Ye Zhi-Qiu's body, inflicting severe structural damage to his shell. Ye Zhi-Qiu was deeply shocked that his absolute defense was pushed to the brink of shattering. Right at this critical moment, Fatty's Phoenix Fire Wire crashed into the tortoise shell on his back.
Even though Fatty's Phoenix flames were slightly suppressed by the Black Water Freezing, conversely, the searing arrival of the Phoenix Fire Wire greatly diminished the area's freezing chill. Although the intense purplish-red flames couldn't completely burn through the tortoise shell, they refused to be extinguished, clinging stubbornly to the surface and continuing to roast him.
Capitalizing on this instantaneous opening, thick vines of Blue Silver Grass had already coiled upward, binding tightly around Ye Zhi-Qiu's body and restricting his movements. In the blink of an eye, Zhu Zhuqing's illusory silhouette silently materialized in the ultimate blind spot directly behind Ye Zhi-Qiu. Without a sound, she launched her first spirit ring ability Hell Rush Stab her razor-sharp claws aimed straight for his exposed and utterly unprotected neck.
Suddenly, a bizarre scene unfolded. Ye Zhi-Qiu's entire head abruptly retracted into his chest cavity, perfectly evading Zhu Zhuqing's lethal strike by a hairsbreadth. At the same time, the third spirit ring on his body flared brightly. He spewed out a mouthful of dense, chilling mist that cascaded over his back, smothering the stubbornly burning Phoenix flames. Although Fatty's Phoenix fire was incredibly potent, Ye Zhi-Qiu's Black Water was far from ordinary. Combined with a spirit power level that vastly overshadowed Fatty's, the purplish-red flames on the tortoise shell were finally extinguished.
A bone-piercing chill surged outward once again. Tang San reacted instantly, rapidly retracting his Blue Silver Grass. If he hadn't, the vines would have been frozen solid, causing a severe backlash that would have significantly injured him.
Zhu Zhuqing's cat claws struck the tortoise shell once, using the repulsive force to launch herself gracefully backward. Yet, even in that fleeting moment of contact, her hands were left frozen stiff from the biting cold.
Just then, Dai Mubai arrived at the front lines. He immediately activated his White Tiger Protective Barrier. Amidst the gleaming light of his first spirit ring, a pair of massive tiger paws equipped with razor-sharp blades materialized and ruthlessly slammed into Ye Zhi-Qiu's back.
Thud! Thud!
Following the two muffled impacts, Ye Zhi-Qiu's body staggered, forcing him two steps forward. But his recovery was incredibly swift. He half-turned, his head shooting back out from his chest. Opening his mouth wide, he spat a surging stream of freezing black liquid directly at Dai Mubai.
This was his third spirit ring ability: Black Water Surge.
The glacial temperature sent a violent shiver down Dai Mubai's spine. Even though his White Tiger Protective Barrier could isolate a portion of the cold, it simply couldn't completely block the assault. After all, the opponent's spirit power was more than ten ranks higher than his own.
Right at this critical juncture, a second burst of purplish-red flame arrived perfectly on time, forming a fiery barrier in front of Dai Mubai that clashed violently with the freezing black water. Seizing this opportunity, Dai Mubai immediately retreated at top speed, putting a safe distance between himself and the enemy.
This brief, intense exchange left Tang San somewhat bewildered. 'Don't tell me my assessment was wrong, and this Black Tortoise isn't actually a purely defensive-type spirit?' his mind raced. 'No, that's impossible. How could Grandmaster's years of meticulous research possibly be flawed?'
Little did they know, while Tang San's group was astonished, Ye Zhi-Qiu was experiencing an even more profound sense of shock!
Even though the coordinated assault of the five teenagers hadn't directly injured his real body, the onslaught had subjected him to an absurd level of discomfort and pressure. The impregnable tortoise shell he took so much pride in had actually been fractured by these kids!
In particular, Ma Hongjun's spewing Phoenix Fire Wire made Ye Zhi-Qiu feel a genuine sense of dread. This specific type of purplish-red flame seemed to be the absolute bane of his existence. He knew perfectly well that if that little fatty's spirit power hadn't been so drastically low, his Black Water absolutely would not have been able to withstand such an eccentric and tyrannical fire.
Furthermore, the tyrannical spirit power infused into Dai Mubai's previous palm strikes was incredibly potent. Brimming with explosive force, the impact managed to penetrate the tortoise shell, causing the blood and qi within Ye Zhi-Qiu's body to churn violently. After all, the Black Tortoise Protective Form was only his first spirit ring ability. Even though the Black Tortoise inherently excelled at defense, the protective threshold of a first ring ability was ultimately still quite limited against such a ferocious monster's assault.
How could he have possibly known? Looking at these eight teenage boys and girls, Ye Zhi-Qiu would never have guessed that they already comprised the absolute entirety of Shrek Academy's student body!
Amidst the Blue Sunshine teacher's mental turmoil as he tried to stabilize his stance, Kyle suddenly flickered and materialized from the blind spot behind him like a phantom. His twin spears flared with radiant light, gathering lethal energy, poised to deliver a devastating strike that would shatter whatever remained of Ye Zhi-Qiu's defenses.
However, a fraction of a second before Kyle's spears could pierce their target, a lazy, drawling voice suddenly echoed through the night air, instantly cutting through the tension and interrupting the heated battle.
"It's the middle of the night, yet you brats still aren't sleeping. Running outside and making a ruckus for what?" A heavy, somewhat drowsy voice cut through the night air.
Dai Mubai, who was just on the verge of unleashing his third spirit ring ability, practically choked on his own breath. He immediately halted his energy gathering, leaping backward swiftly like a loosed arrow to put a safe distance between himself and Ye Zhi-Qiu.
Similarly, Kyle, who was just fractions of a second away from unlocking his first seal, quickly suppressed his energy and landed lightly beside his friends. Emerging from the shadows of the street, a massive, burly figure stepped forward, scratching his head. It was Vice Dean Zhao Wuji.
"All of you, go back inside and get to sleep," Zhao Wuji grumbled, stifling a yawn.
He completely ignored the deadly tension lingering in the air. He didn't even bother to spare a single glance at the Blue Sunshine Academy group. With a casual, shooing wave of his hand, he ordered all the Shrek students back into the inn.
Seeing such blatant, absolute disregard, Ye Zhi-Qiu's face flushed crimson. His blood boiled. How could he possibly let this humiliation go just like that?
"Hold on a minute!" Ye Zhi-Qiu snapped loudly.
Zhao Wuji paused his steps. He turned his head, his expression looking exceedingly impatient. "What do you want?"
Ye Zhi-Qiu glared at him with cold hostility. "So, you are the teacher of this Shrek Academy. Just now, your students hurled insults at our Chang Hui Academy and attacked my students. As their teacher, don't you feel you ought to give us a proper explanation?"
"An explanation?" Zhao Wuji let out a disdainful snort, looking as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke on the entire Douluo Continent. His eyes narrowed arrogantly. "What is there to explain? Isn't Chang Hui Academy just a trash-collecting institution anyway? If my students were only stating objective truths, how can their words possibly be considered an insult?"
Whether it was him or the Dean of Shrek Academy, Flender, both men possessed the exact same nature: incredibly arrogant and fiercely aloof despite their age. They looked down on the world with absolute disdain. In this regard, Dai Mubai's overbearing temperament was a perfect reflection of their teachings.
"You...!"
Ye Zhi-Qiu growled, his face twisting in pure rage, veins bulging visibly on his forehead. Deciding not to waste another breath arguing with a madman, he took large, menacing strides toward Zhao Wuji. Judging by his seething killing intent, he was clearly not prepared to let this massive humiliation slide.
However, instead of bracing himself for the approaching enemy, Zhao Wuji completely turned his back on him. Facing the eight teenagers who had gathered at his side, he glared at them with immense dissatisfaction.
"You lot are truly a bunch of garbage," Zhao Wuji scolded bluntly. "You couldn't even handle one measly old turtle! Just wait until we get back to the Academy; I'll deal with every single one of you."
Fatty, acting out of good intentions (or perhaps just cheekily fanning the flames), pointed behind his teacher and muttered, "Teacher Zhao, the old turtle is right behind you."
Zhao Wuji let out a cold, dismissive snort, entirely unbothered by the imminent threat at his back. "Shut your mouth and go back to sleep!"
Leaving those absolute orders behind, the Motionless Bright King finally turned around at a painfully slow, insulting pace. He faced Ye Zhi-Qiu, who had just closed the distance, radiating a dense, freezing chill and fully prepared to detonate his Spirit King power.
Without even bothering to summon his martial spirit, Zhao Wuji offered a feral, predatory grin and stated a single, absolute truth:
"In this world, fists do the talking."
Zhao Wuji maintained his signature arrogant expression. Without even bothering to summon his martial spirit, let alone use Spirit Enhancement, he simply raised his right hand high and casually swung it toward Ye Zhi-Qiu an ordinary slap.
Ye Zhi-Qiu was now thoroughly enraged to the core. He channeled his absolute maximum spirit power, unleashing a full-force Black Water Freezing. The extreme, bone-chilling cold that had previously given Tang San's group so much trouble now swept violently toward Zhao Wuji. At the exact same time, Ye Zhi-Qiu pivoted, turning his back to use his supposedly impregnable tortoise shell to block the barehanded strike.
He sneered viciously in his heart, 'You are far too arrogant! Even if your spirit rank is higher than mine, taking my attack without even using your spirit... I'll make you suffer a massive loss!'
Unfortunately, reality was brutally cruel.
The freezing wave of Black Water Freezing crashed into Zhao Wuji's body, only to dissipate instantly as if it had struck a hot iron plate it had absolutely zero effect. In the very next second...
SMACK!
Ye Zhi-Qiu's body was sent hurtling through the air like he was riding the clouds and surfing the fog, completely blown away by a single, barehanded slap from Zhao Wuji! Massive, terrifying cracks exploded across the surface of his proud tortoise shell. He flew backward for more than ten meters before finally crashing heavily into the dirt with a sickening thud.
Zhao Wuji cast a deeply disdainful, contemptuous glance at Ye Zhi-Qiu's crumpled form in the distance. Without another word, he simply turned around to lead the Shrek students back into the inn.
As he walked away with a relaxed gait, he muttered softly to himself with a tone of immense satisfaction, "Hmph... the feeling of beating people up without using a martial spirit really isn't bad at all."