Soto City was loud.
Not the refined noise of trade cities nor the disciplined order of Spirit City, but something far more chaotic.
Merchants shouted prices across crowded streets. Adventurers argued over bets in roadside taverns. Young spirit masters walked openly through the city, their conversations filled with excitement about upcoming battles.
Because in Soto City, there was only one true center of attention.
The Soto Great Soul Arena.
The enormous circular structure rose above the surrounding buildings like a stone colossus built purely for combat. Even from several streets away, the echo of cheering crowds rolled through the city whenever a match reached its climax.
Around the arena plaza, the atmosphere was almost festive.
Bookkeepers managed betting tables.
Merchants sold drinks and food to eager spectators.
Young spirit masters lined up near registration counters, hoping to enter the day's matches.
Above several entrances hung banners displaying the different emblem ranks of the arena.
Iron.
Bronze.
Silver.
Gold.
Purple Gold.
Sapphire.
Ruby.
Diamond.
Each rank represented status.
Each promotion meant reputation.
And reputation could change the future of a young spirit master.
Among the countless spectators moving toward the arena gates, one figure walked calmly through the crowd.
Lin Huang.
His pace was relaxed, his gaze quietly observing everything around him.
Perched comfortably on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong watched the plaza with clear amusement.
One of her crimson tails swayed lazily behind her.
"So this is the famous arena," she muttered.
Her golden eyes scanned the towering structure.
"People really gather just to watch each other fight."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"Conflict attracts attention."
Honghong smirked.
"And attention attracts money."
She tilted her head toward a nearby betting table where several gamblers argued loudly over odds.
"Looks like they're making plenty of it."
Lin Huang did not disagree.
The Great Soul Arenas across the continent served many purposes.
Entertainment.
Training.
Reputation.
For young spirit masters, climbing the arena rankings could open countless opportunities.
Sect invitations.
Noble sponsorships.
Even positions within powerful organizations.
Honghong flicked one ear.
"So."
Her gaze shifted toward the arena entrance.
"Are we fighting?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Not yet."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"Then why come here?"
Lin Huang's eyes moved briefly toward the arena gates.
"We observe first."
Honghong hummed thoughtfully.
"Observation."
Her grin slowly returned.
"You're planning something."
Lin Huang did not answer.
Which was answer enough.
They stepped through the arena gates together.
Inside, the noise intensified immediately.
Rows of spectator seats climbed high around the massive battlefield at the center of the arena.
Two teams were finishing a match below.
Soul rings flashed.
Spirit skills collided.
The crowd roared as the fight reached its end.
Honghong leaned forward slightly.
"Oh, this place is much better from inside."
Lin Huang's attention, however, had already shifted elsewhere.
Because the announcer's voice suddenly echoed through the arena.
"Next match!"
The crowd quieted slightly in anticipation.
"Team Shrek Seven Devils versus Team Iron Fang!"
A wave of excited murmurs spread across the spectators.
Honghong tilted her head.
"Seven devils?"
She chuckled softly.
"That sounds dramatic."
Lin Huang remained silent.
Seven figures stepped onto the battlefield below.
All of them wore masks.
Each one different.
Their identities concealed.
Even their movements carried a certain deliberate anonymity.
At the edge of the arena entrance, a tall man with sharp eyes watched quietly.
Flender.
Headmaster of Shrek Academy.
He crossed his arms calmly as he observed the arena.
Below, the seven masked fighters took their positions.
The referee raised his hand.
The match was about to begin.
Honghong leaned forward slightly.
"Well."
Her golden eyes glinted with interest.
"Let's see what these little devils can do."
Below them—
the battle began.
The referee's arm dropped.
"Begin!"
The battlefield erupted instantly.
Seven spirit rings flared almost simultaneously across the arena floor, each glow reflecting against the polished stone battlefield. The crowd leaned forward eagerly, voices rising in excitement as the two teams collided.
The Shrek Seven Devils moved first.
Not recklessly.
But with coordination that was rare among young teams.
At the front, the tall blond youth wearing a white tiger mask lunged forward like a charging beast. Two bright soul rings appeared around him as his body expanded slightly with power.
The crowd roared.
"White Tiger!"
His codename echoed across the arena stands.
Behind him, another figure moved quietly.
A boy wearing a simple black mask stepped forward with calm, measured movements.
Two yellow soul rings rose from beneath his feet.
His martial spirit appeared silently.
Thin strands of Blue Silver Grass spread across the battlefield like creeping vines.
Honghong tilted her head.
"Grass?"
Her tail flicked slowly.
"That's his weapon?"
Lin Huang watched quietly.
"Not just grass."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Control."
Below them, the boy moved with precise calculation. The Blue Silver Grass did not simply grow randomly—it spread strategically across the battlefield, cutting off movement routes and forcing the opposing team to reposition.
Every movement was deliberate.
Every step predicted.
Honghong hummed thoughtfully.
"That boy thinks too much for someone his age."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"Yes."
Meanwhile, the battlefield exploded into chaos.
The White Tiger fighter crashed directly into the enemy front line, his claws tearing across the stone floor as he forced two opponents backward.
At the same moment, another masked figure leapt high into the air.
A girl.
Her movements were light and almost playful as she flipped above the battlefield.
Two soul rings shimmered beneath her feet.
"Soft Bones Rabbit!" the announcer shouted.
She descended like a falling star.
Her kick struck one opponent squarely in the chest and sent him flying across the arena.
The crowd cheered wildly.
Honghong's ears twitched.
"Ah."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"That one."
Lin Huang remained silent.
Because the moment the rabbit-masked girl moved—
something subtle had happened.
Her movements were not just agile.
They were instinctive.
Too instinctive.
A rhythm deeper than simple martial training.
But the battle did not slow.
Another masked figure stepped forward beside the White Tiger.
A slender girl with a black mask shaped like feline eyes.
Her movement was silent.
Fast.
Her claws flashed.
"Hell Civet!"
She moved through the battlefield like a shadow, striking the enemy team's flank with surgical precision.
Behind them, another voice rang out.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Light exploded across the battlefield.
Colored rays spread outward as a small pagoda spirit appeared above a masked girl standing at the back of the team.
Her support abilities immediately strengthened her teammates.
Strength.
Speed.
Coordination.
The Shrek team's movements sharpened instantly.
Honghong's tails swayed slowly.
"Support type."
She glanced at Lin Huang.
"That girl is arrogant."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You noticed?"
Honghong grinned.
"Confidence that strong usually comes from powerful families."
Meanwhile, the battle intensified.
A red-haired boy charged forward with flames erupting around him.
"Phoenix Fire!"
Another masked youth tossed sausages toward his teammates.
"Recovery Sausage!"
Honghong blinked.
"…Did that one just throw food?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Honghong stared for a moment.
"…Human cultivation is strange."
Below them, the fight reached its climax.
The opposing team attempted to regroup.
But the Blue Silver Grass suddenly tightened across the battlefield.
Their movements stalled.
White Tiger seized the moment.
Hell Civet struck from behind.
Soft Bones Rabbit delivered the finishing blow.
The referee raised his arm.
"Victory! Team Shrek Seven Devils!"
The crowd exploded into cheers.
Across the battlefield, the masked team gathered briefly before leaving the arena floor together.
From the spectator seats, Honghong watched them with clear interest.
"Well."
She stretched lazily across Lin Huang's shoulder.
"They're not bad."
Lin Huang remained silent.
Because during the entire battle—
his gaze had never left one particular fighter.
The boy with the black mask.
The one controlling the Blue Silver Grass.
Honghong noticed.
"You're staring at that one."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"Yes."
Honghong tilted her head.
"What about him?"
Lin Huang's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He fights like someone who has seen a different world."
Honghong's grin widened.
"Oh?"
"That sounds interesting."
Below them, the Shrek team walked toward the arena exit.
And as the rabbit-masked girl passed beneath the spectator stands—
she suddenly stopped.
Her body stiffened.
Slowly—
she looked up.
Directly toward Lin Huang.
Honghong blinked.
"…Oh."
Her tail flicked once.
"The rabbit noticed."
Xiao Wu stopped mid-step.
The others continued walking for two more steps before noticing.
Tang San turned first.
"Xiao Wu?"
Her body had gone rigid.
Her ears beneath the rabbit mask twitched slightly, and her breathing became shallow.
Something was wrong.
She slowly raised her head.
Her gaze moved across the spectator stands.
The noise of the arena faded in her ears.
The cheering crowd.
The announcer's voice.
Even her teammates.
Everything blurred.
Only one sensation remained.
Danger.
Not hostility.
Not killing intent.
But something deeper.
Something older.
Her instincts—those of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—were screaming.
There.
Her eyes locked onto a single figure in the stands.
A young man sitting calmly among the spectators.
Beside him, a small fox spirit sat lazily on his shoulder.
The moment her gaze met his—
her heart skipped.
Her body trembled slightly.
She could not explain it.
But every instinct she possessed told her the same thing.
That person…
…is dangerous.
Tang San noticed immediately.
He stepped closer.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Wu hesitated.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Someone's watching."
Tang San frowned slightly.
He followed her gaze.
From the distance, he could see the man she was staring at.
A young man.
Relaxed posture.
Calm expression.
Nothing about him seemed threatening.
Yet something about the scene felt… strange.
Tang San narrowed his eyes.
Why is Xiao Wu reacting like this?
His instincts were sharp.
But he sensed nothing unusual.
No released soul power.
No killing intent.
Nothing.
Which made it even stranger.
Above them in the spectator seats, Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"Oh."
Her golden eyes narrowed with amusement.
"The rabbit noticed."
Lin Huang watched the girl below calmly.
"She would."
Honghong's tails flicked lazily.
"Hundred-thousand-year beasts always have good instincts."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"They understand danger better than humans."
Below the stands, Xiao Wu finally forced herself to look away.
Her hands clenched slightly.
Tang San watched her carefully.
"You're sure someone is there?"
Xiao Wu nodded.
"…Yes."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
Tang San glanced back toward the stands once more.
His gaze met Lin Huang's for a brief moment.
The man did not react.
He simply watched the arena calmly, as if observing another ordinary match.
Tang San frowned slightly.
Strange…
For some reason—
that calm expression made him uneasy.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai walked back toward the group.
"Well?"
He glanced between them.
"What's the problem?"
Tang San shook his head slightly.
"Nothing."
Xiao Wu did not speak again.
But she avoided looking toward the stands.
Because even without looking—
she could still feel it.
That quiet presence.
Watching.
Above them, Honghong stretched lazily.
"Well now."
She grinned.
"This era is more interesting than I expected."
Lin Huang's gaze remained on the group below.
His voice was calm.
"They are still young."
Honghong chuckled.
"Yes."
Her golden eyes gleamed slightly.
"But they're about to learn something."
Below the spectator stands, the Shrek Seven Devils began walking toward the arena exit.
Unaware that the moment they stepped outside—
their quiet evening was about to become far more complicated.
Far from the thunder of cheers inside the Soto Great Soul Arena, another change was unfolding in silence.
Deep within the Sunset Forest, the air itself carried a poisonous weight.
Thick green mist drifted between the ancient trees. In some places the ground had already turned dark and brittle from years of venom saturating the soil. Even the smaller spirit beasts of the region instinctively avoided this part of the forest.
Because this was the territory of one man.
Dugu Bo.
The Poison Douluo.
At the center of a secluded clearing, he sat cross-legged upon a weathered stone slab.
For three days he had not moved.
Poisonous green aura flowed slowly around his body like curling smoke. Occasionally the venomous mist thickened, then condensed again as his cultivation continued to circulate through his meridians.
But the aura around him was different now.
More stable.
More concentrated.
Inside his body, the effects of the pill Lin Huang had given him were finally reaching their peak.
For decades, Dugu Bo's cultivation had been unstable.
His poison was powerful—but it had always been a double-edged blade. The same venom that gave him his terrifying strength had also slowly eroded his body from the inside.
A constant imbalance.
A constant risk.
But now that imbalance was disappearing.
The pill Lin Huang had refined had done more than simply suppress the poison.
It had restructured it.
Inside Dugu Bo's dantian, the violent poison energy that once scattered through his meridians now circulated with perfect cohesion.
His breathing deepened.
The green aura surrounding him suddenly surged.
Then condensed.
A violent burst of poison energy exploded outward across the clearing.
Trees bent under the pressure.
Venomous mist spread like a wave.
But at the center of it—
Dugu Bo slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils glowed faintly green.
"…Rank ninety-three."
His voice was quiet.
Yet filled with disbelief.
For decades he had struggled to advance.
The poison within his body had always held him back.
But now—
the bottleneck had vanished.
Dugu Bo slowly stood.
Behind him, a massive phantom appeared.
His martial spirit.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent.
But the creature that formed behind him now looked very different.
Its body was longer.
Its scales darker.
And the shape of its head had changed.
Two faint horn-like ridges had emerged above its skull.
The aura surrounding the spirit had grown heavier.
More oppressive.
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed it.
"…Dragon blood."
His voice carried a hint of surprise.
The pill had not simply stabilized his poison.
It had evolved his martial spirit.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent had taken its first step toward becoming something greater.
A Poison Dragon.
Dugu Bo snorted.
"That brat…"
He glanced toward the distant horizon.
"…what kind of pill did he actually give me?"
Footsteps approached the clearing.
Dugu Bo turned slightly.
A young girl stepped carefully through the poisonous mist.
Dugu Yan.
She stopped when she saw him standing.
"Grandfather!"
Relief flashed across her face.
"You're finally finished cultivating!"
Dugu Bo looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then he reached into his robe and pulled out a small jade bottle.
He tossed it toward her.
Dugu Yan caught it instinctively.
She looked down.
"A pill?"
Dugu Bo crossed his arms.
"Take it."
Dugu Yan hesitated.
Her eyes moved from the bottle back to her grandfather.
"…Are you sure?"
She remembered the terrifying strength of the man who had given them those pills.
And she also remembered the warning Dugu Bo had given her.
Lin Huang was not someone to treat casually.
Dugu Bo snorted.
"If he wanted us dead…"
He glanced toward the forest canopy above.
"…we would already be."
Dugu Yan lowered her gaze toward the jade bottle again.
Inside it rested a deep green pill.
Pure.
Perfect.
Even through the container she could feel the gentle circulation of spiritual energy within it.
Dugu Bo looked toward the distant horizon once more.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That boy…"
His voice carried a rare hint of seriousness.
"…is dangerous."
But after a brief pause, he added something else.
"And generous."
Dugu Yan blinked in surprise.
Because praise from the Poison Douluo was something very few people ever heard.
Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively.
"Stop staring."
"Eat it."
Dugu Yan nodded quickly.
"Yes, Grandfather!"
As she swallowed the pill, the faint poison mist around the clearing slowly began to shift.
And somewhere far away—
inside the Soto Great Soul Arena—
another chain of events was already beginning.
While the cheers of the Soto Great Soul Arena echoed across the southern regions of the continent, far to the north another development was quietly unfolding.
Inside Spirit City, the towering headquarters of Spirit Hall stood as imposing as ever.
White marble walls reflected the morning light, and the enormous cathedral-like structures that dominated the city seemed calm on the surface.
But beneath that calm—
a net was tightening.
Inside the Grand Assembly Hall, long rows of seats were slowly filling.
Dozens of regional bishops had arrived from across the continent.
Some had traveled for days.
Others had come from cities only a few hours away.
The hall buzzed with conversation.
Low murmurs spread among the gathered clergy.
"Did you hear the news?"
"They say the Supreme Pontiff is planning reforms."
"Reforms? I heard something about increased funding."
Another bishop leaned closer.
"No, no—salary adjustments."
Several others nearby looked surprised.
"Salary increases?"
"And benefits."
"Additional support from the central treasury."
The whispers grew louder.
Many of the bishops looked genuinely pleased.
Spirit Hall's influence stretched across the entire continent, but the resources available to local branches were not always evenly distributed.
A promise of higher salaries and benefits had proven extremely effective.
Even those who had initially considered ignoring the summons had decided to attend.
After all—
who would refuse better funding?
But not everyone looked comfortable.
Near the back rows, a few older bishops exchanged cautious glances.
"This feels strange."
One of them frowned.
"The central hall rarely calls a full assembly like this."
Another nodded slowly.
"And promising increased pay to guarantee attendance…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…that sounds like bait."
Across the hall, more bishops continued arriving.
Clergy in white and gold robes took their seats.
Servants moved quietly through the aisles distributing documents and refreshments.
Everything appeared orderly.
Almost festive.
Yet above the assembly hall, behind a large observation window, several powerful figures watched silently.
Qian Daoliu stood at the center of the chamber, his expression calm.
Beside him stood several elders of Spirit Hall.
Among them was Ling Yuan, the Kite Spirit Douluo.
She looked down at the gathering crowd below.
"…Most of them came."
Her tone carried faint approval.
Another elder nodded.
"The promise of higher salaries was effective."
Ling Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Greed often is."
Behind them, Bibi Dong stood quietly.
Her gaze remained fixed on the assembly hall.
Her mind, however, was far calmer than it had been only days earlier.
Since her meditation breakthrough, her thoughts had become clearer.
More focused.
And now—
she could see certain patterns far more easily.
Rows of bishops.
Dozens of them.
Some loyal.
Some corrupt.
Some merely opportunistic.
Spirit Hall had expanded too quickly in the past decades.
Local branches had gained too much independence.
Families had begun treating bishop positions as inherited authority.
That decay would not be allowed to continue.
Qian Daoliu finally spoke.
"Have the investigations been completed?"
Another elder nodded.
"Yes."
He handed over several scrolls.
"Financial records."
"Witness testimonies."
"Bribery evidence."
"Abuse of authority."
Ling Yuan glanced briefly at the documents.
"…More than I expected."
Qian Daoliu remained calm.
"That is why we gathered them all."
He looked down at the assembly hall again.
"They believe this meeting concerns benefits."
A faint pause followed.
Then he continued.
"It does."
Ling Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Qian Daoliu's expression did not change.
"Those who are loyal will receive them."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"The others…"
Another elder finished the thought quietly.
"…will become examples."
The room fell silent.
Below them, the bishops continued talking and laughing, completely unaware of the trap slowly closing around them.
Ling Yuan crossed her arms.
"The cleansing begins tonight?"
Qian Daoliu nodded once.
"One by one."
Bibi Dong finally spoke.
Her voice was calm.
"No chaos."
Her eyes moved across the gathered clergy below.
"We remove them quietly."
Another pause.
"Until the entire system is clean."
Ling Yuan allowed a faint smile.
"Efficient."
Far below them, one bishop laughed loudly with his companions.
"Salary increases!"
"About time the central hall rewarded our work!"
His friends raised their cups in agreement.
Above them, the elders of Spirit Hall watched in silence.
The bait had worked perfectly.
And now—
the net was already closing.
The corridors outside the Soto Great Soul Arena were quieter than the battlefield inside.
Spectators moved through the wide stone halls toward betting counters and refreshment stands. Fighters from previous matches walked past with bruises, tired smiles, or disappointed expressions.
The Shrek Seven Devils moved together through the corridor leading away from the battlefield.
Their masks were still on.
Even though the match had ended, they had grown used to keeping their identities concealed inside the arena.
Dai Mubai walked in front.
His posture still carried the confidence of a leader fresh from victory.
Behind him walked Zhu Zhuqing in silence.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were already arguing loudly about the match.
Ning Rongrong walked with a light step, occasionally glancing around the arena corridors with visible curiosity.
Tang San walked quietly beside Xiao Wu.
But Xiao Wu had not spoken since leaving the battlefield.
Her ears twitched slightly beneath the rabbit mask.
Her steps were slower.
More cautious.
Tang San noticed immediately.
"You're still thinking about that person?"
Xiao Wu hesitated.
"…Yes."
Her voice was quiet.
Tang San frowned slightly.
"You felt something strange?"
She nodded.
"I can't explain it."
Her gaze lowered briefly.
"But that person…"
She paused.
"…is dangerous."
Tang San looked thoughtful.
During the match he had tried to locate the man Xiao Wu mentioned.
And he had seen him.
A calm young man sitting among the spectators.
Nothing about him had seemed extraordinary.
Yet—
Tang San trusted Xiao Wu's instincts.
Before he could respond, Ning Rongrong suddenly stopped walking.
"Wait."
The others turned toward her.
She tilted her head slightly, looking down the corridor ahead.
"Well."
Her voice carried faint amusement.
"That's interesting."
The group followed her gaze.
Standing casually near one of the corridor pillars—
was the man Xiao Wu had noticed earlier.
Lin Huang.
He leaned slightly against the stone wall, as if waiting for someone.
Honghong sat comfortably on his shoulder.
Her golden eyes immediately brightened when she saw the group approaching.
"Oh."
She whispered to Lin Huang.
"The little devils are coming."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"I noticed."
As the Shrek team approached, Xiao Wu instinctively slowed her steps again.
Her body tensed.
Tang San noticed.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong looked directly at Lin Huang.
Her eyes scanned him openly.
Curious.
Unapologetic.
She leaned slightly toward Oscar.
"He's interesting."
Oscar froze.
"…Interesting?"
He immediately looked toward Lin Huang with far less friendly interest.
Dai Mubai also noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He stepped forward.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
Lin Huang looked at him calmly.
"No."
His voice was relaxed.
"I was watching your match."
Dai Mubai crossed his arms.
"Oh?"
"And?"
Lin Huang answered honestly.
"You did well."
That answer surprised them slightly.
Ma Hongjun grinned.
"Of course we did!"
Oscar puffed his chest proudly.
"We're undefeated here!"
Tang San remained silent.
He watched Lin Huang carefully.
Something about the man's calm demeanor still bothered him.
Dai Mubai tilted his head slightly.
"So you're a spectator?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"For now."
Dai Mubai studied him for a moment.
Then his gaze shifted briefly toward Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Both girls were still looking at Lin Huang.
Curiously.
That was enough.
Dai Mubai's pride stirred immediately.
"Then how about a match?"
Honghong's ears perked up instantly.
"Oh?"
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow slightly.
Dai Mubai smirked.
"You were watching us fight."
"So why don't you show us what you can do?"
Lin Huang thought about the suggestion for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Dai Mubai frowned slightly.
"Afraid?"
Honghong chuckled softly.
Lin Huang ignored her.
Instead, he spoke calmly.
"If we fight…"
He looked across the entire group.
"…fight together."
The Shrek team blinked.
"All seven?" Ma Hongjun asked.
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Yes."
Oscar snorted.
"Confident, aren't you?"
Dai Mubai grinned.
"Fine."
He stepped forward.
"Let's see how strong you really are."
Lin Huang raised a hand slightly.
"No."
The group paused.
"What?" Dai Mubai asked.
Lin Huang looked at them calmly.
"First."
His voice remained relaxed.
"See if you can endure this."
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
a faint pressure spread through the corridor.
It was subtle.
Almost gentle.
Like the weight of the air suddenly increasing.
Oscar blinked.
"…What is this?"
Ma Hongjun shifted slightly.
"Feels heavy…"
Dai Mubai frowned.
But he remained standing easily.
Tang San's eyes narrowed slightly.
Soul power pressure?
Lin Huang watched them quietly.
Honghong tilted her head.
"You're being nice today."
Lin Huang said nothing.
Because at that moment—
he increased the pressure.
The air suddenly became heavier.
Ma Hongjun's knees trembled.
Oscar staggered slightly.
Dai Mubai's expression hardened.
Tang San gritted his teeth.
This pressure…
Lin Huang's eyes moved toward him briefly.
Tang San was resisting better than the others.
Interesting.
Without warning—
the pressure doubled.
CRACK.
Every boy in the corridor slammed to the ground.
Their foreheads struck the stone floor with dull thuds.
Ma Hongjun cried out.
Oscar groaned.
Dai Mubai tried to lift himself.
His arms trembled violently.
Tang San resisted for a moment longer than the others.
But finally—
even he collapsed.
His forehead striking the floor with a small trace of blood.
Honghong looked down at them.
"…Children."
Lin Huang lowered the pressure.
Instantly the crushing force vanished.
The Shrek boys gasped for breath as they slowly pushed themselves up from the ground.
None of them had suffered serious injury.
But the difference in power—
was absolute.
Tang San wiped the blood from his forehead.
His eyes slowly lifted toward Lin Huang.
For the first time—
he truly understood.
This man…
was far beyond them.
Silence lingered in the corridor after the pressure vanished.
The Shrek boys slowly pushed themselves up from the ground.
Ma Hongjun groaned first.
"W-what the hell was that…"
Oscar wiped blood from his forehead, still breathing heavily.
"That… wasn't a fight…"
Dai Mubai clenched his teeth as he forced himself upright. His pride clearly took the worst blow.
Tang San said nothing.
He remained kneeling for a moment longer, one hand pressed against the stone floor as he regulated his breathing.
The pressure had disappeared instantly, but the memory of it still weighed heavily on his mind.
It had not been an attack.
It had not even felt malicious.
And yet—
none of them had been able to resist it.
Tang San slowly lifted his head.
His eyes locked onto Lin Huang again.
This time, the calm young man was no longer just a strange spectator.
He was something far more frightening.
Xiao Wu remained behind Tang San, her body still tense.
Her instincts had been right.
Danger.
Absolute danger.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong was staring at Lin Huang with open fascination.
Her eyes moved from his calm expression to the fox sitting lazily on his shoulder.
"…You didn't even move," she muttered.
Honghong perked up immediately.
"Oh?"
She grinned.
"I like this one."
Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly beside them.
Her sharp eyes studied Lin Huang carefully.
Her instincts were different from Xiao Wu's.
She felt no hostility from him.
But what she did feel—
was strength.
And something else.
A strange contradiction.
Her instincts told her he was powerful.
Yet something about his presence did not feel… old.
Her gaze narrowed slightly.
He's young.
That realization only made her more curious.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai wiped the blood from his forehead and stared at Lin Huang.
"You…"
He paused.
"…what level are you?"
Lin Huang thought about the question for a moment.
Then he shrugged slightly.
"I'm walking the continent."
"That's not an answer," Dai Mubai snapped.
Honghong chuckled softly.
"It's the only one you're getting."
Tang San finally stood.
His eyes remained fixed on Lin Huang.
But before he could speak—
another presence appeared.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Like a mountain suddenly stepping into the corridor.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Lin Huang's gaze shifted slightly.
Honghong's ears perked up.
"Oh."
Her golden eyes gleamed with interest.
"Now that's interesting."
From the shadowed end of the corridor, a tall figure slowly walked forward.
His clothes were simple.
Almost rough.
But the aura surrounding him was impossible to ignore.
Tang Hao.
The moment he appeared, Tang San froze.
"…Father?"
Tang Hao's gaze briefly passed over his son.
But his attention was focused elsewhere.
On Lin Huang.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Tang Hao had watched everything from the shadows.
The pressure.
The collapse.
Tang San resisting longer than the others.
But most importantly—
the calm control of the man standing before him.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Dangerous.
Lin Huang observed him quietly.
Honghong leaned closer to his ear.
"Title Douluo."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
Tang Hao finally spoke.
"Why are you here?"
His voice was low.
Calm.
But heavy with authority.
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Walking the continent."
Tang Hao studied him for a moment longer.
"Looking for something?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Tang Hao's eyes sharpened slightly.
"What?"
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"Information."
A brief pause.
"About the City of Slaughter."
The corridor grew even quieter.
Tang Hao's expression changed slightly.
He had not expected that answer.
The City of Slaughter was not a place ordinary spirit masters even knew existed.
Tang Hao watched Lin Huang carefully.
For the first time, he spoke with genuine seriousness.
"If you're looking for answers…"
He paused.
"…you'll find them there."
Honghong grinned.
"Oh?"
She looked at Lin Huang.
"So that's our next destination?"
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Yes."
Tang Hao turned slightly.
But before leaving, his gaze lingered on Lin Huang one final time.
His thoughts were clear.
Even I cannot see his limits.
Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows.
The corridor slowly returned to silence.
Lin Huang turned toward the exit.
Honghong stretched lazily.
"Well."
She glanced back at the Shrek group.
"That was fun."
Lin Huang walked calmly toward the arena gates.
"Yes."
Outside, the evening light of Soto City spread across the streets.
Honghong's tails swayed with interest.
"So."
She tilted her head slightly.
"The City of Slaughter."
Lin Huang looked toward the distant horizon.
"Yes."
His voice remained calm.
"Let's see how much killing intent this era can produce."