"I'm sorry."
Lu Cheng clenched his fists and exhaled a long breath of turbid air. His eyes were no longer warm as they used to be but carried a hint of cruelty.
"Evil Soul Masters... are all guys who turn their backs on their own kin. Bury the 'brother' in your heart because… From now on... there will only be the Holy Spirit Cult's Saint, Lu Cheng."
Lu Cheng's palm stroked the girl's fair and delicate cheek, his eyes full of pity.
The girl instantly looked like an abandoned little beast, seeing hope. Her pale blue eyes flashed with expectation and surprise as she tried to rub her face against Lu Cheng's palm, attempting to make him change his mind: "Brother, you said you would never leave Lexuan. We are each other's only family in this world... Mmph..."
Lu Cheng's expression gradually turned indifferent. His palm gripped the girl's long, swan-like neck, slowly increasing the pressure.
Zhang Lexuan's jade-like hands gripped Lu Cheng's palm. Her face gradually flushed red from the lack of air, and her feet slowly left the branch, kicking and struggling in mid-air. In her pale blue eyes, a flash of confusion and pleading appeared...
"Lu Cheng!!!"
Ruo Mu roared, "Are you even human, damn it!"
A wooden vine rose with a boom, attacking Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng frowned slightly and used Zhang Lexuan as a shield, throwing her toward Ruo Mu.
The girl's eyes stared fixedly at Lu Cheng as her body flew backward like a tattered sack. The familiar figure in her vision grew further and further away until she was caught by Ruo Mu, her gaze already numb...
"Beast!"
Ruo Mu gritted her teeth. While hurriedly commanding the wooden vines to encircle Zhang Lexuan and bring her back, she also ordered the other Disciples to surround Lu Cheng.
"Phew..."
Lu Cheng exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
He glanced indifferently at the crowd.
"Want to stop me? You guys aren't enough."
"Beat this beast half to death, then take him back to Shrek Academy!" Ruo Mu was completely enraged.
"Hahahaha..."
Lu Cheng burst into laughter.
He looked down at everyone with contempt.
Crimson Soul Power surged from within his body, condensing into a crimson longbow in his right hand. His aura rose step by step. Even though he was only at the Spirit Saint realm, he pressured many of the surrounding Inner Court Supervisory Group disciples until they could hardly breathe.
A pitch-black Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.
Then, he bent two fingers of his right hand as if pulling a bowstring.
Three fiery red arrows condensed into form.
"Watch out!!!"
Ruo Mu's expression changed, and she shouted out.
But in the next instant, the whistling of arrows echoed through the forest. Three Inner Academy Disciples' bodies suddenly stiffened, and terrifying flames erupted on them as they fell screaming.
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
Two more arrows were fired, their speed hair-raisingly fast. At the same time, besides Ruo Mu, the other two Supervisory Group Disciples at the Spirit King realm were also shot through the abdomen, falling from the branches with wails.
There was simply no time to react.
Ruo Mu's pupils shook.
This guy was too terrifying. Was this his true strength?
Even within the academy, the Devil King Lu Cheng, who swept through the Inner Court without an opponent, seemed to have only used seventy percent of his strength. Not to mention, he had only used one Martial Soul to defeat the level 85 Senior Le.
Now with his twin spirits... he would only be more terrifying.
What kind of monster had the academy raised?
"Lu Cheng, in that case, I absolutely cannot let you leave tonight!" Ruo Mu's eyes narrowed, and she pressed her palms together. The entire Star Dou Great Forest transformed once more into a forest of wood, attacking Lu Cheng.
"I'm afraid I don't have time to keep playing this house-playing game with you..."
Lu Cheng spoke indifferently.
A blood-red soul ring slowly rose from beneath his feet, covered in intricate patterns. An aura like that of an ancient savage beast gradually awakened within Lu Cheng's body, and the phantom of a crimson three-legged bird gradually condensed behind him.
"This, this is... a hu-hundred-thousand-year soul ring?!" Ruo Mu's throat moved as she felt her throat go dry.
He hid it so deeply.
He had actually deceived all the teachers and elders.
A prodigy whose seventh soul ring was a hundred-thousand-year one... She felt a chill run down her spine. He had been hiding in Shrek for years, and he was even the long-confirmed alternate successor of the Sea Gods Pavilion, the senior brother revered and respected by countless Inner Academy disciples.
And now...
Lu Cheng looked down indifferently at Ruo Mu.
He drew his bow and notched an arrow.
Swoosh!
A crimson fire arrow transformed into a three-legged fire crow. Carrying a terrifying aura, it charged straight at Ruo Mu, turning all the ancient trees along the way into ashes.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Wood True Body!" Ruo Mu's pupils contracted in horror, and another pitch-black Soul Ring lit up beneath her feet.
Several solid wooden vines rose in front of her, emitting a thick and steady earthy-yellow aura, shielding her firmly behind them.
Just as she felt a bit relieved.
A hint of playfulness flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes.
Boom!
The moment the arrow made contact, it instantly tore through the layers of defense she thought were solid. The fire spread before her, reflected in her emerald-green pupils...
She subconsciously raised her hand to block.
"Lu Cheng!"
"You've crossed the line..."
An old man dressed in tattered hemp clothes, with a scruffy beard and a gourd of wine in one hand, blocked the way in front of Ruo Mu. A flash of admiration appeared in his eyes. He raised his other hand, catching the Three-Legged Golden Crow in his palm and slowly crushing it.
"..."
Lu Cheng stood in mid-air, slowly lowering his fire bow.
A familiar smile played in his eyes.
"Elder Xuan, long time no see. I hope you are in good health."
"Hmph, if you weren't a traitor from the Holy Spirit Cult, I'd be even better..." Xuan Zi lowered his eyelids and sighed softly.
"Why don't you also join my Holy Spirit Cult? How about it?" Lu Cheng cupped his fists, a hearty smile appearing on his lips again, his eyes full of sincerity. "My Holy Spirit Cult has always accepted all kinds without discrimination. Your Martial Soul has a devouring attribute, which fits our cult's tradition perfectly. If you are truly willing to come... I am willing to take charge and grant you the position of Grand Elder."
"Heh, forget it, kid." Xuan Zi laughed out of anger.
"Elder Xuan, catch him quickly! We must not let the tiger return to the mountain!" Ruo Mu had just recovered from her shock and urged anxiously.
If such a prodigy returned to the Holy Spirit Cult, Shrek Academy's end would likely come in a few years.
Elder Mu couldn't hold on for much longer.
"Heh, as if I don't want to catch him." Xuan Zi took a swig of wine, a gloomy look flashing in his eyes as he looked at Lu Cheng. "But unfortunately... that group of old ghosts has already arrived."
"Xuan Zi, long time no see..."
A low voice rang out.
Immediately after, in the midair behind Lu Cheng, a tall old man in a black robe with gold embroidery stepped out. His Dragon Monarch power was fully displayed as he looked down at the scene with a smile.
Behind him, several black-robed figures appeared.
All were Evil Soul Masters above the Titled Douluo level.
It should be known that Evil Soul Masters were inherently stronger than ordinary Soul Masters. In the past, the appearance of even one Evil Soul Master at the Titled Douluo realm could cause chaos across the continent, let alone so many top-tier Evil Soul Master experts appearing together...
At the same time, thousands of black-robed figures appeared in the surroundings, all emitting a cold and evil aura.
Xuan Zi's expression was grave as he shielded Zhang Lexuan and Ruo Mu behind him.
Meanwhile, Lu Cheng revealed a warm smile and headed toward the forest shadows behind him. The black-robed men emerging from the forest knelt on both sides, their eyes burning with fervor, leaving a path for Lu Cheng.
It was like an enthronement.
"Respectfully welcoming the saint back to the cult!"
Layers of voices rang out.
Notes:
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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