"Elder Xuan, Senior Sister has been captured by an evil soul master!"
An inner academy disciple at the spirit saint level shouted hurriedly.
There was no time to explain so much; right now, saving her was the priority...
"Who?!!" Xuan Zi's expression changed abruptly as he roared.
"Lu... Cheng..." the Spirit Saint Disciple said with a hesitant look.
"It's him?" Xuan Zi's expression flickered, knowing the gravity of the matter. "Wait here and don't move. I'll be right back!"
With that, he turned into a streak of light and sped off in the direction the Spirit Saint Disciple had pointed.
Unlike the other inner academy disciples.
As a high-ranking member of Shrek Academy, he naturally knew how bloodthirsty and cruel that kid had become. He had caused several waves in the Sun-Moon Empire, with countless souls perishing at his hands.
He had even personally killed a Ninth-Grade Soul Engineer!
It nearly caused a war between the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire.
If such a desperate criminal really took Lexuan away, the consequences would be unimaginable.
...
"He's catching up?"
Lu Cheng arched an eyebrow, looking at Zhang Lexuan, who was gritting her teeth and remaining silent in his arms. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Speaking of which, you should thank me. If I hadn't stepped in to deal with that Blood-Eroding Python, none of you would have lasted until Xuan Zi arrived."
"Let me go, and I'll convince him to let you leave..." Zhang Lexuan suddenly spoke.
"Oh?" Lu Cheng looked surprised.
"Elder Xuan will kill you..." Zhang Lexuan said urgently, feeling the terrifying aura sweeping in like a storm, getting closer and closer.
...
Lu Cheng was silent for a long moment.
Just as that majestic aura was about to arrive, he glanced at the Black Crow. "Take her and go. We'll meet at the agreed location."
The Black Crow looked stunned. "Wait... you're going to face Xuan Zi? Even though I've often mocked him for being weak, he's still a Ninety-Eighth Rank Super Douluo. Even I would be crushed instantly and forced to flee for my life."
"He can't kill me."
Lu Cheng said softly.
...
"Fine." With a complex look in its eyes, the Black Crow waved a wing. Numerous Black Crows coalesced from the surroundings, their beaks grabbing Zhang Lexuan's clothes, and they flew off into the distance in a dark mass.
"Lu Cheng!"
Zhang Lexuan's eyes were filled with anxiety, and she began to struggle desperately.
"You'll die!"
"Tsk, tsk, stop shouting..." one of the crows spoke in the human tongue. "Trust the kid. He won't do anything he's not sure of. He's probably just itching for a fight and wants to trade blows with a top-tier powerhouse. He'll settle down after the fight."
Only then did Zhang Lexuan quiet down. But a trace of worry remained in her eyes.
...
"Elder Xuan, it's been a long time. I've missed you."
Lu Cheng said with a beaming smile.
"Lu Cheng, hand over Lexuan!"
Xuan Zi's eyes were practically spitting fire as he spoke in a low voice.
Behind him, a momentum like yellow clouds rolled in. Earth-yellow Soul Power condensed into a massive Taotie behind him, its mouth seemingly capable of swallowing all things.
The might of a ninety-eighth-rank Super Douluo was on full display.
Facing the pressure of a top-tier powerhouse, Lu Cheng appeared unhurried and smiled calmly.
"What is the meaning of this, Elder Xuan? I saved my junior brothers and junior sisters. Setting aside words of gratitude for a moment, isn't it a bit inappropriate to show such an attitude right from the start?"
"So you mean I should thank you?" Xuan Zi laughed out of anger.
"What else? If it weren't for your dereliction of duty, Ruo Mu, Lexuan, and the others wouldn't have nearly died at the hands of a hundred-thousand-year Blood-Eroding Python..." Lu Cheng's smile faded as he stared coldly at Xuan Zi.
"Gulp, a hundred-thousand-year blood-eroding python?"
Xuan Zi was stunned, only then realizing the situation.
No wonder those Inner Academy Disciples all had remnants of red liquid on them, and there were large areas of corrosive, foul-smelling marks nearby. Speaking of which, did this kid really save Lexuan and the others?
But then, a flash of shame and annoyance crossed his face.
It seemed... there really was nothing he could say.
"In light of the fact that you saved them this time, I will be magnanimous and spare your life. Hand Lexuan over to me," Xuan Zi said indifferently.
...
The atmosphere was deathly silent.
Lu Cheng slowly closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
When he opened them again, an eerie blood-red hue surged within them.
"Xuan Zi… When I handed Lexuan over to Mu En, it was so you all would look after her, look after her... and ensure nothing went wrong.
Now, if I hadn't appeared, she would have likely perished here in the Star Dou Great Forest. Is this the 'looking after her' that Mu En personally promised me?"
Lu Cheng spoke softly, while the aura around him climbed at a terrifying speed.
Xuan Zi: "..."
What on earth?
What explanation or handing over...
"It seems you don't know, and Mu En hasn't explained these things to you either." Lu Cheng's black robes fluttered in the wind as he stared calmly at Xuan Zi.
"But it doesn't matter. After you go back this time, Mu En will tell you everything."
"Kid, what kind of nonsense are you muttering about?" Xuan Zi looked bewildered.
"Seventh Spirit Ability, Sun-Shooting True Body!"
Lu Cheng whispered.
In his left palm, the Sun-Shooting Bow slowly emerged. At the same time, behind him, the phantom of a red-bodied giant that seemed to originate from the primordial era picked up a massive bow, moving in sync with him.
A crimson soul ring rippled up from beneath his feet.
What made Xuan Zi's pupils shrink was that, immediately following it, another crimson Soul Ring rippled up.
"Purple, purple, black, black, red, red, red, red..."
Xuan Zi's expression was one of shock.
Four hundred-thousand-year spirit rings.
Even the old monster Du Busi of the Body Sect only had three red Soul Rings, yet now...
This kid actually had four red Soul Rings. Back when he was at the academy, he hadn't revealed this kind of strength.
Had he been hiding it this deeply?
A touch of solemnity appeared in Xuan Zi's eyes.
"Kid, today, I must eliminate you!"
"Sun-Shooting!"
Lu Cheng slowly raised his head. The fiery red arrow in his hand was aimed at Xuan Zi, and the massive phantom behind him aimed at Xuan Zi as well.
The arrow transformed into a three-legged golden crow, streaking across the sky. With a momentum that could shake heaven and earth, he fired this shot with all his might.
...
"Hiss... a killing moves right from the start?" The Black Crow glanced behind it. The sky was reflected as a fiery red ocean, and its dark pupils were filled with wonder.
"This guy has indeed grown stronger again… And by the looks of it, this isn't a friendly match; he's clearly venting his anger..." The Black Crow glanced at the beauty who was clenching her fingers in worry and shook its head with a smile.
"No matter how strong that fellow Xuan Zi is, I'm afraid he won't gain any advantage against this kid."
...
"This..."
Many Shrek Disciples watched the rising sea of fire and the overwhelming combat power, their eyes filled with shock.
As expected of the legendary Great Devil King of the Inner Court.
To think he could actually battle a top-tier powerhouse like Xuan Zi for a few rounds?
Ruo Mu was supported by others, her eyes full of complexity.
This was the genius that Elder Mu had placed the most hope in back then, the future Pavilion Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion of Shrek Academy. What a pity...
He had been a member of the Holy Spirit Cult from the very beginning.
The other Spirit Saints and Spirit Emperors all had their eyelids twitching wildly.
That familiar feeling had returned...
Notes:
Bonus (3/3)
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Read advanced chapters at p@atreon/holyangelicdemon
Bonus
50 PS 1 chapter
100 PS 2 chapters
150 PS 3 chapters
Current translation status:
D:WMS |Ongoing| (2/day webnovel, 5/day p@atreon)
Fantasy Giant |Ongoing| (currently p@treon exclusive) (1/day)
Crossover Bizarre Containment |Caught Up|
Two Dimensional Fantasy System |Dropped|