Time flies, and a new year begins.
There isn't much time left until the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.
At this time, within Shrek Academy, Xuanzi also began planning the selection of the reserve team for the Shrek Seven Devils.
Meanwhile, Jiang Li appeared in Xingluo City, the capital of the Xingluo Empire.
As the capital of the empire, Xingluo City was extremely prosperous. The streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians. Shops lined the streets, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and conversations mingled together, showcasing the liveliness and grandeur of the imperial capital.
Everywhere on the streets, one can see figures dressed in various Soul Master costumes, and the aura of Soul Masters can be faintly seen throughout the city.
With the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament approaching, various forces and soul masters from all walks of life have gathered here, and the entire city is filled with a tense yet exciting atmosphere.
Inside the Starlight Hotel, in the glass room on the top floor.
This is the best view in the entire Star Luo City. It is made entirely of transparent glass. Standing in it, you can see the entire street scene of Star Luo City. In the distance, the palace has upturned eaves and is magnificent. In the nearby streets and alleys, people are bustling about and there is a strong sense of life.
The room was furnished in a minimalist style, yet exuded luxury. The floor was covered with a snow-white animal hide carpet, and a few rare spiritual plants were placed in the corner. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of herbs and trees, isolating the room from the noise of the outside world.
Jiang Li stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the street below.
He stood tall and straight, his black clothes making him appear even more cold and hard. There was no fluctuation of soul power around him, and he looked like an ordinary mortal.
Yet, the oppressive aura emanating from him made the air inside the glass room seem to freeze.
His eyes were indifferent as he swept his gaze across the bustling crowd below without the slightest ripple, as if nothing in the world could catch his eye.
Beside him stood a man who looked to be around thirty years old.
The man was dressed in a dark blue outfit, with a short blade at his waist. He exuded a calm and collected aura, clearly a seasoned expert in the world of Soul Masters.
He stood beside Jiang Li, maintaining a half-step distance, his posture respectful yet revealing a hint of undisguised restraint.
"To be honest, I never thought that the infamous Heavenly Tyrant would be a person without soul power."
The man spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on Jiang Li, his eyes filled with inquiry, but deep down there was still a hint of apprehension.
His name is Dai Tian, and he is a full-time guard of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. His duty is to protect the safety of the Duke's second young master, Dai Huabin.
He held a high position in the Duke's mansion and had seen many top-tier Soul Masters, but when faced with Jiang Li, he felt a deep sense of fear.
After all, the person standing in front of him had killed two deans of Shrek Academy and the Dragon God Douluo Mu En.
That's Shrek Academy, the number one Soul Master Academy on the continent, with a profound foundation and countless powerful individuals.
In particular, Dragon God Douluo Mu En is a top-tier Limit Douluo on the continent, whose reputation resounds throughout the entire continent, and many forces have to show him awe.
Yet this great figure died at the hands of this man who showed no trace of soul power.
The infamous reputation of Tianyu the Tyrant has long been known throughout the Soul Master world, causing everyone to turn pale at the mere mention of his name, and no one dares to provoke him lightly.
Dai Tian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly; his heart was still filled with unease.
He simply couldn't imagine how someone without soul power could kill such a terrifying being. This method was far more terrifying than that of top-tier soul masters.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li did not turn around, but continued to gaze at the scenery outside the window. His thin lips parted slightly, and his voice was cold and indifferent, without a trace of extra emotion: "What do you want with me?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. With just one simple sentence, Dai Tian instantly suppressed all his distracting thoughts and dared not hesitate in the slightest.
Dai Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his fear and unease, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am Dai Tian, from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion of the Star Luo Empire. I have come here today with a matter I would like to entrust to you."
Jiang Li finally turned around slowly, his gaze falling on Dai Tian.
His eyes were dark and deep, like a cold pool, devoid of any warmth. With just a glance, Dai Tian felt as if his whole body was encased in ice, his limbs and bones were chilled, and even breathing became difficult.
Under such scrutiny, all his secret thoughts were laid bare, leaving him no choice but to tell the truth.
"Your Majesty, my young master is Dai Huabin, the second young master of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and he is currently studying at Shrek Academy."
Dai Tian slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of protectiveness and helplessness as he spoke of his young master, "Recently, my young master has been repeatedly harassed by a student at the academy, losing face and harboring deep resentment."
Jiang Li didn't interrupt, but listened quietly. The oppressive aura around him never dissipated, making Dai Tian dare not utter a single falsehood.
"That student is named Huo Yuhao. He has only been in Shrek Academy for a short time. He seems to be of average strength, but he is cunning and has repeatedly tried to embarrass my young master in front of everyone."
Dai Tian's tone was tinged with anger as he recalled the message Dai Huabin had sent back to the Duke's mansion, and he was also filled with dissatisfaction towards Huo Yuhao.
"My young master is the legitimate son of the White Tiger Duke's mansion. He has been pampered since childhood and is exceptionally talented. When has he ever suffered such humiliation?"
As Dai Tian spoke, his tone grew increasingly somber, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "This humiliation is something the young master simply cannot swallow. He harbors a deep-seated hatred for Huo Yuhao and is determined to eliminate him to quell his anger."
"Duke's Mansion is constrained by its status and cannot directly take action against Shrek Academy students. Moreover, Shrek Academy has strict rules, and if the academy discovers that the mansion has taken action, it will inevitably cause endless trouble."
Dai Tian explained the core reason for his visit, looked up at Jiang Li, and spoke with increasing respect.
"I've heard that you act without restraint, and that as long as the price is reasonable, there's nothing you can't accomplish. That's why the young master specifically ordered me to come here to plead with you to take action and eliminate Huo Yuhao."
After saying this, Dai Tian lowered his head slightly, not daring to look Jiang Li in the eyes again, feeling uneasy.
He knew that assassinating a Shrek Academy student was an extremely risky task, not to mention that the person the other party wanted to kill might not be a simple character. He was unsure whether Jiang Li would accept the commission.
After listening, Jiang Li's expression remained unchanged, but a slight fluctuation finally appeared in his indifferent eyes, a consideration of the deal.
He never did anything pointless when he traveled the continent; every action had a price. Killing Shrek Academy's top brass was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and this assassination commission naturally required negotiating the terms.
"I already know why Dai Huabin wants to kill Huo Yuhao," Jiang Li said slowly, his voice still icy. "Tell me, what price are you willing to pay?"
Hearing that Jiang Li did not directly refuse, Dai Tian breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly looked up, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and said, "My lord, as long as you are willing to help, the Duke's mansion will never treat you unfairly. Gold coins, soul bones, rare soul beast materials, whatever the mansion has, you can ask for it, and we will do our best to satisfy you."
.........