Dai Mubai glared fiercely at Oscar, who was still retreating, and then looked at Ma Hongjun, who was scared out of his wits, secretly cursing his bad luck in his heart.
But things had already come to this, and as their leader, he couldn't just desert them on the battlefield.
Dai Mubai could only brace himself and say, "Senior Bu Le, we were indeed young and impetuous and offended you. We apologize to you right now."
As he spoke, he also pulled Ma Hongjun, signaling him to bow and admit his mistake.
Although Ma Hongjun was unwilling, under the pressure of a Spirit Ancestor, he could only lower his head aggrievedly and mumble, "So... sorry."
Bu Le, however, acted as if he had heard a joke, a sinister smile appearing on his fat-laden face. "An apology and it's over? That wasn't your attitude just now."
He suddenly took a step forward, his fleshy palm slamming toward Dai Mubai's face. "Kneel down and kowtow to me three times, and maybe I'll consider sparing you!"
The wind from the palm came with a greasy, fishy smell. Dai Mubai's pupils constricted, and as he sidestepped to avoid it, his spirit power suddenly erupted: "Third Spirit Skill: White Tiger Light Wave!"
A purple spirit ring lit up, and a pale golden light wave erupted from his mouth, aimed straight at Bu Le's face.
Seeing this, the fat on Bu Le's face shook, and a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes: "An insignificant trick!"
"First Spirit Skill: Heavenly Net Shroud!"
In an instant, a layer of semi-transparent pale golden light emerged from his body, like an inverted glazed bowl, protecting his upper body tightly within it.
This light shroud seemed thin, but it emitted an extremely tough aura.
Boom!
The White Tiger Light Wave slammed hard against the Heavenly Net Shroud, producing a dull, heavy thud. The golden light wave was like a pebble thrown into a lake, stirring up layers of ripples.
But the shroud only vibrated violently a few times and actually blocked the attack head-on, without even a single crack appearing.
"That's it?" Bu Le sneered and suddenly pushed his hands outward. "Second Spirit Skill: Dual Shroud Combination!"
The second spirit ring beneath his feet lit up, and the Heavenly Net Shroud that was originally protecting his upper body suddenly split, turning into two smaller light shrouds floating one in front and one behind him.
The front shroud continued to defend, while the back shroud emitted a faint suction, showing signs of reflecting the attack back.
"Not good!" Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically. He wanted to withdraw his spirit power, but it was already a step too late.
The suction from the back shroud suddenly erupted, and the reflected energy was like a spinning blade, slamming hard into Dai Mubai's chest.
Pfft!
Dai Mubai felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. He flew backward uncontrollably, slamming heavily into the alley wall. As he slid down, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining his chest red.
"Boss Dai!" Ma Hongjun cried out.
Bu Le rushed quickly toward Dai Mubai and threw a punch at Dai Mubai's face.
Bu Le's fist, carrying a strong wind, landed solidly on Dai Mubai's face.
Boom!
With a dull sound, Dai Mubai felt his vision go dark. His cheek instantly swelled up, and the blood at the corner of his mouth spread with a numbing sensation from his loosened teeth.
He had already been injured by the reflected energy, and now he had no power to resist, only able to watch helplessly as Bu Le's fist fell again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive punches, each hitting the flesh.
Dai Mubai's face swelled at a visible rate. He saw stars, and his consciousness began to blur.
"Boss Dai!" Ma Hongjun's eyes turned red with anxiety. He wanted to rush forward but was swept to the ground by a casual wave of Bu Le's hand.
Although Bu Le's spirit power hadn't fully erupted, it was still more than enough to deal with a Spirit Master in the twenties.
Ma Hongjun fell to the ground, grimacing in pain, unable to crawl up for a long time.
Oscar watched from the side, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He turned to run but was locked onto by Bu Le's peripheral vision.
"Want to run?" Bu Le grinned sinisterly and kicked Oscar in the lower back.
"Ah!"
Oscar was kicked flying like a broken sack, hitting a stone pillar at the entrance of the alley. He curled into a ball in pain, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.
He tried to get up but found his lower back felt as if it were broken, a piercing pain shooting through him with every movement.
Bu Le saw that Dai Mubai was slumped on the ground and had lost his ability to resist, so he turned his gaze to Ma Hongjun, who had crawled up to protect his companion, and kicked him in the stomach.
Ma Hongjun arched his body in pain like a stepped-on shrimp. Just as he was about to cry out, Bu Le's fist smashed into his face, and nosebleed instantly gushed out, covering his face.
"Still dare to move?" Bu Le spat, grabbed Ma Hongjun by the hair, and threw him toward Dai Mubai.
The two collided, groaning in pain.
Bu Le turned to look at Oscar, who was trying to sneak away. He caught up in a few steps, stepped on Oscar's back to pin him firmly to the ground, and grabbed a nearby wooden stick with his other hand, striking him repeatedly.
"Trying to run! Trying to be arrogant!" Bu Le cursed while hitting, the wooden stick making dull thuds as it struck Oscar's body.
Oscar was in so much pain that he was crying out for his parents, his tears mixing with the dust on the ground to coat his face.
After beating them for a while, Bu Le finally stopped, panting heavily. Looking at the three people groaning on the ground, a look of disgust and greed appeared on his face.
Bu Le squatted down and first searched Dai Mubai, pulling out the money pouch at his waist and the spirit coin bag in his robe. He weighed them and stuffed them into his own bosom with satisfaction.
Next, he dragged Ma Hongjun over, roughly pulled open his outer coat, and found a money pouch embroidered with a flame pattern from an inner pocket. He squeezed its thickness and grinned.
Finally, it was Oscar's turn. He was pinned down and couldn't move. Bu Le directly reached out and pulled open his waistband, dragging out a small cloth bag hidden inside.
Bu Le poured out a few silver coins and a pile of bronze coins from inside. Although it wasn't much, he still pocketed them all the same.
"At least you're sensible," Bu Le patted his bulging pockets and kicked Dai Mubai's leg. "Next time you dare to challenge me, it won't be as simple as just taking your money."
After speaking, he whistled and swaggered away, leaving Dai Mubai and the other two lying on the ground.
The three were covered in injuries, with bruises all over their faces and bodies. The places where their money pouches had been torn away were empty, like a piece of them had been gouged out. It wasn't just their bodies that hurt, but also the little bit of dignity they had left.
Dai Mubai struggled to crawl up to help his companions, but found he couldn't lift his arms, and his cheeks were so swollen he could barely open his eyes.
Ma Hongjun clutched his bleeding nose, gasping from the pain.
Oscar lay on the ground, the pain in his lower back making it difficult for him to even turn over.
In the alley, only their suppressed cries of pain and the distant wailing of the wind remained, making their previous arrogance and current misery particularly jarring.
After a good while, the three crawled up from the ground, supporting each other as they walked toward Shrek Academy.
Ma Hongjun grumbled, "Damn it, let's go back and tell Teacher Zhao. Let Teacher Zhao avenge us."
Dai Mubai leaned against the wall and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his voice hoarse but filled with ruthlessness: "Avenge! We must! I can't swallow this! We'll find Teacher Zhao as soon as we get back. I don't believe he can't handle a Bu Le!"
His cheeks were high and swollen, and he leaked air when he spoke. Every word tugged at his wounds, causing sweat to bead on his forehead from the pain, yet he stubbornly stiffened his neck without letting out a single groan.
Ma Hongjun clutched his still-bleeding nose and nodded fiercely upon hearing this, blood foam trickling down the corners of his mouth. "Right! Let Teacher Zhao smash that Fatty's Heavenly Net Shroud with one punch! How dare he steal our money and beat us like this? We have to let him know how formidable Shrek is!"
Oscar lay sprawled on Dai Mubai's back, the pain in his lower back making him gasp for cold air, yet he also chimed in through gritted teeth, "Exactly... Teacher Zhao is the most protective... He'll definitely stand up for us..."
The three of them supported each other, staggering back toward the academy.
Just as they reached the gates of Shrek Academy, Ning Rongrong was standing on the steps with her arms crossed.
Seeing the three of them in such a pathetic state—bruised, swollen, and leaning on each other—Ning Rongrong arched an eyebrow, her tone carrying undisguised mockery. "Oh, aren't these our academy's three great experts? How did you end up in such a state after just one trip out? Could it be that you tried to gain an advantage only to end up worse off and got beaten up?"
She didn't have the slightest favorable impression of Dai Mubai's trio; in fact, she detested them immensely, especially Dai Mubai.
This was because Ning Rongrong remembered what Dai Mubai had said to her before—that he would rape and then kill her.
Naturally, she wasn't afraid of Dai Mubai doing such a thing to her. As the Young Miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, she was no fool.
When traveling abroad, she certainly carried life-saving treasures on her person.
If Dai Mubai dared to make a move, he would be turned into meat paste in a matter of minutes.
As soon as Ning Rongrong finished speaking, Ma Hongjun's hair bristled. He clutched his bleeding nose and roared, "What the hell do you know? We were ambushed by a Spirit Ancestor! Why don't you go try it if you're so capable?"
Ning Rongrong sneered, "A Spirit Ancestor? And here I thought it was some powerful character. To not even be able to handle a Spirit Ancestor, how do you have the face to call yourselves Shrek students?"
"You!" Ma Hongjun was so angry he wanted to rush forward, but Dai Mubai pulled him back.
Enduring the pain on his face, Dai Mubai glanced coldly at Ning Rongrong. "If you want to laugh, then laugh. Stop the nonsense. We're going to find Teacher Zhao; we don't have time to waste with you."
Ning Rongrong was momentarily stifled by his gaze, but she remained stubborn. "Looking for Teacher Zhao? What, looking for a backer because you couldn't win? How pathetic."
Oscar, lying on Dai Mubai's back, panted in pain. "You... don't just stand there talking... that guy's Heavenly Net Shroud... it's simply unbreakable..."
"If you can't break it, can't you think of a way?" Ning Rongrong said with her arms crossed. "I think you're just fools who only know how to use brute force."
Dai Mubai ignored her further and supported Ma Hongjun as they walked straight toward Zhao Wuji's residence.
Ning Rongrong watched their retreating figures and curled her lip. "Hmph, serves them right."
...In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
Xu Yuan's group and Liu Erlong took a carriage together, heading toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Liu Erlong sat at the front of the carriage, playing with a long whip in her hand. Her gaze swept over the seven people in the cabin. "The Star Dou Great Forest is not like the academy; the Spirit Beasts inside won't play by the rules with you. For the first three days, we will operate in the outer perimeter to familiarize ourselves with the environment; after that, for five days, we will head deep into the central region and polish our tactics along the way."
Xu Yuan's group nodded, indicating they understood.
Xiao Wu felt very conflicted in her heart. She didn't want to kill Spirit Beasts; after all, Spirit Beasts were her kin.
Noticing Xiao Wu's subtle expression, Xu Yuan smiled inwardly.
The biggest problem for Spirit Beasts has always been the lack of Divine Rank combat power, aside from the Silver Dragon King and the Gold Dragon King.
Furthermore, the growth time for Spirit Beasts is too long, making them completely incomparable to humans.
If Artificial Spirit Ring technology were to emerge, then Spirit Beast casualties would decrease significantly.
However, the best approach would be, like in the future, to lead a group of Spirit Beasts to develop in other planes.
It is impossible for humans and Spirit Beasts to coexist peacefully. As the saying goes, 'those who are not of our kin are bound to have different hearts,' and even humans aren't peaceful among themselves.
But... what did any of this have to do with him right now?
He wasn't a Spirit Beast, so why should he care so much about their life and death?
Even Gu Yuena, the Co-lord of Spirit Beasts in Douluo 3, didn't care much for them, spending every day in a relationship with Tang Wulin.
It was well known that the original Gu Yuena and the fan-fiction Gu Yuena were two different people.
He had a friend who learned about Gu Yuena through an 'Eternal P-pal' and liked her very much. Then, after reading Douluo 3, his Dao Heart shattered instantly.
After transmigrating to the Douluo Continent, he was already prepared for the absurd things that would happen in the future.
Even God King Tang San had become his Spirit; what else could he possibly encounter that was more absurd?
It wasn't as if he would end up sleeping with his own master.
It seemed impossible just thinking about it. One had to know how much Liu Erlong loved Yu Xiaogang, and with the large age gap between him and Liu Erlong, it was impossible for the two of them to end up together.
Inside the Sea of Spirit, God King Tang San began to ponder how to obtain his Origin from Liu Erlong.
A few days later, the carriage slowly drove into a small town that was relatively close to the Star Dou Great Forest.
The carriage stopped in front of a hotel. Liu Erlong was the first to step down, followed by the others one after another.
After entering the hotel, Liu Erlong booked a room for everyone.
After that, she led everyone to find a spot in the lobby to sit down and ordered some food.
The aroma of food permeated the lobby, and the wooden tables were polished bright by the passing guests.
Liu Erlong ordered a large table of dishes with a mix of meat and vegetables. The sauced pork trotters were steaming, the tenderly stewed Spirit Beast meat emitted a rich aroma of gravy, and there were several plates of crisp seasonal vegetables, which Xiao Wu immediately grabbed with her chopsticks as soon as they were served.
"Eat slower, no one is fighting you for it." Zhu Zhuqing helplessly helped her wipe the oil from the corner of her mouth, while she herself also picked up a piece of beast meat and put it in her mouth.
A hint of relaxation appeared in her eyes. After traveling for several days, being able to eat a hot meal was indeed a rare treat.
Tai Long buried his head in his rice, chewing each mouthful with extra force as if venting his exhaustion.
He glanced at Xu Yuan opposite him, who was eating in a slow and orderly manner.
"I'm exhausted, I'm going to have a huge feast."
Just then, a complaining voice came from outside.
Hearing the voice, Xu Yuan looked toward the door.
He saw Tang San's group entering the hotel.
Tang San walked at the very front, with black hair and black eyes. The acne on his face seemed to have faded slightly, and his expression remained indifferent. However, his gaze paused slightly as it swept over Xu Yuan's table before moving away as if nothing had happened.
Behind him followed Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar. The injuries on their faces had mostly healed, though a hint of gloom still lingered between their brows.
Seeing Xu Yuan, Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed with a complex look. The beating he received that day in Zui Chun Alley had made his desire for strength even more intense.
Seeing that Xu Yuan's group had steady and calm auras, he felt a surge of competitive energy in his heart.
As soon as Ma Hongjun entered, he was so tempted by the aroma of the food in the lobby that he kept swallowing his saliva. He clamored, "Teacher Zhao, I want to eat sauced pork trotters! And that roasted Spirit Beast leg!"
Oscar also nodded along: 'I'll take two Sausages, and a bowl of hot soup would be great too. My legs are about to fall off after all this traveling.'
Zhao Wuji glared at them with irritation: 'All you think about is eating! Find your own seats and order, and don't forget what I said—you pay for yourselves.'
Zhao Wuji glared at them with irritation: 'All you think about is eating! Find your own seats and order, and don't forget what I said—you pay for yourselves.'
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the hall, and he chose a seat in the middle to sit down.
Seeing this, the others quickly followed Zhao Wuji and sat down as well.
Ma Hongjun looked around and noticed Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes lighting up involuntarily.
Leaning close to Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun pointed at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing and said, 'Boss Dai, look at those two girls—they're really something. Especially the one in pink, those legs are so long, and that one with the long black hair, her figure is like a cat's... If only I could get them into bed...'
While listening to Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai looked in the direction he was pointing. When he saw Zhu Zhuqing, an expression of surprise spread across his face.
He truly hadn't expected to run into Zhu Zhuqing here.
Hearing Ma Hongjun's words and seeing the expressions on his and Dai Mubai's faces as they huddled together, Zhu Zhuqing revealed a look of utter disgust.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly—how did she end up with a fiancé like this?
If only her fiancé were...
As she thought this, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively glanced toward Xu Yuan across from her.
*Slap—*
Xiao Wu's palm slammed onto the table, causing the bowls and dishes to jump. The crisp sound instantly silenced the entire hall.
Xiao Wu abruptly stood up, her eyes wide and round as she pointed angrily at Ma Hongjun and shouted, 'Watch your mouth! If you dare spout such nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth to shreds!'
She genuinely despised someone as foul-mouthed as Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun showed no fear whatsoever: 'My mouth is my own; I'll say whatever I want.'
After all, with Zhao Wuji right beside him, he wasn't the least bit afraid of Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong looked at Ma Hongjun with disgust; as a woman, she also disliked his behavior.
Xu Yuan looked coldly at Ma Hongjun and said, 'Apologize.'
Xu Yuan's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an undeniable pressure, like a block of ice thrown into boiling oil, instantly suppressing the noise in the hall.
'Apologize? Why should I?' Ma Hongjun stiffened his neck, his face full of arrogance. 'In this town, with Teacher Zhao here, who do I have to fear? Besides, what's wrong with looking? What's wrong with saying a few words? If you don't dare cause trouble, you're nothing but mediocrity!'
He slapped the table and stood up, releasing his spirit power without restraint. Though the Aura of over twenty Ranks wasn't particularly strong, it was enough to stir up a commotion in the inn.
The diners all turned to look, and even the innkeeper hid behind the counter in fright.
Zhao Wuji silently released his own spirit power, warning Xu Yuan's group, especially their teacher, Liu Erlong.
'Hmph, Zhao, you dare bully my students?' Liu Erlong, whose temper was already fiery, saw the other side openly releasing spirit power as a provocation, and flames instantly ignited in her eyes.
The next moment, her spirit power erupted abruptly. Two yellow, two purple, and four black—eight spirit rings lit up rapidly, and her entire Aura shifted dramatically.
Her smooth, long hair took on a fiery hue, her pupils narrowed into vertical slits, raging flames surged around her body, and fine, fiery-red scales appeared on the surface of her skin.
*Roar—*
A roar infused with Dragon might echoed through the hall. Flames surged with the soundwave, forcing the surrounding diners to retreat repeatedly.
Liu Erlong's figure blurred as she shot toward Zhao Wuji like an arrow from a bow. The wave of heat she brought scorched the wooden floorboards, making them sizzle.
Zhao Wuji hadn't anticipated Liu Erlong would attack so suddenly. His Spirit Saint-level spirit power was only half-released, and before he could even gather his defenses, a scorching, tremendous force slammed violently into his chest.
*Thud!*
With a dull impact, Zhao Wuji's massive body flew backward like a ragged sack, crashing heavily against a wooden pillar on the inn's rear wall.
The pillar, thick as a bowl, snapped with the impact. Wood splinters flew as he slid down the wall to the ground. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood that stained the front of his robe.
'Teacher Zhao!' Tang San and the others' expressions changed drastically.
God King Tang San and Xu Yuan both saw Liu Erlong's spirit rings and revealed looks of astonishment.
Both of them remembered that Liu Erlong's current Rank was supposed to be Spirit Saint—how had she become Spirit Douluo level?
Zhao Wuji struggled to rise from the ground. The intense pain in his chest made every breath feel like tearing, but the dignity of a Spirit Saint wouldn't allow him to stay down.
He threw his head back with a furious roar. Brownish-yellow spirit power erupted like a tidal wave, covering his entire body in thick, brown fur. His muscles bulged visibly, his height instantly surpassing two and a half meters. His hands grew broad and thick like bear paws, and his brownish-yellow eyes churned with a wild, raging Aura.
Zhao Wuji looked at Liu Erlong and said, 'You're dead today! I'll have my way with you first, then kill you!'
Seeing this situation, Xu Yuan said to Xiao Wu and the others, 'Come with me.' After speaking, he pulled Xiao Wu and the others out, with Zhu Zhuqing and the rest closely following.
The others, seeing the situation, all fled outside. If they got caught up in a battle of this level, they'd be done for.
Zhao Wuji's roar carried intense malice. Before his words had even faded, he lunged at Liu Erlong like a frenzied black bear. His broad bear paws, wrapped in brownish-yellow spirit power, swept toward her face with a force that tore through the air.
The flames in Liu Erlong's eyes burned even brighter, and the inferno around her body suddenly surged:'Seeking death!'
She shifted her stance slightly, evading the bear paw. At the same time, her Dragon Claw-like hand gathered violent flame spirit power. Her First Spirit Ability, Fire Dragon Claw, activated instantly, counter-striking toward Zhao Wuji's chest with scorching heat.
*Boom!*
The two powerful forces collided. A shockwave exploded outward from the point of impact, overturning nearby tables and chairs and making the wooden planks on the walls rattle.
Zhao Wuji felt a searing force spread along his arm. His chest felt as if branded by a red-hot iron, the pain forcing a grunt from him as he was actually knocked back half a step.
'You think being a Spirit Saint lets you run wild?' Liu Erlong pressed forward step by step, her second spirit ring glowing. 'Second Spirit Skill: Fire Dragon Breath!'
Torrential flames erupted like lava, instantly engulfing Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji roared within the sea of fire, pushing his spirit power to its limit, trying to use his brown fur to resist the flames. But it was scorched black and curled, emitting a pungent, burnt smell.
'Third Spirit Skill: Blazing Dragon Assault!' Liu Erlong gave him no chance to catch his breath.
Her third spirit ring shone brilliantly. Her entire body transformed into a crimson streak of light, like a true Fire Dragon, charging toward Zhao Wuji with an Aura of apocalyptic destruction.
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply. He hastily activated his fifth Spirit Ability, Gravity Crush, trying to use a gravity field to restrict Liu Erlong's speed.
But before he could even manage it, Liu Erlong slammed hard into Zhao Wuji's chest.
*Crack—*
The sound of bone breaking was clearly audible. Zhao Wuji felt as if struck by a heavy hammer. His massive body flew backward once more, crashing through the inn's rear wall and landing heavily in the muddy ground outside. He vomited blood profusely, countless ribs in his chest shattered.
Liu Erlong hovered at the edge of the broken wall, flames raging around her, her gaze cold as frost: 'Anyone who dares utter such vile words should be prepared to face the consequences!'
She took a step forward and landed in front of Zhao Wuji, her dragon claw stepping on his chest as her spirit power surged in like a tide, suppressing him so much that he couldn't move at all.
Zhao Wuji struggled to resist, but Liu Erlong slapped him across the face, leaving him dizzy and disoriented, with blood and tooth fragments flowing from the corner of his mouth.
"Still acting tough?" Liu Erlong's voice was like shards of ice. "Today, I'll let you know what true despair feels like!"
She raised her foot and stomped down heavily again. Zhao Wuji let out a miserable scream, went completely limp on the ground, and his consciousness began to blur.
Liu Erlong looked down at him from above, the anger in her eyes not yet faded, but she didn't strike a killing blow.
Xu Yuan stood in the distance with Xiao Wu and the others, watching Liu Erlong pummel Zhao Wuji and listening to his screams.
Xiao Wu clicked her tongue and said, "Teacher is way too amazing..."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently, a hint of shock flashing in the depths of her eyes.
A battle at the Spirit Douluo level had destructive power far beyond imagination. If Xu Yuan hadn't reacted quickly just now, they might have been caught in the crossfire.
Seeing this situation, Tang San and the others couldn't help but swallow hard.
Especially Ma Hongjun; he thought back to what he had done earlier.
After Liu Erlong finished dealing with Zhao Wuji, she walked over to stand before Ma Hongjun and the others.
With every step she took, the ground seemed to tremble slightly.
The residual scorching heat in the air and the Spirit Douluo pressure radiating from her made it difficult for Tang San and the others to breathe.
Ma Hongjun was so scared his legs were shaking. His previously arrogant attitude had vanished without a trace, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Looking at Liu Erlong's vertical pupils burning with rage, his mind was filled with the foul words he had said to Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing earlier. Cold sweat poured down his cheeks, soaking his collar.
Dai Mubai forced himself to stay calm and stood in front of Ma Hongjun, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Sen... Senior, this matter is Ma Hongjun's fault. We apologize to you on his behalf..."
"Apologize?" Liu Erlong sneered, her gaze cutting through Ma Hongjun like a blade. "Weren't you quite the talker just now? Why don't you repeat those filthy thoughts of yours for me to hear?"
Ma Hongjun was so terrified he fell to his knees with a thud, his voice shaking uncontrollably. "Sen... Senior, I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! Please forgive me just this once!"
He was truly terrified. Even Zhao Wuji had been beaten like that; with his meager strength, he probably wouldn't even last one move in her hands.
Tang San furrowed his brows, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Senior, Ma Hongjun is indeed in the wrong, but he already knows he must repent. Please, stay your hand."
Oscar also nodded quickly, echoing, "Yes, yes, yes, he definitely won't dare to do it again!"
Liu Erlong glanced at Tang San, ignored his plea, and simply stared at Ma Hongjun, her tone icy. "If your mouth is foul, you must be taught a lesson."
As she spoke, she raised her scaled hand, and a ball of not-too-intense flame condensed in her palm.
Ma Hongjun's Soul was Flying Away and Spirit Scattering as he closed his eyes and screamed.
"Slap!"
With a crisp sound, Liu Erlong's hand fell without the flames, instead delivering a heavy slap to Ma Hongjun's face. This slap was full of force, sending Ma Hongjun spinning in place. His cheek instantly swelled up, and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
"Remember this slap," Liu Erlong withdrew her hand, her voice as cold as ice. "If you ever dare to say another disrespectful word to any woman, it won't be as simple as a slap next time."
Ma Hongjun lay on the ground, clutching his face and not daring to make a sound. Tears mixed with nosebleed flowed down his face, leaving only fear in his heart.
Liu Erlong swept her gaze over Dai Mubai and Oscar once more. "Keep an eye on him. If you can't teach him well, I'll punish you all together."
Dai Mubai and Oscar nodded hurriedly, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Tang San watched this scene and clenched his fists, but in the end, he didn't say anything more.
He knew very well that Ma Hongjun indeed deserved a lesson, and given Liu Erlong's strength, it was already a stroke of luck that she had shown mercy.
However, Liu Erlong had still Found her way to death!
Liu Erlong didn't linger. She turned and walked toward Xu Yuan and the others, the murderous aura around her dissipating significantly, though her eyes remained cold. "Let's go."
Xu Yuan nodded and followed with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
As they passed Tang San, Xiao Wu didn't forget to glare at Ma Hongjun, the disgust in her eyes completely undisguised.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze fell on Dai Mubai with a hint of distance and disappointment before she looked away and quickly followed Xu Yuan.
Dai Mubai watched her back, his face turning red and white as a mixture of emotions filled his heart.
Liu Erlong remembered something and took out a bag of money, tossing it to the hotel owner.
"Take it, this is for the damages."
After giving the money to the owner, Liu Erlong led Xu Yuan and the group to another hotel.
Only after Liu Erlong and her group were far away did Tang San help up the limp Ma Hongjun. Looking at his swollen face and terrified state, he said deeply, "Now you know fear? Remember today's lesson."
Ma Hongjun nodded with a miserable face, having forgotten even to cry out in pain.
In his heart, he hated Liu Erlong. In the future, he would definitely rape her then kill her... On the other side, Xu Yuan and the others were on their way to another hotel.
Xu Yuan asked Liu Erlong curiously, "Teacher, when did you reach the Spirit Douluo level?"
This was what God King Tang San had told him to ask, and it just so happened that he wanted to know too, so he asked.
Liu Erlong thought for a moment and said, "Last year. For some reason, my Cultivation speed has increased significantly over the past few years. It's as if there's a continuous stream of spirit power within my body."
After hearing Liu Erlong's words, God King Tang San's expression changed drastically.
He had already figured out the reason: Liu Erlong had absorbed a wisp of his Origin.
No, he absolutely could not let Liu Erlong absorb any more.
God King Tang San felt a bit anxious and quickly thought of how to retrieve the Origin from Liu Erlong's body.
Wait... God King Tang San suddenly thought of a way to get his Origin back from Liu Erlong.
In the past, after they arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, Er Ming would appear at night and take Xiao Wu away.
He could use this opportunity to guide a Spirit Beast to severely wound Liu Erlong, and then have Xu Yuan obtain the Origin from her body.
Listening to God King Tang San's inner thoughts, Xu Yuan was somewhat speechless and couldn't help but become wary of God King Tang San's next actions.
"Teacher," Xu Yuan shifted the topic nonchalantly, his gaze falling on the lights of a hotel ahead, "There's a hotel up there that looks fairly clean. Let's rest there."
Liu Erlong gave an 'en' in response, some anger still lingering between her brows, clearly not having fully calmed down from the conflict just now. "Fine. Let's rest early and enter the Star Dou Great Forest first thing tomorrow morning."
Xiao Wu skipped along beside them, still excitedly chatting about the scene of Liu Erlong pummeling Zhao Wuji. "Teacher, that slap you gave just now was so cool! People like Ma Hongjun deserve to be taught a harsh lesson!"
Zhu Zhuqing walked on the other side and nodded gently upon hearing this, her gaze toward Liu Erlong holding a bit more admiration