When Lu Qibin made his move, Nangong Lingyun didn't immediately stop him.
He was busy reflecting on his earlier mistake.
Taking down Flender so casually with just a light strike had indeed been a bit rash. It looked like a cheap win.
So much so that while the Soul Saint lay defeated, two Soul Emperors were still swaggering around like they had everything under control.
So, he decided to let Shrek Academy experience true despair, in a way they'd fully comprehend.
That is, after they revealed their strongest forms and all their trump cards, they'd still get absolutely demolished—without any suspense.
And it was precisely during this delay…
That Shao Xin seized the opportunity to quickly fire a few candy beans into Flender's mouth.
As one of the rare food-type Soul Saints on the continent, the healing and recovery powers of those candy beans were no joke.
Given Flender wasn't badly injured to begin with, and he had just been faking unconsciousness, not actually knocked out…
In the next moment, the four-eyed owl trembled its eyelids and woke up from its "coma."
The instant he opened his eyes, he activated his Martial Soul, and without hesitation unleashed his seventh soul skill: Martial Soul True Body.
He retreated back to the gates of Shrek Academy, regrouping in formation beside Zhao Wuji and the others.
Then Flender forced on a kindly expression and said:
"Nangong Lingyun, you truly are a once-in-a-generation genius.
Even though it was a sneak attack, being only twelve and still managing to take down a Soul Saint—an agility-type one, no less—is something to be proud of.
As long as you sincerely admit your mistake and apologize to me,
regardless of cutting class or the sneak attack, the Academy can let it slide.
We will still accept you into Shrek and train you with care.
With talent like yours, letting it go to waste or fall into mediocrity would be a huge loss.
Only Shrek can give you the best path forward."
Flender decided to swallow his pride.
Unlike the others who assumed he'd lost because of a sneak attack, he knew the truth.
He had fought back—clearly—but it made zero difference.
His soul power, already materialized and about to burst forth, had been directly dispersed by the force of the opponent's strike.
This strange phenomenon made him suspect that even using his Martial Soul True Body wouldn't give him any edge.
Besides…
If this monstrous genius could be truly recruited, Shrek would definitely shake the entire continent.
Forget the next Soul Master Tournament—if Shrek said they were second, no one would dare claim first.
With such a bright future ahead, a beating was a small price to pay.
Nangong Lingyun's lips twitched violently—he had a thousand complaints pent up inside.
"You're this ugly and still daydreaming like that?
You really believe 'only Shrek can give me the best path forward'?
Can you help me suppress the Spirit Hall?
Or hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast or god beast?
Cut the crap. If you're gonna fight, hurry up. I'm on a schedule.
Oh, and this time, I'm giving you time to prepare.
Use every trick you've got, so don't go crying about sneak attacks later like some shameless clown."
Outside, while Flender was fantasizing about taming a swan with toad-level charm, deep inside the Beast Space, the big black beast was getting hyped.
"Boss, these little punks are so cocky and shameless. How are you putting up with this?
Let me out and I'll smack them so hard their mamas won't recognize them!"
"Boss, don't you wanna flex a little? I'm the freaking Dark Demon Evil God Tiger! One look at me and they'll piss themselves."
"Boss, I'm begging you. I swear I'll behave from now on. You say go east, and I won't even glance west!"
…
Thirty seconds later—
Flender and Zhao Wuji both activated their Martial Soul True Bodies. Each took a Soul Emperor-level teammate, splitting into two groups and surrounded Nangong Lingyun in the center.
Shao Xin didn't join the battle directly.
Instead, he handed out a pile of candy beans to everyone—ranging from healing, stamina recovery, berserk buffs, to strength amplification—you name it.
He was already a top-tier support, and food created under Martial Soul True Body was even stronger than regular soul skills.
Shrek's team had their power surge dramatically in an instant, with Flender and Zhao Wuji especially boosted to the point their aura wasn't much weaker than that of a Title Douluo.
"Are you ready?"
Nangong Lingyun still stood in place, unfazed by all the buffs and whispered tactical plans. He hadn't even released his Martial Soul yet.
In most people's minds, a twelve-year-old Soul Elder was already a top-tier genius.
But for a Soul Sect to leap across three major levels and thirty-some minor levels to beat a Soul Saint?
Absolutely impossible.
So really, he needed a proper battle to prove himself—to shake this continent, this Soul Master world—to its core.
Let this moment be the start of his legend.
"Whether or not I join Shrek Academy, there's no need for you to act this rashly.
You must understand, the boost from Martial Soul True Body is far beyond what ordinary soul rings can provide.
Not to mention a food-type Soul Saint supporting them.
You have such a promising future—what if something happens to you…"
Flender still wanted to keep talking, but Nangong Lingyun had no patience left.
Boom! A burst of dazzling golden light exploded from the center like a blazing sun.
A ten-meter tall golden figure appeared—twice the height of even the Mighty Golden Bear's true body—like a giant that reached the heavens.
Four exaggerated black soul rings instantly emerged, spinning rapidly around his waist.
True, Martial Soul True Bodies buffed by support abilities were not easy to take down.
But—
With a single thought, Nangong Lingyun's first soul ring lit up with a dense ghostly glow.
The next moment, a layer of brilliant golden flames erupted from his body, rushing upward violently.
In a blink, the flames formed an even larger illusionary giant of light—
Clad in heavy armor, wearing a golden helmet, and a cape fluttering like a battle flag behind him.
Everyone—
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and even Soul Masters from Soto City who felt the surge and came to see the commotion—
All stared, slack-jawed, at the giant figure that seemed to pierce the sky and the aura of pure terror it radiated.
"This guy's a soul master?"
"This guy's a Soul Sect!?"
"This guy's TWELVE!?"
Flender closed his eyes in agony. He didn't even plan to fight anymore.
He had already sensed something was wrong earlier. After all, normally, you'd need Title Douluo-level power to suppress a Soul Saint this easily.
But that kind of power seemed too outrageous to be real… so he held on to a bit of hope.
Now, with his worst fear confirmed—what's the point of resisting?
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji's arms dropped weakly, and he collapsed to the ground, eyes full of existential dread.
....
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