"What a perfect opportunity. If we don't seize this moment, we'd be wasting this perfectly good watermelon."
The same thought flashed through both Shen An and Zhu Zhuqing's minds simultaneously. The battlefield was chaotic, with the remnants of their earlier watermelon snack scattered across the ground. The seeds had become an unexpected advantage, momentarily blinding Qin Ming and giving Shen An the upper hand.
Without hesitation, Shen An's aura surged again like an unsheathed sword, his entire being merging with his blade as he poured his soul power, sword intent, and spirit into the weapon. The air around him seemed to hum with energy, and the ground beneath his feet cracked under the sheer force of his presence.
The sheer sharpness of his presence made even Qin Ming—whose vision was currently obscured by watermelon seeds—shiver involuntarily. Qin Ming was a Soul Emperor, a powerhouse in his own right, but Shen An's overwhelming sword intent made him feel like a novice facing a master.
Endless sword intent filled the air, yet Qin Ming couldn't tell when or where the attack would come from. The fear of the unknown drenched his back in cold sweat. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to steady his breathing, but the oppressive aura around him made it nearly impossible.
Bitterness welled in his heart—how could a mere Soul Elder be so formidable? And of all times, why did watermelon seeds have to land in his eyes now? It was a cruel twist of fate, one that Qin Ming couldn't help but resent.
While Qin Ming only needed an instant to clear his vision, Shen An had no intention of giving him that chance.
"Cloud-Severing Sword Technique!"
A single sword stroke—silent yet razor-sharp—split the wind and scattered the clouds. The attack was so swift that it left no trace, yet its power was undeniable. The ground beneath Shen An's feet was torn apart as the sword energy surged forward, aimed directly at Qin Ming.
"No time to hesitate. Can't predict where the attack will come from. Only option is counterattack!" Qin Ming gritted his teeth. In the blink of an eye, his sixth soul ring—a ten-thousand-year ring—flared brilliantly.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Blazing Heaven Incineration!"
With a furious howl, Qin Ming unleashed all his soul power into this skill. Fiery energy rippled outward in expanding rings, engulfing the entire battlefield in flames. The heat was intense, and the air shimmered with the sheer force of the attack. The ground turned to molten lava in places, and the surrounding trees were reduced to ash in an instant.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing moved like a specter, attempting to flank Tang San from behind. Her movements were so fast that they were almost imperceptible, and her claws gleamed with a deadly sharpness. But with the Mysterious Heaven Skill enhancing his perception, Tang San predicted her movements through sound alone.
His Eight Spider Lances lashed out like a storm of blades—so fast and precise that not even a drop of water could slip through. For the moment, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't find an opening. Her attacks were swift and precise, but Tang San's defenses were equally formidable.
Though Shen An was focused on Qin Ming, he hadn't forgotten Tang San. The Cloud-Severing strike wasn't just about power—it was the culmination of Shen An's swordsmanship, combining force and intent into one overwhelming attack.
The brilliance of this sword slash was like a white rainbow piercing the sun—earthshaking and unstoppable!
Tang San, his vision still impaired, stiffened abruptly—as if the attack were aimed directly at him. Caught off guard, he froze in panic. His instincts screamed at him to move, but the sheer pressure of Shen An's sword intent paralyzed him.
A cold glint flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as her razor-sharp claws gleamed, slashing toward the protective cage of spider lances around Tang San.
CLANG—!
"AAAAAGH—!"
First came the ringing of metal on metal. Then sparks erupted as four of the crystalline-blue spider lances—shimmering like Blue Silver Grass—were severed completely! The force of the impact sent Tang San staggering backward, his face twisted in pain.
At the same time, the spreading inferno was split apart by a gap, through which a streak of azure sword light shot forth.
Qin Ming screamed as excruciating pain exploded in his right shoulder—it felt like the limb was being torn from his body. His battered form tumbled backward, his once-pristine robes now matted with dirt and blood. The ground beneath him was scorched and cracked, and the air was thick with the smell of burning flesh.
"Hmm?"
Shen An's heart skipped a beat. A primal sense of danger flared, and his heightened instincts made him instinctively swing upward.
KLANG—!
The sound of metal striking his blade reverberated through him. Though caught off guard, his Azure Sword Eyes let him identify his attacker.
A single feather?
"Shen An! Crippling my disciple and shattering Tang San's soul bone—you've gone too far!"
Shen An looked up. Standing there was Flender—his wings now spanning five meters, his golden-orange eyes blazing with fury.
When Yu Xiaogang had stormed out of the dean's office earlier, Flender had sensed trouble. Then came reports that Qin Ming—who was supposed to be teaching class—had vanished alongside Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
Of course they went after Shen An again.
Horrified, Flender immediately activated his Martial Soul True Body and raced over.
Lost at first, the familiar sword aura and sky-scorching flames guided him right to the battlefield.
He arrived just in time to see his proudest student—Qin Ming, his most outstanding graduate—defeated by Shen An despite being three whole realms stronger!
"I went too far? Old man, you and your Shrek Academy keep coming after me. Did you really think I'd take this lying down?" Shen An's voice dripped with murderous intent.
"Exactly!" Ning Rongrong puffed out her chest defiantly. "Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone have already spared you twice! If you keep starting trouble, do you really want Shrek Academy razed to the ground by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Flender's entire body burned with rage. He trembled—furious at Shen An's disrespect toward a Soul Sage, livid at Ning Rongrong's threats.
He wanted to laugh—to show them the terrifying might of a 78th-rank Agility-Type Soul Sage!
Just once, he wanted to cast aside all restraint and paint the land red with their blood to vent his fury.
But he didn't dare.
Slowly, Flender closed his eyes, forcing his pounding heart to calm.
He couldn't bear to leave Shrek Academy behind. He refused to spend his remaining years as a fugitive, watching his old comrades scatter to the winds.
When he looked at Ning Rongrong again, something in him had broken. The pride of his youth was gone.
With a sweep of his wings, Flender scooped up the silent trio and turned to leave.
Tang San's face was twisted in pain—though fused with his bones, losing four of his Eight Spider Lances was still excruciating.
When he saw Flender, he'd thought salvation had arrived—only to realize the man would do nothing but retreat.
His eyes now burned with palpable hatred—so intense it could freeze blood.
His malice wasn't just directed at Shen An, but also at Yu Xiaogang, Qin Ming, Flander… even his own father, Tang Hao.
Why did Shen An always have backing? Why did Shen An keep opposing him?
Never once did he consider that he had been the instigator all along.
Ning Rongrong curled her lip as she watched Flander's pathetic retreat.
How cowardly.
This was the same man who'd bullied her without mercy at Shrek Academy—now too frightened to even utter a threat knowing the Sword and Bone Douluos might intervene.
"Hey, Flender! Tell your Shrek people to watch their step from now on. This is your last warning. Next time, neither I nor Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone will hold back."
Flender's wings faltered mid-flight.
He wanted to turn back—to teach this spoiled brat the meaning of respecting one's elders—
But he couldn't.
After suffering defeat after defeat, the fire in his spirit had been extinguished completely.
With powerful wingbeats, his hunched figure disappeared into the night sky.
In the darkness, Tang San slowly turned his head, his burning eyes locking onto Shen An one last time.
Shen An met his gaze, killing intent rising in his heart.
Something about Tang San felt… different. Dangerous.
"Too bad Flender showed up. Otherwise, I might've ended the so-called 'Chosen One' tonight."