Chapter 99: Shameless Xuan Zi
Xuan Zi's expression turned extremely unsightly as he looked at the final results.
This was completely different from what he had anticipated.
Huo Yuhao, bearer of the twin martial souls of Ultimate Ice, was eliminated. Bei Bei, the successor to Elder Mu, was also eliminated.
In Xuan Zi's expectations, both of them should have advanced. The ideal outcome in his mind was Ling Shuang being eliminated.
After all, Xuan Zi never had a good impression of this student who refused to be used by the academy. He had long hoped for Ling Shuang to fail.
Even if Ling Shuang weren't eliminated, in theory, the group that Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei belonged to should have been among the strongest in the outer courtyard.
But what Xuan Zi hadn't expected was that Ling Shuang, whom he thought to be just a solitary individual, perhaps only bringing his girlfriend Jiang Nannan along, had actually formed such strong bonds with others.
But the results were already determined. Under the eyes of the public, Xuan Zi couldn't say anything overt and could only begrudgingly announce, "The candidates for promotion have been confirmed."
The eliminated students could only sigh silently.
Ling Shuang's overwhelming dominance had left them with no chance to display their abilities.
Xuan Zi cast a glance at those standing beside Ling Shuang and said with subtle implication, "Relying on others isn't a long-term path. As soul masters, true strength must come from within."
"Otherwise, when there's no one left to rely on, your true nature will be exposed."
It was an unmistakable jab, and Ning Tian and the others frowned slightly.
They knew very well that they had advanced thanks to Ling Shuang.
But since the rules were set this way from the start, wasn't it hypocritical to mock them for leveraging what the system allowed?
If this drunkard weren't someone with high status in the academy, Ning Tian and the others would have spoken up already.
"Ling Shuang, your strength is indeed outstanding and you're unique in the entire outer courtyard. But don't you think you've gone too far?"
Xuan Zi wasn't done. After criticizing Ling Shuang's companions, he turned his eyes to Ling Shuang directly.
After all, in the end, it was because of Ling Shuang that things hadn't gone according to his plan.
"Just because of personal relationships, you ensured your associates advanced, regardless of their strength. Don't you think that's unfair to the others?"
Xuan Zi's words appeared to be defending the rights of the eliminated students.
But aside from a few, most did not support his opinion. Many had odd expressions on their faces.
Even Dai Huabin, who rarely saw eye to eye with Ling Shuang, did not follow Xuan Zi.
Ling Shuang was amused by the ridiculousness of Xuan Zi's logic.
"Unfair?"
"But wasn't it you who announced this competition system?"
"If fairness was so important to you, why not use the traditional system from the start?"
"And now, you're talking about fairness because you're genuinely concerned, or just frustrated that the ones who advanced aren't the ones you hoped for?"
Ling Shuang's words pierced through Xuan Zi's intentions with brutal clarity.
Xuan Zi was instantly enraged. "How dare you speak to a teacher like this! Has Wang Yan never taught you what it means to respect your elders?!"
As he spoke, he lashed out in fury. His vast soul power surged and condensed into a massive palm, which he hurled toward Ling Shuang.
Although Elder Mu had warned him not to harm Ling Shuang, he figured teaching the boy a lesson would be acceptable.
Surely, the forces backing this kid wouldn't cause trouble for Shrek over something so minor.
The students were all stunned.
No one expected this drunkard of a teacher to actually attack Ling Shuang.
Including Zhou Yi before, this was the second time a teacher from the academy had attacked a student.
A few students began to question whether this academy was truly worth staying in.
Facing the descending palm, Ling Shuang's expression turned serious for once.
A level 98 Super Douluo he still couldn't match such power.
He could handle the blow, but even this casual strike forced him to face the vast gap that separated him from the true powerhouses of the older generation.
"Xiao Shuang!" Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong'er immediately rushed forward, not caring about their own weakness they wanted to shield him.
But Ling Shuang raised a hand to stop them.
"The roots of the Earth Mother weave bones and blood, condense the jade barrier, and cast the wall of all living things with immortal rings!"
A rare incantation spilled from his lips.
A massive jade barrier appeared before him.
Feeling the completely different aura from before, Bei Bei and the others, who had once been helpless before the barrier in a previous battle, could only smile bitterly.
So that impregnable jade barrier back then wasn't even his serious effort.
The earthen-yellow palm slammed into the jade wall.
The wall shattered like porcelain, and the palm vanished with it.
Ling Shuang's face turned pale.
The gap between a Soul King and a level 98 Super Douluo was simply too great.
"Boy, you're something else," Xuan Zi said in surprise.
Though he had acted like it was a casual strike, even a typical Soul Sage couldn't have taken that attack.
Previously, upon hearing that Ling Shuang had defeated the Golden Flame Lion King a beast comparable to a high-level Soul Sage Xuan Zi had suspected trickery.
After all, in his view, soul beasts were unadaptable. As long as you found a counter-strategy, they were manageable.
But now he had to admit that Ling Shuang had truly won through sheer power.
A rare genius!
Xuan Zi secretly praised him in his heart.
But that admiration turned to bitterness.
A genius like this, and Shrek couldn't make use of him.
"You can block it once. But how about this time?"
Xuan Zi channeled his soul power again. A palm even more terrifying than before descended from the heavens.
Ling Shuang took a deep breath. The pendant at his neck began to glow faintly.
He sighed inwardly. Looks like he'd have to alert Sister Xue.
Once the full force of the Snow Empress sealed within the pendant was released, she far away in the Far North would sense it.
Knowing Sister Xue, she'd probably tear through space and come here directly.
If that happened, his plan to approach the Golden Ancient Tree peacefully and comprehend the laws of life would be ruined.
Still, Ling Shuang didn't mind too much.
What truly concerned him was that this incident would only make the Snow Empress worry more about his safety in human society.
When he tried to leave the Far North again, who knew what kind of price he'd have to pay?
But before the pendant could be fully triggered, the massive palm suddenly dissipated.
Xuan Zi's expression shifted as if he'd heard something. He turned away and dejectedly ran off in a specific direction.
Everyone was confused by this abrupt turn of events.
Only Ling Shuang narrowed his eyes, thoughtful.
In the entire Shrek Academy, only one person could do that
Most likely, the Dragon God Douluo...
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(End of this chapter)