Chapter 98: The True Holdback
The icy voice snapped Xuan Zi back to his senses, a voice all too familiar—Du Busi! Xuan Zi spun around abruptly, meeting Du Busi's grim face. It was over! That person had actually shown up! Xuan Zi inwardly cursed, having planned to quickly snatch the Dragon Pill from Du Qianjue while Du Busi was distracted, and then speed back to Shrek Academy. If he could make it back to Shrek with the support of the Golden Ancient Tree and the Limit-level Mu En, he really wouldn't fear Du Busi. But now they were in the Star Luo Empire! The power of the Golden Ancient Tree was unreachable here, and Xuan Zi, having battled Du Qianjue, was not in a good state. Even at his peak, he could only be toyed with by the Limit-level Du Busi, let alone now when he was virtually powerless.
"I didn't expect you to come so quickly," Xuan Zi said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"Ha!" Du Qianjue scoffed. "You don't think my great-uncle just got here, do you? Don't be so naive. Have you got your brain mixed up with your intestines?"
Xuan Zi shuddered inwardly, regret flashing through his eyes. Indeed, greed blinds, and the allure of wealth robs one of reason. Desiring the Dragon Pill to break his limits, he had thought too little. Deep down, Xuan Zi knew Du Busi might always be near Du Qianjue; he just couldn't accept it. Everyone has a gambler's spirit, Xuan Zi included. He was betting that Du Busi wasn't nearby, hoping to easily secure the Dragon Pill and then leave without causing any disturbance.
Having stood at the peak of the continent for too long, his Level 98 strength had clouded his judgment, making him forget that in this world, there are always bigger fish.
"Enough," Du Busi said, his eyes flashing coldly, his tone laden with unmistakable killing intent. "Since you dared to strike at someone from my Body Sect, leave your life behind!"
"No, you can't kill me!" Xuan Zi shouted in panic. "Aren't you afraid of starting a war between Shrek and your Body Sect?"
"Start a war? My Body Sect does not fear battle, no matter if your Shrek comes at us in full force," Du Busi retorted, his body erupting in dark green flames, the murderous intent in his eyes growing thicker.
Du Qianjue watched silently, finding interest in Xuan Zi's fearful face. He really was afraid. What kind of person is Du Busi? Lawless! When he says he'll kill, he truly means it, without a moment's hesitation.
"What do you want? Shrek can compensate you!" Xuan Zi gritted his teeth.
"Ha, what could Shrek possibly offer that would make my Body Sect spare your treasure? Wouldn't it be better to just kill you and take your soul bones?" Du Busi sneered.
And truly, although Xuan Zi was a letdown, the quality of soul bones he possessed was certainly high. He likely had one or two hundred-thousand-year soul bones, possibly more. Soul bones are valuable to any force; nobody would complain about having too many.
Du Qianjue chimed in, grinning, "Hey, great-uncle, there actually is something from Shrek that could interest us."
"Oh? What might that be?" Du Busi asked, playing along.
"I heard that the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En, once obtained a Dragon Pill, the same one I just bought at the auction," Du Qianjue explained, stroking his chin.
"Mu En hasn't absorbed that Dragon Pill; he's been keeping it, and it's likely still in his possession. Let's have the Dragon God Douluo hand over the Dragon Pill to us, and we can let this matter slide."
"This situation started because Xuan Zi wanted to steal the Dragon Pill, so let's settle it with a Dragon Pill from Shrek!"
"Mu En is still alive?" Du Busi raised an eyebrow, his expression complex.
He had thought that Mu En had fallen from severe injuries after battling his brother, Du Bidu, yet surprisingly, Mu En was still alive.
"Yes, he's alive, but barely hanging on. The injuries my great-grandfather inflicted on Mu En have reached his core; he can only cling to life for so long," Du Qianjue nodded.
"If my estimates are correct, he only has three to five years left; his life is nearing its end."
Another old acquaintance soon to pass away, even one with whom he had a deep enmity.
Du Busi sighed internally. Glancing at the trembling Xuan Zi, he felt little desire to bother with such a hopeless case—a pure waste.
"Alright, I'll spare your life. Have Mu En prepare the Dragon Pill. After the tournament ends, I'll personally go to Shrek to collect it!" Du Busi's tone was cold.
"Bring this message back. If Mu En refuses to hand over the Dragon Pill, then Shrek can await the arrival of my Body Sect!"
Xuan Zi's face turned pale, but he nodded. He had no choice but to nod; otherwise, he would lose his head today and never have the chance to nod again.
"Can I leave now?"
"Leave? Yes, you may live and leave. But your attempt to harm a member of my Body Sect will not be easily forgotten!" Du Busi's soul power surged, and he swung a space blade at Xuan Zi.
"Sss—"
"AAAAHHH!!!"
Blood sprayed from Xuan Zi's shoulder, the intense, piercing pain making him howl. Du Busi's space blade had cleanly severed Xuan Zi's right hand, which he now held in his grip.
"If you dare to reach out, you can leave your hand behind!" Du Busi punched, sending Xuan Zi flying thousands of meters before coldly uttering two words and then flying back to Star Luo City with Du Qianjue.
"Scram!"
After the fight with Du Qianjue, Xuan Zi, who had already been greatly weakened, was now seriously injured by the loss of an arm and a punch from Du Busi. Moreover, the right arm that had been severed had absorbed a hundred-thousand-year level hand soul bone.
For a Title Douluo, the forced removal of a limb's soul bone wouldn't threaten his life, but it would permanently reduce his soul power by ten levels.
Severely wounded and on the ground, Xuan Zi's soul power fluctuated uncontrollably, quickly falling from the Title Douluo level to Level 88.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. The Level 98 soul power he had painstakingly achieved over many years plummeted to Level 88 in an instant, a drop that left Xuan Zi feeling as if his heart had turned to ashes. Even the pain in his arm seemed to fade in comparison.
"Du Busi!!!" Xuan Zi's voice, filled with hatred, squeezed through his clenched teeth as he struggled to his feet and limped away from the scene. Darkness grew in his heart, unstoppable and overwhelming.