Yu Xiaogang's hair stood on end, his entire body tensing up. He tried to dodge, but his weak strength left him unable to evade. Helplessly, he watched as the dagger enlarged before his eyes.
In that moment, death loomed so near, reminiscent of an experience from twenty years ago.
Clang! Sparks flew. Just as the dagger was about to strike Yu Xiaogang, two Soul Kings finally reacted, stepping in to block the fatal blow.
"An enemy attack! Protect the master!" they shouted, their expressions tense. Wielding long blades, they swiftly shielded Yu Xiaogang.
The two Soul Kings scanned the surroundings vigilantly, their faces grim. The desolate desert landscape was dotted with scattered rocks, each about two to three meters wide—perfect for hiding an ambush.
"Show yourself, coward!" one of them roared, his eyes darting around for any signs of movement.
On the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, this area was sparsely populated and lacked any defensive presence. The two guards broke into a cold sweat, knowing their Soul King-level strength of merely 56 wasn't enough to guarantee safety in such isolation.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He prided himself on a lifetime of virtuous deeds, educating countless students, and avoiding enmity with any faction. Who could harbor such malice as to try to eliminate him here?
"Teacher, it's been a long time," came a voice from behind the rocks. A young man emerged, dressed in blue, with the 24 Moonlit Bridges strapped to his waist and half his face obscured by a mask.
"Xiao San? Why are you here?!" Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted in shock. Though the man wore a mask, his build and the belt he wore—a gift Yu Xiaogang had once given Tang San during their time at Nuoding Academy—made the resemblance unmistakable.
The two Soul Kings exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what was happening. This man, Tang San, was supposed to be an ally. They had heard of him—a dark horse in the Soul Master Tournament, an incredibly talented prodigy.
"Why am I here? Naturally, to kill you." Chen Xuan spoke with a kind smile.
It wasn't some disguise but rather a shape-shifting technique. Although Chen Xuan wasn't skilled enough to perfectly replicate Tang San's appearance, the mask concealed most of the discrepancies.
"No, you're not Xiao San! Who are you?!" Yu Xiaogang suddenly realized, breaking into a cold sweat.
His disciple Tang San was still at Shrek Academy—there was no way he'd appear here or try to assassinate him.
"Oh, my dear teacher, have you grown so old that you can't even recognize your beloved disciple?" Chen Xuan continued to feign Tang San's voice, trying to maintain the charade.
The two Soul Kings were even more confused. The supposed master and disciple seemed to be on the verge of clashing.
Yu Xiaogang's mind reeled, his thoughts flashing back to the qualifying matches from several weeks ago. Chen Xuan had threatened him then, warning him to watch out lest he break his limbs and spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
"Chen Xuan! I know it's you!" Yu Xiaogang roared in realization.
With the truth revealed, Yu Xiaogang's fear gave way to anger. He was furious that he'd been frightened by someone like Chen Xuan, who, in his eyes, was merely a malicious prankster aiming to humiliate him.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, pointing at Chen Xuan and shouting, "Do you even realize what you're doing? You've gone mad! Not only have you abandoned respect for your teacher, but now you even plot to kill me! You're a demon devoid of humanity!"
As Yu Xiaogang's fury grew, he continued, "Everything I've done as your teacher was for your own good! And this is how you repay me? When we return to Shrek, I will personally expel you!"
Chen Xuan couldn't help but laugh. The sheer absurdity of Yu Xiaogang's indignation amused him.
"Teacher, you really are getting old," Chen Xuan said mockingly. "Not only can you not recognize your disciple's identity, but your mind seems to be failing too. Do you really think you'll make it back to Shrek Academy?"
Maintaining the guise of Tang San, Chen Xuan's tone remained eerily calm.
The two Soul Kings began to understand that the master-disciple relationship was far from harmonious. It seemed Yu Xiaogang had hired them as bodyguards precisely to guard against Tang San.
Yu Xiaogang, however, showed no fear. He believed Chen Xuan's abilities were far inferior to those of the two Soul Kings, let alone their combined strength.
"Naive teacher, your time has come." Chen Xuan drew a cyan-gold spear and advanced step by step.
He was confident. Coming alone, he had nothing to fear. Even though his Water Clone technique had its limitations, it was more than sufficient to handle a mere Level 30 Soul Elder like Yu Xiaogang.
"Master, step back," one of the Soul Kings commanded as they moved to confront Chen Xuan.
Holding his cyan-gold spear, Chen Xuan formed a series of hand seals.
"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Despite the scorching desert heat, a dense mist began to rise, spreading across the barren expanse and covering a radius of a hundred meters. If not for the dry desert environment, the mist's range could have doubled.
"What's going on? How is there mist in this weather? What did Tang San do?!" one of the Soul Kings exclaimed, shocked by the unnatural phenomenon.
The two guards quickly decided to act. One stayed behind to delay the attacker, while the other carried Yu Xiaogang out of the mist as quickly as possible.
The burly Soul King wielded his blade and charged at the shadowy figure, intercepting its path. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed.
Chen Xuan grinned, changing tactics. Deciding to eliminate the Soul King first, he pressed the attack.
"Tang San, you're indeed talented, but as a mere Soul Elder, you're no match for me." The burly Soul King growled, activating his martial spirit. Five soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black—shone brightly in the mist.
His spirit, a ferocious brown bear, amplified his already formidable strength. Soul power surged as his blade glowed with an imposing aura.
Chen Xuan calmly formed another seal, and his spear crackled with lightning. The Hidden Mist Jutsu gave him a natural advantage, as his three tomoe Sharingan could see through the mist, while his opponent remained blind.
Clang! The clash of blade and spear sent sparks flying. Despite his imposing build, the Soul King was forced back ten meters, his arm numb from the impact.
The Soul King's face darkened. If that strike had landed, he would've been skewered by the spear.
"It's over," Chen Xuan declared, retracting his spear.
The Soul King glared, feeling insulted. But before he could retaliate, water began to rise around him, encasing him in a sphere.
"What's this?!" he shouted, struggling in vain as his movements and soul power were sealed.
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!" Chen Xuan said coldly, sealing the Soul King's fate.
READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!
LINK: patr eon.com/SenatusPopulus