"Fine, bring it on! You think I'm afraid of you?" Wang Dong sneered arrogantly, confidence radiating from him. With his martial soul, he had the advantage of flight. That bun-headed boy couldn't possibly reach him in the air, right?
"The loser has to obey the winner and clean the dormitory for an entire semester," An Wen declared firmly.
"Then you better get ready to start cleaning!" Wang Dong mocked with a smirk.
Mu En watched the scene unfold with interest. Although Shrek Academy discouraged students from fighting in the dormitory area, he made no move to stop them.
After all, with an Ultimate Douluo present, there was no real danger.
"You should prepare yourself first!" An Wen shouted, her voice laced with determination.
She thrust her right hand forward, and her pitch-black spear shot out like a bolt of lightning.
Without missing a beat, she twisted her waist, using her left foot as a pivot, and spun around. Her right leg lifted high and kicked the butt of the spear.
The sharp tip of the Ming Ji Spear, glinting with a chilling light, shot straight toward Wang Dong like the venomous kiss of a serpent.
Feeling the overwhelming sharpness, Wang Dong naturally wouldn't wait for the spear to hit him. Flapping the wings on his back, he floated like a leaf in the air, gracefully dodging to the side.
However, An Wen was far from done. After launching the kick, she leaped into the air. Balancing on the spear with her left foot, she pushed herself upward once more. As she soared, she hooked the spear with her right foot and flicked it back into her hand with a deft motion.
With a quick flick of her wrist, the two-meter-long spear extended as if it were alive. Holding its end, An Wen swung it in a wide arc, creating a dazzling two-meter diameter circle. The blade of the spear bore down on Wang Dong with deadly precision.
All of this happened in a flash.
Among the onlookers, only Mu En, Wang Rui, and Huo Yuqing, using her Spirit Eyes and mental detection, managed to track An Wen's movements clearly.
Such terrifying power, combined with flawless balance and impeccable technique… While her martial soul might have unique properties, An Wen had yet to even use her spirit skills!
From the moment she hurled her Ming Ji Spear to the instant she leaped and reclaimed it, only a little over a second had passed.
Wang Dong's Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial soul wasn't known for speed. Confident in his aerial advantage, he hadn't flown very high, intending to toy with An Wen. He assumed she would merely throw the spear like a javelin, so he shifted slightly to the side instead of flying upward. He hadn't expected An Wen to launch herself upward with the spear, effectively extending her attack range by five to six meters. By the time he realized the danger, it was too late to escape her reach.
Yet Wang Dong remained calm.
The transparent blade of the spear was about to slash his left arm when a century spirit ring behind him flashed, and his spirit power surged wildly.
The metallic, sapphire-blue wings on his back emitted a radiant golden glow. The white V-shaped patterns on them brightened as the intense light elements surged outward. His rear wings expanded for flight, while the front pair transformed, their edges turning into sharp, radiant golden blades.
Radiant Goddess Butterfly's First Spirit Skill: Wing Guillotine!
With his spirit-enhanced wings forming sharp blades, Wang Dong boldly met An Wen's descending Ming Ji Spear head-on.
Boom!
A thunderous clash reverberated as Wang Dong was sent flying backward. The light blade on his wings cracked under the force of the Ming Ji Spear. While the white patterns on his wings emitted a faint glow to repair the damage, his rear wings flapped desperately in an attempt to stabilize him. However, he was unable to stop and crashed through a third-floor window.
An Wen didn't fare much better. Unable to fly, she had no way to counteract the momentum. Wang Dong's Wing Guillotine struck her, sending her tumbling to the ground. Though she adjusted her posture midair, she still rolled several times before colliding with an unlucky bystander. Covered in dust, she looked utterly disheveled in her once-pristine white school uniform.
Fortunately, their spirit power protected them, so neither suffered serious injuries.
Wang Dong climbed out of the third-floor window, while An Wen brushed herself off and stood. Both stared at each other, battle intent burning in their eyes.
"Uh… That was our dormitory… Where are we supposed to sleep tonight?" a dry voice from the crowd remarked.
Mu En's lips twitched, and he finally stepped in to stop them. "Alright, enough. While Shrek Academy encourages healthy competition and sparring, destroying school property is absolutely prohibited. If you two continue, this entire building might be unusable. Prepare for a hefty fine. If you insist on fighting, take it to the Soul Duel Arena in the northwest. It's usually reserved for second-years and above, but I can grant you special permission."
Wang Dong was about to retort that he could afford the fine, but Mu En added, "The damage so far includes two broken windows and significant harm to the landscaping. Total fine: twenty-five thousand gold soul coins. Pay it at the Martial Soul Department office."
Wang Dong: …
An Wen: …
All the students: …
Wang Rui: "Wow, Shrek Academy really knows how to fine people."
Everyone turned to look at him in awe. He'd said it. He actually said it!
An Wen turned toward Wang Rui, only to freeze.
Behind him, she thought she saw a mass of twisting black energy. Uneasy, she forced a nervous smile. "Uh… R-Rui, you're here?"
Though she didn't know why he seemed upset, she shivered. Rui didn't anger easily, but when he did…
Wang Dong glanced over, curious. He froze as well, sensing an inexplicable attraction to the red-haired boy—a feeling of kinship.
"Are you two related?" Mu En raised an eyebrow. The red-haired boy and the bun-headed kid did share certain features, particularly their golden eyes.
"Yes," Wang Rui replied with a smile. "This is my younger brother."
An Wen looked like she wanted to protest but kept silent out of guilt.
"My brother and I haven't seen each other for over a month. We need to catch up," Wang Rui said politely. "Can we postpone the duel and the fines?"
"Why not?" Mu En chuckled, nodding. "Go ahead. As for you, young Radiant Goddess Butterfly, take this pass to the Soul Duel Arena in the northwest."
He tore a page from a magazine, and with a flash of light, stamped it with a mark formed from his Radiant Holy Dragon spirit power.
"So pure!" Wang Dong marveled before glancing at An Wen smugly. "You'd better start preparing to clean!"
But An Wen only hung her head as she stood beside Wang Rui.
Irritated by her lack of response, Wang Dong left in a huff, resembling an angry little rooster.
As one participant left, the crowd began to disperse, some excitedly planning to watch the duel in the Soul Duel Arena.
Wang Rui whispered to Huo Yuqing to head upstairs before leading An Wen away from the dormitory.
Mu En glanced at them curiously but didn't pursue the matter. Instead, he resumed his nap, a faint smile on his lips.