Chapter 163: Gu Chen—I've Set My Sights on Xiao Wu, Tang San, You're Not Worthy of Her!
"Everyone, the immortal herbs are gone."
Tang San's face was extremely grim, his fists clenched tightly under his sleeves.
Aside from Xiao Wu, the other five of the Shrek Seven were all stunned, as though countless thunderbolts had struck their minds. The immortal herbs were gone!
"Xiao San, what in the world happened? How can the immortal herbs be gone?"
Dai Mubai could no longer suppress his voice. Without those immortal herbs, wouldn't he be finished?
Ning Rongrong and Ma Hongjun wore much the same expressions. Their spirits both had flaws; without immortal-grade herbs, Ning Rongrong could never awaken the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and Ma Hongjun's spirit defect would remain unsolved. His Evil Fire Phoenix would forever stay the Evil Fire Phoenix, with no chance of evolving into the Fire Phoenix.
Tang San explained his suspicions about Qianrenchuan—someone from the Tang Sect just like themselves in his past life—who had arrived first and stolen their immortal herbs, now in Spirit Hall's possession.
"That beast! That damned beast! A traitor who betrays his master's legacy!"
Those five from Shrek—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun—were close to collapsing. Zhu Zhuqing seemed utterly despondent. They didn't want to die; they didn't want to die! In their past lives, they had become gods and transcended the continent, their names forever renowned.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar were likewise plunged into despair.
Watching from the sidelines, Tang Hao noted the state of these five, eyes reflecting deep thought. Trying to wrest immortal herbs back from Spirit Hall was utterly unrealistic. Without the herbs, it was certain that Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were doomed.
Of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan supported the Heaven Dou Empire, the Clear Sky Clan leaned toward the Star Luo Empire, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stayed neutral. Tang Hao well understood the cruel competition of the Star Luo Empire's crown prince. At rank 37 and rank 31 respectively, what chance did Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing have to claim the prince and princess consort positions? They'd die sooner or later. At best, Zhu Zhuqing might live on as a political pawn to maintain her clan's interests and status—but none of that changed the fact that she would become nothing more than a child-bearing tool in the future.
With the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament a year and a half away, his son absolutely had to participate. Under his guidance, Tang San's breakthrough to the Soul Ancestor realm wasn't a problem; presumably, Dai Mubai could also break through. Xiao Wu, being a transformed soul beast, could likewise become a Soul Ancestor if she trained hard. But even with three Soul Ancestors, they would be sorely lacking when faced with Spirit Hall.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, a crucial part of the Nether White Tiger, she also needed to compete, yet she had only just reached Soul Elder—still far too weak.
"In that case, let them serve their final purpose for my son."
As someone of the Tang Clan—born wicked and supremely self-centered—Tang Hao, upon realizing the doomed fate of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, at once resolved to squeeze the greatest benefit out of them, pushing them to train until they were half-dead.
"You must be Tang San?"
A low voice sounded. Tang San turned his head to see a man over two meters tall approaching. He wore the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy uniform, and several others in matching uniforms trailed behind—likely his followers or lackeys.
Within that group, he stood out conspicuously: first for his towering height of over two meters, and second for the sheer breadth of his frame. It was as if his uniform had been stretched over a massive skeleton. Lastly, there was his face—sunken eye sockets, muscle-bound features, a shaved head. Frankly speaking, he was rather ugly.
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy normally took only nobles. Over generations, noble bloodlines produced good looks in most of them. By the standards of the academy, this person's appearance was definitely scraping the bottom.
"Gu Chen, Big Brother Gu Chen."
Tang San frowned. Gu Chen... with the surname Gu. Could he be Bone Douluo's son? But in his previous life, Bone Douluo didn't have a son. And what did he want with Tang San?
"I'm telling you, enough already. The one I like is Third Brother, not you, you ugly freak!"
Xiao Wu glared at Gu Chen, eyes brimming with annoyance and disgust.
"Who do you think you are? Brother Chen taking a fancy to you is a favor!"
"Stupid girl—don't think just 'cause you've got a pretty face, you can act all high and mighty!"
The bootlickers all started hurling insults at Xiao Wu. When it came to trading barbs, they were no less proficient than she was.
Gu Chen raised his hand for silence, a trace of awkwardness flashing across his expression. His looks weren't his fault; it came from the influence of his spirit.
He possessed a Bone Dragon spirit. As his cultivation rose, it increasingly molded his physique, turning him uglier and uglier—a fact no amount of genetic "improvement" could fix. Even if every mother in each generation were some top-class beauty, how could that stand against a Bone Dragon's accumulated soul ring power of nearly two hundred thousand years?
And anyway, a skeletal body is hardly beautiful, no matter how pretty the mother. Unless someone was specifically fond of skeletons...
"Brother Gu Chen, Xiao Wu likes Third Brother. I don't want you two to fight."
Ning Rongrong approached Gu Chen, grasping his sleeve and speaking coquettishly.
Gu Chen shook his head. His countenance remained calm, yet a certain pride shone in his eyes. "Rongrong, from ancient times, a beauty has always been matched with a hero. Only the strong have the right to possess a woman. And among the strong, the strongest is entitled to a peerless beauty!
"If Tang San surpasses me in strength and talent, I naturally won't covet Xiao Wu in the future. But if he can't compare, then he should step aside—he's not worthy!"
With sweet Ning Rongrong at his side since childhood, plus his twin spirits, innate full soul power, and the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan behind him, Gu Chen's standards were exceedingly high. To him, every noble lady he'd met was just a gaudy, worthless trinket. None of them had truly caught his eye—until he encountered Xiao Wu. Her fairy-like features, slender and perfectly toned legs, trim waist that fit in one hand, lively gait, the scorpion-braid swaying to her knees, all exuding the vitality of a teenage girl's spirit. Coupled with her cheerful temperament, everything about her captivated him the moment he laid eyes on her. He fell head over heels at first sight.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun were incensed. Tang San and Xiao Wu's love was etched into heaven's annals—they had endured countless hardships in their previous life, forging a bond step by step. It was not for anyone to question.
"And who the hell are you to say Xiao Wu doesn't deserve to be with Xiao San?"
Dai Mubai yelled, stepping forward to point at Gu Chen.
Gu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and beneath his feet, two yellow, two purple, and one black spirit ring—five in total—lit up. A dreadfully dark, evil aura surged around him, forming a phantom bone dragon behind him. Yet the bone dragon was incomplete: it possessed only the head, torso, and tail. No claws, no wings. He had yet to reach the rank of "Bone Douluo."
"A Soul King!"
Dai Mubai's pupils constricted. He never expected someone near his own age to be a Soul King.
"First Soul Skill—Bone Spear."
Raising his hand, Gu Chen condensed black soul power in the form of bone, taking shape over his forearm like a drill bit. It extended a foot beyond his hand. Then a bone spike shot forth at high speed straight for Dai Mubai's chest. Dai Mubai immediately entered his Evil Eye White Tiger state and activated White Tiger Protection with his first spirit ring.
Bang!
A crisp sound rang out as the White Tiger Protection shattered. Spitting blood, Dai Mubai flew backward, landing heavily on the ground.
"Dai-ge!"
"Mubai!"
Gu Chen slowly lowered his hand, speaking icily. "For Rongrong's sake, this was just a lesson. Keep annoying me, and I don't mind turning you into a sickly cat."
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