Yuan Longxuan's eyes narrowed as Flanders once again stepped in his path, the dean of Shrek Academy radiating authority and arrogance.
"Aren't you being too overbearing, old man?" Yuan Longxuan said calmly.
"Trying to force someone to agree when they clearly refuse—is that how a dean should act?"
Flanders' expression flickered. He had wanted Yuan Longxuan to comply, to let his disciples, Xiao Wu and Wu Ling, join Shrek Academy.
Yet here was a mere Soul King-level cultivator daring to challenge him so directly.
"I'm not overbearing!" Flanders replied, his voice sharp.
"I just cannot stand by and watch a mere Soul King ruin such a supreme talent!"
He paused for a moment, then added with a sly grin, "However, if you and your... partner join our academy willingly, perhaps we could reach an agreement."
Yuan Longxuan's lips curved into a faint smirk. "A deal, huh? You think threats and flattery will work on me? You really underestimate me, old man."
At that moment, Yuan Longxuan's martial soul, the Divine Mind Sword Case, appeared beside him with a flash of light.
The jade-colored case hovered in the air, shimmering with a quiet, terrifying energy.
"Since you insist on using force, I have no choice," Yuan Longxuan murmured, his voice calm but deadly. "Prepare yourself."
"Possess!" he commanded.
Shadows swirled around him as his spirit power erupted.
The Divine Mind Sword Case opened, releasing a longsword that gleamed with icy-blue energy.
The very air seemed to crackle with cold and deadly precision.
Yuan Longxuan's aura surged, spreading like a crimson wave that filled the Rose Inn.
Flanders, who had initially planned to knock Yuan Longxuan and the girls unconscious and drag them back to Shrek Academy, froze.
His eyes widened at the sight of the nine 990,000-year-old spirit rings floating around Yuan Longxuan, each glowing with immense power.
"Impossible!" Flanders whispered, his confidence collapsing.
He had never expected Yuan Longxuan to be a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, far surpassing even his most dangerous expectations.
Xiao Wu's body shimmered with a dark golden energy, forming a faint protective armor around her.
Her own spirit rings glimmered beneath it: yellow, purple, black, and red, a total of nine rings.
Flanders' heart sank. The two before him—Yuan Longxuan and Xiao Wu.....were not just talented; they were practically invincible.
His mind raced. How could he possibly coerce such beings into compliance?
"Third Spirit Skill… Cat-Owl Body Protection!" Flanders called out, trying to protect himself. "Seventh Spirit Skill… Martial Soul True Avatar!"
Despite his desperate defense, Yuan Longxuan merely raised his sword.
A frost dragon materialized along the blade, its roar echoing through the inn.
"Clang!" The sound of sword against spiritual energy rang loudly. Ice crystals scattered, stabbing toward Flanders in a dazzling display of power.
The explosion of energy shook the inn, yet Yuan Longxuan controlled it carefully, ensuring the building remained intact.
Flanders, however, had no such luck. The ice shards pierced his body, causing him to stagger, blood staining the polished floor.
Xiao Wu and Wu Ling watched silently, their expressions calm.
They understood the stakes, and they trusted their master's judgment completely. Flanders had tried to force them, and now he was paying the price.
Yuan Longxuan's voice was calm, almost teasing, as he moved closer. "Xiao Wu, Wu Ling, let's go. We have no reason to linger here."
Wu Ling clung to Yuan Longxuan's arm. "Yes! Master, let's leave!"
Xiao Wu laughed softly. "I don't want to stay and watch this old man suffer any longer!"
Ten minutes later, Zhao Wuji and the other Soul Sages arrived, only to find the scene empty. Flanders had collapsed, badly injured, and the inn's staff had vanished.
The aftermath of Yuan Longxuan's controlled display of power left no survivors to report the fight.
Yuan Longxuan, Xiao Wu, and Wu Ling climbed into a carriage, leaving the chaos behind.
The morning sun reflected off the streets of Soto City, casting long shadows of the trio as they prepared to continue their journey.
"Good disciple, come into my arms," Yuan Longxuan said softly, smiling down at Xiao Wu.
"Master, don't!" she protested, though the corners of her mouth betrayed her amusement.
"Don't worry," Yuan Longxuan said gently. "I love you all the most."
Even Wu Ling couldn't resist nestling close, feeling safe in her master's presence.
The recent events, while intense, only reinforced their trust and admiration for him.
As the carriage moved away from Soto City, Yuan Longxuan glanced back briefly.
Flanders' ambitions and arrogance had been thoroughly checked.
The lesson was clear: true strength was not just in power, but in control and understanding.
The girls giggled as they playfully teased each other, safe in the knowledge that their master would always protect them.
Yuan Longxuan watched over them with quiet satisfaction. Despite the morning's chaos, peace had been restored.....for now.
The forest bordering Notting City and Soto City echoed with the distant sounds of the defeated Flanders and his retreating forces.
The power of a Titled Douluo, combined with the master-disciple bond, had proven unstoppable.
As the carriage sped onward, Yuan Longxuan's thoughts turned to the future.
More challenges awaited them, but with Xiao Wu and Wu Ling by his side, he felt ready for anything.
Together, they would navigate this world, facing whatever threats appeared with courage, strategy, and unmatched power.
The morning sun climbed higher, illuminating their path.
Yuan Longxuan's resolve hardened.....no one could dictate the lives of those under his protection.
Talent and loyalty were not to be coerced but nurtured.
Flanders had learned this lesson the hard way, and Yuan Longxuan would ensure no one else forgot it either.
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