Chapter 48: The Art of Killing
The next day, before dark, everyone arrived at the next major city, Silves City, ensuring they wouldn't be camping in the wilderness.
Upon entering the city, Flender, for the first time ever, took the Shrek group on a tour, not only treating them to a good meal but also staying in a rather expensive hotel.
Just like in the original novel, the bloodbath began.
After the Shrek group, just like in the original novel, used the Zhuge Divine Crossbow distributed by Tang San to instantly destroy the Fierce God Team, the Shrek teachers led the group to the stands, where Shi Yi was already preparing to enter the match.
Yu Xiaogang had specifically signed Shi Yi up for a life-or-death match.
Upon hearing this, the Shrek teachers looked at Yu Xiaogang in astonishment, and even Flender couldn't help but exclaim, "Xiaogang, isn't this a bit too much?"
"Both involve killing the opponent, so what's the difference between a life-or-death match and a team game?" Yu Xiaogang asked.
"But..." Flender hesitated.
Yu Xiaogang sighed softly and said, "Flender, you still don't know Xiaoyi well enough. I'm doing this for Xiaoyi's own good."
Everyone's eyes fell on Yu Xiaogang, and even the Shrek people, who had just defeated the Fierce God Team, were somewhat dispelled by curiosity.
"Xiaoyi became my disciple two years before Xiaosan. You may not think Xiaoyi is a good person. He's deep-minded, calculating, arrogant, and defiant, but from what I've seen, he's a kind child. He possesses such strength, but he's fought only a handful of times in nine years. The most recent injury was when he injured Dai Mubai. His training is driven by his desire to do what he wants, but one day, someone will risk their life to stand in his way. What should he do? This is a lesson he must learn," Yu Xiaogang said slowly.
Everyone looked at the figure slowly entering the arena with complicated expressions.
Led by the staff, Shi Yi slowly made his way towards the fighting arena, a touch of trepidation welling up in his heart. He had witnessed the Evil God Team being blasted to pieces, the gruesome scenes of their deaths still fresh in his mind.
Shi Yi knew Yu Xiaogang well; this was a test set by Yu Xiaogang as his teacher.
Stepping onto the arena, Shi Yi breathed a sigh of relief, composing himself. Though the battle hadn't yet begun, the ferocious aura of his opponent was already overwhelming him.
"As for the exam, I've done more exams than you've read. This answer sheet may not satisfy you, but I wrote it myself. Even if I had to kill someone, I wouldn't turn into a murderous maniac," Shi Yi thought to himself.
The opponent appeared to be a man in his thirties, tall and muscular, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. As he approached the center of the arena, he clenched his fists, bones crackling with a teeth-grinding sound.
"Tall and strong, most likely a beast soul master. His upper limbs are more developed than his lower limbs, undoubtedly a powerful attack-type soul master. His eyes are fierce, suggesting he's a veteran."
Shi Yi observed the other party, his eyes filled with determination. He knew that no matter who the other party was, in a life-or-death duel, it was either him or me.
The other party smiled at Shi Yi, licking his lips. "So you're still a rookie!"
As he spoke, the other party's body practically swelled with the release of his martial spirit. For a moment, it felt as if a bloody maw, ready to devour everything, had risen from them.
"A crocodile," Shi Yi muttered, observing the other party's martial spirit.
Shi Yi had merely summoned his own spirit ring, which instantly alerted the other party, as he had no idea what Shi Yi's martial spirit truly was.
At that moment, the host, who had already soared into the air, shouted, "Life-or-death duel, Two Yis versus Crazy Crocodile. The battle of spirits begins."
"Boy, I'll tear you apart!" Crazy Crocodile's eyes grew even more bloodthirsty, and he shouted as he charged towards Shi Yi.
Although he didn't know the true nature of Shi Yi's martial spirit, Kuang Gu understood that as a powerful attack-type spirit master, close combat was his forte.
Seeing this, the hair crystal in Shi Yi's hand instantly became as thin as a cow's hair. He then twisted his body and hurled it forward.
When Kuang Gu heard the sound of the air breaking, he immediately used his spirit skill to block it. The hair crystal, like a stream of golden light, instantly pierced Kuang Gu's arm and brain.
Why was he suddenly unable to move? Kuang Gu felt puzzled, as if his body was losing control. This was his last moment of consciousness in this world.
Kuang Gu's eyes gradually lost their luster, and he fell heavily onto the fighting arena. The wound in his head from the dragon whisker needle was so small that even with his life force gone, he didn't appear seriously injured, and not even a drop of blood was shed.
Tang San's eyes flashed purple as he watched this scene, a wave of shock rising within him: "This is... a dragon whisker needle! How is this possible?"
Shi Yi's technique seemed crude to Tang San, but the use of the chaotic cloak, which initiated the force from the calf, combined with Shi Yi's own strength, was enough to rival a powerful bow and crossbow. Tang San could not fathom how Shi Yi had shaped the dragon whisker needle. Even he needed to utilize the Tang Sect's special techniques to fire a needle as thin as an ox hair.
For Shi Yi, it was actually very simple: he simply engraved a core magic array on the hair crystal. With this core magic array, soul power could easily penetrate the metal, bringing out its properties to perfection.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang sighed softly and said, "Even in a life-or-death duel, Xiao Yi would choose this clean method to deal with his opponent. I'm afraid this weapon was prepared long ago to deal with me."
At this moment, the Shrek people had a deeper understanding of Shi Yi.
Shi Yi looked at the host in mid-air and said calmly, "Is it time to announce the results?"
The host, awakened from his dream, said, "A life-or-death battle, Two Yis versus Crazy Crocodile. Two Yis win!"
Satisfied with the answer, Shi Yi smiled and nodded. He walked behind Crazy Crocodile's corpse, picked up the hair crystal that had transformed into a sphere, and then walked towards the entrance of the fighting arena.
Soon, Shi Yi saw the Shrek group.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Shi Yi and sighed slightly. "As a soul master, killing is something you'll have to face sooner or later. Xiaoyi, do you understand?"
Shi Yi nodded and chuckled. "Of course, teacher, but killing is sometimes a science. This world is not lacking in pain, blood, and madness. Pain and blood strike fear in opponents, and madness can make people throw their lives away and fight without reservation. But in my opinion, powerful strength can also instill fear in opponents, and focus on achieving one's goals and the belief in protecting what is important can also make people throw their lives away and fight without reservation. Making the opponent's final stand is also a good performance."
Flender nodded and said, "Well said."
Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Shi Yi deeply. She suddenly felt that the bloody scenes just now were nothing to her. She must win, just like Shi Yi said, focus on achieving her goal.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Flender with a bit of helplessness. "Alright, I'm glad you understand."
At this moment, Tang San suddenly asked, "Brother, can you let me see the weapon you just used?"
Shi Yi smiled and casually pulled out the hair crystal. Examining the patterns on it, Tang San understood how Shi Yi had managed to control the Dragon Whisker Needle.
"This is called Hair Crystal, a metal with unique properties. With my design, it can be made as thin as an ox hair and extremely strong, specifically designed to break through defenses. It's a casual creation," Shi Yi chuckled.
Tang San nodded slightly. He was well aware of the Dragon Whisker Needle's strength. He reluctantly averted his gaze from the hair crystal in Shi Yi's hand. Of course, he wanted it, but Tang San also knew that taking advantage of his senior brother wouldn't be easy.
The Dragon Whisker Needle was valuable, and if Shi Yi made any request, in front of so many people, it would be difficult for him, as a junior brother, to refuse.
"Alright, you're all probably tired today. Go back and rest early, and continue your journey tomorrow," Flender said to the group.
The night passed in silence. For the Shrek people, it was a sleepless night. Even when they closed their eyes, the bloody scene would resurface in their minds.
The next morning, before dawn, the group quietly left Silves City and headed towards their destination, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The Shrek people still looked pale, especially Ning Rongrong, who had been vomiting the most. Zhu Zhuqing and Shi Yi were the only two who appeared calm throughout the night, which surprised Flanders. He glanced at Shi Yi and then at Zhu Zhuqing, and felt that this was normal. Shi Yi and Zhu Zhuqing's willpower was undoubtedly among the best in Shrek.
Over the next few days, the group gradually shook off their fears during their journey. Flanders had made a considerable fortune in the Great Soul Fighting Arena, which made the Shrek group's journey more comfortable.
Time passed quickly, and three days later, as night fell, they finally arrived at their destination, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, led by Ning Rongrong.
"Rongrong, are you sure this is the place?" Flender asked in a strange voice.
Ning Rongrong nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. Tiandou Royal Academy wouldn't change its location, would it? I'm sure it's here."
"But this is a mountain!"
"This mountain belongs to Tiandou Royal Academy. Oh, and the forest behind and the lake at the foot of the mountain on the left are all under the academy's jurisdiction. We're about to enter the academy's territory." Ning Rongrong chuckled, glancing at the stunned Flender. Yu Xiaogang smiled contentedly, "Nestled by mountains and water, it's truly a beautiful place."
The other teachers nodded in admiration.
The scenery here was truly beautiful, especially as the sun was setting and the sky was filled with sunset glow. Against the backdrop of the crimson glow in the west, the lake at the foot of the mountain and the thousand-meter-high mountain covered with various plants gave off a sense of paradise.
"It's all about money," Shi Yi sighed, glancing at Flender.
Flender's face darkened as he turned to Shi Yi, "You two are not done with this master-disciple relationship, are you?" Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but smile at this.
Shi Yi chuckled and stopped provoking Flender, admiring the surrounding scenery. They slowly ascended the white marble steps of the Tiandou Royal Academy. The surrounding plants were neatly arranged and beautiful, clearly created by powerful plant spirit masters.
Flender, unconvinced, said, "What's so great about a nice environment and a large area? Have they cultivated any strong individuals? They're far inferior to us at Shrek Academy. We may be small, but we have many monsters."
Shi Yi smiled and said, "Dean, a genius is called a genius because it's a gift from heaven. With an innate level of eighty or ninety, how much worse can one be?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement and echoed, "Flender, frankly, I still don't understand why so many promising children are deceived into entering your Shrek Academy. How did you trick them into joining?"
Zhao Wuji grinned and said, "Of course there are many ways."
Flender quickly covered Zhao Wuji's mouth and glared at Shi Yi.
"I just don't believe the faculty at Tiandou Royal Academy is any better than Shrek," Flender said to Shi Yi and Yu Xiaogang.
Shi Yi nodded and smiled, "That's absolutely true. With the three Soul Saints teaching a few children, looking across the continent, perhaps only the Spirit Hall Academy is stronger than us."
"That's right," Flanders said, feeling comforted by Shi Yi's coaxing.
The next moment, Shi Yi turned to Yu Xiaogang and jokingly said, "Teacher, you didn't make use of your remaining energy and let me go to the Spirit Hall Academy. If Xiao San can't go, then why can't I? How can you put all your eggs in one basket?"
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened upon hearing this, but he remained curious and asked Shi Yi, "How did you know I could let you go to the Spirit Hall?"
"Can you hide your background from me, not from others? What book in your room haven't I read? Isn't your initial fusion flow the theory of the Spirit Hall? I learned about it when I was receiving my subsidy from the Spirit Hall in Notting City. You are an honorary elder of the Spirit Hall," Shi Yi smiled.
Everyone looked at Yu Xiaogang in surprise upon hearing this.
Yu Xiaogang glared at Shi Yi with a dark face and said, "You really want to go to the Spirit Hall?" Shi Yi said with a smile, "If you had given me the choice, I might have chosen the Spirit Hall. I feel it's okay now. Although there is no big boss to rely on, it's good to have more freedom. The dean and teachers are living a good life."
Upon hearing this, the teachers of Shrek also laughed.
"You kid understands that freedom is the most important thing if you want to do what you want." Zhao Wuji said to Shi Yi.
"But now we are old, it's time to find a place to retire." Shao Xin sighed softly.
Everyone was talking and laughing, and after a few steps, trouble came.
"Stop, who are you?" Several spirit masters around eighteen or nineteen years old blocked the group's way. Although they did not summon their own spirits, it can be seen from their light yellow school uniforms that these students all belonged to the Tiandou Royal Academy.
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(End of this chapter)