Dare to Act but Dare Not Admit It — Tough-Talking Douluo**
Swish! Swish!
Several flashes of white light tore through the air, and three figures instantly appeared before Du Buzhi.
"Senior Du, I am Yan Shaozhe. Pavilion Master Xuan is currently not within the academy. If you have any matters to address, you may speak with me."
The man who spoke was an elegant middle-aged scholar with slightly narrow eyes. His expression was gentle on the surface, yet from time to time a calculating glint flickered deep within his gaze.
He was none other than Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy.
Standing behind him were Cai Meier, Vice-Dean of the Martial Soul Department, and Elder Gong Changlong, one of Shrek's senior Titled Douluo elders.
At the same moment, dozens of blazing pillars of soul power surged skyward from the inner courtyard of Shrek Academy.
Anyone capable of releasing such terrifying soul fluctuations was at least a Contra, or even a Titled Douluo.
From this alone, it was evident that Shrek Academy's hidden strength far exceeded that of the Noumenon Sect in sheer numbers.
However, Du Buzhi showed not the slightest fear.
He swept his gaze over Yan Shaozhe and snorted coldly, saying with disdain:
"Hmph! You are merely a junior. You are not qualified to speak to this old man."
At these words, a trace of resentment flashed across Yan Shaozhe's eyes, though he concealed it well in an instant.
Yet even that fleeting emotional change did not escape Huo Yuhao's keen perception.
Seeing Yan Shaozhe, ridicule surfaced in Yuhao's eyes.
In his view, Yan Shaozhe and Xuanzi were both blind to true talent.
In the original storyline, someone had clearly won first place in the academy's freshman competition, yet was the only one denied the status of core disciple.
Later, upon discovering that Yuhao had awakened a second martial soul, Yan Shaozhe immediately rushed to the Soul Tool Department to compete for him.
Shameless, truly shameless.
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions, then smiled once more. However, his voice had clearly turned colder.
"In that case, please ask Senior Du to leave Shrek Academy."
"Who do you think you are?! You dare order me to leave?"
Du Buzhi roared furiously. His right hand suddenly expanded, swelling to several times its original size as it slapped fiercely toward Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe reacted with astonishing speed.
A clear phoenix cry rang out from his body as a faint yet dazzling Bright Phoenix phantom manifested before him.
Regardless of his character flaws, Yan Shaozhe's martial soul was unquestionably among the top-tier beast martial souls on the continent — the Bright Phoenix.
Even if facing an ordinary Super Douluo whose soul power surpassed his by one level, Yan Shaozhe could still contend head-on.
Unfortunately, the opponent before him was one of the most terrifying powerhouses of the Douluo Continent — the Poison Immortal, whose strength was far beyond ordinary logic.
The giant hand shattered the Bright Phoenix phantom with absolute force, pressing downward without slowing.
Yan Shaozhe felt a mountain-like pressure descend upon him. His body was forced backward continuously, nearly losing balance and falling from midair.
Cai Meier and Gong Changlong immediately rushed forward.
"Shaozhe, are you alright?!"
Yan Shaozhe's face was pale, but he still waved his hand stiffly.
"I'm fine."
"It seems that Old Dog Xuan truly isn't at Shrek Academy. In that case—"
Just as Du Buzhi was about to continue, an ancient, calm voice suddenly echoed through the heavens.
"In that case… what exactly do you want?"
Along with the voice, a gentle yet boundless halo surged from Poseidon Pavilion, rising into the sky before spreading outward and enveloping the entire Shrek Academy.
Under the illumination of this halo, Du Buzhi and the Noumenon Sect experts behind him — whether Titled Douluo or Contra — all felt an indescribable pressure descend upon them.
Their soul power fluctuations were forcibly suppressed, their auras completely restrained.
"Light of Poseidon! Munn… you're actually still alive!"
Du Buzhi's expression changed drastically as he sensed that familiar aura.
Ever since hearing Yuhao mention the past within the Noumenon Sect, Du Buzhi had already suspected that Munn, the man who had slain his brother, might still be alive.
But until this moment, he had remained uncertain.
Now, hearing this voice and witnessing the Light of Poseidon, all doubt vanished.
Du Buzhi quickly regained his composure.
He knew very well that he was no match for Munn.
Yet if a battle truly erupted, he would not retreat.
Because he was certain of one thing — even if Munn had survived, he was absolutely not at his peak.
At the same time, Du Buzhi secretly felt relieved that Xuanzi was not present.
If both of those monsters joined forces, then even his group would be in grave danger.
Taking a deep breath, Du Buzhi spoke loudly:
"Dragon God Douluo, I truly didn't expect you to still be alive after that battle."
"Heh… if I had died, wouldn't today have been a perfect opportunity for you to elevate your reputation?"
Munn's figure did not appear, yet his voice resonated clearly in every corner of Shrek Academy.
"Very well. Since you are still here, I will not act rashly."
Du Buzhi paused, then his tone abruptly turned sharp.
"But that bastard Xuanzi captured my direct disciple and threatened him to join Shrek Academy, or else be killed. You must give me — and my Noumenon Sect — an explanation!"
At these words, Munn fell silent.
He naturally knew of this incident.
Xuanzi had even consulted him beforehand.
Because he valued his reputation, Munn neither openly approved nor explicitly stopped him.
This alone showed that, deep down, Munn did not wish for a peerless genius like Yuhao to fall into the Noumenon Sect's hands.
After a long pause, Munn finally spoke again.
"Xuanzi is not here. Naturally, it will be whatever you say."
The implication was obvious — he intended to default.
And this was only natural.
A Super Douluo forcibly abducting a twelve-year-old Great Soul Master, and killing him if persuasion failed — such disgrace, once exposed, would cause Shrek Academy's reputation to plummet beyond recovery.
"Hahaha! Dragon God, do you truly think that I, the dignified Sect Master of the Noumenon Sect, would fabricate such lies?!"
Du Buzhi sneered.
Beside him, Yuhao also revealed a faint mocking smile.
Dare to act, but dare not admit it.
Was this truly the master of Poseidon Pavilion?
"I never said you were lying," Munn replied calmly. "I merely believe that if a level-ninety-eight Super Douluo truly intended to kill a twelve-year-old Great Soul Master, that child would not have had the slightest chance to escape."
Munn's words were sharp yet indirect, dismantling the accusation without confronting it head-on.
"And yet, your personal disciple is standing before you right now."
Hearing this, many Shrek teachers and students secretly breathed sighs of relief.
They had truly believed that Xuanzi might have committed such a disgraceful act.
"That's because when Old Dog Xuan tried to kill me, he was scared off by Di Tian!"
Yuhao suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet resolute.
"If you don't believe me, you can personally go to the Star Dou Forest. Di Tian's aura should still remain there."
Du Buzhi immediately echoed:
"Exactly! Dragon God, do you dare to go with me?!"
Munn naturally did not dare.
He knew very well that Xuanzi truly harbored killing intent toward Yuhao.
And Yuhao standing here unharmed strongly suggested Di Tian's intervention.
"I will naturally go to the Star Dou Forest," Munn said slowly, "but not now. What if you lure me away, only to launch an attack on Shrek Academy?"
His stance was clear — refusal to acknowledge, refusal to verify.
This finally enraged the Poison Immortal completely.
"Munn! You truly grow more shameless with age!"
"Today, I will force this issue to the end. You must give me an explanation!"
"Otherwise—so what if we fight?!"
As his final word fell, Du Buzhi's poisonous roar transformed into thunder itself, forcibly dispersing the surrounding Light of Poseidon.