"Sorry, don't get me wrong—I'm not Qingtong."
Jiāng Shèngyù shook his head, looking kindly at the bedraggled group before him. "Who are you to Qingtong? What is your relationship with her?"
As Xiāo Xiāo opened her mouth to reply, Elder Xuan raised a hand to silence everyone. He then stepped forward, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Jiāng Shèngyù and the sibling duo Xiào Hóngchén and Mèng Hóngchén.
"Who are you?"
At that moment, both Red‑dust siblings felt the oppressive aura emanating from Xuan. As a level‑98 Super Douluo, cloaked in soul‑power, he radiated overwhelming dominance.
"So powerful!" Xiào Hóngchén thought, awed.
But Jiāng Shèngyù remained composed and replied,
"I'm Qingtong's older brother, Jiāng Shèngyù."
"Qingtong's brother?"
Shock and surprise swept across the group. Elder Xuan sized him up—he and Qingtong shared the same sharp features, differing only in hair length. Their resemblance alone was compelling enough.
He sensed the presence of several level‑9 soul‑guided tools on Jiāng Shèngyù—likely matching Qingtong's own equipment. Accepting this confirmation, Elder Xuan relaxed slightly.
"You are Qingtong's brother, then why are you here in the Mingdu Mountains? Do you have anything to do with this evil soul‑master?"
Jiāng Shèngyù shook his head.
"Please do not misunderstand, elder. We're students and contenders from the Royal Soul‑Tutor Academy of the Sun‑Moon Empire, on our way to the Douluo Competition in Star Luo Empire. We heard a massive explosion and came to investigate."
"You are competitors?"
Elder Xuan raised an eyebrow. Contenders from the Sun‑Moon Empire at such a young age?
Upon noting how Xuan examined him, Jiāng Shèngyù added,
"We're just prep team members; our main squad is resting."
"So your prep members were sent to scout danger while your main team sleeps? Does your academy treat its students so lightly?" Xuan scoffed at their apparent neglect.
Hearing the disdain in his tone, Jiāng Shèngyù merely smiled, his eyes still tracking Qingtong, who was fleeing deeper into an escape tunnel with the evil soul‑master in tow.
"Let's not talk about the Royal Academy. I want to know…how did all of you end up like this?" Jiāng Shèngyù gestured toward the wounded students behind Xuan.
Elder Xuan and Wáng Yán exchanged glances, then sent Xiāo Xiāo a knowing look—nothing more must be revealed. It would only jeopardize the competition.
Elder Xuan replied curtly, "An accident. Nothing more."
"An accident… And my sister?" he pressed.
Xuan and Wáng Yán paused—but Xuan replied after a moment.
"Your sister was taken by that evil soul‑master. I delivered the others to safety first—then I'll come back for her."
"Taken by an evil soul‑master?" Xiào Hóngchén and Mèng Hóngchén tensed immediately.
Xiào Hóngchén stepped forward.
"What level is this soul‑master? Is he formidable?"
"A Soul‑King‑rank evil soul‑master," Xuan replied calmly. "I'll save her after securing everyone else."
Mèng Hóngchén pressed,
"Then why wait? Your student is in greater danger—why not rescue her first?"
Jiāng Shèngyù held Elder Xuan's gaze.
"So you, a Super Douluo, allowed a Soul‑King to abduct my sister—and you chose safety over rescuing her first? Elder, surely you know how dangerous this enemy is."
Xuan's expression darkened.
"I made the tactical decision. Besides, your sister has a level‑9 soul‑guided tool—he can't harm her."
Jiāng Shèngyù snorted in disbelief.
"How can you be so confident? What if he has tricks the tool can't defend? Or…did you believe she was safe because she's from the Sun‑Moon Empire?"
Elder Xuan shook his head firmly.
"That's not it at all."
Xiào Hóngchén scoffed coldly at Xuan.
"Shrek always looks down on the Sun‑Moon Empire, don't they?"
Elder Xuan's face reddened, but he cannot show anger—many prep students are watching. He cannot damage Shrek's reputation.
Jiāng Shèngyù's voice turned icy.
"Shrek claims to be the best academy on the continent… but truly, you're only the top of the Former Douluo Mainland's three states. You've never considered us from the Sun‑Moon Empire real people, have you?"
At this, He Càitóu's gaze flickered—but he quickly calmed himself. He no longer sees himself as Sun‑Moon.
Furrowing his brow, Elder Xuan retorted,
"A lie!"
Jiāng Shèngyù's lips curved in mockery.
"We each know our own hearts."
Elder Xuan locked eyes with him, recognizing the young man's sharp wit and spirit.
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