"Heh-heh, this is the ultimate secret of our martial soul fusion skill — Soul Deprivation!"
Wang Dong grinned mischievously.
"As Teacher Neuvillette said, the physical attack just now was only an appetizer. Once someone is enveloped by it, their martial soul will be instantly stripped away — along with continuous mental shock!"
"Whoa, that's so cool!"
Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled, but she could only lick her rosy lips in envy.
Everything else could be achieved through hard work… but this? This depended purely on fate.
"Wait… why wasn't Teacher Neuvillette's martial soul stripped away?"
Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of something and turned toward Neuvillette, who was calmly breaking off another chunk of ice and chewing it without a change in expression.
"This…"
Wang Dong and Huo Yutong also stared in disbelief.
Could anyone be so strong that they were immune to this control skill?
"I was affected. My martial soul was stripped away." Neuvillette smacked his lips, looking as if he hadn't had enough.
"It's just… I took it back."
Xiaoxiao: "…"
Huo Yutong: "…"
Wang Dong: "…"
The three little ones exchanged glances. Only one word came to mind — Monster.
"Well, now, what a coincidence. You're all here."
A gentle voice sounded from the doorway.
The trio turned to look.
Three figures stood there.
The first was tall and broad-shouldered, yet carried himself with refined elegance — a handsome man like some noble young master from a great clan.
The second was a red-clad beauty with a gauzy veil covering her face, her long, slender legs pale as jade.
The last was a young woman whose beauty was cool and aloof, pure as snow and solitary as a plum blossom in winter.
"Yao Heng and Luo Chen? Shouldn't you be busy preparing for the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament? How do you have time to come here?"
Neuvillette glanced at them in curiosity.
"Heh, my little sister will be taking the freshman assessment soon. As her big brother, how could I not come take a look?"
The tall man chuckled, walking over to Neuvillette and throwing an arm around his shoulders.
He shot a cheering gesture toward the girl beside him.
Huo Yutong pursed her lips, nodding with a trace of awkwardness.
As for Ling Luochen, hearing Neuvillette call her name so naturally, a faint, barely visible blush rose to her frosty, delicate face.
She gave a small nod.
"Why didn't you call my name?"
The red-clad beauty strode forward on her long white legs, "angrily" approaching.
"Ma Xiaotao, do you have business with me?"
Neuvillette's expression didn't change as he spoke lightly.
"What!"
Ma Xiaotao's eyes went wide. She grabbed his collar and shook it, shouting,
"You called them Yao Heng and Luo Chen, so why is it full name with me? You're supposed to call me Xiaotao. Got it? Xiaotao!"
"Return my clone."
Neuvillette chuckled, extending his hand.
"Pfft—what are you talking about…" Ma Xiaotao scratched the back of her head, pretending to play dumb.
But she caught the stunned expressions of the three little ones nearby.
In their eyes, the aloof, queenly inner-court senior Ma Xiaotao suddenly looked… like an idiot in front of Neuvillette.
A tidal wave of complicated feelings crashed in their hearts.
"Ahem— you three, out!" Ma Xiaotao's pretty face flushed as she raised a small white fist.
"This is between seniors — don't meddle!"
"O-okay!"
Wang Dong reacted first, quickly dragging the two other girls away.
Only Huo Yutong cast one last look at Ma Xiaotao's impressive curves… then glanced down at her flat plain.
Sob sob… so Senior Neuvillette likes that type.
"Alright, tell me. You didn't come all this way just to cheer for that kid."
Neuvillette took a slow sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over the three visitors.
"Wait."
His expression suddenly shifted as he turned sharply toward Ma Xiaotao, asking sternly,
"You lost my clone again?"
Ma Xiaotao: "…"
Dai Yao Heng: "Σ(дlll)!!!"
Ling Luochen: "Σ(дlll)!!!"
"I didn't! It wasn't me! Don't get the wrong idea!" Ma Xiaotao stammered.
But the blush on her face told the truth.
Ma Xiaotao: "Σ(|||▽|||)"
"Ahem… Actually, the main reason we came is still the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament."
Dai Yao Heng coughed twice.
Who could've guessed there'd be such explosive gossip along the way… these people really knew how to play.
But he quickly turned serious.
"To be honest, with just the seven of us, we don't have a guaranteed shot at the championship. But with you, it's a completely different story."
"The Sun Moon Empire poses a huge threat to us — especially their leader, Ma Rulong, a Rank Six soul engineer, and the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, both dazzling prodigies of the Sun Moon Empire."
"So… we hope you can—"
"You want me to join the team as a teacher, to help Shrek Academy win?"
Neuvillette gave a slight nod, glancing at Dai Yao Heng's earnest expression.
"Alright. I understand."
"We'll decide when the time comes."
"Whew…" Dai Yao Heng let out a slow breath, visibly relieved.
Although he was an inner-court senior, one of Shrek Academy's most outstanding graduates in recent years, the eldest son of the Star Luo Empire's Duke's mansion, and a Soul Emperor at only around twenty years old — arguably even more talented than the White Tiger Duke of the previous generation…
Under all those dazzling auras, he still knew there was a terrifying figure in the inner court.
Eleven years ago, when he had first met Neuvillette — then the Holy Son of the Sea God Pavilion — that oppressive aura of a ruler had nearly taken his breath away.
And in the eleven years since, Neuvillette's terrifying speed of advancement had stunned everyone, rising all the way to Soul Emperor, then Soul Sage, leaving this so-called "top prodigy" far, far behind.
So this time… if Neuvillette joined, Dai Yao Heng couldn't imagine the Sun Moon Empire having any chance of victory.
"So… is this your idea, or Elder Xuan's?" Neuvillette asked suddenly, sipping his tea.
"Uh… well…" Dai Yao Heng opened his mouth, then stopped awkwardly.
"Alright, I get it."
Neuvillette waved his hand dismissively.
He understood — Dai Yao Heng didn't dare offend Elder Xuan.
But that old fox not only wanted to trick him into escorting these students, he even wanted him to compete!
When the "Holy Spirit Cult elder" showed their true colors, Neuvillette fully intended to give Elder Xuan a proper public shaming.
His brows arched slightly, and a faint smile curved his lips.
The three visitors, seeing that inexplicable smile, suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.
Silently… they mourned for Elder Xuan in their hearts.
(End of Chapter)