In Xu Jiujiu's understanding, there were only two types of people who would speak to Chen Xiaojie like that in this place.
The first type was ignorant and brainless fools who didn't understand what Star Luo Royal Academy represented.
The second type was those who were supremely confident, possessing a powerful foundation, and who didn't care even if they knew the strength of Star Luo Royal Academy.
Xu Jiujiu didn't know which type Xu Tianxi was, but she had a vague, uneasy premonition that it probably wasn't the first type…
"Auntie Zhu Wen, that person isn't someone to be trifled with. Did you all provoke him through Chen Xiaojie? Doing this could lead to trouble."
Unable to suppress the confusion in her heart, Xu Jiujiu quickly connected the dots and expressed her worries to the personal guard, who most likely had acted on her own initiative.
Teacher Mo and Chen Xiaojie weren't short-tempered, but they wouldn't go looking for trouble for no reason. Only Zhu Wen, that brainless woman from the Netherworld Aristocratic Family, would do something like this.
Zhu Wen wasn't flustered by Xu Jiujiu's frankness. She patted her chest, a distinctive feature of women from the Netherworld Aristocratic Family, and smiled confidently at Xu Jiujiu:
"Don't worry, Your Highness. That kid's cultivation has definitely not reached the Soul King level. Xiaojie's strength is almost unmatched below the Soul King rank. This is a good chance to test his true abilities, and he'll know what he's doing."
Chen Xiaojie was the only agility-attack type battle Soul Master in their team. He had sought her guidance on cultivation before, making him half her disciple. She thought highly of Chen Xiaojie and was very confident in him.
Teacher Mo and several other students from Star Luo Royal Academy looked displeased and spoke up in support:
"That's right, Your Highness. Xiaojie personally invited him, treating him kindly, but he still showed no respect. It's no wonder Xiaojie got angry."
"This is our Star Luo Empire's territory. How can people from our Star Luo Royal Academy endure such an insult? I think Xiaojie did nothing wrong!"
"Exactly! Our Star Luo Royal Academy gathers the most talented geniuses in the country. How can we let some wild, unknown person insult us? Even if he's the descendant of a Titled Douluo, it's unacceptable! Would our academy really be afraid of a Titled Douluo?"
One by one, the teammates expressed their indignation and dissatisfaction. Xu Jiujiu tried her best to maintain her composure, wanting to say that their country's top geniuses were all gathered at Shrek, and most of those present might not even compare to those who could enter Shrek's Inner Courtyard.
However, on second thought, there were never more than fifty Inner Courtyard disciples at Shrek. Putting those people aside, Chen Xiaojie was also a top-tier genius, so his luck shouldn't be that bad…
Just then.
A sharp eagle's cry echoed from a distance. The standard optimal configuration of two yellow and two purple Soul Rings appeared beneath Chen Xiaojie's feet, accompanied by bright yellow electric arcs tearing through the air, producing sizzling crackling sounds.
This was Chen Xiaojie's Martial Soul, Lightning Falcon. Not only was it incredibly fast, but its attack power was also formidable, possessing powerful lightning explosive force, its quality almost reaching the threshold of a top-tier Martial Soul.
"Kid, you forced my hand! Take this!"
Chen Xiaojie retreated dozens of meters to create distance, then simultaneously lit up his first and second Soul Rings. In an instant, he transformed into a yellow lightning bolt. Several lightning phantoms appeared in mid-air, rushing towards Xu Tianxi from multiple directions.
"I can't believe Xiaojie used his first Soul Skill, Lightning Transformation, and his second Soul Skill, Thunder Shadow Step, right away! His attack speed is so fast that even a Soul King would have trouble catching it. That kid is in for it!"
Huang Xingyun, the highest-cultivated student among Star Luo Royal Academy's group, a Dark Demon Tiger battle Soul King, exclaimed excitedly.
"That kid isn't moving. Could he be scared stiff by Xiaojie's speed? But that's normal, even I had trouble keeping up with Xiaojie's attacks before my breakthrough."
Dugu Shangshan, the second most cultivated among the students, a Netherworld Mad Lion battle Soul King, stood with his arms crossed, commenting condescendingly.
Watching those streaks of lightning about to enter within five meters of Xu Tianxi, a hint of relief rose in Xu Jiujiu's heart. It seemed her worries were unnecessary.
Chen Xiaojie's strength was still very impressive…
"Pfft—! Ah!"
Before the thought had even finished, Chen Xiaojie's scream echoed first. The eight people from Star Luo Royal Academy suddenly stood up, their smiles frozen on their faces, their eyes filled with disbelief as they stared at the scene that was completely unexpected.
Blood splattered in mid-air. Without seeing how the masked youth swung his fist, the several yellow lightning bolts were all shattered, revealing Chen Xiaojie, spitting blood skyward, who then crashed down, knocking over a large number of tables and chairs with a resounding clang.
Before the others could react, Xu Tianxi, shimmering with blue and purple lightning, stepped forward, his figure erupting. His right foot, wrapped in crackling lightning, stomped heavily onto Chen Xiaojie's chest.
He had just learned some basic lightning-attribute combat techniques from his senior martial brother, and this guy was a perfect target to try out Thunder Shadow Step.
"Crack~!"
"Ugh~ ah!"
A violent cracking of bones resounded. A large section of Chen Xiaojie's chest caved in deeply. He let out a "wa" sound, spitting out another mouthful of blood, his face so contorted in pain that his original features were almost unrecognizable.
As this foot landed, Chen Xiaojie's Martial Soul automatically dissolved, and his four Soul Rings dispersed. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly into Xu Tianxi's, but all he saw was indifference.
"I didn't even use my full strength, and you're already down. What a useless and laughable Quasi Soul King."
Xu Tianxi said from the bottom of his heart.
Agility-attack types really are fragile. He just seized the opportunity to punch him in the chest, and this guy was knocked out of his Martial Soul Possession state, utterly defeated.
Moreover, this guy's lightning element wasn't even as strong as his, and his so-called "Thunder Shadow" couldn't evade his spiritual perception at all. He was truly a fool trying to show off in front of an expert.
"Pfft—!"
Chen Xiaojie was so enraged he spat out another mouthful of blood, then slumped his head to the side, fainting.
It was just too… insulting!
As the battle ended as quickly as autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, the people from Star Luo Royal Academy finally reacted. Zhu Wen and Old Mo immediately stepped forward, each releasing their Martial Souls, their Soul Power pressure erupting like a volcanic eruption.
"Kid, you've gone too far!"
Old Mo raised a large fish-slaughtering knife. One white, two yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, looking quite mismatched.
Zhu Wen stared at Xu Tianxi with scarlet eyes. She said nothing, but the aura she unleashed was several times stronger than Old Mo's. Her Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul possessed her, sharp cat claws extended from her fingertips, her ears perked up, and two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings—the optimal configuration—rose beneath her feet.
Including Xu Jiujiu, the six students also rose, revealing their Soul Ancestorand Soul King cultivation. A brilliant array of yellow, purple, and black Soul Rings ascended, exceptionally dazzling.
"You're being audacious!"
Yue Lao and Zhi Sen lunged forward in unison, their bodies erupting with powerful Soul Power pressure that was no less formidable than their opponents'.
Zhi Sen's Soul Rings were optimally configured, just like Zhu Wen's. As his Soul Power surged, countless dark green vines, brimming with vibrant life force, shot out from beneath the inn. At an astonishing speed, they formed a massive net, intending to envelop all eight members of Star Luo Royal Academy.
Yue Lao's Soul Ring configuration wasn't high-tier, but he immediately pulled out a large number of Level 6 Soul Cannons and Soul Guns, aiming them at the Star Luo Royal Academy contingent from afar.
He was confident that if he fired, he could turn all their students into a beehive!
The intervention of the two Soul Sages calmed the Star Luo Royal Academy group somewhat. Just then, Xu Tianxi spoke coldly.
"A piece of trash, actively coming up to ask for a beating? You're not even qualified to tell me I'm going too far!"
"As for you pathetic lot, even if you all came at me together, it would just take a few punches and kicks."
I can't believe I'd run into trouble just trying to eat. Since you've come looking for it, don't blame me for teaching you a good lesson.
Perfect, I still have a Shrek Inner Courtyard Token that's been lying in my Storage Ring for ages. Today, I'll put on a grand show for you and test my acting skills!
Having made up his mind, Xu Tianxi's face was as cold as frost. He stood with his hands behind his back, silently activating his second Soul Skill, Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Two yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Ring, the optimal configuration, rose beneath his feet. The Soul Power pressure was aloof and imposing, like ten thousand years of profound ice pressing down, chilling the minds of everyone from Star Luo Royal Academy.
He had just blown up a Quasi Soul King without using his Martial Soul. His feigned Soul King cultivation didn't arouse suspicion; instead, it made many people gasp in shock, secretly thinking, This child is terrifying.
It was well-known that a Soul Master using their Martial Soul and not using it were two different states. Xu Tianxi had just dealt with Chen Xiaojie with a single punch and kick, leading them all to believe he was a powerhouse above the Soul Emperor rank…
Who would have thought he was actually a Soul King?!
If he was already so terrifying without his Martial Soul, what would happen if he used it? Could he contend with a Soul Emperor? And what terrifying place did this monster come from?
Many people, including Xu Jiujiu, had these questions surface in their minds, and the more they thought about it, the more alarmed they became.
Teacher Mo's eyes were bloodshot as he roared:
"Do you know this is a military base of our Star Luo Empire? If you dare to oppose our Star Luo Royal Academy, you are opposing our Star Luo Empire! No force can protect you!"
Oh no! Xu Jiujiu, who had a guess about Xu Tianxi's identity, inwardly cried out.
Sure enough, Xu Tianxi reacted to those words as if he'd heard the biggest joke in the world. With one foot pressing down on the unconscious Chen Xiaojie, he put his hands on his hips and laughed uproariously, his laughter so unrestrained, so arrogant.
And his next words instantly sent the hearts of the Star Luo Royal Academy members plummeting into an icy abyss.
"How laughable, how utterly laughable! A mere Star Luo Royal Academy actually dares to be so arrogant and presumptuous! No wonder, throughout your history, you've only entered the finals once, led by a Soul Emperor prodigy, and never again! You truly are a bunch of good-for-nothings!"
"Hmph! You dare to speak so boldly, making the Star Luo Empire an enemy of the force behind me? Then I'd like to go to Star Luo City and ask your Star Luo Empire's Emperor! Does he dare to make an enemy of our Shrek Academy for the sake of you trash?!"
"Go back and ask the Xu Family Imperial Household, ask Xu Jiawei, if they dare!"
"A mere Star Luo Royal Academy, daring to speak of being an enemy of my Shrek Academy, with its ten thousand years of glory? You're not worthy! Look closely!"
With that, Xu Tianxi pulled out the Inner Courtyard Token that Zhang Lexuan had given him. With a flick of his wrist and a burst of power, he savagely threw it at Teacher Mo's face, causing the stiff-faced elder to stumble.
"Pfft—!"
However, Teacher Mo didn't resist at that moment. Instead, he grabbed the red token as if possessed, looked at the unique Shrek monster image on it with a desperate expression, and immediately felt blood rush to his head. He spat out a mouthful of old blood, his eyes losing focus as he collapsed, creating a pool of blood.
"BANG!"
At that moment, apart from the sound of Teacher Mo hitting the ground, there was no other sound in the inn.
Shrek Academy!
Those five heavy characters, representing ten thousand years of glory, pressed down on everyone, making it impossible for them to breathe.