"Exploding Fist!"
With a roar echoing in his heart, Xiao Se's right fist surged with azure Dou Qi. Empowered by the explosive force of the technique and the brute strength he'd gained from consuming Dragonblood Grass, his punch smashed out like a falling mountain, aimed straight at Flender.
"Not good!"
The fact that Xiao Se could fly had already caught Flender completely off guard. At this distance, there was no time to dodge. He could only cross his arms in front of his chest and unleash his only defensive spirit skill.
His sixth spirit ring suddenly lit up. A layer of solid-looking yellow light spread over his body, forming a protective barrier.
But Xiao Se's fist was not something so easily blocked.
Exploding Fist might only be a low-tier Xuan-rank battle skill, but Xiao Se's true strength had never been about flashy techniques—it was his body itself, tempered by Dragonblood Grass, and the cultivation of a nine-star Da Dou Shi.
This punch… was no weaker than a full-powered strike from a genuine fourth-rank magic beast.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion resounded, shaking the air.
The yellow barrier coating Flender's body managed to cancel more than half of the impact, but the remaining force smashed through it like glass. The residual power of Exploding Fist tore along his arms and rampaged straight into his body.
Blood sprayed from the corner of Flender's mouth.
His body shot backward like a kite with its string cut, tracing a parabola through the air before slamming into the ground and sliding more than ten meters.
One punch.
Flender lost.
Silence.
The entire place fell into a dead stillness.
Shrek Academy's dean, one of the Golden Iron Triangle—Flender.
A seventy-eighth rank Spirit Saint… defeated in a single blow. Cleanly. Brutally. Completely.
It was simply unbelievable.
After a heartbeat of silence, the crowd collectively sucked in a cold breath.
Zhu Zhuqing's rosy lips parted in shock.
Now, she fully believed Xiao Se truly wasn't from the Douluo Continent.
So young, yet capable of dropping a Spirit Saint with one punch—if word of this got out, it would scare people to death.
High above, Xiao Se glanced toward the clouds, sensing that barely contained killing intent boiling within them. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Then he descended slowly back to the ground.
It wasn't time to fight Tang Ritian yet—not while his little kitty was still down here. If she got caught in the crossfire, that would be troublesome.
"Are you alright?"
Zhu Zhuqing quickly stepped over to him, her voice softer than usual.
Xiao Se shook his head with a smile, then turned to look at Flender, who was being supported by Oscar. His tone was calm:
"If you want to teach, then teach properly. Don't fill their heads with nonsense like 'If you don't dare cause trouble, you're mediocre.' Because of that line, they use it as an excuse to run wild, bullying the weak and backing down only when they hit a wall.
If they come across someone weaker than them, fine.
But the day they provoke someone truly strong… they won't just get beaten. They'll get killed.
Consider today… a lesson."
Flender's old face flushed red.
Strength decided everything. Today, his dignity had been shattered along with his defense.
He cupped his hands toward Xiao Se and bowed slightly.
"I have been taught."
Xiao Se nodded lightly, then turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhu Qing, let's go. We should find a place to stay first."
With that, he walked toward Soto City. Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently and followed at his side.
Watching their backs disappear into the distance, Ning Rongrong bit her lower lip and stepped up beside Flender.
"Dean, who is that guy? Those purple wings he spread looked like a flying beast spirit like yours, but he didn't use a single spirit ring skill… and still defeated you."
Flender could only smile bitterly and shake his head.
"I don't know either. He's probably the heir of some hidden clan. He looks about the same age as Little Ao—fourteen.
Heh… I really am a frog at the bottom of a well."
As he spoke, he seemed to age several years in just a few seconds.
—
On the other side, Xiao Se and Zhu Zhuqing were already back in Soto City, strolling side by side along the bustling streets.
All along the way, Zhu Zhuqing kept sneaking glances at him, several times wanting to speak but stopping herself.
"If you have questions, just ask."
Xiao Se turned his head and smiled at her.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. Her voice was soft and quiet.
"The technique you used just now… was that what you call a 'battle skill' too?"
Xiao Se nodded.
"Right. Those purple wings are called Eagle's Wings, or Purple Cloud Wings. It's a flying battle skill, high Xuan-rank. The movement technique is called Misty Smoke Steps, also high Xuan-rank.
As for the punch I hit Flender with—that was a low Xuan-rank battle skill, Exploding Fist."
"Then… why didn't you use higher-level techniques? Like high Xuan or even Earth rank?"
Zhu Zhuqing's personality was direct. When something crossed her mind, she asked without any hesitation.
Xiao Se smiled.
"This wasn't a fight to the death. And Flender—despite his flaws—isn't exactly a bad person.
If I had used a high Xuan-rank or Earth-rank attack just now, then given his speed-type Spirit Saint build… even if he didn't die, he'd be crippled."
In terms of pure cultivation—disregarding quality differences between Dou Qi and spirit power—a Titled Douluo was roughly equivalent to a Dou Huang. Spirit Douluo would match a Dou Wang.
A Spirit Saint? At best on par with a Dou Ling.
And Xiao Se was already a nine-star Da Dou Shi.
With such a small gap, especially when Xiao Se had absurd physical strength on top of it, if he had used high Xuan or Earth-rank battle skills like Wild Lion's Roar or Eightfold Peaks… Flender wouldn't have been able to withstand them at all without using his Spirit Avatar.
"I see…"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully, just about to continue when Xiao Se suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled.
Xiao Se shook his head and pointed at an inn nearby. He grew serious.
"You'll stay at this inn tonight. I'll come by later."
Sensing that something was off, Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed slightly.
"Did something happen?"
Xiao Se chuckled.
"Nothing major. Just that some people like to send the elders after the juniors get beaten."
Zhu Zhuqing froze, then said in surprise,
"You mean… just now…?"
Xiao Se nodded slowly.
"Then… be careful."
She knew her own strength was negligible in a clash of that level. Since she couldn't help, she chose not to drag him down.
"Mm."
Xiao Se gave her a small nod.
His Purple Cloud Wings unfurled with a snap, and with a strong beat, he shot upward—heading toward the inn's rooftop.
There, a large man sat on the roof ridge.
He was a burly middle-aged man in tattered black robes, his skin sallow, his hair a complete bird's nest. He looked messy, filthy even, no different from an ordinary vagrant—except for the heavy stink of alcohol that clung to him.
But his eyes… those predatory eyes were sharp as a hunting tiger's.
Who else could it be but the Haotian Douluo—Tang Ritian?
As Xiao Se landed on the roof, a flash of cold light crossed Tang Ritian's eyes.
A vast, oppressive aura burst out of him, slamming straight toward Xiao Se.
Xiao Se's gaze hardened.
He activated Origin Soul Art—a layer of soul force forming a protective shell around his body.
Before Tang Ritian's pressure could even reach him, it split on its own, flowing harmlessly past his sides like water parting around a rock.
(End of Chapter)
If you enjoyed this novel, you might like to check out my other novels as well.
You could also give my friend Soulcaster01's novels a try. One of the popular ones is
"Douluo Dalu: Storm-born Thunder King and His Many Loves" on Webnovel.
I hope you'll enjoy those too.