MTLNOVEL Chapter 16: COURAGEOUS
Sea God Pavilion, Mu En gazed at Xuanzi's retreating figure, deep in thought.
He always had an ominous premonition that Xuanzi would turn simple matters into chaos.
But after considering Xuanzi's cultivation level, Mu En set aside his worries once more.
"Zhongli... Twin Spirits... White-gold soul ring..."
"If he truly is an evil soul master, this old man will stake his life to eliminate him in Shrek City, contributing one last time to the Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy..."
Mu En murmured to himself, keeping these thoughts unspoken.
Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
Meanwhile, Zhongli's side.
Xiao Xiao, having listened to the guidance of Zhongli, Ning Tian, and the others, gradually regained her liveliness, shedding the lifeless demeanor she had before.
She was the hope of the Xiao family, and the weight of their expectations bore heavily on her, contributing to her immense pressure.
It was truly a case of self-inflicted turmoil.
Xiao Xiao politely bid farewell to Zhongli and the others before taking her leave.
As Xiao Xiao departed, Ning Tian turned to Zhongli with a sincere expression.
"Senior Zhongli, you and Paimon have just arrived in Shrek City, and we, the juniors, have little to offer in terms of hospitality."
"However, we have already arranged accommodations for you..."
Before Ning Tian could finish, an overwhelming aura surged from the sky.
"Which one of you is Zhongli? Step forward at once!"
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
Nine soul rings, with the final one being red, showcased the immense strength of the newcomer.
Ning Tian, interrupted mid-sentence, felt a flicker of annoyance.
But upon seeing the soul ring configuration of the newcomer, she dared not voice her displeasure.
To act so boldly in Shrek City, this person must be a peerless powerhouse!
The soul ring configuration alone indicated that this individual was no ordinary figure.
"Sigh~ Zhongli, have you offended this old man somehow?"
Paimon turned to Zhongli, her expression puzzled.
Zhongli stroked his chin, shaking his head. "To my knowledge, I have never met this person, so it's unlikely I've offended him."
The newcomer appeared formidable, with a muscular build, a pair of "horns" atop his head, and an intense gathering of earth elemental energy within him...
If Zhongli wasn't mistaken, this person was likely the second most powerful figure at Shrek Academy, often referred to as Xuanzi, the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult.
But since they had never met, why was Xuanzi so hostile?
"That's strange. Is this old man looking for another Zhongli?"
Paimon mimicked Zhongli, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng were equally perplexed.
Why was this powerhouse seeking Zhongli?
Did they have some past grievance?
Xuanzi's sudden appearance sent shockwaves through Shrek City.
However, when the city's Lord witnessed the scene, his pupils contracted, and he made no move to intervene.
If it were anyone else, he might have assumed they were provoking Shrek Academy.
But this was Elder Xuan, it was a different matter entirely.
He must have something important.
The residents of Shrek City were stunned, their conversations halting abruptly.
Someone causing trouble?
Who dares to cause trouble in Shrek City?
Who is this Zhongli?
Questions swirled in everyone's minds.
As if realizing something, Zhongli waved his hand and said, "It seems he is looking for me, but I don't understand why he is hostile."
Logically, since arriving in Shrek City, he had done nothing excessive or threatening to Shrek Academy.
Neither the academy nor Xuanzi had any reason to confront him.
Yet, Xuanzi had come knocking, which truly puzzled Zhongli.
"Paimon doesn't know."
Paimon simply found the situation strange but wasn't worried about Zhongli's safety.
Others might not know who Zhongli was, but she did.
This was the being who ended the Archon War!
The eldest of the Seven Archons of Teyvat!
Despite his gentle demeanor, during the Archon War, he was a force to be reckoned with, eliminating threats to Liyue without hesitation...
Xuanzi hovered above Shrek City, scanning the area.
When he saw that Zhongli hadn't appeared, his anxiety grew.
Could it be that Elder Mu's suspicions were correct?
If Zhongli didn't dare to show himself, didn't that mean he had something to hide?
Was he afraid to face the might of Shrek Academy?
"Zhongli, you coward, this old man will find you no matter what!"
Xuanzi muttered under his breath before shouting again, "Zhongli, if you have the guts, come out! What are you, hiding like a rat?"
Xuanzi's voice boomed, echoing even in the outer courtyard of Shrek Academy.
Such was the power of a Level 98 Super Douluo.
"Zhongli?"
Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and Tang Ya exchanged puzzled and dazed looks.
They knew Zhongli had come to Shrek City to visit, but what was going on?
Bei Bei, in particular, was even more confused. He recognized the voice, it was Xuanzi, one of the elders of the Sea God Pavilion, second only to his great-grandfather!
"Zhongli is just a soul master. Why is this happening?"
With a furrowed brow, Bei Bei decided to head into Shrek City to investigate.
Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, equally curious, quickly followed.
"Hiss~"
Paimon sucked in a breath. This old man was far too bold, wasn't he?
Even a god, unless completely out of their mind, wouldn't dare to speak to Zhongli like that.
Zhongli might have a gentle temperament, but that didn't mean he lacked resolve. He simply chose to restrain himself.
Paimon: This is intense!
Zhongli's eye twitched slightly.
Xuanzi truly lived up to his reputation, arrogant and reckless.
He didn't know why, but he wasn't one to hide like a turtle.
His expression remained calm, and his deep, steady voice echoed throughout Shrek City.
"I am Zhongli. What business do you have with me?"
But if Xuanzi couldn't provide a valid reason, he wouldn't be leaving today.
At this moment, the entire city of Shrek was in an uproar.
The two most powerful figures were now facing off in Shrek City, a situation that could spell disaster for lower-level soul masters!
Why hadn't the city guards intervened?
This was outright chaos in Shrek City!
Hearing Zhongli's voice, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao were stunned, their hearts pounding.
Earlier, they had hoped it might be someone with the same name.
But now, it was clear, it was the same person.
"Impossible... Isn't Zhongli just a soul master?"
Bei Bei and the others were utterly confused.
To project his voice so far and with such confidence, Zhongli had to be a top-tier powerhouse.
Huo Yuhao was especially bewildered.
"I also know a little bit about martial arts..."
Zhongli's words echoed in his mind once more.
Just what kind of existence had he turned down earlier?
Hearing Zhongli's response, Xuanzi's lips curled into a slight smirk. His plan had worked.
The other party couldn't tolerate the provocation and had finally shown himself!
"Hmph..."
Xuanzi snorted coldly and flew swiftly in Zhongli's direction.