At this moment, Lu Qibin wasn't just on high alert—he was practically a frightened bird ready to bolt.
When someone's power vastly exceeded your own, there wasn't even courage left to fight.
"You… still trying to block me?" Lin Fan's voice was cold and sharp.
"N-No, Your Eminence! I wouldn't dare!"
Lu Qibin finally realized why Li Yusong had let Lin Fan in earlier.
Who wouldn't let him in? Even if they tried to stop him, it would be utterly pointless.
"Then step aside. Don't waste my time—I'm here to beat up Zhao Wuji."
"Please, Your Eminence, go right ahead."
Lu Qibin didn't even dare breathe too loudly as he quickly stepped aside and withdrew his martial soul.
Lin Fan walked along the wooden path toward the academy buildings. Passing through an arched gate, he arrived at an open training ground.
There, he saw Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong attacking Zhao Wuji together.
A stick of incense was burning on the ground nearby, clearly marking the duration of their combat trial.
Standing off to the side, Dai Mubai and Oscar were watching the fight. When they spotted Lin Fan approaching, Dai Mubai's expression soured.
"Hey! You again? Didn't you run away earlier?" Dai Mubai stepped forward with a displeased look.
"I came back to take the combat test, obviously," Lin Fan grumbled.
If the system weren't intangible, Lin Fan would've already dragged it out and beaten it up.
A dignified Titled Douluo being forced to take an entrance exam from a mere Soul Saint…
And to top it off, he had to endure an entire incense stick's time under Zhao Wuji's attacks.
Was the test to see if he could endure, or if Zhao Wuji could?
Oscar walked over and explained helpfully,
"Even if you're a Soul Elder, you should know—Teacher Zhao is a Rank 76 Soul Saint. He's a perfect blend of offense and defense, with no weak points at all."
"Oh, and by the way, you still owe me for those two sausages from earlier."
Oscar stretched out his hand toward Lin Fan.
"Five copper soul coins each, that's ten total. Thanks."
Lin Fan gave Oscar a sideways glance.
"So narrow-minded. Your vision is too small."
"Consider yourself lucky that I even liked your sausages. From now on, just say they're 'recommended by a Titled Douluo'—they'll sell like crazy."
"After all, having a Titled Douluo endorse your sausages… that's marketing gold."
Dai Mubai couldn't hold back his laughter as he pulled Oscar aside.
"Haha! Don't tell me you're claiming to be that Titled Douluo now?"
"You think Titled Douluos grow on trees? You can just meet one casually?"
"You don't have the money to pay, so just admit it."
Lin Fan calmly replied,
"Sigh… No one believes the truth these days."
"Lucky for you, I have a good temper. If you said that kind of thing to someone like Dugu Bo, you'd be dead before you knew what happened."
"Who's Dugu Bo?" Dai Mubai scoffed.
"Yeah, who's that?" Oscar chimed in, confused.
Lin Fan shook his head.
"Youngsters these days, so ignorant."
"You've never heard of the Poison Douluo—famous across the continent for his unparalleled poison skills?"
Dai Mubai rolled his eyes.
"Name-dropping doesn't mean anything. If you'd said 'Title: Poison,' I might believe it."
"Since you're calling yourself a Titled Douluo, then go ahead—last one in. If you can last an incense stick under Teacher Zhao's attacks, you pass the combat test."
"Hmph, anyone can brag."
Dai Mubai snorted, clearly convinced that Lin Fan wasn't right in the head.
"Exactly! Go join Tang San and the others in facing Teacher Zhao together," Oscar added mockingly.
"Hilarious."
Lin Fan crossed his arms behind his back and looked up proudly.
"I, a dignified Titled Douluo, need to team up with a few little kids to fight a Soul Saint?"
"If word gets out, where would I put my face?"
Honestly, this system… the missions it gives me are completely pointless, Lin Fan grumbled inwardly.
Though I have to admit… I kind of love and hate it at the same time.
"Teacher Zhao! We've got another new student here!"
Dai Mubai gave up on arguing and simply shouted toward Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji, covered in bulging muscles, effortlessly knocked back Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing with a single counterattack, then turned to Lin Fan.
"Another one? Good! I was just thinking this wasn't enough fun."
He grinned widely and called out,
"Kid, I hope you're a strength-type soul master. Come and scratch me a little."
Xiao Wu's face darkened.
"Third Brother, it's that shameless old creep again. I can't stay at this academy anymore—we never should've listened to Grandmaster and come here."
Tang San quietly replied to Xiao Wu,
"Though his behavior is… questionable, his strength is undeniable. I could tell—he didn't even use full force back then."
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong glanced back with interest.
"What an amusing uncle," she muttered to herself.
Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Lin Fan was displeased.
"I was planning to go easy on you," he said coldly. "But since you asked for it, it'd be rude if I didn't oblige."
"If you can last an incense stick while I'm beating you up—without passing out—I'll consider it my loss."
Lin Fan walked toward Zhao Wuji, his voice utterly indifferent.
"Teacher Zhao, you'd better be careful," Dai Mubai added with a smirk. "He claims to be a Titled Douluo."
"What?! A Titled Douluo?!"
Xiao Wu gasped and turned to look at Dai Mubai.
"Haha! You? A Titled Douluo?"
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily, his face full of disbelief.
"Look at you, you aren't twelve. You must be in your twenties at least."
"I'll have a word with Li Yusong later about his sloppy admissions, but since you're here, I'll humor you."
"Besides, kid… You think a Titled Douluo looks like that?"
"True Titled Douluos look like me—burly, muscular, powerful!"
His meaning was obvious:
With your pretty-boy looks, there's no way you're a Titled Douluo.
"Sigh… Young people these days are so inexperienced," Lin Fan shook his head.
"I guess even the famous 'Unmovable King' is as clueless as his students."
"Stand back, kids. I'll handle this entrance exam for you."
Lin Fan's voice was calm, as if everything was under control.
"Uncle, do you need me to support you with my buffs?"
Ning Rongrong asked playfully, clearly enjoying the show.
"You? Hah! Go play somewhere else. Unless your father shows up, I wouldn't dare use your support."
Lin Fan rolled his eyes.
"If I accidentally drained your soul power and injured you, wouldn't Chen Xin come after me?"
Ning Rongrong froze, stunned.
How does he know about my Sword Grandpa? she wondered in shock.
"Enough chit-chat. Come at me, kid. With that frail-looking body of yours, I'll even let you land the first punch."
"Go ahead—hit me."
Zhao Wuji sneered, completely unafraid.
"In my entire life, I've never seen a Soul Saint asking a Titled Douluo to hit them first…"
"Well then, I'll make sure to scratch that itch for you."
Lin Fan's face remained calm as he formed a fist with his right hand and punched Zhao Wuji's abdomen.
"See? Nothing special—"
Zhao Wuji's words were cut off midway.
Suddenly, his expression twisted in shock.
Then—like a cannonball—he was launched backward, crashing straight into a building behind him.
BOOM!
A loud crash echoed through the air as Zhao Wuji blasted a huge hole through the wall.
"Did Teacher Zhao just… fly?"
Oscar's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"I have no idea… How strong must that punch have been to send Teacher Zhao flying like that?"
Even Dai Mubai was completely dumbfounded.
He did hold back before…
Tang San's heart was shaken as he watched.
He just casually sent a Soul Saint flying with one punch.
ROAR—!
Suddenly, a furious bear-like roar echoed from the hole in the building.
Zhao Wuji emerged, his body even more massive than before, his muscles swelling. Seven soul rings now circled him, and blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"You're strong… I underestimated you."
Zhao Wuji no longer looked down on him—his face was now serious.
"Release your martial soul! Let's go another round!" he shouted.
Lin Fan chuckled softly.
Honestly, Zhao Wuji is a natural punching bag. He has a real talent for it.
Without hesitation, Lin Fan released his martial soul.
One ring… two rings…
Zhao Wuji initially chuckled when he saw the two-hundred-year rings, then the two-thousand-year rings.
But then—
"N-Nine rings?!"
Zhao Wuji stammered, his face frozen in shock.
New author, new book! Please support and add to your collections, and keep reading!