Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 114: Encountering Shrek

After leaving the Star Dou Forest, Yang Potian headed to a nearby inn to rest for the night before continuing his journey. By chance, upon entering the inn, he saw two groups waiting for their meals. One group was Shrek Academy's seven students, and the other wore white uniforms, presumably from a prestigious soul master academy.

Yang Potian ignored the crowd and chose a secluded corner seat. Shortly after, a waiter came over with the menu, but Yang Potian didn't even look at it. He said, "Just bring me a table of vegetarian dishes, and make it quick." He then placed a small bag of gold soul coins on the table and stopped paying attention to the server.

The waiter took the pouch, noting that it contained dozens of gold soul coins, and eagerly replied, "Of course, sir! We'll bring it out immediately. Would you like some spirit beast meat? Our spirit beast meat dishes are quite popular."

"Vegetarian," Yang Potian repeated coldly, "and make it fast."

The waiter quickly left. Since leaving the City of Slaughter, Yang Potian had developed an aversion to the smell of blood. Anytime he encountered it, his killing intent would rise uncontrollably. Eating vegetables, on the other hand, seemed to help calm his mind, so he had been sticking to a vegetarian diet lately.

Not long after, the waiter brought out his dishes, possibly thanks to the gold coins or simply because vegetable dishes were quicker to prepare.

One of the white-uniformed students looked dissatisfied. "Why did he get his food first when we were here before him?"

The waiter quickly explained, "Sir, that customer ordered only vegetarian dishes, which are faster to prepare. Some don't even need cooking. If you'd like vegetarian dishes too, we can serve you right away."

"Vegetarian? That's not even real food! Hurry up with our order!"

Yang Potian glanced at the students in white but returned to eating in silence. Meanwhile, the tension between the two groups began to rise. Shrek Academy's Ma Hongjun had his eye on one of the female students in white and had started making comments about her appearance.

The other academy's students grew visibly annoyed and even sent someone over to mediate, but it did nothing to quell the tension. The other Shrek students seemed to enjoy the spectacle, watching with interest and seeming to revel in the potential for trouble.

Yang Potian shook his head. He remembered a motto from Shrek Academy: "A true student isn't afraid to cause trouble." At first, the phrase sounded bold and brimming with confidence. But on reflection, he found it problematic. Students were meant to focus on learning, to secure a bright future through hard work and dedication—not by seeking out conflicts.

As he observed the Shrek students' attitude, he couldn't help but find it hypocritical. They provoked trouble freely, but only because they had powerful backgrounds. Without those, who knew how many times their recklessness might have cost them their lives?

Now, the scene grew even more intense. As the waiter brought dishes to the Shrek table, one of the students from the other academy, Canghui Academy, deliberately tripped the waiter, causing a dish to nearly spill onto Dai Mubai.

Tempers flared, and both groups seemed ready to fight. One of the Canghui boys began making lewd comments toward Shrek's three female students, sensing an all-out brawl was imminent.

Among Shrek's group, Ning Rongrong seemed particularly isolated. Tang San focused his attention solely on Xiao Wu, while Dai Mubai doted on Zhu Zhuqing. This left Ning Rongrong somewhat sidelined. The little "princess," however, decided to stir things up by approaching Yang Potian's table.

"Brother Yang, long time no see!" Ning Rongrong greeted with a bright smile.

Yang Potian looked up at her. It had been two years, and she had certainly grown taller. At least Ning Rongrong was the first familiar face he'd seen in a while.

"Miss Rongrong, it has been a while," he replied with a smile.

"Brother Yang, where have you been these past two years? When I visited Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, they said you'd gone on some sort of training. Sister Lingling really misses you."

Yang Potian's expression softened as he thought of Ye Lingling. "I went to a special place to train. How is Lingling these days?"

"Oh, she misses you a lot! So do your team members."

"I miss them too. But, Rongrong, what brings you all the way to Soto City?"

"Heaven Dou City just isn't very fun. Sister Lingling and the others only train all day. I wanted to join your team, but it was already full, so I came to Soto City and joined Shrek Academy instead."

"Shrek Academy is a good school," he replied. "Study well here, and it'll serve you well."

Both tables fell silent at this unexpected revelation. No one had expected Ning Rongrong to know the strange, darkly dressed man in the corner.

Yang Potian was indeed clad entirely in black, his face partially concealed, giving him an enigmatic, even eerie appearance.

"Brother Yang," Ning Rongrong said with a playful pout, "what if someone bullied me? You're supposed to stand up for me, right?"

Yang Potian chuckled, saying, "Rongrong, is there anyone who could actually bully you? Worst case, just call your Sword Grandpa to handle them."

"But my Sword Grandpa isn't here," she said, adding with a mischievous grin, "and didn't you promise my father you'd look after me?"

"That was back at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Why would I need to take care of you all the way out here in Soto City?"

"Well, if you don't help me out, I'll tell Sister Lingling you just watched while people bullied me. Remember, I did help you when you were trying to win Sister Lingling over."

Just then, one of Canghui Academy's instructors approached Yang Potian. "Are you responsible for this student? If so, you should teach her some manners."

Yang Potian had no interest in getting involved in these petty squabbles, but it seemed trouble had found him regardless. He looked up at the instructor with a cold gaze. "I don't appreciate interruptions. Leave. Now."

The Canghui instructor appeared ready to argue, but Yang Potian cut him off abruptly, "Leave."

The Canghui team leader grew even angrier. "Such an ill-tempered young man! Allow me to teach you some respect in place of your parents."

Before he could finish, Yang Potian's right hand shot forward. The Canghui leader tried to summon his spirit, but an overwhelming aura of killing intent from Yang Potian froze him in place, leaving him disoriented. Before he could react, Yang Potian's hand was already gripping his throat. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free, and the grip around his neck grew tighter, making it harder to breathe.

Then, Yang Potian hurled him forcefully out of the restaurant. The entire place fell silent as everyone gaped at the scene, while the Canghui leader, looking terrified as if facing a monster, quickly led his team out of the restaurant.

Yang Potian turned to Ning Rongrong. "Miss Rongrong, are you satisfied now?"

"Brother Yang, can I join your team?"

"Do whatever you want. If you want to join, then join."

Ma Hongjun and Oscar seemed ready to say something, but Tang San stopped them. "Fatty, Oscar, let's not say anything for now."

Among the Shrek Seven, Tang San was the most experienced, and his Tang Sect training taught him to recognize true killing intent. The sheer ferocity he had sensed from Yang Potian was unmatched by anything he'd seen, even in his past life. It was clear that this man was not someone to be trifled with.

After a brief conversation, Ning Rongrong returned to her Shrek companions, while Yang Potian, having finished his meal, headed off to rest.

As soon as Ning Rongrong rejoined the group, Tang San was the first to speak. "Rongrong, who was that strange man just now?"

"That was Yang Potian, the captain of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's second team. He disappeared two years ago, saying he was going out for some intense training. I didn't expect to find him here in Soto City."

Dai Mubai looked over at Zhu Zhuqing, who was visibly shaken. "Zhuqing, do you know that guy, Yang Potian?"

Zhu Zhuqing took a moment to collect herself before responding. "A few days ago, I was being hunted by members of the Zhu family. Two Soul Elders and three Soul Grandmasters were after me. When I ran into Yang Potian, those five tried to kill him to keep him quiet. But he killed them all in a single minute."

Tang San was stunned. "Five people in one minute, and two of them were Soul Elders? He's that strong?"

At that moment, Zhao Wuji, who had been following the group to protect them, entered the restaurant. He had observed the entire incident.

"Teacher Zhao," Tang San asked, "what do you think of Yang Potian's strength?"

Zhao Wuji shook his head. "The encounter was too brief; I only saw him strike once, so I can't gauge his full abilities. I couldn't even sense his spirit power level—he must have some kind of artifact concealing it."

"The Canghui Academy team leader is a Soul King," Zhao Wuji continued, "yet this young man defeated him with a single move. His strength is impressive, and I'd say he's exceptionally strong physically—probably not far behind me in terms of raw strength."

Dai Mubai was astonished. "Teacher Zhao, how is that possible? You're a Soul Sage, and not many Soul Sages could match you in strength."

Zhao Wuji looked perplexed, unable to explain it himself.

All eyes then turned to Ning Rongrong, silently seeking answers. Seeing their expressions, she finally spoke up. "That man's name is Yang Potian, and he's from the Yang Clan. He's five years older than me, so he should be around seventeen now. When he joined Heaven Dou Imperial Academy at twelve, his spirit power level was already at thirty-five."

"I remember my father and Sword Grandpa discussing him," she continued. "They said he's incredibly gifted. Every spirit ring he has is strength-oriented, and he absorbs spirit rings beyond his level, always choosing the best possible spirit beasts. Even when he was just a Soul Elder, he could beat Soul Kings in spirit battles."

The Shrek students were left speechless, stunned by Yang Potian's strength. They were all considered geniuses, yet even Tang San, the fastest among them, had only reached level twenty-nine at twelve. Yang Potian had reached level thirty-five at the same age—a cultivation speed that seemed almost impossible.

Yang Potian, meanwhile, had no interest in the Shrek students' reactions. All he wanted was to rest well before heading home. His time in the Star Dou Forest had been fruitful, but it had also been exhausting.

(End of Chapter)

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