Volume One, Chapter 4: The Martial Soul Hall Must Kneel and Apologize to Me, Tang San!

After finishing his words, Fang Yuan stepped forward, straightening his chest. Even without the oppressive aura of soul power, the members of the Martial Soul Hall still took a step back in fear, afraid that Fang Yuan might kill them all if displeased.

Just as the Saintess Huliena was about to order a retreat, Tang San suddenly let out a cold laugh. His handsome face darkened with shadows as he glared fiercely at the Martial Soul Hall members. “Hmph! You dogs of the Martial Soul Hall, don’t forget that Fang Yuan is my slave. If he says to let you go, it doesn’t count; only my word matters! If you want to leave here, you must kneel and beg for mercy from me and Xiao Wu! Otherwise, I’ll have Fang Yuan slaughter all of you!”

At these words, the Martial Soul Hall members erupted into discussion. It was a choice between dignity and life, and Tang San had laid out two options.

“Damn it, shut up! I can only instantly kill Grandmaster Douluo, and there’s even a Soul Douluo among them—do they want us to die too quickly?” Fang Yuan muttered in frustration, frowning deeply. He had calculated everything except that Tang San, his unreliable teammate, would ruin the plan.

Right now, the entire situation had been stabilized solely by Fang Yuan killing the two Grandmaster Douluos. Those below Grandmaster Douluo would be instantly killed by just one encounter with him, not to mention the Martial Soul Hall’s overwhelming numbers, including a half-step Douluo. Tang San’s reckless actions were surely courting death!

Of course, Tang San had no idea that Fang Yuan could only instantly kill Grandmaster Douluos; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to speak so boldly.

Fang Yuan found it difficult to say anything at this moment. He could only glare at Tang San, then look down arrogantly at the Martial Soul Hall members. If he showed any weakness or tried to curb Tang San’s arrogance, the Martial Soul Hall would sense something was amiss. That would not only doom the mission but also endanger Fang Yuan himself. He had no choice but to play along.

“Tang San, do you understand the consequences of your actions? Do you really want to make an enemy of the Martial Soul Hall?” Huliena questioned, frowning slightly. She did not expect Tang San to seize this opportunity to humiliate the Martial Soul Hall’s dignity.

Upon hearing this, Tang San grinned viciously, his face full of arrogance. “Whether I become an enemy or not isn’t for you to decide. But I know very well that you humiliated me and Xiao Wu today. This matter cannot be left unresolved!”

At this point, Tang San began his hypocritical performance, trying to win back the young girlfriend he had just been about to abandon.

If it weren’t for the system mission Fang Yuan carried this time, he would have long since handed Tang San over to the Martial Soul Hall and escaped far away with Xiao Wu.

Huliena glanced at Fang Yuan, who had remained silent all along. His eyes were pitch black, revealing no depth or emotion. It seemed, at least from Huliena’s perspective, that Fang Yuan, as a slave, still obeyed Tang San.

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“Pfft, a lowly commoner is still a lowly commoner. To have such powerful strength yet still stoop to a junior like him!” Huliena muttered, blinking her purplish-red eyes before turning to address the Martial Soul Hall members.

“Fellow soul masters of the Martial Soul Hall, today’s matter is my responsibility. If you want to live, do as Tang San says. When the time comes, hold me, Huliena, accountable alone. I guarantee this with my title as Saintess.”

No sooner had she finished than many Martial Soul Hall soul masters knelt down hastily, like waves rolling in, their voices begging for mercy rising one after another.

The herd mentality existed everywhere. Within seconds, most soul masters were prostrated on the ground. Those who remained standing were either very powerful or had a strong sense of pride.

“This is bad. As expected, some stubborn ones refuse to kneel. This is going to be troublesome,” Fang Yuan frowned deeply. Although he had anticipated this, he had no solution. After all, he could only instantly kill Grandmaster Douluos; for anything else, he was merely fodder.

Just as Fang Yuan was troubled, Tang San’s arrogant voice rang out again, like a wild dog barking fiercely by the roadside. “Hey! Why are there still people standing? Don’t want to live? Do I have to have Fang Yuan slaughter you all before you listen?”

“Fool! You’ve ruined a perfect plan! Six hundred and sixty-six!” Fang Yuan cursed inwardly. If he had the chance, he would definitely kill Tang San. But unfortunately, Tang San only had the level of a Soul Emperor, making Fang Yuan no match for him. He could only endure for now.

With Tang San’s insults, the Soul Douluo who was about to reach half-step Douluo finally lost his composure. Even if he died today, he wouldn’t lose his dignity by bowing to such people!

“You blue-haired brat, shut your mouth! I, Chen Yong, ascended to Soul Douluo at forty years old and am the pride of the Martial Soul Hall. Now at fifty-five, I have reached half-step Douluo level, with soul power at level 89. How dare you humiliate me here? Hmph! You’re not worthy!” Chen Yong, the Soul Douluo, stepped out from the crowd, his eight soul rings emanating a formidable pressure.

“Hmph! Old man, it seems you really aren’t afraid of death. Didn’t you see what happened to those two Grandmaster Douluos just now?” Tang San threatened sharply. To him, this Soul Douluo’s life was already in his hands. If he wished, he could take it at will, so he was fearless.

“Of course I know, but rather than living like a stray dog without dignity, I’d prefer to die honorably. That is fitting for me!” the Soul Douluo said solemnly. The contrast in tone between the two made Tang San seem like the villain.

“Alright, alright, you have spirit. Since you want dignity, then die! Fang Yuan, kill him for me!” Tang San turned his gaze to Fang Yuan, confident his slave would obey.

---

However, Fang Yuan did not move. He stood still, his expression unreadable, as if nothing were wrong.

In truth, Fang Yuan’s panic had reached his throat. Soul Douluos were beyond his ability to handle. This was a moment when his cover would be blown. If he didn’t quickly find a solution, he would soon die on the spot!

“Damn it, Tang San has doomed me! How am I supposed to deal with a Soul Douluo? He’s not a Grandmaster Douluo. Should I just throw my head at him? No, I can’t act now. I must wait and see,” Fang Yuan resolved in his heart. Even if Tang San were killed and the mission failed, it didn’t matter. His first priority now was to save his own life.

Seeing Fang Yuan refuse to obey, Tang San had to raise his tone. “Fang Yuan! Did you hear me? I told you to kill that old man! I am your master!”

Tang San had to resort to asserting his master status. If Fang Yuan still didn’t act, what face would he have left?

“You’re my master? What are you? You dare order me? You’re just a spineless wretch, a worthless commoner. Moreover, a mere Soul Douluo isn’t even worth my effort,” Fang Yuan sneered coldly, lifting his head to stare provocatively at everyone, clearly showing he didn’t regard them at all. In reality, he was terrified inside, gambling that no one dared to foolishly attack him first.

“You! You worthless dog, lowly commoner! How dare you bite the hand that feeds you!” Tang San was furious beyond words. He felt the hostile gazes of the Martial Soul Hall members falling upon him like hungry wolves ready to pounce. After Fang Yuan’s words, many had already stood up. They no longer needed to kneel to Tang San.