Xu Sanshi's face suddenly showed an unpredictable expression.
Clearly, he had been infuriated by Meng Hongchen's actions.
"Enough! Xu Sanshi, let's end this matter here. It doesn't matter if we don't eat today!"
Jiang Nannan rebuked and turned to leave.
She was truly angered by Xu Sanshi, to the point of no return.
"Nannan, Nannan?!"
Xu Sanshi looked at Jiang Nannan's back, calling out twice.
However.
Jiang Nannan, after hearing his voice, walked even faster.
Seeing this, Meng Hongchen curled her lips. She had no interest in arguing with Xu Sanshi, this lackey, and also turned to leave.
But, in the very next moment, Xu Sanshi's voice, gritting his teeth, rose up behind Meng Hongchen, "Did I say you could leave?"
Meng Hongchen snorted in her heart, bored.
Do I have to do as you say?
Why should I save face for you?
In all the world, aside from her grandpa Jing Hongchen and elder martial uncle Qin Xiao, Meng Hongchen gave face to no one else.
"You!"
Xu Sanshi, with itchingly angry teeth, could bear it no longer. With a step, he appeared behind Meng Hongchen, his right hand clenched into a fist, aiming a punch at Meng Hongchen's back.
"Not good!"
Wu Feng's expression changed drastically. She immediately turned her gaze to Qin Xiao, thinking to herself why this damned guy wasn't stepping in to help Meng Hongchen.
Couldn't he see that Meng Hongchen was already in crisis?
Or was it that he was afraid of Xu Sanshi, choosing to ignore what was happening?
Compared to that, Wu Feng was more inclined to believe the latter.
Too bad.
She knew too little about Meng Hongchen, not understanding the extent of Meng Hongchen's strength; otherwise, she certainly wouldn't have had such doubts.
"Be careful!"
"Xu Sanshi, you're too despicable!"
However, some among the onlookers exclaimed in alarm.
No matter what, Xu Sanshi's sneak attack was wrong.
Moreover, how could he do it to such a beautiful girl like Meng Hongchen?
"This is overestimating oneself!"
Meng Hongchen felt the gust from behind and coldly snorted in her heart.
Immediately afterward, she swiftly turned around, facing Xu Sanshi with astonishing speed.
Her right fist swung out, actively clashing with Xu Sanshi's punch in a fierce collision.
Bang!
With a muffled collision noise, Xu Sanshi's entire body was sent flying like a sandbag, crashing into the dining table and smashing it to pieces.
Ah, what?
Xu Sanshi was sent flying?
Many people couldn't help but open their mouths wide, thoroughly shocked.
After all, Xu Sanshi was a very well-known figure in the outer court. Born into a distinguished family, powerful, with exceptional talent, and so on.
Apart from being a bit mean, there was almost nothing wrong with him.
"Hiss, am I seeing things?"
"Xu Sanshi lost in a contest of strength?"
"Damn, that was a sneak attack, how strong is that girl!"
Moments later, exclamations erupted.
The onlookers' view of Meng Hongchen changed.
Besides admiring her beauty, there was now a hint of reverence.
Right.
It was a reverence for the strong.
"What, what is your cultivation level?"
Xu Sanshi, clutching his chest, stood up with eyes full of shock.
His Martial Soul was known as one of the strongest defensive Martial Souls in the world, and after clashing with Meng Hongchen, he seemed disheveled, but aside from his blood churning, he hadn't been hurt.
However, Meng Hongchen's strength had caught him by surprise...
This seemingly frail girl appeared quite fierce.
With a look of disdain at Xu Sanshi, Meng Hongchen massaged her wrist, casually saying, "Me, a Soul King."
"Oh, a Soul King, that explains it."
Xu Sanshi thought this was quite reasonable and subconsciously gave a reply. However, before his words could even settle, he immediately realized something was off.
"Wait a minute, you said you're a Soul King?" His voice was filled with astonishment.
Meng Hongchen shook her head, her eyes pitying as she said, "How pitiful, so young and already deaf."
While it seemed like sympathy, it was actually sarcasm.
Even if Xu Sanshi could detect the hidden meaning in her words, he had no intention of nitpicking and continued to ask, "As far as I know, there isn't a strong warrior of Soul King level at our Shrek Academy at your age."
"Who said I'm from Shrek Academy?"
"What are you joking about, if you're not a student of Shrek Academy while you are at Shrek Academy, then you really take me for a fool?"
Xu Sanshi said annoyed, but before he could finish, he realized something was wrong, "You're an exchange student from the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy?"
Meng Hongchen gently nodded, "That's right."
"So he's also one of the exchange students?"
"So young and already at the Soul King level cultivation, isn't it said that Soul Masters don't focus on cultivation? If they put all their efforts into cultivating, how terrifying would that be?"
"What do you know, Soul Masters are all walking medicine jars, built up by medicinal substances, not at all resilient."
Some were amazed at Meng Hongchen's cultivation, while others scorned.
"Heh, feeling unconvinced, huh? Then try and see if you can reach this cultivation by guzzling pills at this age!"
"Exactly, even with pills, it also depends on talent."
There were still some sensible people who, with a single statement, left the others speechless.
"I remember now, you're the reserve member of the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy participating in the Soul Master Contest!"
Suddenly, a cry of surprise from Xu Sanshi once again attracted everyone's attention.
Thinking over Xu Sanshi's words, they realized this girl was indeed extraordinary.
Meng Hongchen sneered, "Heh, you remember me now? I really admire that you still have the face to bring up the Soul Master Contest. If it were me, I would've kept that incident to myself forever and never mention it to anyone."
Ah, at these words, Xu Sanshi's face reddened.
He surely knew that Meng Hongchen was referencing the fixed match incident involving Shrek Academy.
Even though the Star Luo Emperor had exonerated them, anyone with clear eyes knew it was just a story fed to the public—a lie for stabilizing the hearts of the people.
"Enough!"
Xu Sanshi coldly snorted, "So what if your cultivation is stronger than mine? I was just caught off guard and didn't have time to dodge. Do you dare to compete with me in another match?"
"Why would I not dare?"
Meng Hongchen did not refuse the challenge and even provocatively gestured to Xu Sanshi with a come-hither motion, clearly indicating her readiness for a confrontation.
Xu Sanshi: "..."
He realized that this girl was also a warmonger.
However, facing Meng Hongchen's provocation, he slowly shook his head, "This is not the right place, meet me at the soul fighting arena inside the academy tomorrow at noon. I'll be waiting for you."
Seeing this, Meng Hongchen withdrew her hand, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and huffed with disdain, "Coward."
Her not refusing also meant she agreed.
On the side, Wu Feng was dumbstruck.
At this moment, she had renewed her perception of Meng Hongchen.
She never imagined that the docile and tender girl by Qin Xiao's side could be so fierce!
A punch sending Xu Sanshi flying, possessing Soul King level cultivation, are all the geniuses at the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy this monstrous?
Ridiculous as it was, she herself had once challenged them without knowing any better...
Not to mention Qin Xiao, who could punch her into the wall where she couldn't be pried loose, even this girl, previously unnoticed by her, would outmatch her even if there were three to five of herself.
Thinking this, Wu Feng's back was already soaked with sweat.
"Hey, the show's over, can you let go of me now?"
Qin Xiao looked down at Wu Feng, who was clutching at his sleeve, and reminded her.
"Ah." Hearing Qin Xiao's voice ringing in her ear, Wu Feng came back to her senses and immediately released her hold.
She even felt it wasn't cautious enough, so she took a step to the side.
With dangerous individuals like Qin Xiao and Meng Hongchen, the farther she stayed away, the better.
She even vowed in her heart, that from now on, she would never provoke these two again. Whatever loss she suffered in class was just a loss; she remembered her mother's teaching from a young age that suffering a loss can be a blessing.
She did not understand it before, but now she did.
...
Elsewhere.
Above the skies of Xingluo City.
A figure, treading through the sky, headed straight for the imperial palace.
In the imperial city, where many warriors were present, many spotted the figure and wanted to intercept him.
However, after seeing the face of the individual, everyone was startled and dared not to block his path, choosing instead to let him pass.
Because they all recognized that this figure was none other than Guardian Douluo Cheng Gang, personally titled by His Majesty.
His frantic appearance was enough to tell that something important must have happened.