10: Chapter 10, Section 10: What do you mean by "if the Spirit Hall were still around"?

At this moment, in the dense forest, Lu Jing was being chased by Bei Bei and the man in black, with nowhere to run. Bei Bei's Thunder Dragon Claw grazed his back, shattering an ancient tree, while the wind blades from the man in black were like a shadow, forcing him to weave through the gaps between the trees.

"Tian Meng! If you don't think of a way, we're going to die here!" Lu Jing's voice was hoarse with anxiety.

Tian Meng Ice Silkworm's voice carried a hint of madness: "Coming, coming! I'll risk damaging my Mental Energy and give them another heavy blow!"

Just then, a golden figure streaked across the sky like a meteor, bringing with it a pressure like a mountain, instantly enveloping the entire forest.

The three people fighting froze simultaneously, their movements coming to a halt.

It was a feeling of oppression originating from the depths of the soul, as if facing the laws of the universe itself.

Lu Jing looked up and saw a golden-haired man and a girl standing on the treetops. Their gray robes fluttered in the wind. Their indifferent eyes swept over them, making him unable to move even a finger.

"What... what is this?" Lu Jing was completely bewildered. Was he having terrible luck today? He had just gotten rid of two lunatics, and now someone even more terrifying had appeared?

Bei Bei and the man in black were no better off. Their faces were pale as they stared at Qian Daoliu. Their Soul Power felt frozen, making even breathing difficult.

Qian Daoliu's gaze fell upon Lu Jing—or more accurately, upon the faint World-Destroying Black Lotus hovering above his head. He raised an eyebrow slightly: "A dark Spirit? Interesting."

His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone clearly, carrying unquestionable majesty.

Qian Daoliu's pressure weighed down like dark clouds, and the air in the forest seemed to solidify into iron.

Bei Bei was the first to break free from the shock. He stared fixedly at Lu Jing, his voice trembling with anger: "Senior! This kid is an evil Spirit Master! His Spirit is incredibly sinister, capable of releasing corrosive power, and he has already killed someone! Please take action and help us suppress him; we absolutely cannot let him wreak havoc on the world!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "evil Spirit Master," his eyes full of conviction. In his view, anyone possessing a Spirit like the World-Destroying Black Lotus could not possibly be a good person. If not eliminated today, he would surely become a major threat later.

As a student of Shrek Academy, the embodiment of justice, he had to eliminate such an existence in advance.

Qian Renxue stood beside Qian Daoliu, her purple eyes, resembling a galaxy, curiously examining Lu Jing.

Although the boy was in a sorry state, his eyes were startlingly bright. The black lotus hovering above his head, though eerie, did not exude even a hint of bloody evil energy. No matter how she looked at it, he didn't seem like the evil Spirit Master who enjoyed killing as rumored. She couldn't help but whisper: "Grandfather, he... doesn't look like a bad person."

Qian Daoliu ignored his granddaughter's words. His gaze shifted between Lu Jing and Bei Bei, his brow slightly furrowed: "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Just then, Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen arrived with Yu Tianheng. Seeing the stalemate, then glancing at the World-Destroying Black Lotus above Lu Jing's head, a flash of gravity crossed his eyes, and he quietly stood beside Qian Daoliu.

Bei Bei took a deep breath and explained rapidly: "Senior, this brat's Spirit is the dark and evil World-Destroying Black Lotus. It can release corrosive black mist; he is undoubtedly an evil Spirit Master! He just killed our companion in the forest using cruel methods. If he isn't eliminated in time, he will surely become a great disaster in the future!"

Lu Jing was furious hearing this and retorted angrily before Qian Daoliu could speak: "Bullshit!"

He pointed at Bei Bei's nose, his voice full of rage: "Do you have no shame? I only just awakened my Spirit, and I've only absorbed one spirit ring, yet you're slapping the label of 'evil Spirit Master' on me? As for the people I killed, they were part of your group and tried to kill me first. Am I wrong for fighting back? Does it mean it's justified for you to kill me, but it's an unforgivable crime for me to fight back?"

"You!"

Bei Bei was choked to the point of silence, his face turning red. He said: "An evil Spirit is an evil Spirit! That is an unchangeable fact!"

"Heh, sophistry. You're just bullying me because I have no background or strength."

Lu Jing sneered and retorted: "According to your logic, the Evil Fire Phoenix is domineering and fierce, and it can't be suppressed at all. Once it loses control, it becomes a complete evil Spirit Master. Why don't you say Ma Xiaotao is an evil Spirit Master?"

The two argued back and forth, unable to reach an agreement. Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen watched in confusion and quietly leaned over to Qian Daoliu, whispering: "High Priest, this situation... what should we do?"

Qian Daoliu didn't answer directly, turning his gaze to Bei Bei: "Which faction are you from?"

Bei Bei, as if finding his backbone, puffed out his chest and said: "This junior is a student of Shrek Academy, and also the great-grandson of Dragon God Douluo Mu En!"

He deliberately raised his voice, a hint of undetectable pride in his eyes. In his view, the name of Dragon God Douluo Mu En was enough to shock everyone present. As long as he brought out this ancestor, this person before him would undoubtedly help him eliminate Lu Jing without hesitation.

However, as his words fell, Qian Daoliu and Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen were stunned at the same time.

Qian Daoliu frowned even tighter, a flash of doubt in his eyes: "Dragon God Douluo Mu En? Why has this old man never heard of such a person?"

Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen also nodded, looking bewildered: "Indeed. Among the Titled Douluo registered in Spirit Hall, there is no such person. Could he be a reclusive powerhouse?"

One must know that any Titled Douluo on the Douluo Continent would register with Spirit Hall after becoming famous, both to demonstrate their strength and to obtain corresponding status and resources. A title like "Dragon God Douluo" that sounded so intimidating, if such a person truly existed, could not possibly be unknown.

The pride on Bei Bei's face froze instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water: "Impossible! Ancestor Dragon God Douluo Mu En is the pillar of Shrek Academy; how could no one know him?"

He said this with less and less confidence, even starting to doubt himself—could it be that the reputation of Ancestor Dragon God Douluo Mu En had not spread across the entire continent?

Lu Jing saw this and laughed inwardly, but sighed deliberately, his tone filled with a touch of regret: "Bei Bei, oh Bei Bei, you really can only use Dragon God Douluo Mu En and Shrek Academy to pressure me. It's a pity, really. If Spirit Hall still existed, would I have fallen to the point of being chased and hunted by you?"

"What?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue, and Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen changed instantly.

The pressure around Qian Daoliu surged suddenly, his golden eyes locking onto Lu Jing, his tone as cold as if dipped in poison: "What did you just say? What do you mean 'if Spirit Hall still existed'?"

Qian Renxue was also stunned, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment. Spirit Hall was her grandfather's life's work, the most powerful force on the continent; how could it not exist? What on earth was this little brother babbling about?

Clan Leader Yu Yuanzhen was even more horrified, subconsciously looking at Qian Daoliu, fearing that this High Priest would lose his temper.