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Chapter 424.

The clear, melodic voice instantly captured the group's attention.

Turning around, they saw a blue-haired man approaching. He was tall and striking, his smile exuding warmth and elegance. His movements were unhurried yet deliberate, as though each step carried a quiet confidence. Though he appeared to be moving leisurely, he covered the distance in mere moments, standing before them almost before they realized it.

The group studied him carefully but found no recognition in his face.

In the past five years, they had all changed. While their appearances were still familiar, their temperaments had matured—more refined, more poised, and undeniably more captivating.

"You are…?" Ma Hongjun broke the silence, his tone filled with curiosity.

The blue-haired man simply smiled, lifting his hand in a calm, deliberate motion. A stalk of Blue Silver Grass unfurled from his palm, weaving through the air with an effortless grace. In an instant, the shimmering vine coiled lightly around the waists of all four of them.

Their eyes widened in shock.

Blue Silver Grass!

The familiar sight sent a jolt through their hearts. This wasn't just any use of the martial soul—it was the very same tactic they had employed countless times in battle, with Tang San at the core of their team as the leader of the Shrek Seven Devils.

That small, precise detail unlocked a flood of memories, transporting them back to their shared triumphs and struggles. It was as if they were standing once again in the middle of a battlefield, fighting as one.

Realization dawned upon them, but before they could voice it, Dai Mubai's booming voice shattered the moment.

"Stop lying!" he barked. "You're trying to pass yourself off as Tang San? I don't buy it. There's no way Xiao San got this handsome!"

The blue-haired man froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard.

Admittedly, five years ago, Tang San's looks had been more on the plain side—ordinary, square-jawed, and earnest. Certainly not the striking figure before them now.

But Dai Mubai wasn't about to let it go. With a fierce roar, his Evil Eye White Tiger martial soul burst forth, and in an instant, a colossal tiger materialized behind him. Its fur gleamed with white and gold radiance, exuding an aura of raw power.

Six soul rings materialized around Dai Mubai, glowing in sequence: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black. The sheer force of his soul energy rippled through the air, shattering the Blue Silver Grass binding him as though it were paper.

The others stared in shock.

"Damn, Boss Dai," Ma Hongjun exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's some crazy soul power fluctuation! You're already at level 63 now, aren't you?"

Dai Mubai smirked. "What do you think? But enough about me—what about you, Fatty? Think you can keep up? Let's see your Fire Phoenix!"

Ma Hongjun grinned, a playful gleam in his eyes. Without hesitation, he activated his martial soul. A blazing phoenix, its fiery form shimmering with a radiant glow, appeared behind him. The long cry of the phoenix echoed across the square as it descended onto Ma Hongjun, enveloping him in its fiery embrace.

The transformation was startling. His figure grew taller and more muscular, his previous stoutness now replaced by a broad, imposing frame. The flames surrounding him burned with a dark purple hue, their heat radiating an intimidating intensity.

"Level 61 Soul Emperor!" Dai Mubai laughed heartily. "Fatty, I've got to admit—you've worked hard these past few years!"

"Hard? Who, me?" Ma Hongjun grinned, flexing his newly burly arms. "You know me, Boss Dai, lazy as ever. But even I couldn't slack off entirely. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Dai Mubai shook his head, still laughing. "To think you, of all people, managed to reach this point! I was sure your laziness would hold you back to level 56 at most. I'm impressed!"

The two men grinned at each other, their teasing and banter laced with a sense of pride and camaraderie. The atmosphere grew warmer, the bonds they shared shining through every word.

Despite Ma Hongjun's playful demeanor, his spirit power surged, shaking the ground slightly as he flexed. With a flick of his body, the faint Blue Silver Grass around him shattered effortlessly.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had been released thinly and without malice—it was meant as a sign of recognition, not combat.

"Haha, of course!" Ma Hongjun boomed, his voice filled with pride.

Oscar chuckled, shaking his head. "Over these years traveling the continent together, I've had to keep pushing him. Still, he's been more diligent than you'd expect."

As if to prove his point, Oscar summoned his martial soul. A golden-hued grilled sausage appeared in his hand, gleaming with a fiery red skin that exuded a tantalizing aroma. Its scent was intoxicating, both rich and savory.

"Wow, that smells incredible!" Shui Yue'er exclaimed, her blue eyes widening in surprise. "Oscar, when you visited the Star Luo Empire and cooked for Mubai and me, your martial soul didn't have this kind of fragrance. What changed?"

Dai Mubai also looked at him, intrigued.

Oscar grinned, clearly pleased. "It's a recent improvement. Let's just say I've enhanced the flavor. It's better than ever now."

Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, stared at the golden sausage in silence. A flicker of emotion crossed her face as memories surfaced.

Back at Shrek Academy, she remembered Oscar shoving his sausage into her mouth against her will during their very first encounter. The scene replayed vividly in her mind, bringing an unexpected wave of nostalgia. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"Want to try one?" Oscar asked with a mischievous smile, holding the sausage aloft. "It's my famous Big Sausage!"

The words, though teasing, carried none of the awkwardness they once did. Instead, they were tinged with warmth and familiarity, sparking laughter rather than embarrassment.

"I'll pass," Ma Hongjun said, feigning a gag. "I've had my fill of those sausages over the years. No offense, Oscar, but I'd rather deal with this fake Tang San!"

Tang San, who had been watching silently, couldn't help but smile wryly. He hadn't expected their reunion to begin with such chaos and humor.

Despite the banter, he observed something remarkable: in the five years since their last meeting, all of them had grown tremendously, both in maturity and strength. Each of his companions had reached the rank of Soul Emperor.

In contrast, Tang San felt a twinge of humility. His own cultivation had progressed more slowly due to his time spent training in the Slaughter City and at Yuexuan. He was currently at rank sixty, just shy of the next milestone. He'd planned to visit the Star Dou Great Forest soon to obtain his sixth soul ring—and perhaps find Xiao Wu.

Zhu Zhuqing's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as she stepped forward. "Wait a moment. Are you really Tang San?"

"Exactly," Ning Rongrong chimed in, her voice steady and calm. "Let's confirm before jumping to conclusions, Fatty."

Ma Hongjun scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Fair enough. That does make sense."

Tang San released a sigh of relief, grateful for the reprieve. He raised his left hand, and in an instant, a black hammer materialized in his palm—the Clear Sky Hammer.

As if that wasn't enough, the Eight Spider Lances extended from his back, their sharp, menacing edges gleaming under the light.

The sight silenced all doubts.

These two things were unmistakably Tang San's iconic abilities, and their appearance left no room for speculation.

"Third Brother! It really is you!" Ma Hongjun exclaimed, breaking into laughter as he retracted his martial soul and dashed toward Tang San. Without hesitation, he engulfed him in a bear hug.

Tang San staggered slightly under the force of the hug, surprised by the sheer strength behind it. "Fatty, you've gotten so much stronger in these five years!"

"Not bad, huh?" Ma Hongjun replied, grinning. "Though I have to say, Brother, your soul power level doesn't seem very high. Have you not broken through rank sixty yet? That's not like you!"

Tang San's smile –deepened, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. It was true—his soul power wasn't –as high as theirs. But his mastery of combat techniques and his twin domains gave him an edge far beyond what his soul power alone could suggest. Few Soul Emperors above level sixty could stand against him in battle.

Turning his gaze to the two women standing nearby, Tang San's expression softened. "Rongrong, Zhuqing, how have you been these past five years?"

The two women exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting unspoken emotions.

"I've stayed in touch with Zhuqing occasionally," Ning Rongrong said softly. "My soul power is also at level 62 now."

Although the difference in their levels was slight, her words revealed the dedication she'd poured into her cultivation.

"And you, Zhuqing?" Ma Hongjun asked with a teasing grin. "You're not below Third Brother, are you?"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, her expression unreadable.

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