Chapter 338: The Shattering of Shrek
As the group continued their discussions, everyone felt a sense of hopelessness, as if there were no clear path forward. Among them, the one most conflicted was undoubtedly Flender. As the former headmaster of Shrek Academy, he had once lived a simple life — poor, perhaps, but worry-free and independent. Now, it felt as if Shrek Academy had been pulled into a dark abyss. Originally, Shrek's teachers had joined the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to offer their students better opportunities, but through twists of fate, they had somehow accumulated countless powerful enemies.
For Shrek Academy, Tang San had initially been nothing more than an ordinary student. Under normal circumstances, the relationship between a teacher and a student would not lead to such profound entanglements. But because of Yu Xiaogang's close bond with him, Flender's longtime friend, who was also Tang San's only teacher and one of his closest allies, Shrek's staff had been drawn into the conflict between the Clear Sky Clan and the Wuhun Hall. For people like Zhao Wuji, who had once led an unbothered life — despite being on the Wuhun Empire's wanted list, they had never actually been targeted — the situation had now escalated into a life-or-death rivalry.
Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong remained steadfast in their animosity toward the Wuhun Empire; as members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, they had a deep, unshakable grudge against it. But for the rest, this enmity didn't carry the same weight.
After a long silence, Flender finally turned to Zhao Wuji and the other teachers. "Old Zhao, Qin Ming, and the rest of you," he said, "do you have any plans now? It goes without saying that none of you have any irreconcilable grudge with the Wuhun Empire. You could consider becoming independent soul masters or even joining Tianxing Academy, where you'd be free to follow your own path."
The five — Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming, Lu Qibin, Li Yusong, and Shao Xin — exchanged looks, uncertain of what to say. All of them had followed Flender out of loyalty, becoming the foundational teachers of Shrek Academy long before Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong had joined. Each of them was at least a Soul Emperor in rank, and Zhao Wuji had even reached the level of Soul Douluo. They would fare well enough as free soul masters.
Furthermore, other than Flender's core group, the rest of the faculty from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy had long since scattered, unwilling to follow him in his escape.
Zhao Wuji, though straightforward, was no fool — otherwise, he wouldn't have reached the level of a Soul Douluo. After some thought, he finally said, "Flender, do you have a plan? If you do, we're willing to follow you. It's not about fearing the Wuhun Empire; we just want to know if there's a way forward."
The room fell silent, including Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, who were listening intently. For them and the others with deeply personal grudges against the Wuhun Empire — like Titan and Bai He — joining forces with anyone else felt like betrayal. Shrek's teachers, however, shared no such hatred. For many of them, the path they had taken was one of camaraderie, forged by shared experiences with Flender.
Finally, Yu Xiaogang broke the silence. "Flender, I believe in Tang San. After his training on Sea God Island, he'll return stronger than ever. Once he reaches the level of Titled Douluo, I have no doubt he'll continue to advance to the rank of Limit Douluo."
"Moreover, it's obvious that Yang Potian at Tianxing Academy is colluding with the Wuhun Empire — why else would they let him operate unchallenged?"
Zhao Wuji, ever direct, merely replied, "Does that really matter?"
Yu Xiaogang's face twisted with a sudden fury, as if prodded by Zhao Wuji's indifference. "How can it not matter? The Wuhun Empire has committed atrocities, slaughtered entire sects, even massacred the imperial families of the two great empires. How can you not feel anything?"
But in their hearts, the others couldn't help but question silently: What do those events have to do with us, mere independent soul masters?
Flender glanced at Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong before turning back to his colleagues. Bowing deeply, he said, "Old Zhao, I apologize for dragging you all into this war. If any of you wish to leave, now is the time. You could make your way north to Tianxing Academy, where the Wuhun Empire's reach does not extend."
Qin Ming, startled by Flender's resolve, spoke up quickly. "Headmaster, if you're not coming with us, then I won't go either."
After a long silence, Flender finally turned to Yu Xiaogang. "Xiaogang, I know how much you believe in Tang San's potential. But Wuhun Empire already controls nearly the entire continent, and the situation looks bleak. These friends have stood by me for years, even through life-and-death struggles. I owe it to them to find a path forward."
"I've thought it over, and I plan to take the teachers to Tianxing Academy. Will you and Erlong join us? If you come with us, I'll make sure they accept you there — even if it costs me my life."
Yu Xiaogang's face twisted with rage. "Flender, what's that supposed to mean? Don't you believe in Tang San?"
Flender, ever the realist, sighed. "Xiaogang, I understand how much faith you have in him. But even if he reaches the rank of Limit Douluo, what then? He'll still be facing the combined might of the Wuhun Empire's Qian Daoliu and Tianxing Academy's Yang Potian. What chance does he have against two such powerful forces?"
Flender's words echoed everyone's unspoken fears. Even if Tang San became stronger, he'd be standing alone. How could he ever hope to challenge both these giants?
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with bitterness. "So, just because the odds are slim, you'd willingly join Tianxing Academy? Content to spend the rest of your lives there, giving up on all sense of justice and vengeance?"
Liu Erlong, distressed by his anger, reached out to calm him. "Flender, must you push Xiaogang like this?"
Flender, his expression unyielding, replied, "Erlong, it's not about forcing him. I have a responsibility to protect the lives of these friends. I can't lead them to their deaths."
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