Cao Jinxiang followed Lian Yue to the rear. Lian Yue handed Cao Jinxiang a letter Yuwen Tuo had prepared long ago.
Cao Jinxiang tore it open and read it carefully. It contained Yuwen Tuo's instructions for him.
It told him to study diligently at Shrek Academy's Outer Court, cultivating his inner energy while also learning about soul tools in the Soul Tool Department.
It also instructed him not to expose too much of his talent, only needing to steadily cultivate to Rank 40, and then apply for graduation from the Outer Court.
The Heavenly Soul Empire paid no attention whatsoever to combat-oriented soul tools, so Cao Jinxiang could only temporarily remain at Shrek to study.
Yuwen Tuo didn't need him to excel at it, only to master the course of "Soul Tool Practical Control." This was a profession where one wouldn't necessarily craft soul tools, but could skillfully utilize various soul tools to enhance their combat power and survival capabilities, much like Nana of the Sun Moon Empire.
Yuwen Tuo also understood that Cao Jinxiang's talent and energy were limited. If he also had to learn to craft soul tools on top of cultivation, it would be too difficult for him. So, he only needed to become a practical soul tool user.
As for the source of soul tools, the Sun Moon Empire had plenty. Wouldn't it be easier to just seize them directly when the opportunity arose? Whatever he got, he could use.
Cao Jinxiang finished reading the letter, took a deep breath, and walked to the center of the crowd.
Since everyone knew of Cao Jinxiang's excellent relationship with the traitor Yuwen Tuo, some people were already eager to start scolding him. However, Cao Jinxiang was one step faster. "Yuwen Tuo, you heartless and unrighteous traitor! I trusted you so much, and even wanted to learn alongside you, yet you turn out to be so shameless, betraying my Shrek! Don't think you're so great; you're just trash, a despicable scoundrel hated by everyone. Get out of my sight forever!"
Everyone was stunned. They had been about to scold Cao Jinxiang, but to their surprise, he possessed such awareness, waking up so quickly.
Seeing him fiercely berate Yuwen Tuo, everyone's perception of him changed from disgust to pity. Indeed, he was probably the most heartbroken. His trusted friend had become a despicable betrayer of the academy.
Long Xiangyue, who had once been on a team with him, even stepped forward to comfort him. "Alright, Jinxiang, it's a good thing you recognized Yuwen Tuo as a traitor early. Don't let him affect you; you still have us."
Cao Jinxiang nodded, touched. "Mm, thank you, brother!"
Lian Yue, watching from behind, felt her mouth twitch. This Cao Jinxiang's change was too quick, wasn't it? As expected, "like master, like disciple." This shameless demeanor was indeed an inherited trait.
Yuwen Tuo had told Cao Jinxiang in the letter how to establish himself in Shrek: it was very simple, just vehemently curse him, making everyone believe that Cao Jinxiang was also a pitiful victim of his betrayal.
Cao Jinxiang could only curse him aloud while apologizing inwardly, "Master, please don't blame me. Your disciple is merely following your orders."
On the other side, Ma Xiaotao came to Yuwen Tuo's room. Following the instructions Yuwen Tuo had left for her, she opened a drawer in his room.
Inside were a gold soul coin card and a small booklet.
Ma Xiaotao opened the booklet, which contained Yuwen Tuo's detailed list of repayments.
The gold soul coin card contained one hundred thousand gold soul coins.
Of that, thirty thousand were what Ma Xiaotao had given him over the years, which he fully returned.
The remaining seventy thousand were for the various books he had asked Ling Luochen to bring from the academy's library. After all, he had indeed learned a lot from them, and this counted as tuition fees.
As for the Profound Water Pill, Soul Ascension Pill, and soul bones Yuwen Tuo later obtained, they were either from gambling wins, as part of his transaction for helping her resolve her evil fire, or as championship prizes won through his strength, and thus were not within the scope of repayment.
And as for food and lodging expenses, there was no need to compensate for them, because he was essentially imprisoned. There was no precedent for a person being imprisoned still having to pay for food and lodging.
What Yuwen Tuo needed to return were things that had genuinely provided him with some assistance. Soon, the Heavenly Soul Empire would also send two soul beasts to return to Gongchang Long.
The last line recorded in the letter was Yuwen Tuo's message to her.
"Ma Xiaotao, everything you gave me, I have returned to you. Next, it's what you and Shrek owe me. When I return, Sea God Lake will run with blood!"
"Yuwen Tuo, you bastard!" Now alone, Ma Xiaotao could no longer suppress the sorrow in her heart. No longer needing to hide it from anyone, she removed her mask of feigned strength and burst into tears in his room. "I clearly, clearly said I would compensate you! Why won't you forgive me, not even leaving me a tiny chance?"
She knew that by returning these things to her, Yuwen Tuo was severing all ties with her. From then on, between them, only hatred remained.
"I won't allow you to cut ties with me like this. You are mine. From the day we met, your flame was destined to be inseparable from mine." Ma Xiaotao stood up, and the small booklet in her hand instantly burned to ashes.
She seemed to have become even more extreme than before.
Meanwhile, Yuwen Tuo, at this moment, had no idea. Even if he did know, he wouldn't care.
She wanted to capture him and bring him back, but why wouldn't he want to cut her down? Anyway, a battle between them was inevitable, sooner or later.
Yuwen Tuo and Du Busi had already returned to the Star Luo Empire, also bringing along Iron Palm Douluo Wang Luohai. Of course, they hadn't come to Star Luo City, but to Gengxin City, a border region.
This time, they flew, rather than taking a soul tool carriage, so their speed was considerably faster. This was also an ancient city that had stood on the continent for ten thousand years.
The Blacksmith's Association of old was located here. It had once suffered a great calamity, destroyed by the Spirit Hall, and was rebuilt after Tang San's annihilation of the Spirit Hall. Nowadays, with the advent of soul tool technology, there were few pure blacksmiths left, but the city still held value. After all, rare soul tool materials were all various metals.
Gengxin City was the Star Luo Empire's largest metal city. The rapid development of Star Luo's soul tool technology in recent years was undoubtedly due to Gengxin City's contributions.
Du Busi looked at the city, lost in thought. From the images Yuwen Tuo had shown him earlier, he had seen the power of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tools. He began to reflect: Was his contempt for soul tools shortsighted after all?
Star Luo's national power had surged in recent years, which seemed inseparable from the development of soul tools.
If they continued to remain stagnant, would they truly be eliminated by the world?
"Sect Master, how much longer until Medical Immortal Douluo arrives?" Yuwen Tuo stood at the city gate, asking Du Busi beside him.
Medical Immortal Douluo had previously promised Du Busi to help him save someone. Now, Du Busi was here to make her fulfill that promise.
He had something to do, but it couldn't be done in the Star Luo Imperial Capital.
And asking Wang Xian'er to go to the Heavenly Soul Empire was unrealistic. After all, for a healing-type Titled Douluo to venture into another country so rashly, wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
Therefore, the location finally chosen by both sides was Gengxin City, this border city between the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul Empires.
Called by Yuwen Tuo, Du Busi came back to his senses and said, "She might already be here. Don't worry, Tuo'er, Medical Immortal Douluo's character is trustworthy. If she says she'll come, she definitely will, and she won't be late." Du Busi looked down on many people, but he highly praised Wang Xian'er.
From this, one could see how highly respected and virtuous this elder was among the Titled Douluo.
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