Inside the Tang Sect branch, Tang Wulin and the others were settled in, each given a separate room. Except for Xu Xiaoyan, the other four all had someone assigned to take care of them.
Tang Wulin lay on the bed. Wu Zhangkong sat on a chair close by, while a female healing soul master was treating Tang Wulin's injuries.
When the female healing soul master finished channeling her soul power, she withdrew her martial soul, then took out a jade bottle and handed it to Wu Zhangkong:
"This is a Tang Sect special wound-healing ointment. Apply it to the burned area on this kid's body. It'll sting a bit when you put it on—have him bear with it."
"Thank you," Wu Zhangkong said politely.
"No need," the female healing soul master smiled in return, then left the room.
"Bear with it," Wu Zhangkong said to Tang Wulin. He poured the ointment into his palm, rubbed it evenly, and applied it to the wound on Tang Wulin's abdomen.
Tang Wulin gritted his teeth, holding back any sound. This pain was like rubbing salt into a wound—unpleasant, but tolerable.
Once the medicine was applied, Wu Zhangkong stood, intending to leave.
"Teacher Wu," Tang Wulin asked weakly, "how did that Yunze do it today? His strength isn't something someone his age should even have."
He still couldn't figure it out. How had Yunze trained? At only six or seven years old, he was already a two-ringed Soul Grandmaster.
What was worse—he actually had battle armor. Even they, the top Shrek Academy students of their generation, were still a long way from owning a complete set of battle armor. Yet this six- or seven-year-old kid already had a full set, and it even emerged from within his body.
He knew very well what that meant: armor released from within the body was the mark of a two-word battle armor master.
In other words, Yunze was a two-word battle armor master. How… was that even possible?
Wu Zhangkong stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn around, falling silent. The question truly stumped him.
After a long silence, he shook his head and said:
"I don't know. That Yunze is very strange—his strength defies common sense. With what I know, I can't answer your question."
"When we return, we can ask your teachers. They know more, maybe they can give a reasonable explanation."
Not getting an answer left Tang Wulin disappointed. He couldn't help but wonder over and over how Yunze had done it.
Wu Zhangkong turned back to face Tang Wulin, his tone serious:
"Don't let this loss crush your confidence or fighting spirit."
"And don't feel too defeated—Yunze is an exception. In this world, most people are normal."
"Someone like you, who's already among the very best in Shrek Academy's first-years, would still be among the top talents of your entire generation across the Federation."
"Your cultivation speed may not be the very fastest, but your bloodline talent, your combat instincts, your leadership abilities—these are things others can't compare to."
"You're already exceptional. Are you really going to let one defeat make you depressed, make you lose faith?"
"Teacher Wu, I…" Tang Wulin felt ashamed, unable to refute the words. He truly had been shaken.
Wu Zhangkong raised a hand to stop Tang Wulin from speaking, continuing, now with a sharper tone:
"Remember: You are a Shrek student. Among the new students of the continent's number one academy, you are one of the best. You can lose anything, but never the confidence that sets you apart from your peers."
"From the moment you were accepted into Shrek Academy, you were destined to never be just another nameless soul master. From the moment you defeated your fellow students, you were destined to stand among the strongest of your generation."
"You may not be the strongest among your peers yet, but you must strive to become that person. As a Shrek student, you must have—and deserve to have—this confidence and determination. You're weaker than Yunze now, but does that mean you'll always be weaker?"
"I don't think so. I don't know how Yunze became a two-ringed Soul Grandmaster and donned two-word battle armor…"
"But I can guarantee, he definitely used some special means to achieve it—most likely by taking some kind of pill."
"If the Dragon Phoenix Hall can refine life-extending pills that defy the heavens, then creating pills that rapidly boost cultivation and allow someone to prematurely bear the power of battle armor isn't impossible either."
"Such pills might temporarily give Yunze strength far beyond his age, but they'll also severely burn through his innate talent."
"If his talent is burned away, do you think his future cultivation speed will still be that fast?"
This was the explanation Wu Zhangkong found most reasonable, though he wasn't entirely sure it was true.
Hearing this, Tang Wulin's eyes immediately brightened. The previous frustration and despair visibly faded.
"If that's the case, then I'll definitely surpass him in the future," Tang Wulin said, clenching his fist, confidence flooding back into his voice.
Wu Zhangkong looked into Tang Wulin's eyes and once again saw the confidence and pride that used to be there. Satisfied, he nodded.
"I believe in you. Once you've healed, all of you must train even harder. However, you lost today, you'll win it back the same way later."
"Right!" Tang Wulin nodded hard, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Teacher Wu, don't worry. The humiliation they gave us today—we'll repay them double in the future."
After leaving Tang Wulin's room, Wu Zhangkong checked on Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, and Ye Xinglan. Confirming they were not in life-threatening condition, he finally let out a breath of relief.
"Hall Master, we've troubled you," Wu Zhangkong said gratefully to the person in charge of the Mingdu Tang Sect branch.
The man he addressed as Hall Master was an elderly man named Hu Song, over sixty, yet still robust and sharp-minded thanks to his Title Douluo-level strength.
Hu Song waved his hand with a smile:
"Elder Cai from the Sea God Pavilion personally called me to ask for help. How could I possibly refuse?"
"And you don't need to be so polite. These youngsters are all Tang Sect disciples, incredibly talented and worth cultivating. For such outstanding Tang Sect disciples, even without Elder Cai's request, I would have stepped in to help."
Wu Zhangkong no longer bothered with formalities, instead walking half a step behind Hu Song, chatting casually as they went.
"Oh, right," Hu Song added, "I just received another call from Elder Cai. She said your teacher will arrive in Mingdu tomorrow to pick you up. Be prepared."
"Understood," Wu Zhangkong replied.
…
Meanwhile, around the Dragon Phoenix Hall building, the area was packed with people. Closest to the doors were media workers; behind them, curious onlookers.
Two massive, imposing men stood on either side of the main doors, both having released their martial souls.
Behind them loomed terrifying, dark-gold giant bears. Nine soul rings pulsed rhythmically around them, their energy controlled carefully, without leaking.
Both men had the same soul ring configuration: seven black, two red. The sight of such soul rings made onlookers' hearts tremble, none daring to get too close.
Dragon Phoenix Hall had already suspended operations for the day. Whether reporters or genuine customers hoping to buy pills, all were turned away at the door, unable to enter.
(End of Chapter)