"Buzz..."
As a dizzying hum filled the air—
When Su Wen opened his eyes again, he was back at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, watching over a group of six in monk-like training. Their training had several stages, and at the end of each, Su Wen would begin the next round of "devilish" special training.
Using near-perfect techniques from ten thousand years in the future—almost on par with Mysterious Heaven Skill—along with some savage beasts' hellish boot camps, everyone's strength had soared. Within three months, they'd all broken through to Soul Ancestor.
"Ugh... I can still keep going... ugh!" Osler's face flushed red as he knelt, dry heaving.
"Take a break..." Dugu Yan frowned slightly. "I know we've all been seeing Shrek Academy as our enemy and training so hard, but you should never burn out your potential."
"Right, Uncle Su?" she said, turning to where Su Wen was lazily stretched out on a lounge chair.
"Mhm."
Su Wen waved dismissively.
"Alright, special training is over for now. Follow the cultivation method I gave you and train steadily. Your grudge with Shrek Academy will be settled at next semester's tournament."
"Yeah!" Yu Feng cheered.
The others relaxed as well.
"But you're still missing one member..." Su Wen tapped his fingers idly.
Feng Xiaotian? Smart enough to invent his own soul skills, but he'd already joined Godwind Academy.
Meng Yiran? Just so-so.
But Su Wen wanted someone with good character too—which made it even harder...
Oh well, he'd play it by ear. Worst case, he'd just throw in a second-team substitute. These six were already strong enough.
Even if they could only absorb ten percent of their pet beasts' stats, it would still be a world-shaking change.
Yu Feng was darting around the training field so fast that even the others couldn't track him. The Shi brothers' Black Tortoise martial souls had obviously mutated, now glowing with a faint golden light. Their defenses—and physical strength—had soared.
Ye Lingling had inherited the teachings of the Azure Luan. Her Nine Heart Begonia martial soul had evolved, gaining a holy aura in addition to its original violet color. Not only did her healing abilities rise by thirty percent, but now her soul skills could also restore soul power.
"Thank you, teacher."
Ye Lingling bowed obediently.
"Mhm."
Su Wen covered his face with his fan, lost in thought.
His second martial soul had reached rank 29, but the second yellow pokeball still hadn't appeared. Did he need to find another immortal herb?
Not impossible, but it lacked novelty...
Wait!
Su Wen's eyes narrowed sharply.
If he remembered correctly, at this time, Ah Yin should still be seriously wounded and hidden by Tang Hao on the back mountain—reverted to the level of ordinary Blue Silver Grass after a grave injury, and most likely still within a hundred years of age, right?!!
"Yes!"
Su Wen sat up, unable to hide his smile.
He had to try!
A chance to "steal from the house" ten thousand years ago was too rare to pass up.
If it was the Ah Yin of ten thousand years later, he'd probably need a gold pokeball to catch her—by then she'd be half-god, or maybe already inside the Golden Tree thanks to Tang San.
And this could also eliminate a potential threat.
Su Wen mused.
Shrek Academy was his stronghold, but if Ah Yin sent by Tang San came to stir up trouble, that'd be bad. If he could collect Ah Yin ten thousand years ago, maybe all the problems in the future would disappear...
"If I can really fool the timeline's correction," Big eye said faintly in his spiritual sea.
"Of course, that's only if this person doesn't affect too much cause and effect within these ten thousand years. Like, if you want to resurrect Qian Renxue, that would require rewriting the war back then, and the Angel God would survive and become a god... that affects too many people and events, so I can't hide it from the timeline for now."
"But with Ah Yin... it might work. She disappeared from the river of time, but didn't affect as much as Qian Renxue."
"Alright." Su Wen got the answer he wanted and twirled his feather fan lightly.
The six disciples looked at him in confusion.
"Alright, you get three days off..." Su Wen waved his hand carelessly.
"Yay!"
Everyone dispersed.
"Ah Yin, I'm coming..."
…
Ten thousand years later.
God Realm.
Tang San frowned slightly, as if he sensed something slipping away—drifting from his fingertips, impossible to grasp. The feeling of helplessness left him unsettled.
"What's wrong, Xiao San?" A large, calloused hand rested on Tang San's shoulder, the voice deep and steady.
"Father."
Tang San turned and relaxed when he saw the familiar, kind face. "Maybe it's because Destruction's been watching me so closely these days. I'm just a little off. Once he eases up, I'll send you to Douluo Star to reunite with Mother, and help you devour the Plane Spirit to fully control Douluo Star."
"Hahaha, great!" Tang Hao laughed heartily.
Ah Yin's status made her the best fit to fuse with the Golden Tree, and she wouldn't draw attention. Just recently, San had quietly sent her to the lower realm, but she was currently asleep.
To be honest, he missed his wife, too.
Life in the God Realm was tough—only with Ah Yin did he feel grounded.
But he didn't want to show this in front of his son. Knowing how ambitious he was, Tang Hao held back his impatience, acting as if nothing was wrong.
He then strolled over to the garden, watering the spirit herbs contentedly—looking every bit the immortal.
"Damn Destruction."
Tang San gritted his teeth.
He glanced outside the little courtyard. After several minutes' standoff, a black shadow finally shifted and faded away.
"Damn it, do they really take me for a pushover? Only you know how to spy?!" Tang San gritted his teeth, then pointed to the horizon. A wave of sea-blue divine power carried his voice: "Mubai, go keep an eye on the God of Destruction. Watch his residence. Report everything he does to me!"
"Hmph!"
As his divine power carried his message away, Tang San's anger faded a bit. By sending Dai Mubai—who wasn't great at surveillance—he was telling Destruction plainly: I'm not happy. If you behave, we'll get along. If you push me, well...
"Gotta keep up appearances."
"I wonder what that guy Destruction has said to Life. The way she looks at me lately is off. Seems I've been neglecting the situation, letting Destruction think he can act up again. Hmph."
"Fight me? Dream on!"
…
Elsewhere.
Dai Mubai moved at Tang San's command, his expression completely cold—not out of anger for being ordered around, but rather a sense of resignation. He gave Zhu Zhuqing a brief explanation, then flashed out of the mansion to keep an eye on Destruction.
"..."
Zhu Zhuqing watched for a long time, then sighed softly, lost in thought.