The clamor brought about by the brutal draw at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena was gradually left behind as the carriage jolted along. The Shrek Team returned to the academy in silence, the atmosphere so heavy it felt as though it could be wrung out like water.
Shrek Academy, boys' dormitory.
Tang San slowly regained consciousness from a deep coma. The moment his awareness returned, intense pain swept through his entire body like a tide. Every inch of his muscles felt as if they had been torn apart, and the emptiness following the exhaustion of his soul power made even lifting a finger feel like a monumental effort. He let out a muffled groan and struggled to open his heavy eyelids, only to be greeted by the familiar, somewhat crude ceiling of the dormitory.
"Third Brother! You're awake?!" A voice filled with both tears and surprise rang in his ears. Xiao Wu, her eyes red and swollen, threw herself onto the bedside and gripped his hand tightly, tears falling like beads from a broken string. "You scared me to death! You've been in a coma for an entire day and night!"
Looking at Xiao Wu's pale, haggard face and the bloodshot eyes, Tang San felt a pang of pain in his heart. He forced a reassuring smile and said in a hoarse voice, "It's okay... Xiao Wu, I... I'm fine."
"Fine? How are you fine!" Xiao Wu complained through her tears. "The doctor said your soul power was severely overdrawn and your meridians were damaged. If you don't recover properly, you'll be left with hidden injuries!" She carefully helped Tang San sit up and brought over the medicinal porridge that had been kept warm, feeding him spoonful by spoonful.
Just then, the dormitory door was pushed open, and Flender and Zhao Wuji walked in. Flender adjusted his glasses and looked at Tang San; his face remained expressionless, but deep within his eyes hid a trace of imperceptible concern and lingering fear.
"Awake? How do you feel?" Flender's voice remained as stern as ever.
"Dean, Teacher Zhao." Tang San tried to prop himself up, but was pressed back down by Flender.
"Just lie down." Flender waved his hand. "You kid, you have a real knack for survival, and you're truly daring. To think you even possess an External Soul Bone, that treasure... you certainly have plenty of trump cards."
Tang San felt a chill in his heart, knowing he couldn't hide it anymore, and said in a low voice, "Student did not intend to conceal it..."
"Enough, I'm not blaming you." Flender interrupted him, his tone softening. "Every soul master has secrets; hiding one's trump cards well is a skill. Although this was risky, it displayed the spirit of our Shrek. Those arrogant brats from Tianxing Academy will certainly remember us this time."
Zhao Wuji also chimed in with a gruff voice, "Kid, well done! Ruthless enough! Ruthless to the enemy, and even more ruthless to yourself! You're good material!"
As they were speaking, Oscar and Ma Hongjun also poked their heads in, carrying some fruit.
"Third Brother, you're finally awake!" Oscar looked genuinely shaken. "You were too fierce that day! You almost flipped the entire Tianxing Team!"
Ma Hongjun scratched his head, "Exactly, Third Brother, those spider legs and dragon claws of yours were so cool! Just... a bit scary."
Tang San nodded at them, acknowledging their presence. He could feel that after the battle in Suotuo City—especially after his desperate outburst at the end, which had nearly turned the tide of the battle single-handedly—the attitudes of Oscar and Ma Hongjun toward him had become noticeably more respectful and intimate. The slight rift caused by Dai Mubai seemed to have faded significantly.
Li Qingshan and Lu Ziqi also came to visit shortly after, their tone polite and tinged with a hint of awe. Clearly, the terrifying strength and ruthlessness Tang San had displayed had completely won the recognition—or perhaps the wariness—of his peers.
Dai Mubai stood at the doorway with his arms crossed, his expression complex. He seemed to want to come in but couldn't bring himself to lower his pride. His eyes were unfocused, not as sharp as usual, as if he were preoccupied with something.
Tang San didn't think too much about it; regardless of how Dai Mubai felt, he didn't care much. After this battle, he was even more convinced that only absolute power could dictate one's own destiny.
Xiao Wu carefully wiped the medicinal stains from the corner of Tang San's mouth, her eyes filled with heartache and lingering fear. Tang San looked at her, and a warm current surged in his heart.
Flender walked to the bedside, adjusted his glasses, and reached out to check Tang San's pulse. After sensing it carefully for a moment, he frowned slightly. "The meridians are not lightly damaged, and your qi and blood are depleted. Fortunately, your foundation is good, and you are young; recovery shouldn't be slow. For the next month, all forms of cultivation and combat are strictly forbidden; focus primarily on recuperation."
He paused, glanced at Tang San, and a complex, inscrutable light flashed in his eyes. "That... External Soul Bone on your back, try not to use it easily again. It seems to have developed some unknown, deep-seated connection with your martial soul and bloodline. Overusing it might damage your very essence."
Tang San felt a chill; he knew the Dean was referring to the Eight Spider Lances. Aside from Xiao Wu, he had never mentioned the origin of these Eight Spider Lances to anyone.
It was a soul bone that had dropped with extreme luck when he hunted a special Man Faced Demon Spider with a cultivation level close to three thousand years, exceeding his own level for his third soul ring. It was an External Soul Bone that could grow.
The process had been incredibly perilous. If not for his firm will from two lifetimes and the protection of his Mysterious Heaven Skill, combined with the fact that the mutated Man Faced Demon Spider seemed to be in a poor state itself, he never could have succeeded.
The fusion process had been a life-and-death struggle, agonizingly painful, eventually forming these eight ferocious spider legs that felt like a part of his martial soul.
He was usually extremely cautious, deliberately disguising them as a form of martial soul avatar when using them. Ordinary soul masters hadn't even seen a soul bone, so they naturally wouldn't recognize this even rarer External Soul Bone.
As for the experts who could recognize it, they would generally see that the soul bone had already completely fused with him (because Tang San's martial soul here was also a Man Faced Demon Spider, the compatibility with the Eight Spider Lances was higher, allowing for a relatively easier complete fusion). Since it was difficult to strip away, they wouldn't harbor thoughts of seizing it; after all, the cost of forcibly taking a fused soul bone was too high for too little gain.
"Thank you for your concern, Dean. I understand." Tang San said in a low voice, though his heart felt heavy due to Flender's words. A deep connection between the Eight Spider Lances and his bloodline? Could it be related to that Crimson Gold Dragon martial soul? Thinking of that uncontrollable, violent power, a trace of unease welled up in his heart.
"Hmph, as long as you understand!" Flender snorted, then sighed. "Don't be too discouraged. The Tianxing Team has the foundation of the continent's top academy. That little girl named Ning Rongrong, with the amplification of the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda combined with a Level Four Soul Tool, would be a headache for anyone. That you managed to force a draw already far exceeds my expectations."
At the mention of soul tools, Tang San's eyes dimmed instantly, and his fists clenched involuntarily, his nails digging into his palms. Discouraged? It was more than just discouragement! It was a feeling of near-desperate powerlessness!
Hidden weapons... the Tang Sect ultimate skills he had been proud of and regarded as his life in his previous existence, in this world, in the face of true soul master power and high-level soul tools, actually appeared so... backward!
During his conflict with Dai Mubai, his Bone Piercing Needle had been easily blocked by his Trigger Type Defensive Soul Tool. This time, he had exhausted all his trump cards, fighting for his life, only to be forced into a draw by Ning Rongrong's seemingly hasty but actually powerful Soul Guiding Ray Cannon. If the opponent hadn't also been at the end of her rope, he would likely have been the one defeated.
The hidden weapons he meticulously crafted required extremely high technique and timing to be effective. Yet, soul tools seemed to only require the injection of soul power to unleash powerful attacks or defenses.
Especially since the one Ning Rongrong used was a Level Four Soul Tool she had crafted herself! This meant that soul tool technology was not too difficult to learn and could be popularized! In contrast, Tang Sect hidden weapons required too much talent and practice, destined to be difficult to pass on at scale.
A sense of melancholy that "the times have changed" almost drowned Tang San. Was the Tang Sect path he insisted on truly still valuable in this world of martial souls and soul tools?
Flender was sharp; he saw through Tang San's thoughts at a glance. He pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and his tone became somewhat distant. "Kid, do you think your hidden weapons are inferior to soul tools?"
Tang San remained silent, which was as good as an admission.
Flender said earnestly, "It's true that soul tools are powerful, but do you think just anyone can master them? It requires immense spiritual power talent and a profound understanding of energy circuits, materials science, and inscription arrays!
The production costs are exorbitant, and the failure rate is staggering! A Level Four Soul Tool? Hmph, many Soul King level battle soul masters might not even be able to afford one suitable piece, let alone craft it themselves!"
He pointed at Tang San, his tone carrying a hint of provocation. "I've occasionally seen you use your hidden weapons over the past six months. Although, on the whole, their convenience and range of application are far inferior to soul tools, they are silent, impossible to guard against, and consume very little soul power. When used well, killing enemies across levels is as easy as reaching into one's pocket! This is something ordinary soul tools find hard to achieve. Each has its own strengths, understand?"
"But..." Tang San wanted to retort, as Flender had only seen him use hidden weapons, but he, Tang San, was a genius who had studied for decades in his previous life, which was why the hidden weapons seemed so strong.
"But what but!" Flender interrupted him. "If you think soul tools are advanced, then go learn them! Who says hidden weapons can't be combined with soul tools? Why are you so stubborn?"
Flender's series of rhetorical questions hit Tang San like heavy hammers.
"Soul tools are tools, and hidden weapons are also tools. Tools themselves have no distinction of superiority; the key lies in the person using them—how to bring out the strengths of the tool and avoid its weaknesses." Flender's tone was profound.
"Exactly!" Flender affirmed. "Soul tools provide new energy sources and burst modes, so why can't your hidden weapon techniques take the best of both worlds? Why can't you use soul tool technology to forge tougher hidden weapon materials that can better carry soul power? Why can't you integrate the techniques of compressing and shaping soul power into your hidden weapon methods to create new, more powerful, and more concealed hidden weapons?"
Flender's words were like pushing open a brand-new door in front of Tang San! He had previously fallen into a binary trap, believing that Tang Sect hidden weapons and soul tools were in opposition, a life-or-death relationship. He had never thought that they could perhaps complement each other!
That's right! Why couldn't Tang Sect hidden weapons keep pace with the times? Why couldn't they absorb the essence of this new era? The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record general principles state: All rivers run into the sea, tolerance makes greatness. Stagnation is the true path to death! (Lu Xiaobu: Lüshi Chunqiu, I write Spring and Autumn, I decide.)
Once this thought appeared, it was like a prairie fire, instantly reigniting Tang San's nearly extinguished fighting spirit! Tang Sect hidden weapons were by no means inferior to others! He would prove it to everyone! Not only would he inherit them, but he would also surpass them! In this new world, he would push the wisdom of the Tang Sect to an unprecedented peak!
Seeing the fire reignite in Tang San's eyes, Flender nodded with satisfaction and stood up. "Alright, kid, now that you've thought it through, focus on recovering. The road ahead is long; Soul Tool Technology isn't easy to learn. It requires an extremely high level of Theoretical Knowledge and resources—you'll have plenty of headaches later on! Oscar, prepare more Recovery Great Sausage for him. The rest of you, get back to what you were doing; don't disturb the patient's rest!"
The group left one after another. Dai Mubai paused at the door, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, he only gave Tang San a deep look before turning away with a complex expression.
Xiao Wu stayed behind to take meticulous care of Tang San. For the next half-month, Tang San strictly followed the doctor's orders and rested in peace.
Flender even went out of his way to find some books on the basics of Soul Tools to help Tang San pass the time. Although they were only introductory knowledge, Tang San was mesmerized, as if a door to a new world had been opened. His determination to delve into Soul Tool Technology grew even firmer.
After his wounds healed, Tang San's life became even more fulfilling. He did not set aside his cultivation of Tang Sect Ultimate Skills; Mysterious Heaven Skill, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Mysterious Jade Hand, and Hundred Explanations of Hidden Weapons remained his daily required courses. At the same time, he began a systematic study of Soul Tool knowledge and attempted to incorporate some of his preliminary understanding into the modification of his hidden weapons.
For instance, he tried to re-forge the bolts of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow using Hundred-Refined Metal and attempted to engrave them with some Soul Guiding Arrays. Although he failed many times, he succeeded in slightly increasing the bolts' piercing power and their ability to carry Soul Power.
He also studied how to use the insight of the Purple Demon Eye to observe the subtle flow of energy within Soul Tools, hoping to spot the weaknesses of more complex Soul Tools in the future.
The bookstores, blacksmith shops, and even the black market of Suotuo City all bore his footprints.
Xiao Wu watched his changes, feeling both heartache and support. She knew that the proud Tang San had returned, and this time, he had a clearer goal.
Over these two years, the Shrek Team entered a relatively stable period of dormancy. Flender knew well that the members needed time to digest resources, increase their Soul Power, and solidify their Foundation. He did not arrange too many external soul fights, focusing instead on internal sparring and Tactic drills.
Under Flender's intentional mediation, the relationships within the team improved subtly. Dai Mubai remained aloof, but the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere between him and Tang San eased significantly; at the very least, they could maintain basic communication and cooperation during daily training and team drills.
Perhaps because of Zhuqing, Dai Mubai became somewhat reticent. He would occasionally lose focus during training, his eyes complex, lost in thought. Oscar and Ma Hongjun completely leaned toward the "power-oriented" Tang San, becoming his little followers. Li Qingshan and Lu Ziqi remained neutral, but they trained even harder.
Xiao Wu remained Tang San's firmest supporter, never leaving his side. Her Soft Skill and Teleportation played an increasingly important role in Tang San's Tactic system, and the two became more and more synchronized.
An ample supply of resources was the guarantee for strength improvement. Although Flender was stingy, he was never ambiguous about his investment in the Seed Team. The subsidies from the academy, combined with the resources provided by the members' respective families or channels, allowed the Shrek Seven Devils to see rapid growth in their Soul Power over these two years.
Dai Mubai, after reaching level 49 a year ago, encountered a Bottleneck. Proud and ambitious, he wanted to achieve a better ranking in the upcoming All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament to gain more support from his family.
He ultimately chose to consume a "Breakthrough Pill" with relatively minor side effects, forcibly breaking through the Bottleneck to reach level 51 as a Soul King. The price was that his Soul Power was slightly unstable, and his future potential was affected to a degree, requiring a massive amount of time in hard cultivation to solidify his foundation. Yet, he did not seem to regret it.
Tang San, relying on the foundation of his Twin Martial Souls and diligent cultivation, steadily increased his Soul Power to level 45 as a Soul Ancestor. His interest in Soul Tools grew daily, though he mostly just dabbled in it so as not to hinder his cultivation.
Furthermore, Tang San had to admit that while his talent for Soul Tools was decent, it was not exceptional. Moreover, the highest level of Soul Tool knowledge available in Suotuo City was only level two; he would have to wait until his cultivation was more successful before diving deeper into it.
Xiao Wu, gifted and talented, caught up from behind, her Soul Power rising to level 46, surpassing Tang San and leaving everyone stunned.
Oscar, a level 44 Soul Ancestor, found his Sausage Martial Soul to be indispensable to the team.
Ma Hongjun, a level 41 Soul Ancestor, saw the power of his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul manifest more clearly as his level increased.
Li Qingshan and Lu Ziqi also increased their Soul Power by seven levels, reaching level 44 and level 43 respectively. As the backbone of the team, they became increasingly steady.
During this period, Flender also took the team to the Great Soul Arena in several nearby cities for Training. The strength of their opponents varied, with the goal of honing the team and increasing their practical combat experience. The coordination of the Shrek Team matured day by day; although there was still occasional Friction, they had already begun to take the shape of a strong team.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye. The naive boys and girls of the past had shed their immaturity, growing into a new force in the Soul Master World that could not be ignored. They sharpened their claws, accumulated their strength, and waited quietly to bloom with their own brilliance on that grand Stage that gathered all the geniuses of the continent.
The storm was brewing in the calm, and the sharp sword was unsheathed after its dormancy. The footsteps of the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament were drawing near. The monsters of Shrek were about to be unleashed!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan