Douluo: The Rebirth of the Supreme King Dong'er

With these results, she might even qualify for a senior teaching title. From then on, she would be able to hold her head higher than Zhou Yi whenever they met.

However, Zhou Yi would probably be saying goodbye to Shrek Academy very soon, Mu Jin thought to herself.

All she needed was the right opportunity, and she would bring Zhou Yi down for good!

With that thought, Mu Jin looked at Wang Dong'er again.

The idea of using this method to topple Zhou Yi had come to her in a flash that day, when Zhou Yi had been driven mad by Wang Dong'er.

Without Wang Dong'er, she probably would never have thought of such a plan.

She just wondered what Fan Yu would do when Zhou Yi was thrown out.

Shaking her head, Mu Jin cast aside her jumbled thoughts and smiled. "Wang Dong'er, Dean Yan also asked me to give you something. Let's head back first."

That old bastard Yan Shaozhe had finally dropped some gold?

Wang Dong'er immediately thought of the compensation Yan Shaozhe had promised before.

But if it was something like a Soul Ascension Pill or a Mysterious Water Pill, it would be useless to her now. Yan Shaozhe should know that as well.

Then it was probably a soul bone.

Still, it likely would not be more precious than the soul bone she had given Xiao Xiao.

The crowd dispersed quickly. No one noticed Wu Feng still standing there in a daze, watching Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao's retreating figures as they laughed and played around.

"What's wrong, Feng? Are you still unwilling to accept it?" Ning Tian asked curiously.

"No, it's not that..." Wu Feng came back to her senses. She gave Ning Tian a serious look, then shook her head. "Nothing. Maybe I saw wrong. Let's go back too."

With that, Wu Feng turned around, helped Nanmen Yun'er along, and walked ahead first.

After several lively days, the assessment area returned to silence once more.

It was not time for afternoon classes yet, so the classroom was empty. Mu Jin took out a ring and handed it to Wang Dong'er, instructing, "This is a small Storage Soul Tool. Dean Yan said that what he gave you is inside, but you must not give it to anyone else or sell it. Do you understand?"

Wang Dong'er raised an eyebrow. There were so many rules for a mere compensation gift? What could possibly be worth Yan Shaozhe taking so seriously?

She reached out and accepted the ring. As soon as she sent her Soul Power inside, Wang Dong'er immediately knew what Yan Shaozhe had given her.

It was actually a Soul Tool, and most likely a high-grade one. She just did not know what it was used for.

There was also something like a note inside the Storage Soul Tool, probably Yan Shaozhe's explanation.

Seeing Wang Dong'er put away the storage ring, Mu Jin said, "All right, I've finished what Dean Yan asked of me. The rewards for this freshman assessment are extremely generous. As the first-place team, you also have a unique reward of your own. Work hard. Perhaps we'll meet again during your first year."

Mu Jin seemed to be in a very good mood. As she walked out, she was even humming a tune under her breath, and they could faintly hear her muttering Zhou Yi's name.

When Wang Dong'er and the other two came out, two familiar figures were standing in front of the classroom again.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

"Little Yuhao, I heard you got first place in the freshman assessment. Is that true?" Tang Ya asked as she sized up Wang Dong'er and the others.

"Junior Brother, congratulations on getting first place in the freshman assessment." Bei Bei forced out a smile. "Also, you're about to officially become a first-year student. There are still some things about the Tang Sect that I need to discuss with you."

"The Tang Sect? All right, Senior Brother Bei Bei." Hearing that it concerned the Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao hurriedly agreed.

But Tang Ya's eyes rolled, and she proactively extended an olive branch to Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao. "Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, you two should come along too."

"Xiao Ya!" Bei Bei grew anxious and tugged on Tang Ya's hand. "What are you doing now?"

"Oh, Bei Bei, I just want to try recruiting them into the Tang Sect again. What if it works this time?" Tang Ya said softly.

"But Xiao Ya, what if they still don't want to join the Tang Sect?"

"It's only about learning Soul Tools. There's nothing to hide." Tang Ya waved her hand and beckoned Wang Dong'er's group over.

"It's actually nothing much." Tang Ya said to them, "You're about to become first-year students. According to academy rules, once students officially enter the first year, they can choose to study Soul Tools as a secondary discipline."

"The Tang Sect declined precisely because of the emergence of Soul Tools, which caused hidden weapons to gradually lose their influence. I said before that I wanted to revive the Tang Sect, so we must restore the glory of hidden weapons."

"However, if we only rely on ordinary hidden weapons, the Tang Sect will still have no competitiveness. So, I want to try combining hidden weapons with Soul Tools and develop new Soul Tool hidden weapons. Only then can we restore the Tang Sect's former glory."

"What are your thoughts on studying Soul Tools as a secondary discipline?"

Although she was asking all three of them, Tang Ya's gaze rested on Huo Yuhao.

After all, Huo Yuhao was the only one here who belonged to the Tang Sect.

"I'll listen to Dong'er. Dong'er already said so," Xiao Xiao replied.

"I'm willing to study Soul Tools too. Big Sis already introduced me to them before, and I think Soul Tools are very appealing," Huo Yuhao said as well.

"Hm?" Only then did Tang Ya look at Wang Dong'er. Setting aside how Huo Yuhao addressed her, a soul master with talent as outstanding as Wang Dong'er should, in theory, detest external tools like Soul Tools.

But when Tang Ya remembered that Wang Dong'er had used a Soul Tool against Xu Shishi before, she understood somewhat.

If Wang Dong'er had prejudices against Soul Tools, she would not have chosen to use one to secure victory back then.

Bei Bei: Xiao Ya, How Can I Live Without You, Xiao Ya?

Seeing Tang Ya look at her, Wang Dong'er slowly spoke. "Learning how to forge Soul Tools would be a waste of time for me and entirely unnecessary. I have the same requirement for Xiao Xiao. We only need to learn how to use Soul Tools."

"As for Huo Yuhao, his spiritual-type Martial Soul is highly suited to studying Soul Tools. He might even become a Rank Nine Soul Engineer in the future."

"A Rank Nine Soul Engineer?" Tang Ya smiled and narrowed her eyes. "That would be wonderful. If our Tang Sect had a Rank Nine Soul Engineer in the future, we could sweep across the continent."

Bei Bei smiled wryly. "A Rank Nine Soul Engineer would first have to cultivate to become a Titled Douluo. We should think about the future later. We were only asking for your opinions."

"Still, since you got first place in the freshman assessment, you might not even be able to enter the Soul Tool Department," Tang Ya suddenly said.

"Not be able to enter the Soul Tool Department? Why?" Xiao Xiao asked.

Tang Ya did not beat around the bush and directly explained, "The first-place team in every freshman assessment is guaranteed to receive a reward: core disciple status."

"Core disciple status?"

"That's right." Tang Ya nodded. "Although Shrek Academy has a Soul Tool Department, it is ultimately centered on the Martial Soul System. After all, Shrek Academy is the most supreme hall for soul masters on the Douluo Continent. It could even be said to represent the Douluo Continent itself."

Though Tang Ya was praising Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao somehow felt that her mood dipped for an instant.

"So, after the freshman assessment ends, the Martial Soul System will prioritize selecting students with outstanding performances. Most of the rest will be sent to the Soul Tool Department."

"Those who perform exceptionally well in the freshman assessment may obtain core disciple status in the Martial Soul System."

"Once someone becomes a core disciple of the Martial Soul System, the academy will devote more resources to nurturing them. Under those circumstances, how could the Martial Soul System possibly allow those core disciples to divide their attention by cultivating in the Soul Tool Department?"

"I see." Huo Yuhao nodded in sudden realization.

"Little Yuhao, although your spiritual-type Martial Soul is better suited to the Soul Tool Department, becoming a core disciple of the Martial Soul System might let you use the academy's resources to make up for the losses you suffered before. Perhaps you could even become a powerful battle soul master in the future."

"As for our Tang Sect, we can always recruit a few disciples who cultivate Soul Tools later."

Bei Bei also tossed in a little flattery and said with a smile, "The academy has always had a good relationship with our Tang Sect. I think we could directly recruit people from the Soul Tool Department."

It would have been better if Bei Bei had not said that. The moment he did, he stepped right on a landmine.

A shadow flashed through Tang Ya's eyes. She suddenly looked at Bei Bei, her tone slightly sharp. "A good relationship?"

"If the relationship was so good, where was Shrek Academy when our Tang Sect declined?"

"When that Iron Blood Sect seized our Tang Sect's residence, where was Shrek Academy?"

"Shrek Academy has been the continent's number one academy since ten thousand years ago. It has never declined in all ten thousand years. If they had merely spoken up, would anyone have dared to seize our Tang Sect's residence?"

"Bei Bei." Tang Ya said coldly, "Haven't you always wanted to know why the Tang Sect did not seek help from Shrek Academy back then?"

"Then I'll tell you today. We did seek aid from Shrek Academy back then, but what did Shrek Academy tell us?"

"The Tang Sect makes its living by selling hidden weapons across the continent, harming the harmony of heaven. Its decline is simply the natural order of things."

"Heh." Tang Ya laughed. "Shrek Academy demanded hidden weapons from our Tang Sect for thousands of years, and now they say our Tang Sect harmed the harmony of heaven?"

"Xiao Ya, you..." Bei Bei was nearly drowned by Tang Ya's barrage of words. He had never realized that Tang Ya had been suppressing such heavy resentment in her heart. His expression was filled with shock.

"So Senior Tang Ya has a story like this." Wang Dong'er sighed regretfully as though she feared the world was not chaotic enough. "Even if the Tang Sect had declined, it was still founded by the Sea God himself ten thousand years ago. Even if its relationship with Shrek Academy was not one where one's fall meant the other's ruin, they should at least have been as close as blood relatives. Shrek Academy truly should not have stood by and watched, much less kicked them while they were down."

"Kicked them while they were down?" Bei Bei suddenly grew agitated. "Shrek Academy has always acted openly and honorably, with a reputation for purity and integrity. How could it possibly do something like kicking someone while they were down?"

"Ah, Senior Bei Bei, why are you getting so worked up?" Wang Dong'er held her hands out in front of her, signaling Bei Bei to calm down.

Bei Bei did not notice at all that he had not refuted Wang Dong'er's accusation that Shrek Academy had stood idly by. He silently waited for her to continue, only to hear Wang Dong'er say, "Speaking of which, Senior Bei Bei."

"I heard that ten thousand years ago, Spirit Hall, which the Sea God had defined as an evil force, slaughtered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan until only a few survivors remained. Senior Bei Bei, you also have the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Are you their descendant?"

Bei Bei froze. He did not even notice that Wang Dong'er knew what his Martial Soul was. He instinctively shook his head. "No. My ancestors came from the line of Great Master Yu Xiaogang, but we have continued the family under my mother's surname."

The moment he finished speaking, Tang Ya's faint voice drifted over from beside him. "Bei Bei, you were originally from Shrek Academy?"

"No, Xiao Ya, listen to me." Bei Bei's heart jolted, and he hurriedly tried to patch things up. "Back then, I... No, I..."

Before Bei Bei could finish, Tang Ya suddenly interrupted him in a loud voice. "When you appeared by my side back then, was it all premeditated? Don't tell me you just happened to show up there by accident?"

"You... you..." Tang Ya stared at Bei Bei as tears burst from her eyes. The more she had liked Bei Bei before, the harder it was for her to accept now.

Even now, she could not bring herself to curse him. She could only turn and run away in quick steps, leaving everyone with nothing but her retreating figure.

"Xiao Ya! Xiao Ya, don't go! Xiao Ya, how can I live without you, Xiao Ya?" Bei Bei hurried after her. Before leaving, he did not forget to glance back at Wang Dong'er, his gaze filled with grievance.

Wang Dong'er was noncommittal. She only wanted Bei Bei to learn from Abe and open his heart sooner. She had meant well, so what had she done wrong?

Even if someone said she was too devious... well, thank you for the compliment!

With both Tang Ya and Bei Bei gone, Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, who had just witnessed such a juicy revelation, were still a little dazed.

Tang Ya had not said it outright, but everyone already understood what she meant.

Bei Bei was a descendant of Yu Xiaogang, one of Shrek Academy's founders. His roots were undoubtedly in Shrek, and the information he had inadvertently revealed showed that his initial encounter with Tang Ya had been a deliberate approach. What did that mean?

The Tang Sect's decline, if one put it seriously, might even have been something Shrek Academy deliberately allowed to happen.

Perhaps Shrek Academy's higher-ups had been waiting to take a share of the Tang Sect's spoils.

Core Disciples, Huo Yuhao's Disappointment

If Bei Bei and Tang Ya truly ended up together, would the Tang Sect's closely guarded cultivation techniques still belong to the Tang Sect alone?

And that fanatical look Bei Bei had whenever it came to Shrek Academy... was he truly worthy of being Shrek Academy's direct lineage.

"Will Teacher Xiao Ya... be all right?" Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment before asking.

"At least she won't suddenly be attacked by some lunatic."

After all, Mu En had ordered Bei Bei to approach Tang Ya in the first place. That old man would not possibly neglect the safety of his only descendant.

But speaking of Ma Xiaotao, Yan Shaozhe had said he would send her to become her maid. Why had she still not come?

Soon, after the lunch break, all students from the freshman classes who had passed the assessment arrived at Shrek Square.

After waiting for a while, Dean of Studies Du Weilun finally arrived at the front of the square with the teachers. Besides the homeroom teachers of each class, there were also several unfamiliar faces.

Du Weilun swept his gaze over the students, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Hello, students. You should all know that the freshman assessment and ranking matches have now completely concluded. This assembly is not only for assigning your classes, but also for commending the top three teams from the ranking matches."

"Next, I will announce their names and present their rewards."

"Third place in the freshman assessment: Dai Huabin's team. Team members: Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie. Come forward."

Dai Huabin's group had encountered Wang Dong'er's group in the semifinals. After being defeated by Wang Dong'er's group, they could only compete against Huang Chutian's team, which had lost the other semifinal to Ning Tian's group, for third place.

With the Lan sisters' Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Huang Chutian's group of three had been nearly unstoppable among the two-ring teams.

But they were clearly still no match for Ning Tian's team or Dai Huabin's team. They missed the top three and could only take fourth place.

However, perhaps losing to Wang Dong'er's group and then being mocked by Wang Dong'er had filled Dai Huabin with rage. In the match for third place, Dai Huabin immediately performed Martial Soul Fusion with Zhu Lu. If the referee teacher had not blocked the Hell White Tiger's attack, Huang Chutian's group would probably still be recovering from their injuries.

Dai Huabin and the other two stepped out from the freshman ranks, but there was not the slightest hint of excitement or joy on their faces. When they stopped before Du Weilun, their gazes passed directly over the students of Class One and landed on Wang Dong'er.

Feeling Dai Huabin's gaze fall on her, Wang Dong'er raised her head and looked back. Fortunately, what she saw was a gaze carrying anger and hatred, not affection.

It was not that Wang Dong'er thought too highly of herself. Dai Huabin was somewhat drawn to strength, and he even seemed to be a masochist. In the original story, Wang Qiu'er had beaten him badly, only for him to fall for her afterward.

She was genuinely worried that scolding Dai Huabin might actually make him enjoy it.

Once Dai Huabin's group had taken their places, Du Weilun continued, "Second place: Ning Tian's team. Team members: Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Nanmen Yun'er."

Ning Tian's group quickly stepped forward. Wang Dong'er felt another gaze settle on her. She had expected it to be Ning Tian, the team captain, but it turned out to be Wu Feng.

Wait, why was Wu Feng looking at her? Could she possibly have masochistic tendencies too?

Wang Dong'er was instantly full of question marks.

"Finally, let us welcome the first-place team of this year's freshman assessment with a round of applause!" Du Weilun said, raising his voice slightly.