Tang San, the Ingrate! A Break with Shrek!

"Hmph! At least you know what's good for you!" Ye Zhiqiu said coldly. "You two—I won't bully children. Call your teacher out."

Dai Mubai inwardly cursed. This was bad!

Ma Hongjun glared!

Did this guy really think he was made of clay?

Flender was upstairs anyway. It wasn't like he'd just stand by and watch him die, right?

"Second Soul Skill: Phoenix in Nirvana!"

"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"

Blazing flames shot straight at Ye Zhiqiu, but the gap of over twenty levels meant he did not even need to use a Soul Skill.

The Mystic Tortoise Martial Soul behind him blocked the attack with effortless ease.

"Third Soul Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"

The enlarged Dai Mubai lunged in from the side, his sharp tiger claws tearing down!

"Martial Soul Possession!"

The Mystic Tortoise transformed into a set of green Turtle Shell armor around Ye Zhiqiu.

Dai Mubai's tiger claws struck it, forcing Ye Zhiqiu back half a step, but they still failed to break his defense.

"Very good!"

"You were the ones who attacked first!"

"Second Soul Skill: Mystic Water Ice Seal!"

White icy mist surged outward with Soul Power, freezing Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun solid.

One move, instant KO.

The suppression of low-level Soul Masters by high-level Soul Masters was simply that terrifying.

Upstairs.

Flender's expression darkened. He could not understand what Tang Lan was doing!

The hot-tempered Zhao Wuji was about to leap down and save them on the spot.

"Rustle—"

Amid the sound of branches and leaves rubbing together, a mass of green shadows burst from beneath Ye Zhiqiu's feet, binding him and the seven Canghui Academy students beside him within a single breath.

Tang Lan's Third Soul Ring beneath his feet glowed purple.

"Brat! You've got guts!" Ye Zhiqiu roared. "Fifth Soul Skill—"

"Heh!"

Tang Lan sneered as Gluttony activated!

The rapid loss of Soul Power caused Ye Zhiqiu's Soul Skill to collapse.

The rapid loss of vitality made his limbs go weak.

The rapid loss of Mental Power left his thoughts muddled.

"Crack—crack—"

Ye Zhiqiu's control over his Soul Skill weakened, allowing Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun to break free from the ice.

It also jolted Ye Zhiqiu awake.

He forced himself to activate another Soul Skill—

"Third Soul Skill: Mystic Water Surge!"

Wave after wave of water rippled outward, washing over the Life Spirit Blue Silver Emperor.

He had thought it would free him.

Yet—

aside from washing away a few blades of grass, it did not even break a single strand of the Life Spirit Blue Silver Emperor!

—Empowered by three twenty-thousand-year Soul Rings, this kind of non-offensive Soul Skill was nothing more than a scratch.

As Tang Lan fed his Mental Power to his Double Pupils, he lectured them—

"Not taking the initiative to cause trouble does not mean we should be afraid of it."

"When one of our own is bullied, regardless of the reason, beat the enemy down first."

"Then ask what happened."

"If one of our own was in the wrong, how they should be punished is an internal matter of the Tang Sect."

"What right do outsiders have to interfere?"

"Never let reason go, and when you have none, argue for three parts anyway."

"Do you understand?"

Paired with the Five-Ring Soul King who could not break free from the Life Spirit Blue Silver Emperor no matter what he did.

Tang Lan was overflowing with dominance at that moment!

"Brother, you're so cool!" Hearts practically shone from Xiao Wu's eyes.

"Never let reason go, and when you have none, argue for three parts anyway? I understand." Tang San looked thoughtful.

Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar all nodded as well.

It sounded so domineering.

Far more impressive than something like "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities."

"Clap clap clap—"

Flender came down from upstairs, clapping forcefully.

"Tang Sect Leader, what imposing style. Is this your way of saying you disapprove of my teaching philosophy?" Flender demanded.

"I agree that those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities," Tang Lan said calmly. "But using troublemaking as cultivation is simply foolish!"

Flender's expression darkened.

But Tang Lan did not care in the slightest.

By now, everyone among the Shrek Seven Devils except Ma Hongjun had joined the Tang Sect.

If he fell out with Flender, there was no need to mention Xiao Wu and Tang San.

Zhu Zhuqing craved power, while Ning Rongrong's interests were tied to his. They would definitely leave with him.

Dai Mubai had finally seen hope, so there was a high chance he would side with Tang Lan too.

As for Oscar, the odds were fifty-fifty.

But if he wanted to leave the sect?

Sorry.

Tang Lan would cripple the Nine Yang Divine Skill he had just learned—making sure not a trace remained, so he could start all over again!

Therefore, Tang Lan gave Flender no face at all and continued firing back—

"Using troublemaking as cultivation will always bring more harm than good."

"Just like Canghui Academy today. They provoked someone stronger. Taking a loss is a small matter; making an enemy is the real problem."

"Nothing went wrong in the past only because Shrek chose students who were monsters among their peers."

"Monsters can retain their pride, but they cannot carry murderous aggression. Otherwise, a dead genius is nothing more than a dead person."

His words showed no mercy.

Flender's face turned livid!

Zhao Wuji, who had come downstairs, was caught between both sides. He gave Li Yusong a look.

"Ahem! Xiao Lan." Li Yusong tried to mediate. "The path of cultivation is about fighting for every inch of ground. If you do not fight, opportunities will slip away, and you will fall behind others."

Tang Lan nodded in agreement.

"Of course you cannot back down when there is an opportunity."

"But what opportunity was there in fighting Canghui Academy over a lecher?"

"If it had been someone else, staring hungrily at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing while mocking us as a bunch of trash—"

"I would not hesitate to crush their hands and feet."

"At that point, as the non-mediocrities who caused the trouble, what would they have gained?"

That barrage left Li Yusong speechless.

He was beginning to see it.

That was right.

Putting himself in their shoes, if Shrek had been Canghui Academy and had taken the initiative to provoke Tang Lan, wouldn't they look like brainless villainous fodder?

And looking back at today, what had Canghui Academy actually done wrong?

Had they simply entered at the wrong time?

This was a hotel!

People came and went here all the time, yet Flender's beloved disciple had insisted on discussing something important here?

Wasn't that far too frivolous?

Li Yusong looked at Flender, his gaze exceedingly strange.

Like someone who had been brainwashed suddenly waking up and realizing that everything was wrong!

"Utter nonsense!" Flender snapped. "Those are merely your assumptions. Every Shrek student is exceptionally gifted. What's wrong with being a little domineering?"

"Oh?" Tang Lan raised a brow. "Then why didn't you and Lao Zhao jump up and cause trouble when you got thoroughly whipped on the night school started? What, are you two mediocre?"

Flender's furious expression froze!

Zhao Wuji was so embarrassed his toes curled into the floor!

Damn it!

How did this young master know about what happened that night?

Could it be...

He knew his father was Haotian Mianxia?

Was that why he dared to be so utterly unrestrained?

Li Yusong, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded.

That had happened too?

Judging by Flender and Zhao Wuji's expressions, it had to be true.

He fell silent.

When Flender himself faced a powerhouse, wasn't he naturally cowardly too?

And he dared say that those who avoided trouble were mediocrities?

Then what the hell was he?

"I heard the Dean and the Grandmaster are friends, right?" Tang Lan couldn't help firing back again. "Then the Grandmaster has a famous saying: there are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters. Do you agree?"

Flender nodded instinctively. Yu Xiaogang loved repeating those words.

Tang Lan sneered and delivered the killing blow—

"Then if that's the case, why does Shrek still screen applicants based on their martial souls? Wouldn't it be enough to test their age and Soul Power?"

Flender: ∑(①□①*|||

You shut off every possible answer before asking, huh?

Was he supposed to throw away his dignity as the Dean?

Fine, fine, fine!

So that was how they were playing this?

Then he couldn't blame him for being rude!

Flender's face turned cold. "Since Tang Sect Leader has such lofty insights, my little Shrek temple is too small to keep Tang Sect Leader from soaring to greater heights."

He directly unleashed his ultimate move—expulsion!

Unfortunately.

This move was utterly useless against Tang Lan, whose parents were not around and who was the highest-ranking one present.

He simply nodded.

"Other than Lao Zhao's Gravity Soul Skill, Shrek only provides nanny services."

"It's fine if we don't stay."

"Rongrong, notify Elder Chi. Don't build the Forging Workshop for now. We'll have to change locations."

Ning Rongrong obediently nodded, took out her Communication Soul Tool, and went outside to make the call.

—Tang Lan had found some free time over the past few days and made several more of them.

Flender had not expected Tang Lan to be so decisive!

Then his expression changed!

He hadn't thought of it in his anger just now, but if they really fell out, wouldn't that mean...

Tang Lan rose to his feet.

"Dean Flender has said that Shrek cannot accommodate the Tang Sect."

"Is anyone staying behind?"

Xiao Wu was the first to leap to her feet.

"Hmph!"

"I said we shouldn't have come to this Shrek in the first place. It's far away and run-down!"

Zhu Zhuqing was the second to stand up.

"The Tang Sect can make me stronger. I'm leaving Shrek."

Together with the clearly resolute Ning Rongrong, That made four students withdrawing from the academy!

Flender began to regret it inwardly. Why had he spoken without thinking?

Dai Mubai's expression changed several times.

He, too, stood up and gave Flender an apologetic look.

—The Tang Sect had shown him hope. He did not want to give it up just like that.

"Sorry, Dean. I'm leaving Shrek too."

Now, Only Oscar and...

"Tang San, why are you still sitting there?" Xiao Wu asked in disbelief. "Your brother was driven away, and you still want to stay?"

Tang San looked conflicted.

Shrek was where his teacher had sent him, and his teacher had also said that he would come to teach at Shrek after a while.

If he simply left now...

Tang Lan had not expected Tang San to hesitate.

He actually hesitated?!

Sure enough, he was an ungrateful white-eyed wolf that could never be raised right!

"Forget it." Tang Lan pretended to be weary. "Little Sanzi is grown up now. He has his own ideas and no longer needs me to protect him."

"If he wants to stay, then let him stay."

Tang Lan turned and left, leaving behind a despondent silhouette.

Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai immediately followed him.

Beside them, Oscar secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Since his master, Tang San, was staying, he no longer had to struggle over it.

"Heh! So his wings have grown stiff, have they?" Xiao Wu sneered. "Tang San, remember this: if you stay today, there will no longer be a place for you in the Tang Sect! Your brother may spoil you, but I won't!"

With that, She chased after Tang Lan without looking back.

Tang San's expression twisted with struggle!

Unexpectedly, Zhao Wuji suddenly spoke—

"Flender, thank you for taking care of me all these years."

"But the Tang Sect gives me hope of breaking through to Titled Douluo. Brother, I'm letting you down!"

"Old Li, there's a jar of wine beneath my dorm bed. Dig it out and share it with everyone."

With a cupped-fist salute, Zhao Wuji decisively chased after them toward the entrance, shouting in his booming voice—

"Sect Master, why didn't you ask for my opinion?"

"I'm the Martial Hall Master, after all!"

Tang Lan and the others were just about to cross through the gates.

Tang San let out a long sigh.

—He could not leave Tang Lan.

The Tang Sect had much to rebuild, and he still needed to learn the hammer techniques from his brother. At the same time, his brother was one of his only two remaining family members.

Materials, manpower, money, knowledge...

All of it far surpassed Shrek and his teacher.

Therefore, Between his teacher and his brother's familial affection, he chose the one more beneficial to himself.

He stood up, Took out a Communication Soul Tool from his Storage Ring, and placed it on the table.

"Dean, when my teacher arrives, please give this Communication Soul Tool to him."

"He's my brother!"

With that said.

He did not look at Oscar, rising to chase after him.

—Not forcing Oscar to stay or leave was his compensation for disobeying his master's orders.

But—

Now it was Oscar's turn to be conflicted!

Although Tang San had only taught him the third level of the Nine Yang Divine Skill yesterday, he had also given him a small demonstration of the mysteries of Tang Sect hidden weapons.

—It was an opportunity that could allow him, a Support Soul Master, to possess combat ability as well!

Besides—

If he defied the orders of Tang Lan, the Sect Master, could he still be considered a member of the Tang Sect?

Betraying one's sect was an extremely grave matter!

If Tang Lan came to purge the sect in the future, even Flender would have no reason to stop him.

"Hey! Xiao Ao!" Ma Hongjun said bluntly. "If you dare go, don't blame me for no longer recognizing you as my brother!"

Oscar's face twitched at that!

Unable to endure it any longer, he snapped, "Wasn't it all because of you, you damn fatty? Of all times to get horny, you had to pick now?"

Ma Hongjun did not stop. He was unhappy!

"Why are you still speaking up for an outsider?"

"What good is Tang Lan?"

"He took everyone else but refused to take me?"

"Who's he putting on airs for?"

"Everyone joined the Tang Sect. Is Shrek the teachers' school, or Tang Lan's?"

Ma Hongjun unleashed a barrage of words, making Oscar's expression grow increasingly grave.

"Enough!" Flender roared. "Ma Hongjun! Haven't you made a big enough scene already?"

Only then did Ma Hongjun shut up, though his face was practically screaming, "I refuse to accept this."

Seeing this, Flender sighed.

He seemed to age several years in an instant.

He had thought that with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support, Shrek would finally rise to prominence.

Yet at the height of his pride, reality had slapped him across the face.

To be fair, Shrek truly did not have much to offer.

Especially not to Tang Lan.

He had a Titled Douluo father above him, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind him, and a whole pile of Self-Created Soul Skills of his own.

At most, Shrek could only provide him with a place to stay.

As for Oscar—

Following the Tang Sect would give him far better prospects than remaining at Shrek.

"Ah—"

"Oscar, you... go."

Those words seemed to drain all the strength from Flender's body. Staggering, he slumped dejectedly into his chair.

"Teacher!" Ma Hongjun said in disbelief. "Do you know what you're saying? You—"

"Shut up!" Flender roared. "You don't want to improve yourself, yet you want to stop others from achieving greatness? Old Li, take him back to his room!"

Without a word, Li Yusong grabbed Ma Hongjun, directly sealed his Soul Power, and swiftly carried him upstairs.

Bang—

Oscar dropped to his knees, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Thank you, Dean, for taking me in back then!"

Bang—

He heavily knocked his forehead against the floor.

Straightening up, his forehead was bright red and speckled with bits of stone.

"No matter what happens to me in the future, I will always be your son!"

Bang—

Another kowtow, his forehead a bloody red.

"Today, this child has been unfilial!"

Bang—

Scarlet liquid streamed down his cheeks.

Flender's heart ached. He raised a hand, wanting to wipe it away.

But then he stopped.

In the end, he closed his eyes and waved weakly.

Go.

Suppressing his emotions, Oscar got to his feet and sprinted out the door.

There was already no one outside.

Oscar did not hesitate.

He removed all the weights from his body and raced at full speed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

More than ten minutes later, he caught up with Tang Lan and the others, who were running under the effects of the Gravity Soul Skill while carrying their weights.

Seeing Oscar with a bloodied head and reddened eyes, Tang Lan merely nodded.

—You made the right choice.

Dai Mubai also breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward to support the panting Oscar, giving him time to catch his breath.

He did not ask anything else.

Oscar had been adopted by Flender since childhood. The process of choosing to leave Shrek and follow the Tang Sect could not have been pleasant.

The group continued onward in an orderly fashion for another ten kilometers.

Only then did Tang Lan stop and clap his hands—

"Blue Silver Domain: Three-Story Villa!"

Blue Silver Grass wove itself into a three-story villa.

They knew Tang Lan could "build houses with his bare hands," but this enormous villa...

"What a convenient ability," Ning Rongrong remarked.

"A domain can be used like this too?" Zhao Wuji said enviously.

As soon as everyone entered, the Blue Silver Grass went wild again, sealing every door and window.

They each picked out their rooms.

Tang Lan lay on the bed, the corners of his lips rising uncontrollably.

It worked!

Two updates, 8,500 words—please vote!