Tang San Was Scorned! Another External Soul Bone!

Tang San Was Scorned! Another External Soul Bone!

Tang Lan was quite satisfied with the outcome.

He had both shaken off Shrek and claimed the moral high ground.

Perfect!

This time, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Li Yusong had come along, adding quite a bit of difficulty to Tang Lan's plan.

And after partnering with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the resources Shrek could provide were practically negligible.

After all—

Tang San's greatest fortune here was the Shrek Seven Devils themselves.

As for Flender and the others?

Good grief!

They lived in a village and did not even have an environment for Mimetic Cultivation.

Five teachers—

Two assault-types, one agility-type, one control-type, and one food-type.

They lacked support, defense, and plant-type Soul Masters, while Ning Rongrong and Tang San were simply left to fend for themselves.

Their usual training consisted of either running or going to the Spirit Arena.

Most of the time, the teachers were idle, only occasionally taking the students out to hunt Soul Rings.

And even so—

They still managed to get people killed.

—Shrek had enrolled a total of sixty-two students throughout its history, and forty-eight had died!

An astonishing eighty percent mortality rate!

Could they really have died hunting Soul Beasts?

Tang Lan guessed—

It was most likely caused by Flender's nonsense about "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre."

Therefore—

Tang Lan had been looking for a suitable chance to ditch Shrek and stop letting them tag along.

Since Canghui Academy had happened to cross his path, he used the opportunity to make an issue of it.

He had not expected Flender to be so cooperative, directly expelling him.

—Wasn't that like handing him a pillow when he was sleepy?

He had even taken Zhao Wuji and Oscar with him.

Compared to the original story, the only difference was the absence of the insignificant Ma Hongjun.

It could not have been more perfect!

However—

Shrek still had another opportunity—annexing Blue Tyrant Academy!

But that depended on Yu Xiaogang's connections.

With Tang San around—

Wouldn't Yu Xiaogang come running after them?

When the time came, giving him the position of honorary elder would be enough to snatch that opportunity away.

He could even—

"Whoosh—"

Xiao Wu Teleported over, interrupting Tang Lan's thoughts.

"Brother, I'm really so happy today!" Xiao Wu said with a smile. "That village was way too rundown. It was even worse than Notting Academy!"

Tang Lan smiled.

Xiao Wu had been with him for six years, and her values had been cultivated quite well.

Suddenly!

Xiao Wu's expression changed, and she said unhappily—

"It's just that your younger brother was actually still hesitating back then?"

"After everything you've done for him all these years, he still didn't take your side?"

"Seriously..."

Tang Lan waved his hand.

"Little Sanzi is my younger brother, after all. Father isn't here, so as the eldest brother, I must act like a father. If a child is not taught properly, it is the father's fault. I simply didn't guide him well enough."

He stubbornly took all the blame upon himself.

That only made Xiao Wu even angrier!

"You're only a few minutes older than him, yet you have to take such good care of him!"

"That Tang San really doesn't know what's good for him!"

The same conversations were taking place in the other rooms.

Dai Mubai bandaged Oscar's head.

Seeing that Oscar was depressed, he brought up something else to distract him.

"Your master, Tang San, is a little too ungrateful."

"Even if Xiao Wu had been the one hesitating today, it shouldn't have been Tang San."

"You'd better be careful in the future!"

Oscar came back to himself, his expression unreadable.

Tang San was his master, so it was not his place to say much.

But justice lay in the hearts of the people.

"Exactly!" Zhao Wuji slapped his thigh. "The Sect Master has truly been nothing but good to Tang San!"

"Soul Tool blueprints, Self-Created Soul Skills, cultivation method experience, rare ores."

"Whatever he had, he gave it to him."

"You might not know this, but he turned down Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Academy's invitation just so he could look after Tang San and come to Shrek with him."

"Don't let that old man Flender's boasting fool you. Other than a few old hands like us, Shrek really has nothing."

"And when the Sect Master needed support the most, Tang San hesitated instead?"

"Who couldn't see that he was weighing the pros and cons?"

"After thinking it over, he realized following the Sect Master was far better than staying at Shrek, so he came chasing after him with his tail between his legs."

"And even then, the Sect Master didn't hold it against him, acting as if nothing had happened."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Every word Zhao Wuji spoke dripped with undisguised contempt.

—Tang San really was a piece of work!

Dai Mubai nodded in agreement.

"Xiao Ao, Teacher Zhao and I aren't saying this to slander your master. We just want you to see his true colors."

"They say that once a master, always a father, but hypocrites who don't treat their disciples like people are not uncommon on the continent."

"Now that you've seen Tang San for who he really is, you need to be more careful in the future. Otherwise, you might get sold off without even realizing it."

Oscar kept his head lowered in silence, offering no reply.

But—

The fact that he did not defend his master already said a great deal.

—With such a calculating master, he really would have to stay on guard in the future!

Ning Rongrong found the room Zhu Zhuqing was in.

She was not surprised that Xiao Wu was nowhere to be seen.

She had definitely gone to find Tang Lan—at a time like this, Xiao Wu was the most suitable person to comfort his "wounded" heart.

"I wanted to find Xiao Wu and ask about Tang San's past," Ning Rongrong complained. "No matter how I think about it, I just can't understand why he hesitated."

Even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her brows slightly at the mention of it.

—This Tang San really was too much.

"You think he's an ungrateful wretch too, right?"

Ning Rongrong said bluntly—

"If someone like that fence-sitter were in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his Soul Power would be crippled and he'd be expelled from the sect!"

"Only because Tang San is Uncle Tang's younger brother—"

"If it had been someone else, like Oscar, and he hadn't caught up today, then with Uncle Tang's personality, he would definitely find a chance to cripple him later!"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement.

That lecherous thief back then had only said a few crude words.

Yet Tang Lan had confiscated his tool for committing crimes.

With that personality of settling every grievance, he certainly was not someone who would quietly suffer a loss.

After chatting indignantly for a while, Ning Rongrong abruptly changed the subject. "Zhuqing, you like Uncle Tang too, don't you?"

Zhu Zhuqing: (●-●)

She kept her cold expression as she looked at Ning Rongrong, waiting for her to continue.

"Sure enough, you like him too!" Ning Rongrong declared.

How could she tell?

"Anyone with eyes could see it. You originally came for Dai Mubai, didn't you?"

Ning Rongrong continued—

"If all you wanted was to break off the engagement, there was no need to come all the way from the Star Luo Empire, especially when you were being hunted."

"And you knew Uncle Tang before, right?"

"Can you tell me about it?"

Zhu Zhuqing remained silent.

Ning Rongrong was not embarrassed either and simply kept talking.

"How about forming an alliance?"

"An alliance to pursue Uncle Tang!"

"The Tang Sect's rise to glory is inevitable. Becoming one of the Upper Three Sects is practically a certainty."

"If we don't seize the chance now, we won't be able to catch it in the future."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze lost focus as she recalled what had happened last night.

If she wanted to win Tang Lan over, she would have to dual cultivate with him too, right?

The moment Ning Rongrong saw her expression, she knew her guess had been correct.

She stepped forward and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand.

"Then it's settled. From now on, we're allies. We'll share information and cover for each other, okay?"

Zhu Zhuqing still said nothing, but she did not pull her hand away.

She truly had no idea where to begin.

Ning Rongrong seemed like someone with plenty of ideas, so perhaps she could use her as a reference.

Meanwhile.

Tang San lay awake in his room, tossing and turning.

He recalled Tang Lan's devastated figure as he walked away.

Slap—

He directly slapped himself across the face!

The more he thought about it now, the more he regretted it!

How could he have hesitated back then?

What did Shrek have?

Nothing at all!

And yet he had hesitated?

Brother must have been heartbroken!

Would he perhaps...

No longer treat him as wholeheartedly as before?

What a devastating loss!

'It's all that dead fatso Ma Hongjun's fault. Why did he have to stir up trouble for no reason?'

'You have invited your own death!'

The next day, Tang Lan, who had slept his fill while holding Xiao Wu, woke up early in the morning.

As he stepped out of his room, he happened to run into Xiao Wu emerging from the room, holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand with her left hand and Ning Rongrong's with her right.

Her expression was somewhat unnatural.

She had only Teleported back to her room not long ago. She had not expected Ning Rongrong to come over to sleep as well.

She had been caught red-handed.

Now one more person knew about her "dual cultivation" with Tang Lan.

"Since everyone's awake, go wash up at the stream nearby, then we'll set off," Tang Lan said.

The three girls tacitly moved to Tang Lan's left side, keeping away from Tang San on his right.

Dai Mubai trailed behind as well, keeping his distance from Tang San.

Only Oscar silently stepped forward, took a basin from his Storage Ring, and fetched water for Tang San.

Tang San's expression turned complicated at the sight.

Sure enough.

Had the aftereffects appeared after all?

"Brother!" Tang San could not help asking, "Are you still angry?"

Tang Lan looked back at him, opened his mouth, yet said nothing.

He looked as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Tang San's heart clenched!

Normally, Tang Lan would surely smile and say, "You're my little brother. How could I be angry with you?"

But now...

Brother really was angry!

Tang San gave a bitter smile, his expression sincere as he said—

"Brother!"

"After all, it was my teacher who sent me to Shrek."

"Yesterday, I was only thinking about how to better refuse Dean Flender."

"I never once thought about leaving you or leaving the Tang Sect!"

"After all, you are one of the only two relatives I have left in this world!"

Xiao Wu broke out in goosebumps.

—So you're just forcing an explanation, huh?

Tang Lan snapped back to his senses and smiled carefree.

He walked up to Tang San and rubbed his short hair into a bird's nest.

"Haha! I'm your brother. How could I be angry with you?"

"Get yourselves cleaned up. Everyone, get ready to set off!"

Not only did his words not sound forced, they carried an indescribable joy.

Tang San sighed in relief at that.

—Brother really did favor him after all!

But Xiao Wu and the others were indignant!

—Tang Lan was obviously deeply hurt, yet he still pretended not to care and even turned around to comfort Tang San!

Little did they know.

Tang Lan was genuinely happy!

His earlier hesitation had been interrupted by a system notification—

The host caused the Shrek Seven Devils to see Tang San's true colors. They will no longer be able to wholeheartedly support him in becoming a god. Seized a moderate amount of Tang San's Luck!

Reward: "23333 Year Old External Soul Bone: Life Ancient Tree Right Foot Palm"!

Another External Soul Bone!

How could Tang Lan not be happy?

The corners of his mouth were practically reaching his ears!

He even directly ignored the question of why the Life Ancient Tree had a right foot palm.

—As long as it was an External Soul Bone, who cared what it was!

Seeing Tang Lan smile so "happily," Xiao Wu's heart ached terribly!

Fetching water, wringing out towels, packing clothes—she handled everything in one go.

That only put Tang Lan in an even better mood.

Once they had finished packing up.

Zhao Wuji asked, "Sect Master, are we adding gravity again today?"

Tang Lan shook his head.

"Everyone trusts me and is willing to follow me."

"I won't treat any of you poorly either."

He took out two Storage Rings, the smallest kind with one cubic meter of space.

He tossed them to Zhao Wuji and Dai Mubai.

Then he took out a clearly more exquisite silver ring and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing—this one had a full 125 cubic meters of space.

"Since we're about to enter the Star Dou Great Forest, everyone, go back to your rooms and put away your weights."

"You can train anytime, but training in the Crisis Lurking Star Dou Great Forest is just asking for trouble."

"Remember!"

"The moment your life is in danger, run immediately!"

"Only living geniuses can become Titled Douluo. Understood?"

At that moment, everyone had only one thought in their minds—following the right person really was the best!

They each went back to change out of their weighted gear.

Tang Lan did not dismiss the Blue Silver villa. He even had the words "Tang Sect Inn" carved around its outer perimeter.

Guests passing by: free lodging.

—There was no reason not to profit from the reputation.

"The sect master's vision is this big!" Zhao Wuji raised a thumbs-up.

Having wandered across the continent himself, he understood all too well how fortunate it was to find an inn like this in the wilderness.

"Basic stuff. Don't make a fuss about it." Tang Lan said indifferently. "Let's go!"

"Yes!"

After traveling for a while, they could already see the sprawling Star Dou Great Forest with the naked eye.

But as the saying went, a mountain might look close enough to kill a horse running toward it. The actual distance was still over thirty kilometers.

While they hurried along, Oscar hesitated several times before finally approaching Tang San.

He lowered his voice—

"Master, I discovered that my sausages can only last twelve hours in the air, but there's no air inside a Storage Ring."

"The sausages I put in two days ago still haven't dissipated."

"So theoretically, sausages stored in a Storage Ring can be kept indefinitely."

Tang San's eyes lit up!

Only after eating Oscar's sausages had he realized how genuinely delicious they were!

Who would have thought that pairing them with a Storage Ring would produce such a miraculous effect?

"Well done." Tang San praised him. "When we get back, I'll teach you a new Self-Created Soul Skill."

Oscar smiled.

Good thing he knew what was what.

He had not joined the others in "isolating" his own master.

And he had not skipped ranks to report good news.

Wasn't this benefit coming his way now?

"Give me one sausage and one small cured sausage." Tang San instructed. "Keep it quiet."

Oscar nodded.

In a low voice, he said, "I've got a big sausage, I've got a small cured sausage."

He handed the two sausages to Tang San.

Tang San stored them in his Storage Ring and walked toward Tang Lan.

He took the two sausages out again.

"Brother, through my research, I discovered that Xiao Ao's sausages can be stored for a relatively long time in a Storage Ring without contact with air."

"It's already been three days, and they still haven't dissipated."

"Since everyone now has a Storage Soul Tool, we can keep a few on hand for emergencies."

Tang Lan: "."

He had a habit of keeping his Blue Silver Domain activated.

Though its radius was not large, only ten meters.

But everyone naturally had to stick together while traveling, meaning they were all within the Blue Silver Domain.

So.

Tang San, how could you say that this was your own research discovery with such righteous confidence?

—He had practically inherited Yu Xiaogang's entire legacy!

Just look at Oscar. His expression was beyond strange!

But unfortunately, the one stealing the credit was his own master, who had even promised him "benefits."

He could only force his expression to calm down and try not to reveal any flaws.

But as for his assessment of Tang San...

Tang Lan smiled as well.

"Little Sanzi really is suited for research. Then I'll have to trouble Xiao Ao to prepare some sausages for everyone."

"Alright, Sect Master," Oscar hurriedly replied.

He immediately began muttering his incantation, producing sausages to distract himself.

He kept making them all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest.

He prepared more than twenty for each person, exhausting himself terribly.

Tang San hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not use the Mysterious Heaven Skill's Inner Force to replenish Oscar's expenditure.

—Hazy Purple Qi and the Mysterious Heaven Skill's Inner Force could still be converted efficiently.

But the Star Dou Great Forest was full of danger. Being in poor condition could cost one's life at any moment.

Oscar merely panted and said nothing.

Yet his heart had grown somewhat cold.

You took the credit, and I did the hard work.

And in the end...

Suddenly!