Yu Xiaogang Challenges Peach Blossom Spring Academy

"Xiao San, you weren't good-looking to begin with. Now you've injured your face too. What will you do if it scars and disfigures you?"

"Who exactly hurt you? How did they injure your face so badly?"

At Shrek Academy, Tang San's face was covered in ointment. He wolfed down five or six of Oscar's sausages to heal himself.

Master walked over and saw Tang San's face. He let out a heavy sigh, his heart seething with anger:

"We can't just swallow this loss. Flender, Teacher Zhao, we must seek justice for Xiao San."

"That's right. Someone actually dared to lay such a heavy hand on a Shrek student. I'll beat that person so badly even his grandmother won't recognize him."

Zhao Wuji's massive fists collided with a muffled thump, and he said irritably.

Flender also looked grim as he adjusted his glasses. "Xiao San, tell us. Who treated you so viciously?"

"Teacher, Dean, Teacher Zhao, forget it. I was careless and failed to dodge."

"There's no need to trouble you teachers to avenge me. I can only blame myself for being inferior."

Tang San opened his dazed eyes. Around him stood the Shrek members, all looking at him with concern.

"Coward! You were beaten like this and don't even dare say his name. Have you learned from us for nothing?" Zhao Wuji snapped.

"Could that person be very strong? Even if he's a powerful Soul Master, you have two Soul Sages backing you. What are you afraid of?"

"It's one thing for Su Ran to provoke us to our faces, but are we supposed to fear anyone in Suotuo City? I've suffered enough lately. I'll help you vent your anger, and I can let off some steam myself."

"Xiao San, the fact that you can think this way shows that you're capable of self-reflection and self-strengthening. I'm very gratified.

"But you're different from Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. I know your temperament. You usually don't cause trouble on your own. The other party must have started it. If we can't even protect our own students, is there any need for this academy to exist?"

"What do you think, Flender, Teacher Zhao?"

Yu Xiaogang looked toward Flender and Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji and Flender nodded.

"Xiao Gang is right. If it was someone your age and you couldn't beat him alone, then call Mubai and Hongjun over too. If it wasn't someone your age, then it was an adult bullying a child. We teachers will help you seek justice."

"This..."

Tang San wore a bitter expression. His teachers' concern made him feel a little warmth, but he had gone to spy on Peach Blossom Spring Academy without permission. How could he bring himself to say that?

"Xiao Wu, you were the one who brought Xiao San back. Tell us—what exactly happened?"

Seeing that Tang San did not dare speak, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened as he turned to ask Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu seemed to be thinking about something. It was only after Yu Xiaogang shouted at her that she came to her senses and stammered out the truth:

"It was Teacher Su Ran from the academy next door..."

"Huh? Su Ran?!"

"This..."

As Xiao Wu slowly explained how she and Tang San had secretly watched Peach Blossom Spring Academy train, Zhao Wuji and Flender's expressions changed. Their imposing auras instantly weakened, and they wilted like faded flowers.

Yu Xiaogang let out a cold snort. "Why is it Peach Blossom Spring Academy again? This Su Ran is a teacher, yet he laid such a heavy hand on a student. That's going too far."

"Flender, Zhao Wuji, what's wrong? The moment you heard it was Su Ran, you stopped talking? Where's your backbone? Did Peach Blossom Spring Academy crush your spines? Where's your pride?"

Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender and Zhao Wuji. Seeing them fall silent, he was furious.

"I'm telling you, Xiao San is my only disciple. I've raised him like my own son. If you want to hide your heads in the sand and do nothing, then I'll handle it!"

"I'm going to reason with them. I want to see exactly what kind of person this Su Ran really is!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a cold snort and walked toward the entrance of Shrek Academy.

"Xiao Gang... don't..."

Flender and Zhao Wuji looked at each other.

Gangzi, use your head a little. You have no idea how powerful this Su Ran is.

Even we Soul Sage powerhouses were hammered into submission by him. You're only a Soul Grandmaster below level 30, so...

"So you're Su Ran? My name is Yu Xiaogang. People are accustomed to calling me Master. I currently teach at Shrek, and I'm also Tang San's teacher. You should know why I've come."

"Young man, I advise you to behave yourself."

At Peach Blossom Spring Academy, beneath the Peach Blossom Tree in the Outer Court, Yu Xiaogang sat upright beside a stone table, his focused gaze fixed on the elegant young man in white sitting opposite him.

The man sat beneath the drifting Peach Blossom petals, as if he had merged with them. He was refined and otherworldly, clearly no ordinary person.

What surprised Yu Xiaogang even more was that this teacher who made Flender and Zhao Wuji somewhat fearful was actually a young man.

"This should be my first meeting with Master. Peach Blossom Spring Academy did indeed have some conflicts with Shrek before. Could Master have come to settle old scores?"

Su Ran casually poured two cups of tea. With great courtesy, he pushed one toward Yu Xiaogang.

"Settle old scores? Heh, I, Yu Xiaogang, have never been one to hold grudges. But I also won't tolerate my disciple suffering a loss."

Yu Xiaogang did not drink the tea. Instead, he spoke coldly.

Su Ran took a sip of tea and said calmly, "What a coincidence. I'm the same."

"You are too? Good, very good. Since we both want to seek justice for our disciples, then we'll resolve this according to the rules of the Soul Master World."

Yu Xiaogang stood up and looked down at Su Ran, giving a cold snort.

"The rules of the Soul Master World? Does Master want to challenge me to Single Combat?"

To be honest, when Su Ran heard this, he nearly spat out his tea.

A Soul Sage fighting a Soul Grandmaster? I dare to fight, but no one else would even dare watch.

"Single Combat? Single Combat can't display a teacher's true ability. What I want to compete with you in is teaching and students."

Yu Xiaogang looked intently at Su Ran and continued.

"As teachers, you should know that personal strength isn't true strength. The strength of a team is true strength."

"On behalf of Shrek's teachers, I challenge you. One month from now, the Shrek Team and your Peach Blossom Spring Academy will have a Soul Master team match at the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City. If Shrek Academy wins, Peach Blossom Spring Academy will disappear, and all its students will join Shrek Academy and submit to our rules. You will also pay Shrek ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"And vice versa. Shrek will disappear and pay your Peach Blossom Spring Academy ten thousand Gold Soul Coins in compensation."

A breeze carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms slowly swept past.

Su Ran froze for a moment. He had not expected Yu Xiaogang to challenge him.

The stakes were enormous too—the survival of an academy was being used as the wager.

"Are you sure you want to bet?"

"I should remind you that two of your Shrek students have already lost to my disciples. You don't have the advantage."

Su Ran spoke calmly.

"I already said that Single Combat can't represent the strength of a Team Battle. I have confidence in my teaching and my students."

"But you—your disciples have already defeated our students, yet you're still hesitating. Are you afraid? If you are, then forget it. Peach Blossom Spring Academy is nothing special."

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and flicked his sleeve contemptuously.

"Since you've put it that way, if I refuse, it'll make me look afraid of Shrek."

Su Ran smiled faintly.

"This challenge is accepted by Peach Blossom Spring Academy."

"Xiao Gang, you acted on impulse. You were far too impulsive! How could you challenge him? Aren't you just jumping into a pit of fire?"

"Impulsive! Far too impulsive!"

The moment Yu Xiaogang left Peach Blossom Spring Academy, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others, who had been eavesdropping outside, crowded around him.

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai also felt uneasy. It was obvious that they lacked confidence.

Xiao Wu, however, looked back at Su Ran's silhouette inside Peach Blossom Spring Academy. She felt an urge to rush over and question him, but would he tell her the truth?

Xiao Wu pondered this as she touched her white bellyband, feeling its warmth.

If we lose, we have to hand the academy over to them?

Can the students join their academy too?

"Hmm..."

"Hee-hee (￣y▽￣)~*" She covered her mouth and snickered.

"Su Ran, I have to figure out whether you're really him. I want to see what you look like beneath that mask!"

"Just wait."