Tang San Awakens, Two Years' Time (4K)

The commotion from the fierce draw at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena gradually faded away with the bumpy ride of the carriage. The Shrek Team returned to the academy in silence, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed like you could wring water out of it.

Shrek Academy, boys' dormitory.

Tang San slowly awoke from a deep coma. The moment his consciousness returned, intense pain swept over his entire body like a tidal wave. Every muscle felt as if it had been torn apart, and the emptiness after his Soul Power was exhausted made it difficult for him to even lift a finger. He groaned and struggled to open his heavy eyelids. What came into view was the familiar, somewhat simple dormitory ceiling.

"Brother! You're awake?!" A voice, trembling with tears yet brimming with surprise, rang in her ears. Xiao Wu, her eyes red and swollen, rushed to the bedside, tightly gripping his hand, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls. "You scared me to death! I was unconscious for a whole day and night!"

Seeing Xiao Wu's pale and haggard face and the bloodshot in her eyes, Tang San felt a pang of pain in his heart. He forced a reassuring smile and said in a hoarse voice, "It's alright... Xiao Wu, I... I'm fine."

"What's so good about it!" Xiao Wu complained, her voice trembling with tears. "The doctor said your Soul Power is severely depleted and your meridians are damaged. If you don't take good care of yourself, you'll suffer from hidden injuries!" She carefully helped Tang San up, picked up the warm medicinal porridge from the side, and fed him spoonful by spoonful.

At that moment, the dormitory door was pushed open, and Flender and Zhao Wuji walked in. Flender pushed up his glasses, looked at Tang San, his face expressionless, but deep in his eyes was a trace of barely perceptible concern and lingering fear.

"Awake? How are you feeling?" Flender's voice remained as serious as ever.

"Dean, Teacher Zhao." Tang San tried to sit up, but Flender held him down.

"Lie down," Flender waved his hand. "You've got a really lucky life, kid, and you're really daring. You even have External Soul Bone... you've got quite a few trump cards."

Tang San's heart skipped a beat; he knew he couldn't hide it any longer. He whispered, "This student didn't mean to conceal it..."

"Alright, I'm not blaming you," Flender interrupted him, his tone softening. "Every Soul Master has secrets; it takes skill to hide your trump cards well. This time, although risky, we showed the spirit of Shrek Academy. Those arrogant brats from the Tianxing Academy will remember us this time."

Zhao Wuji also said in a gruff voice, "Kid, well done! Ruthless! Ruthless to the enemy, and even more ruthless to yourself! You're a good prospect!"

Just then, Oscar and Ma Hongjun peeked in, carrying some fruit.

"Third Brother, you're finally awake!" Oscar exclaimed, still shaken. "You were incredible that day! You almost wiped out the Tianxing Team!"

Ma Hongjun scratched his head. "Yeah, yeah, Third Brother, your spider legs and Dragon Claws are so cool! But... they're a little scary."

Tang San nodded to them as a greeting. He could sense that after the battle in Suotuo City, especially after his desperate outburst at the last moment, which almost single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were noticeably more respectful and friendly towards him. The estrangement caused by Dai Mubai seemed to have faded considerably.

Li Qingshan and Lu Ziqi also came in to visit, their tone polite but tinged with a hint of awe. Clearly, Tang San's terrifying strength and ruthlessness had completely won the approval, or rather... fear, of these peers.

Dai Mubai also stood at the door, arms crossed, his expression somewhat complicated. He seemed to want to come in but was too proud to do so. His eyes were unfocused, unlike his usual sharp gaze, as if he had something on his mind.

Tang San didn't think much of it; he didn't really care what Dai Mubai did anyway. After this battle, he became even more convinced that only absolute power could control his own destiny.

Xiao Wu carefully wiped the medicine stains from Tang San's lips, her eyes filled with heartache and lingering fear. Tang San looked at her, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

Flender walked to the bedside, adjusted his glasses, and took Tang San's pulse. After a moment of careful examination, he frowned slightly. "His meridians are severely damaged, and his qi and Blood Essence are deficient. Fortunately, he has a good foundation and is young, so recovery should not be slow. For the next month, he is strictly prohibited from any form of cultivation or combat; his focus should be on gentle recuperation."

He paused, glanced at Tang San, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in his eyes, "You shouldn't use that External Soul Bone on your back too easily anymore. It seems to have formed some unknown deep connection with your Martial Soul and bloodline. Overuse may damage your very essence."

Tang San's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the Dean was referring to the External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances. He had never mentioned the origin of these Eight Spider Lances to anyone except Xiao Wu.

That was a soul bone he obtained by hunting a special Man Faced Demon Spider Cultivation Level a cultivation Level-Crossing of nearly three thousand years when he acquired his Third Soul Ring. It was an extremely lucky Spirit Bone that dropped from the spider, and it was an External Soul Bone could grow.

It was an extremely dangerous situation. If it weren't for his unwavering will in both his past lives, the protection of his Mysterious Heaven Skill, and the fact that the mutated Man Faced Demon Spider seemed to be in poor condition, he would never have succeeded.

The fusion process was extremely painful and fraught with danger, ultimately resulting in the formation of these eight ferocious spider legs, which resemble a part of Martial Soul.

He was usually extremely cautious, and when using it, he deliberately disguised it as the form after the Martial Soul Possession. Ordinary Soul Master had never even seen Spirit Bone, so they naturally could not recognize that it was an even rarer External Soul Bone.

Those who can recognize it can generally tell that the soul bone has been completely fused with him (because Tang San's martial soul here is also the Human-Faced Demon Spider, its compatibility with the Eight Spider Lances is even higher, and it can be completely fused relatively easily), making it difficult to separate. Therefore, they will not have the intention to snatch it, since forcibly taking the fused soul bone would be too costly and yield very little.

"Thank you for your concern, Dean. I understand," Tang San said softly, his heart heavy with Flender's words. The deep connection between the Eight Spider Lances and his bloodline? Could it be related to the Crimson Gold Dragon Martial Soul? Thinking of that uncontrollable, violent power, a sense of unease rose in his heart.

"Hmph, good that you understand!" Flender snorted, then sighed, "Don't be too discouraged. The Tianxing Team is the foundation of the continent's number one academy. That little girl Ning Rongrong, with the amplification of the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and Level Four Soul Tool, would give anyone a headache. The fact that you managed to pull off a draw has already far exceeded my expectations."

Mentioning Soul Tool, Tang San's eyes instantly dimmed, his fists clenched involuntarily, and his nails dug into his palms. Frustration? More than frustration! It was a feeling of powerlessness bordering on despair!

Hidden Weapon... the Tang Sect Secret Arts he was so proud of and cherished in his previous Life actually seemed so... inferior in this world, in the face of true Soul Master power and high-level Soul Tool!

During his conflict with Dai Mubai, his Bone Piercing Needle was easily blocked by Dai Mubai's Trigger Type Defensive Soul Tool. This time, he used all his trump cards and almost risked his life, but was still forced to a draw by Ning Rongrong's seemingly hasty but actually quite powerful Soul Guiding Ray Cannon. If his opponent hadn't also been at her limit, he probably would have been the one to lose.

His meticulously crafted Hidden Weapon require extremely high skill and timing to unleash their power. In contrast, Soul Tool seem to be able to unleash powerful attacks or defenses simply by being infused with Soul Power.

Especially since Ning Rongrong was using Level Four Soul Tool she made herself! This means that Soul Tool Technology is not too difficult to learn and can be popularized! On the other hand, Tang Sect Hidden Weapons have too high requirements for talent and practice, making it destined to be difficult to pass on on a large scale.

A sense of melancholy, a feeling that "times have changed," almost overwhelmed Tang San. Did his adherence to the Tang Sect's path still hold value in this world of Martial Soul and Soul Tool?

Flender, being incredibly astute, saw through Tang San's thoughts at a glance. He pulled up a chair, crossed his legs, and said in a somewhat distant tone, "Kid, do you think your Hidden Weapon are inferior to Soul Tool?"

Tang San remained silent, which was a pre-arranged response.

Flender said earnestly, "Soul Tool are indeed powerful, but do you think just anyone can use them? They require extremely high Spiritual Power Talent and a deep understanding of energy circuits, materials science, and inscription arrays!"

"Extremely expensive, with an astonishing failure rate! Level Four Soul Tool? Hmph, many Soul King -level Battle Soul Master might go bankrupt just to buy a suitable one! Let alone make one themselves!"

He pointed at Tang San, his tone slightly provocative. "I've seen you use your Hidden Weapon occasionally over the past six months. Although overall they're far less convenient and versatile than Soul Tool, they're silent, impossible to defend against, and consume very little Soul Power. If used well, killing enemies of higher levels is as easy as taking candy from a baby! This is something even ordinary Soul Tool can't do. Each has its strengths, understand?"

"But..." Tang San wanted to argue, after all, he had only seen him use Hidden Weapon in Flender. But Tang San was a genius, and he had studied for decades in his previous life, which was why his Hidden Weapon seemed so strong.

"But what 'but'?!" Flender interrupted him. "You think Soul Tool are advanced? Then go learn them! Who says Hidden Weapon can't be combined with Soul Tool? How can you be so stubborn?"

Flender's series of questions struck Tang San's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Soul Tool are tools, and so are Hidden Weapon weapons. Tools themselves are neither superior nor inferior; the key lies in the person using the tool, and how they utilize its strengths and mitigate its weaknesses," Flender said in a deep voice.

"That's right!" Flender affirmed. "Soul Tool provide new energy sources and burst modes, so why can't your Hidden Weapon skills take advantage of their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses? Why can't you use Soul Tool Technology to forge more durable Hidden Weapon materials that can withstand more Soul Power? Why can't you incorporate the techniques of compressing and shaping Soul Power into your Hidden Weapon weapon techniques to create new types of Hidden Weapon that are more powerful and more concealed?"

Flender's words were like opening a completely new door for Tang San! He had previously been trapped in a black-and-white misconception, believing that Tang Sect Hidden Weapons and Soul Tool were mutually exclusive and antagonistic. He had never considered that they might complement each other!

Yes! Why can't Tang Sect Hidden Weapons keep pace with the times? Why can't they absorb the essence of this new era? The general principles of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record state. "The sea accepts all rivers; its vastness lies in its capacity." To be complacent and self-sufficient is the true path to death! (Lu Xiaobu: Lüshi Chunqiu, I write my own Spring and Autumn Annals, I decide what I want.)

The moment this idea appeared, it spread like wildfire, instantly reigniting Tang San's almost extinguished fighting spirit! The Tang Sect Hidden Weapons were by no means inferior! He wanted to prove it to everyone! He not only wanted to inherit, but also to surpass! In this new world, he would push the wisdom of the Tang Sect to an unprecedented peak!

Seeing the rekindled flame in Tang San's eyes, Flender nodded in satisfaction and stood up. "Alright, brat, now that you've figured it out, focus on recovering. You have a long road ahead. Soul Tool aren't easy to learn; they require extremely high theoretical knowledge and resources. You'll have your share of headaches later! Oscar, prepare plenty of your Recovery Great Sausage for him. Everyone else, go do what you need to do and 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 complicated expression.

Xiao Wu stayed behind to take good care of Tang San. For the next two weeks, Tang San strictly followed the doctor's orders and rested quietly.

Flender even found some books on the basics of Soul Tool for Tang San to enjoy. Although they only covered the most basic knowledge, Tang San was completely engrossed in them, as if a door to a new world had been opened for him. He became even more determined to study Soul Tool Technology in depth.

After recovering from his injuries, Tang San's life became even more fulfilling. He did not give up practicing the Tang Sect Secret Arts; the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Mysterious Jade Hand, and Hundred Explanations of Hidden Weapons... remained his daily routine. At the same time, he began a systematic study of Soul Tool and attempted to incorporate some preliminary understandings into his own modifications of Hidden Weapon.

For example, he tried to reforge the crossbow bolts of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow using Hundred-Refined Metal and attempted to inscribe some Soul Guiding Array. Although he failed many times, he successfully improved the crossbow bolts' penetrating power and Soul Power carrying capacity.

He also researched how to use the insight of the Purple Demon Eye to observe the subtle energy flow inside Soul Tool, hoping to see through the weaknesses of more complex Soul Tool in the future.

His footprints can be found in the bookstores, blacksmith shops, and even the black market of Suotuo City.

Xiao Wu noticed his changes and felt both heartache and support. She knew that the proud Tang San had returned, and with a clearer goal.

In the past two years, the Shrek Team has entered a relatively stable period of dormancy. Flender knew that the team members needed time to digest resources, improve their Soul Power, and solidify their foundation, so he did not arrange too many external Soul Fighting, but instead strengthened internal combat training and tactical drills.

With Flender's deliberate mediation, the relationships within the team are subtly improving. Dai Mubai remains aloof, but the tense atmosphere between him and Tang San has eased considerably; at least in daily training and teamwork, they are able to maintain basic communication and cooperation.

Perhaps because of Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai became somewhat silent, occasionally drifting off during training with a complex expression, lost in thought. Oscar and Ma Hongjun completely sided with the "powerful" Tang San, becoming his lackeys. Li Qingshan and Lu Ziqi remained neutral, but trained even harder.

Xiao Wu remains Tang San's most steadfast supporter, inseparable from him. Her Soft Skill and Teleportation play an increasingly important role in Tang San's tactical system, and the two work together with ever greater harmony.

Ample resources are the guarantee for improving strength. Although Flender is stingy, he is uncompromising when it comes to investing in the Seed Team. Subsidies from the academy, as well as resources provided by the team members' families or channels, have allowed the Shrek Seven Devils to increase their Soul Power rapidly in the past two years.

Dai Mubai encountered a bottleneck after reaching level 49 a year ago. Ambitious and proud, he was determined to achieve a better ranking in the upcoming All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament and gain more support from his family.

He ultimately chose to take a "Breakthrough Pill" with relatively few side effects, forcibly breaking through the bottleneck and reaching the level of Soul King of level 51. The price was that his Soul Power was slightly unstable, and his future potential was slightly affected, requiring him to spend a lot of time cultivating diligently to solidify his foundation. But he didn't seem to regret it.

With the foundation of his Twin Martial Souls and diligent cultivation, Tang San steadily increased his Soul Power to level 45, Soul Ancestor. His interest in Soul Tool grew stronger day by day, but in order not to hinder his cultivation, he mostly only dabbled in them.

Moreover, Tang San had to admit that although his talent in Soul Tool was not bad, it was not outstanding. In addition, the highest level of Soul Tool knowledge that could be found in Suotuo City was only level two. He should focus on studying it after he had made progress in his cultivation.

Xiao Wu, with her extraordinary talent, surpassed Tang San, raising her Soul Power to level 46, which astonished everyone.

Oscar, a level 44 Soul Ancestor, plays an indispensable role in the team with his Sausage Martial Soul.

Ma Hongjun, a level 41 Soul Ancestor, finds the power of his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul increasingly apparent as his level increases.

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 composed.

During this time, Flender also took the team to Great Soul Arena in nearby cities for training. The opponents were of varying strengths, and the aim was to hone the team's cohesion and increase their combat experience. The Shrek Team's teamwork gradually matured, and although there were still occasional frictions, they had already begun to show the initial characteristics of a strong team.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. The naive boys and girls of yesteryear have shed their immaturity and grown into a formidable New Life in the Soul Master World. They have honed their skills, accumulated strength, and are quietly waiting to shine on the grand stage that gathers geniuses from all over the continent.

A storm is brewing beneath the calm, and a sharp sword is being drawn from its sheath after a long slumber. The All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament is drawing ever closer. The monsters of Shrek are about to be unleashed!