Tang San Brutally Pummels Ma Hongjun, Shrek Trash

"This is the Blue Silver King Order."

Tang Yuan spoke calmly.

"Those who see this order shall treat it as if they have seen This King."

"Within the Heaven Dou Empire, all City Lords and Military Generals who see this order must obey its commands."

"If you encounter someone you cannot handle, or if some blind Forces dare lay a hand on you..."

"Show them this token."

At that point, an aura of absolute dominance suddenly erupted from Tang Yuan.

Though it lasted only an instant, it made all three present feel their breathing catch.

"Tell them this."

"Your Teacher is Tang Yuan."

"Out there, do not tarnish my name."

Tang San clenched the token in his hand.

His knuckles turned faintly white from the force.

A warm current spread through his entire body.

This was a trump card.

More than that, it was his Teacher's weighty trust and protection.

With this token, even a red-clad bishop of Spirit Hall would have to think twice.

"This disciple will remember!"

Tang San dropped to one knee.

Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu knelt as well.

"Go."

Tang Yuan flicked his sleeve.

Then he turned and walked back into the residence.

He did not say another word of farewell.

True powerhouses had no need for sentimental attachments.

Watching Tang Yuan's retreating back, Tang San rose to his feet and took a deep breath.

He swung himself onto his horse.

"Move out!"

Shattering Hoofbeats rang out.

Three young figures raced into the distance beneath the rising sun.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Xue Ye was staring worriedly at a massive Empire Map.

His brow was deeply furrowed.

The vermilion brush in his hand hovered in midair, refusing to fall.

"Blue Silver King..."

Emperor Xue Ye murmured to himself.

Tang Yuan was now a Titled Douluo, and someone who had even defeated Dugu Bo.

Since such a powerhouse had already been Enfeoffed as King, he had to be granted a fief.

This was the way of an emperor to win someone over.

It was also an invisible bond.

But where exactly to grant this fief was a difficult problem.

If it was too close, he feared Tang Yuan would grow too powerful near Heaven Dou City and threaten Imperial Power.

If it was too far away, he feared Tang Yuan would feel that the Imperial Family did not value him enough and harbor resentment.

Moreover, Tang Yuan was the Blue Silver King.

The best place would be somewhere with vast forests or lush vegetation.

"The area around Sunset Forest would be suitable, but it is too desolate. There is no population there, so it cannot reflect the dignity of a Royal Title."

Emperor Xue Ye's finger traced across the map.

Suddenly.

His gaze stopped at a certain location.

It was in the southern part of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The region was rich in resources and densely populated.

More importantly.

It bordered a behemoth.

One of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose wealth rivaled that of a nation.

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes narrowed slightly.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always remained neutral. Although it had a decent relationship with the Imperial Family, it was only decent.

That old fox Ning Fengzhi was exceedingly shrewd.

If Tang Yuan's fief were arranged there...

A newly risen, powerful Titled Douluo.

An established top-tier sect.

If the two could produce some sort of chemical reaction.

Perhaps it would be a good thing for the Imperial Family.

South of Suotuo City, Balak Kingdom.

This was a stretch of farmland that was not particularly fertile, and the distant village looked somewhat dilapidated.

A plaque hung crookedly from the Wooden Archway at the village entrance.

Five large characters were carved upon it: Shrek Academy.

Though the calligraphy was vigorous enough, the wooden plaque had been weathered black by wind and rain.

It truly did not look like a Soul Master Academy, but more like a gathering place for beggars.

Tang San reined in his horse and swung down from the saddle.

He raised a hand to shade his brow and surveyed the village before him.

"This is the place?"

Xiao Wu also jumped off her horse, still holding a half-eaten carrot.

Her large eyes blinked, her face full of disbelief.

"Brother, are you sure we didn't take a wrong turn?"

"A school that only accepts so-called monsters is just some rundown village?"

Though Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, her brows also knitted slightly.

She had grown accustomed to the prosperity of Heaven Dou City along the way. Even a side hall in the Blue Silver King's Mansion was a hundred times more luxurious than this place.

Could there really be experts in a place like this?

Could it really transform someone completely, as the teacher had said?

Tang San patted the horse's neck, his gaze calm.

"A great recluse hides in the city; a lesser recluse hides in the wilderness."

"Besides, those four words, 'only accepts monsters,' carry an air of madness in themselves."

"If they cannot even be bothered with such superficial appearances, perhaps they truly possess some skill."

The three of them led their horses toward the village entrance.

By then, quite a few people had gathered there.

Most were parents accompanying their children.

They appeared to have come to register.

Yet most of them wore dejected, disappointed expressions.

Sighs could occasionally be heard.

At the front of the crowd stood a battered wooden table.

Behind it sat an old man in his sixties.

The old man wore a long robe washed nearly white, yet there was no Soul Master Emblem on his chest.

He looked rather listless, idly waving a hand fan in his hand.

A fat boy also sat on a tree branch behind the old man.

The fat boy looked young, but his body was extremely round.

His dark red clothes were stretched tightly across him, and he clutched a chicken leg in one hand, eating until his mouth was slick with grease.

Those small eyes darted shrewdly through the crowd, carrying a slickness that did not match his age.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins for the Registration Fee."

"Just put them in that box."

The old man spoke lazily, too idle even to lift his eyelids.

At that moment, it was a plainly dressed youth's turn to step forward.

The youth's parents followed behind him, dressed in coarse hemp clothes covered in patches.

His father tremblingly pulled out a cloth pouch from his robe.

The pouch was old, its corners worn through.

He carefully counted out ten Gold Soul Coins.

They were glittering golden coins.

They stood in stark contrast to his hands, covered in calluses and black grime.

These ten Gold Soul Coins were likely savings this family had accumulated for a long time.

Perhaps even their entire fortune.

"Sir, this is the Registration Fee."

The father respectfully placed the Gold Soul Coins into the box on the wooden table.

A crisp clinking sound rang out from inside the box.

It was the sound of hope.

The youth stepped forward and held out his arm.

Only then did the old man open one eye and reach out to pinch the youth's wrist.

Then, he shook his head.

"Release your Soul Power and let me see."

The youth took a deep breath, and a faint layer of white light rose from his body.

Two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet.

He was even a Soul Grandmaster.

At his age, reaching the Soul Grandmaster realm would definitely make him a genius at an ordinary academy.

Expectation flickered in the youth's eyes.

But the old man merely glanced at him before waving the hand fan in his hand.

"Unqualified."

"Next."

The youth's smile froze on his face.

His parents behind him looked as though they had been struck by lightning.

"Sir... my son is a Soul Grandmaster!"

"And he's only thirteen. He still doesn't qualify?"

The father asked anxiously.

Somewhat impatient, the old man pointed behind him.

"See that fat kid?"

"If your son can beat him, or if his Soul Power exceeds level twenty-five, I'll take him."

"This is Monster Academy. We don't accept ordinary people."

The father looked at the fat boy in the tree, gnawing on a chicken leg, then looked at his own frail son.

Clearly, the requirements were far too harsh.

"Then... then could you return the Registration Fee to us?"

"We came from so far away. We'll just head back."

Rubbing his hands together, the father pleaded with a humble expression.

Ten Gold Soul Coins.

To the wealthy, that was no more than the cost of a meal.

But to them, it was several years' worth of food.

If they could not enroll, they could not simply throw this money away.

The old man rolled his eyes.

"Didn't Mu Bai tell you?"

"Once you register, there are no refunds."

"That's the rule."

The father's face instantly turned pale.

The young man's eyes reddened as well, frantic with anxiety.

"Teacher, please."

"Even half back would be fine."

"We borrowed this money..."

The young man stepped forward, reaching for the box in front of the old man.

It was an instinctive reaction.

He could not let his parents' hard-earned money go to waste like this.

Just then.

A fierce gust suddenly swept down from the tree.

"Where did this pauper come from? Can't you understand human speech?"

The extremely arrogant rebuke was accompanied by a red figure leaping down from the tree.

It was the fat boy eating a drumstick—Ma Hongjun.

Though his body was stout, his movements were far from clumsy.

The instant he landed, his right leg lashed out.

That kick glowed with a dark red light and carried a scorching aura.

Bang!

A dull thud rang out.

The plainly dressed young man had no time to react before he was kicked squarely in the chest.

Like a kite with its string cut, he flew five or six meters backward.

He crashed heavily into the dust.

"Pfft!"

The young man spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale at once.

"Son!"

The couple cried out and hurried over to help the young man up.

Ma Hongjun stood where he was and dusted off his pant leg.

His face was filled with disdain.

"If you don't have money, get lost."

"Don't die here and dirty this young master's ground."

"Since you know it's a Registration Fee, why would it ever be refunded?"

"If you keep yapping, this young master will burn all of you to death!"

After saying that, he took another bite from the drumstick in his hand. His overbearing, arrogant manner made anyone who saw him want to beat him up.

The crowd waiting in line immediately fell silent.

No one dared say another word.

That fat boy was far too ruthless.

And he was a soul master. How could ordinary people afford to provoke him?

Tang San stood outside the crowd.

He saw the entire scene clearly.

His brows drew tightly together.

A chill had appeared in his formerly calm eyes.

Bullying the weak with strength.

That was the kind of behavior he despised most.

Besides, that young man had done nothing wrong. He merely wanted back the money that belonged to him.

Shrek Academy.

So this was the so-called Monster Academy?

If "monster" referred to this sort of unreasonable brutality and thuggish oppression of the weak—

Then it truly was monstrous enough!

Everyone had the right to punish them!

"That's outrageous!"

Xiao Wu's little face flushed red with anger.

She had always hated evil with a passion.

Seeing that young man beaten until he coughed up blood, her fists clenched tightly.

"This is that fatty's fault."

"He took the money but didn't do the job, and he won't even let them take their money back."

"How is that any different from robbery?"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cold as well.

Though she did not speak much, she had her own sense of right and wrong.

Tang San stepped forward.

He walked straight toward the wooden table.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing followed close behind.

The parents were still crying and shouting, while the young man clutched his chest and groaned in pain.

As Tang San passed them, he flicked his finger lightly.

A green pill landed in the father's hand.

"Give it to him. It will treat his internal injuries."

Tang San spoke in a low voice.

It was a healing medicine he had refined himself. Though it was no immortal-grade treasure, it was more than enough for wounds like these.

The father froze for a moment, then looked at the fragrant pill in his hand and thanked him repeatedly.

Tang San did not stop.

He walked up to Ma Hongjun.

At that moment, Ma Hongjun had just swallowed his final bite of chicken.

Sensing someone approach, he raised his head.

The instant he saw Tang San, a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.

Tang San wore a fitted blue outfit.

Although the material was fine, the style was simple and lacked any extravagant decoration.

In Ma Hongjun's eyes, he was just another poor brat trying his luck.

"What are you staring at?"

"If you want to register, go pay the fee."

"If you don't have money, get the hell out."

"Don't block this young master from basking in the sun."

Picking at his teeth, Ma Hongjun spoke with extreme rudeness.

He had taken Tang San for the same sort as that young man from before.

Tang San looked at him.

He said nothing.

But his gaze was like that of someone looking at a dead man.

Ma Hongjun felt uncomfortable under that stare.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, his gaze passed Tang San and fell upon Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing behind him.

In that instant, Ma Hongjun's tiny eyes lit up sharply.

Like a starving wolf spotting fresh meat.

They blazed with excitement.

Xiao Wu wore a pink short skirt today, her long scorpion braid hanging behind her. Her legs were slender and straight, brimming with youthful vitality.

Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, wore black leather that outlined her voluptuous figure perfectly. Her icy temperament made her even more irresistible.

Top-tier beauties!

Absolutely top-tier beauties!

Ma Hongjun had spent so long in this shabby village—when had he ever seen beauties of this caliber?

And there were two of them at once.

They were a hundred times better than the twins Dai Laoda had brought back.

"Oh?"

"Where did these two little beauties come from?"

The flesh on Ma Hongjun's face bunched into a lewd smile.

He ignored Tang San completely.

His fat body wobbling, he walked toward Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Hey, you. Did you bring them here?"

"Looking as poor as you do, you think you deserve to be with beauties like this?"

Ma Hongjun pointed at Tang San, his face full of mockery.

"Perfect. Our academy happens to be short a few female students."

"As long as these two beauties are willing to stay and chat with me, discuss the mysteries of martial souls."

"As for the Registration Fee, I'll waive it for you."

As he spoke, he stretched out the greasy hand that had just grabbed a chicken leg.

He reached for Zhu Zhuqing's arm.

"Tsk, tsk, that figure. It's really something."

"If only..."

Before he could finish.

The temperature in the air suddenly dropped.

It was not the weather changing.

It was killing intent.

A tangible killing intent erupted from Tang San.

Tang San's expression darkened completely.

If Ma Hongjun injuring that young man earlier had merely made him angry and disdainful.

Then now.

Ma Hongjun's actions had touched his reverse scale.

Even his fatal weakness.

Xiao Wu.

She was the little sister who had grown up with him, the person he had sworn to protect.

Zhu Zhuqing.

She was the teammate personally assigned by Teacher, and someone from Blue Silver King's Mansion.