Ever since Yu Xiaogang took control of Shrek Academy's finances, it had been a bolt from the blue for both the Seven Monsters and Yu Xiaogang himself.
Under the devilish training Yu Xiaogang had devised, the Seven Monsters were living in utter misery. Yu Xiaogang himself was working double shifts, teaching at Shrek Academy on weekdays and at the Boxing Gym's tutoring classes on weekends. Calling him the hardest-working man alive wasn't an exaggeration.
After Flender got a taste of the tutoring classes' profits, he went to the Great Soul Arena to scout for more students. In the end, only Yu Xiaogang's firm refusal kept the class size capped at ten.
After all, Yu Xiaogang was running a small, elite tutoring class. He couldn't teach too many students at once. If the quality of instruction dropped and ruined his reputation, it would be a poor bargain indeed.
And because there were so few spots, Flender recruited only talented Soul Masters. Aside from the Three Scoundrels he'd brought in at first, the rest were all team captains from Silver Soul teams.
After all, having served as Shrek Academy's headmaster for so many years, he couldn't exactly escape the occupational hazard.
The students he recruited also had unusual backgrounds, and Yu Xiaogang ended up changing the relationships between many characters from the original story. For instance, the captains of these teams met through the tutoring class, and some even privately discussed fighting in illegal matches. Yu Xiaogang couldn't very well interfere. The money they earned from those fights went toward their tuition, after all. Ahem!
But the most surprising of them all was Bu Le, one of the Three Scoundrels.
The guy had gone out of his way to cozy up to Flender and accidentally learned Ma Hongjun's identity. Instead of becoming sworn enemies like they had in the original story, the two had become great buddies. Yu Xiaogang was truly left speechless.
But Yu Xiaogang was focused on teaching and had no time to bother with any of that.
Fortunately, the first phase of devil training lasted only three months. After three months of living through hell, Yu Xiaogang could finally breathe a sigh of relief and shift the Seven Monsters' training focus to the Suotuo Great Soul Arena.
There, the Seven Monsters officially established their name.
Yu Xiaogang, their teacher, witnessed it all with his own eyes. He knew that before long, those seven names would shine across the continent like stars in the sky and be etched into history forever.
One year later, inside the Suotuo Great Soul Arena.
Yu Xiaogang stood with several teachers from Shrek Academy in the Exclusive Stand, watching the Soul Fighting arena below.
The crowd's excitement had reached its peak. Everyone knew the winner would soon be decided.
A fierce tiger's roar rang out across the arena, and a massive surge of energy instantly swept through the surroundings.
A gigantic Transparent White Tiger stood in the middle of the arena, eight meters long and over two meters tall. Its white fur was streaked with purple, and its icy purple eyes stared at its opponents.
This was the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing: Hell White Tiger!
The tiger vanished instantly after making just one strike, but that single attack had taken out Osler and Yu Tianheng.
Both teams had suffered losses. Heaven Dou Royal Academy had lost two members, while Shrek Academy had lost three.
What's more, the Soul Power of the remaining Shrek Soul Masters was clearly lower than that of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. The situation was obviously unfavorable for Shrek Academy.
But just then, Tang San stepped forward!
With a furious shout, Tang San's shirt burst apart, and a pair of Eight Spider Lances glowing with a faint purple light extended from his back.
Relying on the intricacies of the Tang Sect's Secret Arts and the potent neurotoxin of the Eight Spider Lances, Tang San single-handedly took down the remaining members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Team Battle Soul, Shrek Academy wins!"
At the Host's announcement, a deafening roar of cheers erupted throughout the arena.
Everyone turned to look at Shrek Academy, and at the young Soul Master who had led his team to victory using the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
But Yu Xiaogang, standing in the Exclusive Stand, had his eyes on the opposing team's captain, Yu Tianheng.
Outside the Suotuo Great Soul Arena, on a quiet street.
Yu Xiaogang had been waiting by the roadside since early morning. When he saw the Heaven Dou Royal Academy group approaching, he immediately stepped forward and called out, "Tianheng, do you remember your uncle?"
Yu Tianheng looked up in surprise. Though the moonlight was hazy, he recognized Yu Xiaogang at once.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded, then said, "Come on. Let's talk over there."
The two walked to a lakeside. Yu Tianheng spoke first. "Uncle, where have you been all these years?"
Yu Xiaogang smiled calmly. "What's in the past is in the past. There's no need to bring it up. I came to see you because of that Soul Fighting match."
"So you watched it too. I'm sorry, I've brought shame on the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan." Yu Tianheng's eyes held a trace of dejection.
"No, you haven't," Yu Xiaogang replied seriously.
Yu Tianheng gave a bitter smile. "You don't have to comfort me, Uncle. How could it not be shameful to lose to a team led by a Soul Master using the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? This will be a lifelong humiliation for me."
Child, you've been blinded by appearances!
Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly, then said, "First, I want you to know that the Soul Master using the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is named Tang San. He's my disciple."
Yu Tianheng stared at him in shock. "He's your disciple, Uncle?"
"That's right. And he's only thirteen. What he showed today wasn't even all of his strength."
Yu Tianheng's heart filled with despair. His brow furrowed, and for a moment he couldn't find the words to speak.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. "That's why I came to find you, Tianheng. Remember, some people in this world can't be judged by ordinary standards. Tang San is one of them."
"He's special. He's different from you, and from everyone else in this world."
Perhaps I'm the only one like him, Yu Xiaogang thought to himself.
"Why?" Yu Tianheng asked, puzzled.
"I can't tell you much, but you only need to know that his surname is Tang, and his father's name is Tang Hao."
"Tang Hao, Clear Sky... So that's how it is. He's an heir of the Clear Sky Sect, yet he has the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul..." Yu Tianheng learned a little, but it only left him with even more questions.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang said no more. He took a book from the Soul Tool on his wrist and handed it to Yu Tianheng.
"This is a Soul Power cultivation method I developed after years of research. Follow the instructions in it, and you'll increase your Soul Power much faster."
This was the Meditation Method mentioned in the original story, the one Yu Xiaogang had created himself.
After transmigrating, he had combined it with the Mysterious Heaven Skill granted by the system and further refined the method. Though it wasn't as effective as the Mysterious Heaven Skill, it was still extraordinarily powerful for anyone else.
Yu Tianheng's eyes lit up. He suddenly looked up at Yu Xiaogang and asked, "Uncle, can I cultivate with you?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "If you cultivated with me, what would the Old Guys in the clan think?"
Yu Tianheng had clearly overlooked that point. The light in his eyes went out once more.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang smiled. "Don't lose heart. There'll be a chance. Once I prove my Martial Soul Theory, I'll return to the clan."
"But I'm afraid the Old Guys in the clan..." Yu Tianheng trailed off.
"Don't worry. I'll make all the necessary arrangements."
Yu Xiaogang turned to look at the lake. Moonlight reflected on its surface, making the entire scene look peaceful and serene.
Yet beneath the water lurked endless darkness and terror.
"One last thing. According to the information I've received, Spirit Hall is gathering its forces and planning to attack the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Tianheng, when you return to the clan, tell your grandfather this yourself. Tell him to make preparations as soon as possible."
Yu Tianheng's face filled with disbelief.
Yu Xiaogang said nothing more. He patted his nephew on the shoulder, then turned and left.
Half a month later.
On the road outside Heaven Dou City.
A convoy turned onto the road from a side path and headed toward the city gates.
At the gates, several people in the convoy noticed a notice posted on the city wall. Then the group entered Heaven Dou City and headed for Blue Tyrant Academy, as the notice instructed.
This group was the teachers and students of Shrek Academy.
To give the Seven Monsters a better environment for cultivation, Yu Xiaogang and Flender had reluctantly disbanded the tutoring class. They brought the academy's teachers, students, and all their belongings with them, planning to use Qin Ming's connections to reach an agreement with Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Once they arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they hit it off with the academy's three education committee members. The potential the Seven Monsters displayed also greatly impressed the three committee members.
The External Soul Bone on Tang San in particular drew gasps of admiration from everyone present.
They were on the verge of reaching an agreement when a member of the Imperial Family suddenly interfered. Under the overbearing pressure of Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, the Shrek Group had no choice but to swallow their humiliation and leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
After wandering around the city for a while, they finally arrived at the gates of Blue Tyrant Academy.
After passing Blue Tyrant Academy's entrance test with ease, they followed one of the academy's teachers toward the woods at the back of the campus.
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help feeling nervous. His palms were damp with sweat.
After hearing a melodious song, the group arrived at a small lake.
Flowers and plants of all kinds grew there, and the surroundings were serene.
A beautiful woman who looked to be in her thirties, dressed in a blue cloth skirt, stopped watering the plants and looked toward the group.
When she saw Yu Xiaogang among them, she froze on the spot.
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang froze the moment he saw the beautiful woman.
Before you continue