The Six-Year Pact: The Price of Growth

"Teacher, I understand."

Hei Tang San nodded.

He glanced at the Sky Curtain, then lowered his head to look at his hands.

A trace of struggle flashed through his eyes, but it ultimately gave way to submission.

Level twenty-nine.

This was the result of his six years.

Although he was considered a genius in Nuoding City, at Shrek, where monsters gathered, he could only be called an "ordinary monster."

He turned around, dragging his somewhat heavy steps onto the muddy path leading to Suotuo City.

His back looked lonely and oppressed.

[White World]

Sacred Soul Village, rear mountain.

Unlike the mud of the Black World, a grand manor had risen from the horizon here.

It was the headquarters of the Tang Sect Merchant Association.

Within the manor, a youth stood beneath a waterfall, allowing the thousand-pound torrent to scour his back.

He had reached a height of six feet, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His muscles were as graceful and explosive as a leopard's.

His skin possessed a lustrous jade-like sheen, the mark of the Ice and Fire Golden Body's completion.

He casually accepted the blue-silver robe handed over by a servant.

The robe was perfectly tailored, with exquisite dark-gold patterns embroidered along the cuffs. It made his imposing bearing resemble that of a noble young master from a prestigious family.

Level thirty-nine.

This was his Soul Power Level after deliberately suppressing it.

In truth, if he had wanted to, he could have broken through level forty a year ago.

But he had chosen to keep compressing it.

Every strand of Soul Power had been refined to the extreme, its density three times that of an ordinary person's.

"Young Master, the chairman is waiting for you at the Blacksmith Shop."

The servant respectfully knelt on the ground.

Bai Tang San gave a slight nod and headed toward the Divine Weapon Pavilion, which had already been expanded several times over.

Inside the Divine Weapon Pavilion, the furnace burned brightly.

A tall man stood bare-chested, swinging the forging hammer in his hand.

He was not the dispirited Tang Hao.

He was a Clear Sky Douluo at the height of his strength.

With the discarded residue of Immortal Herbs and Whale Rubber solution provided by Bai Tang San, Tang Hao's old internal injuries had long since healed, and his Soul Power had even advanced further.

"Heading to Suotuo City?"

Tang Hao set down his hammer, his voice rumbling like muffled thunder.

"Mm."

Bai Tang San said calmly, "I heard there's a 'Monster Academy' there. I want to go take a look."

"And while I'm at it, recruit a few promising talents for the merchant association."

His tone made it sound less like he was going to study and more like a leader conducting an inspection at the grassroots level.

"Flender may be stingy, but his eye for talent is passable."

Tang Hao pulled a pitch-black token from his robes and casually tossed it over.

An ancient Clear Sky Hammer was engraved on the token.

"Take it. If anyone dares bully the young with the old, show them this token. I'll wipe out their entire family."

Bai Tang San caught the token and casually stored it in his Storage Ring.

"Father, you worry too much."

"Among people my age, no one can make me reveal this token."

His gaze was cold and confident.

"As for those old fools..."

"I have Poison Douluo as my chief advisor, as well as the merchant association's Title Guards."

"They are not worthy of making me invoke the name of the Clear Sky Sect."

With that, Bai Tang San turned around.

Behind him followed a squad of Soul Master guards with steady auras.

He was not going to Shrek to struggle for survival.

He was going there...

To harvest.

[Real World]

The audience across the continent fell silent.

The contrast between the two sides of the enormous Sky Curtain filled them with suffocating despair.

On the left.

Hei Tang San was sitting at a roadside stall, gnawing on a dry, hard bun to save a few copper coins.

His Blue Silver Grass was withered and fragile. Even a few barks from a stray dog by the road made him tense with alarm.

On the right.

Bai Tang San sat in a luxurious carriage pulled by top-grade white horses, swirling a glass of Red Wine produced by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

His Blue Silver Grass swayed beyond the window. The mere leakage of its ultimate attribute made all vegetation within ten miles bow down.

"How is this a comparison between two Tang Sans..."

Ning Fengzhi sat atop the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and shook his head bitterly.

"This is practically a mortal peering into the history of a god's growth."

Bibi Dong clenched her scepter tightly as well.

She watched the direction Bai Tang San had left in, and something called possessiveness began to grow wildly within her.

"If such a genius cannot be used by my Spirit Hall..."

"He must be completely erased before he enters Shrek!"

Suotuo City was prosperous as a dream.

This important grain-producing city of the Balak Kingdom bathed in the lingering glow of the setting sun.

For travelers who had journeyed for a long time, it was a haven of tenderness and a valley of joy.

[Black World]

Hei Tang San carried that faded, repeatedly washed travel bag on his back and held Xiao Wu's hand as he entered the lobby somewhat awkwardly.

A rich fragrance of roses rushed toward them.

The decor was ambiguous and luxurious, making these two inexperienced country bumpkins look particularly out of place.

"We want two rooms."

Hei Tang San laid several Silver Soul Coins on the counter, counting them with great care.

The attendant glanced awkwardly at the computer records, a Soul Tool.

"Sorry, only one 'Red Ocean' couples' room remains."

Xiao Wu's face instantly turned red.

Hei Tang San looked equally embarrassed and was just about to find another inn.

"Then I'll take that room."

A domineering voice came with heavy footsteps.

A tall youth with long golden hair and luxurious clothes entered with an arm around each of two beautiful twin girls.

The Evil Eye White Tiger, Dai Mubai.

At this moment, he wore a proud expression, and his mismatched eyes were filled with arrogance.

"Who are you? There should always be a first come, first served."

Hei Tang San frowned. Although he did not want trouble, he could not let Xiao Wu suffer such humiliation.

"First come, first served?"

Dai Mubai sneered and pushed the beauties in his arms aside.

"In this world, the bigger fist makes the rules."

"Beat me, and the room is yours."

"Otherwise, get lost."

The conflict erupted.

Hei Tang San was forced to fight.

Blue Silver Grass Entanglement, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track evasion, Mysterious Jade Hand blocks.

It was a bitter battle.

Dai Mubai's White Tiger Vajra Transformation was too domineering. Every strike sent Tang San's blood and energy churning.

If Tang San had not used the Dragon Whisker Needle at the end and broken through Dai Mubai's defense,

he would have lost long ago.

Even so, Dai Mubai had only suffered a hidden loss due to underestimating him. He was not truly injured.

"Interesting."

Dai Mubai wiped the blood from his face and gave Tang San a deep look.

"The room is yours."

"I'm Dai Mubai, from Shrek Academy."

With that, he put his arms around the twins and strode away.

Hei Tang San remained where he was, panting heavily, his arm still trembling slightly.

Had he won?

No, at most, he had not lost.

"Third Brother, that lecherous tiger was far too arrogant!"

Xiao Wu said angrily.

Hei Tang San gave a bitter smile. Looking at Dai Mubai's departing back, his eyes were filled with helplessness.

"He does have the right to be arrogant."

"A level thirty-seven Soul Elder..."

"If I hadn't used Hidden Weapons, I would have had no chance of winning."

A deep sense of powerlessness shrouded his heart.

In this world, he could only struggle to survive through the cracks between the strong.