The First Step: Division

"Shrek is a scam academy."

"Who?" ×2

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing turned around almost simultaneously, only to see the masked Ye Hao slowly approaching.

"Who are you?"

Ning Rongrong asked warily.

As the Shrek Seven Devils accumulated more victories, their fame within the Suotuo Great Soul Arena had steadily risen. Whenever the Suotuo Great Soul Arena was mentioned, people always talked about them with great enthusiasm.

The Spectators naturally held endless fascination for the mysterious masked team known as the Shrek Seven Devils. Everyone wanted to know what unfamiliar faces lay behind those masks.

As the Grandmaster had said before, masks had to be worn upon entering the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. First, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings; second, for certain special reasons. Tang San's identity had always been a ticking time bomb—silent until the moment it erupted with shocking force.

Seeing no one else around, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had removed their masks. Yet unexpectedly, their true identities had been discovered by this stranger, who was also wearing a mask.

Before they could determine what this mysterious masked man intended, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing chose to keep their distance and swiftly put their masks back on.

For a moment, the atmosphere around them became somewhat delicate.

"You're the Hell Spirit Cat and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile from the Shrek Seven Devils, aren't you?"

Ye Hao smiled faintly as he looked at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing before him. The first step of his plan: division.

Tang San, since you had been unjust first, don't blame Ye Hao for being ruthless. To defeat an opponent, one first had to make discord arise within their team, thereby achieving internal division.

"Who exactly are you?"

Zhu Zhuqing coldly demanded with caution. In the entire Suotuo Great Soul Arena, the only people who knew their real names were the Shrek Academy teachers and the other five members.

She rarely interacted with others, and now both girls had become extremely wary. The Suotuo Great Soul Arena was a great dyeing vat, while Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were like white lotuses standing proudly within it. Winning was what they should be doing most at this stage.

Beyond that, they had no desire to become entangled in too many other matters.

"Who am I? Don't concern yourselves with that." Ye Hao said solemnly, "Just heed my advice: Shrek is a scam academy."

"How dare you insult Shrek Academy?"

Ning Rongrong suddenly flew into a rage.

"Why?"

Ye Hao smiled faintly. "Because they go around claiming that they only accept monsters and not ordinary people."

"An academy that isn't even registered and has no qualifications to participate in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament—how do they have the nerve to say something like that?"

Qin Ming could be considered the most successful graduate Shrek had ever produced. Aside from not participating in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, Qin Ming's life had already been complete.

Ye Hao continued, "And then there's their rule that students can't graduate until they reach level forty, otherwise going out would disgrace the academy. Hmph! What utter nonsense. What right do they have to restrict a Soul Master's freedom? An academy like that would be better off not existing. What's the point of establishing it?"

"Have you said enough?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked coldly.

Ye Hao remained unfazed. This was precisely the effect he wanted.

"Not yet. Fine, let's not talk about Shrek Academy. Let's talk about a few members of your Shrek Seven Devils instead."

"Your leader, the Evil Eye White Tiger—before this, he was a complete womanizer. Staying out all night and indulging in nightly revelry were merely basic routine for him."

The moment those words came out, Zhu Zhuqing's defenses completely shattered. Her pretty face beneath the mask suddenly dimmed, and an icy aura spread from her body.

"Enough! If you dare say one more word, be careful or I'll have Third Brother deal with you!"

Ning Rongrong issued her final warning, her tone filled with impatience.

Ye Hao still remained unfazed. "That Third Brother of yours isn't any good either. He's a Two-faced Guy—one face behind your back and another right in front of you. Don't be fooled by appearances. Let me tell you the truth: Tang San is nothing more than a thoroughly despicable man. You could see it from your battle today."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong fell silent...

"I watched your battle today. Just because that person on the other side mocked the Rabbit in your team, what happened? He was beaten half to death. I think you both understand the Rabbit's relationship with Tang San."

"I can guarantee that if this weren't a Soul Arena, the Soul Master who insulted the Rabbit would likely have disappeared from this continent altogether—and Tang San would have done it personally."

At those words, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong found it impossible to believe him. They believed that the always law-abiding Third Brother could not possibly have another side to him. Impossible. Completely impossible.

Ye Hao continued, "And that Rabbit—she has a human face but the heart of a beast. She's the one among you whom you must be most wary of."

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile contestant, if I remember correctly, you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, right? When you get the chance, have one of your sect's two Titled Douluo meet the Rabbit. Then, you'll learn the true secret."

"I've said all I need to say. There's no use saying more. Until we meet again."

With that, Ye Hao waved his hand and was about to leave.

"Wait, what's your name?"

Ning Rongrong called out to stop Ye Hao.

"Me?"

Ye Hao slowly turned around beneath his mask. "Ye Ritian."

Having said that, Ye Hao left with his hands clasped behind his back...

"Ye... Ri... Tian?"

The two girls exchanged glances. They had no impression whatsoever of this unfamiliar name.

"Rongrong, what did you think of what Ye Ritian said? Could it be that the dean and Tang San really were...?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked cautiously.

Ning Rongrong let out a melancholy sigh. Ever since entering the academy, everything Tang San had displayed had constantly drawn her in. If Xiao Wu had not been by Tang San's side, Ning Rongrong might have thrown herself wholeheartedly at him.

I used the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to pursue you, yet you went after a rabbit?

"Let's go back."

After saying that simply, Ning Rongrong headed toward the Lounge with Zhu Zhuqing. Ye Hao's words had truly shocked the two girls greatly; they needed time to process them...

Along the way, both girls were lost in thought. They found little of what Ye Hao had said believable and simply treated it as malicious gossip from an outsider.

The two arrived at the Lounge. Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to open the door and enter, Ning Rongrong suddenly stopped her.

Ning Rongrong had a sharp eye. As the daughter of that old fox Ning Fengzhi, she had naturally inherited this trait.

The two girls went to where Ye Hao had been earlier and quietly eavesdropped...

"Brother, that guy went too far. He actually dared to look down on me. Back when I was at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, when had I ever suffered such humiliation?"

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances, their eyes filled with strangeness. A shiver ran through them involuntarily. What a schemer...