Yu Xiaolong's close relationship with Xiao Wu filled Tang San with a deep sense of crisis.
Xiao Wu—she was my Xiao Wu.
She was my beloved.
She was my Asura Sword Sheath.
She was my Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
She was the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone of my Hundred Thousand Year Sky Azure Bull Python.
She was the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone of my Hundred Thousand Year Titan Giant Ape.
If he lost Xiao Wu, then he'd lose all of those—
Oh, no.
Xiao Wu, how could I live without you?
At the thought, Tang San decided he had to drive a wedge between Xiao Wu and Yu Xiaolong.
Main Quest: Win Xiao Wu Back.
With that in mind, Tang San got to work.
He planned to brainwash Xiao Wu, but quickly realized it wouldn't work—she seemed not to have a brain to begin with.
Never mind. It couldn't hurt to give it a shot. So Tang San kept badmouthing Yu Xiaolong in front of Xiao Wu, urging her to stay away from him. Xiao Wu even promised him solemnly that she would.
But whenever Xiao Wu saw the things Yu Xiaolong had bought for her, she'd go scampering right back to him, clinging to his side.
Tang San burned with rage. He wanted to buy Xiao Wu things too, but he had no money.
Even a hero could be brought low by a lack of cash.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, read the report his informants had sent back from Shrek Academy and furrowed his brow.
He hadn't expected a little academy like Shrek to have gathered so many children from prominent clans.
Dai Mubai, with his White Tiger Martial Soul, was likely a prince of the Star Luo Empire.
Zhu Zhuqing, with her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, was probably from the Star Luo Zhu Family. The Dai Family and Zhu Family had intermarried for generations, and together their heirs could even use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Yu Xiaolong had a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. That went without saying—he was the youngest son that old Yu Yuanzhen was always bragging about.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar all had Innate Full Soul Power, while Ma Hongjun possessed the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, Evil Fire Phoenix. They were all worth winning over.
That was right—Ning Fengzhi was, at heart, a shrewd businessman.
But one thing puzzled him: what was Ren Yu's background? A few days ago, he had extorted Flender, yet the Soul Saint, who was level seventy-eight, hadn't dared to utter a single defiant word.
What was more, Ren Yu had two Soul Saint bodyguards with him. He'd also mentioned that he had elders in his family, and it was apparently one of those elders who had cowed Flender.
Anyone capable of intimidating a level seventy-eight Soul Saint had to be at least a high-ranking Soul Douluo. Most likely, though, that person was a Titled Douluo.
Any force with a Titled Douluo was certainly stronger than the Lower Four Sects, but Ren Yu was definitely not a disciple of the Upper Three Sects. The Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were both extremely insular, and their Martial Souls were hereditary. The Clear Sky Sect had recently been dealt another blow by Spirit Hall, so its members would be even less likely to show themselves. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan members were all arrogant and overbearing. According to the reports, Ren Yu had beaten people that day, but he hadn't shown the disdainful contempt of someone who thought himself above everyone else—the sort typical of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that went without saying.
Could Ren Yu be from Spirit Hall—or perhaps a reclusive clan?
Just as Ning Fengzhi was pondering this, the hall doors suddenly swung open, and an old man flew in on a long sword. He wore gray robes, and his snow-white beard spilled over his chest. He was none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's honored guest, the level ninety-six Titled Douluo, Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
"Fengzhi, I heard you sent Rongrong to Shrek Academy. What kind of lousy academy is that? How could it possibly be fit for Rongrong? Listen to me: bring her back at once. Wouldn't two Titled Douluo, Old Bone and me, teach her better than that lousy academy?" Sword Douluo said.
"Uncle Jian, Shrek Academy is quite good. It has two Soul Saints as its dean and vice-dean, and quite a few of its students come from powerful families. Rongrong is sure to gain something there."
"I don't care! What if Rongrong is mistreated there?"
"Uncle Jian, you and Uncle Gu can't keep letting Rongrong come back. You've spoiled her rotten. How can this go on?"
"I don't care. Rongrong mustn't be mistreated."
"If you, her father, won't do anything, then I'll go to Shrek Academy myself."
With that, Sword Douluo flew off again on his Seven Kill Sword.
Ning Fengzhi could only shake his head helplessly.
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, Flender was organizing the students' training. As expected, it was a run—and not just any run, but twenty laps.
By the time the moon had risen above the willow tips, everyone had finished running and returned to Shrek Academy.
"Oscar, have all of you finished your twenty laps?" Flender asked coldly.
"Yes, Dean. I'm done," Oscar panted.
"I asked about all of you, not you alone."
Oscar glanced at Ning Rongrong. Sure enough, that familiar feeling of his heart skipping a beat returned.
"Yes, we've all finished."
"Is that so? Then, Ning Rongrong, have you finished your twenty laps?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head indifferently. "No. The route was too long, and I was tired, sleepy, and thirsty, so I couldn't keep going."
"So you sneaked off to Suotuo City halfway through, ate and drank your fill, went shopping, and only thought to come back after you ran into Oscar."
"Were you spying on me?"
"As the dean, I have to keep track of every student at all times."
"And you, as a student, disobeyed your teacher's rules and sneaked out of the academy. That's completely undisciplined."
"Now I'm giving you two choices. Either you run the twenty laps again to prove you deserve to stay here,"
"or you pack your things and get out." Backed by Ning Fengzhi's letter, Flender shouted at Ning Rongrong without a trace of fear.
"Flender, you're nothing but a little Soul Saint. How dare you talk to me like that?"
None of the people at Shrek Academy were surprised to hear Ning Rongrong say this. Only Xiao Wu was.
After all, Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Tang San, a reborn God King, Yu Xiaolong, a transmigrator, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, who came from prominent families, naturally knew what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda represented.
Even Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who came from common backgrounds, had heard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's great reputation.
As for Xiao Wu, she didn't know a thing.
"That's right, I'm only a little Soul Saint. But you're just a Soul Grandmaster. There's a world of difference between our levels. Besides, I'm the dean of Shrek Academy, and Shrek Academy doesn't welcome you. Leave."
"Flender, think carefully. You'd better consider the consequences of kicking me out."
"What should I be afraid of? This is Shrek Academy, my territory. If you don't leave, I'll have someone throw your luggage out."
"Flender, you dare!"
"What wouldn't I dare to do?"
"Let's see you try!"
Before the words had even faded, a Seven Kill Sword landed at Flender's feet.
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