Tang Hao

Shrek Academy's dormitories were not large, only a little over ten square meters. Rather than dormitories, they were more accurately described as private residences.

There were only two beds.

After entering the dormitory, Ning Chuan spread out his bedding, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began cultivating.

Late at night, Shrek Academy was shrouded in silence.

Inside the Vice Dean's office, Zhao Wuji had changed into clean clothes. He lay listlessly across his desk, still brooding over the humiliation Ning Chuan had inflicted on him during the day.

At the same time, he greatly admired Ning Chuan. In terms of talent, Ning Chuan was far superior to Dai Mubai.

His Martial Soul was also exceptionally powerful. As a mere Soul Elder, he had actually sent Zhao Wuji, a Spirit Sage, flying with a single sword strike. He even possessed two Thousand Year Spirit Rings, and his swordsmanship was downright terrifying. There was an eight or nine in ten chance that he would become an unparalleled powerhouse in the future.

Just as he was considering how to train the five newly enrolled students, a sudden voice reached his ears. "Zhao Wuji, get out here."

"Who? Who the hell is calling for me?"

Zhao Wuji was no kind man. If he had not been Shrek Academy's Vice Dean, Ning Chuan would already have been dead for treating him that way during the day.

Hearing someone call for him, Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with cold light. Without hesitation, he smashed through the window and rushed outside, his Soul Power instantly surging to its peak.

Two yellow, two purple, and three black—Seven Spirit Rings burst forth. In an instant, he completed Spirit Body Possession, transforming into a humanoid Brown Bear standing roughly two and a half meters tall!

However, the moment he saw who had come, he immediately wilted.

A gaunt black figure stepped out from behind a large tree. From his appearance alone, Zhao Wuji could only tell that he was a skinny old man in the twilight of his years.

Yet the Soul Rings on the other man's body made Zhao Wuji's heart leap straight into his throat.

Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red!

The man was actually a Titled Douluo, and one who possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring.

How was that possible?

Since when had such a powerhouse come to this tiny Barak Kingdom?

He hurriedly bent at the waist and saluted. "May I ask which senior has honored us with his presence? If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will be magnanimous."

The man in black said indifferently, "Magnanimous? You beat up the little one, so naturally the old one came..."

With that, he stepped forward, grabbed Zhao Wuji, and gave him a thorough beating.

The man in black was naturally Tang Hao. Just like in the original story, he had come to teach Zhao Wuji a lesson after Tang San completed Shrek Academy's entrance examination.

However, because Tang San had been injured far more severely than in the original story this time, Tang Hao was practically beating Zhao Wuji to death.

As for Tang Hao himself, after being relentlessly tormented by Ning Chuan over the past six years, he was no longer the broad-shouldered, imposing figure he had once been.

He looked as though he had shriveled up, reduced to a gaunt old man. His skin resembled dried tree bark, and his muscles seemed to have atrophied. He no longer bore even a trace of the former Clear Sky Douluo's appearance.

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to be beaten to death, a figure swept over from the direction of Shrek and appeared nearby.

He hurriedly bowed and said, "Haotian Mianxia, please show mercy..."

The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a hooked nose and square-framed glasses. His entire body was covered in feathers, his eyes were orange-yellow and vertical, and a pair of enormous Wings spread from his back. His Soul Ring configuration was the same as Zhao Wuji's: two yellow, two purple, and three black.

Only then did Tang Hao stop. He casually seized the half-dead Zhao Wuji by the back of his collar and tossed him before the man. "Flender, Cat Eagle Martial Soul, level seventy-eight Agility Attack Type Spirit Saint, formerly one of the Golden Iron Triangle. What, are you going to avenge him?"

"How would I dare? How would I dare..." Flender hurriedly forced a smile. After asking around, he learned that one of the students who had passed the assessment today was Tang Hao's son, and Zhao Wuji had beaten that son seriously injured. Tang Hao had come specifically to settle the score.

Afterward, Tang Hao gave Flender a few more instructions before finally saying, "Also, keep an eye on Ning Chuan."

"Could he also have some connection with you, Mianxia?" Flender asked with a puzzled expression.

"You only need to watch whether he shows any inclination to join Spirit Hall. If he does, notify me immediately."

Tang Hao did not answer the question directly, and his tone allowed no doubt.

The reason he had noticed Ning Chuan today was because he had seen Ning Chuan's Thousand Year second ring and his cultivation as a level thirty-three Soul Elder.

Potential and talent like that would be fine if Ning Chuan did not join Spirit Hall. But if he did, he would undoubtedly become a formidable rival to Tang Hao's son, Tang San.

Flender had seen Ning Chuan's records. He knew that Ning Chuan possessed the greatest talent and potential among this batch of new students, perhaps even since Shrek Academy had been founded. He also knew something of the grudge between Tang Hao and Spirit Hall.

The moment he heard that Tang Hao had set his sights on Ning Chuan, he hurriedly said, "Clear Sky Douluo, that child has nothing to do with Spirit Hall."

Tang Hao snorted coldly. "It would be best if that were true. You had better not let him have anything to do with Spirit Hall either. Otherwise, you know my methods..."

After saying those final words, his figure flickered, and he vanished.

"Flender, you bastard have no loyalty at all. You only showed up after you saw I was about to be beaten to death," Zhao Wuji said between ragged breaths.

Flender carefully helped him up and replied irritably, "You beat his son into that state during the day. What difference would it have made if I joined in?"

Zhao Wuji complained, "How was I supposed to know that was his son? Besides, who knew his son would be so frail? One Gravity Enhancement from me, and he collapsed. He was not even as tough as that little girl who's a Support Spirit Master..."

"Don't talk nonsense..." Afraid that Tang Hao might return, Flender hurriedly covered his mouth.

"Fine, I won't say anything. But what are you planning to do about that little monster Ning Chuan?" Zhao Wuji asked after falling silent for a while, once Flender removed his hand.

Rather than answering, Flender asked, "What do you think of him?"

Zhao Wuji considered for a moment before giving his assessment. "At just twelve years old, he already has level thirty-three Soul Power and two Thousand Year Spirit Rings. His talent is beyond question. His combat talent is absurdly powerful as well. I fear that among Soul Ancestors—and perhaps even Spirit Kings—there are very few who could defeat him."

Flender nodded. "Then we will follow Clear Sky Douluo's wishes and guide him away from Spirit Hall."

"What if he insists on joining Spirit Hall? Do you really intend to hand him over to Clear Sky Douluo?" Zhao Wuji's expression turned grave.

"If that happens, we can only have him graduate early."

Flender said.

Perhaps he was a profiteer, and perhaps he could not be considered a good Dean, but he had always valued and protected students with exceptional talent. After all, his lifelong dream was to make Shrek Academy flourish.

P.S. First update. Please vote with monthly tickets.