Refusing Yun Ming

When Yun Ming saw Tang Heng disappear along with all the Evil Soul Masters, his heart gave a sudden lurch.

He clearly sensed that the Soul Power Link attached to those Evil Soul Masters had just been severed by some kind of law, as if the objects connecting them had vanished from this world in an instant.

Even with Yun Ming's wealth of experience, he had never heard of anything like it.

"Damn it! Was I too conceited after all?"

It had been many years since he had last lost control of a situation like this. For a moment, even his heart, calm as a lake, was stirred by ripples.

Was that child's ability, or some trick of the Evil Soul Masters?

Yun Ming's thoughts raced as he spread his mental power in every direction, determined not to miss a single clue.

If the Evil Soul Masters had unleashed that move, then the child was likely in grave danger.

The odds of a three-ring Soul Master defeating a seven-ring Evil Soul Master with Two-Character Battle Armor were far too slim.

"Damn it. I should have acted immediately."

There was no point regretting it now. A murderous aura surged from Yun Ming.

How many years had it been? Ever since he became unrivaled in his time and retired with Ya Li to Sea God Island to devote himself to creating a godhood, when had he ever lost his temper?

But in the next moment, familiar spatial fluctuations came from the old house ahead.

Damn Evil Soul Masters!

Yun Ming was just about to hurl his spear when he realized the situation seemed different from what he had imagined.

The girl from before had become a boy, but judging by his Soul Power fluctuations and bone age, he was clearly the same person.

All the other Evil Soul Masters were on the brink of death, their auras feeble. Even if left alone, none of them would last much longer.

"H-how is this possible?"

Yun Ming murmured, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes.

"A seven-year-old, three-ring Soul Master actually defeated four high-ranking Evil Soul Masters?"

Even he, at that age, would have done nothing but run for his life in such a situation. If he couldn't escape, the Evil Soul Masters would most likely have killed him.

How had the boy done it?

Curiosity gradually replaced the anger in Yun Ming's heart, and he slowly reined in his aura.

Seeing Tang Heng decisively kill several Evil Soul Masters, Yun Ming was overjoyed, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I came out this time to look for the Ghost Emperor. I never expected the heavens to send me a 'monster' outright."

"If this peerless jade-in-the-rough joined Shrek, then even a century from now, Shrek would still be number one in the world!"

Yun Ming put away the Sky-Prop Spear and made up his mind.

He would take the boy in, even if it meant breaking Shrek's rules.

"Who are you?"

Tang Heng gripped the spear in his hand and kept his distance from the middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared.

Although he couldn't sense the other man's Soul Power fluctuations, judging by the health bar displayed above him, this man was definitely even stronger than the Evil Soul Masters from before.

At the very least, he was comparable to the Ferocious Beasts in Minecraft that had lived for hundreds of thousands of years. He had to be a Super Douluo, at the very least.

"Child, there's no need to be nervous. I'm not an Evil Soul Master." Yun Ming paused, then clasped his hands behind his back, adopting the air of a worldly master. In a gentle voice, he said:

"I wonder if you've ever heard of Sky-Prop Douluo?"

Oh, so it was Yun Ming.

That explained everything. He was the number one in the world and a Limit Douluo, after all. It made sense that his health bar was so thick.

Besides, Tang Heng didn't sense the uniquely chilling aura of an Evil Soul Master coming from him.

Instead, the man had a proud air about him, a kind of resolve that seemed ready to pierce through heaven and earth.

Well, if he had to put it into words, the man felt like a spear to Tang Heng—almost like the afterimages he had seen years ago when he used the Golden Thirteen Spears skill book.

Taking all that into account, the man before him really might be Yun Ming.

Tang Heng unequipped his gear and put the Netherite Armor and spear back into his inventory.

The man was from Shrek, and had done plenty of despicable, underhanded things, but at least he wouldn't attack a frail child like Tang Heng for no reason.

"Oh, Sky-Prop Douluo. I've heard of you."

Tang Heng gave a slight nod and answered.

"Hahaha! Then would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Yun Ming spoke warmly, his face brimming with absolute confidence.

He was Sky-Prop Douluo, the Sea God Pavilion Master, and the undisputed number one on the continent.

Who in the world would refuse when he personally offered them a place at his side?

"No."

"Good! Then let's go meet your parents first. We'll need to discuss this..." Yun Ming froze, as if he had just heard a strange word. He asked, "Child, what did you just say?"

Tang Heng folded his arms and replied calmly:

"I said I don't want to be your disciple."

"Why not? As my disciple, you could make an exception and enter the inner court of Shrek Academy at your age."

"I'm not interested."

He had no intention of going to Shrek Academy.

Get brainwashed and obediently become Shrek's dog?

Absolutely not.

This was the first time Yun Ming had ever been rejected, and for a moment, he was at a loss.

But he was the Sea God Pavilion Master, after all. He had weathered every kind of storm. There was no way he would get into a dispute with a child over something so trivial.

"Ahem. Don't you know Shrek Academy is the best on the continent? If you join us, you'll have access to the finest resources and teachers."

"Even if you don't want to stay at the academy in the future, finding work elsewhere will be easy. Our students are in every level of the Federation, and they receive far better treatment than graduates of other Soul Master Academies."

Yun Ming cleared his throat and tried to coax him.

By this point, Tang Heng could hardly believe what he was hearing.

You're aware your students are scattered far and wide, aren't you?

In the original story, Shrek was blown up partly because the Spirit Pagoda had designs on replacing it, and partly because the Holy Spirit Cult resented Shrek for hunting them down for years.

But the Federation got involved, too. And wasn't that because Shrek Academy had set itself up as a state within a state in the Federation, planting brainwashed students in all kinds of positions? Wulin and the protagonist group later did things that could easily be called treason.

Today, Long Yeyue slapped the Spirit Pagoda Master across the face. Tomorrow, Yun Ming would storm a secret Federation organization to snatch their heir—and nearly blow up Ming Capital with a single spear.

An academy should just be an academy. It should focus on teaching and nurturing its students.

Instead, it secretly raised a private army, occupied seats in the Federation's parliament, and stuck its hands into politics.

Heh, saying they got what they deserved wouldn't be an exaggeration.

It was just a shame about the more than ten million civilians who were caught in the crossfire. They died in the explosion, and then the Holy Spirit Cult took their souls to use.

"Everyone has a purpose in life. Even without those filthy, nepotistic connections, I may yet reach the peak one day."

Tang Heng replied coldly, then turned to leave.

Yun Ming opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

His words just now had indeed been arrogant. This child was only a three-ring Soul Master, yet had defeated a Soul Saint-level Evil Soul Master. His strength and talent far exceeded what Yun Ming himself had possessed at that age.

Geniuses had pride. It was only natural that he didn't want to live under someone else's roof or accept handouts.

But Yun Ming was still confident. Give him a few days, and he would surely make Tang Heng change his mind.