Inside the office.
Yu Xiaogang stood with his back to Flender. After hearing Flender's request, he could barely contain his delight.
He clenched his fists in excitement, his body taut. In another moment, he might even have been moved to tears.
Forty whole years! Ever since awakening Luo Sanpao, Yu Xiaogang had devoted nearly all his energy to researching Martial Soul Theory. He claimed, "There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters," but he had long since given up on cultivation, instead hoping to prove himself in another field.
He had truly worked hard for it, poring over books day and night...
Unfortunately, there was only so much Martial Soul Theory and so many established principles on the continent to study. He lacked the intelligence to open up new avenues of research, so all he could do was pick through the Spirit Hall's library and cobble together a few ideas of his own.
As for the "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul," anyone with even a little cultivation knowledge knew it was nonsense. But no matter what, Bibi Dong and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan carried enough weight that some influential people would flatter him with the title of Grandmaster out of deference to those two powers.
But there weren't many influential people in the Soul World. Most people still reacted with indifference, or even scoffed, whenever he brought up the "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."
If Tang San was Yu Xiaogang's tool for proving his theories, then Flender's recognition of Yu Xiaogang was the glory he got to enjoy in advance, while his theories were still being proven.
In all those forty years, he had never felt needed by anyone—not since Tang San before, and Flender now...
Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiaogang forced down the excitement in his heart.
He walked a few steps toward the doorway and looked up at the azure sky. Somewhere up there, a trophy seemed to be waiting for him.
Then Yu Xiaogang slowly spoke.
"Flender, it's been so many years, but you're still the same old you!"
"Huh?" Flender was at a loss. He stared at the back of the flat-topped head, his face full of confusion.
But before he could ask what Yu Xiaogang meant, the latter took the initiative to explain.
"You came up with this idea after seeing Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, didn't you?"
"I have to say, you've got a good eye."
"That's right. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, which took the path of a control-type Martial Soul, is my handiwork."
"With my theories behind it, a Martial Soul recognized across the continent as trash can now stand invincible among those of the same rank. I'm sure you've all seen Tang San's combat ability by now. What do you think?"
After speaking, he turned around with a flourish and looked into the room. The sight of him standing in the sunlight while Flender remained in the shadows gave Yu Xiaogang the illusion that he held the truth in his hands.
Only then did Flender realize that Yu Xiaogang was showing off.
He seized the opportunity and hurried to play along.
"Oh, yes! Great! Absolutely great!"
"Xiao San is the finest control-type Soul Master I've ever seen. You have no idea how impressive his record at the Soul Fighting Field has been these past few days. I've made a pretty penny thanks to him!"
Flender understood Yu Xiaogang's temperament fairly well. From every angle, he praised Tang San.
Then he changed the subject.
"But that's not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about Evil Fire!"
"Xiaogang, you've spent all these years immersed in Martial Soul Theory. You must be able to think of a way to deal with the Evil Fire in those two kids, right?"
Unable to help himself, Yu Xiaogang's mouth curled into a smile in the sunlight, but he quickly forced it down.
After pretending to ponder for a moment, he drawled, "That'll be difficult..."
"What? Could it be..."
Flender's brow furrowed at once, and his eyes grew tense.
Could even Xiaogang not solve the Evil Fire problem? Had Xiaogang not been showing off just now? Were his two students really beyond saving?
The eyes that Flender usually used to size up a situation grew flustered.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang forced down the smile that came from being recognized, sighed, and spoke with feigned profundity.
"You know I already have Xiao San as my direct disciple. If I devote my energy to someone else, what will happen to Xiao San's future growth?"
"Xiao San has inherited everything I've learned in my life. One day, he'll stand at the summit of this continent..."
Inside the room, Flender let out a long sigh of relief.
Thank goodness! Xiaogang really did have a way. He really had been showing off just now.
"Xiaogang! I, Flender, have never asked anyone for anything in my life. I only hope you'll save those two kids."
Flender stepped out of the room's shadows and stood alongside Yu Xiaogang in the sunlight. And so the two began their little game of posturing and bargaining...
Meanwhile.
With Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausage, Zhao Wuji led the group out of Star Dou Forest in about a day.
After several more days, the group finally reached Suotuo City and was about to return to Shrek Academy.
With that, their trip came to an imperfect end.
Aside from a few minor mishaps, Oscar and Xiao Wu had both obtained their third Soul Rings. Lin Yan had also gained, in plain sight, three fire-type Soul Rings and an External Soul Bone.
But from the others' perspective, all three of the Soul Rings on Lin Yan's Second Martial Soul were Hundred-Year Soul Rings. They couldn't help but feel it was a shame...
Lin Yan himself didn't care in the slightest. The system's God-Given Soul Rings were adaptive. Once his body grew stronger, the age of his God-Given Soul Rings would naturally increase as well. If his body became strong enough, all his God-Given Soul Rings would be a hundred thousand years old.
For now, these three Hundred-Year Soul Rings were perfect for keeping a low profile and avoiding too much attention.
In the sunlight, the group spotted Shrek's sign from far away. At this pace, they would be back at the academy in another two or three minutes.
Just then, Lin Yan suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo!"
He rubbed his nose and knitted his brows slightly.
"What's going on? I've been sneezing, and now my right eyelid's twitching..."
"Could there be an ambush at the academy?"
Zhao Wuji, who was about to lead everyone back to the academy and report in, heard him and shot him an exasperated look over his shoulder.
"What nonsense are you spouting, kid? Do you think Flender and I, two Soul Saints, can't protect you little brats?"
Lin Yan pursed his lips, remembering the scene of Tang Hao beating him to a pulp without even using his Martial Soul.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong boldly walked up beside Lin Yan.
"Could you have caught a chill?"
"Caught a chill? I'm a strapping young man with a furnace for a body. How could I catch a chill?"
"You've got to be kidding."
Lin Yan's brow furrowed even more. He had a feeling something bad was about to happen.
Ma Hongjun suddenly spoke up from within the group.
"Could it be the Evil Fire?"
"Lin Yan, now that you've started cultivating your Second Martial Soul, have you figured out how to suppress the Evil Fire?"
"I've been through it myself. I can give you a few tips~"
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