Return to Shrek, Lin Yan's Right Eyelid Twitches

Inside the office.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his back to Flender, his heart practically bursting with joy after hearing the other man's request.

He clenched his fists in excitement, his body tensed so tightly that he felt he might break into tears of joy at any moment.

Forty whole years! Ever since he awakened Luo Sanpao, Yu Xiaogang had poured his entire heart and soul into the study of martial soul theory. While he often preached that "there are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters," he had long ago abandoned the path of cultivation himself, turning instead to proving his worth in other fields.

To that end, he had truly made every effort, studying day and night...

Unfortunately, the martial soul theories and laws available for study on the continent were limited, and his own intellect was insufficient to carve out new avenues of research. He could only pick and choose from the archives of Martial Soul Hall, cobbling together a few conclusions for his own use.

As for the "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul," anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about cultivation knew they were nonsense. But regardless, thanks to the prestige of Bibi Dong and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, people of status would, out of deference to those two powers, offer him a polite nod and address him as "Master."

However, there were few people of status in the Soul World, and most would react with indifference or even a sneer whenever he brought up the "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."

If Tang San was the tool Yu Xiaogang used to prove his theories!

Then Flender's recognition was the glory he received in advance as part of that process.

In these forty-plus years, he had never felt needed—except for Tang San before, and now, Flender...

Exhaling a long breath, Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart.

He walked silently toward the door and looked up at the azure sky, where a trophy seemed to be waiting for him.

Then, Yu Xiaogang spoke slowly.

"Flender, it's been so many years, yet you're still the same old you!"

"Huh?" Flender was confused, looking at the back of the man with the flat-top haircut with a face full of bewilderment.

But before he could ask, Yu Xiaogang took the initiative to explain.

"You only came up with this idea because you saw Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul, didn't you?"

"I must say, your eye for talent is excellent."

"That's right. The Blue Silver Grass that Tang San has guided onto the path of a control-type is my masterpiece."

"Under the reinforcement of my theories, what is recognized by the entire continent as a trash martial soul can now stand invincible among its peers. I believe you have all witnessed Tang San's combat capabilities—what do you think?"

As he finished, he turned with a flourish to face the room. By positioning himself in the sunlight while leaving Flender in the shadows, Yu Xiaogang felt the illusion of having mastered the truth.

Only then did Flender realize that Yu Xiaogang was just posturing.

He went along with it, hurriedly chiming in.

"Oh, oh! Good! Very good!"

"Little San is the most outstanding control-type soul master I have ever seen. You have no idea how brilliant his record has been at the soul fighting arena these past few days; I've even made a tidy profit because of it."

Flender understood Yu Xiaogang's personality well enough to praise Tang San from every angle.

He then shifted the topic.

"But that's not what I wanted to talk about. I want to talk about the Evil Fire!"

"Xiaogang, you've been immersed in martial soul theory for so many years; you must be able to think of a way to solve the Evil Fire in these two children!"

Yu Xiaogang, standing in the sunlight, couldn't help but curl his lips, though he quickly suppressed it.

Feigning a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, "It's difficult..."

"What? Could it be..."

Flender's brows knitted together, his expression turning tense.

Could it be that even Xiaogang couldn't solve the Evil Fire problem? Was Xiaogang not just posturing earlier? Were his two students truly beyond saving?

Flender's eyes, usually so adept at calculation, suddenly became panicked.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed the smile that came from being validated and sighed, feigning profoundness.

"You know, I already have Little San as my personal disciple. If I were to pour my energy into others, what would happen to Little San's future growth?"

"Little San has inherited my life's work; he is destined to stand at the pinnacle of this continent..."

Hearing this, Flender in the room let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Thank goodness! Xiaogang really did have a way; he had truly just been posturing.

"Xiaogang! I, Flender, have never begged anyone in my life, but I only ask that you save these two children."

Flender stepped out of the shadows and stood in the sunlight with Yu Xiaogang. And so, the two began their dance of posturing and negotiation...

On the other side.

With Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausage, Zhao Wuji and the group took only about a day to emerge from the Star Dou Forest.

After a few more days, the team finally entered Suotuo City, preparing to return to Shrek Academy.

With this, the journey had come to a somewhat imperfect end.

Aside from a few minor accidents, Oscar and Xiao Wu had both obtained their third soul rings, and Lin Yan had ostensibly gained three fire-attribute soul rings, as well as an External Soul Bone.

However, from everyone else's perspective, the three soul rings of Lin Yan's second martial soul were all merely century-level, which couldn't help but make people sigh with regret...

Lin Yan, however, didn't care in the slightest. The system-provided God-Given Soul Rings were adaptive; as his physical strength increased in the future, the age of the God-Given Soul Rings would naturally grow with it. If his physical strength were sufficient, all of his God-Given Soul Rings would eventually become hundred-thousand-year rings.

These three hundred-year spirit rings were perfect for keeping a low profile, ensuring he wouldn't be too conspicuous.

Under the sunlight, the group could see the Shrek sign from a distance; they would likely be back at the academy in another two or three minutes.

Just then, Lin Yan suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

He rubbed his nose, his brows knitting slightly.

What's going on? First the sneezing, and now my right eye is twitching...

Could there be an ambush at the academy?

Zhao Wuji, who was just about to enter the academy to report back, heard this and rolled his eyes at Lin Yan with annoyance.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, kid! Can't Flender and I, two Spirit Saints, protect you little ones?"

Lin Yan curled his lip, recalling the image of Tang Hao beating him to a pulp without even using his martial soul.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong boldly walked up to Lin Yan's side.

"Could you have caught a cold?"

"A cold? A strapping young man with fire as intense as mine catching a cold?"

"You've got to be kidding me."

Lin Yan's brow furrowed even tighter, a feeling washing over him that something bad was about to happen.

Ma Hongjun, who was in the group, suddenly spoke up.

"It wouldn't be an issue with the Evil Fire, would it?"

"Lin Yan, now that you've started cultivating your second martial soul, have you thought about how to suppress the Evil Fire?"

"As someone who's been through it, I can offer you some experience~"