Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
"We finally made it out." Oscar leaned lifelessly against the wooden gate bearing the words "Shrek Academy."
Because of Di Lintian's interference, Oscar had failed to smoothly obtain his third Soul Ring. The Shrek Seven Devils had searched Star Dou Forest for a full seven days before finding a barely suitable Soul Beast.
"Yeah, Little Ao, your Soul Ring was really too hard to find." Dai Mubai rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Let's hurry inside and eat." Ma Hongjun strode into the academy without slowing down.
"Although it took a while, our overall strength has improved tremendously." Tang San said, "With Little Ao, Xiao Wu, and me, we've gained three more Soul Elders. If we run into that team again, we definitely won't suffer such a crushing defeat like last time."
After Tang San finished speaking, the six Shrek members fell silent. No one spoke.
Seeing this, Tang San secretly realized that he had said the wrong thing.
The Imperial Dou Team had left an enormous psychological shadow over them. A profound and unfathomable youth had knocked Ma Hongjun unconscious with a casual strike.
A Soul Elder with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul had instantly dealt with Ning Rongrong's flying Soul Master, while another Ghost Leopard martial soul Soul Master had an especially venomous tongue.
The person who had left the deepest impression on them was that breathtakingly beautiful girl. With a mere lift of her hand, she had frozen all of them in ice.
"That's right. Tang San's martial soul has evolved. We may not be unable to defeat them."
Dai Mubai stepped forward to comfort them, though he did not believe those words himself.
"Let's go in first. My teacher should have arrived at the academy by now. He should know where that team came from." Tang San led Xiao Wu into the academy.
Inside the academy.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender were already waiting in the open space.
"Teacher!"
Tang San hurried over to Yu Xiaogang.
"Mm." Yu Xiaogang nodded with an air of profundity.
"You must be the master who published the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls. I've often heard Tang San mention you." Zhao Wuji said warmly. "Hello, I'm Zhao Wuji."
"Immovable Bright King, no need for formalities." Yu Xiaogang replied flatly.
"Little monsters, come over here." Flender called out. "Let me introduce you. The person beside me is Tang San's teacher, Yu Xiaogang. You may call him Master."
"Yes!"
The Shrek Seven Devils quickly lined up neatly.
"Alright, that's enough introductions for today." Flender was about to dismiss everyone.
"Wait, Dean. We have something to ask my teacher." Tang San spoke up.
"Oh? What is it?" Yu Xiaogang walked over to the group.
"It's like this, Teacher. In a small town outside Star Dou Forest, we encountered a team. They seemed to be around Boss Dai's age, yet they could easily crush us. You must know which academy they came from."
Tang San raised his hand toward Yu Xiaogang as he spoke.
"Tell me about their martial souls." Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"We only know the martial souls of three of them." Dai Mubai stepped out from the group. "One had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, another had the Ghost Leopard martial soul, and the last person had a bird martial soul."
After hearing this, Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment before saying, "The team you encountered should have been the Imperial Dou Team. They only left Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena a few days ago."
"The Imperial Dou Team is Heaven Dou Royal Academy's top team. Their captain is Lin Tian from Sky Dragon Pavilion, and his martial soul is the Dark Demon Dragon. Their vice-captain is also from Sky Dragon Pavilion."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master you mentioned should be called Yu Tianheng, right?"
"Yes, I remember his name was Tianheng." Tang San thought back for a moment.
"Then it was the Imperial Dou Team. It wasn't shameful for you to lose to them." Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and looked up at the Shrek Seven Devils. "I've already reviewed your information. If you and the Imperial Dou Team were the same age, the victors would definitely be you."
"They've only cultivated a few more years than we have." Tang San once again encouraged the team.
"Next time, we'll definitely win!"
All of Shrek shouted in unison.
"Good. You can lose anything but your spirit." Yu Xiaogang encouraged them, then asked, "Oscar, what is your third soul skill?"
"Uh..." Oscar hesitated, unwilling to say it.
"Just say it already. You kept refusing to tell us in Star Dou Forest." Ma Hongjun urged.
Oscar held his hands together and resignedly said, "I Have a Mushroom Sausage."
"This is my third soul skill, Speed Mushroom Sausage."
Compared to the original, it was missing the word "flight."
"Little Ao's third Soul Ring came from a... thousand-year Variegated Cat." Tang San introduced it to Yu Xiaogang.
"A Variegated Cat? A Soul Beast like that can cultivate for a thousand years?" Yu Xiaogang said angrily, frustrated by their failure to meet expectations. "The boost from this soul skill probably won't be very strong. It was basically a wasted soul skill."
"We had no choice. We searched Star Dou Forest for seven days and still couldn't find a suitable Soul Beast." Oscar had not wanted to absorb that Variegated Cat either.
At this point, Zhao Wuji, who had hesitated for a long time, finally said, "Master, the Imperial Dou Team was led by two Titled Douluo."
"No wonder Teacher Zhao's face was even more swollen the next day." Xiao Wu whispered into Tang San's ear.
That's not right!
Titled Douluo?!
Before Xiao Wu could even move her head away from Tang San's ear, she froze in place.
"The Imperial Dou Team's current leaders are two revered figures from Sky Dragon Pavilion." Yu Xiaogang said.
The Imperial Dou Team is led by Titled Douluo from Sky Dragon Pavilion!
They must have discovered me, right?
Did they refrain from acting because they wanted to wait until someone needed a ninth Soul Ring before coming to hunt me?
Could there be a Titled Douluo secretly watching me right now?
Xiao Wu had guessed correctly. Red Fire was indeed watching her from the shadows. The moment she tried to leave Shrek, she would immediately be captured and brought back to Sky Dragon Pavilion.
Night had fallen, and countless stars dotted the sky.
Xiao Wu did not sleep. She looked up at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
After confirming that both girls had fallen asleep, she carefully climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the wooden table, preparing to leave a letter for Third Brother before leaving Shrek Academy and returning to Star Dou Forest.
After sealing the envelope, Xiao Wu glanced once more at the sleeping girls before gently pushing open the wooden cabin's door.
She first stuck her head out to look around. Once she confirmed that no one was there, she swiftly headed toward Star Dou Forest, even using a soul skill.
After Xiao Wu left the cabin, the letter on the table ignited without fire and turned into a pile of ash, which was then scattered by a breeze that happened to blow in.
Red Fire followed behind Xiao Wu but did not capture her directly.
Only after leaving Suotuo City did Red Fire softly say, "What's the point, little rabbit? Returning to Star Dou Forest will be the end of you."
"Y-you... who are you?" Xiao Wu pressed herself against a large tree and stared at Red Fire nervously.
"Hehehe, naturally, I'm the one who has come to capture you." Red Fire revealed a sinister grin and slowly advanced toward Xiao Wu.
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