Yu Xiaogang

After Meng Yiran and the others left, Tang San began absorbing the Soul Ring.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider had been dead for a while, after all. He couldn't afford to wait.

After absorbing it for a while, Tang San's face twisted with pain.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider's age was right at the limit for him, so the absorption process was naturally excruciating.

Seeing this, Oscar and the others asked Zhao Wuji with concern, "Teacher Zhao, is Xiao San going to be all right?"

Watching Tang San like that, Zhao Wuji was naturally worried.

But to keep the others from worrying too, he said solemnly, "Trust him."

Xiao Wu was worried too.

She looked toward Ye Xuan and asked, "Big Brother Ye, is Third Brother going to be all right?"

She had seen Ye Xuan's strength with her own eyes. He was knowledgeable and experienced, so she figured he would know whether anything would go wrong.

"No. On the contrary, this is a fortuitous opportunity for him," Ye Xuan said.

"A fortuitous opportunity?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing looked over at Xiao Wu, curious.

She had the feeling that Xiao Wu seemed closer to Ye Xuan than before, as if some kind of secret had passed between them.

But she couldn't very well ask about it, so she kept her suspicions to herself.

After waiting for a long time, Ye Xuan and the others finally watched Tang San absorb the Soul Ring without incident.

Of course, he had also absorbed the External Soul Bone.

Although Zhao Wuji and the others found the changes brought about by Tang San's Soul Ring strange, their priority now was to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.

On the way back, Zhao Wuji asked Xiao Wu and Tang San for their exact ages. He said that once they returned, he would register their record-breaking breakthroughs with Shrek Academy.

After they made it back to Shrek Academy, everyone returned to their own rooms.

Zhao Wuji went to explain what had happened to Flender.

When Ye Xuan returned to his room, he sensed that someone had arrived at Shrek Academy.

Judging by the strength of that person's Martial Soul, he immediately figured out who it was.

Yu Xiaogang had arrived.

Ye Xuan stood and looked out through the window. He saw Yu Xiaogang enter the village and head toward Flender's residence.

Inside Flender's room.

"We should thank Young Master Ye. If he hadn't stepped in, we would have been in grave danger facing the Titan Giant Ape," Flender said solemnly after hearing Zhao Wuji's account.

In Flender's eyes, he and Ye Xuan could be said to have become acquainted through a fight.

Ye Xuan had helped them tremendously this time, so they ought to thank him.

Just then, Yu Xiaogang's voice came from outside the door. "Titan Giant Ape? Where did you run into one?"

Yu Xiaogang pushed the door open and came in. Zhao Wuji turned to look at him, about to ask who he was, when Flender stepped forward to greet him. "Xiaogang, you're here."

"Xiaogang, this is Grandmaster?"

Zhao Wuji thought to himself as he studied Yu Xiaogang carefully.

"Yes. I heard you mention the Titan Giant Ape just now. What happened?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

"This is Zhao Wuji, a teacher at Shrek Academy. He led Tang San and the others to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts this time. Let him explain it to you," Flender said.

At Flender's words, Zhao Wuji began recounting their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to Yu Xiaogang.

After hearing the story, Yu Xiaogang's expression turned grave.

"Immovable Wisdom King, do you mean this Young Master Ye Xuan has strength comparable to a Titled Douluo?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

"Young Master Ye once said that he fought the Clear Sky Douluo to a draw," Zhao Wuji said.

"What?" Yu Xiaogang was shocked. Then he asked, "How old is this Young Master Ye?"

"He looks about fourteen, and he said he's fourteen as well. He practices a sword art I've never seen before. He can attack without using a Martial Soul," Zhao Wuji said.

"Fourteen? That's impossible." Yu Xiaogang shook his head sharply. He didn't believe it at all.

Yu Xiaogang figured that anyone capable of matching the Clear Sky Douluo, regardless of what they cultivated, must have cultivated for many years. If Ye Xuan looked fourteen, he must have disguised himself that way to deceive people.

Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang already felt a little displeased with the as-yet-unseen Ye Xuan.

Flender interrupted him. "Xiaogang, let's set his age aside for now. Young Master Ye came here to consult books about Martial Souls, and he hopes to learn more about them from you. Would you be willing to talk with him?"

"Learn about Martial Souls? Certainly. I'd like to meet this person too. I'll go see him tomorrow," Yu Xiaogang said.

"Good. I'll go with you tomorrow," Flender said. He was planning to thank Ye Xuan personally as well.

The next day.

Early in the morning.

Ye Xuan heard a knock at the door.

"Young Master Ye, is now a good time?" Flender's voice came after the knock.

"Come in," Ye Xuan said.

Flender and Yu Xiaogang entered. Flender thanked Ye Xuan. "Young Master Ye, I, Flender, thank you for helping Shrek Academy drive off the Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Director, you're too kind. It was nothing more than a small favor," Ye Xuan said.

"Young Master Ye is truly generous. By the way, this is Tang San's teacher, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang," Flender said.

"Greetings, Grandmaster." Ye Xuan cupped his fists in greeting.

"Young Master Ye." Yu Xiaogang returned the greeting.

However, Ye Xuan could sense a faint hostility from him.

"Flender told me that you came to Shrek Academy to read some books about Martial Souls. But Immovable Wisdom King also said that you fought the Clear Sky Douluo to a draw. Why would you still need to learn about Martial Souls?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

When he mentioned Ye Xuan fighting the Clear Sky Douluo to a draw, Ye Xuan could clearly sense his dislike grow more pronounced.

"Learning more about them will help with my own cultivation and with facing enemies," Ye Xuan said.

"I see. Young Master Ye is indeed extraordinary," Yu Xiaogang praised him insincerely.

"Xiaogang, Young Master Ye, you two talk here. I'll go check on the others," Flender said. Giving them some space to talk, he left first.

After Flender left, Ye Xuan asked, "Grandmaster, I have some questions about Martial Souls. Would you be willing to enlighten me?"

"Of course. But my knowledge is limited, and I'm afraid I may not be able to answer all your questions," Yu Xiaogang said.

"That's all right. I trust you, Grandmaster," Ye Xuan said.

"Then, Young Master Ye, go ahead," Yu Xiaogang invited him.

He thought to himself, This person is too strange. I'll consider it a way of thanking him for saving Xiao San and answer a few of his questions. But I mustn't reveal too much. I absolutely can't let someone of unknown origins learn the results of my research.

Ye Xuan then brought up, one by one, some questions he had developed from the books he had read.

Yu Xiaogang listened and explained each one in turn.

But Ye Xuan couldn't help feeling that Yu Xiaogang was holding back a little.