"My battle with you has taught me a great deal. Tang Hao thanks you. If my son ever offends you, I hope you'll spare him just this once," Tang Hao pleaded.
Today, Zhao Wuji had come looking for Ye Xuan. Tang Hao didn't know whether their conflict would escalate later.
If it did, he couldn't guarantee that Tang San wouldn't get caught up in it.
If Ye Xuan were an ordinary person, he would still believe Tang San could handle him.
After all, he had noticed that his son was no ordinary child.
But Ye Xuan was clearly far more terrifying. If Tang San offended him, Tang Hao didn't think even he could protect him.
"Don't worry. As long as he's smart enough, I won't hold anything against him," Ye Xuan said.
"I'll take my leave. I also hope you find a way to break through your own limitations." With that, Tang Hao flew away.
After Tang Hao left, Ye Xuan turned and headed back into the city.
Once back in town, Ye Xuan didn't go to listen to music again. He lay down in his bedroom and rested quietly.
His battle with Tang Hao today had taught him a great deal as well.
From now on, he would need to seek his own path and learn about Martial Souls.
The next day.
Ye Xuan left his lodgings and headed straight for Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy.
When Ye Xuan arrived, he saw Tang San and the others training.
They all paused when they noticed him.
Zhao Wuji was especially eager to come over and demand to know what Ye Xuan was doing there.
But before Zhao Wuji could approach, Flender appeared of his own accord.
He came up to Ye Xuan and asked, "Who are you, young master? What brings you to Shrek Academy?"
"My name is Ye Xuan," Ye Xuan replied simply.
"Ye Xuan?"
At that, Flender immediately retreated two steps, wary.
The day before, Zhao Wuji had come back and told him everything.
He had still been wondering what to do about Ye Xuan.
Who would have thought Ye Xuan would come right to their door?
After a brief moment of alarm, Flender quickly cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Ye, those little misunderstandings between you and Mubai can be resolved. I can have him..."
Before Flender could finish, Ye Xuan raised a hand to stop him.
"Dean Flender, hold on. I'm not here to demand an explanation. As for Dai Mubai, if he doesn't come looking for trouble, I have no interest in holding anything against him. I came to borrow some books," Ye Xuan said.
"Borrow books?" Flender was a little bewildered. Then he said awkwardly, "Young Master Ye, as you can see, our academy is so shabby. What books could we possibly have? If you want to borrow books, shouldn't you go to one of the nobles' academies in town, or somewhere like Spirit Hall?"
"Dean, you were once one of the Golden Iron Triangle, and you founded this academy. Surely you have books about Martial Souls here. Don't worry, I'll return them once I've finished reading. In the meantime, I can guarantee your academy's safety," Ye Xuan said.
"Well... since you've put it that way, Young Master Ye, Shrek Academy is delighted to welcome you. Please, come with me." When Flender heard that this was all Ye Xuan wanted, he immediately invited him into the modest reception room.
Once they were inside, Flender asked, "What level of books are you looking for, Young Master Ye?"
"Everything related to Martial Souls, starting with the basics," Ye Xuan said.
When it came to Martial Souls, Ye Xuan knew absolutely nothing.
If he wanted to truly understand them, he had to start at the beginning and study them carefully.
Whether in his previous life or this one, Ye Xuan approached everything the same way: either he didn't do it at all, or he did his best to do it well.
In his previous life, he had created settings for games.
Sometimes, for the sake of a single detail, he would pore over all kinds of ancient and modern texts from across the world, study them, and then adapt what he learned for his own settings.
Now, this was related to his own cultivation. He had to understand Martial Souls thoroughly.
"Starting with the basics? No problem. By the way, Young Master Ye, if you're interested in this subject, you could speak with Grandmaster once he arrives," Flender suggested.
At their academy, no one knew more about Martial Souls than Grandmaster.
However, Yu Xiaogang hadn't arrived yet.
The fact that Flender had brought up Yu Xiaogang so readily showed that he genuinely welcomed Ye Xuan.
"I appreciate the offer, Dean. Once I've learned enough, I'll discuss it with Grandmaster."
Ye Xuan could say he rather disliked Yu Xiaogang.
But it would be false to say that Yu Xiaogang had no ability at all.
Still, Ye Xuan needed to build up some basic knowledge before he could talk with him.
Otherwise, how could Ye Xuan tell which of Yu Xiaogang's claims were true and which were false?
"These are all the books about Martial Souls I have at the moment. Please take them, Young Master Ye." As Flender spoke, he waved his hand, and dozens of books appeared on a nearby table, stacked into a small mountain.
Looking at the books, Ye Xuan thanked him. "Thank you, Dean. I'll take them."
As he spoke, Ye Xuan waved his hand and stored them all in his Space Soul Tool.
Afterward, Flender gave Ye Xuan a room of his own and let him stay there.
While Ye Xuan stayed at the academy, Shrek Academy would cover his room and board. In return, he only had to lend a hand if the academy was in danger.
It was a pretty good deal, so Ye Xuan had no objections.
After settling in, Ye Xuan began reading the books Flender had given him.
He started with the most basic material.
At dusk, while Ye Xuan was sitting on the roof reading, someone climbed up.
It was none other than Zhu Zhuqing.
She had worked up the courage to come up.
Once she reached him, she asked softly, "Brother Ye, did you come to our academy for a particular reason?"
"I came to borrow a few books. Once I've finished reading them, I'll probably leave," Ye Xuan replied.
"To read books?"
For some reason, Zhu Zhuqing felt an inexplicable pang of disappointment.
She was at an age when it was easy to indulge in fantasies, and naturally she liked stories about someone coming for her.
But unfortunately, nothing like that could ever happen with Ye Xuan.
Even when she thought about it rationally, she knew it was impossible. It wasn't realistic.
"Mm." Ye Xuan gave a brief reply and continued reading.
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, then said, "Brother Ye, you're so powerful. Are there really any books here worth reading?"
"My strength doesn't come from Martial Souls, so of course I should read up on them." Ye Xuan closed his book and smiled.
"I see! Are you going to start cultivating your Martial Soul too, Brother Ye?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
"I'm just learning about them. As for cultivation, I don't need to cultivate," Ye Xuan said honestly.
His current Martial Soul was the Hundred Beauties Scroll.
This Martial Soul couldn't be cultivated. Improving it depended entirely on completing tasks.
If he wanted, he could deliberately create danger and rescue some beautiful, gifted women.
Perhaps he could reach the level of a Titled Douluo in less than two or three years.
But what would be the point?
To him, that wouldn't count as an increase in strength.
What he wanted was to learn the fundamentals of Martial Souls, understand the underlying logic of this world, and then break through it.
He wanted to become a god unlike any other, a god who had never existed before.
He didn't want to become a god bound by the rules of this world, a puppet.
Before you continue