Smiles appeared on Tang San and the other three's faces. They were already imagining the dumbfounded expressions Xiao Gang and the others would wear upon learning of their current cultivation.
Ma Hongjun cleared his throat and suddenly shouted, "Teacher, we're back!"
After Ma Hongjun shouted, the surroundings fell silent for several seconds.
Then, hurried sounds of doors opening rang out as three doors opened at once.
Flender and Zhao Wuji emerged from the same room, while the Grandmaster and Liu Erlong came out of their respective rooms.
Standing at the doorways, they stared in disbelief at the four young men standing tall and proud in the courtyard.
The surprise on the Grandmaster's face gradually turned into delight. "Xiao San, you're back?"
Tang San smiled warmly. "Teacher, we're back."
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong also came to their senses, all of them overjoyed.
The Grandmaster hurried down and embraced Tang San tightly.
"Teacher!" Ma Hongjun spread his arms and pounced toward Flender as well.
"Get lost, get lost. Don't be so mushy. I can't stand it." Flender shoved Ma Hongjun away.
At that moment, the entire courtyard overflowed with the joy of reunion.
The Grandmaster and Tang San embraced for quite some time before finally separating.
The Grandmaster's expression turned serious again, his tone somewhat reproachful. "Xiao San, didn't I tell you to cultivate properly on Sea God Island and raise your strength as quickly as possible? Why did you come back after only two years?"
Ma Hongjun said smugly, "Grandmaster, do you think our cultivation hasn't improved much in two years?"
"Nonsense. What kind of progress could you possibly make in only two years?" the Grandmaster snapped.
He looked at Dai Mubai and Tang San. "When you left, Mubai was Level Sixty-one, and Xiao San was Level Fifty-nine. After