What Tang San Left Behind
The Far North.
Just as Ice Empress was about to say a few more sarcastic remarks, a new page turned in his mind's diary.
She raised an eyebrow, then crossed her arms and leaned against the ice wall, intending to see what other tricks this diary could possibly have up its sleeve.
The Snow Empress beside her also closed her eyes again, but the snowflakes hovering around her did not fall, clearly waiting for what was to come.
The reason why Shrek is so focused on investing resources in cultivating Huo Yuhao actually stems from the original generation of people.
The original Shrek Seven Monsters all eventually became gods, and after ascending to the Divine Realm, they left Shrek Academy with an astonishingly large fortune.
Let's discuss how much Tang San and the First-Generation Seven Monsters left for Shrek.
Let's start with the most obvious one: reputation.
After the original Shrek Seven Monsters became gods, Shrek Academy transformed from a dilapidated rural academy into a sacred place for the entire continent.
Just because of the name "Shrek," for the next ten thousand years, geniuses from all over the continent would be scrambling to get in.
Which Soul Master family doesn't consider sending their child to Shrek Academy the highest honor? Which kingdom's nobles wouldn't go to great lengths to establish a connection with Shrek?
This reputation is the most valuable intangible asset. You could live off it for ten thousand years and still not run out of it.
Then comes the real, tangible inheritance.
Tang San left behind the most things.
The training methods for the Clear Sky Hammer, various techniques for using Blue Silver Grass, the complete set of the Tang Sect's ultimate skills, Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, Purple Demon Eyes, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, and Hidden Weapon Hundred Explanations, etc.
Although there were many downgraded versions, most of them were retained, with only some of the more powerful ones being withdrawn.
Then comes connections and influence.
Before Tang San ascended to immortality, his relationships with the Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Clear Sky Sect, the Tang Sect, and even Sea God Island were intricate and intertwined.
After he became a god, these forces had to give Shrek some face, both openly and secretly.
The Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Family and Shrek Academy have been linked by marriage for generations. Descendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have been teaching at Shrek Academy for many years. Although the Clear Sky Sect is secluded, it will not stand by and watch Shrek get into trouble when it really comes down to it.
It's like Tang San laid out a network of relationships for Shrek that covered the entire continent, and it hasn't disintegrated even after ten thousand years.
Let's talk about what the other six monsters left behind.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, a married couple, left behind the secret technique for combining the Hell White Tiger, as well as the long-term support from the Star Luo Imperial Family.
For many years, Imperial Family heirs in the Star Luo Empire have considered it an honor to study at Shrek Academy, and the relationship between the two sides has never been broken.
Oscar, The Food God.
He left behind many things, including a complete cultivation system for food-type Soul Master.
How low was the status of food-type Soul Master on the continent before? It was only because Oscar became a god that Shrek specially created a food-type training system, which forcibly elevated this unpopular Martial Soul to a strategic level.
Ning Rongrong, the Nine-Colored Goddess.
What she left behind was the financial support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as well as the complete inheritance of Support System Soul Master, all of which are locked in the Shrek Archive Pavilion.
Moreover, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been ties with Shrek Academy for generations, providing them with money and manpower whenever needed, essentially giving Shrek an inexhaustible money bag.
Ma Hongjun, the Phoenix God left behind cultivation manuals for the Phoenix Martial Soul, as well as various insights for fire-type Soul Master.
Although he later regretted that his wife hadn't ascended to immortality, he left nothing behind for the academy.
So, when the First-Generation Seven Monsters ascended to heaven, they left behind almost everything they had learned, all their resources, and all their connections at Shrek.
Cultivation techniques, secret skills, connections, wealth, reputation, power...
What is true depth? This is true depth.
Shrek's ability to become the number one power on the continent and remain standing for ten thousand years was not due to the strength of any later dean, but entirely to the foundation laid by the original seven members before their ascension.
To put it bluntly, they've been living off their past glories for ten thousand years.
Shrek Cafeteria.
Wang Dong'er stood by the window, the evening breeze making her clothes flutter.
As the diary entries flooded her mind, the cold smile on her lips deepened.
"I see."
She muttered to herself, a chill surging in her eyes. "No wonder Shrek is acting like they're possessed, desperately trying to replicate the legend of the original Seven Devils. It turns out the First-Generation Seven Monsters left the academy with so much legacy; no wonder later generations are envious."
She thought of Mu En, and the Shrek elders, their faces filled with reverence when they spoke of the First-Generation Seven Monsters, and suddenly felt incredibly ironic.
They only saw the glory left by the First-Generation Seven Monsters, and only thought about cultivating another batch of geniuses who could become gods, so that Shrek could reach a higher level.
Why don't they consider that Tang San left behind so many things truly out of affection for the academy?
"Tang San is the kind of person who would never do something without a profit."
Wang Dong'er raised her hand and pressed it against the windowsill, pondering, "He left the Tang Sect Secret Arts at Shrek, he left the Sea God Inheritance at Shrek, and he tied all his connections to Shrek Academy. How is this repaying his master's kindness? He's leaving himself a foothold in the mortal world, a pawn he can use to intervene at any time."
The stronger Shrek becomes, the more influence Tang San will have in the human world.
The Spirit Pagoda is a pawn, and so is Shrek Academy.
The Far North.
Ice Empress scoffed, his tone full of disdain.
"I knew it! All this talk about teacher-student relationships is just a calculation in the end."
She tossed her long, icy green hair and sneered, "Leaving behind the cultivation techniques and connections seems generous, but in reality, it firmly binds Shrek to Tang San's chariot."
For the next ten thousand years, the people of Shrek will be eternally grateful to Tang San. Whatever he says will be law; who would dare utter a single word of dissent?
The Snow Empress spoke slowly, her voice as cold as ice.
"It's just a matter of managing subordinates. Give them enough benefits so they'll always remember his kindness and be willing to work for him forever."
She paused, her snow-white eyelashes drooping slightly. "But he played this move very well; at least on the surface, everyone thinks he's a loyal and kind person who cherishes the past."
"A good person?"
Ice Empress seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, "If he's a good person, then there are no bad people in this world. Just think about how he dealt with the Spirit Hall back then?"
How did they manage to gradually gain control of all the forces? On the surface, it was for justice and the sake of all people, but in reality, every step they took was paving the way for their own advancement.
"Leaving these things behind is just a simple matter."
Since he's about to ascend to the Divine Realm anyway, worldly cultivation techniques and wealth are worthless to him.
He traded these useless things for a lasting reputation and ten thousand years of Shrek's loyalty—he made a killing on this deal.
The Snow Empress didn't reply; instead, the snowflakes around her began to swirl slowly again.
She has lived too long and has seen too many similar methods.
What those in positions of power love to do most is to exchange things they themselves don't care about for others' heartfelt loyalty.
Tang San's method wasn't new, but it was effective enough.