Tang San: Lin Tian Has Courted Death!

Tang San's expression changed.

"A black Soul Ring?"

Ma Hongjun's eyes widened.

"Isn't that a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?"

"How could Lin Tian possibly absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?"

Dai Mubai stepped closer as well.

His gaze fell on Yu Xiaogang's face.

"Master, are you certain it was truly a black Soul Ring?"

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth.

"That Soul Ring was indeed black."

"But Lin Tian only has twenty levels of Soul Power, and his body has never been tempered by Soul Rings."

"With his talent, there is no way he could withstand the power of a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

"That brat must have used some kind of cheating method."

Yu Xiaogang spoke with absolute certainty.

In his eyes, Lin Tian's Martial Soul had never been capable of normal cultivation.

Such trash had no right to possess a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.

After hearing this, Tang San's eyes revealed disdain.

"It seems that after leaving the academy, he went down the wrong path."

"To prove himself, he was even willing to resort to such methods."

"A fake Soul Ring cannot change his true nature."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

"Correct."

"He merely wants to use it to earn other people's trust."

"But a fake will always be fake. Sooner or later, it will be exposed."

Zhu Zhuqing stood at the back of the crowd.

She did not speak, merely watching Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.

When Lin Tian left Shrek, he truly had no Soul Ring.

But how long had it even been?

Even if Lin Tian had truly obtained a Soul Ring, he should not have reached level twenty so quickly.

Zhu Zhuqing had never seen that black Soul Ring, so naturally she could not determine whether it was real or fake.

Flender, however, no longer paid attention to Lin Tian.

He raised a hand and rubbed his forehead, looking increasingly exhausted.

"Let's not talk about Lin Tian for now."

"What happened at the City Lord's Manor?"

"Did the royal family agree to fund Shrek?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent.

Oscar lowered his head, not daring to meet Flender's eyes.

Flender's expression gradually turned ugly.

"You failed to secure the funding?"

"That noble's illness has already been cured by Lin Tian."

Yu Xiaogang spoke with a grim expression.

"He never gave us a chance to act."

Flender looked at Oscar.

Oscar clutched the sausage in his hand, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

"Before I could even use my second soul skill, His Highness had the guards throw us out."

"Lin Tian said that noble had been poisoned."

"After that, His Highness had him treat the patient alone."

Ma Hongjun could not help but speak.

"Can a level-twenty Soul Master really cure someone from the royal family?"

Yu Xiaogang immediately said, "He was merely lucky."

"That noble's poison was not severe. Any healing-type Soul Master could have dealt with it."

"As for that black Soul Ring, it must have been a deception Lin Tian prepared beforehand."

Yu Xiaogang remained unwilling to acknowledge Lin Tian's strength.

Even less willing to admit that the theories he had researched for years were wrong.

Everyone in the hall wore different expressions.

Flender did not continue arguing over whether the Soul Ring was real.

He looked at the shabby academy buildings, the worry in his eyes becoming even more apparent.

"The academy's funds are nearly exhausted."

"Without enough Gold Soul Coins, food, medicine, and cultivation resources cannot be maintained."

"At this rate, Shrek Academy will not last much longer."

Dai Mubai frowned.

"Dean, can't we think of another way?"

"What other way is there?"

Flender spread his hands.

"There were never many students at the academy to begin with."

"Those who can remain are all geniuses who require vast resources to cultivate."

"But we have neither sect support nor imperial funding."

"We cannot keep relying on Zhao Wuji and me taking missions to support the academy."

Ma Hongjun opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Tang San pondered for a moment.

"Teacher, if the Heaven Dou Empire is willing to take in Shrek, the problem should be resolved."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang immediately nodded.

"That is precisely my intention."

"Suotuo City is only a small place. It cannot offer Shrek better development."

"Once the academy goes to Heaven Dou City, we can find a suitable academy to join."

Flender raised his head and looked at Yu Xiaogang.

"Join another academy?"

"Although Shrek is currently struggling, the students' talents speak for themselves."

Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze over Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others.

"Tang San possesses the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, yet he has cultivated to such a level."

"Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing both possess top-tier beast Martial Souls."

"Add Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix and Oscar's Innate Full Soul Power."

"As long as we bring these geniuses with us, the academies of the Heaven Dou Empire will not reject us."

A trace of contemplation appeared in Flender's eyes.

This was indeed the most practical solution at present.

What Shrek Academy lacked was not talent, but resources and reputation.

As long as they could enter Heaven Dou City and rely on these students to participate in the Soul Master Tournament, the academy could naturally rebuild its prestige.

"Then it's settled."

Flender nodded.

"Once everything has been arranged, we will head to Heaven Dou City."

But Yu Xiaogang did not respond.

His gaze drifted into the distance, and his expression gradually darkened.

"However, before that, there is one more matter to handle."

Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang.

"Teacher, are you referring to Lin Tian?"

"Correct."

Yu Xiaogang spoke slowly.

"Lin Tian has already become our enemy."

"He not only humiliated me in public, but also used a forged Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring to deceive the royal family."

"Once such a person grows stronger, he will inevitably become Shrek's enemy."

Dai Mubai's expression shifted slightly.

"He only has twenty levels of Soul Power. Even if the Soul Ring is real, surely he cannot threaten Shrek?"

Yu Xiaogang said coldly, "The greater his talent, the less we can allow him to remain."

"This time, he escaped from the City Lord's Manor because that prince intervened."

"The next time we encounter him, we cannot allow him to leave alive."

Tang San's gaze gradually darkened.

When he recalled what Lin Tian had said before leaving the academy, a surge of displeasure rose within him.

"Rest assured, Teacher."

"If I see Lin Tian again, I will not give him another chance."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San.

"With your strength, dealing with him naturally will not be a problem."

"If he dares return to Suotuo City, kill him directly."

"This time, he can only be considered fortunate."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes.

"Lin Tian has already left Shrek."

"There is no need for us to pursue him to the death."

Yu Xiaogang turned his head.

"Zhu Zhuqing, you are too naive."

"Among Soul Masters, conflict has always been a matter of either you die or I live."

"Lin Tian harbors resentment toward the academy. No one knows what he may do in the future."

"Killing him is the safest course of action."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her red lips together and did not continue arguing.

Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang and slowly nodded.

"I understand."

"As long as Lin Tian appears again, I will personally deal with him."

Great Star Dou Forest.

The night gradually faded.

Lin Tian and Xue Qinghe continued along a narrow forest path.

Ancient trees towered around them, their branches and leaves intertwined, cutting the morning light into scattered flecks.

Xue Qinghe raised a hand and pushed aside a vine hanging across the path.

She turned back to look at Lin Tian.

"How long have you been with Spirit Hall?"

"I only joined recently."

Lin Tian carried a travel pack on his back, his footsteps never slowing.

"Recently?"

Xue Qinghe slightly raised her brows.

"You had just entered Spirit Hall, yet you could already come out alone to hunt for a Soul Ring?"