Canghui Academy

Early the next morning, everyone gathered, but Zhao Wuji arrived late.

The sight of him left everyone stunned.

They wanted to laugh but did not dare.

Miserable.

Too miserable.

So miserable that it inspired sympathy.

Zhao Wuji limped over, his entire body wrapped in bandages and swollen-looking. His face was covered in bruises, half of it distorted and puffed up, his eye sockets blackened, and only one or two teeth remained in his mouth.

One arm had been immobilized against his chest due to a fracture.

He could not have looked more miserable.

No one knew how Tang Hao had done it. Even a Soul Saint's recovery ability could not heal those injuries.

Everyone tacitly chose not to ask Zhao Wuji what had happened and set off according to plan.

Shrek Academy was five hundred kilometers from Star Dou Forest. Since they were all Soul Masters, there was naturally no need for carriages. Even support-system Soul Masters had to rely on their own legs to get there.

Fortunately, there were two support-system Soul Masters in the group. Oscar's sausages could replenish stamina, restore Soul Power, and fill their stomachs, while Ning Rongrong increased the entire team's speed.

Along the way,

Lu Shi, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong stayed together, while Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun chatted and laughed.

Xiao Wu did not blend in with either group. She stayed behind, with Tang San beside her like a clingy little tail.

The boundaries between the three groups could not have been clearer.

Zhao Wuji stayed at the back, guessing that Tang Hao was probably following them.

After all, Tang San was his precious son.

Whenever he thought of that night, Zhao Wuji still felt lingering fear.

His team was full of important people. Nothing could go wrong.

By evening, the group arrived at the small town on the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.

Other than lacking city walls, the town was no different from a small city.

Man-made roads crisscrossed throughout it, and shops lined the streets.

This was a town that ordinary people and Soul Masters had naturally formed outside the forest. Most shops sold medicine, supplies, armor, weapons, and similar goods. Some people also recruited hunting parties to form groups and improve hunting efficiency.

"Recruiting for a hunting party, target: a two-hundred-year plant-type Soul Beast."

"Coagulation ointment, fast-acting treatment! Low prices, first come, first served!"

"Hunting group recruiting healing-system Soul Masters! Ten-year hunting group, safety and experience guaranteed!"

Similar cries rang out without end. These were all low-level Soul Masters; those of higher rank were generally invited into hunting parties.

The more Lu Shi listened, the more familiar it sounded.

Isn't this just forming a party to run a dungeon?

Ning Rongrong had never seen such a scene before. She blinked her large eyes and looked around curiously.

She was the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Whenever she went hunting Soul Beasts, something so dangerous, she went with Gu Rong or Chen Xin, flying there through the sky and flying back afterward.

She had only ever seen the area outside the forest from the air.

Zhao Wuji pointed at a very ordinary inn. "We'll stay here tonight and set off at dawn tomorrow."

The first floor of the inn was a simple restaurant, while the second floor was for lodging. After Zhao Wuji rented a room for himself, he went upstairs to rest.

This was a rule of Shrek Academy: teachers would not pay any expenses for students, nor would they accept any favors from them.

So the students had to pay for their own lodging and meals.

After casually ordering a few dishes, everyone found a table in the corner and sat down.

Then the atmosphere fell silent.

Not a single person spoke.

Xiao Wu remembered that she could not speak to Lu Shi until she found the reason, and she had no mood to seek out anyone else. There was no need to mention Tang San. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong sat on either side of Lu Shi and said nothing as well.

Oscar's heart was with Ning Rongrong.

Dai Mubai had realized that no matter what he did, he seemed unable to draw Zhu Zhuqing's attention.

As for Ma Hongjun, after reading the room, he decided to keep quiet too.

However, the silent atmosphere did not last long. Soon, a lewd voice rang out. "That little beauty looks pretty good. Boss Dai, I like her!"

Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up as his small eyes fixed on the only girl among the eight-person group opposite them. He blatantly sized her up, clicking his tongue.

Dai Mubai curled his lips. "If you like her, go for it. They're only some insignificant Canghui Academy."

Neither Dai Mubai nor Ma Hongjun deliberately lowered his voice. Though the first floor was somewhat noisy, Soul Masters had hearing far beyond ordinary people.

So all eight people across from them heard every word clearly.

What a bunch of hooligans. The Canghui group had been sitting there peacefully, yet they went out of their way to provoke them and even made excuses for themselves.

Lu Shi sat beside them, drinking a cup of water as he complained inwardly.

Oscar said in a low voice, "This is part of our training. Headmaster Flender has said that those who don't dare cause trouble are mediocrities, while those who dare cause trouble are good Soul Masters. Besides, they're from a Soul Master Academy. At most, it's just a fight."

Tang San strongly agreed upon hearing that. Only this could be called a monster academy!

Lu Shi retorted, "Only bullying those weaker than yourself while avoiding anyone stronger is just throwing your weight around. The so-called daring to cause trouble is nothing more than harassing girls; it's simply hooligan behavior. Besides, Oscar, you're a support-system Soul Master. Nearly all support-system Soul Masters follow the principle that more friends mean more paths. They never take the initiative to offend others. You have almost no combat ability. If you ran into someone you'd offended while alone, what would you do?"

All the girls agreed with this view. In particular, the words "harassing girls" stirred up even more of their disgust.

Oscar had merely smiled at first, but when he heard those final words, his expression turned serious.

He began to think carefully.

Yeah, what if he encountered someone he had offended while alone?

Beg for mercy?

Definitely not. That would mean losing his dignity.

He knew his talent was exceptional and had even made history in the world of Soul Masters. For a long time, he had been extremely confident and had engraved Flender's words into his heart.

He caused trouble everywhere, since Shrek Academy stood behind him anyway.

He had never considered the possibility of being alone.

But one day, they would all graduate and roam the continent by themselves.

Battle Soul Masters did not need to worry. If they could not win, they could still run.

What would he do then?

Oscar shuddered in alarm. Suddenly realizing how serious the consequences could be, he felt lingering fear, and cold sweat even broke out across his back.

When he came back to his senses, the hostility in his gaze toward Lu Shi had diminished.

It had been replaced by a measure of gratitude.

Of everyone present, only Oscar had nothing. Tang San had a Titled Douluo father, Dai Mubai was the third prince of the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing was the young lady of the Zhu Family, Ma Hongjun's teacher was a Soul Saint, Xiao Wu was even a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The so-called continent's first Innate Full Soul Power food-system Soul Master sounded impressive, but in reality, he still could not compare to the others.

That said, the Canghui students' anger had already been ignited by Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.

Because of Lu Shi's earlier words, Ning Rongrong and the others did not move. Oscar also remained seated, trying to minimize his presence. Tang San had not taken Lu Shi's words to heart at all and was still thinking of showing Xiao Wu his formidable strength.

He wanted to win the beauty's heart.

In the end, only Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San faced the eight Canghui students.

After a fierce battle, just as the three were about to lose to the Soul Master with the water-spraying turtle Martial Soul, Zhao Wuji flashed out.

Without using his Martial Soul, he simply crushed the Canghui Academy group with pure physical strength.

After giving them a few instructions, he returned upstairs. Before turning away, however, he gave Lu Shi a glance.

Zhao Wuji was on the second floor, but he had heard everything that happened downstairs clearly.

He was very dissatisfied with Lu Shi's behavior of criticizing his teammates. Lu Shi even dared question the rules set by the headmaster?

But after hearing him out, Zhao Wuji suddenly understood him a little more.

He remembered how, back then, enemies he had offended had chased him across the entire continent. He had not even dared ask anyone for help. If word leaked out, even more people would come after him.

He would die even more miserably.

Yes, they were classmates, but sooner or later they would part ways.

Everyone had their own way of dealing with the world, and at the very least, Zhao Wuji could find no fault with Lu Shi's way.

Seeing that no one had come to help and that this led to their defeat, Dai Mubai stopped eating. With a dark expression, he went straight upstairs, kicking apart a table that blocked his way.

Ma Hongjun was displeased as well, but he knew Lu Shi was formidable and did not dare vent his anger in person. He silently went upstairs too.

Tang San felt somewhat regretful. Winning would have been better, but losing did not matter. He had not expected three people to defeat eight in the first place. His main purpose had been to display his formidable strength before Xiao Wu.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Money Darts, Bone-Piercing Nails... he used them all.

How was that, Xiao Wu? My soul skills may not compare to Lu Shi's, but I have the Tang Sect's secret arts.

I'm no worse than Lu Shi!

Last time I was knocked unconscious was purely an accident!