Yu Xiaogang Is Here, I'm Not Convinced

The next day, at dusk, Shrek Academy.

The carriage carrying everyone finally arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy, and the students dispersed to rest.

Zhao Wuji headed straight for the headmaster's office. He had to report what had happened as soon as possible.

By the time night fell, inside Flender's headmaster's office.

"What?!"

Flender's eyes widened. "The Titan Giant Ape actually appeared on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?! And what was that bull roar?"

"That bull roar was most likely the legendary Sky Azure Bull Python."

A somewhat stiff voice, carrying a hint of deliberately affected profundity, came from outside the door.

Zhao Wuji was startled and shouted sharply, "Who is it?!"

"Haha, it's Xiaogang. Come in!" Flender recognized the visitor and immediately looked delighted.

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in.

He was of average build, with a sallow complexion, a rigid face, and a perfectly straight back. His entire bearing exuded an indescribably stiff and inflexible air.

He was Tang San's teacher, the Master Yu Xiaogang, famous throughout the Soul Master world for having reached only level twenty-nine by the age of fifty.

Flender was exceptionally excited. He grabbed Yu Xiaogang's arm and said, "Come, Wuji, you haven't met him before, have you? Hahaha! Let me introduce you. This is my old companion from back then, and Tang San's teacher as well. Just call him Master. Almost everyone in the Soul Master world calls him that."

Zhao Wuji's heart stirred. He was merely a tiny Soul Grandmaster. Under normal circumstances, Zhao Wuji would not even have bothered to glance at him. But after recently suffering a savage beating from Tang Hao, he did not yet dare offend anyone connected to Tang San.

So Zhao Wuji rose to his feet and said politely, "So you are the Master. Hello, hello. I am Zhao Wuji."

However, Yu Xiaogang merely cast him a condescending glance.

With his head held high and his hands clasped behind his back, he strode straight to the center of the room, carrying himself like some reclusive master.

Zhao Wuji snorted inwardly, contempt flashing through his eyes. Who the hell did he think he was?

Noticing that the atmosphere was off, Flender hurriedly said, "Xiaogang, your timing is perfect. We were just discussing what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest..."

"Tang San returned with you too, didn't he?" Yu Xiaogang interrupted Flender and asked directly.

Zhao Wuji frowned deeply, forcibly suppressing his displeasure. He gave a strained chuckle and said, "Tang San returned safely. Moreover, this time he obtained a Man Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring and successfully advanced to Soul Elder!"

"Oh? A Man Faced Demon Spider?" Yu Xiaogang immediately became interested. "Tell me quickly. How did he obtain it? Give me the details!"

Patiently, Zhao Wuji told him in detail how Xiao Wu had been taken by the Titan Giant Ape, how Dai Mubai and Tang San had gone after it, and how they encountered a Man Faced Demon Spider blocking their path along the way.

To his surprise, Yu Xiaogang's face instantly turned livid, and he flew into a rage!

"What?!"

He slammed a hand on the table and pointed at Zhao Wuji without the slightest courtesy, demanding, "Zhao Wuji! What kind of teacher are you?! Tang San wanted to chase after the Titan Giant Ape. That was incredibly dangerous! Why didn't you stop him?! This is a serious dereliction of duty!"

Zhao Wuji's expression swiftly darkened.

Fuck, I showed you some courtesy, and now you're pushing your luck?

He slowly stood up and retorted sarcastically, "My strength is limited. How about the next time we hunt Soul Rings, we ask our 'Master' to lead the team personally? I am sure you will dutifully protect every student and ensure that no accidents occur!"

"I... I..."

Yu Xiaogang's face alternated between red and green. His stiff facial muscles twitched a few times, and he was left speechless.

What a joke!

The first time he had taken Tang San to hunt a Soul Ring, they had nearly lost their lives.

If he were asked to lead a team hunting Soul Rings, wouldn't that be asking for his life?

For a moment, Yu Xiaogang could not find a single word to refute him.

Seeing the tension on the verge of erupting, Flender hurriedly tried to mediate awkwardly. "All right, all right, Xiaogang! Nobody wanted something like this to happen. Wuji already did everything he could, and Tang San and Xiao Wu both returned safe and sound!"

"You make it sound so simple, Flender. Do you know what Tang San means to me?! He is the last hope of my life!" Yu Xiaogang was extremely agitated, his sallow face flushed bright red.

Watching him act like this, Zhao Wuji completely lost patience and no longer bothered to be polite. So be it if I offend him. I, Zhao Wuji, am done putting up with this!

He turned to Flender and said, "Flender, I'm tired. I'll go rest first."

With that, Zhao Wuji flicked his sleeve and left without even sparing Yu Xiaogang a glance. Behind him came Yu Xiaogang's furious shout: "Zhao Wuji! What kind of attitude is that?!"

But Zhao Wuji ignored him completely and had already disappeared down the corridor.

Inside the office, Yu Xiaogang trembled with rage, his face filled with venomous resentment.

Flender rubbed his brow and let out a long sigh.

The next morning, on Shrek Academy's training grounds.

Seven figures were already standing in formation.

Flender approached from the direction of the teaching building, with two people beside him.

Zhao Wuji stood on his left, while on his right was a middle-aged man wearing a stiff, corpse-like expression.

Dai Mubai quickly recognized him as Yu Xiaogang and thought, He still came. But I have no desire to become a stepping stone for your disciple.

Flender stopped before the group and said, "Everyone is here. Today, I have an announcement. From this day forward, Master Yu Xiaogang will serve as the lead teacher for the seven of you and be responsible for guiding your cultivation."

He gestured toward Yu Xiaogang, his tone solemn. "This is Yu Xiaogang, the renowned theoretical Master of the Soul Master world. He is both an old friend of mine and Tang San's teacher. You may call him Master."

Yu Xiaogang slightly raised his chin, his gaze indifferent as he put on an unfathomable air.

As soon as Flender finished speaking, Dai Mubai immediately said, "Headmaster, I think Teacher Zhao has been leading us very well. Gravity training, combat coordination—we three have all made obvious progress under Teacher Zhao's instruction. Why suddenly change our lead teacher?"

Flender pushed up his glasses awkwardly. "Mubai, Xiaogang is a theoretical Master renowned throughout the Soul Master world. His research into Martial Souls runs extremely deep, and he is famous across the continent. With him guiding your cultivation, you will surely achieve twice the results with half the effort."

"Then Master's strength must be formidable. Is he even stronger than Teacher Zhao?" Dai Mubai feigned ignorance.

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched, and he nearly burst out laughing.

Yu Xiaogang's rigid face instantly turned livid. He hated it most when others discussed his strength! This was practically slapping him in the face in public!

Sweat appeared on Flender's forehead as he hurriedly said, "Well... although Master's strength is only level twenty-nine, his understanding of Martial Souls is indeed very profound."

"How do you prove that?" Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow.

Flender immediately said, "Master proposed the famous theory of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, which is renowned throughout the Soul Master world! Moreover, he taught an outstanding disciple like Tang San! Isn't that proof enough?"

Hearing this, Dai Mubai continued, "First, I don't deny Tang San's excellence. But the ones we have trained aren't inferior to him either."