Suppression Refund, Soul Tool Knowledge!

"Master! You're awake!"

Tang San sprang up and rushed to the bedside, a look of excitement on his face. "Master, how are you feeling?"

Yu Xiaogang blanked for a full three seconds, his eyeballs slowly rolling to land on Tang San's dark, thin face.

The last memories in his mind gradually surfaced.

Silver-white flames.

A warm, wet sensation in his crotch.

The watching students roaring with laughter.

"Pfft~"

Yu Xiaogang almost coughed up a mouthful of old blood, his face turning the color of a pig's liver.

"Master? Master, what's wrong?"

Tang San panicked, reaching out to steady him.

Dammit, if Yu Xiaogang kept passing out, how was he going to draw fire for him?

Yu Xiaogang abruptly raised a hand, stopping Tang San's movement. His lips trembled for a long time before he squeezed a sentence out through his teeth:

"Xiao San... Am I... Did I... in front of everyone..."

The second half of the sentence wouldn't come out.

Tang San's expression instantly froze. He was silent for two seconds, then laboriously nodded.

[...]

A deathly silence fell over the ward.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes gradually lost their focus, his mind repeatedly replaying the scene of himself rolling on the ground with his crotch soaked through.

A lifetime's reputation, ruined in a single day!

He, Yu Xiaogang, the mighty Grandmaster of theory, had actually, in full view of the crowd...

Pooped his pants!

After taking quite a while to recover, Yu Xiaogang's pupils refocused. "Xiao San, did the Dean punish that Jiang Hao?"

At the mention of the Dean, a dark shadow flashed in Tang San's eyes. "I just asked. Not only did the Dean not punish him, he didn't even call Jiang Hao in for a talk!"

"What!?"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot, and he breathed like an ox. "To think I lowered my status to be a teacher at the academy, only to end up in such a state!"

Any fool could see that the Dean was shielding Jiang Hao, wanting to turn a big matter into a small one and a small one into nothing!

"Xiao San, it seems there is no longer a place for the two of us master and disciple in this academy." Yu Xiaogang smiled bitterly.

Tang San frowned. "But, if we leave Notting Academy, where else can we go?"

He had not yet completed the task his father gave him to take back Xiao Wu; to leave just like this, he was unwilling.

"Rest assured, your master still has some connections on the continent."

A trace of pride rose on Yu Xiaogang's face. "My original plan was to take you there after your graduation, but now it seems plans can't keep up with changes."

"The place I'm going to take you is called Shrek Academy. It's an academy that only accepts monsters, and the students who graduate from it are at least Soul Kings."

"One of the students even became the youngest elder of Spirit Hall!"

"And the academy's dean is none other than a close friend of your master's for many years, as well as a powerful Soul Sage!"

Soul Sage!?

Tang San's eyes shone.

Tang San's eyes shone, monstrous waves churning in his heart.

A Soul Sage... that was a rank-seven powerhouse!

"Master,"

Tang San took a deep breath, his voice low. "I'll go to Shrek with you."

A gratified smile bloomed on Yu Xiaogang's face. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Tang San suddenly raise his head, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"However, before we leave, I want to do one thing."

Yu Xiaogang frowned. "What thing?"

"Kill Jiang Hao."

Tang San's voice was frighteningly calm.

Yu Xiaogang froze, taking a full three seconds to recover his senses. "Xiao San, have you lost your mind? You can't even beat him, how are you going to kill him?"

"Don't worry, Master, I have my own methods." Tang San said in a deep voice.

"You're confident?"

"Seventy percent."

Tang San raised his head, his gaze burning. "Master, think about it. If we don't get rid of Jiang Hao, even if we reach Shrek, I won't be able to swallow this lump in my throat."

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, your master will back you. However, you must promise me that if a single strike fails, you will retreat immediately. You must never become mired in a protracted battle."

"Understood."

Tang San put away his flying needle and glanced at the darkening sky outside the window, a sneer hooking the corner of his mouth.

Jiang Hao, you made me lose all face in front of the whole school.

It's time to settle this account!

Nightfall.

Notting Academy classroom dormitory.

Jiang Hao sat cross-legged on the dormitory balcony, his eyes closed as multicolored auras circulated around his body.

On the surface, he was meditating and cultivating.

In reality, however, Jiang Hao's perception was running at full blast at this moment, paying constant attention to every blade of grass and tree around him.

"Sure enough, you're here."

Sensing the movement coming from below, Jiang Hao's mouth curved slightly.

After defeating Tang San yesterday, Jiang Hao had guessed that this fellow definitely wouldn't let the matter rest.

This brat Tang San appeared forbearing and magnanimous on the surface, but deep down he was petty and vengeful.

Besides, he still had his Hidden Weapon trump card unplayed.

Given Tang San's personality, if he didn't play this trump card to prove himself, he probably wouldn't even be able to sleep at night.

"Tang San, oh Tang San, I'll just wait for you right here and see what kind of crap your brat can hold in."

Jiang Hao sneered inwardly, while outwardly maintaining the appearance of being immersed in cultivation.

He even deliberately slowed down his breathing rhythm to pretend with a bit more investment.

Dozens of meters away, in the shadow of an old locust tree.

Tang San wore a black cloak, his entire person blending into the darkness with only a pair of cold eyes exposed.

He stared at the cross-legged figure sitting on the upper floor, a sneer hooking the corner of his mouth.

"Jiang Hao, oh Jiang Hao, to dare cultivate on the balcony—if you don't die, who will?"

Tang San slowly felt around his waist and fished out a pitch-black flying needle.

This was a hidden weapon he had forged some time ago, and he had even quenched the needle tip with deadly poison.

As long as it touched even a fraction of a percent, it would instantly render Jiang Hao unconscious.

When that happened, wouldn't killing him be as easy as taking candy from a baby?

Through the previous battle, Tang San already understood that given his Blue Silver Grass spirit...

In a head-on clash, there was a high probability he was no match for Jiang Hao.

Hidden weapons were different, however.

Being unable to beat someone head-on didn't mean a sneak attack wouldn't work.

Tang Sect Hidden Weapons were born for killing in the first place!

At this thought, Tang San narrowed his eyes, carefully observing every subtle movement of Jiang Hao's as he searched for the best opportunity to strike.

Right at that moment, Jiang Hao slightly turned to the side, leaving a completely unguarded area exposed on the left side of his neck.

"Right now!"

A cold light flashed in Tang San's eyes as his wrist shook.

That pitch-black flying needle transformed into a soundless stream of light, tearing through the night to go straight for the left side of Jiang Hao's neck!

He used all his strength for this strike.

Seeking only a fatal blow!

And right at the instant Tang San made his move, a system prompt suddenly rang in Jiang Hao's ear.

[Suppression target detected using Tang Sect Hidden Weapons and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, refunding suppression reward: Complete Soul Tool Encyclopedia, Divine Craftsman's Forging Technique!]

In an instant, Jiang Hao only felt his spirit perk up as countless pieces of information poured into his mind like a tidal wave.

Soul tool structural principles, inscription burning, energy circuits...

Not only that, a forging technique known as Thousand Hammers, Hundred Refinements also surfaced in his mind.

"Let's deal with what's in front of us first!"

Jiang Hao narrowed his eyes, spreading his five fingers to gently grab at the oncoming flying needle.

The flying needle, which had been flying at high speed, encountered some sort of resistance and came to an abrupt halt in midair, caught between Jiang Hao's two fingers.

"How is that possible!?"