First Meeting with Tang San!

"Okay."

Cao Kun did not refuse. He nodded in agreement.

"I'll give them a first lesson they'll... remember for the rest of their lives."

His tone was calm, but for some reason, both Zhao Wuji and Flender heard something else beneath his words.

With the matter settled, Zhao Wuji and Flender returned to their barely habitable rooms to begin secluded cultivation.

Cao Kun and Dugu Yan set about dealing with the academy's aftermath.

Watching the two men leave, Dugu Yan turned her green eyes to Cao Kun and asked softly, "Young Master, are you planning to... bring them fully into your service?"

She was perceptive. She had long since recognized the importance Cao Kun placed on Shrek Academy, as well as what Mount Buzhou truly meant.

Cao Kun stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant. "Teacher Zhao is already one of us. Dean Flender is meticulous and skilled at running an organization. He'd make a fine administrator and pioneer. If he pledges himself to us sincerely, he could prove invaluable. As for how..."

He smiled faintly and said no more, but Dugu Yan understood.

The quietly implanted child seal of the Indestructible Heart Bell was the surest safeguard.

A leader needed both generosity and authority to command his people.

"Yan'er, prepare the Pure Spirit Cleansing Liquid and Foundation-Strengthening Powder. Clear the lingering traces from the battlefield as soon as possible," Cao Kun instructed.

"Yes, Young Master." Dugu Yan gave a graceful bow and departed with light steps and brisk efficiency.

Cao Kun walked back to his cottage.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

The following morning.

Cao Kun sat cross-legged in his quiet room, but did not begin cultivating at once.

He had reached the realm of a Level 99 Limit Douluo and possessed twin god-level Martial Souls. Simply accumulating Soul Power meant little to him now. What he needed was a deeper understanding of the laws, a fuller grasp of his own origins, and... the chance to become a god.

"System," he called silently.

[Myriad Heavens Sign-In System]

Host: Cao Kun

Sign-in location: [Mount Buzhou Cottage] (exclusive cultivation site)

Today's sign-in status: Not signed in

"Sign in."

[Ding! Sign-in successful!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have received a Martial Soul Evolution Potion Gift Pack ×1!]

A flicker of surprise and delight crossed Cao Kun's eyes. Martial Soul Evolution Potions? An entire gift pack? That was good stuff!

With a thought, he commanded, "Open the gift pack."

[Ding! Martial Soul Evolution Potion Gift Pack opened successfully!]

[Received: Superior Martial Soul Evolution Potion ×3!]

[Received: Mid-Grade Martial Soul Evolution Potion ×10!]

[Received: Low-Grade Martial Soul Evolution Potion ×50!]

[Note: Martial Soul Evolution Potions are divided into four grades: supreme, superior, mid-grade, and low-grade. Their corresponding chances and effects for evolving Martial Soul quality are as follows...]

The system detailed the effects of each potion, largely confirming what Cao Kun already knew. That made him more certain than ever. With this batch of potions, he could take a solid step toward building Mount Buzhou's core strength!

In twelve years of signing in, he had received only three Superior Martial Soul Evolution Potions, which the system had labeled "high-grade" at the time.

He had given one to Dugu Bo, helping his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul evolve to the threshold of demigod level. The leap in strength had also won over the proud Poison Douluo completely.

He had bestowed the other two upon the first two subordinates he had recruited, whose loyalty and potential had both stood the test of time. They had since become pillars of Mount Buzhou's hidden strength.

The low-grade and mid-grade potions were less effective, but to the vast number of lower- and mid-ranking Soul Masters, they were a heaven-defying chance to change their fate! They would be enough to draw in countless promising Soul Masters held back by the quality of their Martial Souls.

Good. Teacher Zhao's and Dean Flender's Martial Soul Evolutions are taken care of too, Cao Kun thought.

Zhao Wuji's Great Strength Vajra Bear and Flender's Four-Eyed Cat Owl were both high-grade Martial Souls. With Superior Martial Soul Evolution Potions, they stood a strong chance of evolving into top-tier Martial Souls. They might even have a slim chance of reaching the threshold of demigod level!

Their strength would then take a qualitative leap, allowing them to manage Mount Buzhou's affairs, whether public or hidden, far more effectively.

But I need to be careful with the potions. I'll decide what to give them once they've truly committed and earned it. Cao Kun would not let sentiment rule him. Resources belonged where they would do the most good, in the hands of people who would value them and repay his trust.

He carefully put the potions away. They would be vital to Mount Buzhou's rise.

The morning sun rose, spilling gold across the hills.

Cao Kun opened his cottage door and stepped into the warm sunlight. Dressed in simple white cloth with his black hair loosely tied back, he had an air of effortless grace. A night spent regulating his breathing had restored him to peak condition.

Dugu Yan was already waiting outside, carrying an elegant food box.

"Young Master, breakfast is ready. The academy grounds have also been given an initial cleanup. The new students are gathered at the training ground," she reported softly.

"Mm. Thanks for your hard work." Cao Kun took the box and ate a light breakfast of porridge and pastries, all rich in spiritual energy.

They had been made with spiritual plants from the rear mountain and were beneficial to cultivation.

At nine that morning, at Shrek Academy's open-air training ground, which had remained relatively intact.

The morning sun warmed the bluestone paving. A few old trees along the edge cast dappled shadows, while the breeze carried the scent of grass and earth.

Seven figures stood in neat formation at the center of the ground.

On the left were three senior students. Dai Mubai, fifteen, was a Level 37 Battle Soul Elder with the White Tiger Martial Soul. Tall and powerfully built, with blond hair and mismatched eyes, he had a roguish, untamed air. Oscar, fourteen, was a Level 31 food-type Tool Soul Elder with the Sausage Martial Soul. His grin was a little lecherous, but his eyes were clear and lively. Ma Hongjun, twelve, was a Level 28 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master with the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, which had undergone initial purification. Round-bodied and small-eyed, he was always casting lecherous glances about.

On the right were the four new students who had enrolled yesterday.

At the front stood a black-haired boy of ordinary looks and plain dress. He was of average height, but stood unusually straight and steady. His calm, deep eyes hinted at a maturity and weariness beyond his years. This was Tang San, twelve years old, though mentally over thirty, a Level 29 control-type Battle Soul Master with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. He was an outer disciple of the Tang Sect from another world and an inheritor of the Hundred Hidden Weapon Solutions.

Right beside Tang San stood a pretty, adorable girl. Her glossy black hair was braided into a long plait that fell past her hips. She had fair skin, delicate features, and bright, expressive eyes that darted around curiously. Her pink lips were slightly pursed, giving her an endearing, lively look. This was Xiao Wu, twelve years old, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form—originally a Soft Bone Rabbit—and a Level 29 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master with the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul.

Beside Xiao Wu stood a cool, reserved girl with striking curves.