Zhao Wuji Emerged from Seclusion! A Breakthrough to Level 89!

He couldn't accept it!

A towering sense of injustice gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake!

But he forced himself to endure it. He neither screamed nor broke down.

A soul that had lived two lives had granted him resilience and restraint far beyond his years.

In the darkness, he simply recalled everything that had happened that day, over and over.

He recalled Cao Kun's words.

He recalled Yu Xiaogang's violent reaction.

He recalled the last thing he had seen while using the Purple Demon Eye: that fleeting phantom of an enormous bell, as though it could suppress primordial chaos...

Cao Kun!

That name was branded into the deepest recesses of his heart, mingled with wariness, confusion, and a trace of something even he refused to acknowledge... fear.

Had conflicting theories from Teacher really caused my cultivation to go berserk?

Or... had Cao Kun done something to me?

But he clearly hadn't made any move at the time...

And Teacher... what exactly was he hiding?

Countless questions circled in the darkness, but no answers came.

Yu Xiaogang sat beside Tang San's bed, looking at his disciple's tightly closed eyes and silent profile, his heart filled with regret and self-reproach. He had believed Cao Kun's explanation that "conflicting theories caused his cultivation to go berserk," because it seemed the most reasonable explanation.

He hated his own stubbornness, hated his theories that might truly be flawed, and hated himself even more for failing to protect his disciple.

"San, don't worry."

Yu Xiaogang clasped Tang San's other hand, his voice hoarse but carrying an almost obsessive resolve. "I will cure your eyes!"

"The world is vast and full of wonders."

"Spirit Hall has the Holy Healing Art passed down by the Angel God. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has the Glazed Tile Heart, which is said to revive the dead and restore flesh to bare bones. The Star Dou Great Forest, the Sunset Forest, the Far North Ice Plains... countless dangerous lands and hidden realms might hold heavenly treasures capable of healing your eyes!"

"Even if I have to search every corner of the world, I will find them for you!"

His words were directed more at himself, a conviction that kept him from falling apart completely.

Tang San nodded faintly, still saying nothing.

He knew hope was slim. But he would not give up either.

As long as even the slightest possibility remained, he would seize it.

Watching the two of them, Xiao Wu wiped away her tears and nodded firmly as well. "That's right! Brother San, don't lose heart! I... I'll help you look too! We'll definitely find a way!"

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and heavy.

Early morning on the fourth day.

As the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell upon Shrek Academy's buildings, which still bore traces of repair...

Boom...!!!

A dense, powerful aura, as savage as an ancient giant bear awakening, suddenly shot skyward from the barely repaired wooden hut on the academy's Back Mountain where Zhao Wuji had secluded himself!

The aura was so powerful that every Soul Master in the academy, regardless of level, was instantly alerted!

Flender was feeding Tang San medicine when his hand jerked, nearly overturning the bowl. He sprang to his feet and looked toward the source of the eruption, his eyes lighting up with delighted surprise!

Oscar and Ma Hongjun were sparring in the courtyard.

More precisely, Oscar was being chased and scorched by Ma Hongjun in a completely one-sided affair. Struck by the aura, he collapsed onto the ground, his face turning pale.

Dai Mubai rushed out of his room and looked toward the Back Mountain, his solemn gaze tinged with shock.

Xiao Wu and Yu Xiaogang felt it too and hurried to the window.

Even Tang San, lying in bed and unable to see, clearly felt a heavy pressure spread through the air, as though a mountain were bearing down on him. It stole his breath.

This pressure... was far beyond that of a Soul Saint!

It was even several times stronger than when Teacher Zhao had demonstrated his strength before!

"Is that... Teacher Zhao?!" Dai Mubai blurted out.

"Old Zhao... broke through?!" Flender's voice trembled with excitement.

Above the wooden hut on the Back Mountain, the faint phantom of a massive bear with needlelike fur and a dark golden glow raised its head and roared at the sky!

Beneath the bear, eight Soul Rings shone brilliantly: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black!

The final black Soul Ring in particular was so deep in color that it was almost pure black, its Soul Power surging like a rushing river!

That deeper, heavier aura made everyone realize...

Zhao Wuji had not merely stabilized his existing cultivation. He had advanced even further!

"Level eighty-nine!"

Flender murmured to himself, his face brimming with incredulous joy. "That fellow, Old Zhao... he actually shot straight up to level eighty-nine?! He's only one step away from becoming a Titled Douluo!"

He knew Cao Kun had given Zhao Wuji [Restorative Spirit Liquid] and some pills to aid his cultivation, but he had never expected such astonishing results!

In just three days of seclusion, Zhao Wuji had not only recovered completely from his injuries but also broken through the level eighty-eight bottleneck and reached level eighty-nine!

This was the upper end of the Soul Douluo ranks, where advancing even a single level was as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Zhao Wuji's aura swept through the entire academy like a tide before slowly withdrawing.

The enormous Great Strength Vajra Bear phantom above the wooden hut gradually faded as well.

"Hahahaha...!!!"

A burst of unrestrained, jubilant laughter rang out from the hut, making the roof tiles rattle.

Then the door was kicked open with a bang, and a figure even more burly than before strode out, his muscles bulging and his entire body radiating a formidable air.

It was Zhao Wuji!

His upper body was bare, and a dark golden sheen seemed to flash across his bronze skin. His already powerful frame appeared to have grown another size, brimming with explosive strength.

His eyes gleamed, and every glance carried an imposing force. He looked nothing like the battered, grievously injured man he had been three days ago!

"Amazing! This feels so damn amazing!"

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power coursing endlessly through him, as though he could shatter a mountain with a single punch. He could not help letting out another long, ringing cry.

A level eighty-nine Soul Douluo!

He felt that he could now take on three of his pre-seclusion selves!

His gaze swept over the academy, instantly spotting a delighted Flender standing at a distant window. He also sensed several familiar presences within the academy.

He grinned and moved, shooting across dozens of meters like a cannonball before landing directly in the courtyard outside Flender's room.

"Old Flender! I broke through! Level eighty-nine! Haha!" Zhao Wuji's booming voice made Flender's ears ring.

"Congratulations! Congratulations, Old Zhao!"

Flender hurried outside and clapped Zhao Wuji firmly on the shoulder. Feeling muscles as hard as tempered steel, he was both envious and delighted.

With his old companion's strength greatly improved, Shrek Academy now had a stronger foundation to rely on.

At the same time, his resolve to join Mount Buzhou grew even firmer—just look at Zhao Wuji. Here was living proof!

"Teacher Zhao, you're incredible!"

Oscar and Ma Hongjun came over as well, gazing at Zhao Wuji with admiration.

A Soul Douluo!

And a level eighty-nine Soul Douluo at that!

In their eyes, he was already a figure out of legend!

Dai Mubai also approached and cupped his fist in greeting. "Congratulations, Teacher Zhao."

As he looked at Zhao Wuji's powerful physique, a trace of longing flashed through his eyes.

Growing stronger was every Soul Master's instinct.