Tang Hao's Plan!

"Many thanks! Many thanks!"

Zhao Wuji was in an extremely good mood, laughing heartily as he responded to everyone.

Yet he immediately remembered something and looked at Flender. "That's right, where is Kun? Also, has anything happened at the academy in the few days I was in seclusion?"

He remembered that before entering seclusion, Cao Kun had said he would handle academy affairs.

At the mention of this, the smile on Flender's face faded. He sighed, stepping aside to clear the doorway. "Come inside and take a look."

Puzzled, Zhao Wuji followed Flender into the room and immediately saw Tang San lying on the bed, along with Xiao Wu sitting beside the bed with red, swollen eyes, and Yu Xiaogang sitting off to the side, looking haggard and dejected.

"This is... that kid Tang San? What happened to him?"

Zhao Wuji frowned. Seeing Tang San's tightly closed eyes and pale complexion, a bad premonition welled up in his heart.

Flender briefly recounted what had happened three days ago as well as Tang San's current condition.

Naturally, he omitted the specific words of the conflict between Cao Kun and Yu Xiaogang—especially the parts involving their family background and old grievances—

stating only that Yu Xiaogang's theory had conflicted with the new method Tang San was attempting, which led to a backlash of Soul Power, deviation in cultivation, and injuries to his eyes.

At present... the hope of recovery was slim.

"Deviation in cultivation? His eyes are blinded?"

Zhao Wuji's bell-like eyes widened. He walked over to the bed, looked closely at Tang San, and then looked at Yu Xiaogang, who wore an ash-gray expression. He asked in a rough voice, "Grandmaster, was it really your theory that had a problem?"

Yu Xiaogang's lips moved, his voice hoarse. "Impossible. My theory cannot possibly have any problems."

"It was Cao Kun, it's because he spouted nonsense that he harmed Xiao San..."

Although bold and boorish, Zhao Wuji was not stupid.

He looked at Flender's expression and then thought of Cao Kun's unfathomable strength and mysterious background, vaguely feeling in his heart that things might not be so simple.

Still, he did not ask further, merely saying in a deep voice, "Don't rush to conclusions just yet!"

"Who is right and who is wrong remains to be seen!"

"Right now, the most important thing is to find a way to cure this kid's eyes—that's what matters! I know a few healing-attribute Soul Saint friends, and I'll write a letter later to ask around!"

He looked at Tang San again and said, "Kid, don't be discouraged! A Soul Master's path is a long one. Even if you can't see with your eyes, you still have your ears, and you still have Spiritual Power!"

"I know a blind Soul Saint whose skill at listening to the wind to discern positions is breathtakingly profound—even better than someone with eyes! As long as your willpower doesn't break, there is still hope!"

Though he could not see, Tang San could feel the heroic spirit and care in Zhao Wuji's words. Warmth stirred gently in his heart, and he softly let out an "en."

Zhao Wuji's appearance and breakthrough slightly diluted the gloomy atmosphere pervading the academy due to Tang San's serious injury, though it was only slightly.

Meanwhile, not far from Shrek Academy, in the underground secret room of a remote and dilapidated civilian house somewhere in Suotuo City,

a tall yet hunchbacked figure sat cross-legged on the cold ground, circulating his energy to heal his wounds.

It was Tang Hao.

His face remained pale, his aura unstable, and his chest was wrapped in thick bandages, with traces of blood faintly seeping through.

Having been severely injured by Cao Kun that day and further suffered a backlash of Soul Power, his injuries were extremely grave, far from something that could be recovered from in a few days.

In particular, the damage to his Martial Soul Avatar and the trauma to his Soul Rings had nearly shaken his foundation.

He had originally intended to lurk here, nursing his injuries on one hand while secretly observing Shrek Academy on the other, waiting for an opportunity to demand an explanation for his son Tang San, or at least figure out the background of that brat called Cao Kun.

However,

just a moment ago, he had felt a familiar wave of Soul Power belonging to Zhao Wuji, mixed with an even more formidable aura that had nearly touched the threshold of a Titled Douluo, surging up from the direction of Shrek Academy!

"Level eighty-nine?!"

"Zhao Wuji... how could he possibly break through so quickly?!"

Tang Hao snapped his eyes open, bloodshot and filled with shock and dismay!

He clearly remembered that during their clash a few days ago, although Zhao Wuji had concealed his strength, it was utterly impossible for him to not only recover from his injuries in just a few short days, but to advance even further and break through to level eighty-nine!

This was absolutely abnormal!

Unless... he had received unimaginable external assistance!

And across the entire Shrek Academy, the only one with the capability and resources to accomplish this was probably...

Cao Kun!

This was the name he had secretly inquired about.

That white-clothed youth, that terrifying entity who had easily defeated him in just a few moves and subdued his explosion with a single Stasis!

He could sense that this person had not used his full strength at all back then.

His strength was at least that of a Titled Douluo at level ninety-six or above.

"Cao Kun..."

Tang Hao muttered the name in a low voice, his voice hoarse like an evil ghost crawling up from hell, filled with bone-deep hatred and icy killing intent!

The injury on his chest seemed to begin throbbing dully once more.

He not only severely injured him, but also insulted him! He said that he, Tang Hao the Clear Sky Douluo, was nothing more than a plaything he could easily squash in his eyes?!

He said the Clear Sky Hammer was unworthy of being the number one weapon martial soul under heaven!!

An utter humiliation! An irreconcilable enmity!

Just you wait... You just wait for me...

Tang Hao tightly clenched his fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms and seeping blood.

Wait until my injuries heal... Wait until I recover my strength... Cao Kun!! I will definitely... make you pay back a hundredfold!

Killing intent permeated the secret room, bone-chillingly cold.

Yet he did not act immediately.

He was too heavily injured and needed time.

Besides, that Cao Kun... his strength was unfathomable and his methods were bizarre.

Acting rashly would only lead to humiliating himself once more.

Even... costing him his life.

He had to endure, he had to wait for the right moment.

Only, he was somewhat worried about his son Tang San's situation inside Shrek Academy.

Compounding his thoughts, Tang Hao muttered to himself, "It seems necessary to take Xiao San away from Shrek Academy."

"Only... what kind of place can I go to?"

"The Clear Sky Sect? Or Slaughter City?"

"Or perhaps, the seas..."

Meanwhile.

Inside Shrek Academy.

The brief elation brought by Zhao Wuji's breakthrough was soon overshadowed by the gloomy clouds of Tang San's injuries.

Time slowly passed.

In the afternoon.

Sunlight filtered through the window, spilling across Tang San's slightly pale face.

He still lay quietly, darkness having become the only world he could "see."

The physical pain gradually eased under the effect of the medicine, but the anxiety and despair within his heart, like lingering maggots on a bone, grew deeper day by day.

Yu Xiaogang sat by the bedside, his gaze hollow as he held Tang San's hand, as though he wanted to draw a shred of strength from his disciple, or perhaps, wanted to convey some kind of useless comfort.

He repeated the promise that he would find a way to cure his eyes over and over again, yet his tone grew increasingly dry and powerless.

Knock! Knock! Knock...

A knock sounded, and Flender's voice came through: "Xiaoang, Ning Rongrong, that child who is our academy's new student, contacted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's connections near Suotuo City and invited a few healing system soul masters. Let them take another look at Xiao San's condition."

Ning Rongrong? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

A glimmer of light finally ignited within Yu Xiaogang's dim eyes.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest in the world with vast connections. Perhaps...

Perhaps... they really could invite an expert capable of curing him!?