Off to Shrek Academy! Zhuo Shi

"I remember that old fellow's Red Dragon Nine Forms really did suit soul masters with powerful blood essence and strength. They ranked among the very best on the entire Douluo Continent."

"But that old fellow has a rotten temper, though his abilities are certainly impressive."

Leng Yaozhu offered her assessment with her hands on her hips.

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. "Then, Teacher, could you help me..."

"That really is a bit troublesome. After all, the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy aren't exactly close." Leng Yaozhu rolled her eyes at him.

"But... I do have some history with him. At worst, we can exchange some resources with Shrek Academy. Besides, didn't you just meet Wu Changkong? He's Zhuo Shi's direct disciple. Put in a word with him, and it might give us a little extra leverage."

Tang Wulin immediately grew excited. "Then I'll contact Brother Wu right now!"

Seeing how eager he was, Leng Yaozhu shook her head helplessly. "All right, I'll arrange it. Just focus on recovering first. Don't go pushing yourself until something else goes wrong."

Meanwhile, on Sea God Island at Shrek Academy.

As Shrek Academy's most closely guarded sanctuary, Sea God Island was home to the elders of the Sea God Pavilion.

Its surroundings were tranquil and rich in spiritual energy. Every inch of soil was steeped in abundant life force, making it the best place in the entire academy for cultivation.

Red Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi was in a very good mood that day.

He had not been this happy in a long time. Ever since Long Bing's death two years earlier, his most prized disciple, Wu Changkong, had sunk into despair. He had seemed like a man who had lost his soul, and had eventually even left Shrek Academy, vanishing without a trace.

Though he never said it aloud, he had always worried about this disciple. Yet today, Wu Changkong had actually returned.

Zhuo Shi sat in a stone pavilion on Sea God Island, looking at the tall, handsome young man before him. His heart was full of relief, but his face remained stern.

"Hmph, so you still remembered to come back? I thought you'd died out there."

Wu Changkong lowered his head slightly. "Teacher, I know I was wrong."

"You know you were wrong?" Zhuo Shi snorted coldly. "Then tell me, what did you do wrong?"

Wu Changkong fell silent for a moment before raising his head, a resolute light shining in his eyes. "I shouldn't have given up on myself, and I shouldn't have let down your expectations."

Zhuo Shi was taken aback. He had thought Wu Changkong would offer only a few perfunctory words upon returning. He had not expected him to be so earnest.

What surprised him even more was Wu Changkong's gaze. There was light in those eyes—a light he had not seen in a very long time.

"Have you really worked through it?" Zhuo Shi's voice trembled slightly.

Wu Changkong nodded. "I met someone. Something he said made everything suddenly clear to me."

"Who? What did he say?"

"A child named Tang Wulin." The corners of Wu Changkong's lips curved slightly.

"He said that as long as I become a god, there's hope of bringing Long Bing back to life."

Zhuo Shi's pupils contracted slightly. "Become a god?"

"Yes." Wu Changkong's tone was firm and unwavering. "I've never been able to come to terms with Long Bing's death. But that child reminded me that if I become a god, I might find a way to revive her. So I have to grow stronger—strong enough to reverse life and death."

Zhuo Shi fell silent.

He looked at the resolve written all over Wu Changkong's face, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.

He had tried countless times to persuade this disciple, using both gentle words and harsh ones, yet Wu Changkong had never been able to emerge from his grief. Who would have thought that a child Zhuo Shi had never met could wake him up with a single sentence?

"Tang Wulin..." Zhuo Shi repeated the name, a measure of warmth entering his eyes. "That child sounds rather interesting."

Wu Changkong nodded. "He truly is extraordinary. At just seven years old, he's already a Three-Ring Soul Elder, and he has a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as well as rare soul skills like Teleportation and Invincible Golden Body. Even more remarkable is his character. He didn't shrink back at all when facing an Evil Soul Master, and he even risked his own life to save a train full of strangers."

Zhuo Shi clicked his tongue in wonder. "A seven-year-old Three-Ring Soul Elder? That talent really is monstrous. But you said he risked his life to save people? What happened?"

Wu Changkong briefly recounted what had happened on the Soul Guidance Train. After listening, Zhuo Shi remained silent for a long while before finally sighing. "That child... truly is rare."

He was just about to say something else when a graceful figure hurried over.

It was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, with delicate features and his hair tied in a high ponytail. Dressed in a smart, close-fitting outfit, he was none other than Wu Changkong's junior fellow disciple, Shen Yi.

"Senior Brother, you're back!"

Seeing that Wu Changkong really had returned, Shen Yi could barely contain his excitement. This was his idol.

Wu Changkong nodded.

"Teacher!" Shen Yi ran up to the stone pavilion and said breathlessly, "Vice Pagoda Master Leng Yaozhu of the Spirit Pagoda is here. She says she wants to see you!"

Zhuo Shi paused. "Leng Yaozhu? What is she here for?"

Shen Yi shook his head. "I don't know, but she brought a child with her. He looks about six or seven, and he's quite adorable."

Wu Changkong's heart stirred. "Does the child have black hair, features as delicate as carved jade, and a pair of rabbit ears on his head?"

Shen Yi thought for a moment. "I didn't see any rabbit ears, but he is a little boy with black hair, and he's very good-looking."

Wu Changkong turned to Zhuo Shi. "Teacher, that child should be Tang Wulin."

Zhuo Shi's expression grew strange. Leng Yaozhu brought Tang Wulin to see me? What medicine is she hiding in her gourd? He pondered for a moment, then waved a hand. "Let them in."

Before long, Leng Yaozhu led Tang Wulin onto Sea God Island. She wore a long red dress that day, looking graceful and elegant. Her steps were unhurried, and every movement carried the bearing of someone accustomed to authority.

Tang Wulin followed behind her, looking curiously around at his surroundings, his large eyes darting this way and that.

When Wu Changkong saw Tang Wulin, a flash of delighted surprise crossed his eyes. "Wulin!"

Tang Wulin spotted him as well and immediately broke into a grin, waving. "Brother Wu!"

The two greeted each other warmly, leaving Zhuo Shi looking utterly bewildered. He glanced at Wu Changkong, then at Tang Wulin, before finally resting his gaze on Leng Yaozhu. "Heavenly Phoenix, what is the meaning of this?"

Leng Yaozhu smiled slightly and got straight to the point. "Old Red Dragon, I came today to ask you to teach this child a cultivation art."

"What cultivation art?"

"The Red Dragon Nine Forms. I want you to teach them to this child."

Zhuo Shi's expression shifted slightly. The Red Dragon Nine Forms were the supreme techniques that had made his name, his most closely guarded trump card. He had never taught them to outsiders. For Leng Yaozhu to ask for them the moment she opened her mouth was rather excessive.

"Heavenly Phoenix, you should know what the Red Dragon Nine Forms are," Zhuo Shi said gravely. "I created them through a lifetime of painstaking effort. I never teach them to outsiders."

Leng Yaozhu seemed to have expected this answer and remained unhurried. "I know. That's why I haven't come asking for them for free. Name your terms. Resources, cultivation arts, soul beast materials—anything the Spirit Pagoda can provide is open for discussion."

Zhuo Shi fell silent. He glanced at Tang Wulin, then at Wu Changkong, who was watching him with an earnest gaze. Those eyes plainly said, Teacher, agree to it.

Wu Changkong thought extremely highly of Tang Wulin, so naturally, he did not mind lending him a hand and putting in a good word.

Zhuo Shi felt caught in a difficult position. It was not that he truly could not bear to part with the Red Dragon Nine Forms, and he had a favorable impression of Tang Wulin himself. But the implications were far too complicated.

Tang Wulin was clearly a promising talent carefully nurtured by the Spirit Pagoda, while Zhuo Shi belonged to Shrek Academy. Relations between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy had grown increasingly tense over the years. If he taught his most closely guarded techniques to someone from the Spirit Pagoda, what would that make him?