Tang Wulin sat in the Soul Guidance Vehicle, spending the entire journey planning how to spend those five hundred million.
Five hundred million. Five hundred million!
He could spend his whole life trying and never use it all!
"Kid, what are you thinking about? That grin looks downright sleazy." Leng Yaozhu glanced at him.
"Nothing, nothing." Tang Wulin hurriedly wiped the smile off his face and said solemnly, "Teacher, I was thinking about how hard I should cultivate once we get back so I won't disappoint you."
Leng Yaozhu snorted. "Save it. You think I don't know you? You must be planning how to spend those five hundred million."
Tang Wulin: "..."
Teacher, do you really have to know me that well?
The Soul Guidance Vehicle sped along and soon returned to Shrek City. The moment it stopped, Tang Wulin spotted two familiar figures.
Tang Ziran and Lang Yue stood at the entrance to the Spirit Pagoda Branch, craning their necks in anticipation.
"Dad, Mom!"
As soon as she saw Tang Wulin jump out of the vehicle, Lang Yue's eyes reddened. She rushed over in a few quick strides and swept him into her arms.
"Wulin! Are you all right? Are you hurt? Did they hit you?"
Lang Yue's voice trembled with tears as her hands kept running over him, as though she needed to make sure he was completely unharmed.
Tang Ziran came over too. Although he said nothing, his bloodshot eyes made it clear that he had barely slept over the past two days.
Held in his mother's arms, Tang Wulin felt a surge of guilt. Only then did he realize that he had been so busy scheming against the Federation that he had forgotten his parents would worry.
Having been an orphan in both his lives, Tang Wulin was deeply moved. Though they were not his birth parents, their love was real.
"Mom, I'm fine. Really," he said softly. "Look, I'm perfectly all right."
"Perfectly all right?" Lang Yue released him, her eyes red. "Do you have any idea how your dad and I have spent these past two days? We couldn't eat or sleep, terrified something would happen to you. You're so young, yet you dared to clash head-on with the Federation?"
Tang Wulin lowered his head. "Mom, I'm sorry... I promise it won't happen again."
"Again?" Lang Yue's voice shot up.
"No, no! There definitely won't be a next time!" Tang Wulin waved his hands frantically. "I swear!"
Tang Ziran sighed and patted his shoulder. "Wulin, you've grown up, and you have your own ideas. But remember, you still have us. Whatever happens, we're always behind you."
Tang Wulin nodded, his eyes beginning to sting.
After reassuring his parents, Tang Wulin returned to the Youth Genius Class's quarters. The moment he entered, a crowd gathered around him.
Gu Yue was the first to rush up to him, looking him up and down. "Are you all right? Did they give you any trouble?"
Even the usually composed Gu Yue could not hide her worry. In fact, behind the scenes, she had already been considering contacting Di Tian and the others to rescue Tang Wulin.
She had even had a hand in some of the pressure placed on the Federation...
Na'er squeezed over too, her voice choked with emotion. "Big Brother, you scared me to death! When I heard you'd been arrested, I was worried sick!"
Yuanen Yehui stood to one side. Though she said nothing, the concern in her eyes was impossible to hide. Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi gathered around too, all talking over one another with questions.
Those two had also contacted their families to put pressure on the Federation. The friendships of youth were the purest, untainted by self-interest.
Surrounded by everyone, Tang Wulin felt both warmth and guilt. He scratched his head.
"I'm fine, really. Look, didn't I come back safe and sound?"
"Safe and sound?" Gu Yue glared at him. "Do you know how worried we were? You dared to take on the Federation all by yourself! What if something had happened?"
"Exactly!" Na'er chimed in. "Big Brother, you were too reckless!"
As the two took turns scolding him, sweat began to bead on Tang Wulin's forehead. He suddenly felt that dealing with those Federation people was easier than facing Gu Yue and Na'er's nagging.
Just then, Wu Changkong walked over. He wore his usual icy expression, but there was a trace of concern in his gaze as he looked at Tang Wulin.
"You were indeed a little reckless this time," Wu Changkong said evenly. "Although the outcome was good, you took too many risks along the way. If something like this happens again, tell me first. Don't shoulder it alone."
Tang Wulin nodded repeatedly. "Teacher, I understand. I promise I'll discuss things with you all first from now on."
Wu Changkong gave him a look, then turned and left without another word.
Tang Wulin let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He suddenly realized that he could face those Federation people without so much as a change in expression, yet when faced with the people who cared about him, he found himself unable to hold his ground.
While Tang Wulin was being showered with loud, insistent concern...
Elsewhere, in a secret chamber on the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters...
Qiangu Dongfeng sat at the head of the room. Across from him sat a figure shrouded in a black robe, an eerie aura emanating from him as though he had become one with the surrounding darkness.
"Qiangu Dongfeng," the black-robed man said, his voice laced with mockery and anger.
"Can you give me a reasonable explanation? Isn't your Spirit Pagoda at odds with Shrek Academy? What was the meaning of this? Joining forces to pressure the Federation-you certainly worked beautifully together... What? Are you stabbing our Holy Spirit Cult in the back?"
The black-robed man was none other than one of the Two Emperors of the Holy Spirit Cult.
He was also its leader in the public eye.
The Ghost Emperor!
A rank-99 Four-Word Battle Armor Master, he also possessed fighting strength at the quasi-god level.
Qiangu Dongfeng frowned slightly, his tone betraying a hint of guilt. "Ghost Emperor, don't put it that way. This really was an accident... I never expected things to turn out like this."
"An accident?" The Ghost Emperor sneered. "The Spirit Pagoda's Vice Pagoda Master personally stepped forward, joining Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua to pressure the Federation. And you call that an accident?"
Qiangu Dongfeng sighed. "I truly didn't expect Leng Yaozhu to be so adamant. But Tang Wulin does belong to the Spirit Pagoda, and he's an exceptionally promising talent. If he becomes a Divine Craftsman, or even a Limit Douluo, it would be an immense boon for the Spirit Pagoda. I couldn't just stand by and watch the Federation destroy him."
"Especially if Tang Wulin becomes a Divine Craftsman. Do you know how much that would mean to the Spirit Pagoda?"
Zhen Hua was the only Divine Craftsman on the entire continent. That alone showed how important one was.
The Ghost Emperor and the others actually wore Three-Word Battle Armor. Only through slowly nurturing it themselves and employing secret methods had they made it comparable to Four-Word Battle Armor.
The Ghost Emperor fell silent for a moment before his tone softened somewhat.
"That had better be the case. Still, that child named Tang Wulin is indeed a threat. His talent is far too great. He could force Chen Xinjie back half a step at just eight years old... Hiss."
A dangerous gleam entered the Ghost Emperor's eyes as he spoke.
He had no desire to see another Yun Ming emerge.
Qiangu Dongfeng's gaze sharpened slightly, and his voice sank. "Ghost Emperor, I'm warning you: don't get any ideas about that child. At least for now, Tang Wulin belongs to the Spirit Pagoda. He can be of use to me in the future."
Qiangu Dongfeng still had his head on straight about certain things. His cooperation with the Holy Spirit Cult was merely a matter of mutual exploitation.
Besides, deep down, they looked down on those sewer rats from the Holy Spirit Cult.
The Ghost Emperor did not respond. Instead, he turned to the business at hand. "Enough about that child. I came here to discuss that matter with you... stealing the Federation's God-Slaying Soul Guidance Shells."
Qiangu Dongfeng's expression grew serious. "How is it progressing?"
"We're almost ready." The Ghost Emperor lowered his voice. "But I think we need to move faster. A long night breeds troublesome dreams. And... perhaps we should bring our earlier plan forward too."
"This cooperation between your Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy has already put those people on their guard..."
Qiangu Dongfeng was silent for a moment. "How far forward do you intend to move it?"
"Within five years." A hint of madness crept into the Ghost Emperor's voice. "Within five years, we carry out that plan and bomb Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect!"
Qiangu Dongfeng narrowed his eyes. "Are you certain?"
"Of course I am." The Ghost Emperor chuckled sinisterly. "When the time comes, both the Holy Spirit Cult and the Spirit Pagoda will win. Once Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect are gone, the entire continent will be ours."
Qiangu Dongfeng remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly. "Fine. We'll do as you say."
Within the secret chamber, their laughter intertwined, sinister and eerie.
Far away in Shrek City, Tang Wulin still had no idea that a conspiracy targeting him and Shrek Academy was quietly brewing.
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