"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head sharply, his tone utterly certain and brimming with confidence.
He could believe that anyone under heaven had met with disaster, but Tang San's father was the one person who could never come to harm.
Tang San did not know, but Yu Xiaogang understood better than anyone.
His father was the renowned Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!
He had once been one of the Soul Master World's two most dazzling stars, and was the youngest Titled Douluo in the continent's entire history!
How could such a supreme expert, with vast experience and overwhelming strength, come to harm so easily? It made no sense whatsoever.
Tang San stared at Yu Xiaogang, suspicion filling his eyes.
His teacher's air of absolute confidence clearly meant he knew something, rather than simply trying to comfort him.
"Teacher, do you know something about my father?"
He pressed the question in a low voice.
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted slightly. He waved a hand gently and said evenly, "It isn't time for you to know yet. Don't let your imagination run wild. Just put your mind at ease."
Seeing that his teacher would say no more, Tang San suppressed his doubts and nodded.
He also understood that, since his teacher was unwilling to tell him, he must have his reasons. All Tang San needed to do was listen.
"I understand, Teacher. But I'm afraid we can't stay at Nuoding Academy anymore either. Where should we go next?"
"To Shrek Academy."
"Shrek?"
"Yes."
Yu Xiaogang nodded gently, his gaze drifting as a trace of complicated emotion flickered in his eyes.
As those words fell, memories of the past flooded his heart.
He could not help recalling the days many years ago when he, Flender, and Liu Erlong had formed the Golden Iron Triangle and traveled the Douluo Continent together.
Back then, they had been full of spirit, roaming far and wide together, adventuring from place to place and taking in the continent's mountains and rivers. Those had been glorious days, and their golden trio had enjoyed some renown throughout the Soul Master World.
But time had hurried on. The places remained, while the people had long since changed.
Coming back to himself, Yu Xiaogang tucked away the wistfulness in his eyes and looked at Tang San, his expression returning to calm.
"Shrek Academy was founded by an old friend of mine. Its rules are also extremely unusual. They would rather leave places empty than accept anyone unworthy. They only take monsters."
At those words, surprise immediately appeared in Tang San's eyes.
They only took monsters?
This was the first time he had ever heard of such strange admission rules.
Before Tang San could dwell on it, Yu Xiaogang continued, revealing what truly gave Shrek its confidence.
"Besides that, Shrek's teaching staff is far more formidable than those of some famous advanced academies."
"The academy has no fewer than three resident Soul Saints, as well as a Soul Emperor with a formidable foundation overseeing it!"
Tang San's heart gave a slight jolt, and intense astonishment instantly flooded his eyes.
Shrek Academy actually had three Soul Saints, plus a Soul Emperor!
That sounded like a first-rate institution! He had never imagined his teacher had connections like these.
At that moment, when Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang beside him again, the respect in his eyes deepened considerably.
"However, I have one request."
Yu Xiaogang gazed steadily at Tang San and said seriously, "When you go to Shrek, I want you to bring Chen Yang and Xiao Wu along as well."
Tang San froze briefly and asked instinctively, "Teacher, bring them along?"
"That's right."
Yu Xiaogang nodded, his gaze profound, and laid out his entire plan.
"Chen Yang's talents are strange and unusual. His tricks seem endless, and he has an absurd number of hidden cards. Xiao Wu's innate gifts are excellent as well. Both are outstanding prospects to nurture."
"You've spent every day with them, so you already have something of a relationship. Once you're at Shrek, maintain those ties carefully and sincerely befriend them."
"As long as your relationship is solid enough, you'll be able to get your hands on their method for rapidly raising their soul power levels with ease."
At this point, Yu Xiaogang's voice grew even more confident, and he gave Tang San's shoulder a meaningful pat.
"More importantly, both are exceptional fighters. Whatever the future holds, they will become your most reliable and capable helpers, providing tremendous support on your path of growth."
In an instant, a flash of undisguised greed swept through Tang San's eyes.
He had witnessed Xiao Wu's bizarre rate of advancement firsthand. If he could truly get his hands on her method for rapidly increasing soul power...
Then his strength would advance a thousand miles a day, leaving everyone of his generation far behind. Step by step, he would reach the very summit of the continent's Soul Masters and become a truly supreme expert!
Moreover, Chen Yang and Xiao Wu did indeed possess outstanding talent, placing them among the very best of their entire generation.
Although they still fell a little short of the extraordinary potential afforded by his uniquely blessed twin martial souls and innate full soul power, they were more than sufficient to serve as his subordinates.
With that thought, Tang San had settled on a plan.
He would use this opportunity to go to Shrek Academy to draw the two firmly to his side and bring them under his command.
When the time was ripe, he could use that strength to put down roots on this continent and let the Tang Sect truly flourish throughout the Douluo Continent!
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"
Tang San agreed in a low voice, his eyes resolute. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately turned and hurried into the chaotic crowd.
At the same time, Tang San quietly activated Purple Demon Eye.
His gaze pierced the dense crowd around him as he swiftly searched for Chen Yang and Xiao Wu.
After searching all around, he finally found the two at the edge of the crowd.
"Chen Yang, Xiao Wu, I finally found you."
Chen Yang was a little surprised. Why was this brat looking for us instead of taking care of his teacher with the broken leg?
Was he plotting something crooked again?
Tang San was about to speak when he remembered that these two could not stand his teacher, so he promptly changed what he was going to say.
"I found an excellent school called Shrek Academy. Its teachers include three Soul Saints and a Soul Emperor, so I wanted to invite you to go with me."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu instantly narrowed her large, bright eyes. She looked Tang San up and down, suspicion written all over her face.
Someone offering favors unasked was either a schemer or a thief.
"Since when were you that kindhearted?"
The corner of Tang San's mouth twitched. Unwilling to argue with a little girl, he immediately averted his eyes from Xiao Wu and turned toward the silent Chen Yang beside her, putting on a sincere expression.
"Chen Yang, you know what kind of person I am.
I've never been someone with ulterior motives. This time, I sincerely want to take you both to Shrek with me. I genuinely want to get to know you and be your friend."
His tone was earnest and his manner open, as though he had not been the one doing all that scheming earlier.
The moment he finished speaking, Chen Yang shook his head like a rattle drum.
"I don't believe you."
He reached out and gently took Xiao Wu's wrist, stepping back slightly to put some distance between them and Tang San.
Tang San was full of dirty tricks. This invitation to Shrek Academy was probably Yu Xiaogang's idea too.
How could that school be any good? From the teachers down to the students, every last one of them was abnormal.
Even if he went, it wouldn't be now. He would have to wait until Little Kitty and Ning Rongrong's intake.
Then he would lure those two away and make a run for it, without getting too deeply involved with Shrek.
Before you continue