Tang Wulin carried the box of hot food back to his room in sorrow, sat on his bed, and remained silent for a long, long time.
Gu Yue must have left because I'm too weak. If... if we were both strong, we could have gone to Shrek together.
Thinking this, Tang Wulin couldn't help clenching his fists.
Tang Wulin had once harbored hazy romantic fantasies about an older female student at Eastsea Academy, but he had soon moved on from those fantasies.
During these days of special training with Teacher Wu Changkong, Tang Wulin had gradually developed a sense of closeness and affection toward Gu Yue.
Yet judging by tonight's sudden turn of events, these feelings seemed destined to end up just like his feelings for that older student: a secret crush buried in his heart before he ever had the chance to speak of it.
Old Tang was right. I can't get smug just because I became the class president of Class Zero at Eastsea Academy. I have to get stronger, and I have to do it faster!
Tang Wulin had known from the beginning that he was still a long way from being a true genius.
After all, ever since he had enrolled, other students and teachers had mocked and looked down on him because his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass.
He had also been working hard all along.
Now that Class Zero had been established, Tang Wulin felt that even if he wasn't a genius, he shouldn't be too far behind the truly outstanding prodigies.
But after watching Li Zha and Na'er's battle against Youbiao today,
he had immediately realized just how vast the gulf between him and the greatest prodigies really was.
At that thought, Tang Wulin closed his eyes and entered his Sea of Consciousness. He wanted to find Old Tang.
"Old Tang, is there any way I can absorb and integrate the Golden Dragon King's power faster? I want to get stronger!"
Tang San's voice rang out within the Sea of Consciousness.
"There's no need. You won't need to keep gathering materials to undo the Golden Dragon King's seals anymore, because that opportunity is already gone."
"What are you saying, Old Tang? What happened?"
As Tang Wulin spoke, he sensed the power within his body and immediately discovered that the Golden Dragon King's power seemed to be gone.
Even the power from the first seal, which he had already absorbed and integrated, had vanished.
Within the Sea of Consciousness, Tang San's phantom sighed.
"That Li Zha took your Golden Dragon King's power."
"Huh?!"
Tang Wulin shot to his feet, utterly astonished.
"Old Tang, wait, how could he even take my Golden Dragon King away? What am I supposed to do?"
"There's nothing we can do. We'll have to see whether there's a chance to get it back later. Don't panic over this, and don't let it show. I'm worried he might harm you."
Tang Wulin scratched his head after hearing that.
"Surely not, Old Tang. I think Brother Li Zha is a really decent guy.
"He's powerful, he hates evil with a vengeance, and his personality really suits me.
"If he took the Golden Dragon King's power, it must be because he thought it could harm me somehow.
"After all, he's already so strong. Surely he wouldn't covet something like this."
Tang San's phantom froze.
Why did Tang San feel as though his son were a landlord's idiot boy, still grinning foolishly after someone had taken his belongings?
"It's fine. If it's gone, it's gone. I still have Blue Silver Grass. From now on, I'll work hard. I'll strive to get into Shrek Academy and become the greatest genius Soul Master on the continent!"
Tang San was speechless.
"Starting right now, I'm going to teach you what it means to never let down your guard against others.
"Getting into Shrek Academy should indeed be your goal,
"but this incident should also teach you to be wary of Li Zha. He'll become your greatest enemy in the future."
"Well..."
Tang Wulin's reaction became even more dramatic.
"Then that's a real honor! To think a genius like that could become my greatest enemy. Old Tang, you really think too highly of me."
Tang San sighed.
It was a shame he wasn't there beside his son. Otherwise, how could Tang Wulin, the son of a god, possibly have ended up in this situation?
"All right, Old Tang. I appreciate your concern. I'll work hard to get stronger. There's no way I'll give up on myself."
Tang Wulin clenched his fists and summoned his Blue Silver Grass. Just then, he suddenly noticed something wasn't right.
"Huh? Why does my Blue Silver Grass seem a little different?"
Tang Wulin examined the Blue Silver Grass in his palm. Besides the golden line that had originally appeared on its blue leaves after he absorbed the Golden Dragon King's power, there was now a striking, vivid red line.
"Holy crap, Old Tang, what's going on? I feel like my Blue Silver Grass not only has the Golden Dragon King's toughness, but also an explosive fire-attribute power!"
Within the Sea of Consciousness, Tang San was startled as well.
Tang San examined it carefully.
Soon, he began to understand.
"So that's it. When Li Zha drew the Golden Dragon King's power out of your body, the power he left behind must have affected your Blue Silver Grass, causing it to evolve a second time-and in a beneficial direction!"
Tang Wulin scratched his head and said, "See, Old Tang? I told you Brother Li Zha wasn't as bad as you thought. He must have done it for my own good."
Tang Wulin manipulated the Blue Silver Grass in his hand and discovered that it was indeed just as Old Tang had said.
Blue Silver Grass grew out of his palm. Its original toughness remained, but with a shift of his thoughts, it could actually trigger explosions!
Tang Wulin clenched his fist in excitement. "Great! Now Blue Silver Grass has some serious offensive power too!"
Tang Wulin immediately felt much better. He picked up the boxed meal Gu Yue hadn't eaten, quickly polished it off, and then went to bed for a blissful night's sleep.
Early the next morning, after briefly saying goodbye to Li Zha, Na'er, and Gu Yue, Tang Wulin immediately dragged Xie Xie away and left the Spirit Pagoda.
Tang Wulin had made up his mind. He had to seize every moment to get stronger. He hoped that the next time he stood before Gu Yue, he would be able to tell her of the love hidden deep in his heart.
Not long after Tang Wulin left, Leng Yaozhu appeared before Li Zha and the two girls, dressed in an all-white casual outfit.
"According to the latest information, Eastsea City's Spirit Ascension Platform is about to enter its uprising period."
"Gu Yue, although your family recommended you to me, and your talent is indeed exceptional,
"you should also understand that there's still a considerable gap between you and Li Zha and Na'er. So I intend to use this uprising period as your assessment for joining the Spirit Pagoda."
Leng Yaozhu looked at Gu Yue, her gaze appraising as she spoke.
Na'er immediately protested when she heard that. "Jailbird Yue? Are you sick in the head? Why are you tagging along with me and my senior brother?"
Gu Yue merely nodded without looking at Na'er.
Unable to do anything about that, Na'er turned to Leng Yaozhu. "Teacher, what are you doing? Come on!"
"Gu Yue is such a weakling! Why would you take her as your student?!"
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