"Wow, that Tang San kid really has some moves."
Not far away, Zhao Wuji, who was on night watch, snickered. Beside him, Flender, who had joined him in peeking out of concern for Lin Like, stroked his beard.
"The waves behind drive on the waves ahead. The younger generation is truly formidable, truly formidable."
And so Tang San spent the entire night talking about mechanism craft with Lin Like.
Once their conversation gathered steam, they even got to work and made a device together.
It was a massive crossbow, unlike the more portable, concealable ones Tang San remembered.
Silver-white from end to end, it had a sleek, minimalist design.
Calling it a crossbow was not quite right, either, because its primary power came not from an external bowstring, but from its internal mechanisms.
Beyond that, its most groundbreaking feature was that it could fire not only ordinary crossbow bolts, but also Soul Power Cannon blasts.
As Lin Like gazed at their masterpiece with satisfaction and excitement, she suddenly came to her senses.
I seem to have done something pretty incredible...
"Not only can it fire Soul Power Cannon blasts, it can also infuse the bolts with soul power to increase their force."
"And it can fire repeatedly. What exquisite workmanship!"
Tang San looked excitedly at the masterpiece he and Lin Like had created.
Seeing his expression and recalling her father's icy attitude toward her creations, Lin Like felt the scales in her heart shift.
To hell with him! Besides, only Tang San and I could accomplish this together.
But then she remembered what Brother Xu had said: avoid letting outsiders come into contact with soul tool technology as much as possible.
"Tang San, um..."
"But is this really all right? Using both our technologies for something so violent?"
Tang San's expression suddenly grew hesitant.
The worry in his voice made Lin Like, who had been about to ask him to keep the crossbow secret, ask in concern instead.
"What's wrong?"
"Weapons can hurt people, but they can also protect them, so I'm not against developing them."
"After all, the world is so vast. Perhaps people from another world will invade the Douluo Continent someday. Developing weapons is necessary."
"But I still hope we can coexist peacefully. Perhaps the conflict between the two sides hasn't reached the point where reconciliation is impossible."
"But that isn't something you and I can decide."
Lin Like did not dare look Tang San in the eye. Deep down, she vaguely sensed that he already knew her true identity.
Neither of them spoke it aloud, however, maintaining a tacit understanding.
At that moment, Lin Like no longer seemed quite so adorably absentminded as before.
In front of Tang San, perhaps she could briefly reveal the heaviness and hesitation in her heart.
Her days in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had truly been happy. She had made a good friend in Ning Rongrong and met Tang San, a genius with whom she could find common ground.
But Brother Xu had told her not to develop unnecessary attachments to these people from the Douluo Continent. Sooner or later, they would be enemies.
She also hoped to accomplish something worthy of merit so she could return to the Sun Moon Continent, pay her respects to her late mother, and see her father.
"You're right. There's no use worrying about this now. Let nature take its course."
Tang San smiled faintly. He had seen where Lin Like stood, and that was enough.
All the signs suggested that Lin Like was a spy from another world, a concept Tang San was very familiar with.
Had Tang San been the one arranging it, he would probably have added brainwashing and hypnosis, allowing the spy to act freely before restoring their memories when needed and catching the enemy off guard.
"Let's give this crossbow a name, then hide it away properly. It isn't time for it to see the light of day yet."
Although they had only recently met, the mutual appreciation between kindred spirits had quickly built a bridge between them.
Thus, Tang San did not press Lin Like any further, and the two left it at that unspoken understanding.
"Let's call it... Shatter the Mortal World." Lin Like named her creation after her father to remind herself of her mission.
"A good name." Tang San stored Shatter the Mortal World inside his Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night.
Cock-a-doodle-doo~!!
"Ah! It's morning already."
Only when a rooster crowed did Tang San and Lin Like belatedly realize they had gone the whole night without sleep.
When the two arrived at the meeting place, they were greeted by meaningful looks from everyone.
Oblivious to what those looks meant, Tang San and Lin Like joined the group, standing beside the people they knew well.
"Not bad, Third Brother. You've already hooked up with her." Dai Mubai grinned wickedly and slung an arm around Tang San's neck.
"I bow before the speed with which you make your move~" Oscar lecherously nudged Tang San's waist with his elbow.
"Third Brother, you've finally grown up." Ma Hongjun nodded approvingly.
"Yes, I've made further progress with my Asura Demon Heart Art. You can all look forward to it."
Tang San understood what these sleazy fellows were thinking. He was not angry and merely spoke calmly.
The three instantly stopped grinning.
"Nothing of the sort. My brother Tang San has always been as pure as ice and jade."
"Exactly, exactly. That girl with glasses must have seduced him first."
"Third Brother, you know me. I've always trusted you. You're definitely not the sort to lose your head over a pretty face."
Things were much the same on the girls' side.
"Little Li Ke, that hypocrite didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"Huh? I only spent the night with Tang San in his workshop."
Li Ke waved her hands, looking a little flustered. She could not tell them that she and Tang San had made a soul tool.
Even though Ning Rongrong knew she could make them, she still could not say it, lest she invite more trouble.
But upon hearing that, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked at Tang San with wariness and disbelief.
They had never expected Tang San, who seemed the most honest of the lot, to be such a predator.
Ning Rongrong even wanted to march over and confront him, despite the lingering ache in her head.
"Please don't misunderstand, everyone. I really was only discussing forging with Li Ke."
Tang San knew explaining would be useless, but he still argued his case. An upright body need not fear a crooked shadow, but tarnishing her reputation would be another matter.
"Exactly, exactly! Nothing happened. Don't worry, Rongrong. We really were just talking."
Li Ke caught on as well. Blushing scarlet, she hurriedly shook her head to affirm her innocence.
"Ahem! Enough! Put those lovesick hormones away!"
Just then, Flender barked at them, bringing their horseplay to an end.
"From now on, the seven of you will be a team, so you must learn to get along."
"To hone your relationships, your first lesson will be a group trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for soul rings!"
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing and the others felt that Shrek Academy's curriculum was truly haphazard.
"Awesome! I can finally get my third soul ring!"
Ma Hongjun jumped for joy at the news. He had been holding back for a whole year.
Oscar was equally happy, but with Ning Rongrong present, he feared exposing his true martial soul.
Dai Mubai was just as excited. He was about to become a Soul Ancestor.
Even Tang San could not help looking forward to it.
Zhu Zhuqing and the other girls were curious about what Ma Hongjun had meant. After Tang San explained, their expressions turned rather strange.
To think they had reached a bottleneck yet were in no hurry to absorb soul rings. Their teacher really was an eccentric.
They did not dare look down on the practice, though. After all, everyone had seen Ma Hongjun's strength with their own eyes.
Soon, everyone went back to pack their essentials. After eating lunch at noon, they set off together for the Star Dou Great Forest.
All of Shrek Academy's teachers went along as well. There was nothing valuable at the academy anyway.
The Grandmaster did not accompany them. He said Tang San was fully capable of identifying and choosing soul beasts for everyone in his place.
The Grandmaster had other matters to attend to, matters concerning the lessons to come.
Before you continue