Suotuo City

July, 2643 of the Douluo Calendar.

On a street in Suotuo City, a young man in a Gray-White Robe walked along, surveying everything around him. He stood about 1.75 meters tall, with finely handsome features and a heroic air about his brow. This young man was naturally Tang Xuan. As for why he had appeared in Suotuo City alone, the story began three months earlier.

Three months earlier, Tang San had broken through to rank 30, and Tang Xuan had taken him to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his third soul ring. Afterward, Tang Xuan had not returned to Nuoding City, instead heading straight for Suotuo City. He and Tang San had agreed to meet at Shrek Academy there. Tang Xuan had stopped here and there along the way, so it had taken him over two months to arrive. He had already been staying in the city for some time.

Suotuo City certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the Balak Kingdom's two major cities. It's far larger than Nuoding City! Tang Xuan thought as he looked around.

Tang Xuan stopped in front of a shop. Its wares were a jumble of odds and ends, with no organized arrangement, and few could be considered valuable. Inside, a middle-aged man reclined in a lounge chair, resting with his eyes closed. Looks like Flender's doing pretty well, Tang Xuan thought.

"Excuse me, where is Shrek Academy?" Tang Xuan asked clearly as he entered the shop. At the words "Shrek Academy," Flender immediately opened his eyes.

"What do you want with Shrek Academy... Little Xuan!" Flender stopped halfway through his question. Looking up, he realized that the person before him was Tang Xuan and immediately rose from his chair.

Tang Xuan stepped forward with a smile. "Yes, it's me. Dean Flender, long time no see! Have you been well?"

"Well? I've been doing wonderfully! And seeing you here makes things even better!" Flender said happily.

"Little Xuan, what brings you here this time?" Flender then asked. Seeing the anticipation in his eyes, Tang Xuan could not help inwardly grumbling, You old fox, as if you don't know why I'm here! Still playing dumb with me.

"Of course I'm here to apply to your Shrek Academy. I promised you I would," Tang Xuan said with another smile.

"Good, good, good! Wonderful!" Hearing the answer he wanted, Flender broke into a delighted grin. With Tang Xuan's talent, he was truly a monster among monsters. Having such a gifted student join Shrek was an enormous cause for celebration!

"Oh, what about Little San? Where is he?" Flender asked, remembering Tang San.

"Little San will be coming in a few days too, Dean Flender. You don't need to worry," Tang Xuan said. Hearing that, Flender relaxed.

"Dean Flender, I came today because I'd like to discuss a deal with you," Tang Xuan continued.

"What kind of deal?" Flender asked.

"Take a look at this first." Rather than answer, Tang Xuan handed him a token. Flender took it and was startled when he looked at it. "This is a token from the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild! And a special Gold Token at that!" His astonishment was only natural. The Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild had blazed into existence like a star appearing out of nowhere. In just a few short years, it had taken the leading position in the Heaven Dou Empire's commerce, and even the Heaven Dou Imperial Family wanted to win its favor. Its business network had reportedly already spread into the Star Luo Empire; its influence was formidable indeed. Even little Suotuo City had businesses belonging to the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild. Flender had seen its members carrying tokens-wooden tokens, Iron Tokens, and Silver Tokens. This was his first time seeing a Gold Token, but there was no mistaking that it belonged to the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild. Flender stared at it, lost in thought.

"Dean Flender, I can invest in Shrek Academy on behalf of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild and help keep it running, but Shrek would have to be affiliated with the guild." Tang Xuan's words snapped Flender out of his thoughts.

"No! Shrek Academy will never attach itself to any power or submit to anyone's control. Otherwise, I would have joined the Heaven Dou Empire or Spirit Hall long ago," Flender said firmly, his words cutting like iron. This was also why he had refused funding from the Balak Kingdom.

"Dean Flender, don't be so quick to refuse. Although Shrek Academy would nominally belong to the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild, you would still manage it, while the guild would provide funding." Flender knew perfectly well that Shrek Academy would flourish with the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild's financial support.

Seeing Flender's conflicted expression, Tang Xuan continued, "Dean Flender, as president of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild, I can guarantee that the guild won't interfere with Shrek Academy's management, teaching, or any related affairs. A nominal affiliation is all we need." Tang Xuan revealed his identity outright, demonstrating his sincerity.

Hearing Tang Xuan's words, Flender knew this was a deal with everything to gain and nothing to lose. He nodded, beginning to accept the proposal. Then his eyes suddenly widened, and he asked in disbelief, "Little Xuan, what did you say? You're the president of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild!"

"Yes, I'm the president of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild," Tang Xuan readily admitted again. After all, being rich was hardly anything to be ashamed of!

Flender stared blankly at Tang Xuan, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. With the wealth the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild possessed, whoever controlled it could stir up the situation across the entire continent. Its elusive president, a dragon whose tail could be glimpsed but whose head remained unseen, was still known to very few, yet all the major powers wanted to cultivate ties with him. And now he was standing right in front of Flender. It was so surreal that Flender wondered whether he was dreaming.

Seeing Flender's astonishment, Tang Xuan chuckled. "Dean Flender, you aren't seeing things. The president of the Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild is standing right in front of you. What you're holding is the guild's highest token, the President's Token."

It took Flender quite a while to recover, but he finally composed himself.

"Uh, well, Little Xuan! I agree to the investment. You're someone I can trust." Seeing Tang Xuan's wholehearted sincerity, Flender agreed to the arrangement and returned the token to him.

"But Little Xuan, how much are you planning to invest?" Flender asked greedily. Tang Xuan's reaction was, Dean Flender, where's that backbone you had earlier? Did a dog eat it?

"Let's start with one million gold coins." Tang Xuan took out a card and placed it before Flender. As Flender accepted it, Tang Xuan set a sheet of paper in front of him as well. Wearing a harmless smile, he said, "Without rules, you can't draw a proper square or circle. Dean, we still need to sign a contract." Flender took it, glanced over its contents, and hastily signed his name.

"Dean Flender, you really should read the contents carefully first," Tang Xuan reminded him. Hearing this, Flender looked through the contract again.

Hmm, just as the boy said. No interference with academy management or teaching. The academy handles all its own affairs, and the guild provides educational funding... "What! A ten-million-gold-coin penalty for breach of contract!" Flender shouted upon reaching the final line of "fine print." He glanced at Tang Xuan, who stood calmly beside him. Tang Xuan even looked up and smiled at him. "A profiteer! A profiteer through and through!" Flender said through gritted teeth.

"Likewise, likewise," Tang Xuan replied lightly. Seeing Flender's gloomy expression, he stepped forward to reassure him. "Dean, it's just a contract! A contract is dead, but people are alive. As long as you don't break it, you won't have to pay ten million! And right now, you have one million gold coins in your hands!" Flender stroked the card, working out his own rosy calculations. Who the hell knows whether I'll ever have to pay that ten million? Right now, I've got a solid million in my hands, and that boy Tang Xuan has plenty more money! As he indulged in his imaginings, a smile spread across his pointed face-a thoroughly sleazy smile. Watching him lapse into that bizarre state, Tang Xuan spoke up. "Uh, Dean, please mind your image." He could scare children into tears.

"Ahem." Flender reined in his smug delight.

"Little Xuan, now that we've finished discussing business, let's talk about personal matters. Is your teacher doing well?" Flender asked. After not seeing him for years, he really did miss him!

"He's doing very well. After spending these past few years recuperating, he had already broken through to rank 40 by the time I left," Tang Xuan said.

"Xiaogang broke through to rank 40? Wonderful! That should loosen quite a few of the knots in his heart!" Flender was genuinely happy about his good brother's breakthrough. Xiaogang's martial soul carried the bloodline of the Golden Sacred Dragon and should have been even stronger than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Yet heaven had played an enormous joke on him: his innate soul power was only half a rank, causing his martial soul mutation to fail and leaving him unable to break through rank 30 for his entire life. His father's disappointment and his clansmen's cold shoulders had become lifelong wounds, affecting even his love life. But now, at last, the bitterness had given way to sweetness. Taking Tang Xuan as his disciple could be considered heaven's compensation. Perhaps he and Erlong might finally... Ah, let nature take its course! A forlorn look suddenly appeared on Flender's face.

"Little Xuan, did you know? After practicing the Soul Core Condensation Method you gave me, I've reached the peak of rank 79. I believe I'll break through to rank 80 before long. I really must thank you! You've not only brought Xiaogang hope, but helped me tremendously as well." Tang Xuan had noticed the shifts in Flender's expression. Although he did not know what Flender was thinking, he could tell that the change of subject was forced. They had just been discussing his teacher, and now Flender had abruptly turned the conversation toward himself.

"Dean, there's no need for that," Tang Xuan said. Afterward, the two fell silent again, and an oddly still atmosphere settled over them. Flender clearly had a great deal on his mind, and his words and behavior were extremely unnatural. Tang Xuan was not particularly talkative himself, and he and Flender did not have much common ground for conversation anyway. Remaining there like this made him deeply uncomfortable.

Tang Xuan was the first to take his leave. "Dean Flender, I have something to attend to, so I'll be going now." The awkward atmosphere was unbearable!

"All right, Little Xuan. Go take care of your business. The academy is south of the city. Enrollment begins in five days," Flender said.