Yu Xiaogang also boarded a carriage bound for Suotuo City. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Tang San, whom he longed to see, would be there too.
Two days passed.
Suotuo City.
"We're finally here! Third Brother, Teacher, shall we find somewhere to stay and rest for a while?"
The moment she stepped off the carriage, Xiao Wu began looking around, hoping to find a hotel where they could rest their feet.
Tang San instinctively looked at Li Changsheng, only to see him resting one hand against his chin, deep in thought.
"Teacher, what are you thinking about?"
"Little San, Xiao Wu, we won't look for a hotel yet. There's somewhere I need to go. Follow me!"
Li Changsheng offered no explanation. After calling to the two of them, he headed off in a certain direction.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance. They were both a little puzzled, but they obediently followed Li Changsheng.
With the template, Li Changsheng subconsciously knew where Flender's little shop was.
At last, Li Changsheng spotted a shop selling assorted odds and ends in an inconspicuous spot. Judging by its decor and appearance, this was undoubtedly Flender's shop.
Jingle!
As the door opened, the shop bell rang.
The space inside was small, but filled with all kinds of bottles and jars, with an assortment of oddly shaped objects piled together haphazardly.
"Is this place selling junk?"
Xiao Wu whispered her complaint to Tang San.
"Look around. If something catches your eye, just pay for it."
Just then, a lazy voice drifted over. A middle-aged man sat at the very back, leaning against his chair with his back to Li Changsheng and the other two.
Looks like it's just as I thought!
The sight immediately put Li Changsheng at ease. The regional template conversion rewarded by the system had already taken effect.
The man's tone, however, made Tang San and Xiao Wu frown in unison.
What a rude man!
They say the customer is God, so why did this fellow act as though they were begging to buy something?
"Hey, you..."
"Flender, after all these years, you haven't changed a bit!"
Before Xiao Wu could say anything more, Li Changsheng spoke, his tone full of nostalgia for an old friend.
The instant those words reached Flender's ears, he sat bolt upright. Turning his head, he saw Li Changsheng smiling at him.
"You're...!"
Medium-length white hair, a face as handsome and melancholic as ever, and that familiar combination of white, blue, and gray clothing-once he got a clear look at the visitor, Flender grew excited.
His back no longer ached, his legs no longer hurt, and he stood up, eager to give Li Changsheng a hug.
"Changsheng!? Where have you been all these years?"
"Hahaha, I've been doing well. I took in two disciples, and now I've come to seek shelter with you!"
After they let go, Li Changsheng finally took a good look at Flender.
He wore a gray cloth robe, his thick black curls and long beard hanging loose and untended. A pair of thin, black, square-framed glasses rested on his nose, their lenses gleaming faintly in the dim yellow light.
The comic version of Flender gave the impression of a mercenary merchant, but that quality vanished without a trace upon seeing Li Changsheng. His eyes were filled with nostalgia for his old friend.
"Students?"
Flender looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu behind Li Changsheng. When he spotted the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at Tang San's waist, he understood at once.
"My good brother, you really put your heart into this! You even gave him that belt!"
"Haha, what's the big deal? This disciple of mine is gifted and clever, worthy of it. As his teacher, why wouldn't I be happy to do so?"
Listening to the two elders talk, Tang San instinctively looked down at his waist, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.
This belt was actually Teacher's most treasured possession?
Teacher, you really...!
Another wave of emotion swept through Tang San. He had never known that this belt was something his teacher cherished!
"By the way, Flender, how has your academy been doing lately?"
"Oh, that? I founded Shrek Academy! And its entire teaching philosophy is based on your theories! What do you think? Interested in helping this old friend of yours out again?"
At the mention of Shrek Academy, Flender's face filled with excitement. He planted a large hand on Li Changsheng's shoulder, his voice full of feeling.
Li Changsheng smiled faintly and said gently, "Of course. And both of these disciples of mine are geniuses!"
"Little San, Xiao Wu, show Dean Flender your talents!"
At his words, the Soul Power within Tang San and Xiao Wu surged.
Boom!
With a flash of blue light, Tang San raised one hand. Blue Silver Grass immediately appeared around him, strands drifting in the air like willow fluff.
At the same time, translucent ice-blue Blue Silver Avatar Armor, patterned with vines, flowers, and leaves, slowly emerged over Tang San's arm. Faint light flowed across it, and strands of Blue Silver Grass drifted from his fingertips.
Three Soul Rings-yellow, purple, and purple-spiraled up beneath his feet.
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level thirty-four Control System Tool Soul Elder!"
Beside him, Xiao Wu refused to be outdone. Pink mist blossomed around her, and snow-white, plush-textured Soft Bone Rabbit Avatar Armor covered her shoulders, arms, and limbs. Long pink-and-white rabbit ears stood erect, while her rabbit tail swayed gently.
Three Soul Rings-yellow, yellow, and purple-likewise spiraled up beneath her feet.
"Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit. Level thirty-two Power Attack System Beast Soul Elder!"
"Hiss! Truly incredible!"
Looking at Tang San's and Xiao Wu's Soul Ring Configurations, Flender involuntarily exclaimed in amazement. Tang San's in particular-his Second Soul Ring was actually a thousand-year one!
"And this martial soul avatar armor is excellent too. I can tell its evolution went very smoothly."
Martial soul avatar armor was also something from the comic version. With their comic templates, Tang San and Xiao Wu had naturally developed this ability as well.
This also meant that all the Shrek teachers and students within the region subjected to template conversion possessed this ability.
Martial soul avatar armor was not armor created by Martial Soul Avatar, but an entirely new concept: during Martial Soul Possession, Soul Power condensed into partial armor, slightly improving the defense of the limbs and displaying the Martial Soul's form more visibly.
Likewise, the more Soul Rings one had, the greater the area covered by the armor.
This ability only appeared after one's Soul Power Level reached twenty.
"Changsheng, your eye for people is as sharp as ever! These two children are absolute little monsters!"
Flender's eyes shone. They had only just graduated from a Junior Soul Master Academy, and these two children were actually only eleven or twelve!?
Mubai was only level thirty-seven himself!
"My good brother, as long as you come, I can make you the dean of Shrek Academy!!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Flender immediately wanted to hand Shrek Academy over to Li Changsheng. His words left both Tang San and Xiao Wu thunderstruck.
Now that was a true brother!
Whose brother skipped gifts of cigarettes and tea and offered an academy right off the bat?
"No, no, no! You really do wear your heart on your sleeve. Forget about giving me the academy. My philosophy is simple: let the students have a better future!"