After Xu Zhengyang left, Bei Bei, who had been gentle and genial, grew utterly serious.
Tang Ya looked puzzled. "Bei Bei, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly get so serious?"
Bei Bei shook his head. "That man was no ordinary person. I think his strength is no less than mine. I even felt that the Soul Power within him was extremely savage, like a wild beast. Even my Martial Soul grew a little restless."
Tang Ya's expression changed in shock. "That's impossible, Bei Bei. Your Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. What Martial Soul in this world could make the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon restless?"
Bei Bei sighed. "That I don't know. I just felt that he carried a heavy killing aura, as though he'd undergone extremely harsh training. Especially when he walked out just now, I felt even more strongly that something was off."
Tang Ya recalled what had happened, looking thoughtful. "There was nothing unusual about his movements when he left. They were even very smooth. Could he be a strength-type Soul Master?"
Bei Bei couldn't help tapping Tang Ya on the head. "Didn't you notice? Every step he took looked very smooth, but each one was heavy. The ground seemed to bear much more pressure than it would from an ordinary person. Judging by his build, he weighs no more than seventy-five kilograms. That weight wouldn't put that much pressure on the ground when he stepped on it."
Tang Ya understood at once. "You mean he's carrying very heavy weights? Doesn't that mean he's an exceptionally powerful strength-type Soul Master?"
Bei Bei nodded. "In terms of strength, I think he's definitely no weaker than me. But I've searched all my memories, and I don't seem to have ever seen him among Shrek Academy's new students. He probably isn't one of our Shrek students. And judging by his face, I can't tell his exact age. He feels older than me."
Tang Ya looked thoughtful. "Then, according to you, that man is quite strong and has excellent practical combat experience, but unfortunately didn't join our Shrek Academy for some reason."
"But that doesn't add up either. His clothes were plain and simple, but he didn't look short of money at all. Someone like that must have some backing. Getting a recommendation letter to enter Shrek Academy shouldn't be that difficult for him, should it?"
Bei Bei smiled instead. "Xiao Ya, what is it you've always been pursuing?"
Tang Ya lost her earlier childishness and grew serious instead. "My goal is, of course, to revitalize the Tang Sect, and to become a true expert. But what does that have to do with that strange man?"
Bei Bei said, "Xiao Ya, you should know that revitalizing the Tang Sect is impossible with just the two of us. We'll only have a chance if we have enough talented people. Isn't that man exactly the sort of talent we need?"
"I could even faintly sense the scent of iron filings on him. His bronze skin, in particular, should be the result of prolonged exposure to a smithing fire. He's probably a blacksmith as well, one highly proficient in forging."
Tang Ya was instantly overjoyed. "Really? If he's truly that sort of talent, then we can absolutely recruit him into the Tang Sect."
After leaving the restaurant, Xu Zhengyang did not return to his hotel. Instead, he headed straight out of the city, intending to leave Shrek City directly.
As he stepped out of Shrek City, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help looking back at the towering city. It housed Shrek Academy, revered above all by everyone on the continent, and was also the true heart of the entire Douluo Continent, one of its most powerful places.
"I'll come to Shrek Academy again. When that time comes, I'll destroy the pride you've always held and drag you down from your undefeated divine pedestal."
After saying this, Xu Zhengyang left Shrek City without looking back, pressing onward like the ascetic monk he had once been.
But when Xu Zhengyang was about two kilometers outside Shrek City, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
"Come out. You've followed me all this way. With your strength and standing, surely you aren't bandits."
As Xu Zhengyang's words fell, two figures appeared in front of him. They were Bei Bei and Tang Ya, who had shared his table earlier.
Bei Bei clapped his hands. "You have sharp eyes, my friend. I didn't expect you to notice us. There are probably very few among your peers who can compare to you."
Xu Zhengyang looked at the two before him, a trace of wariness entering his eyes.
"I don't recall having any dealings with you. Why are you following me? Surely you haven't taken a fancy to my meager belongings."
Bei Bei shook his head. "I only want to make friends with you. We certainly have no designs on you. On the contrary, perhaps we can help you."
Xu Zhengyang spoke decisively. "There's no need. I don't want too many dealings with you, and we can't become friends either."
Bei Bei hurriedly said, "Another friend means another road to take. There's no need to speak so absolutely. Besides, judging by the look of you, you probably want to join Shrek Academy. If you have any concerns, my family has some influence. I can get you into Shrek Academy."
Xu Zhengyang looked back at Shrek City two li away, a trace of apprehension showing at the corner of his mouth.
"Shrek Academy? Sorry, but I'm afraid I'll never be able to join Shrek Academy in this lifetime. At the very least, Shrek Academy has no room for someone like me."
Bei Bei said, "How could that be? Any talented person on the Douluo Continent can enter, as long as they meet Shrek Academy's admission standards. Even if you have no backing, as long as you're strong enough, Shrek Academy can open a door for you."
Xu Zhengyang shook his head. "It isn't a matter of strength, but of where we stand. I greatly admire Shrek's glory, but some things cannot be changed."
"Besides, Shrek's brutal system of survival and elimination may be able to cultivate elites, but it doesn't suit me, nor does it suit my future development."
Hearing Xu Zhengyang's words, Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged looks. They kept feeling that there was something off about what the man before them was saying. At the very least, he was unlike any young person they had ever met.
Tang Ya, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke. "Who exactly are you? Why are you so averse to Shrek?"
Xu Zhengyang said, "I'm not averse to Shrek. On the contrary, I greatly admire Shrek Academy's glory and its contributions to the Douluo Continent. But as I've already said, this is merely a matter of where we stand. It has nothing to do with their teaching methods."
Hearing this, Bei Bei fell silent for a moment before speaking. "My friend, have you ever heard of the Tang Sect?"
A trace of disdain appeared at the corner of Xu Zhengyang's mouth. "The Tang Sect? Once one of the most glorious sects in the Douluo Continent's history. Unfortunately, it declined long ago, and its former glory no longer exists."
Hearing this, Tang Ya looked exceptionally desolate, but also exceptionally unwilling to accept it. "The Tang Sect may have declined, but sooner or later, it will rise again. I will definitely lead the Tang Sect back to glory."