Tang San's eyes turned purple. He swept a hand across his waist, sending willow-leaf knives, flying locust stones, coin darts, Bone-Piercing Nails... all kinds of ranged hidden weapons flying out. All gleamed blue, clearly coated in deadly poison, yet none could break through Zhao Wuji's defenses.
Tang San used the Tang Sect Secret Arts-Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon-to fight Zhao Wuji at close quarters, deftly neutralizing his immense strength.
Seeing that he still could do nothing to Zhao Wuji, Tang San caught him off guard and flung out countless Dragon Whisker Needles. These hidden weapons were tiny and sharp, designed to pierce the protective Qi of externally trained bodies. They penetrated Zhao Wuji's formidable defenses and curled up inside his muscles.
The excruciating pain in his muscles sent Zhao Wuji, who had been sparring with Tang San all this time, into a rage. He was about to get serious.
Zhao Wuji activated his Fourth Soul Skill, Position Tracking, and his Fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Squeeze. Position Tracking prevented Tang San from dodging the next attack, while Gravity Squeeze made it difficult for him to move, practically turning him into a sitting duck.
Facing Zhao Wuji's killing blow, Tang San summoned a small hammer into his left hand at the last moment. It was clearly the Clear Sky Hammer.
Tang San wielded the Clear Sky Hammer and unleashed Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. Hampered by the Dragon Whisker Needles, Zhao Wuji could not use his full strength and was hammered until his face was bruised and swollen. He was even poisoned after catching a crossbow bolt in his mouth.
Unable to endure any more, Zhao Wuji knocked Tang San unconscious with his Soul Power. In the end, both sides were injured, though Zhao Wuji looked more miserable-at least on the surface.
Only after taking Oscar's Recovery Sausage did Tang San regain consciousness. Seeing Zhao Wuji's wretched state consoled him considerably, and he immediately detoxified Zhao Wuji and removed the Dragon Whisker Needles.
Ultimately, after this series of events, all four passed the assessment and successfully entered Shrek Academy.
Watching the battlefield, Tang Feng was speechless. Did a Soul Saint really need to struggle this much against a Soul Grandmaster? And was it necessary to take a simple entrance assessment so seriously?
Throughout the whole process, Tang Feng had merely felt that Zhao Wuji was rather pitiful. A dignified Soul Saint had actually been humiliated by a child.
After the fight ended, Tang Feng walked up to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Congratulations on passing the assessment. My task is complete, so I'll be leaving now. I'll stay in Suotuo City for a while. If you need anything, you can find me there."
A trace of complicated emotion flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, and she said, "Thank you!"
Tang Feng also waved goodbye to Oscar, then left Shrek Academy and returned straight to Suotuo City, where he found a hotel near the city gate and checked in.
Entering his room, Tang Feng began reviewing everything he had seen and heard that day, his thoughts surging.
He had only met six of the Shrek Seven Monsters so far. Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, whom he had known for some time, and Oscar, whom he had just met, his first impressions of the other four gave him little urge to win them over.
Dai Mubai was a habitual womanizer who held everyone in contempt; Ning Rongrong had a young lady's temper and acted high and mighty; Tang San avenged even the slightest grievance and acted without considering the consequences, having inherited his father's ways; Xiao Wu did not know the height of heaven or the depth of the earth, acted without any restraint, and did not regard herself as a beast at all.
Though these people were all talented, Tang San in particular had techniques from his previous life and Twin Martial Souls. It would be difficult for him not to become powerful. Yet, despite having lived two lives, he was still inexplicably prone to impulsiveness.
For a mere entrance assessment, he had revealed all his trump cards, even using his Second Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer. Had his drunkard father never warned him?
He could not tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes and acted so extremely. Working with someone like that would sooner or later get one dragged down and killed.
Ning Rongrong's spoiled temper was somewhat understandable. After all, she was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Perhaps she had been pampered since childhood and might change when she grew older.
There might be some entanglement between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. That remained to be observed.
As for Xiao Wu, as a Soul Beast, becoming a Soul Ring and Soul Bone was the most reliable outcome. That way, she would not cause trouble.
Finally, there was Oscar, a commoner with no background who needed a power to rely on. He had top-tier talent and decent character. Tang Feng needed to find an opportunity to win him over.
After much deliberation, Tang Feng decided he could no longer worry about offending Tang San and Tang Hao. He would capture Xiao Wu, this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and make her his grandfather's ninth Soul Ring. His own grandfather was the most reliable person, and he was probably about to break through to Level 90.
If they come seeking revenge, I'll settle the new grudges and the old together. If Tang Hao hadn't selfishly disregarded the consequences and insisted on getting involved with a Soul Beast, my parents wouldn't have died such tragic deaths. Spirit Hall is my foremost enemy, and Tang Hao is second.
His mind racing, Tang Feng began to scheme.
He needed the right opportunity to capture Xiao Wu. Tang Feng recalled that the group would soon head to Star Dou Great Forest for Soul Hunting. Along the way, Xiao Wu would be "abducted" by the "simp ape," the Titan Giant Ape.
Afterward, she would travel part of the way back alone. That stretch would be the perfect opportunity, and he could shift the blame onto the Titan Giant Ape, killing two birds with one stone.
Once we're in Star Dou Great Forest, with over a year of experience training there, I'm absolutely confident I can stay hidden, follow them, and find an opportunity to capture Xiao Wu.
The greatest problem now was Tang Hao, who lurked in the shadows. He could not be sure whether Tang Hao would follow them. With Tang Hao around, it would be too dangerous.
But given the father and son's habit of avenging even the smallest slight, Tang Hao would definitely teach Zhao Wuji a lesson tonight and warn him to protect his precious son properly.
Then Tang Hao would leave to keep a blade of grass company, only appearing again during the finals in Spirit City.
That meant Tang Hao would leave after Tang San enrolled. This was precisely an opening he could exploit. At worst, if he was exposed, he could reveal his identity as a member of the Clear Sky Sect. That should spare his life.
Having made up his mind, Tang Feng planned to rest for a day before setting off for Star Dou Great Forest, where he would stake out a town on its outskirts on the side closest to Suotuo City.
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, the students had mostly recovered after a night's rest. Poor Zhao Wuji, however, had somehow suffered even worse injuries overnight.
Early the next morning, on their way to the dining hall, Tang San and Xiao Wu encountered another Shrek student, Ma Hongjun, entangled with a girl. After a fight, Xiao Wu knocked Ma Hongjun flat.
After Dai Mubai explained things, the two stopped giving Ma Hongjun trouble.
After breakfast, everyone arrived at the field. A somewhat gloomy-looking middle-aged man stood there. He appeared to be around fifty, with a flat face and a slightly protruding chin.
Especially with his square crystal glasses, he looked less like a teacher and more like a profiteer.
This man was Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy. His Martial Soul was the Four-Eyed Cat Owl, and he was a top-tier Soul Saint at level seventy-eight.
Only after everyone stood in a row did Flender nod. "This year is quite good. We have four more Little Monsters. I'm Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy. Welcome. Later, each of you is to pay one hundred Gold Soul Coins in tuition."
"Mubai, explain our school's rules to them. Then everyone should go back and rest, getting yourselves into peak condition. Your first lesson will take place tonight."
"Oscar, Ning Rongrong, step forward. You two are Auxiliary System Soul Masters. Tell me, do you know what matters most to an Auxiliary System Soul Master?"
Oscar and Ning Rongrong exchanged bewildered looks, clearly not understanding what Flender meant.
Flender continued, "Auxiliary System Soul Masters are the first targets attacked on the battlefield. You need to preserve your own lives before you can support your teammates."
"So staying alive is your most important task. You two will run twenty laps around the village. You must finish before noon, or you won't be eating lunch."
Helplessly, Oscar started running. Ning Rongrong glanced at everyone, then reluctantly ran after him.
Suotuo City, at the city gate.
Tang Feng arrived at a restaurant by the city gate, planning to set off for his destination after lunch.
Tang Feng entered the restaurant, ordered his food, and sat down at a table by the window.
Once the dishes arrived, he had just picked up his chopsticks when a girl approached his table. It was Ning Rongrong, who had pretended to run before sneaking away.
"Hi! What a coincidence!" Ning Rongrong stood smiling before his table. In the sunlight, her skin was fairer than snow, and the innate nobility of her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul blended perfectly with her girlish innocence.
"I saw you at Shrek Academy yesterday. Do you remember me?"
Tang Feng paused briefly, then nodded politely. "Of course. The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Tang Feng's gaze swept over the fine beads of sweat at her temples and her slightly disheveled hair, and he instantly understood. "What, don't you have classes? You still have the energy to sneak out shopping?"
"What classes!" Ning Rongrong indignantly pulled out a chair and sat down, her spoiled young lady's temper fully exposed.
"That profiteer of a dean calls making us run laps around the village a lesson. He dresses it up as 'training our ability to stay alive.' I couldn't keep going, so I came out for a stroll."
Ning Rongrong pouted, fanning herself irritably with her little hand.