"Xiao Wu!"
Trying to control a Power Attack System Soul Saint with a Soul Grandmaster's cultivation was rather naive of Xiao Wu, and she paid a painful price for her actions.
Seeing Xiao Wu completely unconscious, blood covering her mouth and nose, Tang San was enraged. He picked her up and walked straight over to Ning Rongrong and Shangguan Hong, entrusted his unconscious younger sister to Ning Rongrong, then patted Shangguan Hong on the shoulder.
"Brother Shangguan, thanks for your hard work! Leave the rest to me!"
Watching Shangguan Hong pretend to be exhausted, Tang San was filled with gratitude. Without Shangguan Hong's summoned creature standing at the front to take the damage in that battle, Xiao Wu would probably have been hurt even worse! After all, what did Tang San know about a Soul Saint's control? All he knew was that standing opposite them was a Power Attack System beast Soul Saint who could be called a brute. If the man failed to rein in his strength even slightly, it would spell utter disaster for them.
Taking the opening Tang San offered him, Shangguan Hong withdrew his Martial Soul and plopped down on the ground, panting heavily. Even so, he did not forget to say a few words of concern to Tang San.
Under Shangguan Hong and Ning Rongrong's gazes, Tang San stepped forward and began a fresh one-on-one fight with Zhao Wuji!
"Brother!"
Just as Tang San and Zhao Wuji finished setting the new rules for their duel and prepared to fight, Shangguan Hong, seated on the ground, suddenly heard a somewhat fawning voice beside his ear. Turning, he saw the bearded Oscar crouching beside him with a smarmy look, holding a steaming sausage.
"Want to try an Oscar-brand sausage? Let me tell you, there's no better choice for restoring Soul Power. I guarantee you'll want more after one bite! And it's not expensive either, just five Copper Soul Coins!"
If one ignored the Soul Incantation, Oscar's sausages really did look first-rate, but the problem was that it was impossible to ignore! Obvious disgust appeared on Ning Rongrong's face beside him, but Shangguan Hong did not mind. He had never tried food created by a food-type Soul Master before, and a glutton like him naturally would not pass it up.
"Looks good. Give me twenty to start!"
Shangguan Hong casually tossed over a Gold Soul Coin, took the sausage from Oscar, and began chomping away. Sure enough, it tasted quite good, no different from a hot dog sausage, only bigger.
Business coming his way should have been a happy occasion, but Oscar's expression stiffened instead. The reason was simple: the sausages he sold came from his first Soul Skill. With his current Soul Power cultivation, he could make at most thirty or forty a day, and Shangguan Hong had ordered twenty all at once. Clearly, he would soon be worn out.
The scene before them was so harmonious.
Tang San pulled out a great handful of Hidden Weapons and fought Zhao Wuji to the death, while Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing entered a peaceful slumber. Ning Rongrong looked somewhat dumbfounded, but not because of Tang San. It was because of Shangguan Hong beside her. After wolfing down twenty sausages in a row, this fellow still was not satisfied and bought another twenty. Was his stomach a bottomless pit? That Soul Master named Oscar was already as pale as paper and about to faint, hey!
"Bro, I can't anymore. I really can't. I don't have a single drop of Soul Power left!"
"You brat, you'd better be talking about Soul Power!"
Swallowing the last bite of sausage, his Soul Power fully restored, Shangguan Hong stood up. Tang San and Zhao Wuji's battle was nearing its end. The latter's face was bruised and swollen, while the former nearly collapsed unconscious. The considerate Shangguan Hong hurried forward, and only with his support did Tang San barely remain standing.
In the end, thanks to Tang San's efforts, everyone qualified for enrollment. But no one noticed the unkempt man wearing a bamboo hat in the shadows, staring with some heartache at Tang San as Shangguan Hong supported him. Then he turned a vicious gaze on Zhao Wuji, his fists clenching unconsciously.
With the arrangements made by Dai Mubai, their senior, everyone was assigned a dorm room. It was worth mentioning that all the boys' rooms were doubles. Dai Mubai shared with Ma Hongjun, and Tang San shared with Oscar, so Shangguan Hong enjoyed the privilege of a room to himself. Perhaps this was the only comfort this dilapidated academy offered him.
After putting on the sheets and bedding he had brought, Shangguan Hong lay on the bed, toying with something resembling a Rubik's Cube-the Alternate Dimension Capture Cage!
A reward from the system, it could capture a Soul Master whose Soul Power was lower than his. Although it had a shelf life of only seven days, Shangguan Hong could still reap considerable benefits if he used it properly.
The Alternate Dimension Capture Cage. Looks like the system knows my Void is getting a little hungry and thirsty, so it gave me such convenient tableware...
Where was any trace of the gentleness Shangguan Hong showed others? In the somewhat dim room, purple light flickered in his eyes. His expression was as calm as still water, yet the corners of his mouth occasionally curled into a cruel arc.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Ma Hongjun... Only these few people in the academy meet the conditions!
The greedy Void could wait no longer, so Shangguan Hong set his sights on his classmates! Of course, going elsewhere to secretly capture a Soul Master would also be a good choice, but Shangguan Hong never shortchanged himself. He wanted to give himself the best!
Soul Grandmasters and Soul Elders would provide him with roughly the same increase in Soul Power, so what mattered most was the Soul Master's Martial Soul! Powerful Martial Souls contained purer Soul Power and brought greater benefits, making them Shangguan Hong's foremost consideration.
At Shrek Academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu could not be killed. The Clear Sky Douluo lurking in the shadows was no joke! Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power Level was too low, and her Martial Soul was rather ordinary. Ning Rongrong had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind her. Oscar was a decent choice, but for the sake of those delicious sausages, Shangguan Hong ultimately spared him.
So...
Don't blame me, little fatty. Who told you to have a Phoenix for a Martial Soul? An eight-person team is a little too large anyway. Team matches only allow seven participants!
Just look! What a fitting reason!
Having settled on his target, Shangguan Hong crawled straight under the covers and fell fast asleep. He could not rush things now. After all, no one knew whether Tang Hao was still in the academy. If he acted rashly and gave himself away, things would get troublesome.
But tonight, Tang Hao would seek out Zhao Wuji and Flender, which would be a good opportunity for him to act.
Patience was an essential virtue for an excellent hunter.
Lying in bed with only his head showing, Shangguan Hong used his left hand to connect with the Power of the Void, covering the entire room to leave himself eyes and ears. Yet he did not know that his actions had spared him some trouble.
Hidden in the shadows, Tang Hao used his formidable Soul Power to brazenly examine the movements of every student at Shrek Academy. Some were cultivating, while others were busy getting acquainted. When he inspected Shangguan Hong's room and noticed that the fellow was actually sleeping, his gaze visibly lingered for a long while.
"Outstanding talent, yet no desire to improve! So be it. Little San seems to get along quite well with this fellow. He could become an affiliated Soul Master of my Clear Sky Sect in the future..."
With those words, Tang Hao went to prepare for tonight's freestyle fighting.
In the blink of an eye, the sky grew dark.