Faced with everyone's questions, Xiao Wu stammered out a somewhat clumsy excuse. Still, escaping alive from the Titan Giant Ape's clutches was already a miracle, so even though her explanation was rather dubious, everyone chose to believe her.
Shangguan Hong watched quietly from the side. After this incident, everyone at Shrek had grown closer. Leaving Zhao Wuji aside, the students alone were now friends who had faced life and death together! Through this incident, Ning Rongrong had fully become part of Shrek, while Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had made breakthrough progress after experiencing life and death. Even his own relationship with Tang San had advanced by leaps and bounds, despite him being an actor through and through! What Shangguan Hong had not expected, however, was that after dealing with the others, Xiao Wu would walk straight toward him.
"Um, Shangguan Hong, I really have to thank you for today. If it hadn't been for you, Third Brother might have..."
Getting the little tyrant of Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy to willingly lower her head was already quite a rarity. Shangguan Hong smiled and made it perfectly clear that, given his relationship with Tang San, there was no need for such formalities.
Within just a few exchanges, Xiao Wu, who loved the crow on the roof because she loved the house, had come to regard Shangguan Hong as one of her own. Most of the time, however, she simply chattered on endlessly, and she did not forget to give the white radish Shangguan Hong offered her a disdainful look.
After an unknown amount of time, the Soul Rings around Tang San vanished, and the presence of a Soul Elder spread from him. This also meant that this chosen son of destiny had successfully absorbed a Soul Ring beyond his level.
There was no need to dwell on Xiao Wu's tears of joy or everyone's congratulations, which Shangguan Hong joined in as well. After a round of laughter and cheerful chatter, they took the severely wounded Zhao Wuji with them and happily returned to Shrek Academy.
There could have been no better outcome. Although they had suffered serious injuries, they had not lost a single person. Oscar and Tang San had even broken through to Soul Elder, while Xiao Wu, who had returned after leaving, had actually reached level 30 as well and possessed Soul Elder-level strength. This was simply a tremendous haul.
By the time everyone returned to Shrek Academy, it was already evening. Just as previously expected, at Ning Rongrong's request, the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect returned to their sect to arrange for an outstanding Soul King-level healing Soul Master to come. Together with the top-grade medicinal herbs Flender had treasured, these would ensure Zhao Wuji suffered no lasting complications.
The students also received three days off. Most chose to return to their dormitories first and have a good sleep, while Tang San felt a sense of crisis and began making Hidden Weapons without stopping to catch his breath. Aside from him, Shangguan Hong was also someone who could not sit idle. Using the purchase of food as an excuse, he ran off to Suotuo City and booked a Soul Fighting match under his identity as Young Master Bai.
All one could say was that everyone had their own things to do: resting, meditating, making Hidden Weapons, or killing people to cultivate. They all had bright futures!
Meanwhile, a man with a crew cut also quietly arrived at Shrek Academy...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Shangguan Hong yawned. He had only returned to the dormitory in the middle of the night and was rather tired, but yesterday's Soul Fighting match had indeed yielded considerable rewards. Fighting one against three with his Soul Elder cultivation, he had not only earned a large sum of money but also killed one Soul Ancestor and two high-level Soul Elders. He had nearly drained all three of their blood, though it would still be some time before he could reap the fruits.
Holding a meat pie a full half meter in diameter, Shangguan Hong munched as he walked toward the gathering spot. As expected, he was still the last to arrive. At the gathering spot, besides everyone from Shrek, there was also a man with a crew cut whose entire bearing exuded stuffiness and arrogance.
Hmm? Yu Xiaogang? Oh, right. Going by the timeline, Yu Xiaogang really did come to Shrek Academy around now! This should be interesting...
The corners of Shangguan Hong's mouth lifted slightly. He had little fondness for this Grandmaster. Had it been the manga version of Grandmaster, he might have had some respect for him, but this one before him...
Heh!
Although he possessed fairly decent theoretical knowledge, just what sort of person could insult himself twice in a single sentence? Other than "idiot," Shangguan Hong could think of no second answer.
Of course, he still had to keep up appearances.
"Morning, Brother Shangguan!"
Tang San greeted him enthusiastically, and the others nodded in goodwill as well. Shangguan Hong, however, noticed that Yu Xiaogang's gaze seemed to have remained on him the entire time. Tang San had probably told Yu Xiaogang something about him. To Yu Xiaogang, the three Soul Rings he currently possessed absolutely defied common sense, and they were something this "theoretical grandmaster" would never let pass!
"You're Shangguan Hong?"
Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly and asked quite abruptly. His attitude caused mild displeasure among the Shrek students who did not know his identity. Even a three-year-old child knew this was rude.
Shangguan Hong knitted his brows tightly, feigning displeasure, while Flender, who had arrived late, stepped in to smooth things over.
"Little Monsters, let me introduce someone! This is Grandmaster, an old friend of mine! He's known as the foremost theorist in the Soul Master World, and he's also Little San's teacher!"
Tang San was rather nervous. He had not expected his teacher to be so impatient and feared that his good buddy would take offense. Yet the instant Flender said Yu Xiaogang was Tang San's teacher, Shangguan Hong's tightly knitted brows relaxed.
"So you're Little San's teacher. My apologies for not recognizing you!"
Those words were quite subtle; it looked entirely as though he was giving Tang San face. Tang San secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, Teacher was a little rude, but fortunately, Brother Shangguan gave me face. He really is my best brother!
With that little interlude over, matters returned to their proper course. Flender announced before everyone that Yu Xiaogang would be their teacher from now on, with full responsibility for their cultivation.
Given the Shrek students' current cultivation levels, the Soul Power fluctuations coming from Yu Xiaogang naturally could not escape their detection.
There was no need to mention Tang San and Xiao Wu. Shangguan Hong put on a calm expression, showing neither respect nor disdain, while Dai Mubai was far more straightforward. He looked down somewhat on this so-called theoretical grandmaster, and Ning Rongrong was not much better. Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar said nothing, but unless Yu Xiaogang demonstrated some ability, he would absolutely never convince them.
However, Yu Xiaogang was in no hurry to prove himself right now. In his eyes, nurturing students was important, but it ranked below verifying his theoretical knowledge!
Yu Xiaogang once again set his sights on Shangguan Hong.
"Shangguan Hong, I heard your Soul Ring configuration is one yellow and two purple?"