"Brother, that guy called Shangguan Hong seemed so weird! What normal person would do something like that in the middle of the street? Why don't we keep our distance from him?"
"That wouldn't be right! Brother Shangguan approached us sincerely, after all. Besides, with his talent, he'll most likely get into Shrek Academy with us. How could we shun a future companion?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu walked rather quickly, so they failed to hear the howling behind them. A disagreement arose between them. For some reason, Shangguan Hong's presence instinctively made Xiao Wu somewhat uncomfortable. But the facts were just as Tang San had said: a genius even more monstrous than the two of them was almost certain to pass Shrek Academy's entrance examination. They would be friends, companions, and members of the same team, so naturally, unity had to come first.
Unable to change Tang San's mind, and being easygoing herself, Xiao Wu simply decided she was overthinking things. Soon, her thoughts returned to finding somewhere to rest, and then she spotted a hotel that looked like a gigantic rose in bloom!
"What a beautiful hotel! Brother, let's stay here!"
Looking at the enormous "Rose Hotel" sign, Tang San fell into thought. Still, the two of them had shared a dormitory at Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy, so he had no other thoughts about it and went along with Xiao Wu.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Shangguan Hong strode casually down the street, heading in the direction Tang San and Xiao Wu had taken. If they had seen him now, they would certainly have been astonished-not because he could find the right direction, but because he wasn't walking in a straight line. He moved with purpose, stopping in front of a shop one moment, then running over to buy something from a street vendor the next. Just minutes earlier, Tang San and Xiao Wu had visited those very places.
The scent of a Ten Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast really is strong. A pity I can't act yet, or that fellow Tang Hao would tear me apart alive! A hundred thousand years! If I devoured her, my Soul Power would definitely shoot straight up to level forty!
Shangguan Hong chewed on a ball of food, yet drool trickled down the corners of his mouth. The passersby were somewhat surprised. What kind of balls were those? Were they really that delicious? What they didn't know, however, was that Shangguan Hong craved no ordinary food, but the terrifying power carried within Xiao Wu, a Ten Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form!
The Void was greedy, but it was also fair. Offer sufficient sacrifices, and the Void would bestow its gifts!
Logically speaking, Shangguan Hong's talent after his transformation was the same as Tang San's: both had Innate Full Soul Power. Yet his Soul Power Level was far above Tang San's! This was precisely why.
Hm? Flender's shop?
Shangguan Hong stopped in front of a shabby general store. He, too, sensed the peculiar traces of Soul Power emanating from within! Looking closely, he saw an enormous reclining chair inside, with a scruffy-looking middle-aged man lying on it. The scent he had picked up from Xiao Wu had entered this place.
Tang San already got the plate crystal in just a few minutes? As expected of the chosen one favored by fortune!
Shangguan Hong merely sighed over it. Heaven really was biased, frantically stuffing rare treasures into Tang San's hands. And what about him? He had nothing! Aside from a hundred million little bits of wealth and the "little" things gifted by the system, he truly was penniless!
Judging by the timing, Tang San and Xiao Wu should have run into Dai Mubai by now, right? I can't miss a show like this!
At that thought, Shangguan Hong quickened his pace. By the time he saw the oddly shaped Rose Hotel, two staff members were fleeing outside in a panic. Immediately afterward, a tremendous crash came from inside the hotel!
"Oh! Looks like I arrived at just the right time!"
Shangguan Hong's eyes lit up, and he eagerly entered the hotel. The first thing he saw upon entering was Tang San, two Soul Rings beneath his feet, facing off against a young dandy. That young dandy was quite the peacock, dressed entirely in white. From a distance, he looked like a strip of toilet paper, but the three Soul Rings beneath his feet-two yellow and one purple-were not to be underestimated.
The White Tiger's savage presence swept through the entire hotel. This man was none other than Dai Mubai! Across from him, a bead of cold sweat slipped unbidden down Tang San's forehead.
Although a Soul Grandmaster and a Soul Elder were only one realm apart, the difference in their strength was like heaven and earth! Even Tang San, whose Storage Soul Tool held a pile of hidden weapons, had no certainty of victory.
Both sides were intensely focused, utterly unaware that Shangguan Hong had entered the hotel. Xiao Wu was watching Tang San with worry all over her face when a strange sound suddenly reached her ears.
She turned to look and saw Shangguan Hong leaning against the counter, a handful of sunflower seeds in his hand, cracking them open with relish.
Noticing Xiao Wu's gaze, Shangguan Hong raised an eyebrow and extended his left hand.
"Want some?"
Xiao Wu: ...
How could the expression on Xiao Wu's face be described by the word "blank" alone? Come on, man, they're about to fight, and you're still over there eating and eating! Actually, ever since we first met, your mouth hasn't stopped moving, has it?
The cracking of sunflower seeds was quite crisp and clear. Tang San and Dai Mubai, who had already tested each other once and were preparing to fight in earnest, both froze. The momentum they had painstakingly built up was cut in half.
"He's with you?"
Dai Mubai stared at Tang San with a peculiar look. For some reason, Tang San felt an inexplicable wave of shame. He lowered his head, scratched his cheek, and finally gave a resigned "Mm."
"Interesting!"
Dai Mubai grew a little excited. After all, he had already realized that, given Tang San and Xiao Wu's current strength, they had naturally come to a place like Suotuo City to take Shrek Academy's entrance examination. That meant Shangguan Hong, who was with them, must have come for the same reason. In other words, Shrek would welcome three new students this year?
Well, now! Their numbers would double outright!
In his excitement, Dai Mubai made a decision-a decision he would regret for the rest of his life.
"Hey, you! Stop looking around, I'm talking to you! The one eating sunflower seeds! You join in too!"
Dai Mubai's heart swelled with heroic spirit. As their senior, he wanted to test his soon-to-be juniors. Besides, Shangguan Hong was dressed even more flamboyantly than he was! How could he allow that?
The inexplicable competitive urge of a male creature rose within him.
"Are you sure?"
Shangguan Hong wore a peculiar expression. He looked Dai Mubai up and down, then slowly walked over to Tang San. Out of kindness, he still offered a word of warning.
"Just so we're clear, I hit a little hard..."
"It's fine. Use whatever you've got!"
Shangguan Hong could no longer remember how long it had been since anyone had dared to challenge him to a fight. After a moment of silence, he burst out laughing.
"Sure! If you can beat a single Soul Skill of mine, we'll call it your win!"
As his words fell, a gigantic golden shovel instantly appeared in Shangguan Hong's right hand! After six years, the golden shovel had hardly changed, except for three strange marks that had appeared at the end of its handle.
At the same time, three Soul Rings-one yellow and two purple-rose from beneath Shangguan Hong's feet!
Ignoring the shocked looks of those around him, he chanted softly:
"Windblown sands bury palace gates and lock away the fading sunset; from a thousand years of slumber, the emperor rises anew!"
"Second Soul Skill-Glory of Shurima!"