"Shrek?"
Hearing these words, Tang San was momentarily stunned. Wasn't this one of the academies his father had recommended back then? The one that famously only accepted monstrously talented students.
"Ning Rongrong joined Shrek, and this so-called Shrek Academy's team actually defeated your Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team?" Bai Chenxiang, standing beside him, was equally incredulous, her face filled with shock. She had no intention of joining an academy herself—as a Sect Soul Master, she only needed to complete missions to secure resources from her sect.
A team from an academy she had never even heard of had actually defeated a traditional powerhouse in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament!
Seeing the stunned expressions on Tang San and Bai Chenxiang's faces, Xue Qinghe gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Yes, when I first heard the news, I couldn't believe it either. After all, this Shrek team didn't even have the qualifications to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament."
"Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy has a tradition. After selecting the team to represent us in the tournament, we send them to various Soul Duel Arenas across the empire to compete in Soul Battles. This helps them build teamwork and gain practical experience. They had been on a winning streak—until they encountered the Shrek team at the Suotuo Grand Soul Arena."
"Complete defeat."
Tang San was inwardly shocked. No way… That kind of underdog story—where the weak rise against the strong, defying all odds—actually happened? And I'm the villain here?!
His expression turned strange. This feeling, this plot… it was something he had read about in novels and biographies. Abandoning a prestigious powerhouse to join an unknown small sect, only for that sect's members to all be geniuses who then rise against their former oppressors.
Noticing Tang San's odd expression, Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew his gamble had paid off.
Seizing the moment perfectly, Xue Qinghe slowly stood up and cupped his hands in a polite gesture. "Young Sect Master Tang, it's getting late, so I won't disturb your rest any further. Tomorrow morning, the Heaven Dou Royal Team will have their combat training session. You're welcome to observe and perhaps offer them some guidance."
After Xue Qinghe left, Bai Chenxiang asked, "Young Sect Master, are we going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy tomorrow?"
Tang San sighed helplessly and nodded. "Yes. Delay our trip to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School by a day. Since the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team fought against Shrek, they should know more about them. Also, have our sect disciples investigate Shrek Academy thoroughly—their teachers, students, backgrounds, Martial Souls, and Soul Power. I want to know everything."
"As you command, Young Sect Master."
Tang San muttered to himself, "Spirit Academy has won the most Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament championships, followed by Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and then Star Luo Royal Academy. How could such a powerhouse lose? Is it because Spirit Hall has absorbed too many Soul Masters, causing Heaven Dou Royal Academy to decline? Or is Shrek Academy just that strong?"
Tang San had never imagined before coming here that he would be troubled by a duel agreement with Ning Rongrong. If he were truly defeated by her, how could he, Tang San, ever show his face again? How could he hold his head up high in the future?
Would he have to say those words: "I regret it."
A shiver ran down Tang San's spine at the thought of actually losing and being mocked by Ning Rongrong. The mere idea sent chills through his body, even shaking his martial heart slightly.
"No, tomorrow I must find out what's really going on. Even if Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is formidable, it shouldn't be possible for her to increase an unknown team's combat power tenfold."
Early the next morning, Xue Qinghe's carriage was already waiting at the gate. However, Bai Chenxiang wasn't with Tang San—he went alone to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The royal carriage naturally had unimpeded passage through the city, though the Heaven Dou Royal Academy wasn't located within the imperial capital but outside its walls.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the academy.
Stepping down, Tang San followed Xue Qinghe into the academy grounds. As they walked, Xue Qinghe asked, "By the way, Young Sect Master Tang, if I may ask—what is your current Soul Power level? Don't misunderstand, I'm not prying. It's just that the members of the Heaven Dou Team can be quite arrogant, so..."
Tang San understood and didn't hide it. "Level 40."
"Oh, level 40— Huh?! Level 40?!" Xue Qinghe's eyes widened, his composure slipping as he scrutinized Tang San again.
Xue Qinghe hadn't known Tang San's Soul Power level initially, only that he was thirteen years old. After all, the Heaven Dou royal family had kept tabs on Tang San since his Martial Soul awakening seven years ago. He had estimated Tang San's cultivation to be at most level 32 or 33, certainly not exceeding 35.
Level 40! At thirteen?!
Actually, Tang San had been at level 39 just yesterday. But last night, he absorbed the purified Ten Thousand Year Spirit Bone obtained from the ancient ruins, boosting his Soul Power by one level.
Soon, they arrived at a Soul Duel Stage resembling an arena, where seven young men and women around twenty years old were already waiting below.
"So you're Tang San? The genius of the Clear Sky Sect?" The leader, a young man with short, spiky black hair, radiated fighting spirit from his eyes.
Xue Qinghe quietly explained, "He's the captain of our Heaven Dou Royal Team, Yu Tianheng. His Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—I think you understand now."
Tang San immediately grasped the reason for the hostility. Historically, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect had vied for supremacy among the Upper Three Sects. That was until his father Tang Hao emerged, sweeping aside all contemporary geniuses. Along with Tang Xiao, the two dazzling twin stars firmly established the Clear Sky Hammer's dominance, thoroughly suppressing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Thus, the younger generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had always sought opportunities to reclaim their pride, to prove that their Martial Soul was the strongest among all attack types—not just "the strongest among Beast Spirits."
Tang San walked straight up to the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team and asked expressionlessly, "I have a question for you all."
Yu Tianheng raised his hand, brimming with fighting spirit, and said, "Not just one—if you can defeat us, I'll tell you even a hundred things truthfully."
Beside Yu Tianheng, a short-haired woman with emerald-green eyes chuckled coquettishly and said, "Little brother, we won't bully you. There are seven of us here—you pick three, and we'll fight four against four. If you win, I'll even tell you my measurements if you want to know."
Seeing this, Xue Qinghe, standing nearby, covered his face with one hand, unable to bear the sight. He muttered under his breath, "They couldn't possibly think Tang San's Soul Power is still around the ear
ly twenties or just over thirty, could they?"
(End of Chapter)