"A genius? That's too much. He's just a talented boy."
Yu Xiaogang rose slowly to his feet, but the smile on his face betrayed his pride. Standing behind him was his disciple—his one great success. The child he staked his very life's dignity on.
"Tang San!" His voice rang with confidence.
For Yu Xiaogang, Tang San was proof that his lifelong obsession—the ten theories of Martial Soul—had worth. He had failed as a cultivator, failed in status, and for decades he was ridiculed as "Grandmaster Trash." No talent, no future, only empty theories.
He'd thought of teaching before, but no one had ever fit his model. Without a disciple able to prove his words, the ten attributes of Martial Soul remained a laughingstock. Until Tang San appeared.
Meeting this boy had burned away years of humiliation and despair. Finally, he had someone who could carry his flag.
"Greetings, honored teachers."
Tang San stepped forward gracefully. His tone was respectful as he saluted the three elders of the Academic Affairs Council.
Zhilin nodded slightly, though his mind told a different story. Genius? We'll see. The report called this one a prodigy, but paper meant little without proof.
"Oh? Let's test this 'genius' for ourselves." A faint smile flashed, then Zhilin's aura erupted. Spirit pressure descended like a tidal wave, crushing downward, locking Tang San completely.
The boy froze in place, body trembling as if drowning under the weight of the ocean.
Tang San's mind sharpened instantly. He understood. This wasn't malice; it was evaluation. Still, if he faltered, Shrek's reputation would collapse. Then everyone would say that Flender had exaggerated, that Shrek's report was nothing but lies.
Not acceptable.
Teeth gritted, Tang San forced his spirit energy to circulate. His Blue Silver Grass flickered faintly along his hand, threads of life resisting the crushing weight. Sweat rolled down his forehead as the pressure doubled, then tripled.
His breathing turned ragged. His vision dimmed. His knees threatened to buckle.
Another wave pressed down—
And then—
BANG!
The office door swung open violently.
"Old man Meng! Where's my wine? Don't tell me you forgot!"
All eyes jerked toward the entrance. Lu Yuan stumbled in, his tone casual, but his arrival was like a meteor smashing into the tense atmosphere.
Zhilin's eyes widened. He hastily retracted his power, or Tang San might've been crushed entirely. Even so, the boy staggered back, chest heaving painfully, the aftershock rattling through his organs.
Shame crawled up Tang San's face. The timing couldn't have been worse—saved not by his own resistance, but by this drunken troublemaker barging in.
From that moment, he swore inwardly: Never again will I stand weaker than that man.
In the far side of the room, a certain pair of dark, cold eyes softened the moment Lu Yuan entered. Zhu Zhuqing, her form wrapped in black leathers, had been standing silently. But the sight of him made her rigid body loosen slightly.
Before coming here, she'd known there was a chance she and Lu Yuan would share a classroom. It was the only reason she hadn't resisted her family's decision to send her. A faint expectation stirred in her chest.
"Little cat, it's you!" Lu Yuan grinned as if the whole world had disappeared, his steps heading straight toward her.
Zhu Zhuqing's lips curved almost imperceptibly.
Behind them, a sharp sound erupted. A fist clenched, the air itself vibrating with pressure.
"Him again!" Dai Mubai's eyes burned scarlet, teeth grinding. His fists clenched until his knuckles whitened. This bastard haunted him, appearing again and again to rip his confidence apart!
Breath hitched in his throat, heavy as a huffing bull.
"Little Bai, don't be impulsive." Zhao Wuji grabbed his arm firmly. His booming voice carried unspoken authority. "This is Tiandou Royal Academy. Not our turf. We can't afford to cause trouble here."
Dai Mubai spat to the side, but he remained still, though rage boiled inside his chest.
At a table nearby, the Dragon Serpent couple stiffened, eyes narrowing sharply.
"That one…" the elder Snake muttered. "That group—they're the ones who robbed us of the Phoenix-tailed Cockscomb with our granddaughter!"
Gu Rong raised a brow. "Are you familiar with them?"
"Yes. This is that Shrek lot I mentioned earlier," the old woman hissed. "And that Tang San boy—"
Gu Rong's gaze snapped toward Shrek's students. His pupils contracted, a faint gleam of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Mengshenji opened his mouth to welcome them, but before he could speak, Ning Fengzhi gently stood and inclined his head. "Since you have guests already, Chief Meng, I will take my leave so as not to intrude."
"Ning Sect Leader, please stay." Mengshenji nearly panicked. Ning Fengzhi's influence across the continent rivaled kingdoms themselves; allowing him to leave like this would be disrespectful.
And then, another voice echoed from outside.
"Is Chief Mengshenji here?"
All faces turned. The door opened, and the entire room froze.
This voice—they knew it. And if Mengshenji himself was stunned, that meant only one thing.
The visitor was royalty.
"My prince?" Mengshenji stepped forward, bowing hurriedly. "Why have you come here personally?"
Prince Xue Xing entered grandly, though even he wore faint surprise. His nephew, Prince Xue Beng, whispered in his ear, recounting how someone had beaten him earlier. He had only come to address that matter. But to his shock, the room was filled with towering figures: Ning Fengzhi, the Dragon Serpents, Lu Yuan himself… and this strange little academy no one had heard of.
"Who are they?" his highness asked, gesturing at Shrek's corner.
"These are the teachers and students of Shrek Academy. They wish to discuss cooperation with us at Tiandou," Mengshenji explained carefully.
Prince Xue Xing's eyes narrowed.
"Shrek Academy? What nonsense academy is this? No fame, no influence, and yet you think you can step into Tiandou's halls?" He snorted coldly.
The words carved across Flender's pride. His face flushed deep red. "Your Highness, though our academy is small, our students are all gifted. They will bring glory to Tiandou in the future, I swear this!"
"Gifted?" Prince Xue Xing scoffed, mockery dripping from his tone. "More talented than him?" His eyes flicked toward where Lu Yuan sat lazily, sipping at a flask while whispering something into Zhu Zhuqing's ear.
The room went silent.
Flender's shoulders sagged. He couldn't deny it: no matter how gifted Shrek's children were, compared with Lu Yuan they looked ordinary. Too ordinary.
But Yu Xiaogang's hand touched his shoulder firmly, steadying him.
"Dean Flender, don't panic," the Grandmaster said. Then he raised his voice, aiming for every soul in the room. "Talent is important, yes. But talent alone is not enough. No matter how brilliant one is, without correct guidance they will stray, falter, and fall short of potential. What Shrek possesses is not only gifted children—but my knowledge, the ten core theories of Martial Soul!"
His voice rose with righteous fire. "With my guidance, even the most ordinary spirit can rise to greatness. With my theories, Shrek will produce true peerless experts. That is my promise."
Mengshenji raised a brow. "Oh? Ten core theories?"
Even Lu Yuan turned his head lazily, brows furrowing. "Huh? That sounds familiar. Can't quite remember though. Probably useless if I forgot about it…" he muttered with a shrug.
Yu Xiaogang's face twitched, but after forcing a breath, he smiled stiffly. "Little San, show them."
Tang San stepped forward once again, though his body still carried the weakness from Zhilin's earlier suppression. He extended his hand.
In his palm, shimmering strands of blue and purple crept outward—living vines, delicate yet brimming with vitality. They slithered and curled like serpents, faint with their unique fishy scent.
"This is… Blue Silver Grass?"
Shock lanced across the seats. Blue Silver Grass was the most common plant spirit across the continent—utter trash, a curse most soul masters dreaded to inherit. Yet never had anyone seen it appear like this.
"Yes," Yu Xiaogang said firmly. "Ordinary, yes. But under careful guidance, extraordinary. My disciple's first spirit ring came from a Mandala Snake, forcing evolution. His third ring, from the Human Face Demon Spider—that, too, tempered it further. This is what guidance can achieve!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes glowed with fire.
This, this reaction, is what I wanted.
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