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Just then.
A flash of pink, no longer able to suppress the excitement and longing in her heart, launched from behind like a swallow returning to its nest, wrapping tightly around Tang San's waist and back with a choked sob.
"Brother!"
Xiao Wu buried her face deep into the fabric of Tang San's back, her voice thick with weeping and the intense joy of being reunited after a terrifying separation. Tears quickly soaked his clothes.
Tang San's body tensed slightly. He could clearly feel the violent, rapid beat of her heart behind him, as well as her subtle yet uncontrollable trembling. In the next second, the cold aura that had surrounded him melted away like snow in springtime.
Slowly, his movements gentle and firm, Tang San turned around. He embraced Xiao Wu, who was clinging to him, even tighter. One hand steadily supported her slender waist, while the other gently stroked her long hair.
"Xiao Wu, calm down, don't cry anymore," Tang San said, wiping away the tears on her cheeks. His own voice was a little choked. "I'm back, haven't I? It's alright now, everything is alright."
Xiao Wu looked up at him, her face streaked with tears, and asked, still sobbing:
"Brother, what... what exactly happened? I heard Principal Flender say that you stole Dugu Bo's things, and that's why he captured you. Fortunately... fortunately, Uncle appeared in time and saved you. Is that true?"
At her words, Tang San's eyes, which had been gentle moments before, instantly became incredibly cold, and a terrifying blood-red gleam flashed within them. An uncontrollable surge of pure rage emanated from his body.
"Nonsense!" he suddenly roared, his voice thundering out in anger.
This angry shout made Xiao Wu tremble slightly, and even the people standing nearby felt their hearts clench.
"That Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is a treasure trove formed by heaven and earth, a place of spiritual beauty! How did it become Dugu Bo's private garden?!" Tang San's chest heaved violently. "I was clearly the first one to discover it and enter it. That old venomous fellow arrived later, saw the treasures, and relying on his Titled Douluo cultivation, he wanted to forcibly occupy the place! He even cruelly tried to kill me and take my life!"
The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his voice filled with burning resentment. His tightly clenched fists turned slightly white at the knuckles.
"Principal Flender and the others didn't know the truth, so they only believed that old venomous fellow's one-sided story and thought I was stealing? That's utterly absurd!"
Seeing Tang San so worked up, Xiao Wu quickly nodded her head with great force, her small hands clutching his lapels tightly. "Brother, I believe you! Please, don't be angry... I'm just scared..."
As she spoke, she buried her face back into Tang San's arms, her voice choked with lingering fear and renewed tears.
"Brother, promise me that wherever you go from now on, you'll take me with you, okay? No matter what danger we encounter, we'll be together. I don't want to be separated from you again... not even for a second!"
"Alright. I promise you, Xiao Wu," Tang San said, nodding. He continued to wipe away her tears, reassuring her again and again.
Just then, a voice filled with surprise and uncertainty came from behind the small crowd that had gathered.
"Little San?! Is it really you who's returned?"
Everyone turned to look. They saw Flender quickly walking towards them. His face was full of incredible joy. He pushed up his crystal spectacles, carefully examined Tang San, and then excitedly slapped his thigh.
"Good! Good! It's good that you're back! And just in time! I thought you wouldn't make it for this year's competition!"
The wrinkles on Flender's face seemed to have smoothed out considerably at that moment. Then, remembering the important matter, he quickly regained his composure, waving vigorously at everyone. His tone was urgent and a little excited.
"Don't just stand there! Quick, everyone! The opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin. We must rush to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena immediately, or we'll be in big trouble if we miss the time!"
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang's gaze swept over Tang San, his eyes shining with new confidence and hope. "Little San, we can talk on the way! Now, let's leave immediately!"
"Mm," Tang San replied, nodding slightly at Yu Xiaogang's direction.
Outside the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, the crowd was bustling, the noise deafening. Looking around, the dense crowd stretched from the Great Spirit Arena's huge archway entrance all the way to the distant streets, almost endlessly.
Whether they were commoners in simple clothes or nobles arriving in luxurious carriages, everyone was fervently gathered here, blocking the surrounding roads completely. The air was thick with a hot wave of excitement, anticipation, and restlessness. Various discussions, the shouting of vendors, and general noise intertwined, becoming deafening.
If it weren't for the large number of Tiandou Royal Family soldiers, dressed in bright silver armor and holding long spears, who were disciplined and formed human walls at key positions to try and maintain order, this fervent crowd would probably have long since lost control, turning the place into a chaotic whirlpool.
In this boiling sea of people, one team stood out particularly.
They did not have to struggle through the crowd like the other academies. Leading them was a tall, slender old man in a dark green robe with sinister eyes. He merely cast a faint glance forward, and the invisible Titled Douluo pressure he exerted caused the crowded masses ahead to instinctively part, as if pushed by an unseen hand, creating a clear path for them.
Following behind him was the Tianxing Academy's competition team. Everyone was uniformly dressed in sleek, form-fitting blue attire of superior quality, which shimmered with a faint blue-gold luster in the sunlight. Most striking was the emblem on their left chest—the Tianxing Academy's crest, cleverly composed of three Spirit totems: a tenacious Blue Silver Grass, a coiling Bi Lin Snake, and a swan poised for flight. This unique mixed totem symbolized the academy's three esteemed founders.
Led by Dugu Bo, the Tianxing Academy team moved without any obstruction. Under gazes of envy, awe, or simple curiosity, they entered the magnificent interior of the Great Spirit Arena with perfect composure and prominence.
As the Tianxing Academy team stepped into the Great Spirit Arena's grand internal passage, and before they could even fully take in the magnificent sight of the arena, several extremely harsh and malicious jeers sharply pierced their ears.
"Pfft, look over there! What kind of bizarre outfits are those from that academy?"
A young man in a lavish school uniform clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he was doubled over, his finger impolitely pointing to the other side of the passage.
"Oh my god, 'shit-green' clothes?! Was this color dyed from a latrine? It absolutely stinks! Hahaha!" his companion immediately chimed in, his voice very loud, as if afraid the people around wouldn't hear.
Another person pointed at the conspicuous 'GG' emblem on the Shrek members' chests, his face full of disdain. "Tsk tsk, look, 'GG' is even embroidered on their clothes! Are they so poor they can't even afford food, coming out here to sell themselves and play 'GG'? They're so poor, yet they still come to participate in a Spirit Master tournament? They might as well go beg on the streets!"
Some even directed malicious words at Ma Hongjun. "Look at that Fatty, he's as round as a ball! The ground must be shaking when he walks, right? Can he even compete? I think they're just here to make up the numbers, a total laughingstock going through the motions!"
If there was a crack in the ground right now, the Shrek Academy members would have immediately wanted to crawl into it. Many subconsciously covered the conspicuous 'GG's on their chests and backs with their hands, feeling deeply humiliated by the scornful glances and whispers from all around. They wished they could bury their faces in the dirt beneath their feet.
Flender walked at the very front, looking as if he didn't know the people behind him at all. Even Yu Xiaogang, who was in a wheelchair, was moving at a considerable speed, constantly rubbing the wheels on either side to accelerate and follow closely behind Flender.
Their gazes cut through the noisy crowd, and Tang Chen and Dugu Bo immediately saw Tang San's figure. Their brows furrowed simultaneously, then they exchanged a quick glance and spoke in unison:
"Tang San! He's back?"
"Let's go, let's go check it out!"
Following that, the two stepped towards where the Shrek members were.
Just then, a completely discordant voice came from the side.
"Oh my, aren't these the little thieves who stole this old man's medicinal herbs?" the voice sneered. "What? A bunch of thieves like you dare to participate in the competition? You won't end up with poor results and then secretly steal the tournament prizes, will you?"