Tang Hao had traversed countless miles before finally bringing Tang San and Xiao Wu to a secluded cave.
The moment he threw them onto the ground, Tang Hao coughed up a mouthful of dark, viscous blood.
Qian Daoliu's attack was not so easy to withstand—let alone directly countering his ninth soul skill head-on.
The gap between a rank 99 and a rank 96 was far greater than that between a Soul Sage and a Title Douluo. And Tang Hao's body was already riddled with hidden injuries.
His towering frame swayed unsteadily before collapsing to the ground under Tang San's stunned gaze.
Xiao Wu's eyes gleamed with a cold, murderous intent. This Title Douluo seems severely injured... Does that mean I have a chance to kill him?
"Dad! What's wrong?!" Tang San immediately rushed to support Tang Hao, attempting to heal him with his Mysterious Heaven Technique.
But his words sent a chill down Xiao Wu's spine.
That man is Third Brother's father...? Then... have I been under surveillance this whole time? Like a plump, defenseless lamb under a hunter's watchful eye?
She knew all too well how irresistible a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone were to humans.
A bone-deep dread crept through her. She wanted to run—far away, back to the Star Dou Forest, where only Da Ming and Er Ming could protect her.
---
The Next Day, Noon
"This is what Shrek Academy dares to call an advanced soul master academy? Such a grand institution, yet not a single person can withstand a single strike from my sword?"
"If none of you are capable, then bring Tang San out. Otherwise, no one leaves here today."
With that, Shen An raised his hand like a blade and casually slashed the air. A razor-sharp fissure split the ground before him, radiating sword energy.
Behind him stood a black-robed elder, standing as straight as a spear, his presence almost illusory.
Beside them, Tom held up a flagpole with a banner that read:
"Shrek Academy—A Den of Mediocre Teachers and Useless Students."
Since Shrek Academy was located within Heaven Dou City, the commotion quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.
Tai Long, who had initially sought to teach Shen An a lesson, now lay bleeding on the ground as Jiang Zhu desperately tried to heal him—all while casting fearful glances at Shen An.
Tai Long was already the eighth challenger to fall.
His face was pale with disbelief. How... How can the gap between soul masters of the same rank be this vast?
That young man hadn't even summoned his soul rings or used a single soul skill. Just one sword strike—and he had lost.
"Don't get too cocky! If Third Young Master hadn't gone missing last night, crushing you would've been effortless!" Tai Long spat through gritted teeth, enduring the pain.
Little did he know, the Tang San he idolized had long been defeated by Shen An.
"Tang San is missing?" Shen An mused, glancing at the hostile faces of Shrek's members.
How disappointing.
Tang Hao calls himself the Clear Sky Douluo? He should be called "Tang the Fleeing Expert" instead—running away with his whole family in tow. How professional.
Shen An was not a particularly forgiving person—in that regard, he and Tom were quite alike.
Since Tang Hao had tried to kill him, Shen An naturally intended to return the favor. So, early that morning, he had marched straight to Shrek Academy, ready to start his revenge by killing the so-called "Child of Destiny," Tang San.
He wanted to see—was the Child of Destiny truly unkillable? Or would he simply resurrect after death?
That's why Shen An had brought Tom along to stir up trouble. The moment Tang San showed himself, he would strike without hesitation.
If Tang Hao reappeared? Simple. Tom would greet him with a kung fu headband and teach him the power of Chinese martial arts.
To ensure no interference, Shen An had even invited Dugu Bo to stand guard—just in case Flender and the others decided to throw dignity aside and intervene.
Dugu Bo, ever the loyal friend, hadn't even asked for details before agreeing to back him up.
---
"Shen An, you've gone too far!" Flender forced out through clenched teeth.
"I'm merely stating facts. If you disagree, feel free to send out a student to face me. If anyone can block a single strike from me, I'll admit defeat."
Flender scanned the crowd of students—only to see them all bow their heads in silence.
He thought of calling upon Dai Mubai, the academy's strongest combatant.
But ever since their last battle, Dai Mubai's face had been left nearly disfigured. He refused to show himself in public, let alone face Shen An again.
A sense of powerlessness washed over Flender. The longer Shen An stood at their gates, the more Shrek's reputation crumbled.
Yet he dared not forcibly expel him—not just because a Soul Sage attacking a Soul Elder would be disgraceful, but because Dugu Bo's presence left him no room to act recklessly.
His gaze shifted to Yu Xiaogang behind him, silently pleading for his old friend's "peerless wisdom" to solve this crisis.
But Flender was disappointed. Yu Xiaogang deliberately avoided his gaze, lowering his head.
What can I do? At most, I can talk big.
Sure, he could invoke the might of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family—but Shen An could just as easily call upon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
---
"What do you want, then?" Flender demanded, his voice laced with forced bravado.
Shen An smirked. What do I want?
I wanted to kill Tang San. But since he's not here, I suppose I'll settle for humiliating Shrek instead.
Watching his fame points skyrocket and the growing crowd of spectators, Shen An couldn't help but laugh.
Sometimes, misfortune turns out to be a blessing.
Shrek Academy's predecessor, Blue Tyrant Academy, had deep roots in Heaven Dou City and had even reached the quarterfinals in the last Soul Master Tournament. Its reputation was considerable.
By trampling that reputation underfoot, Shen An was converting Shrek's prestige into his own nourishment.
"I merely wished to see Tang San. But since he's hiding, no one enters or leaves Shrek Academy today."
Flender fell silent, his face turning ashen.
The students of Shrek Academy stood frozen, their spirits crushed.
A young Soul Elder had publicly blockaded their gates. Not a single student could withstand one strike from him, and even their teachers dared not retaliate.
It made them question—had they chosen the wrong academy? Some even considered dropping out.
This is humiliating. How can we face our neighbors after this?
Our academy was bullied at its own gates, and our teachers couldn't even muster a response.
When Heaven Dou's city guards arrived, Shrek's members briefly regained hope—until Shen An flicked out a token, scattering the soldiers instantly.
The Crown Prince's people—who would dare interfere?
As night fell, Shen An left with a cold laugh.
The moment his figure vanished, Liu Erlong shattered the sword mark he had left on the ground.
This... is an utter disgrace.
---
"Shen An, does this Tang San have some grudge against you?" Now that the crowd had dispersed, Dugu Bo finally voiced his curiosity.
"More or less. He's someone I want dead."
"Is that so? Hah! If I ever run into him, I'll deliver his head to you myself," Dugu Bo declared without hesitation.