"Just going out for a Soul Fight, and not only did you spend all the gold soul coins I gave you, but how did the kids end up injured like this?"
Flender looked at his group of students, feeling so suffocated he could barely breathe.
Xiao Wu's abdomen was stained with blood, Dai Mubai's left face was disfigured with hideous scars, Tang San remained unconscious, and apart from Oscar, the others weren't in much better shape.
Yu Xiaogang's face was dark with gloom, unsure how to explain the situation to Flender.
Qin Ming forced a bitter smile as he recounted the events that had led to this.
"What? A single cat wiped out our Shrek Seven Devils?" Flender slumped weakly into his office chair after hearing this.
"Xiaogang, Xiaogang... That cat isn't some life-or-death enemy of ours. Why do you keep provoking it, even trying to kill it?"
"Look, that cat seems like Shrek Academy's natural nemesis. Every time we cross paths, nothing good happens."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. Being publicly criticized like this—did he not deserve any dignity?
"What's done is done. What's the point of saying all this now?" he retorted stiffly.
Flender sighed helplessly. Just then, a knock came at the door—it was Shao Xin.
Flender had no choice but to drop what he wanted to say to Yu Xiaogang. "Shao Xin, come take a look at the kids' injuries, especially Tang San. Why is he still unconscious?"
After some time, Shao Xin fed each of them differently effective sugar beans. One by one, they woke up, their eyes filled with barely concealed resentment.
Only Tang San remained unconscious. Meanwhile, in a distant VIP Soul Fight room, Tom had already hammered a pile of walnuts into a small mountain.
This action continued to wring the last drops of energy from Tang San, who was already drained of soul power.
If a person had no soul power left, their Martial Soul shouldn't be able to sustain itself—yet the Clear Sky Hammer remained.
So, according to the law of energy conservation, once soul power was exhausted, what would be consumed next?
Shao Xin frowned, speaking uncertainly, "Tang San doesn't have a trace of soul power left in his body. Every time new soul power is generated, it inexplicably vanishes."
"I don't know why this is happening. Normally, this only occurs when a soul master overexerts their soul power. But once overexertion reaches a certain limit, the body's self-preservation kicks in, preventing further depletion."
"But Tang San is different. It's as if he's endlessly draining his life force and soul power. If this continues, not only will his future cultivation become extremely difficult, but his lifespan will also shorten."
Yu Xiaogang immediately panicked. This couldn't happen—Tang San was his most prized disciple. If he became useless, how could he ever prove his flawless theories?
Yu Xiaogang grabbed Shao Xin by the collar, his eyes bloodshot as he panted heavily, "I don't care what method you use—you must cure my disciple!"
Shao Xin frowned. Even if he was just an auxiliary-type Soul Sage, since when did a mere Soul Grandmaster have the right to order him around?
His arm muscles bulged as he shoved Yu Xiaogang away, sending the Level 29 Soul Grandmaster crashing to the ground.
Yu Xiaogang sat on the floor in disbelief, trembling with rage. How dare he?! Didn't he know Yu Xiaogang was Flender's sworn brother?!
Flender's eyelid twitched. Shao Xin wasn't just anyone—he was a Food System Soul Sage, as sought-after as a Soul Douluo. If not for their brotherly bond, Shao Xin would have left long ago.
But he still had to take care of his old friend, the "Wise Man" Yu Xiaogang.
He first dismissed the other students, leaving only Yu Xiaogang and Shao Xin behind. This was not something the students should witness.
Though Xiao Wu was worried, she knew staying wouldn't help. With one last anxious glance at Tang San, she walked out.
Flender helped Yu Xiaogang up while forcing a smile. "Shao Xin, think of a way to heal Tang San. Consider it a personal favor to me."
Shao Xin's expression softened. He couldn't refuse Flender's request. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Fine, I'll try using my Martial Soul True Body."
Using a Martial Soul True Body consumed an enormous amount of soul power and could even leave the user temporarily weakened.
If not for Flender's plea, Shao Xin truly wouldn't have bothered.
Soon, a special sugar bean materialized—one that could neutralize most negative effects, heal injuries, and restore up to 70% of the soul power Shao Xin had expended.
The soul power of a Level 70 Soul Sage was more than enough to replenish Tang San's reserves. After swallowing it, Tang San's pale face quickly regained color, and his eyes fluttered open as he took in his familiar surroundings.
"Am I... back?" he murmured in confusion.
Yu Xiaogang immediately pushed forward, grabbing Tang San's hand. "Xiao San, you're finally awake! Your teacher was so worried. Quickly, check your condition."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's concern, warmth surged in Tang San's heart. This teacher, though weak in strength, genuinely cared for him.
But instead of checking himself first, Tang San turned and asked, "What about Xiao Wu? Is she alright?"
Yu Xiaogang reassured him, "Don't worry. I brought both you and Xiao Wu back together. She's already awake and waiting for you outside."
"Brought back... together?"
"Of course. You and Xiao Wu were both unconscious. I had to carry you in one arm and her in the other. But don't worry—your teacher didn't mind the effort." Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly, radiating mentorship.
At that moment, he felt like the epitome of a caring teacher.
Yet deep in Tang San's eyes, a trace of savagery flickered. No man other than him should ever hold Xiao Wu.
The warmth in his heart instantly froze into something colder than ten-thousand-year ice.
Yu Xiaogang suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. "Xiao San, check yourself for any issues. Shao Xin said you've been endlessly draining your soul power and life force."
Tang San gave Yu Xiaogang a long, deep look before silently circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to examine his body.
Before long, his eyes widened in utter disbelief. His voice came out hollow as he muttered, "My soul power... dropped. I'm only Level 41 now."
"What?!" Yu Xiaogang paled. Just how severe was the depletion to cause a soul power regression?
Tang San ignored him, sensing his soul power continuously draining—sometimes slowly, sometimes in sudden bursts.
His gaze turned vacant as he recalled Tom using the Clear Sky Hammer to smash him while he couldn't retract it.
"That's it—the Clear Sky Hammer. My Clear Sky Hammer." Tang San muttered deliriously, focusing inward to sense his second Martial Soul.
But no matter how hard he searched, it was as if he only ever had the Blue Silver Grass—as if he had never possessed twin Martial Souls to begin with.
Instantly, all color drained from Tang San's face. His entire being seemed devoid of life. His greatest trump card, the foundation of his future invincibility—the Clear Sky Hammer—was gone.
"Xiao San, what's wrong? Speak up!" Flender pressed, sensing Tang San's distress.
"I... can't sense my Clear Sky Hammer anymore," Tang San uttered emptily, like a puppet with its strings cut.
"What?! Impossible!" Yu Xiaogang and Flender exclaimed simultaneously—one's face twisted in horror, the other's in sheer panic.