Chen Yuan and Ning Rongrong returned quickly, but they didn't go back to the academy. Instead, they spent their time shopping and playing around in Suotuo City.
Of course, that wasn't all. Chen Yuan also visited every blacksmith shop in the city, purchasing a total of a thousand swords. He then rented a countryside manor nestled between mountains and water as a temporary base.
This wasn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. If Chen Yuan wanted to cultivate in peace, he needed to set up a simulated cultivation environment. By arranging the thousand swords in specific positions, his cultivation speed would improve.
Creating a simulated cultivation environment for himself was relatively straightforward, but Ning Rongrong's situation was more complicated. The best environment for her would be the treasure vault of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The vault contained the sect's immense wealth, with mountains of gold coins. Silver and copper coins weren't even worthy of being stored there. Precious crystals of all colors were piled up like ordinary stones in the corners. Such an environment was most suitable for cultivating the gem-type martial soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Unknowingly, a day passed. Zhao Wuji, along with Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others, finally returned to Shrek Academy just before nightfall.
After their return, Zhao Wuji disbanded the group and went to find Flender to report on the events that had occurred during their soul hunting trip.
Zhao Wuji started from the moment they entered the forest and recounted everything that had happened up until their departure, detailing every incident, big and small.
Flender took a deep breath. A routine soul hunting trip had turned into such a chaotic ordeal:
"Running into the Snake Lady of the Dragon-Snake Duo is one thing, but encountering the Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape? I don't know whether to call you lucky or unlucky. Still, it's good that you all returned safely."
"And our academy has gained three Soul Elders in one go. Oscar is only 14, while Tang San and Xiao Wu are just 12. It seems our academy has truly struck gold. Haha…"
As he laughed, a cold voice came from the doorway:
"So, my disciple has also broken through to level 30, absorbed a soul ring, and become a Soul Elder."
Hearing this, Flender and Zhao Wuji turned to look at the door. Standing there was a middle-aged man with a stiff expression, tall and thin, exuding a sense of gloom and decadence.
Zhao Wuji frowned. He could tell this man wasn't particularly strong, yet he showed no reverence toward him or Flender, both Soul Sages. Instead, he seemed completely at ease, which made Zhao Wuji wonder about his identity:
"Your disciple… is Tang San? Are you the one they call Master Yu Xiaogang?"
Flender stepped forward with a smile, patting Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder, and introduced the two:
"That's right. This is Yu Xiaogang, an old friend of mine and Tang San's teacher. Xiaogang, this is Zhao Wuji, also known as the Unmoving King. He's now a teacher at Shrek Academy."
Yu Xiaogang nodded and said to Zhao Wuji:
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao, for taking care of Tang San and Xiao Wu during the journey. I'll go see my disciple now."
Zhao Wuji, out of respect for Flender, treated Yu Xiaogang as an equal and replied:
"They call me teacher, so it's only natural that I protect them. After we returned, I disbanded the group. They should be resting now."
With that, Yu Xiaogang turned and left. Flender then said to Zhao Wuji:
"You've worked hard on this soul hunting trip. Take a few days off and rest well."
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji grinned reluctantly:
"Boss Flender, I took a direct hit from the Titan Giant Ape. A few days off isn't enough to recover from that. Don't you think you should cough up some medical expenses?"
Flender immediately reverted to his penny-pinching nature, his eyes narrowing as he said sternly:
"That won't do. The academy isn't exactly rolling in funds. Besides, with your physique, a couple more days of rest should do the trick."
Zhao Wuji's expression soured, and he muttered under his breath as he walked away:
"Stingy, miserly, a real penny-pincher. Won't spare a single coin."
---
After the group disbanded, Tang San and Xiao Wu didn't part ways immediately. They strolled around the academy together, neither speaking, simply walking.
Before long, Yu Xiaogang's voice called out from a distance:
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, congratulations on becoming Soul Elders."
Hearing this, Tang San's face lit up with excitement. He and Xiao Wu hurried over to Yu Xiaogang, and Tang San said:
"Teacher, when did you arrive?"
Yu Xiaogang's stiff face managed a faint smile as he replied:
"Right after you left Nuoding Academy, I formally resigned from my position as dean, packed my things, and came to Shrek. By the time you went on your soul hunting trip, I had just arrived here."
"Walk with me. Tell me about your third soul skills. A thousand-year third soul skill must be far more powerful than a hundred-year one."
Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu and began explaining his situation:
"Teacher, my third soul ring came from a 1,600-year Datura Snake. It greatly enhances my Blue Silver Grass. When I use my third soul skill, **Blue Silver Snake Entanglement**, the Blue Silver Grass becomes thicker and takes on the appearance of a Datura Snake."
"I've tested it. In this state, the Blue Silver Grass can, with my full strength, pull apart a tree as thick as a bowl without breaking."
"As for the poison, since the third soul ring is from a Datura Snake, just like my first soul ring, and it's a 1,600-year one, the paralyzing toxin has been significantly enhanced. It can render an adult wild ox incapacitated in a very short time."
"The toughness and venom of the Datura Snake are perfectly suited to my Blue Silver Grass. I believe few Soul Elders can break free from my control."
Yu Xiaogang listened with pride, as if he himself had grown stronger. He nodded and said:
"Excellent. My **Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls Theory** is never wrong. You've managed to cultivate the common Blue Silver Grass to this level, which is already a remarkable achievement. The inherent weakness of Blue Silver Grass means it doesn't resist any soul ring, making it ideal for powerful soul beasts like the Datura Snake to provide strength."
After speaking, he turned his gaze to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu didn't hide anything:
"My third soul ring came from a thousand-year rabbit-type soul beast. The soul skill it gave me allows me to teleport anywhere within five meters."
Yu Xiaogang was inwardly shocked, but he maintained a calm demeanor. He spoke with certainty:
"It seems the rabbit-type soul beast you encountered was a thousand-year Lightning Rabbit. Make good use of this skill. It will make you nearly invincible in battle."
Xiao Wu didn't correct him. The soul ring had been self-condensed, not from any Lightning Rabbit. She simply nodded along:
"Understood, Master. I'll make good use of this skill."
Finally, Yu Xiaogang looked at the two of them and said:
"Alright, Xiao San, do you have any questions for me?"
Tang San fell silent for a moment, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Then he asked with great seriousness:
"Teacher, you once told me that the limit for the first soul ring is 423 years, the second soul ring is 764 years, and the third soul ring is 1,760 years. But is it truly impossible to surpass these limits and absorb a soul ring beyond them?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. He took a deep breath and said:
"You're asking about Chen Yuan, aren't you? I've heard about him from Flender. Even I can't figure out how he did it…"
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,316
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