NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Greetings
"Boss Flenders, your students sure know how to cause trouble. I am impressed!"
Liu Erlong said, slapping her forehead in exasperation.
She had a straightforward personality and tended to side with her friends regardless of reason. At this moment, she couldn't help but sigh.
Just upon arriving in Heaven Dou City, they had offended the fourth prince, Xue Beng, and given him a thorough beating.
A mere fourth prince, getting beaten up wasn't a big deal.
But, in doing so, they had offended Dugu Bo, that poisonous snake...
After entering the city, they then offended a guest of the Crown Prince's residence, indirectly offending the Crown Prince himself.
This person was different from the fourth prince; he had real power and was the likely future emperor of Heaven Dou!
Even more crucially, this guest was a terrifying existence with a 100,000-year soul ring!
And he was a twin martial soul wielder...
Wonderful, just wonderful!
They managed to offend the most powerful and influential people!
If someone hadn't silently made amends in the background and sent out an unknown amount of "compensation," the Shrek team probably wouldn't have made it to her academy.
Hearing this, Flender and Yu Xiaogang blushed with embarrassment. Liu Erlong's frustration was evident.
It was partly their fault for not intervening, thinking their strength would allow them to navigate Heaven Dou City without issue.
Shrek Academy's lineup wasn't weak, with several Soul Sages and Soul Emperors.
Normally, such a configuration would allow them to walk unhindered.
But they happened to offend the two people they absolutely couldn't afford to.
"Erlong, we have to admit, we were just spectators at the time."
Flender spoke truthfully. Their long-standing camaraderie wouldn't be broken over this incident.
Liu Erlong's words were more of a jest. Even if she knew Flender and Yu Xiaogang were wrong, she wouldn't stand against them.
She always sided with her friends, no matter what.
"That esteemed person's second martial soul is an summoned beast martial soul like mine. I really want to see how powerful he will become with nine soul rings, each at least 50,000 years old!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes were filled with excitement. It was his first time encountering someone with the same condition as him.
However, the other person's innate talent was far superior to his!
There was one thing Yu Xiaogang didn't dare to mention, fearing it would shake their morale!
From the moment Zhongli's "martial soul possessed" and prepared to strike at them, he had been observing.
He noticed that Paimon did not disappear.
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang was shocked!
Yu Xiaogang had encountered two twin martial soul wielders: the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and his current disciple, Tang San.
There was one thing Yu Xiaogang could confirm: whether it was Bibi Dong's twin beast martial souls or Tang San's twin tool martial souls, they shared one common trait!
They couldn't appear simultaneously!
In other words, while they could switch frequently in battle for combat purposes, they couldn't use both martial souls at the same time for attacks!
Tang San's twin tool martial souls allowed him to manifest both martial souls simultaneously when not in battle, but Bibi Dong couldn't do that because her martial souls were both beast types.
However, Zhongli completely defied this rule. He too had twin beast martial souls, one summoned and one "possessed," and they could appear at the same time!
Once Paimon, acquired soul rings, in any fight it wouldn't be one-on-one but rather a two-against-one situation, where both minds are perfectly in sync.
Even if Tang San followed his plans perfectly, attaching nine soul rings of over 50,000 years each to his Clear Sky Hammer, he still wouldn't have any advantage over Zhongli!
Instead, he would be at a disadvantage in every aspect.
Yu Xiaogang never voiced these thoughts, fearing it would affect Tang Hao and Tang San.
That day, the compensation sent to the city gate, others might not know, but Yu Xiaogang knew for sure it was from Tang Hao.
"Reaching such a level must have taken him considerable time. Xiao San can only hope to surpass this eminent person through endurance."
"Only when this person's lifespan reaches its limit will Xiao San have his chance to rise."
"Ah, timing and fate."
Yu Xiaogang sighed inwardly, choosing not to dwell on it further.
"Father, if my mutated martial soul had innate full soul power… no, even if it were just level five, I would be renowned throughout the land!"
"If I had twin martial souls, no one in the world could match me!"
Zhongli's example showed it wasn't that external beast martial souls were lacking, but certain prerequisites had to be met.
Yu Xiaogang simply didn't meet these innate conditions.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Liu Erlong and Flender exchanged a silent, sorrowful glance.
Yu Xiaogang remained as persistent as ever, and now, having witnessed greatness, his fervor had only intensified.
If Yu Xiaogang's strength were higher, their three-in-one martial soul fusion skill would be even stronger. Unfortunately, it's more like two carrying one, a bit of a drag.
"Xiao Gang, don't overthink it. Once that esteemed person obtains soul rings for the second martial soul, we can visit and inquire."
Liu Erlong patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, comforting him.
Flender's eye twitched. Erlong sure had a way with words, suggesting they just ask about soul master secrets like it was a simple thing.
Of course, being Liu Erlong's devoted follower, Flender didn't contradict her, quickly nodding, "Yes, Xiao Gang, if we're sincere, we might just win over that esteemed person."
In the Shrek Academy dormitory.
Tang San was meditating cross-legged when suddenly, an extremely chilling aura locked onto him.
He abruptly opened his eyes, drenched in sweat.
"Who's there playing a joke? Please come forward!"
Tang San didn't dare be careless. Though his words were respectful, his right hand moved to his belt, ready to use his hidden weapons at a moment's notice.
For someone to appear silently in the dormitory and lock onto him, their strength was undoubtedly formidable, certainly beyond what Zhao Wuji and the others could handle.
This was why Tang San was so tense.
At that moment, a familiar figure appeared before Tang San, causing him to shiver in fear.
His clothes were already soaked with sweat.
"Dugu Bo!"
Tang San's eyes widened in shock. Why would Dugu Bo seek him out privately?
He had met this Title Douluo twice before, but he didn't recall offending him.
Even when driven out of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy by Dugu Bo, Tang San hadn't shown any hatred. There was no reason for Dugu Bo to come after him!
"Greetings, Senior Dugu."
Tang San cupped his hands respectfully towards Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo didn't care for formalities. Instead, he glanced around before finding a place to sit on his own.
Tang San's dormitory was very simple, likely due to his upbringing. Despite now being a Soul Elder, he hadn't changed his habits.