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"Ah, Flender, as expected of the students you taught! When it comes to stirring up trouble, I, Liu Erlong, bow to your expertise!"
Liu Erlong smacked her forehead, utterly speechless.
She was a straightforward woman who stood by her own, fairness be damned—yet even she couldn't help but sigh at this.
They had just arrived in Heaven Dou City and already managed to offend the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, beating him up in the process.
Well, a mere fourth prince? Beating him up wasn't a big deal.
But in doing so, they had also provoked that venomous snake, Dugu Bo…
Then, after entering the city, they offended the Crown Prince's guest advisor—indirectly offending the Crown Prince himself.
Unlike the Fourth Prince, this man held real power. Barring any accidents, he would be the next emperor of Heaven Dou!
But that wasn't even the worst part. The most terrifying thing was that this guest advisor was a monstrous existence with a 100,000-year soul ring—and a twin-soul master at that!
Marvelous. Absolutely marvelous.
The most powerful in status and strength—all offended in one go!
If not for someone quietly making amends behind the scenes, offering an unknown "compensation," the Shrek group might never have made it to her academy.
Hearing this, Flender and Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but flush with embarrassment. Liu Erlong's words were dripping with exasperation.
It was also their fault for not stepping in to stop things earlier, assuming that with their strength, they should have been able to move freely even in Heaven Dou City.
Shrek Academy's lineup wasn't weak—several Soul Sages and Soul Emperors among them.
Under normal circumstances, such a force could strut around unimpeded.
But who could've predicted they'd end up offending the two people they absolutely shouldn't have?
"Erlong, this is on us. At the time, we were just watching the show."
Flender spoke honestly. With their years of camaraderie, a minor incident like this wouldn't drive them apart.
Liu Erlong's words were more teasing than anything. Even if she knew Flender and Yu Xiaogang were in the wrong, she wouldn't side with reason over her own.
That was just how she was—loyalty before logic.
"That Douluo's second martial soul is like mine—a detached beast soul. I truly want to see just how powerful she'll be once she obtains nine soul rings, each at least 50,000 years or more!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes shone with fervor. This was the first time he had encountered someone with the same condition as him.
The only difference was that the other party's innate advantages far, far surpassed his own!
There was one thing Yu Xiaogang didn't dare say aloud—he feared it might shake their resolve.
From the moment Zhongli "merged with his martial soul," preparing to strike, Yu Xiaogang had been observing.
And he noticed something astonishing—Paimon didn't disappear.
Yu Xiaogang had interacted with two twin-soul masters before: the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and his own disciple, Tang San.
One thing he could confirm was that, whether it was Bibi Dong's twin beast souls or Tang San's twin tool souls, they shared one common trait—
They couldn't be used simultaneously!
In other words, while they could switch rapidly during combat, they couldn't wield both martial souls at the same time.
Tang San's twin tool souls could both be summoned outside of battle, but Bibi Dong couldn't do the same—because hers were twin beast souls.
Yet Zhongli defied this rule entirely.
His configuration was also twin beast souls—one detached, one "merged"—yet both could appear at once!
Once that Paimon martial soul obtained soul rings, battles wouldn't be one-on-one.
It would be two against one—with perfect synchronization.
Even if Tang San followed his plan perfectly, successfully attaching nine soul rings of 50,000 years or more to his Clear Sky Hammer…
He would still be at a complete disadvantage against Zhongli.
No—every aspect would be a weakness.
Yu Xiaogang had kept this to himself, fearing it would affect Tang Hao and Tang San's morale.
That day at the city gates, while others might not have known who delivered the compensation, Yu Xiaogang was certain—
It had to be Tang Hao.
"Reaching this level must have taken him considerable time. For Little San to surpass this Douluo head-on, he'll have to outlast him."
"Only when this Douluo reaches the end of his lifespan will Little San have a chance to rise."
"Ah… such is fate."
With a silent sigh, Yu Xiaogang pushed these thoughts aside.
"Father, if only my mutated martial soul had innate full soul power—no, even just level five—I would surely have made a name for myself!"
"If I, too, had twin martial souls, no one in this world could stand above me!"
Zhongli's existence proved that detached beast souls weren't inherently weak—they simply required certain prerequisites.
And Yu Xiaogang… simply didn't meet them.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Liu Erlong and Flender exchanged a glance, sighing silently.
Yu Xiaogang was as obsessive as ever. Now that he had glimpsed "heaven's visage," his fervor had only intensified.
If only Yu Xiaogang's strength were higher—their trio's martial soul fusion skill would be even more formidable.
But as it stood, dragging him along was… difficult.
"Xiaogang, don't overthink it. Once that Douluo obtains soul rings for her second martial soul, we'll just go and ask her directly."
Liu Erlong patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder reassuringly.
Flender's eye twitched. Typical Erlong—only she could say something like that with a straight face.
Ask?
Since when were a soul master's secrets up for discussion?
But as Liu Erlong's devoted follower, Flender would never contradict his goddess. He quickly nodded in agreement.
"Right, Xiaogang. If we approach her sincerely, we might just move her heart."
Birds of a feather flock together.
Meanwhile, in the Shrek Academy Dormitory
Tang San sat cross-legged in meditation when suddenly—
An icy, sinister aura locked onto him.
His eyes snapped open, his body drenched in cold sweat.
"Which senior is jesting with this junior? Please, show yourself!"
Though his tone was respectful, his right hand had already drifted to the Twenty-Four Bridge Moon Night at his waist, ready to unleash hidden weapons at a moment's notice.
Whoever could infiltrate the student dormitories undetected and lock onto him like this was undoubtedly powerful—
Far beyond what someone like Zhao Wuji could handle.
That was why Tang San was so tense.
Then—
A familiar figure materialized before him, sending a jolt of terror through his veins.
His clothes were soaked through with sweat.
"Dugu Bo!"
Tang San's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't fathom why the Title Douluo would seek him out privately!
He had crossed paths with Dugu Bo twice before, but he was certain he hadn't offended him.
Even when Dugu Bo had driven them out of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Tang San hadn't shown the slightest resentment.
There was no reason for Dugu Bo to come after him!
"This junior pays his respects to the Emerald Phosphorus Douluo!"
Tang San clasped his hands in salute, his voice dripping with deference.
Dugu Bo paid him no mind. Instead, he glanced around casually before taking a seat.
Tang San's dorm room was spartan—likely a habit from his impoverished upbringing. Even now, as a Soul Elder, he hadn't changed.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 65 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.