"Boss, what about Lingling and me?" Guran asked anxiously, afraid Tianlin had forgotten him.
Actually, he didn't care much about going to Sea God Island. He'd rather stay by Tianlin's side and assist him. What worried him was that if everyone else went to train and he didn't, his strength would fall behind, and he'd be forgotten—especially since he was the least talented of the group.
"Don't worry, Guran. I have another path prepared for you. It'll be much harder than theirs, but if you succeed, your gains will be even greater. Want to try?" Tianlin looked at Guran seriously.
In Tianlin's heart, Guran was more important than Ma Hongjun. He'd never give up on him. Sadly, Guran's limited talent meant he could never achieve a first-level god position, not even a second- or third-level god might notice him.
At best, he might ride the coattails of a top god to enter the Divine Realm as a god officer, but Guran would never be content with that.
But fate always leaves a way. There is a path where effort trumps talent. Tianlin kept Guran and Ye Lingling behind to help them walk that path. If they succeeded, they'd achieve something no less than a first-level god.
"Hell or high water, even the Nine Nether Ghost Prisons—Boss, as long as you say it, there's nothing I won't do," Guran swore.
"Very good. I've never underestimated your conviction. That's exactly why I chose this path for you." Tianlin was extremely satisfied. Maybe Guran's talent was far below Ma Hongjun's, but in effort and determination, ten Ma Hongjuns couldn't compare.
"I'll go with you." Ye Lingling came to Guran's side and smiled. When they first met, she hadn't thought much of Guran—he wasn't as good as Tianlin or even the others in the Emperor Battle Team.
But he had kept up with everyone through sheer hard work. While those with great talent shone brightly, Guran's ability to create miracles through effort had its own unique charm.
Ye Lingling was moved. Since Tianlin left her behind too, she'd go along with his plan.
Seeing Guran like this, Ma Hongjun felt a wave of frustration. He wished he had that kind of determination too.
Soon, everyone settled their matters and dispersed. The Shi brothers needed to go home and inform their elders. Tianheng and Dugu Yan also had to return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and tell Yu Yuanzhen.
As for Yu Luomian, they'd keep it secret as long as possible. Unlike Tianheng, Yu Yuanzhen had deep brotherly feelings for Luomian.
Tianheng didn't want Yu Yuanzhen to know that Yu Luomian had died at Oslo's hands. First, he didn't want him to hate his brothers, and second, if Yu Yuanzhen found out his own brother had betrayed the clan, he would be heartbroken.
Let Yu Luomian just disappear. If his death was ever discovered, they could say he was killed by some evil force while protecting the clan. That way, Yu Yuanzhen might feel a bit better.
After everyone left, Ma Hongjun still seemed somewhat conflicted. He spread his fiery wings and flew toward Heaven Dou City.
With his current Soul Emperor-level strength, it took him less than half an hour to reach the city. Walking the familiar streets, he arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy.
The academy felt both familiar and strange. It was his alma mater, but not the one he'd attended from childhood. Though it was now much grander, in his heart, it couldn't compare to that rundown academy in the Balak Kingdom. The nominal dean was still Flender, but all educational policies were decided by the Grandmaster.
Ma Hongjun didn't like Yu Xiaogang, so apart from occasionally visiting Flender, he barely came back.
As he was about to enter, a crew-cut man holding a thick textbook walked out—it was the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.
"Huh? Are you Ma Hongjun?"
Yu Xiaogang asked uncertainly. He hadn't seen Ma Hongjun in a long time, and Ma Hongjun's appearance was now very different, making him hard to recognize.
"Yes, Grandmaster. Long time no see." Ma Hongjun tried to greet him politely.
"I didn't expect you to change so much in just a few years, and your cultivation has improved too, right?" The Grandmaster praised him, though with his mere Soul Grandmaster strength, he couldn't see Ma Hongjun's level at all.
But even among the original Shrek Seven Devils, Ma Hongjun had been outstanding. With the cultivation he'd received from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Grandmaster could guess that his strength was now not inferior to Tang San's.
"It's rare for you to come back, but unfortunately, Xiao San is still out looking for Xiao Wu. Otherwise, you two could catch up. In fact, Xiao San's been hoping you'd return—he even said if you wanted, you could be vice-commander of his Tang Army." The Grandmaster said, completely deadpan.
Actually, of the original Shrek Seven Devils, the one he most wanted to follow Tang San was Ma Hongjun.
Control-type soul masters were strong in control but lacked burst power. Before Tang San cultivated the Clear Sky Hammer, he desperately needed a high-attack partner.
Of the two Shrek attack-type soul masters, Dai Mubai was more of a semi-tank, for soaking up damage.
Ma Hongjun was the only pure burst attacker, and best suited to partner with Tang San. Unfortunately, he'd been recruited by Tianlin early on. Now, the Grandmaster wondered if he could win Ma Hongjun back.
Ma Hongjun secretly sneered. Back then, the Grandmaster always trained him to coordinate with Tang San, which meant his solo abilities never improved. If not for Qin Ming's ceaseless drilling these years, he'd always be someone who relied on control-type soul masters.
Besides, Tang San was now dead—a fact known to few, but Ma Hongjun was one of them. To betray Tianlin, who had done him a huge favor, just to serve a dead man—how naive could the Grandmaster be?
"Sorry, Grandmaster. Ever since Boss Tianlin gave me the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and cured my evil fire, I promised to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I may not be a great person, but I'm not ungrateful. I can only thank you and Tang San for your kindness." Ma Hongjun found an excuse, intending to ditch the Grandmaster.
He really didn't want to talk to this guy more. He'd come to visit his teacher Flender.
"Don't be in a hurry to refuse. I'm now the Imperial Tutor of the Heaven Dou Empire. The favor of a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower—I can repay that to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, to exchange for your freedom." The Grandmaster said confidently.
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up—not to betray the sect, but because Tianlin had always taught him to maximize benefits.
A favor equal to the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was no small thing. If the Grandmaster could really offer something comparable, Boss Tianlin would be delighted.
"Alright, Grandmaster. If you can get my boss to grant me my freedom, I'll think about it." Ma Hongjun smiled.
"Good, very good, Hongjun. Xiao San will be thrilled to see you return. Leave the rest to me." Ever since becoming Imperial Tutor, the Grandmaster had been riding high.
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan elders were considering taking him back into the clan.
Ma Hongjun sneered inwardly. If the Grandmaster couldn't produce some rare treasure, nothing lost. If he did, Ma Hongjun could think it over and then refuse. After all, he'd only promised to consider, not to join the Tang Army for sure.
He was just worrying about what wedding present to give Tianlin and Ning Rongrong—now, he could use whatever the Grandmaster gave him as a gift for them. They'd be delighted.
"Getting something for nothing"—that was one of Ma Hongjun's best tricks, learned from Tianlin. Since the Grandmaster would be an enemy because of Tang San's death, he'd take whatever he could get.