"Oscar, where do you plan to go from here?"
At this moment, a soft voice was heard.
Oscar followed the sound and saw Zhu Zhuqing standing not far away, quietly watching him.
"Zhuqing, so it was you." Oscar slowly raised his head.
Beneath the brim of his hood, the face that was once sunny and handsome now appeared exceptionally haggard. His eyes were bloodshot, their rims slightly red, and his lips were chapped and peeling.
"I..."
Oscar's voice was a bit hoarse, as if carrying endless desolation and confusion.
"I don't know either. Maybe I'll leave. Go somewhere no one knows me."
His gaze passed over the city gate, looking toward the streets. The streets were bustling with traffic and people, and the sounds of laughter and cheerful conversation drifted into his ears.
But Oscar felt that all of this was jarringly out of place with his own state.
"Why don't you go to the Star Luo Empire?"
As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing took out a token from her Soul Tool.
"Your talent shouldn't be buried. Even though you've lost an arm, in my heart, you are still the most talented auxiliary-type Soul Master on the continent."
Oscar gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Right now, I just want to go out for a walk and clear my head. I'm not interested in joining any faction."
"But, Zhuqing, thank you."
As he said this, Oscar's eyes reddened slightly again. His remaining right hand unconsciously clenched, the knuckles turning white from the force.
"Take it, Oscar."
Zhu Zhuqing walked forward and stuffed the token directly into his pocket.
"I don't mean to force you. If one day you're tired of wandering, the Star Luo Zhu Family will always welcome you," Zhu Zhuqing said with a light chuckle.
After speaking, she didn't linger, turning directly to walk back into the city.
Oscar pulled the token from his pocket. Watching Zhu Zhuqing's gradually disappearing back, a trace of warmth suddenly rose in his heart.
He had never expected that this classmate, with whom he had barely spoken, would actually come to see him off.
Oscar tucked the token into his robes and turned to begin his journey.
"Xiaogang, where in the city is this Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?" Flender asked the Grandmaster, looking at a map.
The Grandmaster shook his head. "I don't know either."
Although Yu Xiaogang came from a great family, his own talent was too low, and he was ridiculed by others every time he went out.
Therefore, he had spent his youth hiding within his clan to cultivate, barely ever venturing out.
Flender smiled bitterly. "Then we'll just have to go to Heaven Dou City first and ask someone there."
Ning Rongrong actually knew the location of Heaven Dou Academy, but she couldn't be bothered to speak right now. Besides, she wasn't planning on continuing with Shrek Academy.
The battle in Silves City had completely shattered the already shallow friendships within Shrek.
When Oscar left, Tang San had no real reaction. In his heart, Oscar was just a classmate. It was perfectly normal for friends to part ways.
Ever since Xiao Wu disappeared, Tang San's heart had gradually closed itself off.
Aside from his two 'fathers', his hidden weapons, and his poisons, there was nothing that he truly cared about.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun felt some regret about it. However, the moment it was mentioned that Oscar was injured because of Ma Hongjun's cowardice, both of them fell completely silent.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had wanted to keep him. After Oscar 'disappeared', they suggested that Flender search for him outside the city.
However, aside from sighing, Flender didn't have much of a reaction.
In truth, the teachers had all more or less sensed that something was off with Oscar. His clumsy acting was completely transparent in the eyes of a shrewd person like Flender.
It was just that in Flender's heart, he still favored his own sworn brother.
Although Oscar's talent was high, he was, after all, just a student. If he remained in Shrek, it would make Yu Xiaogang's position somewhat awkward.
So, Flender simply pretended he didn't know.
Since the Dean had made his stance clear, the other teachers naturally wouldn't say anything more. In a sense, they were just here to live out their days in retirement.
The group arrived outside the city gates. Just as they were preparing to enter, they saw a huge notice on the adjacent bulletin board.
"Blue Tyrant Advanced Soul Master Academy is hiring instructors. Requirements: Soul Ancestor level 40 or above. Those with higher soul power are preferred. Once hired, compensation will be generous."
"Why is this academy's advertisement posted all the way out here on the city gate bulletin board? How much must that cost!" Flender said, somewhat astonished.
"Blue Tyrant?" Yu Xiaogang stroked his chin. He suddenly felt the name was somewhat familiar.
At this moment, Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang, a mocking smile rising in his eyes. "Xiaogang, you've stayed in Heaven Dou City before. What's this Blue Tyrant Academy like?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "I don't know. It's just that the name..."
He hadn't finished speaking when a whistling sound suddenly came from mid-air.
Everyone looked up, only to see several streaks of light in the distance, rapidly approaching the city gate.
At the same time, Flender and the other three teachers released their Martial Souls in unison. They had sensed that they had suddenly been locked onto by an aura.
"That's...!"
Flender's eyes instantly widened, a trace of shock flashing within them. His body leaned forward slightly, his muscles tensed, as if he had seen something terrifying.
Yu Xiaogang frowned upon seeing this. He had been with Flender for decades and naturally knew his habits.
Flender, in this posture, was clearly showing the prelude to running away.
In a few breaths, the three figures in the air arrived above the city gate.
The person on the left had a somewhat withered face. He was very tall, appearing to be at least three meters. If Lu Feng were here, he would have recognized him at a glance. This was the Soul Douluo who had given him the Seven Treasure Token back then.
The middle-aged man on the right was somewhat thin, his expression cold and severe, looking like a drawn sword.
The person in the center appeared to be an old man. His features were simple, his face as tender as a baby's, and his long silver hair was neatly combed back.
His expression was indifferent. He just stood there quietly, yet he gave off an air of absolute superiority.
What was truly astonishing was that none of the three had released their Martial Souls, yet they were standing in mid-air.
"They are all experts at or above the Soul Douluo level!"
Tang San looked at the three imposing figures in the sky and marveled inwardly.
Grandmaster had once taught him that, aside from flying-type Soul Masters, anyone else who wanted to fly required soul power of at least level 80.
Level 80!
An inexplicable excitement rose in Tang San's heart. He hadn't expected to see such powerful figures just after arriving in Heaven Dou City.
I wonder how the strength of these people compares to the inner sect elders of the Tang Sect in my previous life?
Immediately, Tang San quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.
The three slowly landed on the ground. The thin, middle-aged man's eyes were icy as he said in a low voice, "Who is Flender? Who is Yu Xiaogang?"
They're here for me?
Flender's heart 'thumped', as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.
But he quickly forced himself to remain calm. He took a step forward and said, "I am Flender. Seniors, what business do you have with Xiaogang and me?"
"Hmph!" The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly.
Flender immediately shivered. He felt as if an invisible sharp sword had slit his throat. Beads of sweat instantly ran down his forehead, and his face turned deathly pale.
"Thump!"
Flender's body completely lost control. His legs went weak, and he collapsed directly onto the ground. He struggled to get up, but he felt as if his Martial Soul was no longer obeying his commands.
"Flender!" The other teachers, seeing this, immediately cried out.
They had been friends with Flender for over a decade. Although they couldn't beat the opponent, they weren't willing to just sit by and wait for death.
At this, the middle-aged man glanced at the others.
"Thump! Thump!" The other teachers' bodies completely lost control, and they fell to the ground one after another.
"Who... who exactly are you? If Flender has offended you in any way, I hope you can be magnanimous. At the very least... at least please spare my students."
"Hmph! You've got some loyalty." The middle-aged man sneered, withdrawing his soul power pressure.
The teachers felt the mountain-like pressure instantly disappear, and they scrambled up from the ground.
However, their appearance was quite pathetic. They were all covered in dust, their clothes disheveled, as if they had just escaped from a soul beast forest.
"Thank you, Senior, for your mercy. May I ask for Seniors' names?" Flender said respectfully, bowing low.
Flender had met a few experts at or above the Soul Douluo level before.
However, this was the first time Flender had met someone who could knock him to the ground with just a single look.
Facing this person, Flender felt as if he were facing a sharp sword—a treasured sword that was already drawn, its edge exposed, stabbing straight at him.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Chen Yu," the middle-aged man said coldly.
"So it is Senior Chen. I have long heard of your great name, long heard of your great name." Flender raised his head, his face breaking into that standard profiteer's smile.
Flender, of course, had not heard of Chen Yu's name. However, in the Soul Master world, especially among the major clans, who didn't know the name 'Heavenly Sword Chen Yu'?
He was a clansman of the Sword Douluo. In terms of seniority, he was Chen Xin's nephew.
With soul power as high as level 88, and his masterful sword skills, he could be considered the strongest person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, aside from the two Titled Douluo protectors.
"Which of you is Yu Xiaogang?" Chen Yu said coldly, his gaze sweeping over the remaining teachers.
His eyes scanned the three of them. Chen Yu felt he had heard the name somewhere before, but he couldn't quite recall it.
The three were here, naturally, to take Ning Rongrong home.
Gu Lin had told him that Ning Rongrong was injured during a spirit battle. The situation had been so urgent that Gu Lin had almost intervened himself.
If it had been an ordinary spar, it would have been fine. However, Ning Rongrong's injury was entirely due to the foolish decisions of these teachers.
Those members of the Fierce God Team... Gu Lin had already taken care of them. As an elder who had watched Ning Rongrong grow up, Chen Yu felt he must do something.
Otherwise, wouldn't he lose face to Gu Lin in the future?
The three teachers didn't answer. Instead, they turned their gazes behind them.
Suddenly, a foul stench of urine wafted into everyone's nostrils.
"Ugh, what is that smell!" Ning Rongrong gagged. She quickly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and hurriedly moved to a distance.
Everyone else also showed looks of disgust and scattered, avoiding the source of the smell as if fleeing a plague.
In an instant, a large open space was cleared in the crowd that had been gathered. Only Yu Xiaogang was left standing in place, looking particularly conspicuous.
At his feet, the ground had become inexplicably wet. A puddle of pale yellow liquid was slowly spreading outward from the center of his feet.