73: Chapter 73 Let's wait three years then.

He firmly believed that as long as he could make Tang San take him as a master, he could replicate the glory of his past life. He could rely on Tang San to stand up again and make everyone who looked down on him bow down to him.

He tidied his appearance and arrived at Tang San's dormitory again, only to see an empty room, with even the bedding packed away.

His heart skipped a beat. He searched everywhere in the academy like a madman, asking every teacher and student, but no one knew where Tang San and Xiao Wu had gone. They only said they hadn't appeared for several days, and most of them simply didn't want to tell him.

Finally, he stumbled into the dean's office and grabbed the old dean's arm, asking with red eyes, "Where is Tang San? Where is Xiao Wu? And Lin Yue! Where did they go?!"

The old dean looked at the dejected Yu Xiaogang with no good feelings. If it hadn't been for Yu Xiaogang bearing the title of "Great Master," he wouldn't have let him stay at the academy as a guest teacher.

He coldly shook off Yu Xiaogang's hand and said, "The three of them left long ago. They completed their early graduation procedures three days ago and left Nuoding City."

"Left? Where did they go?!" Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with anxiety.

"Lin Yue went to travel the continent alone; no one knows exactly where she went. Tang San and Xiao Wu headed east to Soto City," the old dean glanced at him and added.

Soto City!

As soon as these three words entered his ears, Yu Xiaogang froze in place, and then a light of ecstasy erupted in his eyes. His whole body trembled with excitement.

Soto City! His good brother Flender!

How could he have forgotten this? In his past life, the Shrek Academy he founded with Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others was located just outside Soto City!

The current Flender is already a level 75 agility-attack system Spirit Saint, guarding that monster academy in Soto City!

Tang San and Xiao Wu went to Soto City. Given their talent, and the pride in Tang San's bones, they would inevitably be attracted to Shrek Academy, which "only accepts monsters and not ordinary people," and would definitely sign up for admission!

At that time, he would only need to go to Shrek Academy and ask Flender for a teaching position. He could then legitimately stay at the academy, see Tang San every day, and gradually let Tang San see his capabilities, making Tang San willingly take him as a master!

In his past life, he was able to rely on his own theories to make Tang San devoted to him, and he could do the same in this life!

The previous events were just a minor accident.

It didn't matter that the Opportunity of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was gone. He still had the secrets of Sea God Island and Slaughter City, as well as countless theories and experiences that could help Tang San! As long as he could stay by Tang San's side, he still had a chance to turn things around!

The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the more excited he became. His previous despair and decadence were swept away, and a paranoid red light reignited in his eyes.

He couldn't even wait for the next day. He packed his meager luggage that very day, didn't even bother to say goodbye to the dean, rushed straight out of Nuoding Academy, and headed towards Soto City like a madman.

What he didn't know was that the Shrek Academy he was so obsessed with had already been targeted by more than one Transmigration traveler.

What he didn't know even more was that this trip was not seizing an Opportunity to turn things around, but rather diving headfirst into an undercurrent even more turbulent than Nuoding City.

The three people from Spirit City, Gui Mengguan and the others, soon received the news that Tang San and Xiao Wu were heading to Soto City, and that Lin Yue had disappeared to travel alone.

The three of them leaned against the cool pillars of the Elder Hall, unfolding the newly arrived secret report, their expressions not exactly relaxed.

Gui Mengguan put away the secret report first, tapped his fingertips lightly against the stone pillar, and spoke first: "Lin Yue actually didn't follow Tang San to Soto City, but instead broke away from the main storyline to travel alone. This woman is a ruthless character; it's clear she doesn't want to stay in the open as a target and wants to act from the shadows."

Qiangu Jue crossed his arms and scoffed, his tone carrying a hint of gravity: "Hiding in the shadows is even more troublesome. Transmigration travelers in the open can at least be monitored, but with her disappearance, heaven knows when she will pop up and what she will do. Not to mention that Rebirth lunatic, Great Waste Gang, has also headed to Soto City."

"It's not just Great Waste Gang," Oupai added, frowning, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the Godly Zhuge Crossbow at his waist. "Lin Mo's group has also been frequently inquiring about Tang San's information recently. Looking at their movements, there is a high probability they also intend to go there."

Gui Mengguan was silent for a moment upon hearing this, but then suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the two: "Actually, if you think about it carefully, we don't need to be this nervous."

Qiangu Jue and Oupai were both stunned and looked at him in unison.

"Did you forget? In the original work, Tang San officially entered Shrek Academy and started the core main storyline when he was twelve," Gui Mengguan said slowly. "Tang San has just turned nine, so there are at least three years left before he signs up for Shrek."

He paused and continued to analyze along this train of thought: "Even if these Transmigration travelers go to Soto City now, they are at most scouting ahead and won't amount to much. After all, most Transmigration travelers are not even ten years old yet, and the highest cultivation among them is only a Spirit Elder. They wouldn't all flock to Soto City now to preemptively grab Shrek's admission spots and force the plot, right? It makes no sense. The real plot node is when Tang San enters Shrek at twelve. By that time, all the hidden Transmigration travelers and Rebirth individuals will truly emerge in droves."

Qiangu Jue was stunned, then slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened: "That's right! How could I have forgotten this? We watch every little movement every day, but forgot the most crucial timeline! There are still a full three years until the plot officially begins!"

"That's right," Oupai also reacted, his tightly furrowed brows relaxing a bit. "Even if we run to Soto City now, it won't change anything. Instead, it would expose our identities prematurely and get us targeted by other Transmigration travelers. Rather than wading into these muddy waters now, it's better to stay safely in Spirit Hall."

Gui Mengguan nodded, his tone becoming firm: "So my point is, we won't wade into these muddy waters in Soto City. If Lin Mo and his group want to go, let them go. If Yu Xiaogang wants to make trouble, let him make trouble. We won't concern ourselves with these matters."

He looked up at the two, his gaze sweeping over the direction of the cultivation secret chambers deep within the Elder Hall, and said word by word: "The next three years are our only golden window period to develop with peace of mind. No matter how much these Transmigration travelers on the continent stir things up, without Tang San as the core anchor, they can't stir up any real trouble. What we need to do is use the top-tier resources of the Spirit Hall's Elder Hall to Cultivate with all our might and solidly improve our strength."

"When the plot officially starts in three years and all the Transmigration travelers appear in droves, the strength in our hands will be the only trump card that can secure our footing."

Hearing this, Qiangu Jue instantly got energized. He gripped the Coiling Dragon Rod in his hand and nodded heavily: "Well said! Let them stir up whatever trouble they want! With our current cultivation, even if we went, we'd be cannon fodder. It's better to honestly go into seclusion and Cultivate! In three years, relying on the resources of the Elder Hall, we can at least steadily reach the Spirit Ancestor rank, and if we're lucky, we might even touch the threshold of Spirit King! By then, even if a fight really breaks out, we'll have the confidence!"

"I agree too," Oupai immediately echoed. "The Spirit Hall's cultivation secret chambers, exclusive spirit ring resources, and top-tier Hidden Weapons blueprints are all the best on the continent. With such good resources, there's no need to take risks outside. During these three years, I can just happen to polish the advanced version of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and my Soul Power can also steadily improve by a large margin."

The three looked at each other and reached a consensus in an instant.

The anxiety that had been hanging over them because of the Transmigration travelers everywhere and the completely out-of-control plot finally settled down.

Rather than running around exhausted following the chaotic plot, it is better to seize this three-year golden window period to polish their own strength to the extreme. After all, in this World where Spirit Masters are respected, no matter how many Transmigration travelers or Rebirth individuals there are, what ultimately determines fate is always hard strength.

After making up their minds, the three no longer paid attention to any movements in Soto City, nor did they bother with the probing and solicitation from Lin Mo's group. They turned around and walked into the exclusive cultivation area deep within the Elder Hall.

For the next three years, they intended to completely settle their hearts and give it their all here to complete the transformation of their strength.

...

PS: I don't want to write here anymore; I'm skipping directly to the twelve-year-old plot point.