48: Tang Hao Returns

After Tang San arrived at Blue Tyrant Academy, he still encountered trouble just like in the original work.

Regarding Titan's harassment of Xiao Wu, Tang San initially resolved it easily, but with the appearance of Titan's father, Titan, even with his Four Spider Soul Bones, Tang San still used Hidden Weapons to defeat him.

After Titan heard this, he couldn't bear it. Even with Liu Erlong blocking him, she couldn't stop the protective Titan.

And when Tang San was pressured into revealing his second Martial Soul, the Haotian Hammer, Tang San even retracted the King of Hell's Summons he had intended to use.

As a result, the Titan, who had been ignored after being abandoned by the Haotian Sect, still protected Tang San like a filial son.

Under the blessing of his luck halo, Tang San also learned about the Immortal Herb in Yang Wudi's possession, and through Tang San's intentional or unintentional revelation.

So, our filial son number one, Tang Hao's Titan, paid a huge price to exchange for the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng from Bai He.

After Tang San obtained the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, he gave a portion to Xiao Wu, and thus, both of them reached level forty while participating in the competition.

Under the guidance of fate, Tang San still chose that ten-thousand-year Earth Creeping Demon Spider as his fourth Soul Ring.

Looking at the ten-thousand-year fourth ring beneath his feet and the King of Hell's Summons hidden in his hand, Tang San couldn't help but sneer and curl up the corner of his mouth when he thought of the five people from Shrek Academy, already treating the five Shrek members as toys he could manipulate at will.

After all, the current Tang San had no intention of letting the five Shrek members off easily. In his opinion, if the Shrek people had given him the Immortal Herb earlier, perhaps he would have become a Soul King like Dai Mubai.

What troubled Tang San and Yu Xiaogang the most was the strength of the current team members.

Besides her and Xiao Wu, there wasn't a single Soul Grandmaster. Although Tang San was confident he could defeat the Shrek people in the finals, under Yu Xiaogang's introduction, Tang San learned that none of the five major academies were easy opponents.

According to Yu Xiaogang, each of the five major academies this year had at least two Soul Grandmasters in their team, and the team members were all high-level Soul Venerables (referring to those above level thirty-seven).

Titan also slowly spoke, revealing the information about the champions and runners-up from the previous competition.

"The previous champion was Spirit Hall Academy, they had a full Soul Grandmaster lineup, with more than four high-level Soul Grandmasters in the team, and the runner-up was Star Luo Empire, they also had a five-Soul Grandmaster lineup, with two high-level Soul Grandmasters."

For Blue Tyrant Academy to face them, after learning that he couldn't use Hidden Weapons, Tang San lost his hundred percent confidence after hearing Titan's words.

In Tang San's heart, the King of Hell's Summons definitely had to be saved for Shrek Academy, but thinking of his ten-thousand-year Soul Ring and external Soul Bone, Tang San still chose to make a bold declaration, saying he would definitely win the championship.

This also made Yu Xiaogang overjoyed, but Yu Xiaogang still temporarily calmed down.

After all, this concerned his Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's reputation, and the enemy's strength was also extremely terrifying, so after the few of them discussed tactics in detail again, they slowly left.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged man in the shadows, after witnessing the entire process, silently left the area with a killing aura.

Shrek Academy

Dugu Bo came to Shrek Academy, saw his granddaughter, and was about to leave when Dai Mubai called out to him, so the two slowly started playing chess.

"Senior Dugu, if a war were to break out in Spirit Hall within the next ten years, which side would you stand on?"

Dai Mubai slowly placed a black piece, uncharacteristically chatting seriously with Dugu Bo.

"Me? I want to be a country bumpkin, and I know that's impossible, but Mu Bai, what makes you think Spirit Hall will definitely start a war?"

Dugu Bo hesitated for a long time, then slowly placed a white piece, blocking Dai Mubai's offensive. He knew in his heart that this day might come, but why was Dai Mubai so confident about the timing? So Dugu Bo threw the question back.

"Firstly, from the perspective of ordinary people, Spirit Hall is an undoubtedly good organization, but looking at the current person in power, Spirit Hall's actions are aimed at becoming the uncrowned king. Secondly, Spirit Hall utilizes its innate advantage to encompass nearly seventy percent of the continent's Soul Masters."

Dai Mubai systematically explained what Spirit Hall was currently doing, while also making another move with a clear offensive.

"Didn't Spirit Hall do the same before? What makes you so certain that they will launch an attack within ten years?"

Dugu Bo blocked Dai Mubai's offensive by placing a piece, bringing up past events.

"Hehe, Senior Dugu, you know the reason for this better than I do. You should know the temperament, disposition, and actions of the new Pope. A person who is only around fifty years old but possesses a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, and you should have seen her methods. As for my source of information, I can guarantee one thing: within five years, she will definitely re-select the Seven Great Sects."

After Dai Mubai finished speaking, he smiled at Dugu Bo. When he said all this, he was so confident, as if he was just talking about past events in a casual manner. And Dai Mubai also made a move that Dugu Bo couldn't understand.

Dugu Bo fell silent for a long time after hearing this. As a Title Douluo, especially after he defeated Chrysanthemum Pass out of spite, the degree to which Spirit Hall wanted to "recruit" him increased significantly.

If he hadn't avoided it for a while by claiming to be in secluded cultivation, perhaps Dugu Bo would be facing even greater pressure now.

After all, the Star Luo Empire also knew about his defeat of Chrysanthemum Pass, and even the people from the Star Luo Empire had not stopped this so-called "recruitment."

However, Dugu Bo didn't expect that the person Star Luo sent this time would actually be Dai Mubai.

But Dugu Bo stubbornly placed a piece, intending to fully resolve Dai Mubai's offensive.

Dugu Bo spoke slowly, his somewhat hoarse voice carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Sometimes, even a Title Douluo cannot act freely, but at least with my current strength, protecting one side is not a problem."

The last sentence revealed Dugu Bo's confidence, because with Dai Mubai's help, he had broken through to level ninety-four this year, and Dugu Bo's words also indicated that he could protect Shrek Academy in times of chaos.

"Since you know you can't act freely, you can still engage in a game. In the face of the general trend, if you don't become a player, there will ultimately only be one outcome."

Upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, Dai Mubai presented the brutal reality before Dugu Bo, forcing him to make a choice.

After speaking, Dai Mubai also made his final move, and this move linked all the hidden pieces, directly determining life and death.

Dugu Bo looked at the chessboard in front of him and was silent for a long time. Just as he was about to speak, Dai Mubai smiled freely and said slowly.

"A game takes time, you can't determine life and death with one move, but a crisis can arrive in the blink of an eye. There is still time to see the situation clearly."

Upon hearing Dai Mubai's words, Dugu Bo also showed a heartfelt smile, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes, and then spoke, posing a question he thought would be difficult for Dai Mubai.

"What if I am willing to help you, or join your academy, but not fight for your Star Luo Empire?"

"That is exactly my intention."

What Dugu Bo didn't expect was that Dai Mubai would say this without hesitation.

"Mu Bai... are you sure?"

Dugu Bo pondered for a moment and seriously confirmed the truth of this matter with Dai Mubai.

"Just an Empire, what is there to be reluctant about? An emperor of just a hundred years eventually turns into a handful of yellow earth. What I want to do is much more meaningful than this."

The casualness, even contempt, with which Dai Mubai spoke of the Star Luo Empire's throne would have been unbelievable to Dugu Bo if it were anyone else.

But the Dai Mubai before him was someone who possessed a God's inheritance, so Dugu Bo also seemed to understand. After a free and easy smile, he extended his hand to Dai Mubai, forming a fist, and spoke, confirming the matter.

"Then this old man will go crazy with you."

Seeing this, Dai Mubai also showed a satisfied smile, forming a fist with his right hand and directly bumping it.

From this moment on, Dugu Bo didn't know what he would face in the future, but years later, when Dugu Bo mentioned this matter, he would also shake his head and chuckle, because he had thought what Dai Mubai wanted to do was too simple back then.

After Dugu Bo slowly left, Gu Yuena walked out from the woods and looked at Dai Mubai, asking with some confusion.

"Just a Title Douluo, although he has the ability for group combat, is it worth Gengjin spending so much effort?"

"Character is always the first priority. Using force to suppress will never gain a hundred percent loyal and usable talent among humans."

After Dai Mubai slowly explained, Gu Yuena nodded thoughtfully. Just as the two were about to leave.

A cold and hoarse voice sounded.

"I think so too..."