It was a dark and windy night.
Inside an isolated office at Nuoding Academy.
Yu Xiaogang was angrily packing his luggage, cursing under his breath.
"Those two damned brats, how dare they look down on me."
After being discovered by several teachers, Yu Xiaogang had been taken to the infirmary.
There, a healing-type Soul Master treated him. Though the healer only had a single white soul ring and wasn't particularly skilled, dealing with a mere fainting episode was well within their capabilities.
It was precisely because Soul Masters in this world possessed such convenient abilities that Yu Xiaogang was able to recover so quickly.
Now, he had made up his mind—he would head to Shrek Academy this time to prove himself.
Flender had told him that he had a genius student, a top-tier beast martial soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix, and another student who was a food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power.
With just a bit of thought, Yu Xiaogang realized that these two students were no less talented than Xiao Lin and Tang San.
First of all, Xiao Lin's Qiu Long Staff, no matter how formidable, was still a metal rod.
And metal? Metal couldn't withstand high temperatures. Even if the Qiu Long Staff itself was resistant to heat, could a Soul Master with a tool martial soul possibly be immune to high temperatures?
Would Xiao Lin still be able to wield his staff if it were heated to a glowing red?
And as for the food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power—such an existence was even rarer than a Blue Silver Emperor. Yu Xiaogang firmly believed that a food-type Soul Master with such talent could be as strong in support as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
He refused to believe that Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor could be significantly stronger than the supposedly useless Blue Silver Grass. Could it really become a powerful control-type martial soul?
Without his guidance, Tang San would be nothing but a failure in this lifetime.
As he thought about it, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled into a lewd smile.
Just imagining it made him a little excited.
"Heh heh heh, I still have eight years. That's more than enough time to turn my students into the greatest monsters on the continent."
"And if I can train another genius on the level of Qin Ming… Then when I call myself 'Grandmaster,' who would dare object?"
Lost in thought, Yu Xiaogang's mumblings grew louder until they turned into a near-roar.
"I object! What are you gonna do about it?"
Suddenly, a voice full of overwhelming pressure rang in his ears. A tall and burly man in a black cloak appeared behind him.
Yu Xiaogang nearly wet himself, cold sweat soaking the back of his clothes.
Someone had appeared inside his small office without him noticing.
Swallowing nervously, he turned his head slightly, trying to get a look at the person behind him.
"You'd better not turn around. Otherwise, I might just kill you."
Tang Hao had no intention of entrusting Tang San to Yu Xiaogang this time, nor did he want to expose his identity.
If not for the risk of attracting attention from Spirit Hall, he might have already crushed Yu Xiaogang to death.
"Who… Who are you?"
Yu Xiaogang, despite the warning, foolishly asked the question anyway.
Tang Hao found himself questioning whether this man was just stupid.
But instead of answering, he simply placed his right hand on Yu Xiaogang's shoulder and pressed down lightly.
Bang!
Under the weight of Tang Hao's monstrous strength, Yu Xiaogang's legs instantly buckled, and he fell to his knees.
"I don't want you going near Xiao Lin and Tang San. Stop meddling in their affairs."
"If I ever find out that something happens to them… then Yu Yuanzhen will be the next Qian Xunji. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank in terror.
There were very few people on the Douluo Continent who would dare say something like that—who would claim they could make Yu Yuanzhen meet the same fate as Qian Xunji.
And from Yu Xiaogang's memory, there was only one person who fit that description.
"You… You're Hao Tian—"
Hmph!
Tang Hao didn't want to waste words. He simply unleashed a soul power pressure equivalent to a Soul King's level.
For Yu Xiaogang, who was only at rank 29 and had neglected his physical training for years, this was unbearable.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as his body trembled from the overwhelming force.
"Wh-why…?"
"Could it be…"
Suddenly, a thought struck Yu Xiaogang like a bolt of lightning, and his eyes lit up.
"Xiao Lin is your son?!"
Overcome with excitement, Yu Xiaogang instinctively turned his head to confirm his guess.
Sure enough, in that brief moment, Tang Hao's expression froze for a split second.
He had guessed correctly.
Seeing Tang Hao's silence, Yu Xiaogang grew even more certain.
The Haotian Hammer martial soul had mutated into the Qiu Long Staff. Though the two were completely different weapons, the fact that Xiao Lin had innate full soul power proved that his martial soul was not inferior to the Haotian Hammer—perhaps it was even superior.
And then Yu Xiaogang recalled something else: the seemingly casual push from Xiao Lin that had knocked him over.
No ordinary six-year-old child could have such strength. Unless, of course, he had already become a Soul Master and had chosen a strength-enhancing soul ring.
It was exactly like how Tang Hao had picked his soul rings.
Xiao Lin was clearly building himself into a powerhouse of raw strength.
As for why his surname was Xiao and not Tang? Yu Xiaogang reasoned that Tang Hao must have wanted to hide and protect his son.
Yu Xiaogang was thrilled. He had never expected Xiao Lin to be the son of his idol.
With this revelation, a fire reignited in his heart.
Yu Xiaogang spoke excitedly, "Your Excellency Hao Tian, if you entrust your son to me—"
"Mind your own business."
Tang Hao interrupted coldly. Without hesitation, he grabbed Yu Xiaogang and tossed him out.
"Swear your oath and get lost."
Tang Hao had no interest in arguing. He just wanted Yu Xiaogang to swear on his martial soul and leave.
However, being thrown out like this completely shattered Yu Xiaogang's fragile ego.
In his mind, the great and invincible Haotian Douluo had "fallen from grace."
Now lying at the doorway, Yu Xiaogang's face was filled with disbelief. Even his idol didn't acknowledge him—how could he…
Fine! I'll leave!
"I, Yu Xiaogang, swear upon my martial soul, Luo San Pao—if I reveal anything about Xiao Lin and Tang San to a third person, may my martial soul shatter, and may I live in agony."
He violently pushed open the office door, his face twisted in resentment, and stormed off without looking back.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Yu Xiaogang's emotions had risen to a peak only to come crashing down. His hatred for Tang Hao and Xiao Lin now burned like wildfire.
Tang Hao had destroyed his last chance of proving himself as a true master.
Damn it!
Why?!
He had worked so hard…
If Xiao Lin truly was Tang Hao's son, then the so-called geniuses at Shrek Academy wouldn't stand a chance.
It seemed he had no choice but to implement his ultimate training method—extreme endurance running.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with determination as this thought crossed his mind.
(End of Chapter)