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That evening, the eight students of Shrek Academy gathered at the main training field on time.
Flender and Yu Xiaogang arrived simultaneously.
"Little monsters, allow me to introduce you to your new teacher—Master Yu Xiaogang. Master will lead you into the new semester's curriculum, and all your future cultivation will be under his guidance. If I find out that anyone among you disobeys Master's decisions, don't blame me for being harsh."
"Of course, following Master's theories in your cultivation will bring you endless benefits."
Flender personally backed Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction and took over. "My only requirement is that no one is late or leaves early. Additionally, I will assign training tasks based on your physical limits. There won't be any insurmountable challenges, only those who refuse to persevere."
"As for the content of the training, it will remain a secret for now. Tomorrow morning, before dawn, you must wake up, have breakfast, and gather here at daybreak."
"Isn't this too early?" Ma Hongjun protested.
Flender's usual class time was around eight in the morning. Even that was barely manageable for Ma Hongjun, let alone this sudden hour earlier start.
Factoring in washing up and eating, they would need to wake up an hour earlier.
"Hongjun, if you don't want to participate in Master's special training, I won't force you," Flender adjusted his glasses with a sly smile.
"Really?" Ma Hongjun thought happiness had come too suddenly.
However, that happiness faded just as quickly.
Flender continued, "If you choose not to join Master's special training, I won't force you. Starting tomorrow, you'll spar with Teacher Zhao in the mornings, I'll personally teach you techniques useful for dueling in the afternoons, and in the evenings, you'll compete in the Grand Spirit Arena."
"What?!" Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who had initially wanted to back out, now wore bitter expressions.
Zhao Wuji wasn't only tough during entrance exams—he was like this every day when teaching students.
Sparring with him daily essentially meant getting beaten up daily.
Joining Yu Xiaogang's special training would be tough, but sparring with Zhao Wuji would be downright brutal.
Seeing no further objections, Flender revealed a triumphant smile.
---
Yu Xiaogang went over many details and dismissed the group after about the time it took to burn an incense stick.
"Ning Tianchen, Xiao San, stay behind."
"Master, it's late. Is there something you need?" Ning Tianchen asked, puzzled.
Before Yu Xiaogang could speak, Tang San jumped in first. "Tianchen, you've read Master's works. He's the wisest scholar on the continent. Your talent has earned Master's approval. Why not take him as your teacher? In the future, we'll stand together at the pinnacle of the continent as master and disciples."
Yu Xiaogang added with a smile, "Tianchen, you should know. Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul is widely considered a useless martial soul, yet he's achieved his current strength thanks to my theories."
"Perhaps you already have a teacher for martial soul cultivation, but that doesn't conflict. I'll only teach you theoretical knowledge about martial souls. If you find it difficult, I can step back further—I won't insist on the formal title of master and disciple."
"Whether to accept my teachings is entirely up to you."
Ning Tianchen: "???"
He had assumed Yu Xiaogang would mediate between him and Dai Mubai's conflict. Never did he expect the man to have such audacity as to ask him to become his disciple.
Yu Xiaogang's earlier words left Ning Tianchen unimpressed.
First, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wasn't ordinary—it carried the royal bloodline of the Blue Silver Emperor. Ordinary Blue Silver Grass was labeled a useless martial soul for a reason.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's records included examples of Blue Silver Grass soul masters cultivating.
Even with a Level 2 innate soul power, gaining the first spirit ring wouldn't grant them any combat ability. After releasing their soul skill, the Blue Silver Grass lacked any resilience, easily torn apart by ordinary people.
Thus, Blue Silver Grass simply wasn't suited for battle-type soul masters.
Yu Xiaogang had some justification for taking credit for Tang San's achievements, but even without him, Tang San would likely still have reached his current level.
It wasn't just Tang San's top-tier talent—it was also the influence of the Tang Sect's techniques.
Even a random dog tasked with educating him could make him strong. Whether or not Yu Xiaogang was involved didn't matter.
Moreover, Blue Silver Emperor was inherently a healing-type spirit beast. The most suitable path for Tang San would have been as a healing-type soul master.
In the original timeline, without undergoing the refinement of the Ice and Fire Dual Eye, relying solely on his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, the Shrek team wouldn't have stood a chance in the preliminary rounds.
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"Sorry, Master, I don't need your teachings."
"Fine, you are my second disciple." Yu Xiaogang paused mid-sentence, realizing Ning Tianchen's response wasn't what he'd expected. "Wait, what did you say?"
Tang San asked, confused, "Tianchen, don't you want Master's guidance? The resources of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect are abundant, but without Master's teachings, the detours you'll take won't be compensated for by resources alone."
Ning Tianchen inwardly scoffed:
Could it be that taking a disciple is just a front, and his real aim is to access the resources of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?
Tang San didn't know his own origins. Even if he did, the Hao Tian Sect wouldn't offer him any help.
Yu Xiaogang had gone to great lengths to secure cultivation resources for this disciple.
Even if Ning Tianchen agreed to become Yu Xiaogang's disciple, the latter wouldn't genuinely teach him. His goals were twofold: to use Ning Tianchen's talent to elevate his own fame and to treat him as a lifelong meal ticket.
Having seen through Yu Xiaogang's true colors, Ning Tianchen wasted no more words and turned to head back to the dormitory.
"Ning Tianchen, you'll regret today's decision. Even with the backing of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, so what! Under my guidance, Xiao San will surpass you in the future and crush you beneath his feet!" Yu Xiaogang's anger flared, his tone growing harsher.
After living half his life, this was the first time someone had rejected him!
Ning Tianchen disappeared into the night without looking back.
"Teacher, let it go," Tang San remarked, feeling only a tinge of regret—not nearly as enraged as Yu Xiaogang.
Ning Tianchen's guess was correct. Yu Xiaogang indeed intended to cultivate him as a long-term meal ticket.
"Alas, Xiao San, you don't understand what you're missing." Yu Xiaogang sighed repeatedly.
Was his intelligence insufficient? How could he fail to handle a mere youngster?
The master and disciple remained silent for a long while until Tang San broke the silence. "Teacher, being classmates is fine. Besides, Tianchen treats others well."
"Xiao San, go rest early. This matter doesn't concern you." Yu Xiaogang patted his shoulder.
Since persuasion hadn't worked, it was time to use "hard" tactics.
Ning Tianchen would still undergo special training under him. During the training, Yu Xiaogang planned to intentionally target him. Once he endured enough hardship, he would surely beg to become his disciple!
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