Chapter 154: Shi Nian's Illusion, the Beginning of Tang San's Nightmare

Weekend Double Chapters!

Holy Moly! The author is on drugs, chapters are so long now.

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"Instinct."

"In... Instinct?"

Late at night, darkness shrouded the entire Heaven Dou City. The city glowed with countless lights, and the streets buzzed with all kinds of pedestrians and travelers.

As the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was in full swing, Heaven Dou City was undoubtedly at its liveliest during this time.

However, within Shrek Academy, the atmosphere was completely different.

Unlike the bustling city, Shrek Academy was eerily silent. The students wandered the campus lifelessly, some gathering in small groups to discuss the same topic—

The Shrek Seven Devils' matches against Elephant Armored Academy and Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Second Team.

Less than five days into the tournament, Shrek Academy had already lost two matches. Many students began to question whether sending the so-called Shrek Seven Devils was truly the best choice.

Not only had they suffered crushing defeats, but their ridiculous green uniforms had also made them the laughingstock of the entire city.

The newly appointed dean, Flender, had such an unbearable sense of aesthetics that nearly all the students could only respond with a sarcastic—

"Ha."

No Shrek student dared to wear that green uniform outside the academy.

It was simply too eye-catching.

Some of the more confident senior students even boasted, "If I were in the match, I'd do better than them!"

The entire student body was disheartened, and the Shrek Seven Devils themselves were no exception.

Ever since returning to their dorms after the match, Dai Mubai and the others had remained completely silent, their faces dark with frustration.

They didn't understand—what was wrong with them?

Losing two matches was bad enough, but on the way back, they had been met with nothing but mocking stares from the other competitors.

Even though Shrek Academy was considered an advanced soul master academy, they had been utterly humiliated.

But the real reason for their loss of morale wasn't just the defeats.

It was the overwhelming strength Ye Hao had displayed during their match against Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Second Team.

Just thinking about his name made the Shrek students clench their teeth in frustration.

...

In the academy's back mountain, Tang San and Xiao Wu sat on a tree branch, leaning against each other as they gazed at the pitch-black night sky above.

They remained silent for a long time.

Tonight, for some reason, the sky seemed darker than usual—almost as if the heavens were mirroring their mood.

"Brother, what should we do about our match against Blazing Academy in two days?" Xiao Wu asked worriedly.

Blazing Academy was an established powerhouse, and its competitors all possessed fire attribute martial souls.

Everyone knew that Blue Silver Grass was a useless martial soul—and what did grass fear the most?

Fire.

Tang San sighed. "I don't know either. Blazing Academy has already won two matches in a row, while we..."

He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

At this moment, all of Shrek Academy was drowning in despair. Expecting them to recover their mentality in just two days was nearly impossible.

More importantly, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had no resistance to fire.

Blazing Academy's flames were undoubtedly his worst possible counter.

Even Grandmaster advised Tang San to sit out the match, suggesting that he avoid confrontation now and save his strength for later battles.

Tang San didn't know how to respond.

Because, he himself was lost.

If the heavens could grant him an opportunity to grow stronger right now, he would seize it without hesitation.

But he had already missed his chance with the Immortal Herbs, and time was quickly running out.

.....

Not far from them, Shi Nian, clad in a gray robe, slowly emerged from the dense forest.

He looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu sitting on the tree branch, and a devious smirk crept onto his face.

At that moment, an audacious idea took root in his mind.

.....

Inside Grandmaster's room, empty wine bottles were scattered across the floor.

He was completely drunk, curled up in the corner, looking utterly miserable.

Ye Hao's words had shattered him.

Even now, he still hadn't recovered from the psychological blow.

"Grandmaster."

A familiar voice snapped him out of his drunken stupor.

He drunkenly turned his head and locked eyes with Tang Hao.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Tang Hao... You... You're Tang Hao!"

Ever since Tang Hao's attack on the Spirit Hall, Grandmaster hadn't seen him for over six months.

Now, Tang Hao's sudden appearance left him both stunned and relieved.

"Tang Hao, thank goodness you're alive!"

Tang Hao: "..."

"Look at you. Drowning in alcohol? Or is it that Ye Hao's words hurt you so much?"

Hearing this, Grandmaster couldn't help but lower his head in shame.

"Am I truly useless, just as Ye Hao said?"

"There are no useless martial souls, only useless..."

He had been dwelling on these words for days.

For his entire life, he had been stuck at Rank 29.

He had hoped that the Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would help him break through his limits.

But no—Ye Hao had tampered with them.

The result?

Grandmaster had suffered so much that he had to walk with his legs clamped together for an entire week.

"Grandmaster, pull yourself together."

"Shrek Academy is at a breaking point. If you lose to Blazing Academy next match, you're out of the tournament."

Tang Hao's voice was firm.

And there was another matter—this tournament's grand prize was three soul bones.

But Grandmaster just slumped back onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Tang Hao... Do you really want to see Tang San join Spirit Hall and compete under them?"

Tang Hao stiffened.

He understood exactly what Grandmaster meant.

Tang Hao was a wanted man. If Tang San showed up in Spirit Hall, it would bring disaster upon him.

Especially with Ye Hao—Spirit Hall's "Prince"—also present in Heaven Dou City.

Tang Hao found himself deeply troubled by this.

"Grandmaster, don't worry."

"Tang San is my son. I won't let anything happen to him."

But Grandmaster snapped back,

"He's also my disciple!"

Tang Hao didn't argue. Instead, he grinned at Grandmaster.

"Looks like the Grandmaster I know is finally back."

But suddenly, Tang Hao's expression darkened.

He turned sharply toward the forest, his eyes filled with alarm.

A dangerous presence had appeared near Tang San and Xiao Wu.

"Something's wrong!"

Grandmaster's face turned pale.

"What?!"

"Tang San is in danger!"

Grandmaster's heart dropped.

Without hesitation, the two rushed toward the back mountain.

By the time they arrived—

Shi Nian had already trapped Tang San and Xiao Wu inside his illusion.

Inside the illusion, Tang San found himself standing in a familiar city—Soto City.

"Strange… why am I here?"

He clearly remembered sitting with Xiao Wu at Shrek Academy.

"Xiao Wu! Where are you?"

"Xiao Wu! If you hear me, answer!"

No response.

Soto City seemed exactly like the real thing—every street, every building.

But something felt off.

Then—

A scream echoed in the distance.

"XIAO WU!"

Tang San's expression changed drastically as he rushed toward the sound.

At the end of a dark alley, he saw—

A nightmare.

Xiao Wu was pinned beneath a hideous man, his yellowed teeth bared in a twisted grin.

"Bu Le..."

Tang San's pupils shrunk.

It was the same lowlife scum from Soto City.

The killing intent in Tang San's eyes exploded—

"Bu Le, YOU'RE DEAD!"