Chapter 84: Douluo Edition Farmer and Snake

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Shrek Academy.

After Tang San and Xiao Wu reunited with the Shrek Five at the town outside the Star Dou Forest, Tang San collapsed from exhaustion.

Zhao Wuji, the teacher of the Shrek Seven, had been gravely injured by a casual slap from Qian Renxue. Despite the impending attack from the Titan Giant Ape, Dai Mubai, who valued loyalty above all, refused to abandon Zhao Wuji and carried him on his back, fleeing for their lives.

Sadly, due to the rough terrain, Zhao Wuji's injuries were too severe. The mighty Immovable King, who had once survived a one-on-twenty battle against the Soul Masters of the Spirit Hall, met his end in the most tragic of ways—succumbing to his wounds while still on Dai Mubai's shoulders.

Tang San, however, had better luck. He managed to hold on long enough to reach the small town where his companions were. Ning Rongrong paid a healer from the town to treat Tang San, and then they all returned to Shrek Academy.

At Shrek Academy, Flander was infuriated when he learned about his beloved students' ordeal in the Star Dou Forest and Zhao Wuji's death. He was beside himself with rage.

The principle of "Don't start trouble, but don't let others bully us" had always been a rule he set for Shrek Academy. In a small place like Soto City, it was a rare occasion to encounter a Soul Saint, let alone a super strong one. Therefore, Shrek Academy's policy had always been to actively provoke others and defeat them, never the other way around. Even if someone dared to bully them, he would personally take Zhao Wuji to their door for a confrontation—perhaps even extort a little medical fee on top of it.

But this time, his beloved students had done nothing to provoke anyone, yet Tang San's Soul Bone was stripped away, and his good friend Zhao Wuji had died. Flander was absolutely furious, so much so that he wished he could find the Soul Master who killed Zhao Wuji and fight to the death to defend the honor of Shrek Academy.

Beside him, Yu Xiaogang's face was equally dark. His beloved disciple's external Soul Bone had been taken—an external Soul Bone, which was considered one of the most precious Soul Bones after the ten-thousand-year Soul Bone. It greatly enhanced Tang San's potential, yet it was taken from him without reason, and Tang San was gravely injured as well. He had almost lost his life in the Star Dou Forest. This was something that could not be tolerated!

"Tang San, do you know who took your external Soul Bone? What were they like?" Yu Xiaogang asked grimly. Since an external Soul Bone can be taken out before it fully integrates with the Soul Master, there was still a chance of retrieving it. If they could track down the person responsible, even if Yu Xiaogang lacked the power to take it back, Tang San's father, the Clear Sky Douluo, certainly had the strength to do so.

Tang San shook his head, his anger evident. "I don't know. All I know is that the person had white hair and blood-red pupils, and they used an extremely powerful blood sword martial soul. It's a martial soul of very high quality." He also seemed to recognize me and called me a half-beast, half-human mongrel.

Tang San didn't say the last part aloud. He would never accept such a thing.

"A blood sword martial soul... A high-quality martial soul. The most famous sword martial souls on the continent are the Seven Killing Sword of the Sword Douluo and the Wind Thunder Sword of the Wind Sword Sect. But this blood sword martial soul?" Yu Xiaogang muttered, frowning. As a master, he considered himself unparalleled in the theoretical realm of the Soul Master world. It made sense if he couldn't recognize a low-quality martial soul, but a high-quality one like this was another matter.

Yu Xiaogang thought for a moment and then said, "I'll look through some records and see if I can find any information about who possesses this martial soul. We need to help Tang San get back his external Soul Bone."

"Thank you, Teacher," Tang San said gratefully.

"I'll also pass the news back to my sect to see if they have any information on this person," Ning Rongrong said through gritted teeth. After all, they had slapped her and insulted her grandfather and father; how could she just let it go?

Xiao Wu, not wanting to expose her soul beast identity, kept silent about the Titan Giant Ape, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and her mother being killed. At this point, Tang San still didn't realize the immense potential of his Twin Martial Souls and therefore didn't guess that Qian Renxue also had Twin Martial Souls.

"Alright, you little monsters can take a break for the next couple of days. Rest well," Flander said, turning to walk toward his office, looking much older than before.

Xiao Wu said, "Brother, let's go register at the Spirit Hall. We've both reached the Soul Ancestor rank."

Tang San nodded, a smile of joy spreading across his face. Reaching Soul Ancestor meant his Soul Master allowance would increase from ten Gold Soul Coins to a hundred. With this, after accumulating for a few months, he would have enough to buy Iron Essence and forge the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, Sky Claw, Silent Throwing Daggers, and other hidden weapons.

As for the money he had saved over the last six years, it had all been spent on the Dragon Beard Needles, the registration and tuition fees for Shrek Academy, and he still owed Flander money for the Dragon Beard Needles. The hidden weapons he had accumulated over the years were all spent by Xiao Wu.

"I'm going too. My money's all been spent on filling my stomach. It's time to collect my Soul Master allowance," Ma Hongjun said, patting his large belly.

"Fatty, I think you've just finished roaming the brothel," Oscar teased with a grin.

"Xiao Ao, you!" Ma Hongjun roared in embarrassment.

Soon, Ma Hongjun chased after Oscar, while Dai Mubai followed behind Zhu Zhuqing. Xiao Wu and Tang San were close together, and Ning Rongrong, uninterested, stayed behind, as she didn't need money.

The six members of Shrek Academy headed toward the Soto City Spirit Hall branch.

When Tang San and Xiao Wu entered the Spirit Hall branch, they saw Ma Hongjun seemingly arguing with a staff member, both red in the face.

"Fatty, what's going on?" Tang San asked, puzzled.

Ma Hongjun was furious. "San Ge, the Spirit Hall branch says they won't be issuing Soul Master allowances anymore. They told us to go back to the academy and wait. They also said that Soul Master allowances—whether for Soul Masters, Great Soul Masters, or Soul Ancestors—are all reduced to one Gold Soul Coin!"

"Why? That's my Soul Master allowance! Why is the Spirit Hall cutting it?" Ma Hongjun ranted.

The staff member who was trying to explain to Ma Hongjun was becoming increasingly irritated. Tang San, maintaining his composure, politely asked, "Excuse me, what exactly is going on with the Soul Master allowance?"

Seeing Tang San's calm demeanor, the staff member's attitude softened. "The Soul Master allowance used to be funded by the two empires, and we, the Spirit Hall, distributed it to Soul Masters who hadn't reached the Soul King rank. But from now on, the allowance will come from the empires themselves. They will handle the distribution."

"The empire has issued a decree that all advanced Soul Master academies registered with the empire will distribute Soul Master allowances. The allowance, whether for Soul Masters, Great Soul Masters, or Soul Ancestors, will all be one Gold Soul Coin. So, if you want your allowance, you'll need to wait patiently at your academy for the empire's allocation, unless your academy isn't a registered advanced Soul Master academy, in which case, you won't receive any allowance."

Tang San was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Fatty, let's go back. This has nothing to do with the Spirit Hall."

Seeing that Ma Hongjun seemed like he was about to keep arguing, Tang San sternly said, "This is the Spirit Hall branch!"

At the mention of the Spirit Hall branch, Ma Hongjun realized that this was one of the divisions of the Spirit Hall, one of the most powerful forces on the continent, and as a mere academy student, he wasn't in a position to provoke them.

As they left the Spirit Hall branch, Ma Hongjun muttered, "San Ge, the Spirit Hall is so unprofessional. They just decide not to issue the allowance. My Evil Fire—how am I supposed to deal with it now? They claim to be the strongest force on the continent, but just like Zhao Wuji and Principal Flander said, they're nothing but an evil organization."

The impression of the Spirit Hall on both Flanders and Zhao Wujie could be described as extremely negative. One of them was personally forced to kneel and swear by the Pope, Qian Xunji, while the other had been surrounded and captured by twenty Soul Emperors sent by the Spirit Hall.

Oscar's face was also extremely gloomy. Without the Soul Master allowance, how could he win Ning Rongrong's favor? When he had sold sausages before, it had already left a bad impression on her. Without selling sausages, how would he make a living?

Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar were all poor and didn't know how they would solve their problems without the Soul Master allowance. On the other hand, Xiao Wu, who was extravagant with money and reckless, didn't seem to care. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, being nobility, didn't worry much since they had enough money.

"Go ask Dean Flanders. Didn't that staff member say the empire would allocate funds to the academy to distribute the Soul Master allowance? One Gold Soul Coin, at least that's something. Little by little, it adds up," Tang San said, glancing around at the blacksmith shops. He realized he might have to take odd jobs to save money. Without hidden weapons, he didn't feel safe.

At Shrek Academy, in the Dean's office, Ma Hongjun shouted, "What? Teacher, you can't issue the Soul Master allowance? Why not?"

Flanders looked at Ma Hongjun and the other students, then scolded angrily, "What are you saying? Our Shrek Academy's purpose is to cultivate monsters and let students venture into the Soul Master world. How could we register with the empire and let their capital control the academy's students? I'm doing this for your future!"

Ma Hongjun knelt and hugged Flanders' leg. "But teacher, without the allowance, how will I deal with my Evil Fire? If I can't release it, I'll burn to death. How can I talk about venturing into the Soul Master world?"

"Use your hands," Flanders gritted his teeth, "It's not that I don't want to help, but Ma Hongjun, your spending is faster than I can make money. I still need to save for the academy's development. I can't let one disciple ruin Shrek's future."

Ma Hongjun broke down and screamed. "Use my hands? I'm used to the way it feels! I don't want to use my hands!"

"Teacher, Shrek has produced so many monsters. We even have a former second-in-command of the Spirit Hall as a senior. Couldn't you ask those seniors to help us?" Ma Hongjun tried again, pushing Flanders' leg. He dared to cause a scene at the Spirit Division, but if asked to cause trouble with the empire, he would be looking for death. The empire had millions of soldiers—it was the strongest force on the continent.

"I can't do that. Shrek will never allow noble capital to interfere," Flanders coldly refused. He didn't want to lose face again. If there were a second-in-command of the Spirit Hall among their students, Flanders would already be flying high, and Shrek wouldn't still be in a small village.

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In the Holy Soul Village, Soul Hall staff member Su Yuntao arrived with his group, planning to build a statue of the Angel Goddess at the village center, right in front of the stone pillar where the Soul Saint had once left his handprint.

At that moment, Village Chief Jack, leaning on his cane, walked over and asked, "Master Su, what are you planning to do? Isn't the time for awakening Spirit still not here?"

"Oh, it's you, Village Chief Jack," Su Yuntao said, greeting the familiar face and explaining the situation.

Upon hearing this, Old Jack's face changed immediately. He stepped in front of the stone pillar and said, "You cannot tear it down. Absolutely not!"

Su Yuntao was confused. "Old Jack, what's the matter?"

Old Jack solemnly replied, "Master Su, I respect you as a Soul Master, but this pillar was left by a Soul Saint who was born in our Holy Soul Village. It is a symbol of our village and the origin of our name. It has been my belief for my entire life. If you want to tear it down, you'll have to step over my old body first."

Hearing this, Su Yuntao had no response. "Then, Old Jack, would you allow us to clear some land to build the statue?"

"Master Su, why do you want to build a statue?" Old Jack asked, with more villagers gathering around. Rural people, especially those in poverty, valued land deeply.

Su Yuntao hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth. The Spirit Hall would no longer offer free Spirit awakening. To awaken their Spirit, people either had to kneel before the Angel Goddess statue or pay a fee of ten Gold Soul Coins.

Upon hearing this, Old Jack and the other villagers grew angry. Why should they have to kneel to get their Spirit awakened? Why should they pay ten Gold Soul Coins for something that used to be free? The Spirit Hall had always awakened their Spirit for free—this was their right.

Moreover, what was this six-winged Angel statue? They had never heard of such a thing. Six wings and a bird-like figure—why should they kneel to a bird-man statue? What right did the Spirit Hall have to demand this?

Despite Su Yuntao being a noble Soul Master, Old Jack remained polite. "Master Su, please leave. Our village has little land, and most of it is used for farming to feed our people. We can't spare any land for a statue."

Seeing Old Jack's firm stance and the villagers' angry expressions, Su Yuntao, even if he wasn't entirely clueless, understood what they were thinking. He couldn't be bothered to argue further. After facing similar resistance in other villages, he led his group to the next village.

Once Su Yuntao left, the villagers' expressions softened. Old Jack patted the stone pillar, now covered in moss and marked by the passage of time, and said, "Even if I have to give up my life, I won't let you touch it."

At that moment, a sharp-witted middle-aged man spoke up, "Village Chief Jack, since the Spirit Hall won't awaken our Spirit for free, what will we do this year when the children need their Spirit awakened? Ten Gold Soul Coins—I don't even have half of that!"

Old Jack turned and smiled, "We are citizens of the empire. We pay taxes to the empire every year. If the Spirit Hall won't help us, the empire will definitely send someone to help. Our village has produced a Soul Saint before. We don't need to worry."

Hearing this, the villagers breathed a sigh of relief. Old Jack's words made sense. They weren't part of the Spirit Hall. They were citizens of the empire, and as such, the empire would surely help them, just as they had helped in the past.

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(End of Chapter)