Chapter 80 The Excited Yu Xiaogang
"Brother Ling, I heard you went out for something important," Oscar said as he walked over to Luo Ling and Ning Rongrong. Seeing how close the two looked made him slightly uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I had a few things to handle, but it's all done now." Luo Ling watched Oscar with interest, easily noticing the man's affection toward Ning Rongrong.
"I heard you've become a Soul Elder?"
"You already know, Brother Ling! Teacher Zhao just took us to the Star Dou Forest to get our new soul rings. Not just me—Tang San and Xiao Wu both reached the Soul Elder rank too!"
"Oh?" Luo Ling feigned surprise.
"Right, Brother Ling, you have no idea what Rongrong and I ran into in the forest!" Oscar said, growing more animated as he spoke. "The King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape—a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"
"So dangerous?" Luo Ling followed along, humoring him.
The two continued chatting, Oscar speaking eagerly while his gaze drifted again and again toward Ning Rongrong, as if trying to impress Luo Ling—her "cousin in name."
Luo Ling inwardly shook his head, then suddenly said, "Oscar, do you know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has an unwritten rule?"
Oscar paused, puzzled. "What rule?"
Looking straight at him, Luo Ling spoke slowly:
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's direct descendants possess the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—a purely support-type martial soul. Because of this, when choosing a partner, they seek soul masters strong enough to protect them."
"Support-type soul masters cannot be with members of the clan's main bloodline."
Luo Ling's calm tone froze Oscar's expression instantly.
He understood perfectly what those words meant. At that moment, Oscar felt like a fool.
All his enthusiasm, all his efforts—it was as if Ning Rongrong had been watching an amusing show the entire time.
Back in the Star Dou Forest, through life-and-death struggles, Oscar had thought the distance between them had shortened. But now, he realized he had been deluding himself.
Luo Ling glanced briefly at Ning Rongrong. The little witch's face was calm and composed, the very picture of a playful heartbreaker who knew exactly what she was doing.
A witch was still a witch—more cunning, more ruthless.
"Oscar, you said you became a Soul Elder? What's your third soul skill?" Luo Ling asked, changing the subject.
Oscar forced a smile, glancing once at Ning Rongrong before replying, "Of course I did! My third soul skill is…"
They chatted casually for a while. As they reached the village entrance, they saw Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing walking side by side.
Tang San followed behind like a shadow.
When Luo Ling caught sight of Xiao Wu, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Seeing her confirmed his suspicion—the little rabbit hadn't left with the Titan Giant Ape.
"I heard you all encountered the Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Forest?" Luo Ling approached, stopping before Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu also noticed him. Though Luo Ling addressed Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu could tell the words were meant for her.
"Yes," Zhu Zhuqing nodded with a small smile. "We did encounter the Titan Giant Ape. I was fine, but Xiao Wu was captured by it. Thankfully, she returned safely."
Luo Ling nodded slightly, then directed a deep, searching look toward Xiao Wu, as if silently questioning why she hadn't left.
Xiao Wu pursed her lips and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze without fear.
After several seconds, Luo Ling was the one who looked away first, sighing softly.
He decided not to press further and turned to Zhu Zhuqing instead.
"Has Dai Mubai been bothering you again lately?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "No. I heard he paid a lot of money to hire a healing-type soul master to reconnect his arm. But even though it's reattached, it's nowhere near what it used to be."
Ning Rongrong chimed in disdainfully, "Hmph! Zhuqing is one of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan now. I've already spoken to my father—if Dai Mubai tries anything, he'll have to think twice!"
Luo Ling nodded faintly, indifferent to such minor matters. What he truly cared about was whether Yu Xiaogang had arrived in Soto City yet.
…
Shrek Academy, Dean's Office.
Zhao Wuji was reporting the details of their Star Dou Forest expedition to Flender.
Halfway through, footsteps sounded from outside.
The door opened, and Yu Xiaogang walked in slowly, wearing an expression of confidence that neither of them had seen before.
"Xiaogang! You're finally here!" Flender said joyfully, then turned to Zhao Wuji.
"Wuji, let me introduce him. This is my old comrade from back in the day—just call him 'Master.' Everyone in the soul master world does."
Zhao Wuji looked at Yu Xiaogang, recognition flashing in his eyes as an old rumor came to mind. "You're the Master who compiled large amounts of martial soul data and published new theories?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Zhao Wuji realized his mistake.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. Hearing the phrase "compiled data" stirred a faint anger in his heart.
Though Zhao Wuji's statement was technically true, the phrasing made it sound as if he had simply plagiarized others' work and claimed it as his own.
Flender quickly noticed the tension and jumped in to smooth things over. "Xiaogang, it's been so long since the Golden Iron Triangle reunited—we should celebrate properly!"
"Yes, Master! The dean often talks about you," Zhao Wuji added hastily.
Yu Xiaogang finally calmed down and shot Zhao Wuji a brief glance. "Flender, we can celebrate later. Where is Tang San now?"
"You mean Tang San? He should be in the academy. I'll have Wuji call him over immediately!" Flender replied quickly.
Zhao Wuji nodded silently, exchanging a look with Flender before leaving the office.
With him gone, the atmosphere in the room relaxed.
Yu Xiaogang took a seat and began looking through the academy's records spread across the desk.
"Xiaogang, you must stay at Shrek this time. We've recruited some amazing new monsters this year!" Flender said enthusiastically.
Yu Xiaogang rolled his eyes. "Flender, I came here entirely for Tang San's sake. Don't forget your promise—you'll personally accompany him during future spirit beast hunts."
"Of course, no problem at all!" Flender agreed immediately.
Only then did Yu Xiaogang turn back to the documents.
"Innate full soul power? A food-type soul master at that?" he exclaimed in surprise. "This child has tremendous potential!"
But before he could finish reading, his eyes widened further.
"Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda? A twelve-year-old, thirty-fifth-level Soul Elder? How is that possible?"
Flender chuckled smugly. "So? Didn't I tell you they're little monsters?"
"She's from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. The martial soul evolved? What caused the evolution?" Yu Xiaogang asked, suddenly thrilled, his hands trembling slightly as he held Ning Rongrong's record.
(END CHAPTER)
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