Several Soul Douluos tasked with protecting Ning Rongrong from the shadows had already seen through Xiao Wu's true identity. They glanced at one another, barely able to contain their excitement.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form—this was practically a walking treasure trove. Capturing her meant an easily obtainable 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone. Even if they couldn't use them personally, handing her over to the sect would earn them enormous rewards.
More importantly, their sect had recently issued a confidential mission: locate a 100,000-year soul beast with light or fire attributes. As core members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, they immediately understood who this task was intended for.
While the Soft-Boned Rabbit in front of them didn't possess the right attributes, there were no conflicting ones either.
"Li Yao, go report this back to the sect. Have them dispatch Elder Sword and Elder Bone. The rest of you—move in with me. We're capturing this rabbit."
"Got it, Brother Wang!"
Just as Li Yao was about to act, a deep, domineering voice suddenly rang in their ears—leaving no room for negotiation.
"You're not touching that 100,000-year soul beast."
Startled, everyone turned toward the source—and their pupils instantly shrank in fear.
"A Titled Douluo… with a 100,000-year soul ring!"
The man before them was tall and powerfully built, nearly two meters in height. His clothes were worn and tattered, his hair disheveled, and his beard scruffy. In his right hand, he held an enormous blacksmith's hammer, dragging it along the ground and leaving a deep furrow behind him.
The hammer itself was nearly three meters long, and the head was even larger than most forging hammers. It was etched with blood-red patterns that pulsed faintly in the light.
But what truly terrified them was the ring glowing at the bottom of the hammer—a blood-red 100,000-year soul ring.
The moment he saw that black hammer and its soul ring configuration, Wang Xu realized who stood before him. He hurriedly descended and bowed.
"Wang Xu of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan greets Your Excellency, Haotian Douluo."
The others quickly followed suit, bowing in reverence.
"Go back and tell Ning Fengzhi that this 100,000-year soul beast was discovered by me first. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan dares to interfere... I won't be polite."
"Understood!"
Wang Xu nodded repeatedly. He didn't dare object—not when the man before him was the same legendary figure who had once hammered the Spirit Hall's Pope into the ground. There was no way their little team could contend with him.
What's more, Ning Rongrong was still inside Shrek Academy, not far from here.
Wang Xu discreetly signaled to Li Yao, who gave a slight nod and immediately vanished with several quick movements. Seeing this, Tang Hao retracted his Clear Sky Hammer and turned to leave. He knew these Soul Douluo were only here to guard the little girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—and that discovering Xiao Wu had just been a coincidence.
Once Tang Hao left, Wang Xu and the others melted back into the shadows, though now they paid much closer attention to the people around Ning Rongrong.
Inside Shrek Academy, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong were currently sparring against Zhao Wuji. Ning Rongrong stood in the backline, supporting her teammates with precise enhancements to their speed, strength, and soul power.
Tang San stood in front, the three soul rings beneath him—yellow, purple, purple—shining brightly. Blue Silver Bind, Parasite, and Spider Web Restraint were all used with refined mastery. With Ning Rongrong's buffs, even Zhao Wuji began to struggle.
While Yu Xiaogang was poor and lacked influence, Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo. Once he learned the effects of whale glue, he had obtained a nearly 10,000-year-old sample for Tang San. With it, Tang San had upgraded his second ring to the millennium threshold. After absorbing the toxic Ghost Vine, he had recently advanced to Soul Elder, choosing a 4,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider as his third ring.
As a result, Tang San's soul skills were nearly identical to those described in the original storyline.
In contrast, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had no over-age soul rings. Both were Great Soul Masters with two yellow rings. Xiao Wu, due to her identity as a soul beast, hadn't upgraded hers. Zhu Zhuqing had used whale glue, but not of high enough quality to push her second ring past the 1,000-year mark.
Even so, Zhao Wuji was an experienced Soul Sage. Even suppressing his strength, he couldn't be defeated by two Soul Elders and two Great Soul Masters.
Seeing the three unable to gain the upper hand after a prolonged fight, Ning Rongrong—who had been content to watch—finally got serious. While her right hand continued channeling her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to support the team, her left hand flipped, and a soul tool pistol appeared. She pointed it at Zhao Wuji and pulled the trigger.
Zhao Wuji hadn't expected such an odd weapon. Caught off guard, he was struck by several explosive fire rounds and blasted backward. Tang San and the others immediately seized the opportunity and launched a full offensive.
After taking several hits, Zhao Wuji burst forth with soul power and shattered the Blue Silver Grass bindings. He charged toward Ning Rongrong, intending to neutralize the source of the disruption.
But before he could get close, a pair of wings unfurled from Ning Rongrong's back, lifting her into the air. With few ranged options, Zhao Wuji had no way to reach her.
And so, with teamwork and improvisation, the four managed to endure a full stick of incense's time—and officially passed the entrance exam.
Now official members of Shrek Academy, the four students joined Dai Mubai and Oscar, making six in total. That night, they gathered on a grassy hill just outside the village to camp—a casual celebration of their admission.
"Hey, Tang San," Ning Rongrong asked during the conversation, "I'm curious—why would you have your Blue Silver Grass absorb a soul ring with a poison attribute?"
This Ning Rongrong wasn't the naive, arrogant girl from the original timeline. After being taught by Xu Yang and Madam Ning, her theoretical foundation was solid. In fact, Xu Yang had once used Blue Silver Grass as an example during one of their lectures.
That alone had made her curious about Tang San's Martial Soul.
Tang San raised his right hand, summoning a violet-blue sprout of Blue Silver Grass, and replied proudly,
"That was my teacher's theory. Plant-type Martial Souls can absorb beast-type soul rings, and Blue Silver Grass is particularly compatible with poison. It enhances control while adding lethality—compensating for the usual weaknesses of a Control-type Soul Master."
Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and the others nodded in agreement after hearing the explanation. It sounded logical.
Ning Rongrong's expression turned thoughtful. She murmured,
"A plant-type Martial Soul absorbing beast-type rings? So your teacher must be Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, huh? That explains your soul ring configuration."
At her words, Tang San's expression darkened. He sensed something condescending in her tone and coldly replied,
"What's that supposed to mean?"
In Tang San's heart, Yu Xiaogang held a place just below his parents. The man had given him the fatherly care and guidance he'd always longed for. He wouldn't allow anyone to insult his teacher.
Ning Rongrong remained unfazed and replied bluntly,
"It means your soul ring choices aren't very good."
"But I don't blame you. Yu Xiaogang might be knowledgeable and well-read—some say his theory is the best on the continent—but his cultivation is too low. I've heard he's not even a Soul Elder. That limits his perspective and understanding. He's fine for guiding Soul Masters or early Soul Elders, but once you advance past that, everything becomes guesswork."