That night, inside Shrek Academy's tent.
"Hiss—" Tang San woke up. As soon as he tried to move, a tearing pain spread through his whole body.
Glancing down, under the dim light, he could just make out his lower body. Wrapped head to toe in bandages with splints fixing his limbs in place.
This was the method used only for treating shattered bones.
Combined with the pain running through him, he instantly understood. His body was covered with multiple compound fractures.
"Yang Yunhai!" His pupils contracted, gritting his teeth.
"Cough, cough—" His emotions spiked, tugging at his internal injuries. He coughed lightly, chest throbbing with pain.
Thud thud thud.
Footsteps quickly approached. Yu Xiaogang pushed aside the tent flap and stepped in.
"Xiao San, don't move recklessly." His voice was urgent.
Behind him, Flender, Liu Erlong, and the rest of the team entered to check on him.
"Teacher…" Tang San whispered, then froze, not daring to move.
"Xiao San, the doctor said your body has multiple compound fractures, even your organs have shifted. You're in the middle of healing now. You absolutely must rest and recover properly." Flender sighed, explaining his condition.
'Such severe injuries…' Tang San clenched his teeth.
This meant he couldn't take part in the rest of the Ranking Tournament.
'Yang Yunhai, what a ruthless heart, what ruthless methods! If it weren't the Soul Master Tournament, he would have killed me outright!'
'The killing intent is clear. One of us must die in the future!'
'Yang Yunhai, I'll remember this grudge. Either you die, or I die'!
"Teacher, how is Xiao Wu?" He forced down his anger and asked quickly.
"She's still unconscious," Yu Xiaogang replied. "But don't worry. It's just heavy spiritual exhaustion. With rest, she'll recover."
Because Tang San's injuries were so severe, Yu Xiaogang had arranged a separate room for him, to ensure peace and quiet.
'If Yang Yunhai's spiritual power had been any stronger, Xiao Wu would have been left a fool…' Flender sighed inwardly.
"That's good." Tang San nodded slightly.
'So he doesn't even ask about the other injured teammates?' Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes in silence.
Cold-blooded to the core.
"Alright, Xiao San, don't talk anymore. Save your strength." Yu Xiaogang said firmly. "Forget about the matches. The Ranking Tournament isn't elimination-based, winning or losing doesn't matter. What matters is your recovery."
Otherwise, he might not even make the Finals.
Though his student's health came first, Yu Xiaogang still hoped Tang San could shine in the Finals, even beat Spirit Hall's team—to prove to Bibi Dong that he, Yu Xiaogang, wasn't useless.
He might be a failed Soul Master, but he had trained a disciple of limitless potential.
"Mm." Tang San nodded, no longer speaking.
"Let's go," Yu Xiaogang said, turning his head, tone flat.
'That change of tone was way too fast.' Ning Rongrong blinked in disbelief.
The others, long used to it, said nothing. Flender just nodded and led everyone out.
Left alone, Tang San leaned back against the bed, staring at the tent's ceiling.
'Even if I heal before the Finals… With my strength, with our team's strength, can we really defeat Yang Yunhai? Why, even after all my Martial Soul's evolutions, am I still not his match? Why wasn't I the one who got the lightning mutation? Why wasn't I the one given the Immortal Herbs?'
'Heaven, why so unfair!?' His fury boiled, killing intent flickering in his eyes.
"Cough—" His body convulsed from the pain.
'Blue Silver Grass is trash. Its only use is to carry me through the early stages. Teacher said once I reach soul rank 60, I can finally add rings to my Clear Sky Hammer. Then my cultivation will skyrocket. Yang Yunhai only has one Martial Soul. His progress can't keep up. And I can always devour soul beasts to cultivate.'
'This continent never lacks soul beasts.'
'If I meet evil soul masters, I can "uphold justic"'—and put them to use as well.'
'As for the Soul Master Tournament, I still have the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. Tianheng is soul rank 45 now, Mubai 43, Tai Long 41, Xiao Wu 39, Jiangzhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling are all rank 38. With my soul rank 45 as the foundation, no matter how we combine, I can reach at least soul rank 70. With my current body, plus Eight Spider Lances, I can endure it.'
'At rank 70, with my Clear Sky Hammer, Yang Yunhai will never withstand me!'
'His lightning and control won't matter. The gap in realm cannot be bridged. Besides, from the looks of it, Heaven Dou Royal Academy hasn't truly grasped the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique.'
'In that case…' His eyes flashed cold.
'If I "accidentally" kill Yang Yunhai in the arena, no one can blame me!'
'Once I heal, I'll practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer thoroughly.' With that thought, he closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy's camp—
"Is Yang Yunhai here?" A voice rang out in the night air.
"Huo Wu again?!" Inside the tent, Yu Feng turned his head toward Yang Yunhai.
"Probably to thank him for saving her on the field," Dugu Yan guessed.
"I'll go see." Yang Yunhai stood and walked outside.
Pulling aside the flap, he stepped forward with a smile. "Huo Wu, what is it?"
"I want to talk with you alone." Her voice was quiet.
Yang Yunhai smiled. "If this is about the match, it's not necessary. We come here to temper ourselves, not to fight to the death. You and I have no private feud. I wouldn't go too far."
Huo Wu blinked. That simple? She thought Yang Yunhai might have feelings for her. After all, he already had two beauties by his side.
Still, she nodded toward the woods. "What, afraid?"
'Troublesome.' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly but followed anyway, keeping his smile.
She led him into the grove.
"Yang Yunhai, no matter what, you saved me today. You didn't humiliate Blazing Academy. Thank you."
Yang Yunhai stepped back to keep distance. "No need."
Huo Wu bit her lip. "I don't get what Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan see in you. Besides being handsome and strong, you're just a block of wood."
Yang Yunhai only smiled faintly. "Sincere, steadfast, nothing more. If there's nothing else, I'll return. The Finals are close. We must train harder."
He turned to leave.
"Yang Yunhai!" She called out, ran forward—but stumbled.
Yang Yunhai quickly caught her, steadying her.
"Careful."
'Hah, you think I'm Tang San, letting myself get kissed as thanks? I can dodge soul skills, but not a girl's lunge?'
Huo Wu's eyes watered. She glared at him. "You blockhead!"
She shoved him back, chest heaving, then spun away and ran.
'I've got a bottom line. If this were when I first came here, fine—Bibi Dong, Hu Liena, Shui Bing'er, Meng Yiran, Bo Saixi, Tang Yuehua—I'd take them all. But now? I've got my wives. A man shouldn't leave his woman waiting alone.'
'Besides… too much work. I'd die of exhaustion.'
He quickened his steps, shaking his head.
From the shadows, Dugu Bo raised a brow and followed him away.
Not far, Feng Xiaotian clenched his fists in the dark and left silently.
Back in the tent, Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing both greeted him with smiles.
"Back to training," Yang Yunhai said.
"Yes." The team nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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