At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Wang Li and Dugu Yan went there in the morning and left again in the afternoon.
They only went back to register their presence, and after that they could calmly wait for the competition to begin.
After returning, Wang Li could not help but think to himself:
"Shrek has really moved to Heaven Dou City. Tang San and Xiao Wu have come as well. In that case, I should go greet them."
"Besides, my seemingly useless skull skill might finally be useful. I wonder what exactly is recorded in the Xuantian Treasure Record."
"However, if Tang San keeps guarding against me, it won't be easy to see what he hides deep in his heart. I need to find the right opportunity, one where he has no power to resist. Only then will I have enough time to dig through his memories bit by bit."
"I shouldn't act directly, so I'll have to act indirectly. Let me think… During the Soul Master Tournament, Canghui Academy and Shi Nian might be useful."
"Tang San, Xiao Wu, Teacher Qin Ming asked me to come see you, so here I am."
Wang Li once believed that the skull skill "Illusory Dream",which could view memories, fabricate memories, and obscure memories,was rather useless. After all, his spiritual power had to be absolutely higher than the opponent's spiritual power for it to work. It could not enhance his attack power and could not allow him to defeat stronger opponents.
But now it seemed that the skill might actually be somewhat useful. After all, he had consumed the Dew of Looking Through Autumn Water, possessed a spirit ring with mental attributes, and also had a head bone with mental attributes. At present, his spiritual power was definitely higher than Tang San's.
This meant that, without external interference, he could slowly examine Tang San's memories bit by bit.
Using force was not an option. First, Wang Li was worried that Tang Hao might suddenly appear. Second, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong of Shrek Academy could use a martial soul fusion technique.
For the sake of the Xuantian Treasure Record, causing such trouble did not seem worthwhile to Wang Li. After all, he also had his own advantages.
So he decided to use some strategy, find an opportunity, and quietly take the Xuantian Treasure Record without leaving any trace.
This was the key to Tang San becoming a god. Although Yu Xiaogang had helped him, it was not that significant. Therefore, Wang Li was still quite interested in the Xuantian Treasure Record.
Moreover, the record also contained knowledge about poisons, which could help Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. For that reason, Wang Li was even less willing to let it go.
The next day,
Wang Li said to Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan:
"Grandfather, Sister Yan, some of my classmates from the junior soul master academy have also come to Heaven Dou City. I'm going to meet them. I'll be back later."
Dugu Yan already knew about this. When Qin Ming mentioned it yesterday, she had been there listening. Naturally, she would not stop him. She simply smiled and said:
"Go early and come back early. If they are really close friends, you can invite them to visit our home."
Hearing this, Wang Li's expression became somewhat strange. He was not sure whether Tang San would come, but Xiao Wu definitely would not. A hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast running to a Titled Douluo would require incredible foolishness.
So he shook his head and said:
"I'm afraid they might not dare to come."
Dugu Bo assumed that it was because of his bad reputation. He snorted lightly and said:
"Do you think I would attack your friends? If they want to come, they can come. If not, no one is forcing them. Besides, not everyone can meet me."
Wang Li did not explain further. They were talking about completely different things. He then left the house alone.
In fact, Wang Li was quite familiar with Heaven Dou City. In the past, he had traveled around the city with Dugu Yan and had visited most places. Shrek Academy, which used to be Blue Tyrant Academy, was easy for him to locate.
Before long, he arrived at Shrek Academy.
Wang Li looked up at the plaque with the words "Shrek Academy" written on it and felt speechless.
"That Flender is really stingy. The crude craftsmanship is obvious. No wonder the future school uniforms are designed in that disgusting green color and even have advertisements on them…"
He then walked forward. A gate guard noticed him and came over to ask:
"Hello, who are you looking for? It's not the enrollment period right now. If you want to apply, I can take you to the academy's admissions office."
Wang Li smiled slightly and said:
"My name is Wang Li. I'm here to see someone,Tang San and Xiao Wu. You can inform them. Also, tell them that I was introduced by Teacher Qin Ming. He used to be a graduate of this academy."
Hearing this, the guard became certain that the tall, handsome young man in martial attire had truly come to find someone. Not only did he know Tang San and Xiao Wu's names, but he also knew Qin Ming.
Qin Ming had visited several times before, so the guards remembered him well. They even knew he was a Tian Dou-level teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
As a result, the guard's attitude immediately became very enthusiastic.
"Please come in, please come in. I'll take you to the reception room first and then inform the academy's senior staff."
Wang Li nodded and followed the guard into the academy.
The current Shrek Academy, formerly Blue Tyrant Academy, was considered a second-rate academy. However, as a higher-level soul master academy, its grounds were quite large and its facilities relatively complete.
After arriving at the reception room, someone served Wang Li hot tea. He sat there drinking tea while waiting.
Not long afterward, outside the reception room,
Flender arrived quickly with Liu Erlong and Zhao Wuji. As they walked, he said:
"Old Zhao, you've seen Wang Li before. Take a good look later and confirm it. Qin Ming said he is the grandson-in-law of the Poison Douluo. We must not offend him."
Liu Erlong added:
"That's not all. Before you came to Heaven Dou, Wang Li was already famous. Even the Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop Salas tried to pressure and lure him."
"In the end, the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou stepped in to resolve the situation. Later, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect joined in to protest against the Spirit Hall. Eventually, the Spirit Hall sent a Titled Douluo to reprimand Salas, and the matter was settled. Back then, it caused quite a stir."
Hearing this, Flender became even more attentive. As a cunning businessman, he was already thinking about whether he could gain some benefit from this connection.
When they entered the reception room, his face was full of smiles. Seeing Wang Li sitting there, he warmly said:
"Welcome, welcome, Wang Li. We've heard about your achievements. You're truly a genius with limitless potential. I'm Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy. This is Liu Erlong, the vice dean, and this is Zhao Wuji, one of our teachers."
Wang Li stood up and looked at the three of them.
Flender,a cunning businessman.
Liu Erlong,a beautiful woman obsessed with love.
Zhao Wuji,a reckless and impulsive man.
Smiling, he said:
"Dean Flender, Vice Dean Liu Erlong, Teacher Zhao Wuji. My visit today is rather sudden. Yesterday, Teacher Qin Ming told me that Shrek Academy had moved to Heaven Dou."
"My classmates from the junior soul master academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu, also came to Heaven Dou. He suggested that when I had time, I should come exchange cultivation and martial soul experiences with them. So I came."
Flender was delighted when he heard this. Qin Ming truly deserved to be a graduate of Shrek Academy. Even when good opportunities appeared, he still remembered them.
So he became even more enthusiastic.
"Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the other five are currently undergoing special training in the forest behind the academy. Let's go together. Qin Ming is right,exchanging cultivation and martial soul experience will help everyone improve."
Although Liu Erlong had a fiery temper, she also possessed the subtle sensitivity of a woman. She quietly sensed Wang Li's aura.
Even if she could not determine his exact soul power level, she should have been able to estimate his strength. However, to her shock, she sensed nothing. Some mysterious force seemed to block her perception.
As for Zhao Wuji, ever since he provoked Tang San and was beaten by Tang Hao, he no longer dared to provoke any juniors with terrifying backgrounds.
In certain respects, Dugu Bo's reputation in the soul master world was even more frightening.
With Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji accompanying him, Wang Li followed them toward the forest behind Shrek Academy.
Along the way, Flender spoke endlessly about Shrek's history,how difficult it had been to establish the academy, how hard their journey had been, how many hardships they endured,yet they still managed to cultivate outstanding students like Qin Ming.
Wang Li kept smiling politely throughout, though inwardly he disagreed. With their admission standards, theoretically every student should become successful. Yet Qin Ming was the only one they could boast about.
It seemed somewhat misleading to students. While practical combat was indeed important, theory was equally critical. Shrek's curriculum was truly not very impressive.
Wang Li even had reason to suspect that many Shrek students who died during soul-hunting missions were not killed by soul beasts at all. Instead, Zhao Wuji,who came from a rough background,might have been unable to accurately judge the age of soul beasts.
This could cause students to explode and die while absorbing spirit rings. Having someone like that as a teacher was practically a disaster for the students.
Soon, they arrived at the forest behind the academy.
Two people were currently fighting. One was Dai Mubai, and the other was Tang San. Both were four-ring Soul Ancestors with two yellow and two purple spirit rings.
Wang Li was not surprised that Dai Mubai had reached Soul Ancestor. However, Tang San being a Soul Ancestor also surprised him somewhat.
He observed carefully and frowned. Tang San's martial soul no longer looked like Blue Silver Grass. Instead, it resembled sharp spider legs covered in barbs.
Moreover…
It carried an evil aura that Wang Li found repulsive, similar to the loathsome Man-Faced Demon Spider from the soul beast forest.
Flender said with a smile:
"Wang Li, I heard that under the guidance of His Majesty Poison Douluo, you became a four-ring Soul Ancestor at the age of twelve."
"But the little monsters of our academy are not inferior either,especially Tang San. He broke through to level forty just before turning fourteen."
"He is now also a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and his strength is quite formidable."
Wang Li responded calmly:
"That's natural. Back at the junior soul master academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu were the most dazzling geniuses."
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang noticed Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji approaching with a somewhat unfamiliar young man.
He stopped the duel between Tang San and Dai Mubai and led the others over.
From a distance, the Shrek Seven Devils felt that Wang Li looked somewhat familiar. As they got closer, they finally recognized him.
Tang San and Xiao Wu both exclaimed:
"Wang Li!"
"Yes, it's me," Wang Li said with a smile.
Looking at Tang San from close range, the evil aura became even stronger, making him dislike it greatly.
Then he looked at Xiao Wu. A glimmer flashed in his eyes. What he saw was not a human figure,but a rabbit.
He quickly withdrew his gaze. A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bone could be kept for Dugu Yan in the future.
Xiao Wu's abilities,Charm, Teleportation, Invincible Golden Body, and Intangibility,gave her excellent survival abilities.
Although comparatively speaking, the one more suitable for Dugu Yan was the Azure Bull Python called "Da Ming."
Yu Xiaogang's face had already changed drastically when Tang San and Xiao Wu called out Wang Li's name. It was difficult for him to connect the young man before him with the once unremarkable Wang Li.
He hesitated and asked:
"Are you really Wang Li?"
Wang Li looked toward him and replied with a smile:
"Of course it's me, Master. It's only been six or seven years,have you already forgotten me? Back at the junior soul master academy, you checked my Spirit Hall certificate and pointed me toward the academic affairs office."
Yu Xiaogang finally believed it. But then he felt dazed. The Wang Li he once thought would never amount to much had become a Soul Ancestor at the age of twelve, completely surpassing his own disciple.
Looking at Flender, he said in a somewhat cold tone:
"What is going on? I was training them. Why did you suddenly bring someone here?"
Flender explained:
"It was Qin Ming. He's Wang Li's teacher. He asked Wang Li to visit Shrek Academy when he had time and exchange cultivation and martial soul experience with Tang San and Xiao Wu. I thought it was a good idea, so we came together."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath. His mind was in turmoil,his theories on one side and Tang San's future on the other. After hesitating for a long time, he finally forced an awkward smile.
"Wang Li, thank you for coming. I'm Xiao San's teacher, and I'm also responsible for training Xiao Wu and the others. Before you begin your exchange, may I ask about your current soul power level?"
Wang Li did not answer directly.
"It's inconvenient to reveal. If Shrek Academy also participates in the Soul Master Tournament, then after passing the preliminaries and promotion rounds, you'll find out during the finals."
Everyone present was stunned.
Wang Li continued:
"Tian Dou Team One is directly seeded into the finals. We will compete against the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall team for the championship."
As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked.
Dai Mubai, who came from the Star Luo Empire, felt the most uncomfortable. He said in a deep voice:
"The Star Luo Team One is also very strong. Their captain and vice-captain can use a martial soul fusion technique. They should also be strong contenders for the championship."
Wang Li waved his hand and said with a faint smile:
"A martial soul fusion technique used by two Soul Ancestors is only comparable to a Soul King. It's not that difficult to deal with. Our real opponents this time are the three Soul Kings of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation."
Everyone was stunned again. To say so casually that something was "only comparable to a Soul King",was Wang Li arrogant or simply confident?
Among them, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened and her heart pounded violently. The Netherworld White Tiger,especially the one used by her elder sister Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Mubai's elder brother Dai Weisi,was being treated with such disdain.
She looked at Wang Li and asked:
"Could it be that you are…"
At that moment, Wang Li raised a finger to his lips and made a quiet gesture, smiling.
"Don't say it out loud. Tang San and Xiao Wu are my friends, and you are their friends. That's why I revealed this little bit."
Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth. Her chest rose and fell violently, showing how unsettled she was.
Wang Li stopped looking at her and instead looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu.
I consider you friends, yet you remain wary of me again and again. That seems a bit unreasonable…
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