Tang San felt that he could no longer learn anything at Notting Academy, so he graduated early on Yu Xiaogang's recommendation and went to Shrek Academy.
However, when he arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy, he regretted it. He had not seen Soul Emperor Li Yusong demonstrate his power, and once again he doubted whether his teacher Yu Xiaogang was reliable. Otherwise, why would he recommend such a shabby academy?
He was only just over ten years old, but had already become a Level 25 Grand Soul Master. He was a genius sought after by everyone. It wasn't that he didn't trust his teacher, but it was hard to believe he had truly found nothing better.
It wasn't Shrek's recruitment day. Tang San stood at the entrance for a long time before he was spotted by Flender returning from Notting City. He quickly presented the letter given to him by his teacher from the Moonlight Bridge on Twenty-Fourth Street.
"Is Xiaogang doing well over there?"
"Teacher, everything is fine. Don't worry."
"Good, good. Since Xiaogang introduced you here, my Shrek Academy will certainly focus on training you. Half of the academy's resources are yours."
Tang San noticed Flender waving his hand proudly, allocating half of Shrek's resources to him. He was moved and felt that his teacher was indeed worthy—so generous.
Until he saw the dilapidated school buildings, the training grounds with no equipment, the cafeteria serving only steamed buns and pickles, and his sole academy classmate.
Seeing Ma Hongjun squatting in the dirt playing with mud, Tang San couldn't help but ask whether he was really old enough to have awakened his martial spirit.
"Ahem, Tang San, don't look down on Hongjun just because he's young. His martial spirit is the Flame Phoenix—one in a million. Once he matures, burning mountains and boiling seas will be no problem."
"Really?"
Tang San sighed inwardly. His teacher was indeed somewhat unreliable. But then he changed his mind—since he was already here and the teachers were strong and could help him obtain better spirit rings, it was worth it.
"But if you'd come a few days earlier, there would have been another student in our academy. He's a food-type spirit master genius, and his talent is surely not inferior to yours."
"Where did he go? Did he go to get a spirit ring?"
"No, he was recruited by the Star Crown Sect, including one of our academy mentors."
"Star Crown Sect?"
"Yes, the strongest sect in the Star Luo Empire..."
After saying goodbye to Flender, Tang San walked toward the dormitory. Just now, from the dean's mouth, he learned for the first time how vast the Douluo Continent really was.
Besides the three upper sects and four lower sects, there were many other powerful sects—and even these strong sects were being suppressed by the Spirit Hall and were in constant danger of being destroyed.
Back in the dormitory, a black hammer with dark light appeared in his right hand. The Clear Sky Sect that Flender had just mentioned had the Clear Sky Hammer martial spirit. He didn't know how it compared to his own hammer.
In the big tree next to the dormitory building, Tang Hao gazed at the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's hand, a dim light in his eyes. He hadn't expected that he, so wise all his life, would be deceived by a wastrel.
It was true that Shrek Academy only recruited monsters and had good teachers, but everything else was so lacking it could almost be called nonexistent.
Not only was there no supply of soul beast meat, but even regular meat wasn't guaranteed. If Tang San kept training here, his potential would surely be limited.
There were no training tools, no simulation areas, no medicinal baths, and not even a training plan. And yet, this place could still be called an academy.
Tang Hao considered taking Tang San away. If he stayed longer, he might be ruined.
But then he thought again—he was still being hunted by Spirit Hall, and he only knew the Clear Sky Hammer. It would be hard for him to properly train Xiao San alone.
"Since Xiao San has come to this rundown place, as his teacher, I must come accompany him."
The figure in the tree disappeared and headed toward Notting City. In Yu Xiaogang's frightened eyes, he grabbed him and took him to Shrek Academy.
With the arrival of this teacher, Shrek was saved. The school buildings were renovated, medicinal baths were added, the cafeteria began serving meat, and the training methods became slightly more reasonable.
Although Tang Hao was still not very satisfied, under the current circumstances, he couldn't ask for too much—this would have to do for now.
However, standing on the tree, he suddenly recalled the Star Crown Sect that Flender had mentioned earlier. This sect had risen after the Clear Sky Sect secluded itself and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was destroyed.
Family-style sects like theirs usually didn't recruit talent from outside, except for support-type sects. Yet the Star Crown Sect seemed to be continuously recruiting external soul masters recently.
Since Tang San started school, Tang Hao had done nothing but observe important matters across the continent. At the very least, he had learned that the Dugu family had joined the Star Crown Sect.
"Hmph, they are just villains who stepped on my Clear Sky Sect to rise to the top. No matter how many schemes and tricks they have, my Haotian Sect will crush them with force.
Unfortunately, I don't know what's become of the sect now. This is all my fault."
At that moment, in the Clear Sky Sect that Tang Hao was worried about, Sect Master Tang Xiao and the remaining fourth, sixth, and seventh elders were sitting in the Sect Master Hall, all with gloomy expressions and heavy hearts.
"Hmph, it's all because of that scoundrel Tang Hao. If not for him, our Clear Sky Sect wouldn't be like this."
Tang Xiao, seated in the main seat, looked at the Seventh Elder with displeasure, but said nothing.
The Fourth Elder was now a Title Douluo, and the Sixth and Seventh Elders were close to becoming one. These three shared Tang Hao's stance. Even if Tang Xiao's strength surpassed theirs, he couldn't say anything. The Clear Sky Sect could no longer afford internal strife.
"Seventh Brother, please stop. The issue now is that our sect's resources are no longer sufficient to support our consumption. What should we do?"
The Fourth Elder was slightly more rational. He knew it wasn't the time for infighting. The blockade by the Spirit Hall and the seven major sects made it very difficult to acquire large quantities of resources. Plus, their funds were nearly depleted.
Initially, the Clear Sky Sect had evacuated in time, and the four single-attribute clans had helped to shield them. Their mid- and low-level strength was still decent—but that also meant their resource consumption was frightening.
The ancestral land of the Clear Sky Sect was enough to sustain food and clothing, but medicinal ingredients and soul beasts—key cultivation resources—were in critically short supply.
"Master, we can be self-sufficient in food, but not in cultivation resources. In the long term, this will definitely affect the cultivation of the sect's disciples."
"Yes, Master. I wonder what Tang Yuehua has said. Can she still provide any resources?"
Tang Xiao looked at the three elders before him and shook his head under their hopeful gazes.
"No, she seems to be facing resistance. Yuexuan has been suppressed, and it will be difficult to gather substantial resources in the short term."
The main hall of the Clear Sky Sect fell into silence, broken only by occasional sighs.