Chapter 187: Tang Chuan's Worries? The Mysterious Old Man in the Shadows!
In the following days of the preliminary rounds, with the addition of Yu Tianheng, a powerful attack-type Soul Master with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, Shrek Academy's performance finally stabilized.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Shrek Academy achieved a record of eight wins and two losses.
The two losses were an uncontested defeat to the unfathomably strong Heavenly Movement Academy, and a narrow loss to the speed-oriented Kamikaze Academy.
Although not perfect, this result still kept them firmly among the top contenders for advancement.
As for Heavenly Movement Academy, they advanced triumphantly, winning all ten matches without meeting any true rivals, leading the standings with an overwhelming advantage.
However, since Tang Chuan's stunning victory over Shrek Academy in the first preliminary round, he had not taken the stage again.
The subsequent matches were all led by Xiao Ruier and the other team members, while he simply sat quietly in the stands like an ordinary spectator.
Today, the atmosphere at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was exceptionally lively and bustling.
A highly anticipated battle was about to take place, drawing countless eyes.
Tang Chuan sat on the viewing platform, gaze fixed on the arena below, yet his expression was somber, brows tightly furrowed, as if his mind had already drifted far away, completely out of tune with the vibrant surroundings.
"Boy, what's wrong with you these days? You seem distracted. I can tell something's weighing on your mind," Dugu Bo keenly noticed Tang Chuan's unusual demeanor and glanced at him with puzzlement.
Tang Chuan was indeed preoccupied.
Ever since he learned that Di Tian had appeared behind him that night, an invisible pressure had constantly pressed on his heart.
He worried that Di Tian was lurking in the shadows, silently watching him, his true intentions unknown.
This feeling of being observed by an existence far stronger than himself was like a sword suspended above his head, ready to fall at any moment, giving him thorns in his back.
Yet he could not reveal even a hint of the secrets concerning Xiao Ruier, Di Tian, the Crimson King, or the core circle of the Star Dou Great Forest to Dugu Bo.
"Old Poison, let me ask you something," Tang Chuan exhaled softly, choosing a vague yet heavy way to phrase it. "If one day you discovered that every move you made was being watched by an existence you could never hope to resist, and you couldn't tell whether their intentions were good, evil, exploitative, or something else… what would you do?"
Dugu Bo stilled. A glint flashed through his cloudy eyes.
Having lived most of his life, he was no stranger to danger. He immediately understood that Tang Chuan was speaking of no ordinary powerhouse; perhaps even one beyond the human realm. Recalling the red-haired giant from before, he already had some guesses.
Dugu Bo did not pry. He merely reached out his withered hand and patted Tang Chuan's shoulder, his tone unusually comforting, like an elder speaking from experience:
"Young man, I don't know exactly what troubles you. But this world is a world where the strong devour the weak. Only a handful of people, or… beings, will ever stand at the very top."
He paused, gaze drifting to the starry sky.
"Until you possess the strength to change or see through everything, overthinking only adds to your burdens. Since he has not attacked you and seems merely to be observing, what you must do now is seize every chance to grow stronger. Strong enough that one day, no matter what you face, you'll have the confidence to handle it instead of worrying needlessly here."
"There's always a way out. For now, just watch the match. Even if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up."
"Don't worry. Since I promised to stay by your side and protect you, even if Qian Daoliu himself comes, I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."
Dugu Bo's consolation was not particularly warm, but it carried the weight of experience and a kind of weary realism.
Hearing these pragmatic yet somewhat optimistic words, Tang Chuan's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and the gloom in his heart lightened considerably.
He nodded slightly.
Yes.
Worrying now was useless; the only real solution was to become stronger.
Just then, the announcer's excited voice rang out through the amplifying soul tool on the stage:
"Next, we begin the eleventh round of the preliminary tournament: Shrek Academy versus Blazing Academy!"
The moment the words fell, deafening cheers and shouts erupted from the stands.
Blazing Academy, as a long-established powerhouse, enjoyed considerable popularity.
Shrek Academy, meanwhile, had drawn endless attention due to its bizarre uniforms and the controversies surrounding it.
Immediately afterward, under countless gazes, the Shrek team emerged from the contestants' tunnel.
They still wore those eye-catching, garish green uniforms.
Dai Mubai strode at the very front, expression cold, evil eyes burning with battle intent.
Closely following was the newly joined Yu Tianheng, face calm, the domineering aura of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon faintly visible.
Behind him came Tailong, Xiao Wu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling.
However, when the last member stepped out, Dugu Bo in the spectator stands frowned. Surprise flashed across his face as he whispered:
"Oh? That kid Tang San? How did he recover so quickly?"
According to his and Tang Chuan's estimates, with such severe injuries and his external soul bone shattered, Tang San should not have been able to leave his bed for at least half a month.
Yet now, barely ten days later, he was already competing again?
Though his complexion remained slightly pale, his movements were unimpeded.
Sitting beside him, Tang Chuan was equally startled. His sharp gaze swept over Tang San, sensing the stable, if not yet peak, soul power fluctuations within him. After a moment of contemplation, he murmured:
"He must have consumed some extremely rare and precious immortal herbs. Otherwise, with only a healing-type Soul Master and ordinary medicine, such rapid recovery would be impossible."
Tang Chuan's guess was correct.
To get Tang San back on the field as soon as possible and compensate for the loss of Shrek's core combat strength, Grandmaster had gritted his teeth and fed Tang San the last remaining Infernus Apricot and Dragon Blood Ginseng that Liu Erlong had brought back from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to prolong life and heal wounds.
These two were supreme treasures of the clan, with miraculous effects, allowing Tang San's injuries to improve so dramatically in such a short time and return to the tournament ahead of schedule.
The seven students from Blazing Academy all appeared to be around twenty years old.
Leading them was a youth of average build and plain appearance wearing a golden-red team uniform. His name was Huo Wushuang, martial soul Fire Dragon, level 42 power-attack type Soul Master.
Beside him stood the only girl on the team, Huo Wu martial soul Fire Shadow, level 43 control type Soul Master.
Watching the team battle about to begin below, Tang Chuan yawned lazily, then stretched.
"This match isn't very interesting. The outcome is pretty much set," he remarked casually to Dugu Bo.
"Tang San's Blue Silver Grass is naturally and severely countered by fire attributes. Against an entire team of fire-type Soul Masters like Blazing Academy, his control will be greatly diminished. I bet he'll be depressed for quite a while afterward. I'm heading back to the academy."
With that, Tang Chuan stood up, preparing to leave the stands.
Dugu Bo glanced at Shrek, whose attributes were indeed countered, and agreed with Tang Chuan's assessment. He asked casually:
"Are you coming this afternoon? Our Heavenly Movement Academy is up against Canghui Academy."
"Canghui Academy?" Tang Chuan paused slightly, muttering to himself.
He had a vague impression; they seemed to specialize in mental control, but against absolute strength, such tricks would likely be useless.
"Forget it, I won't come. It'll probably be a one-sided slaughter. Nothing to see."
After a moment's thought, Tang Chuan waved his hand calmly.
He did not linger and walked straight toward the exit of the Great Soul Arena.
Just as Tang Chuan was about to leave the bustling venue, he ran into Xiao Ruier at the gate; she too was preparing to return to the academy.
The two exchanged a glance but said nothing.
They simply walked side by side in tacit understanding, leaving the Great Soul Arena together.
At this moment, their attention was focused ahead, completely unaware that, not far behind them in the crowd, an old man in a moon-white Soul Master robe, face sinister and eyes cold as ice, was silently following them like a ghost.
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