Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

Early the next morning, the Royal Fighting Team checked out of the hotel. After returning to the Rose Hotel for a brief tidying up, they concluded their months-long Soul Fight training.

At the front gate of Suotuo City, the members of the Royal Fighting Team stood watching a girl saying goodbye to Cheng Xiao in the distance, their expressions were strange, to say the least.

"When did Cheng Xiao become so close to a girl from Shrek Academy?" Yu Feng rubbed his chin with one hand, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Geez, Yu Feng, don't say that." Oslo, who was standing beside him, took a deep breath and guessed, "Could it be that he secretly went on a date with that girl last night while we were drinking?"

"Date?" Yu Feng was stunned for a moment and instinctively replied, "But wasn't he training with Lingling in the hotel last night? How could he have..."

Before Yu Feng could finish speaking, Dugu Yan kicked him in the rear from behind and said menacingly, "Yu Feng, are you asking for a beating? Don't talk nonsense."

Clutching his aching rear, Yu Feng mumbled an "oh" in a pitiful tone and quickly hid behind Yu Tianheng, not daring to speak further.

Meanwhile, after reminding Xiao Wu to stay safe, Cheng Xiao made plans to meet her in Heaven Dou City in a few months. They parted ways after Xiao Wu shyly embraced him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, they're hugging now!" Yu Feng hollered as soon as Cheng Xiao rejoined the team.

"Cheng Xiao, mind the impact, the impact," Yu Tianheng coughed lightly and signaled with his eyes as Cheng Xiao looked bewildered.

Hearing this, Cheng Xiao was even more confused. What was going on? It was just a goodbye! Why were they all acting so sour, as if they'd eaten lemons?

"Cheng Xiao, spill it. Since when did you start hooking up with such a cute girl?" Yu Feng whispered as he sidled up to Cheng Xiao.

"You want to hook up too?" Cheng Xiao raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Can you teach me?"

"Really want to learn?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, then keep dreaming."

"Screw you! (╬▔皿▔)╯"

...

Shrek Academy.

Upon returning to the academy, the Master immediately summoned his disciple, Tang San. After a night of deliberation, he had figured out a way to deal with Cheng Xiao's Martial Spirit, which made him eager to share it.

"Teacher, I'm here. Is there something you need?" Tang San asked curiously.

"Hehe, no rush." The Master stroked his chin and pointed at the lavish breakfast laid out on the table. "Have some food first. You haven't eaten all night, and you need to replenish your energy."

Hearing this, Tang San didn't hesitate. He hadn't eaten anything the previous night while waiting in the hotel. If it weren't for Oscar coming back to remind him in the morning, he might still be waiting in the hotel for the Master. After clearing the table of food, the Master finally spoke up: "Xiao San, I have good news for you."

"I've figured out a way to deal with Cheng Xiao. Do you want to hear it?"

Tang San's face changed upon hearing this, and a joyful expression spread across his usually calm face. He eagerly asked, "Teacher, please tell me."

At this moment, Tang San could barely contain his excitement. He had lost to Cheng Xiao too many times, and now his only goal was to win!

"No hurry, let me first tell you about the conversation I had last night with Flender and the leader of the Royal Fighting Team, Qin Ming," the Master said calmly.

The Master then recounted the events of the previous night, including the news that Shrek Academy would be merging with Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Merge with Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Tang San felt as if cold water had been poured over him, instantly sobering him up. "Teacher, if we join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, won't we be constantly under Cheng Xiao's control?"

"Hahaha, worthy of being my disciple, you think of everything," the Master said, satisfied as he patted Tang San's shoulder. "But Xiao San, you don't need to worry too much. Joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"You must understand, because of our academy's financial limitations, we've been unable to provide you all with the conditions for Martial Spirit Mimicry training. However, Heaven Dou Royal Academy can provide this."

"Moreover, Shrek Academy isn't qualified to participate in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament two years from now. But once we join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, these problems will be solved."

"Rest assured, while we may be poor, we're not without ambition. This time, we're joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy with conditions attached. After joining, the captain of the Royal Fighting Team, Yu Tianheng, will also join our Shrek Team, becoming the Eighth Monster."

"You've seen Yu Tianheng's strength. Although he's not as strong as you, he'll play an important role once he joins us. I'll even work on convincing the rest of the Royal Fighting Team to join us. Then, will it really still be their Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"At that point, the conflict between you and Cheng Xiao will only escalate. Sometimes, you need to remind Xiao Wu that she's one of us, not someone who should be siding with outsiders."

The Master felt somewhat disgruntled thinking about how Xiao Wu wasn't following his plans, but there was little he could do. Xiao Wu's identity was too unique. Last time, when Tang Hao came to him, it was clear he had been severely injured. Although Tang Hao didn't explain the cause of his injuries, the Master was certain it had something to do with Xiao Wu.

Still, he couldn't figure out what kind of force was powerful enough to wound the mighty Haotian Douluo, Tang Hao, so severely. Could that pale, weakened figure really have been the Tang Hao he once idolized? While the Master was lost in thought, Tang San had already processed the information.

He looked up at the Master and said, "Teacher, does this mean that whether or not Yu Tianheng joins our Shrek team depends on whether the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch agrees?"

"If that's the case, then the odds of him joining us would be quite slim, wouldn't they?"

Tang San's reasoning was sound, but to the Master, it sounded like doubt in his abilities.

With confidence, the Master replied, "Xiao San, don't worry about that. The clan patriarch is my father, and he has always been very fond of me. It's the clan elders who pushed me out."

"I haven't returned to the clan for years, and this is just a small request. I'm sure they'll agree."

"But... Teacher," Tang San scratched his head in confusion. "Is this the method you mentioned to deal with Cheng Xiao? Yu Tianheng couldn't even beat me; how could he possibly defeat Cheng Xiao?"

"You child, why do you lose your composure whenever Cheng Xiao is mentioned?" The Master's face darkened as he knocked on Tang San's head. "What I'm about to tell you is the real way to counter Cheng Xiao. Just listen carefully."