With Flender gone, Tang San naturally wouldn’t be polite with Dugu Bo and walked over to sit on a sofa to the side.
Dugu Yan’s fierce gaze had stayed on Tang San from the moment he entered, but Tang San didn’t pay any attention, treating her like air.
“Grandpa, why have you called over this little bastard? You still haven’t told me why you would come to this run down academy as an advisor. Even if it was important, you should have come to our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!”
Dugu Yan spoke to Dugu Bo like a spoiled child.
Dugu Bo said:
“Fine. Yan-yan, later you mustn’t go saying ‘little bastard, little bastard’. Even if this little freak is uncanny, he still has a lot of areas you could learn from. Look at you, you’re already twenty one, and still like a little child. He’s not even fourteen, but his attitude is more mature than yours.”
Tang San secretly thought, ‘What fourteen, I’ve lived two lives, already forty years. How could I be as childish as your granddaughter?’
Dugu Yan hadn’t expected Dugu Bo to think this highly of Tang San and snorted,
“How is it so amazing. Last time I was careless. If we went at it again I’d beat him until his teeth littered the ground.”
Tang San smiled faintly, saying:
“I think you’ll have the chance you wish for. In another half year it will be time for the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Grand Competition. We’ll both be competing in the Heaven Dou City district, and I think we’ll encounter each other very quickly.”
Dugu Yan snorted disdainfully,
“If we weren’t careless last time the losers would definitely have been you. Your sneak attack on Tian-Heng won’t work again.”
Dugu Yan didn’t know Tang San’s depth, but Dugu Bo was only too clear. As he recalled the Cluster Soul Chasing Balls, Dugu Bo couldn’t help shivering. He didn’t believe the little freak only had four, and glaring at Tang San said:
“Little freak, I don’t care about others, but when the time comes you can’t injure my granddaughter. Otherwise I’ll take it up with you.”
Dugu Yan resentfully said:
“Grandpa, what are you saying. How could he injure me again. Would you ever encourage others’ ambition and look down on your own strength?”
Dugu Bo said:
“I don’t know about others, but if you underestimate this little freak, then I can guarantee that you’ll get the worst of it in a fight against him. Do you know what his current spirit power rank is? It shouldn’t be much short of yours, thirty seven ranks. If he has half a year, this little freak might even break through the fortieth rank bottleneck. You and he are alike, you’re both control system Spirit Masters, but I can tell you for sure that you aren’t his match.”
Hearing Dugu Bo repeatedly defend Tang San, Dugu Yan’s mood changed immediately. Leaping up from the bed, she glared at Tang San with an aggrieved expression,
“Little bastard, what kind of potion did you use on my grandpa? He’s actually so taken with you. Grandpa, you wouldn’t have taken this little bastard as apprentice, would you?”
Dugu Bo’s aged face blushed. The two had only mutually investigated poison, mutually studied. Tang San admittedly felt he had learned a lot from Dugu Bo, but Dugu Bo also believed he had gained some small advantages. For a moment he actually didn’t know how to answer his granddaughter.
Tang San also stood up from the soda,
“I still have to cultivate, I don’t have time to accompany you for senseless chatter. As for strength, let’s see it on the stage. Old freak, this is my blended medicine. You let her take it once every day for seven days, and it will transmit the poison. However, you have to find her a spirit bone first. With your abilities this shouldn’t be difficult.”
Dugu Bo took the seven crystal bottles Tang San handed over, nodding to him:
“Little freak, under heaven are scattered many feasts. I have my wish, it’s impossible for me to always stay here.”
“You’re leaving?”
Tang San shocked looked at him.
Dugu Bo nodded,
“I have some matters to deal with. If I hurry back I might make it in time for the Advanced Spirit Master Academy Grand Competition. Don’t forget, I won’t let you harm Yan-yan.”
Tang San glanced at Dugu Yan standing to the side with a baleful expression, and said indifferently:
“To give you face I won’t do anything to her. However, you had best remind her not to provoke me. I’m leaving.”
Saying this, he turned around and walked to the door. Dugu Yan still wanted to say something, but was stopped by a stern look from Dugu Bo.
Tang San suddenly stopped in front of the door, turning his head to look at Dugu Bo. One old and one young gaze met in the air, and although Tang San tried to hide it, Dugu Bou could still see a reluctance to part in his eyes.
“Old freak, take care. Don’t forget those two iron balls.”
“You take care too.”
Dugu Bo lowered his head, waving his hand at Tang San. He didn’t know why, but right now he felt a little sand in his eyes. The feeling Tang San gave him even Dugu Yan had never caused.
While walking out of the school building, Tang San’s mood still hadn’t recovered. Even though he had been constantly cultivating these several days, it was very difficult to focus, and even now he couldn’t undo the problem that preoccupied him.
This disturbance had appeared extremely suddenly, and he couldn’t even share it with anyone. He truly regretted that look. Even to the extent that he hadn’t the mood to reflect on why the old freak would leave now.
Dugu Bo left quietly. He didn’t say anything to anyone, and on the second day was gone without a trace.
Flender didn’t find Dugu Bo’s departure strange, after all, he was a Title Douluo, and who would dare restrict the actions of someone like that? Dugu Bo leaving on the contrary made him relieved, at least it reduced the number of time bombs at the Academy.
Several days later the Shrek Seven Devils completed their temporary Seclusion. Flender and Liu Erlong personally went with Grandmaster and Dai Mubai for the not distant Sunset Forest where Dugu Bo also had his nest to hunt spirit beasts. Ning Rongrong asked for leave and returned home. The remaining five for the time being entered the Academy’s advanced class.
Ning Rongrong had already planned to return home a while ago, but because Tang San was missing he naturally couldn’t make her the hidden weapons. Now that Tang San was back, and her strength had also substantially increased, she returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile school with her own pride and those mechanical class hidden weapons Tang San gave her.
Looking at the school uniform he wore, Tang San felt helpless. He didn’t know if it was a deliberate practical joke on Flender’s part, but after he had assumed control of the Academy, he had changed the Academy’s school uniform to completely green, and still that kind with a bit of yellow, the legendary snot green.
Let alone Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu’s big scowls, even Tang San felt a bit ridiculous.
Chapter 072: Flash Of Understanding
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
“Can we really go out in these clothes? Wouldn’t it have people laughing themselves to death?”
Oscar pointed to the massive red characters on his chest, ‘Shrek Academy’.
Fatty smiled wryly:
“I didn’t feel like teacher’s sense of aesthetics were so lacking before, how could he fit red with green? Don’t tell me that in half a year he’ll still have us dressed like this to participate in the Spirit Master Academy Grand Competition? I’m afraid we won’t even get to fight, we’ll be laughed to death first.”
Tang San said:
“But we’re not the only ones dressed like this, aren’t all the Academy students wearing the same? Oh, that’s right, you were cultivating in the Academy the whole time, is there any difference in the education system here?”
Oscar swallowed, saying:
&nb
sp; “There actually aren’t any differences, just that there are a lot of women. Everyone says that female Spirit Masters are rare, but that doesn’t show at our Academy. At least half or more are women Spirit Masters. Reportedly, it’s because of vice dean Liu Erlong. The majority all idolize vice dean Erlong.”
“There are altogether six classes in the Academy, separated according to rank. As long as your rank advances, you can skip a grade at any time, there’s no need to take any exams or such. Only on graduation are there two tests, one is combat, and one is a graduation mission. Split by rank, there are three classes for twentieth rank to twenty fifth rank making up the largest number of people, approximately one hundred twenty people. Twenty fifth to thirtieth rank has two classes, roughly eighty people, and thirtieth and above have one class, which is also our advanced class. Figures us as thirty something people. Moreover the majority are a lot older than us. Some are even over thirty.”
Fatty, immensely proud of himself, said:
“This is the gap. How could people like them reach Title Douluo?”
The Academy bell rung, and everyone entered the classroom.
Because of their age, the Shrek Seven Devils naturally couldn’t compare to those older students in stature, therefore their seats were all at the very front. By now all the Shrek Seven Devils had reached the thirtieth rank, and naturally also sat in this classroom.
Just as they entered, Tang San discovered the mood in the classroom was somewhat peculiar. A lot of people’s gazes were fixed on him. Just like Oscar said, the number of female students were about the same as the male students in the classroom, and these female students looking at Tang San, for the most part displaying pure astonishment. But the male students looked at Tang San with gazes that clearly held bad intent.
Tang San of course didn’t care about others looking at him, he just wanted to know the cause.
He understood it very quickly. From those male students’ gazes at him, he knew the reason for the malevolence.
Tang San was being pulled into the classroom by Xiao Wu, who pulled him straight into a seat next to her. Furthermore, from start to finish Xiao Wu’s gaze had never left Tang San, as if he was the only person in her eyes.
Even though Xiao Wu and Tang San had neither reached fourteen, girls developed earlier than boys, and Xiao Wu wasn’t just beautiful, she still had that pitch-black long hair in addition to her perfect golden ratio figure. Naturally the number of those twenty something youths who coveted her wasn’t few.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun weren’t looked at with the kind of malevolence as Tang San, and sat on the other side secretly snickering.
Zhu Zhuqing just sat down in a corner with her ice cold expression. No matter others, she didn’t even look at her closest companions.
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet, and after the classroom had become quiet for a brief moment when Tang San and the others entered, it immediately became noisy again.
A few twenty three or twenty four year old students sitting in the back immediately stood up with meaningful glances, and walked over towards Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Tang San said in a low voice to Xiao Wu:
“Xiao Wu, it seems you’re really popular around here!”
Xiao Wu snorted, saying:
“It’s just some boring uncles. Who cares about them?”
Tang San couldn’t help smiling,
“No need to be so harsh, they’re only ten years or so older than you.”
Xiao Wu stuck out her adorable pink little tongue at Tang San,
“Ten years older isn’t an uncle?”
As the two spoke, Tang San suddenly felt the light being blocked in front of him. Raising his head to look he saw four people standing by his side. These four were all built very tall, encircling his side like a wall.
Tang San asked without batting an eyelid:
“Something on your mind?”
The one closest to Tang San was a sturdy youth, approximately one meter eighty tall, wide shoulders and broad back, chestnut red short hair that gave an excessively spirited impression, a flickering radiance deep in his eyes, speaking in a low and muffled voice:
“Kid, are you new?”
Tang San nodded,
“Yeah, hello, I’m Tang San.”
The sturdy youth said:
“Since you’re new, then it seems you don’t know the rules of our advanced class.”
“Rules?”
Tang San stared blankly.
The sturdy youth nodded affirmation,
“That’s right, there are rules. Don’t tell me you didn’t know know nobody can sit next to Xiao Wu? Who allowed you to sit here?”
“Me.”
Without waiting for Tang San to speak up, Xiao Wu already slapped the table and stood up. In front of Tang San she was docile, but in front of others she was still that big sister boss from Nuoding Academy. Her slap at the table echoed like a mountain, intrepid energy exhibited in her speech. At the slap, the four youths practically simultaneously trembled, unconsciously taking a step back.
Xiao Wu put up a foot on the chair next to her, left hand crossing at her waist, right hand pointing at the four as she angrily yelled:
“Did you have anything to say? Get lost. Otherwise don’t blame Xiao Wu Jie[ Jie is halfway to “big sister”, but in this case is more like “boss”.] for being blunt.”
The sturdy male student was somewhat unable to keep his face up at Xiao Wu’s berating,
“Xiao Wu, this is a matter between us men, don’t get involved. I’ve always let you have your way, but I’m not afraid of you. Don’t tell me you think I, as the Academy chief, can just back down?”
Tang San to the side couldn’t help asking:
“Senior, what’s the Academy chief?”
A thin and tall student next to the sturdy student couldn’t help but say:
“What kind of hick is this, doesn’t even know about the chief. The chief is the most awesome among all the Academy students.”
Hearing him say this, Tang San was instead somewhat on alert. Sizing up the sturdy student in front of him, he said:
“So it’s like that.”
He believed that since the other part said this, then this sturdy student must be even stronger than Dai Mubai. Looking at it like this, the other side might approach fortieth ranked strength.
The sturdy student proudly declared:
“Kid, right now you have two choices. The first is to duel me, if you win I will admit you have the qualifications to sit there. The other is to immediately get lost and find someplace else to sit.”
Tang San never liked causing trouble, but he was also never timid. Let alone when the matter was somewhat related to Xiao Wu. No matter how it was related, as Xiao Wu’s big brother, how could he back down.
“Duel? Right here?”
Tang San doubtfully asked.
The sturdy student proudly said:
“Don’t tell me I’d still need to pick a place to deal with a child like you? Don’t worry, I won’t bully the younger, I won’t use my third spirit ability.”
Not far to the side Oscar couldn’t help saying:
“Just what is called ‘the sins of Heaven can be forgiven, but our own sins are fatal’!”
Tang San nodded:
“Then come.”
Confronting an opponent with unknown strength he wouldn’t be careless, standing up he directly released his spirit.
As the two yellow and one purple spirit rings appeared around Tang San, the complexions of the sturdy student’s party clearly changed. Clearly they hadn’t expected Tang San to possess such an optimal spirit ring configuration.
“Tang San, spirit Blue Silver Grass, thirty seventh ranked control system Battle Spirit Elder, please advise me.”
“What? You’re thirty seventh ranked?”
The sturdy student was shocked, inwardly he couldn’t help regretting what he said just now about not using his third spirit ability. But he was after all the previou
s Blue Tyrant Academy’s chief and he was the instigator of this fight, naturally he couldn’t back down.
With a deep roar, his body swiftly transformed.
His already sturdy body expanded once again, especially the muscles of his arms that practically doubled in size. At the same time they extended until they hung to his knees, and all his exposed skin grew black fur.
“Tai Long[ (泰隆) There are numerous ways to translate this name, but let’s go with “Grand Bulge”.], spirit Vigorous Orangutan, thirty seventh ranked power attack system Battle Spirit Master, please advise me.”
Thirty seventh ranked? Tang San looked distracted a moment, his face couldn’t help displaying a strange smile.
If the opponents strength had surpassed his, then he still might bring him some trouble. But since his spirit power was only equal to his own, then this fight was at once very simple.
Tai Long crooked a finger at Tang San, indicating he should go first. Tang San wasn’t polite and raised his right hand, green light flickering within, compact green light releasing in an instant. Right now he was close to Tai Long and the other students only saw a green light sparkle, the next moment Tai Long was already closely enveloped in a large net.
The contest ended even faster than it started. After Tang San launched Spider Web Restraint, he directly walked over and sat down next to Xiao Wu without even looking at Tai Long. Even though Tai Long was rude, he was still open and honest, so he hadn’t planned to injure the opponent and had immediately used his third spirit ability.
Tai Long only felt his body constrict before he was already unable to budge. Subconsciously he began to struggle with all his might.
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
His spirit was the Vigorous Orangutan, and force was its forte. He refused to believe that this delicate Blue Silver Grass could restrain him.
However, very quickly this former chief's complexion changed. The Blue Silver Grass that wove the giant spider net possessed extreme toughness, and however he struggled he was unable to loosen it a fraction. Instead the spider web tightened constantly, and an intense burning feeling came from where his skin touched the spider web, at the same time accompanied by a strong paralysis. By now it was already impossible even if he wanted to use his third spirit ring.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 129