Two months!
A full two months!
It took the Shrek team two months to return from Spirit City to Heaven Dou City.
During these two months, they encountered numerous assassination attempts.
Jing Ling even lost a leg, his internal soul power meridians shattered, and Tai Long's right arm was severely injured, possibly beyond full recovery.
Dai Mubai and the others also accumulated many hidden injuries, and it is uncertain how long they will take to recuperate.
A hundred thousand-year old Spirit Bone, even the slightest hope of obtaining it, is enough to drive people mad. Along this journey, Tang San and the others truly experienced this fact.
"Alright, next I will arrange for Shao Xin to prepare Sweet Pea for your recovery. Additionally, the Academy's healing Spirit Masters will do their best to treat your internal injuries," Flender said in a deep voice.
This time, Shrek had suffered greatly.
Even he had sustained many injuries along the way, some of which he was forcibly suppressing.
Now, having finally returned to the Academy, they could begin to recover.
"Xiaosan, come with me," Yu Xiaogang called out to Tang San and brought him to a separate conference room.
Tang San appeared to be in the best condition, having used the Mysterious Heaven Skill to fully regulate his internal injuries during the journey, leaving only some external wounds.
However, his mental state was extremely poor.
In his previous life, he had not experienced familial love. In this life, he finally had parents, but now he had learned that his mother was forced to death early on, and his father was killed in front of him.
If it weren't for the need to deal with potential assassinations along the way, he wouldn't have forced himself to maintain his composure.
Now, having finally returned to the Academy, his state had changed, his eyes vacant and slightly numb.
Yu Xiaogang had noticed this and called him out alone to counsel him.
"Xiaosan, the dead cannot be brought back to life. We both know the injuries Clear Sky Douluo suffered were already extremely fatal. This might have been a release for him. The only hateful one is Su Wen."
Tang San's eyes began to show a hint of color.
Then, they quickly dimmed again.
Su Wen... He's too powerful.
Su Wen was only two years older, yet possessed such immense strength. What did I, Tang San, do to deserve anything?
Even with twin Martial Spirits, could I truly compare to Su Wen?
"Xiaosan!" Yu Xiaogang's tone became stern.
"The secret technique Su Wen used at that time was the Ring Explosion Secret Technique, a secret of the Clear Sky Sect. You will learn it in the future, and your future Spirit Rings will definitely be stronger than his. The Ring Explosion Secret Technique will enhance you far more than it did Su Wen!"
"Moreover, Xiaosan, haven't you noticed yet? Su Wen's cultivation speed is extremely unusual!"
Yu Xiaogang seemed disappointed with Tang San, who seemed unable to think clearly at the moment.
With Yu Xiaogang's hint, a flash of insight appeared in Tang San's mind.
"Teacher, are you saying that Su Wen's Soul Power cultivation wasn't achieved by himself?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head and said, "He can control that explosive power, so the Soul Power must have been cultivated by himself."
This point had to be acknowledged.
"But, at the end of the tournament, he revealed too many techniques, including the Soul Power Circulation Route."
"External Strength and Internal Strength, along with the Spirit Ascension Method—did he really develop all these on his own?"
Yu Xiaogang didn't believe that a single Spirit Master could develop so many incredible Soul Power Circulation Routes in just ten years.
You have to understand, every major sect and faction has research teams and experienced scholars working on this. After generations, their Soul Power Circulation Routes only slightly surpass the typical advanced meditation techniques.
However, the Internal Strength and External Strength techniques Su Wen provided, combining internal and external cultivation, enhance the cultivation effect by more than ten times that of advanced meditation techniques!
It's simply outrageous.
While cultivating Soul Power, he also delved into theories and developed techniques.
"So where did his techniques come from?"
Tang San thought of himself and the Tang Sect's secret techniques like Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Could it be that Su Wen also came from another world, possessing many advanced techniques?
But could the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill really be that inferior to Su Wen's techniques?
Yu Xiaogang, with his hands behind his back and a knowing expression, said, "Xiaosan, do you remember the Book of Ten Thousand Techniques that Su Wen showcased during the tournament?"
"The Book of Ten Thousand Techniques can directly guide Spirit Masters to learn techniques."
"Su Wen claimed that the Book of Ten Thousand Techniques contained many of his self-created techniques and Spirit Skills. But why can't it be that these techniques and Spirit Skills actually come from an even older version of the Book of Ten Thousand Techniques?"
Tang San's eyes lit up after Yu Xiaogang's reminder.
Yes!
Su Wen must have mastered the original Book of Ten Thousand Techniques. With its help, he learned many self-created Spirit Skills, External Strength, Internal Strength, and the Spirit Ascension Method.
If only I could obtain it...
Yu Xiaogang saw through Tang San's thoughts, shook his head, and said, "The Book of Ten Thousand Techniques is just a guess. Moreover, we can't forcibly take it from Su Wen."
"Teacher, what should we do then?"
At this moment, Tang San's mind was in disarray, completely lacking his usual calm and wisdom.
Yu Xiaogang could only sigh inwardly, hoping that Tang San would adjust and recover from this setback.
"We can't obtain the Book of Ten Thousand Techniques, but you must first master the External Strength, Internal Strength, and the Spirit Ascension Method."
Since Su Wen had openly shared these techniques, Yu Xiaogang didn't mind learning the publicly available ones.
The construction of other Wisdom Palace branches in different regions wasn't complete yet, but Heaven Dou City already had a functioning Wisdom Palace.
It was the only place on the entire continent currently responsible for disseminating Su Wen's various techniques and theoretical materials.
...
Two months had passed since the end of the Spirit Master Competition.
After spending over half a month searching in the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest, Su Wen and his party began searching the outer areas. They finally found traces of the Dark Devilgod Tiger in the mixed zone near the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Uncle Ning, when fighting this creature, be very cautious of its spatial and temporal abilities," Su Wen warned.
"Temporal abilities?"
Su Wen nodded seriously and briefly described the Dark Devilgod Tiger's time-based Spirit Skill.
"It can reverse time, causing the enemy to revert to a weaker state while the Dark Devilgod Tiger remains unaffected?" Ning Fengzhi's expression changed slightly.
This was the first time he had heard of such an ability.
Could a Spirit Beast really possess such a power?
Considering this, who could possibly defeat the Dark Devilgod Tiger?
"It's not entirely unaffected. If you can break through its defensive measures, it will also be reverted to a weaker state. However, even in its weakened state, a Spirit Beast is much stronger than a human, especially one as top-tier as the Dark Devilgod Tiger."
Su Wen wasn't certain whether the Dark Devilgod Tiger would definitely revert him to the period before he awakened his Martial Spirit at six years old or if this time reversal ratio could be adjusted or interfered with.
So, he informed Ning Fengzhi and the other two about this in advance.
"Uncle Ning, you three must be very cautious and guard against this move. Don't take it head-on. Leave it to me."
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