For three full months of slacking off, Tang Sui initially spent the first half of the month exploring various cities on Seahorse City and Sea God Island with her companions. However, as time went on, Tang Sui realized she was too much of a third wheel and volunteered to leave, planning to return to the mainland for a visit.
Currently, among the Shrek Eight Monsters, only Bai Chenxiang had completed her assessment. Tang San and the others were unable to leave the sea due to their unfinished assessments. Upon learning that Tang Sui intended to return to the mainland and would only come back after the three-month period, Tang San’s brows furrowed, filled with worry.
However, after Tang Sui’s persuasion, he relented.
Instead of crossing the sea herself, Tang Sui opted for the faster method of spatial teleportation. She traveled from the Slaughter City to the surface and then hurried to the Heaven Dou Empire, which would save more time.
When Tang Sui arrived at Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, the atmosphere within the city was somber, and fewer people were walking on the streets.
There were more patrolling soldiers in full armor than she remembered from when she left, and even the street vendors had lost much of their smiles. They arranged their goods with visible worry etched on their brows, giving the distinct impression of an impending storm.
Tang Sui's brow furrowed. She glanced in the direction of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, then changed her direction, heading towards Shrek Academy.
With her current cultivation and her ability to control her aura at will, Tang Sui easily bypassed the Soul Master guards hidden around the academy and headed straight for the familiar Dean’s office building from her memories.
In the reception hall of the Principal’s office, Liu Erlong, Flander, Zhao Wuji, and Grandmaster were gathered. Liu Erlong’s face was filled with anger, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, striking the solid wood desk with her fist.
The teacup on the table trembled, splashing out a third of its scalding tea due to the violent tremor. Several drops even landed on Liu Erlong’s hand, but consumed by the news that the Spirit Hall Empire had captured the Barak Kingdom the previous day, Liu Erlong didn’t even feel the burning sensation, exclaiming in fury, “Spirit Hall Empire, this is utterly outrageous!”
Grandmaster glanced at Liu Erlong, a trace of emotion stirring in his eyes, but he suppressed it. He lowered his head, fiddling with the black and white chess pieces before him, and said in a deep voice, “Ever since the Spirit Hall Empire declared its establishment and publicly held the grand assembly for the re-election of the Seven Great Sects, they have no longer concealed their ambitions. It was expected that they would choose to strike at Heaven Dou, which was already weakened, first.”
Zhao Wuji stood beside Grandmaster with his arms crossed, looking at the distribution of black and white pieces on the chessboard. He sighed, “Yes. But none of us expected their actions to be so swift…”
“To directly invade the Barak Kingdom and capture the royal court overnight, even a donkey in the production team isn’t that fast!” Flander paced anxiously behind them, muttering incessantly as he thought of the new Seven Great Sects.
“If you ask me, the Spirit Hall Empire intended to break ties three years ago after their failed usurpation. That announcement about holding elections for new Seven Great Sects within their territory, on the surface claiming fair and just elections, sounded all well and good, but who doesn’t know this is already forcing the sect powers on the Douluo Continent to choose sides!”
“This time it was the Barak Kingdom, an affiliated empire of the Heaven Dou Empire. What about next time!”
Flander was so anxious that his lips were about to blister.
Tang Sui, upon arriving just outside the office, heard this. She paused, her aura momentarily uncontrolled, immediately drawing the attention of Flander and the other two Soul Douluos.
“Who’s there?!”
Liu Erlong slammed the table and instantly stood behind Grandmaster.
Zhao Wuji and Flander also moved in perfect sync, forming a defensive posture centered around Grandmaster, their sharp gazes fixed on the empty balcony.
“Teacher, Dean, and also Teacher Erlong and Teacher Zhao, it’s me.”
Tang Sui, who hadn’t intended to hide any longer, deactivated her Void Form and emerged from the shadows in the corner.
Grandmaster’s eyes widened abruptly, “Sui Sui?!”
Upon seeing who had arrived, Grandmaster and the others were stunned.
“Long time no see, Teacher.” Tang Sui blinked, then reached out and tapped on the glass door of the balcony, saying, “Dean, could you open the door for me?”
Flander snapped back to reality, quickly stepping forward, turning the doorknob, and opening the glass balcony door to welcome Tang Sui in.
Zhao Wuji also regained his senses, looking at Tang Sui with surprise, “Sui Sui, didn’t you go to Sea God Island with Xiao San and the others? Why are you back all of a sudden? Wait, since you’re back, could it be that Xiao San and the others are also…”
As he spoke, Zhao Wuji craned his neck to look behind Tang Sui.
Under the confused gazes of her teachers, Tang Sui calmly said, “Teacher Zhao, there’s no need to look. Only I have returned this time. My brothers are still on Sea God Island undergoing the Sea God’s assessment and cannot leave for now.”
Grandmaster’s gaze sharpened at this, his keen senses picking up on something. “Isn’t Sea God Island a place you can enter but not leave? How did you get back?”
“This,” Tang Sui explained the Sea God’s bestowed assessment to Grandmaster and the others in detail, then continued, “Now that my brother is the Sea God’s successor, I believe there will be no problem leaving Sea God Island after everyone completes their assessments. As for me, for some reason, I did not accept the Sea God’s assessment like Dai老大.”
“Why? Didn’t you all go to great lengths to reach Sea God Island to receive the assessment and improve yourselves?” Flander looked at Tang Sui with disappointment, as if she were a failing student.
Grandmaster’s brow furrowed. Looking at Tang Sui, who showed no hint of regret and still wore a smile, a thought struck him, and he tentatively asked, “You and Xiao San are both extremely intelligent. I suspect the reason you didn’t accept the Sea God’s assessment is because you found something better?” Sudan Novel Network
Tang Sui’s gaze flickered. “Mm,” she replied, “Teacher, you are correct. I have indeed found a path more suited to me.”
“What path made you abandon even the assessment granted by a god?” Liu Erlong couldn’t help but ask.
Tang Sui’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Her deep blue eyes were clear, yet something seemed to ignite within them, giving Grandmaster and the others a sense of unease. As they listened to Tang Sui utter a few words that made their expressions drastically change—
“Proving the Dao and becoming a god.”
Upon hearing this, Grandmaster’s expression was filled with horror. He stepped forward, excitedly grasping Tang Sui’s shoulders, and said sternly, “Are you crazy! You want to prove the Dao and become a god yourself! You know that even a powerful senior like Sword Douluo is currently stagnant, lamenting that he might never have the chance to attain divinity in this life, and you…”
“Teacher.”
Tang Sui interrupted Grandmaster’s words, raising her cool hand and gently placing it on Grandmaster’s warm palm. The coldness made Grandmaster’s pupils contract.
“From the moment I embarked on the path of cultivation, I have had no turning back,” Tang Sui said softly.
Grandmaster’s lips trembled, and deep worry appeared in his eyes. He clasped Tang Sui’s cold hand back, placing his palm near her pulse. The pulse was faint, as if separated by a layer of ice, greatly reducing his ability to perceive its beat.