(You might be wondering—where the hell is Tang San? Well, he's still at Nuoding Academy. While Tang hao was not in the vicinity,Tang Yin suggested it'd be better for the master and disciple to arrive at Shrek together with his telepathy.
In the original story, Yu Xiaogang arrived at Shrek after the students had already left for Star Dou Forest to hunt a soul ring for Oscar. So, Tang Yin decided to use this opportunity to sneak Xiao Wu into the core area of the Star Dou Forest.)
Early the next morning, Tang Yin and Xiao Wu set off to explore Heaven Dou City. The streets bustled with energy—vendors shouting, merchants haggling, and the irresistible scent of grilled skewers drifting through the air.
Tang Yin walked with his hands behind his back, looking dejected. Beside him, Xiao Wu bounced along like an over-caffeinated squirrel, her eyes darting from one colorful storefront to another.
"Tang Yin! Tang Yin! Look over there!" she gasped suddenly, tugging his sleeve like a child who'd just discovered buried treasure.
Tang Yin blinked and turned—only to find a hilariously shady, slanted sign nailed above a building that looked one sneeze away from collapse.
"Flender's Fantastic Finds – Definitely Not a Scam!"
The structure itself seemed held together by sheer willpower and a suspicious amount of duct tape.
"…So this is Flender's shop," Tang Yin muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Looks about as trustworthy as his face. Hmm… that gold-plated crystal… might be useful against a powerful enemy."
Then, quickly pretending disinterest, he added, "Xiao Wu, this place looks shady. Let's not go in."
"Exactly why we have to go in!" Xiao Wu declared with the unwavering confidence of someone who had never seen a horror movie. "Shady shops always have the best loot!"
Before he could protest, she grabbed his hand and yeeted him through the door.
Ding-a-ling!
(The doorbell sounded more like someone with bronchitis than an actual bell.)
Inside, shadows loomed. A tall, greasy-haired man with a hooked nose lounged in a swinging chair, pretending to be mysterious. He made no move to greet them.
Xiao Wu was already elbows-deep in dusty shelves, rummaging with the enthusiasm of a raccoon in a garbage bin.
Five minutes later...
"Ooof! Tang Yin! This shop's full of junk!" Xiao Wu huffed, crossing her arms. "Hey, Swindler Uncle! You don't even have anything valuable! What a scam!"
Even the ever-composed Flender almost dropped his cup of tea. His hand twitched mid-air, and the corner of his mouth spasmed like it was trying to escape his face.
He exhaled a long-suffering sigh and muttered under his breath, "Kids these days... no eye for value. The treasure's practically waving at them, and they walk right past it."
Then, with zero shame, he added louder, "Bah! Bunch of blind little cabbage!"
Meanwhile, Tang Yin had already spotted the gold-plated crystal tucked in a shadowy corner. He had no intention of buying it—he was planning to steal it later using his telepathy.
(Tang Yin was just one step away from breaking into the Mustard Seed Realm—a level that required an external catalyst, like an immortal herb. But thanks to his current state, his telepathy could already control beings below the Soul Saint level.)
"Let's go, Xiao Wu," he said coolly.
"Hmph. Fine," she replied, still pouting.
Flender watched them leave with a glint in his eye. "Heh… two more monsters for Shrek. Looks like I'm about to make a profit. Hahaha!"
An hour later…
After two unsuspecting customers entered the shop, Tang Yin found a quiet alley nearby. Concentrating, he activated both his telepathy and telekinesis.
Inside, Flender was busy sweet-talking another victim—I mean, customer—completely unaware as the gold-plated crystal slowly floated off the shelf and out the door like a ghostly potato.
Back outside, Xiao Wu was pestering Tang Yin to buy her more carrots when she suddenly paused, staring wide-eyed as a "rock" drifted lazily toward Tang Yin's hand.
"…Tang Yin, did you make that rock float?" she asked, tilting her head and placing a finger cutely on her lips.
Tang Yin chuckled. "Yes, Xiao Wu. I can make anything—or anyone—float with my spiritual martial soul. And I stole this rock from that swindler uncle. It's actually a hidden weapon. Used correctly, it could even take out a normal Soul Saint."
He pinched her cheek playfully.
"Hey! Tang Yin!" she pouted, smacking his hand away.
Their playful bickering continued all the way to the outskirts of Shrek Academy.
Contrary to prestigious academies, Shrek Academy wasn't located in a grand city, but in a quiet, barely-holding-together village. It looked more like the set of a haunted house movie than a school for elite geniuses.
At the entrance stood a crumbling stone archway, the words "Shrek Academy" barely legible. The buildings beyond were made of rotting wood, and the entire pace was deliplated.
Despite the sketchy appearance, a long line of hopeful students stretched out in front of the broken gate.