Tang San had only used ordinary hidden weapons earlier—just to test the extent of Zhao Wuji's physical defenses.
But his first attempt had failed.
Now, Tang San moved swiftly, activating his Mysterious Jade Hands and employing a specialized hidden weapon technique. One after another, the projectiles shot toward Zhao Wuji.
Clang! Clang!
The hidden weapons collided with Zhao Wuji's Indestructible Vajra Body, yet none managed to penetrate.
"You've got plenty of tricks, but they're useless against me," Zhao Wuji taunted, clearly toying with him. Still, he had no intention of outright defeating Tang San—that would mean failing the test, and that would be embarrassing.
Now's the time!
Tang San judged the moment ripe. He unleashed a special type of hidden weapon—one capable of bypassing spirit power defenses.
The Indestructible Vajra Body, after all, was merely a powerful barrier formed from spirit energy. It wasn't as though Zhao Wuji's actual flesh and blood were invulnerable.
Amidst the barrage of ordinary hidden weapons, these special ones slipped through unnoticed, piercing Zhao Wuji's defenses and embedding themselves in his body.
"Tsk!"
Zhao Wuji hissed in pain, shocked that his Indestructible Vajra Body had been breached.
Worse still, the hidden weapons inside him writhed like golden threads, tearing through muscle and tissue, amplifying the damage and hindering his movements.
"Good!"
Zhao Wuji's face darkened with humiliation—and then, losing control, he released his spirit power suppression.
"Gravity Increase!"
A thousand-year purple spirit ring flared to life as he activated his third spirit skill—a millennium-ranked ability.
"Cough!"
Tang San instantly felt the crushing weight press down on him. His legs trembled violently, locking him in place. If not for sheer willpower, he would have already collapsed to his knees.
"This is bad! Teacher Zhao's lost his temper!" Oscar cried out in alarm.
Ma Hongjun sighed. "Teacher Zhao's always so quick to anger..."
Dai Mubai seized the moment. "Teacher Zhao! You've broken the rules—that means Tang San and the others have passed!"
Zhao Wuji shot him a glare that made Dai Mubai's scalp prickle, but he pressed on. "If Dean Flender finds out, he'll be furious."
At the mention of Flender, Zhao Wuji regained some composure—but his pride still stung.
Then, Xu Yunhan spoke up. "Teacher, we all know you were just testing them, pushing them to grow. They've learned their lesson. They're still young—they need time to improve."
The words were diplomatic—fitting for a disciple.
With a way to save face, Zhao Wuji finally withdrew the gravity pressure, freeing Tang San.
Bruised and battered from the hidden weapons, Zhao Wuji looked somewhat disheveled. "Tang San, the three of you show promise. But remember—there's always someone stronger. Stay humble, and focus on your cultivation.
"Consider yourselves accepted. You're now students of Shrek Academy."
With that, he turned to leave.
"Teacher Zhao, wait!"
Tang San's voice stopped him.
"Hm? You still have complaints?" Zhao Wuji frowned.
"Let me remove the hidden weapons from your body. Otherwise, extracting them will be difficult—and painful," Tang San said flatly. If not for Zhao Wuji's status as a teacher, he wouldn't have bothered.
Zhao Wuji hesitated, pride warring with pain—but the latter won. Besides, refusing a student's goodwill would be petty. "Fine."
Using his Mysterious Jade Hands and Mysterious Heaven Technique, Tang San carefully extracted the golden threads from Zhao Wuji's body, storing them in a small box.
His technique, however, was deliberately rough—drawing a few hisses of pain from Zhao Wuji.
A small act of revenge.
Once finished, Tang San hurried to check on Xiao Wu.
She was still unconscious but otherwise unharmed.
"Teacher Zhao!"
Oscar scurried over, offering two "Recovery Sausages."
Zhao Wuji snatched them up and devoured them. The pain dulled almost instantly, his injuries beginning to mend. "Make more. Give some to Tang San and the others."
Oscar nodded eagerly.
Zhao Wuji glanced at Xu Yunhan. "Yunhan, arrange their accommodations later."
Then, he stood and left—he still needed time to recover properly.
"Thank you," Tang San said to Zhu Zhuqing, who had been watching over Xiao Wu.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly. "You two are close."
"She's my little sister. I won't let anyone hurt her," Tang San replied.
Siblings?
Zhu Zhuqing blinked in surprise—they didn't look related. But she didn't press further.
Meanwhile, Xu Yunhan approached Ning Rongrong. "Feeling better?"
"A little. But my leg's injured—I can't walk," she admitted.
"No problem." Xu Yunhan bent down and scooped her up effortlessly. "I'll take you to your room. Rest there."
"You—I—" Ning Rongrong's face flushed crimson, her words stumbling.
Tang San carried Xiao Wu, following behind.
Zhu Zhuqing trailed after them.
"Hey! What about my sausages?" Oscar called out, holding a handful of Recovery Sausages—only to realize everyone had already left.
Ma Hongjun smirked. "Guess you'll have to eat them yourself."
"Shut up, fatty!"
Oscar stuffed the sausages away and rushed after them. His main concern was Ning Rongrong—though she barely spared him a glance.
Dai Mubai followed as well.
Left alone, Ma Hongjun muttered to himself, *"Zhu Zhuqing's Dai Mubai's, Xiao Wu's with Tang San, and Ning Rongrong's way out of my league—total noble miss.
"Ah, forget it. I'll go find my sweetheart in the village."*
Lately, he'd been cozying up to a local girl. Unlike Oscar, he had no illusions about Ning Rongrong—nor did he believe Dai Mubai or Oscar stood a chance with her.
The assigned rooms were adjacent to Xu Yunhan's own quarters.
"This is Zhuqing's room," he said, gently setting Ning Rongrong on the bed. "From now on, Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu will stay here."
Tang San had no objections, carefully laying Xiao Wu down.
Zhu Zhuqing spoke up. "Tang San, I'll take care of Xiao Wu. Rongrong, you rest too."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Mm."
At the doorway, Dai Mubai offered, "Tang San, I live alone. You can stay with me."
Originally, Dai Mubai had shared a room with Xu Yunhan—but after their falling out, he'd moved out.
Oscar, meanwhile, roomed with Ma Hongjun.
After a moment's thought, Tang San agreed.
Xu Yunhan had no intention of rooming with Tang San—it was too risky, not to mention uncomfortable.
Playing the "good friend" was one thing, but living together? No thanks.
Oscar finally caught up, waving his Recovery Sausages. "Tang San! Rongrong! These'll help you heal faster!"
Tang San eyed them warily, then politely declined.
"No need, thanks."
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "I'm fine."
Oscar's face fell.
"Alright, out you go," Zhu Zhuqing said firmly. "They need rest."
"I'll come as soon as Xiao Wu wakes," she assured Tang San.
He nodded. Staying here alone wouldn't be proper anyway. "Thank you."
The four men left—Dai Mubai leading Tang San to his quarters, while Xu Yunhan and Oscar went to check on Zhao Wuji.
Though the enrollment period wasn't over, no other qualified candidates had appeared. Most who intended to apply had already done so.
For now, there was nothing left to do.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 35 on my patreon, go check it out.
Give me all your power stones