As the Shrek Academy team returned to the resting area, the moment they appeared, every gaze in the room turned toward them. At this point,
As the Shrek Academy team returned to the resting area, the moment they appeared, every gaze in the room turned toward them.
At this point, everyone in the resting area wore an expression of utter disbelief. Shock, awe, fear, admiration—all kinds of emotions were plainly visible.
Naturally, they had all gone out to watch when Canghui Academy unleashed their Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy, and yet the outcome... was Shrek's victory. No wonder their expressions were so complicated.
The moment Shrek entered, Huo Wu from Blazing Academy locked eyes on Lin Jie, her gaze sharp and biting. She had seen the entire match, as had Huo Wushuang and Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy—both of whom now wore looks of deep unease as they watched Shrek's team return.
Before the match, Feng Xiaotian had even gone out of his way to wish the Shrek team luck, and thus had seen the entire match from beginning to end. But when Canghui Academy unveiled what everyone believed to be the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy, he had completely lost his composure.
Indeed, even now, many believed what Canghui used was truly the legendary fusion technique.
Feng Xiaotian had fully expected Shrek Academy to lose. After all, if Canghui beat them, it would make his own plans to "avenge" Huo Wu easier.
That was why he'd been secretly cheering for Shrek.
But when Shrek won...
He was shaken.
That was supposed to be the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy! And they still lost?!
How could he ever hope to beat someone like Lin Jie?
Even now, Feng Xiaotian found himself staring at Lin Jie, his gaze dazed and unfocused, filled with disbelief and helplessness.
And he wasn't the only one.
Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and the rest of their teams shared the same thoughts.
Looking at Lin Jie's somewhat unsteady steps, Huo Wu found it hard to believe:
"Is he really under twenty-five? That was the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy… and he still wasn't defeated?!"
She knew that if she were in Lin Jie's position against Canghui, she wouldn't stand a chance.
And yet Lin Jie had won.
Once inside, Lin Jie instructed Ma Hongjun to help seat the others and had Jiangzhu activate her healing spirit ability to treat the team. Though none of them were seriously hurt, the illusion of injury had to be convincing.
Lin Jie had also noticed the odd stares from everyone in the rest area.
Without turning around, he said plainly,
"You don't need to look at me like that. That wasn't the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy."
"Not... the fusion technique?" Feng Xiaotian was briefly stunned, but soon accepted it. After all, if Canghui had really used the real fusion technique, that would make them godlike. The Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy was called a divine technique on the continent. If they could use it, the competition might as well be canceled and the championship handed to them.
With that, Lin Jie sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring the others.
Not long after, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang rushed in. After exchanging a few words with the team, Lin Jie's "injuries" worsened dramatically. Without Liu Erlong's support, he likely wouldn't have been able to walk.
Huo Wu gave the group a strange look as they staggered out, as did Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang. Something clearly wasn't adding up.
Shrek quickly left the resting area. Back at the academy, their "wounded" recovered immediately.
As Lin Jie had anticipated, Canghui Academy's seven members were all declared clinically brain-dead, their mental faculties permanently lost. Naturally, Canghui filed an official protest to the tournament committee, demanding that Shrek be held accountable.
In response, the committee launched an official investigation and sent two rank 70 healing-type Spirit Saints to treat the victims. Sadly, the outcome was poor.
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, Flender immediately convened a meeting with all twelve core members.
Flender's expression was dark as he looked at Lin Jie, then at the other six who had fought in the match.
"If I'm not mistaken, the investigation team will be arriving soon to look into what happened today. I don't know what you did to the seven from Canghui, but Xiaogang just told me… they've all become vegetables."
At the word "vegetables," everyone's gaze instinctively shifted to Lin Jie.
Seeing this, Lin Jie shrugged.
"Why are you all looking at me? I already held back. If I hadn't, they'd be worse off than that."
Held back?! And they still ended up like that?!
Dai Mubai and the others were speechless.
Flender gave Lin Jie a helpless glare.
"You little monster... always making trouble. All of you who fought in the match, go into seclusion immediately. I'll tell the investigators you're too injured to speak. Lin Jie, you stay. We need at least one person to face the inquiry."
"Yes, sir."
"Erlong, help them find a hidden location," Flender added. "Get Zhao Wuji to guard them personally. And bring Shao Xin along—his sugar beans can help cover up their fake injuries. Jiangzhu, you go too. It'll help to have more healing-type Spirit Masters present."
Liu Erlong nodded with a grin toward Lin Jie and led Dai Mubai and the others away. Once they left, only Lin Jie, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Yu Xiaogang, and Flender remained.
As the room quieted down, Flender knocked on the table thoughtfully.
"Lin Jie, when the investigators ask how you broke through the Seven-in-One Spirit Fusion Abiliy, what will you say?"
Lin Jie smiled and shrugged.
"I'll say... I don't know."
Flender's eyes lit up.
"Exactly. That's your answer. You know nothing."
"Got it, Headmaster." Lin Jie nodded obediently.
The investigation team arrived faster than Flender expected—more than ten people marched right up to Shrek Academy's gates.
To Flender's surprise, the team wasn't just any group. Leading the delegation were two men he recognized immediately.
The tournament's organizing committee for the Heaven Dou City qualifiers was jointly controlled by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall.
And the two leading this group were none other than Ning Fengzhi, Supreme Pontiff of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Platinum Bishop Salas of Spirit Hall.
These were not people who should be involved in such a "minor" matter. The fact that both showed up made Flender's scalp tingle.
He later learned that Ning Fengzhi was the personal tutor of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, making him part of the imperial faction.
Salas had originally planned to send a subordinate, but after learning how close Shrek was to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, he changed his mind. The incident involving Canghui's vegetative state was the perfect excuse for him to try and disqualify Shrek from the tournament.
Ning Fengzhi, however, wasn't about to let him.
His own daughter, Ning Rongrong, was part of Shrek. He had a vested interest in protecting the academy. The moment the committee proposed an investigation, he personally volunteered to lead a team to Shrek.
Salas, seeing this, grew uneasy. If Ning Fengzhi got there first, he'd have no opportunity to push his agenda. So Salas decided to go himself.
Ning Fengzhi was already very familiar with Shrek. When the investigation team arrived at the gate, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang were already waiting.
"Headmaster Flender," Ning Fengzhi said warmly, "sorry for the sudden visit."
Flender quickly returned the greeting. As the top auxiliary-type Spirit Master and head of one of the Three Upper Clans, Ning Fengzhi's status far exceeded his own.
"Not at all, Sect Master Ning. Your presence is an honor."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and stepped aside, gesturing to the man beside him.
"Allow me to introduce His Grace, Platinum Bishop Salas of Spirit Hall."
Flender's face didn't change as he bowed politely.
"A pleasure, Bishop Salas. I am Flender, Headmaster of Shrek Academy. Please, both of you, come inside."
Salas gave a curt nod, his expression frosty.
Behind him followed twelve individuals—two in red robes, clearly Red-Clothed Bishops, and ten others clad in silver battle armor: Holy Temple Knights, each at least at the Spirit King level.
By contrast, Ning Fengzhi had brought only one person: the legendary Bone Douluo, Gu Rong.