"Your Holiness, that Tang Hao is truly too arrogant. This concerns the dignity of Spirit Hall. We—" Ghost Douluo couldn't help but speak up.
Bibi Dong's eyes were bloodshot as she snapped back, "Silence. Do you think I don't understand? If Tang Hao were that easy to deal with, would he have survived until now? The time isn't right yet."
Yue Guan pointed down below. "Then what about those people?"
Bibi Dong glanced at the group beneath them, her tone cold. "Let them go. Have them leave Spirit City." With that, she turned and walked back into the Pope's Palace. A cold sneer surfaced on her face. Endurance had always been one of her greatest strengths.
Just wait, Tang Hao. One day, you'll pay the price.
The four elderly men who had appeared earlier still hadn't spoken a word. As they watched Bibi Dong turn and re-enter the Pope's Palace, they silently followed.
Once Bibi Dong and the others had departed, peace gradually returned.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin made their way over to the Shrek group.
Prompted by Ning Fengzhi's reminder, Flender snapped out of his daze—and finally noticed that Yu Xiaogang had been knocked unconscious by the residual shockwave. He slapped his forehead in frustration.
I completely forgot… Grandmaster is the weakest among us. Without the protection of the Spirit Fusion Ability, how could he possibly withstand that terrifying force?
Flender hurried to support Yu Xiaogang, and Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
With Ning Fengzhi's assistance, the Shrek team gradually regained consciousness—though Yu Xiaogang still looked quite dazed. Not surprising, given how low his Spirit Power was.
Oscar had just come to when he exclaimed, "Whoa! I didn't expect Little San's dad to be that strong!"
Though Dai Mubai and the others were clearly puzzled, now wasn't the time for questions.
Flender let out a long sigh. Although he was a Spirit Sage, in the eyes of true powerhouses, his strength was still insignificant. If Tang Hao hadn't shown up, they might never have left alive.
He turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, you'd best take Rongrong with you. We've offended Spirit Hall now. Things are bound to get difficult for us. And besides, Rongrong's graduated anyway."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "She's been away from home for quite some time—it's about time she returned. But as long as Shrek Academy keeps a low profile, Spirit Hall won't go out of their way to trouble you."
At that moment, Jing Ling and Huang Yuan exchanged glances and summoned the courage to speak up together.
"Sect Master Ning, would you allow us to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Ning Fengzhi was briefly surprised but then smiled warmly. He had taken note of their performance and strength during the tournament. While they couldn't compare to monstrous talents like Lin Jie, they were undoubtedly geniuses in their own right.
"Of course. My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan never turns away talent. In fact, anyone among you who wishes to join is welcome."
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but glance at Lin Jie. Among the Shrek group, the two who had impressed him most were Lin Jie and Tang San. Unfortunately, Tang San was already out of reach. But Lin Jie…
Suddenly remembering the matter between Lin Jie and his daughter, Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened slightly, and his gaze toward Lin Jie grew a bit stern.
Lin Jie, however, simply turned his head and looked away, ignoring him.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong let out a soft giggle.
Ning Fengzhi then looked to the rest of the Shrek team.
Dai Mubai shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, Sect Master Ning, but I've been away from home for years. It's time I returned."
Zhu Zhuqing gave Lin Jie a glance, then silently shook her head.
Ma Hongjun said, "I'll pass. I prefer freedom. After graduation, I want to travel the continent. The world's so big—I want to see more of it."
Oscar had similar thoughts and planned to travel alongside Ma Hongjun.
Next, Ning Fengzhi looked to Jiang Zhu. After glancing at Lin Jie, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sect Master Ning, I'd like to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
As a support-type Spirit Master, it was indeed the best choice for her.
"Welcome," Ning Fengzhi replied with a warm smile. He had already looked into Jiang Zhu and found her to be an excellent support Spirit Master.
As for Tai Long, it was clear he wouldn't be joining the clan.
Ning Fengzhi continued, "In that case, I won't push further. But remember—no matter what happens, the doors of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will always be open to you."
He paused briefly, then said, "Next, we'll return to the Heaven Dou Empire. Dean Flender, will you be traveling with us?"
Flender thought for a moment and decided to go with them. With a powerhouse like Sword Douluo protecting them, their safety was guaranteed.
"Then we'll trouble you, Sect Master Ning."
The Shrek group returned to their hotel to pack up their belongings.
Soon after, Dai Mubai pulled Zhu Zhuqing aside for a brief conversation—only to storm off alone, full of anger.
He had wanted her to return to the Star Luo Empire with him. But Zhu Zhuqing refused. She said she wasn't going back—she was staying with Lin Jie.
That completely infuriated Dai Mubai. Though he had long suspected there was something between them, now that she admitted it herself, there was no room left for doubt.
Zhu Zhuqing also told him bluntly that there were no feelings between them, and that their engagement meant nothing to her.
Fury filled Dai Mubai's heart—but once it subsided, he calmed down. He couldn't beat Zhu Zhuqing, and to be honest, he didn't care that much for her emotionally either.
In the end, he left alone.
No one was surprised by Dai Mubai's departure—but Zhu Zhuqing's decision to stay did catch a few off guard. After all, both of them came from the Star Luo Empire. Why would one leave and the other remain?
Once everyone had packed, they set out toward the outskirts of Spirit City.
As they left the city walls behind, Lin Jie gazed at the majestic city in the distance, silently vowing:
I'll be back here again—within a year.
That promise had been made to Hu Liena when he defeated her—and to Bibi Dong when he stepped forward to claim the Spirit Bone. He'd said it not aloud, but through spiritual sound transmission—a high-level mental communication technique.
With Spirit City fading behind them, the group headed toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
Elsewhere, Tang Hao—having taken Tang San and Xiao Wu—had already arrived near the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.
That night, Xiao Wu awoke to the crackle of a campfire and the figure of a disheveled man.
"You're awake," Tang Hao said in his deep voice.
Xiao Wu looked around and saw no trace of Lin Jie or the others—only Tang Hao and the unconscious Tang San.
She quickly understood what had happened.
"Thank you for saving me. But… is Lin Jie alright? And the others from Shrek Academy?"
"Lin Jie?" Tang Hao murmured. The image of the boy unharmed even under his devastating attack flashed through his mind.
"They should be fine."
After a brief conversation, Tang Hao urged Xiao Wu to leave.
She looked longingly at the unconscious Tang San, reluctant to go—but the memory of the look on his face when he learned she was a soul beast flashed through her mind again.
Moments later, she turned and departed, heading for the Star Dou Forest.
Soon after Xiao Wu left, Tang San awoke. What followed was a father-son conversation between Tang San and Tang Hao.
Meanwhile, back with Lin Jie—
The return trip wasn't nearly as long as their journey to Spirit City. After fifteen days of uneventful travel, the Shrek group safely arrived back in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Upon arrival, Ning Fengzhi met with Emperor Xue Ye to report the events, then departed for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan along with Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Ning Rongrong.
Before leaving, Ning Rongrong had a private talk with Lin Jie. She asked him two things:
When would he come visit her at the clan? And how did he plan to handle things between them?
After all, her father Ning Fengzhi already knew about them. And Ning Rongrong herself had long known about Lin Jie and Zhu Zhuqing. She didn't even need Lin Jie to explain.
When Zhu Zhuqing chose not to leave with Dai Mubai but to stay with Lin Jie, Ning Rongrong understood everything.
She had thought she would be furious—after all, she was Lin Jie's woman. But when she and Zhu Zhuqing spoke heart-to-heart, her anger wasn't nearly as strong as she had imagined.
They were close sisters.
Zhu Zhuqing hadn't left with Dai Mubai, and Lin Jie worried her family might send someone after her. But with Liu Erlong around, Zhu Zhuqing would be safe for the time being.
Lin Jie gave Ning Rongrong a clear answer:
"You'll always be my woman. And I promise—I'll come find you."
After saying a few more things, Ning Rongrong kissed him on her own initiative before departing with Ning Fengzhi.
In truth, before Rongrong spoke with him, Ning Fengzhi had also met with Lin Jie.
Lin Jie told him he would not let Rongrong down—and that he would visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. As for when and for what, he didn't say.
Shrek Academy had won first place in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. According to custom, the Heaven Dou Empire would issue official rewards.
But Lin Jie had no interest in that. He still held a grudge against the royal family, so there was no way he'd show up for any ceremony. Instead, Flender and the others were the ones brimming with excitement.
Upon returning to the academy, Lin Jie headed to the secluded cottage in the rear courtyard—Liu Erlong's private residence.
Now, only Liu Erlong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Lin Jie remained there. Lin Jie had gone into closed-door cultivation, while the other two stood guard to protect him.
Though it was only the academy's back courtyard, without Liu Erlong's permission, no one dared enter.
To outsiders, it seemed like Liu Erlong and Zhu Zhuqing were guarding Lin Jie. But in truth, they were casually chatting about everything and anything.