"Very well." Dugu Bo nodded.
"Xiaohai, if Tang Hao really acts, you must be cautious," Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly said.
"Don't worry, Teacher. With Yiner watching over me, I'll retreat at the first sign of danger," Yang Yunhai said solemnly.
"I'll be watching too," Dugu Bo added quickly. "You two cannot act, but I can intercept."
"There's something else," Yang Yunhai turned toward Chrysanthemum Douluo. "The enemy of my enemy is a friend. Teacher, in the next few days, you should send someone to observe Blazing Academy."
"Tai Long's right arm was destroyed by Huo Wu. With Tai Tan's temper, he's bound to cause trouble."
"Blazing Academy, Godwind Academy, Skywater Academy—they are all good candidates to draw closer to us."
"Agreed." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.
Indeed, these three academies had all thoroughly trampled Tang San in this tournament. With Tang San's petty nature, he was bound to bear grudges. Even if they couldn't be pulled directly into Spirit Hall, building ties through his disciple would still be valuable.
After all, they were preparing to separate from Spirit Hall anyway.
More friends meant more paths. Using Spirit Hall's network to build his own—there was nothing to lose.
"As such, I'll return and make arrangements." Chrysanthemum Douluo rose, then added indifferently:
"And I'll send a reply to Bibi Dong."
With that, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo departed. Yang Yunhai stood to see them off, watching as the two flew away.
Closing the door, he turned to Dugu Bo. "Grandfather, I'm returning to my room to cultivate."
At his words, Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing stood calmly, and Yiner floated up.
He's been holding back half a month—going to just cultivate? As if. Dugu Bo nodded anyway. "Mm."
He had to admit—his grandson-in-law was strong in more than one sense. Once the tournament ended, perhaps it was time to think of great-grandchildren.
Yang Yunhai walked to his room without a change of expression.
That night, with Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Yiner, he cultivated soul power deep into the night—before turning to close-quarters combat training.
Meanwhile, in Shrek Academy's dormitory…
Tang San slowly awoke, staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes, the lamplight reflecting on his blank face.
He had lost—to Feng Xiaotian, who was a level lower than him!
"Blue Silver Grass is truly a trash Martial Soul!"
"Even after devouring so many soul beasts to evolve, its vines were shredded effortlessly by Feng Xiaotian! If I had cultivated the Clear Sky Hammer first, I would never have suffered such humiliation!" His heart was filled with bitter unwillingness.
Yet he knew it wasn't time to train the Clear Sky Hammer.
Closing his eyes briefly, he then snapped them open. "Hundreds of beasts aren't enough—then I'll devour thousands, tens of thousands! One day, my Blue Silver Grass will surpass Yang Yunhai! With its poison, I'll make him fall!"
With that, he painfully crawled out of bed, changed clothes, and slipped outside.
The road from Heaven Dou City to Spirit City was long. For an army, it would take considerable time—especially with sixteen teams, their teachers, and the escorting Royal Knights, numbering over a thousand.
By his estimate, reaching Spirit City would take twenty days. With three rest days, that meant twenty-three days in total.
But for one moving alone, the journey would take only a few days. That left him half a month to hunt soul beasts and devour more. The Star Dou Great Forest near Spirit City had even more poisonous species.
His pace quickened with the thought.
Before long, Tang San, cloaked in black, left Heaven Dou City under cover of night, with Liu Erlong accompanying him.
"Just right. With Erlong gone, I'll depart for Spirit City tomorrow," Yu Xiaogang mused from his room.
The night passed.
The next afternoon—
Boom!
The gates of Blazing Academy were kicked open. Tai Tan stormed in with his clan, soul power surging.
"Huo Wu! Get out here!"
Soon, Blazing Academy's principal, Huo Kui—Huo Wu's father—arrived with teachers in tow.
"Huo Kui! Hand over your daughter!" Tai Tan snarled. "She crippled my grandson's arm—she'll leave one behind today!"
"Hmph. Your grandson overestimated himself, striking head-on against my daughter's fourth soul skill. He brought it upon himself," Huo Kui said coldly. "Tai Tan, I respect you as a senior. Leave now, and I'll overlook your trespass. Persist, and I won't be polite."
"Then there's nothing left to say!" Tai Tan's eyes blazed as his aura erupted. "Martial Soul True Body!"
A ten-meter golden gorilla materialized, terrifying students and forcing teachers back.
Behind him, the Strength Clan disciples all released their Martial Souls.
"You think I fear you? You're no longer the Clear Sky Sect's ally. You dare bark here?" Huo Kui's temper flared—he was a doting father as well. His foot stamped, and a massive one-horned fire dragon surged upward.
His wife released her Fire Shadow Martial Soul, and the teachers followed.
"Fine! A Soul Saint dares challenge me? Today I'll tear your academy apart!" Tai Tan roared.
"You shameless old beast!" the students shouted, enraged. Huo Wu was their goddess, and someone dared threaten her?
"Ground fighters, fall back! Use ranged soul skills!"
"Flyers, take to the sky and bombard! Target the weakest first. We can wear them down!"
"Don't let our academy lose face!"
In unison, firelit figures filled the air. On the ground, students retreated in formation, soul rings gleaming.
As one of the Four Element Academies, Blazing Academy had over five hundred staff and students. Though only a hundred gathered here now, their momentum was staggering—and more rushed in.
Soon, families would come too. The longer this dragged, the worse it became for Tai Tan.
"What's wrong, Tai Tan? Afraid?" Huo Kui sneered. "Our academy's legacy spans generations. Your Strength Clan just arrived in Heaven Dou. How dare you tug a tiger's whiskers? I called you senior out of courtesy. Without that, you're nothing!"
'My husband is so handsome,' Huo Kui's wife lifted her chin proudly. Teachers and students straightened their backs.
"You—!" Tai Tan trembled with rage, but he didn't dare act. He hadn't expected such unity. Against another academy, they'd have scattered already.
"What are you doing!?" A sharp voice cut through. The students turned—it was Spirit Hall's local bishop.
Guards flanked him as he strode forward. "Tai Tan, do you seek death? Or to defy Spirit Hall? During the tournament, all teams are under our protection. Attacking them is a provocation—and will be crushed!"
Ta-ta-ta—the sound of boots. The city lord of Blazing City arrived.
'Xue Ye must have predicted this,' Tai Tan realized grimly.
The city lord joined the bishop. "Clan Chief Tai, you've overstepped. Blazing Academy fights for our empire in the tournament. To attack them now is to defy the empire itself. I'll report this to His Majesty. Persist, and it's treason!"
Tai Tan's face flushed red, then pale. He snarled, "So my grandson's arm is wasted in vain?"
The bishop looked at him like a fool. "You know well why. Huo Wu's fourth soul skill—your grandson had seen it before. Yet instead of avoiding it, he punched it head-on. His fate was his own doing. Clan Chief Tai, don't destroy yourself."
"Yes!" students shouted.
"Even Yang Yunhai only used vines to block! And Tai Long thought he could use his fist? He was stupid! Who else to blame?"
"Blame the team's leader! Isn't it the leader's job to assess soul skill power and warn students? That was negligence. To come blaming others now—shameless!"
Tai Tan's face turned crimson, his eyes blazing. He glared at Huo Kui. "Hmph. I'll remember this."
He released his Martial Soul and stormed off, disciples scrambling after him.
To Blazing Academy's students, it was a retreat in disgrace. Pride swelled, cheers rising.
Huo Kui descended, satisfied. Glancing at the bishop and city lord, he knew their "timely" arrival stemmed from newfound interest in Blazing Academy.
He bowed politely. "Gentlemen, my thanks."
After pleasantries, they left.
Soon after, Huo Wu and her teammates rushed back from training, anger blazing. Finding no one left, they returned, faces dark.
Still, their impression of Shrek had plummeted. Many in the academy agreed. Fault lay with Shrek's teachers, not Huo Wu.
"They blame others for their own weakness. What trash."
"That Tai Long—what an idiot. And Shrek's teachers? Irresponsible fools."
Before long, the academy buzzed with disdain and complaints.
(End of Chapter)
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