"Are you all right?"
A voice suddenly echoed down the stairs.
The entire Shrek team—including Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, still recovering from their injuries—rushed downstairs in a flurry of concern.
But when they saw Chen Junting chatting warmly with Huo Yuhao and a burly middle-aged man, their hurried steps slowed. Confusion filled their faces—who was this man?
Then Wu Feng beamed and stepped forward with open arms.
"Uncle Tai Yu! It's really you!"
"Hah! Of course it is!" Though a Super Douluo, Tai Yu was refreshingly down-to-earth. He grinned broadly at the gathered students. "Hello, everyone. I'm Tai Yu of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
The group froze—unsure how to address him—until Chen Junting spoke.
"Uncle Tai's title is 'Thousand Ton.' Call him 'Lord Thousand Ton.'"
He then turned to Tai Yu. "Uncle Tai, has Xiao Tian returned yet?"
"That girl?" Tai Yu glanced toward the hotel entrance. "Go check. She should be here by now."
Chen Junting nodded and stepped out immediately.
Once he was gone, the entire Shrek team—including Master Wang Yan—bowed deeply to Tai Yu, their expressions steeped in reverence. This wasn't just a Super Douluo—he was an Elder of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. The sheer weight of his status made even the most seasoned students feel like children before a mountain.
"Greetings, Lord Thousand Ton."
"No need for such formalities," Tai Yu waved a massive hand dismissively. "I'm just a rough old warrior. Don't stand on ceremony with me."
No one believed him.
Every student stood stiffly, visibly intimidated.
Only when Chen Junting returned with Ning Tian—introducing each of the Shrek competitors—did the atmosphere soften.
When Tai Yu learned that Chen Zifeng and two others had joined the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, his eyes lit up with genuine warmth. He personally promised them the status of core disciples and warmly welcomed their families into the Sect's fold.
The three students were overwhelmed with gratitude.
Then, as Chen Junting introduced Dai Yueheng—
Tai Yu's cheerful expression vanished.
He turned to Dai Yueheng, voice suddenly sharp:
"Dai Yueheng? Is your father Dai Hao?"
Dai Yueheng, still bowing, froze. He looked up, startled.
"Lord… do you know my father?"
"Hmph."
Tai Yu let out a cold, dismissive snort.
Dai Yueheng's heart dropped.
"I know him," Tai Yu said, voice tinged with old rivalry. "We were classmates. Back then, he was the golden boy—outshining me at every turn. I was always second. But then I joined the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect… and he went home to inherit the title of Duke of White Tiger, joined the army."
He leaned forward slightly.
"So tell me—how strong is he now?"
Dai Yueheng exhaled in quiet relief.
Not an enemy. Just an old rival.
"He's… just one step away from becoming a Super Douluo."
"Hahahaha!"
Tai Yu threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"One step away? That means Level 89!"
He slapped his thigh, grinning.
"I've spent decades grinding away—and finally, I've surpassed him! That Dai Hao, always off commanding troops, never had time to cultivate. With his talent? He should've been a Super Douluo long ago."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"Pity. If he'd reached that level, I'd have loved to settle the score with him one last time."
Dai Yueheng could only smile awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Then—
A dry, ancient voice cut through the air.
"You'll never get that chance."
A figure in emerald robes appeared between Tai Yu and the Shrek group as if materializing from the shadows.
It was Elder Song.
She studied Tai Yu with sharp, knowing eyes. In turn, Tai Yu's boisterous demeanor vanished—he bowed deeply.
"Elder Song."
"Elder Song."
"Hmm." Elder Song gave a slight nod to the students, Master Wang Yan, and Tai Yu, then smiled faintly at Wang Yan. "Xiao Wang, take the students upstairs. I'd like to speak privately with Tai Yu."
Wang Yan understood at once. He ushered the group upward.
Once the hall was empty, Elder Song's voice turned grave.
"Tai Yu, you acted recklessly today. You know that the old monster of the Body Sect is still alive. He's ruthless, unpredictable—capable of anything. Now, with Huo Yuhao's Body-type Soul, and you having injured two Soul Grandmasters… he has more than enough pretext to strike. Your Sect isn't strong enough to stand against them."
"Elder Song, please rest assured."
Tai Yu's tone carried quiet, unshakable confidence.
"Perhaps our top-tier strength lags behind the Body Sect's. But our mid- and lower-tier forces far surpass theirs. And as for their strongest… we have our own counters."
He paused, eyes glinting.
"If that old monster dares come to our Sect's gates… we'll make sure he never leaves."
"Hmm?"
Elder Song's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
But a moment later, her expression changed.
'Strength?… no.'
'Soul Guidance Devices.'
She recalled the meeting in the Sea God Pavilion—how Pavilion Master Mu had spoken of Sun Moon Empire's Soul Devices capable of threatening even the Super Douluo level. The elders had not doubted it for a moment.
So…
Given the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's vast wealth… it was entirely possible.
And in truth? Exactly as Elder Song suspected.
As the saying goes: 'Money moves mountains—even ghosts will push millstones.'
And when you have enough money, you can buy even the most forbidden weapons.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had acquired a small number of Level-Nine Fixed Soul Cannons from certain rogue Soul Engineers within the Sun Moon Empire. Not many. But enough.
These ultimate weapons were kept under the direct custody of the Sect's resident elders.
Their sole purpose? To protect the ancestral home.
So while other locations might be vulnerable—should the Body Sect dare launch a full-scale assault on the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?
They would be buried beneath a storm of annihilation.
Elder Song fell silent for a long moment.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Very well. I won't press further. But I warn you: if that old monster learns of this and moves quickly to Xingluo City, you won't be able to stop him."
"Thank you for the warning, Elder Song."
Tai Yu bowed again. "I'll return to the Nine Treasures Pavilion at once. I'll send a disciple to summon Chief Xuanji to come to Xingluo."
Elder Song's expression stilled.
Chief Xuanji?
The same Xuanji who had vanished into seclusion?
He, too… had reached 98?
She felt a pang of quiet envy.
—
Meanwhile, outside the Star Emperor Hotel.
Yu Tao and Lang Ya, bruised and humiliated, stumbled into the streets of Xingluo. Fury burned in their eyes—but deeper still was the gnawing regret.
"Damn that Super Douluo! Ruined everything! We finally find a genius with a Body Martial Soul—and those money-grubbing Nine Treasures fools steal him away!"
Yu Tao spat venom toward the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, conveniently forgetting Huo Yuhao had rejected them first.
"We can't let a prodigy like this—double Soul, Body-type Soul—be wasted by those hypocrites!"
He slammed his good fist into his palm.
"He can't get away!"
Lang Ya nodded grimly. "The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect are powerful, and Shrek Academy is right in the middle of this. We're outmatched. We must report this to the Sect Master. Alone, we can't handle it."
"No time to waste," Yu Tao said firmly. "Let's go now."
Without packing a single item, they turned their backs on Xingluo City—and vanished toward the distant mountains of the Body Sect.
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