Immediately, a deluge of insults erupted.
"With this little skill, he dared to participate in the Soul Fighting Tournament? A disgrace!"
"I thought this guy had a grudge against his students and deliberately sent them to their deaths. Turns out, it's because he, as their teacher, is ignorant and a complete waste!"
The audience's vile words, like sharp arrows, pierced the air and stabbed Flander in the chest.
Flander now really wanted to rush to Yu Xiaogang, grab him by the collar, and slap him hard across the face.
"Huff!~"
Flander took a deep breath and quickly ran to Oscar's side.
At this moment, Oscar lay lifelessly slumped on the ground. His once fair face now bore a long, sloping wound running diagonally from his forehead to his cheek, blood obscuring his features.
Most severely damaged was his empty left arm.
Flander anxiously looked around and finally spotted the severed arm below the arena, though part of it had been eaten away.
Instantly, Flander's eyes turned bloodshot as he glared fiercely at the bald Soul Master.
On the Douluo Continent, a severed arm wasn't necessarily irreversible. For some powerful healing-type Soul Masters, if the arm remained intact, it could be reattached.
"Bang!"
Flander slammed his fist on the ground, his eyes slightly reddening, his heart filled with pain and self-reproach.
"What are you looking at your father for!"
the bald Soul Master mocked, looking at Flander's disheveled state.
Outside, he would never dare offend a Soul Saint. However, he was now in the Great Soul Arena, and on the arena itself.
What was most important in the development of the Soul Arena over the years?
Order.
Once, a Soul Douluo powerhouse, relying on his superior cultivation, caused trouble in the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. Not long after, his head was displayed at the gates of Heaven Dou City.
From then on, everyone held a deep fear of the seven great families behind the Soul Arena.
"Flander, don't be impulsive," the Sugar Bean Soul Master said in a low voice, picking up Dai Mubai.
Flander took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the members of the Fierce God Team, seemingly trying to memorize their features.
"Let's go," Flander said coldly.
He then picked up Oscar and quickly left the arena.
The Candy Bean Soul Master followed closely behind.
Oscar and Dai Mubai had suffered the most severe injuries in the battle. If they weren't treated promptly, their lives might be in danger.
Inside the hotel room, the Shrek Academy members gathered together.
The curtains were drawn, the light was warm yellow, and the oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed as heavy as lead.
Several days had passed since the end of the Soul Fighting Competition, and everyone's injuries were gradually healing.
To treat Oscar and Dai Mubai, Flander, abandoning his usual stinginess, hired a healing-type Soul Saint, no longer hesitating to spend his own savings.
Dai Mubai, being a power-attack type Soul Master, had a stronger physique. His injuries had healed, leaving only a shallow scar on his stomach.
Oscar's wounds had also improved considerably, and he was already able to get out of bed.
But the wound in his heart was like a bottomless chasm, growing deeper day by day.
At this moment, Oscar, dressed in a loose gray suit with his hat pulled low, sat quietly in the corner, shrouded in deep shadow.
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat silent, so quiet that one could hear each other's breathing.
It was heavy, oppressive.
Everyone was either lost in thought, their eyes wandering, as if they were all running away from something.
Then, Yu Xiaogang stood up and slowly said, "Children, this time it was my fault. I apologize to everyone."
His voice was hoarse and dry, as if it had been sanded.
As he spoke, he lowered his head, his eyes slowly closing, his face, as cold and expressionless as a zombie's, devoid of any emotion.
"Teacher!"
Tang San's eyes instantly reddened at the sight of his teacher.
He rushed forward and took Yu Xiaogang's arm. "Teacher, no one blames you. This battle, in the end, was due to our weakness."
After Tang San finished speaking, Yu Xiaogang's body trembled slightly.
He opened his eyes, gripped Tang San's arm tightly, and said in a tearful voice, "Really? Xiao San."
Since the Shrek Academy competition, Yu Xiaogang had been consumed by deep self-blame.
These students were all exceptionally talented little monsters, worthy of being called 'title-worthy'. Any injury to any of them would be a huge loss for Shrek Academy.
However, this time, almost everyone at Shrek Academy was injured, and Oscar had almost lost his life.
Now, although his wound had healed, the loss of an arm and the obstruction of his soul power circulation would undoubtedly have a significant impact on his future development.
And all of this was because of Yu Xiaogang's decision.
These past few days, Yu Xiaogang hadn't slept almost every night. He had even considered simply leaving.
Hearing Tang San's words, Yu Xiaogang felt a little better. He touched Tang San's head, his eyes slightly moist.
"Good boy, good boy!"
Ning Rongrong's sharp voice interrupted the tender moment between Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
"Hmph! If apologies were enough, what would be the point of cultivating soul power?"
"A support-type soul master with innate full soul power, the number one on the entire continent, do you even know what that means?"
Ning Rongrong glared coldly at Yu Xiaogang, her lips slightly pursed.
She had never seen such a shameless person in her entire life.
As a fellow support-type soul master, Ning Rongrong had long admired Oscar's talent. Although she hadn't accepted Oscar's advances, she had been plotting how to lure him into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Unexpectedly, because of someone's foolishness and arrogance, a future support-type titled Douluo had been ruined.
Ning Rongrong stood with one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Yu Xiaogang's nose. "I was only giving Tang San face at the academy, Yu Xiaogang. Don't think I don't know what you've got."
"Your theories are all plagiarized
, aren't they? The breathing technique you taught comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan, am I right?" "I admit you have some skill, being able to cultivate to level 29 with your innate half-level soul power. But the resources you've consumed could feed a pig into a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast." "
Yu Xiaogang, you're just a piece of trash relying on your family's legacy to gain fame and fortune!"
"Call yourself a master? Bah!"
Her words fell, and the room fell silent.
No one expected Ning Rongrong to stand up for Oscar at this moment, completely disregarding Flander's feelings.
"Rongrong, what are you doing? I want you to apologize to the teacher!" Tang San frowned, seeing Ning Rongrong's relentless attitude.
Tang San was also distressed by Oscar's injuries. However, he always regarded Yu Xiaogang as his biological father in his heart. Even if Yu Xiaogang was wrong, Tang San would not allow anyone to slander his father.
"Hmph! Calling him 'teacher' all the time, what a deep bond between master and disciple."
Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips and sneered, "Tang San, with your talent, you'd be a genius wherever you go. Ask yourself honestly, what can Yu Xiaogang actually teach you?"
"That's my own business, I don't need your concern."
"Hopeless!"
The two argued for a while, and finally quieted down after Flander intervened.
At this moment, Oscar stood up and said in a hoarse voice, "Dean, I'm going for a walk."
"Okay, be careful, come back soon."
Oscar nodded and then slowly left the room.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned, noticing that Oscar's expression seemed a little off. She then stood up and walked straight out of the room.
With the two gone, everyone lost interest and returned to their own rooms.
At the East Gate of Silvers, Oscar looked up at the city and then pulled his hat brim down as low as possible.
"Farewell, this sorrowful city."
"Farewell, Dean Flander. Farewell, my friends."
"Farewell forever, Rongrong."
(End of Chapter)