Chapter 342: Two Women
Upon returning to Hanhai City, Tang San and his group found the city transformed into a militarized zone, with strict patrols and checkpoints. The inspections, especially of the sea, were meticulous, making it nearly impossible even for sea spirit masters to come ashore.
Numerous Titled Douluo patrolled Hanhai City, making a direct approach impossible. However, with the agility and adaptability of the Speed Clan, Tang San's team found an opening along the northern coastline. Quietly slipping through, they set course for Mount Alermo in the north, the predetermined meeting place coordinated with Yu Xiaogang's group.
Tang San and Xiao Wu split from the main group, heading toward the Star Dou Forest. Xiao Wu longed to visit her old friends, the Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python, while Tang San had other reasons. Although his spirit power had reached level 88, he still faced challenges when compared to the strongest fighters—against someone like Yang Potian, Bibi Dong, or Qian Daoliu, he was at a clear disadvantage. Even mid-level Titled Douluo at level 95 would be difficult opponents for him.
Meanwhile, Bai He and the others continued northward, aiming to regroup with Yu Xiaogang and figure out their next steps. Their collective strength was severely limited; none of them had reached the Titled Douluo level, with Tang San, Xiao Wu, Liu Erlong, and Bai He being their strongest.
The period of trials on Sea God Island had resulted in improvements for the Shrek group, with Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and Oscar making the most progress. Tang San and Xiao Wu were now spirit masters at the Spirit Douluo level, while Dai Mubai and Oscar, having completed the Black Level Four Trials, had only reached high-level Spirit Sage, still falling short of Spirit Douluo.
Back at Heaven's Will Academy, life was notably quiet. The new Soul Tool Research Institute and the Body Sect Academy kept a low profile, with no information leaking out. The academy was guarded by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, ensuring even a fly couldn't slip through.
During this time, the relationship between Yang Potian and Qian Renxue blossomed. Having shared memories in their trials, the two had become much closer. The exchanged letters between Qian Renxue and her mother Bibi Dong had also softened their relationship. Though the replies were short, they filled Qian Renxue with an inexplicable joy.
Yang Potian and Qian Renxue enjoyed a life similar to that in their illusionary world, growing closer with each passing day until they fully committed to each other. However, the dynamic was complex as it involved three people. Qian Renxue was proud and assertive, while Ye Lingling was gentle and understanding. Though they refrained from open conflict, tensions ran high.
Yang's mother, Niu Jinfeng, was equally exasperated. She had long hoped for grandchildren, ideally a pair. Despite her son's deep feelings for Ye Lingling, the couple had yet to marry or have children. Now, he was seeing someone else—none other than the daughter of the esteemed Qian family from Wuhun Empire. Yet this girl seemed equally uninterested in marriage or family life for the time being.
Both grandparents were impatient, wanting to urge Yang Potian to settle down. But with one girlfriend as the inheritor of the Angel God and the other as the only healing-based Titled Douluo on the continent, pressing the matter felt daunting.
Yang Potian himself was growing weary of the situation. Although having multiple wives was acceptable in Douluo's feudal society, managing these two powerful women was a different matter. Whenever he visited Ye Lingling, the interactions were pleasant, but he sensed a cold distance from her. With Qian Renxue, however, things were intense and challenging. Often their conversations would veer into martial arts sparring, where, even in defeat, she remained resolute, always wanting to prove herself.
One day, Yang's grandfather, Yang Wudi, summoned him to an unexpected meeting. Puzzled, Yang Potian arrived at the conference room to find it filled not only with familiar academy elders like Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Dugu Bo but also unexpected visitors, including Flender, Zhao Wuji, and an old ally, Tai Nuo from the Strength Clan.
Understanding the purpose of the meeting, Yang Potian found a seat and closed his eyes, uninterested in the formalities. Yang Wudi spoke up, "Potian, Flender, and Tai Nuo wish to join Heaven's Will Academy. What do you think?"
Yang Potian opened his eyes thoughtfully, then replied, "Grandfather, if any outsiders wish to join, they must abide by the academy's rules. As long as they agree, they won't cause any trouble."
Niu Gao and Dugu Bo exchanged glances. Yang Potian's response indicated Heaven's Will Academy wasn't inclined to admit outsiders, especially those who had longstanding ties to other forces. Flender and his people had been with the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, while Tai Nuo's clan had directly opposed the Wuhun Empire.
After a moment, Yang Wudi replied, "While accepting them would go against our usual policies, I see no harm as long as they're sincere and follow our standards."
Niu Gao added, "Potian, we have shared bonds with some of these people, and it wouldn't be right to turn them away. Could we make an exception?"
Though the elders were all Titled Douluo, they understood the empire's overwhelming power and knew that without Yang Potian's approval, admitting these new members was risky. Heaven's Will Academy was already well-resourced and didn't lack teachers or students. With over a dozen Spirit Douluo and countless Spirit Sages, the academy was thriving, largely thanks to the resources Yang Potian had provided for rapid advancement.
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