On the top floor of Spirit Hall's Sacred Palace.
"Elder, latest report — Xue Ye suddenly dispatched more men to lock down Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Salas entered respectfully.
'Looks like my disciple's concealment strategy is working.' Chrysanthemum Douluo thought to himself. The reason he had stayed in the city for a few more days was precisely to observe how Xue Ye would respond to his disciple's request. The outcome had surpassed his expectations, and now he could leave reassured.
"It should be related to Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng leaving," he said calmly.
As if recalling something, he added, "Salas, send people to investigate the Shrek Academy team."
"Yu Tianheng, Ning Rongrong — with two successors of the Upper Three Sects inside, I want to see what value this newly arrived team in Heaven Dou City actually has."
"Yes." Salas bowed and withdrew.
Two days later, still in the same top floor chamber.
"Elder, this is the information gathered over the past few days." Salas respectfully handed over a booklet.
The former Blue Tyrant Academy had only admitted commoner soul masters. Coincidentally, Spirit Hall's academies mostly recruited commoners too. Infiltrating them wasn't difficult.
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and took the booklet.
After reorganizing into Shrek Academy, the team's training methods had clearly changed… After reading the descriptions of what their spies had observed, Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered.
"No wonder Heaven Dou Royal Academy is locked down. Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng really turned into a pair of little moneybags delivering gifts."
Salas agreed with a nod.
The Soul Master Tournament was approaching, yet Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng suddenly left to join another team, carrying with them not only Heaven Dou Royal Academy's training routines but also their teammates' personal information. Who wouldn't be furious?
That evening, at the Dugu residence.
"Old Yue, what is it?" Dugu Bo asked as he ushered Chrysanthemum Douluo inside.
"You'll understand when you read this." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded slightly and handed him the booklet.
Moments later, smack! Dugu Bo slammed the table, his eyes cold. "Damn it!"
He raised his head toward Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Old Yue, the methods recorded here are Xiao Hai's own creations, training he's only ever done privately in that valley. Qin Ming, as I know him, wouldn't stoop to spying. That can only mean the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan peeked at some point, and now Yu Tianheng went and spilled everything."
"Hmph, Yu Tianheng really does dance to Yu Xiaogang's tune." Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered.
"Hmph. He'll regret it later." Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and continued, "Old Poison, besides telling you this, I also came to bid farewell. Now that Xue Ye has stationed the Royal Knights to guard the academy, Xiao Hai's safety should be secure for now. With that, I can leave at ease. I'll be counting on you to watch over him from here."
"Don't worry. You have my word." Dugu Bo nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, inside Shrek Academy.
"Xiaogang, have you heard? Heaven Dou Royal Academy has gone into full lockdown to prepare for the Soul Master Tournament. The whole place is surrounded by Royal Knights. Only Emperor Xue Ye himself can deploy them," Flender said, sounding uneasy.
He also suspected this had to do with Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng.
"We didn't steal or rob. Nothing to worry about." Yu Xiaogang replied lightly.
'If they were that angry, they'd have come knocking already.' Flender nodded. As if struck by a thought, he added, "Xiaogang, do you think the Heaven Dou team came up with something new? Something even His Majesty finds worth guarding? Otherwise, why go to such lengths?"
He admitted Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng had brought some value with them, but this level of secrecy felt overblown.
A few physical training routines weren't exactly forbidden techniques.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang froze briefly, then glanced sideways at Flender. "Perhaps."
"Don't look at me. I can fly, yes, but I'm not suicidal." Flender rolled his eyes.
Outside the dormitory, Tang Hao stood silently, deep in thought.
'Yang Yunhai… Just what is so unique about that martial soul of his after its evolution?'
He had watched his own son's training progress. While there were results, it still fell short compared to Yang Yunhai.
His figure vanished without a sound.
That night, behind Heaven Dou Royal Academy, in a secluded forest valley.
Clanging sounds rang out without pause. The construction of the team's training grounds was underway, even in the middle of the night.
"Hm?" Tang Hao frowned.
The scale of the construction was unusually large, with soldiers guarding the perimeter, and even working through the night. That was far from normal.
After a moment's thought, he slipped away in another direction.
Before long, inside the team dormitory.
"Yun, someone is approaching," Yin'er's voice rang inside Yang Yunhai's mind.
"Hm?" Yang Yunhai's eyes snapped open from cultivation.
"On the right. A stranger. Tall, cloaked in black. His spiritual and soul power fluctuations are weak, but I can feel his strength is no less than Grandpa Dugu's. He should be a Titled Douluo." Yin'er's tone turned sharp with vigilance.
Since her last increase in soul strength, she could now disguise her spiritual presence as part of the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, making herself nearly undetectable — while still retaining her heightened perception. Anyone stepping on the grass would betray subtle energy fluctuations for her to sense.
"!!!" Yang Yunhai jolted, leaping to his feet.
His sudden movement woke Zhu Zhuqing beside him. She blinked sleepily, turning her head. "Yun, what's wrong?"
"A Titled Douluo is approaching. Stay inside. I'll fire a signal." Yang Yunhai strode out as he spoke.
Zhu Zhuqing's face instantly tensed, worry clouding her delicate features. She quickly got out of bed.
Thud, thud, thud — Yang Yunhai's footsteps raced across the floor. He stepped out to the balcony, pulled out a signal flare, and fired it into the sky with a sharp whoosh.
Bang!
White light burst, flooding the sky.
"There's a soul master specializing in detection stationed here." Far away, Tang Hao's face darkened. He immediately turned to retreat.
He had intended to observe for the night and act the next day, but he'd been discovered earlier than expected.
"It's Xiao Hai's side!" At the instructors' dormitory, Meng Shinji's face changed as he sprang up and bolted outside.
Thud thud thud — countless footsteps echoed.
"Enemy attack! East side! Move!" Inside and outside the academy, the Royal Knights mobilized at once.
"That construction site is no ordinary place!" Seeing the repeated white flares in the sky ahead, Tang Hao's brows furrowed as he quickened his pace.
Soon after, Royal Knights converged in formation, covering every angle. One spotted a shadow flickering through the sky.
"There! After him!" Bound by duty, he shouted and charged forward despite the unknown opponent's strength. The others quickly followed the flashing lights, the entire academy echoing with alarm.
"What's happening?!"
Many students were roused from sleep, confused and anxious.
(End of Chapter)
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