"Even so, slaughtering soul beasts excessively is still a crime. You are accessories." Bibi Dong frowned. "However, the crime is not punishable by death." She turned her gaze toward "Xue Qinghe."
She continued, "Since this happened within the Heaven Dou Empire, I leave the judgment to you."
'So neatly passing the blame. And what a fine line—"not punishable by death."' Yang Yunhai sneered inwardly.
Qian Renxue also sneered in her heart. With a solemn face, she rose from her seat, eyes settling on the Shrek group.
"Judging from the missing members of Shrek Academy on the journey to Spirit City, those who assisted Tang San in hunting soul beasts were Liu Erlong—she bears the primary guilt."
"Flender and Yu Xiaogang did not directly participate, but they were complicit and condoned the act. As for the matter of the stolen training ground design—its origin is unknown. But as the academy's management, implementing and altering such methods without verification and causing grave harm to the students is a severe dereliction of responsibility."
"Fortunately, it was not widely implemented, preventing damage to other students."
'Not didn't dare to implement it widely, rather.' The other academy students muttered in their hearts.
"In addition, Yu Xiaogang, as Tang San's teacher, is guilty of severe negligence," Qian Renxue continued. "Thus, among the mentors present, Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang bear the heaviest guilt. Flender, as the headmaster, knowingly breaking the law, is equally guilty and punished the same."
"According to the empire's laws, Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang, and Flender are to have their martial souls and cultivation abolished, reduced to commoners as a warning to others."
"Never!" Liu Erlong roared in fury.
Ning Fengzhi turned slightly. Sword Douluo's brows furrowed, and an overwhelming aura descended upon the three.
It was time to take a stance.
Puff!
Liu Erlong and Flender were forced to their knees. The unconscious Yu Xiaogang was clutched tightly in Liu Erlong's arms, her eyes full of defiance.
Bibi Dong's eyes flickered with a trace of reluctance. Her fingers tightened on her scepter, but she did not stop it.
Swish, swish, swish!
Sword Douluo's hand flicked, three sword lights flashed, and the trio instantly turned deathly pale.
The Shrek group around them dared not move.
"They've… already been crippled?" The academy students felt their scalps prickle.
'Beautifully done!' Yang Yunhai thought, as did the students who had once been pierced by Tang San's Eight Spider Lances.
Qian Renxue continued, "Qin Ming was unaware and uninvolved. His guilt is doubtful. From this day forth, Shrek Academy will be placed under the empire's supervision. The specific measures will be announced after I return to Heaven Dou City and consult with His Majesty. As for Tang San, since he is now confirmed as a fallen soul master, the empire will publicly list him as wanted. Reporting his whereabouts will earn 10,000 gold coins. Whoever kills him will be granted a title and 100,000 gold coins. Tang Hao will be wanted under the same charges."
"Spirit Hall will likewise issue a proclamation, declaring both father and son wanted." Bibi Dong drew in a quiet breath and added.
Qian Renxue nodded slightly and said no more.
At this time, Yang Yunhai stepped forward and bowed toward Bibi Dong. "Your Majesty, this junior has something to say."
"Speak." Bibi Dong nodded slightly.
Yang Yunhai did not look at Yu Xiaogang and the others. Instead, he turned to the academy students behind him. "Shrek Academy's Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Oscar. Thunderclap Academy—everyone except Yu Tianxin. And all other academy students who were stabbed by Tang San's Eight Spider Lances."
"You may now step forward to receive treatment."
He had long since prepared the medicine.
"!!!" The academy students gasped in shock.
Yu Tianxin, Yu Tianheng, and the others excluded turned pale or grim.
"What are you waiting for?" some teachers urged.
"Oh, oh..." Some students quickly ran forward, clasped their fists, and said, "Thank you!"
Yang Yunhai smiled faintly, reached to his chest, and drew out two porcelain bottles. He opened one, poured out a pill, and handed it over.
The student quickly accepted it, swallowed it on the spot, clasped his fists again, and left.
The second. The third.
The Thunderclap Academy students glanced at Yu Tianxin. But with their teacher's urging, they braced themselves and rushed forward.
Friendship was friendship—but their future came first. They had been stabbed by Tang San twice, their condition was dire. Miss this chance, and it might be gone forever.
"Thank you," they said, swallowing the pills before returning to their ranks.
Soon after, Oscar, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan also accepted their pills, swallowed them, clasped their fists, and returned.
At this time, Flender spoke, his face full of pleading. "Student Yang, I beg you, please also treat the other children of the academy."
"Sorry." Yang Yunhai put the porcelain bottle away. "I am not someone who repays hatred with kindness."
With that, he returned to his team.
The other academies were silent, casting looks at Shrek. 'Why did you provoke him in the first place? Serves you right!'
"Heh, do you think medicine that repairs organ failure and restores one's foundation is cheap?" Dugu Bo returned to his team with an unwilling face. "If not for Xiao Hai's soft heart seeing them as innocent, and begging me to spare my stock, I wouldn't have parted with such treasures."
"You all must cherish your bodies from now on. Each pill is worth at least 50,000 gold soul coins."
So expensive!? The students who had just taken the pills instinctively touched their bellies.
Bibi Dong said nothing, only turned her gaze toward the red-robed cardinal.
The latter stepped forward and declared loudly, "The Continental Soul Master Tournament finals are officially concluded! All academy teams, please depart in order."
Yang Yunhai wasted no time, turning to leave. His teammates followed closely.
"Then I shall also take my leave." Ning Fengzhi clasped his hands politely to Bibi Dong before descending the stands.
"Rongrong," he called.
Ning Rongrong nodded, pulled Jiangzhu along, and bowed slightly to Flender. "Dean Flender, thank you for your care these past days."
She then left with Ning Fengzhi.
Bibi Dong's expression grew complicated as she glanced at the unconscious Yu Xiaogang, then also departed.
The other academies left in succession.
"Dean Flender, let us leave as well." Qin Ming helped Flender up, speaking softly.
Though he now despised Yu Xiaogang for harming the students, he still respected Flender. In his eyes, Flender had simply been dragged into this. After all, whether the blueprints or the training regimens, it was Yu Xiaogang who made the decisions.
Flender's only fault had been tolerating Tang San's soul beast hunting, for the sake of his friendship with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong.
"I am no longer a dean." Flender gave a bitter smile.
"In my eyes, you will always be the dean of Shrek Academy," Qin Ming replied quietly.
Oscar also came closer. "Dean, you've raised me since I was young. From now on, let me care for you in return. When we return, we'll find a quiet place—or rebuild the old Shrek Academy—and start again."
"And me. Dean Flender, I will accompany you too," Qin Ming added.
Flender's eyes grew moist, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, good..."
He turned toward Liu Erlong. "Erlong, let's go."
Liu Erlong clenched her teeth. "Flender, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will never spare Xiaogang. I can't drag you down too. I'll take him and leave." She looked at the silent Shrek team.
"I'm sorry. Xiaogang and I have wronged you. I apologize on his behalf."
Her gaze fell on Yu Tianheng. "Tianheng, I've wronged you, nephew."
"Aunt..." Yu Tianheng looked dazed.
'An apology is useless.' Dai Mubai's fists clenched, but for Flender's sake, he said nothing.
Training had always been Yu Xiaogang's domain. Flender handled academy business, money, and supplies. The blame lay with that fraud Yu Xiaogang. For Flender, Mubai was willing to show respect.
But as for Yu Xiaogang—he truly wanted to crush him with a single slap.
"Teacher Erlong, please don't say that." Huang Yuan, who had benefited from her training, couldn't bear it and spoke up.
Liu Erlong shook her head, then turned to Qin Ming. "Qin Ming, I want to ask you a favor."
"Please, tell me," Qin Ming replied instantly.
"I know of a hidden, quiet place. I hope you can escort Xiaogang and me there," Liu Erlong said. Even with her cultivation crippled, her body retained the toughness of a Soul Saint. But for Yu Xiaogang's sake, she dared not be careless.
"Erlong, you..." Flender's face changed.
"Flender, perhaps this is best for both me and Xiaogang." Liu Erlong gave a bitter smile.
"Alas." Flender sighed, turning to Qin Ming. "Qin Ming, I leave this to you."
"Don't worry," Qin Ming forced a faint smile.
"Let's go," Flender said.
Soon, outside Spirit City, Flender regrouped with the others. Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang, and Qin Ming were no longer present.
No one spoke. The teams boarded their carriages.
Qian Renxue did not pursue, merely gave an order for the royal knights to march.
Inside a carriage, Dugu Bo sneered. "It seems Liu Erlong fears the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's revenge, so she ran with Yu Xiaogang."
"It doesn't matter. Their cultivation is gone—they'll never stir up waves again." Yang Yunhai smiled. Sword Douluo's sword qi had been extremely precise, not only crippling their cultivation but severing certain meridians, leaving them infertile.
Root and branch destroyed—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan clearly knew what they were doing.
In the future, Yu Xiaogang's only ending would be dying in pain.
Meanwhile, in the Pope's Hall.
"Your Majesty, Old Ghost and I request to make a trip to Heaven Dou City," Chrysanthemum Douluo said respectfully. "After today's events, Tang Hao and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will surely target Xiao Hai. I worry they'll act against him when he returns."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "Tell Xiao Hai to settle Heaven Dou City's affairs quickly, and confess openly with Dugu Bo. The current situation means only in Spirit City can he be truly safe and nurtured. Here, he will receive the best training."
"Yes." Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo bowed deeply and left.
Once they were gone, Bibi Dong's eyes grew cold. She murmured, "Yang Yunhai, you've truly surprised me this time..."
Tap, tap, tap—footsteps sounded.
"Teacher." Hu Liena entered quietly, bowing respectfully.
"Nana." Bibi Dong smiled gently, stepping down from the dais.
"Teacher, I don't want to go to Death Canyon." Hu Liena's eyes were firm. "I want to go to Slaughter City."
"Is it because of Yang Yunhai?" Bibi Dong asked.
Hu Liena bit her lip, nodding slightly. "Teacher, after this tournament, I realized... I am still far too weak."
Bibi Dong fell silent, then spoke. "Wait a bit longer. Your soul power is nearing rank 55. Within a year or two you'll reach Soul Emperor. First, train in Death Canyon. After that, you may go to Slaughter City. When you return, I will officially appoint you as the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, producing a pink soul bone that floated before Hu Liena. "Nana, absorb this wisdom-type soul bone."
Elsewhere, deep within a forest, a black light streaked between the trees.
'No wonder Yang Yunhai could break through rank 30 so quickly, and evolve his martial soul. It wasn't some miracle. He must have stumbled upon Ah Yin's cave during his travels, absorbed her 100,000-year soul bone—and perhaps even consumed her body itself.'
'The scratches at the cave entrance must have been faked with his vines.'
Tang Hao's eyes flashed coldly.
'But how does he know of those events?' Doubt flickered in his mind, but he shook his head. 'No matter. I must seize Yang Yunhai and confirm it for myself. If he truly absorbed Ah Yin's right leg bone, I'll know at a glance.'
'No rush. A soul bone won't vanish. And if Ah Yin's body still exists, he wouldn't discard it.'
'For now, the priority is to train Xiao San, cure his aftereffects, and stabilize his foundation. And also temper his character. With his current state, he could never pass that place.'
'He has only been devouring soul beasts for a short time—the damage can still be remedied. The impact is not yet irreversible.'
His thoughts turned, and his pace quickened.
(End of Chapter)
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