Chapter 225.
Wang Feng hadn't anticipated Qian Renxue's appearance at that moment, but fortunately, she didn't recognize him as Feng Yuxiu. That was understandable since he hadn't used the God Killing Spear, and his registered martial soul wasn't a spear but an axe.
Throughout numerous matches, his fighting style had evolved significantly from his time in the Star Dou Great Forest. He relied solely on the Black Thorns Armor and its Armored Black Thorns from start to finish.
Shortly after Qian Renxue's departure, the gate was forcefully pushed open. A group of temple warriors dressed in silver entered and surrounded the room, led by Bishop Salas and Ning Fengzhi.
"Did you know that you, Jiu Yikai, killed Mo Han, the captain of Underworld Academy, in the game just now?" Bishop Salas's sharp gaze scrutinized Wang Feng as if searching for answers.
Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brow and interjected, "Bishop Salas, Mo Han's death might not have been caused by the opponent. Moreover, Jiu Yikai had no conflict with him, nor any motive for murder. It's unjust to solely blame Jiu Yikai for Mo Han's death."
"But Mo Han did die because of him," Bishop Salas replied casually. "From that perspective, nothing can alter the outcome."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi fell silent. It was an undeniable fact, the captain of Underworld Academy had indeed perished as a result.
Furthermore, Mo Han's body had already been examined, revealing a ruptured heart vein as the cause of death. Whether it was deemed a killing by Jiu Yikai or ruled as suicide was open to interpretation. With the deceased beyond confirmation, the narrative could be shaped as desired.
"It all hinges on their narrative," Bishop Salas stated coolly. "Jiu Yikai, you have two options. First, acknowledge manslaughter and withdraw from the game. Second, join the Soul Hall. In this scenario, Mo Han's demise will be classified as suicide, absolving you of any and all responsibility, and allowing you to continue competing."
"Alternatively, you can have Sect Master Ning advocate on your behalf," he added with a smirk.
Ning Fengzhi glanced coldly at Salas. The platinum bishop was indeed cunning, still manipulating the situation to his advantage.
"If you refuse to decide, we'll have no choice but to detain you for questioning," Bishop Salas warned.
Having spoken, he turned his gaze towards Wang Feng, who remained silent, seemingly contemplating the options presented.
Regardless, the ball was in their court. Despite Ning Fengzhi and Jiu Yikai lacking enmity, and even sharing a profound impact, it was crucial for Ning Fengzhi to interject on their behalf at this critical juncture
"Choose?" Wang Feng croaked, "My decision is... for you to leave."
As the words left his lips, a burst of light shot directly from Wang Feng's hand. The Templars nearby, mistaking it for an attack on Bishop Salas, swiftly surrounded Wang Feng.
However, the beam of light was seized by Bishop Salas's hand before it could reach him.
A cold glint flickered in Bishop Salas's eyes. As the Platinum Bishop of the Soul Hall, few dared to address him so disrespectfully.
It seemed that Jiu Yikai had become quite arrogant, relying on his winning streak to evade scrutiny.
Ning Fengzhi, observing the unfolding events, felt a sense of impending doom for Jiu Yikai. But in the next moment, he witnessed Bishop Salas's sudden astonishment an change of expression.
His curiosity piqued, Ning Fengzhi glanced at the object Bishop Salas had just retrieved and tossed it back towards Wang Feng.
Upon seeing it, he too was taken aback.
The token bore symbols representing a seraph pattern on it.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but feel a surge of awe at the sight.
With his knowledge, he recognized –it immediately.
"This... an elder's order token?" Ning Fengzhi murmured to himself.
In the Soul Hall hierarchy, while the Supreme Pontiff/Pope held the highest position in title, there existed an Elders' Hall comprising several titled Douluo-level elders. This body wielded significant influence over the Soul Hall's decisions, making it the true powerhouse within the Soul Hall.
"How do you... possess an elder's order token?" Salas gestured to the Templars who had been surrounding Wang Feng, signaling them to stand down.
"Step back!"
The Elders' Hall, comprised of seven elders, held considerable sway and wasn't entirely subservient to the Supreme Pontiff/Pope.
Ji Yi remarked casually. "I found it."
Salas broke into a cold sweat. This wasn't just any elder's order, it likely belonged to that prominent figure. How could someone just find it?
Could one simply 'find' an elder's order token? Salas couldn't fathom it. But given the presence of such a token, it undoubtedly signaled affiliation with the Elders' Hall.
Despite being the Platinum Bishop, Salas know that he was far from the true center of power and dared not make any further moves.
"My apologies," Salas said respectfully as he handed the token back to Wang Feng. Without another word, he escorted his men out of the room.
What a joke!
If Salas had known that the other party belonged or had affiliation with the Elder Hall, he wouldn't have dared to stir up trouble, even if it meant risking his life!
Ning Fengzhi also cast a deep glance at Wang Feng. This Jiu Yikai was becoming increasingly mysterious. Could he possibly be affiliated with the Soul Hall?
Furthermore, this was an elder's order token... Ning Fengzhi hadn't heard of any elders within the Soul Hall.
With numerous questions swirling in his mind, Ning Fengzhi departed the scene.
After a while, the masked man reentered the room and retrieved the token. She couldn't possibly allow it to remain in someone else's possession. Without uttering a word, the masked man also left quietly.
"This Qian Renxue is truly intriguing," Wang Feng muttered to himself.
Of course, he had a good idea of who the token belonged to. Besides the 99th-level Peerless Douluo, there was no one else revered within the Elder Hall of the Soul Hall, Qian Daoliu.
Simultaneously, he was also Qian Renxue's grandfather!
"Although I have a means to turn the tables, Qian Renxue's timely appearance provided me with –an additional layer of mysterious background, which isn't half bad," Wang Feng chuckled inwardly.
He had a hidden ace up his sleeve. He wasn't sure if the captain was truly dead, but he had hidden a trace of soul power in the opponent's body—a power unique to Golden Lotus.
As a precaution, during the match, he established a subtle connection with everyone, ensuring that even if his opponent perished, he could briefly resurrect them by utilizing Goldne Lotus power upon locating their body.
However, employing such a tactic risked exposure and raised suspicion.
Qian Renxue's timely intervention not only lent an air of legitimacy to his Jiu Yikai persona but also paved the way for a smoother journey in future competitions.
Of course, the dynamics would change if he ventured into the Soul Hall Palace located in the Soul City.
In any case, the ordeal was behind him. It appeared that despite Qian Renxue's absence from the match, she likely remained well-informed about its proceedings.
On the second day, the competition's organizing committee announced that the captain of Underworld College had passed away due to an old illness, rather than as a result of Jiu Yikai's actions.
This revelation brought relief to many viewers. While suspicions had been raised regarding foul play, with some speculating that someone was orchestrating a scheme to discredit Jiu Yikai and potentially disqualify them from the contest, the announcement set things back on track. Though many were angered by the perceived manipulation behind the scenes, the competition swiftly resumed once the truth emerged.
Nevertheless, the incident left a lingering sense of unease. While openly harming others was an obvious transgression, it was disconcerting to think that someone had gone to such lengths. Many feared that even if Jiu Yikai weren't disqualified, the ensuing investigations would disrupt the tournament schedule, throwing their own plans into disarray.
Such speculations prompted many factions that had been plotting behind the scenes to reconsider their actions, wary of potential repercussions.
As the qualifiers drew to a close, Wang Feng refrained from participating in subsequent matches. Following Underworld Academy's defeat, no team dared to challenge him.
However, an unexpected turn of events occurred on the penultimate day of the qualifiers, Shrek Academy faced off against Skywater Academy.
Wang Feng initially presumed this match would be uneventful, yet the outcome defied his expectations—Shrek Academy suffered a surprising and decisive defeat.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and four substitutes—all key players—were defeated.
Wang Feng hadn't anticipated this loss. Despite the increased prowess of the Five Element Academies compared to their counterparts in the original narrative, he believed Tang San and his teammates were significantly stronger now and couldn't possibly lose.
However, what Wang Feng failed to foresee was the remarkable strength of Skywater Academy's captain, Shui Bing'er.
Remarkably, Shui Bing'er had only played one match prior to facing Shrek Academy. This revelation suggested that the previous captain had merely been a decoy, with Shui Bing'er observing and strategizing from the sidelines throughout more than twenty games—utilizing her own substitute!
Just a level forty-three control soul master. But she herself... is a level forty-seventh control soul master! This level was revealed during her match against Shrek Academy.
Upon learning this, Wang Feng was genuinely surprised.
"The scheming runs deeper than I expected," he thought. "The Five Element Schools, including those in the original narrative, have undergone varying degrees of change! From the mutant martial soul of the Elephant Armored Academy, to the Godwind's Team's special cloud formation, and the Blazing Academy's flame techniques. Now, Skywa'er Academy has undergone such significant alterations."
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