"Your Holiness, what brings you here...?"
Inside the Shrek Academy's administrative office, Flander, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, Qin Ming, and other academy leaders had gathered.
They all stared at Tang Hao's empty right sleeve, sensing that his current strength had barely maintained the Spirit Douluo level. Flander was shocked.
"I encountered Su Cheng. That boy's strength exceeded my expectations."
"Are you talking about Su Cheng, the one who just became a Spirit Hall elder? Has he become that powerful already?!"
Flander and the others were well aware of Tang Hao's strength. Even with old injuries, he still possessed combat power comparable to peak Douluo.
Su Cheng wasn't even nineteen years old, and the thought that he could sever one of Tang Hao's arms seemed impossible.
However, facing everyone's doubts, Tang Hao didn't feel the need to explain further. Even though he had made up his mind, he had no desire to recall the events of the past few days.
What he experienced that day was the greatest humiliation of his life.
And when he saw the worried expressions on the faces of the others, his already foul mood turned impatient. "Don't worry. Even though I lost a spirit bone and my cultivation fell to the Spirit Douluo level, ordinary Titled Douluo are still no match for me."
"A spirit bone?!"
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but cry out in shock, finally understanding why Flander had mentioned Tang Hao's sudden decline in strength.
It wasn't due to old injuries but because the arm he lost contained a spirit bone!
According to his "research," when a spirit master loses a spirit bone they had fused with, their level would drop by at least ten ranks.
As for Tang Hao's claim that he could still rival ordinary Titled Douluo, they didn't doubt it. After all, when Tang Hao first emerged, he had a record of holding his own against Titled Douluo with just Spirit Douluo-level strength.
Now, he possessed a 100,000-year spirit ring on the Clear Sky Hammer, the world's most powerful spirit.
With such a foundation, even with insufficient cultivation, he could still be considered Titled Douluo-level in combat strength.
"Where is Xiaosan? Where is he now? How did his training in the Slaughter City go?"
Yu Xiaogang quickly asked, setting aside his concern for Tang Hao's troubles for the moment.
Compared to Tang Hao, who had fallen from his pedestal in his heart, Tang San, his only true disciple, was far more important.
"Don't worry. He isn't with me."
Tang Hao glanced at him, seeing through his thoughts, and couldn't be bothered to explain much. He bluntly said, "Xiaosan successfully passed the Slaughter City's trials and added the Killing God Domain to his Clear Sky Hammer. However, his killing intent is too heavy and needs time to be dissolved. So, after we left the Slaughter City, I took him to meet an old friend."
"An old friend?" Yu Xiaogang was stunned and felt uneasy.
Logically, Tang Hao should have brought Tang San to him immediately so that he could plan the next stage of his training.
Moreover, this was something they had agreed upon when Tang San entered the Slaughter City, and it shouldn't have changed.
However, Yu Xiaogang knew his place. If Tang Hao had found another powerful ally, it wouldn't matter.
But there were only a few Titled Douluo in the world. Besides the elders in seclusion within the Spirit Hall and the hidden members of the Clear Sky Clan, which other Titled Douluo could be considered an ally?
Thinking about this, he cautiously asked, "May I know which senior it is?"
"Not a Titled Douluo, just an ordinary person. But they can greatly help Xiaosan in his current state."
Hearing this question, Tang Hao instinctively frowned but still offered an explanation.
Although Yu Xiaogang could no longer be used to control Bibi Dong, his knowledge was still crucial for Tang San's growth. Tang Hao was willing to give him this face.
"Your Holiness, letting an ordinary person guide Xiaosan may not be appropriate."
Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang didn't appreciate this gesture. Regarding Tang San's education, he was unwilling to compromise.
"Xiaosan is at an age where his strength is growing rapidly. No matter how unique your old friend is, it's not the right time to waste too much of his time." At this point, Yu Xiaogang suddenly grew cautious and asked, "Does this person have some theoretical expertise?"
"What do you understand?" Tang Hao replied coldly. "The mysteries of the Killing God Domain are beyond your comprehension. Do you know the consequences of letting Xiaosan's killing intent spiral out of control?"
"..."
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted, but he was momentarily speechless.
He prided himself on his unique teaching methods and knowledge, but he knew that his low cultivation limited his perspective. No matter how rich his theoretical knowledge was, his vision remained narrow.
The highest-level knowledge was always held by the few at the pinnacle. With so few examples, it was difficult to spread.
He had never even heard of the Killing God Domain, let alone understood it.
After some hesitation, Yu Xiaogang decided to set this issue aside and said, "In that case, once Xiaosan has resolved his killing intent, he should return to the academy as soon as possible. He shouldn't delay too long.
"After all, spirit master battles heavily rely on teamwork and the support of comrades. Shrek Academy now has excellent students with bright futures.
"I previously mentioned Sea God Island to you. If Xiaosan intends to venture there, he'll need his companions' support."
"Now that you mention it, that reminds me." Tang Hao's voice turned cold.
"You saw the Spirit Master Tournament, didn't you? Those so-called teammates were useless in critical moments and only slowed Xiaosan down.
"Only the weak need to rely on teams. Have you ever seen a powerful Titled Douluo who depends on teammates to fight? Even the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo of the Spirit Hall only act together because of their special spirit fusion skill.
"As for Sea God Island..."
He paused briefly, not waiting for Yu Xiaogang to retort, and continued, "Master, when you teach Xiaosan in the future, please don't instill those team-oriented ideas in him. As for Sea God Island, let him explore it alone! Without facing enough danger, how can he achieve tremendous growth?"
"What?!"
Yu Xiaogang looked up in disbelief at Tang Hao.
Seeing the cold, stern expression on Tang Hao's face, a chill crept over Yu Xiaogang's heart.
He could hardly believe that these were the words of a father.
This wasn't just madness; it was almost deranged!
Ignoring any sense of propriety, Yu Xiaogang urgently retorted, "Didn't I tell you before? That place is called Devil's Island for a reason! It's incredibly dangerous, and even the Spirit Hall suffered great losses there. If Xiaosan goes alone, it would be a death sentence!"
"Better to have a slim chance than none at all! With the current strength of the Spirit Hall, if Xiaosan doesn't push himself to the limit, he won't even have a one-in-ten chance of surviving!"
Tang Hao's repeated rebuttals, especially at the cost of Tang San's life, ignited a fire of anger in Yu Xiaogang's heart.
Moreover, Yu Xiaogang prided himself on his intelligence and knowledge, making it hard for him to tolerate such doubt.
"What about the Spirit Hall's wanted posters all over the Heaven Dou Empire? Have you considered that Xiaosan not only faces these trials but also has to be wary of being hunted? Can you bear to let him shoulder such immense pressure alone?"
Tang Hao frowned, growing increasingly impatient.
He hadn't come here for this nonsense or to be questioned. He came to arrange the next steps.
But Yu Xiaogang's endless nagging was starting to wear on his nerves.
"Alright, alright, Xiaogang, since His Holiness has spoken, I'm sure he has his reasons. Don't worry too much. Xiaosan isn't just your student; he's his son too."
Seeing the tense atmosphere, with both Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang struggling to control their emotions, Flander hurriedly stepped in to mediate, though he felt helpless.
With such a strong enemy ahead, the internal atmosphere wasn't encouraging.
He didn't know what had happened between the two, but ever since they returned from the Slaughter City, things seemed strained.
In reality, this situation wasn't solely due to Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang's stubbornness but rather human nature.
In favorable circumstances, even if some issues exist within each person or occasional disagreements arise, they are often intentionally or unintentionally downplayed or even ignored by other members of the team.
But when adversity strikes and external pressures intensify, many people instinctively magnify the flaws of their teammates while turning a blind eye to their own shortcomings.
Unless there is a leader within the team capable of holding everything together, it's inevitable that significant divisions will arise, and the team might even fall apart.
Unfortunately, neither Tang Hao nor Yu Xiaogang is qualified to take the lead now.
As for Flender, Liu Erlong, and others, they were never the core of the team and can only temporarily serve as mediators. It's evident that they lack the capacity to become leaders.
If Tang San were here, he might be able to settle things decisively.
Even though his strength and seniority are still insufficient, he represents hope for everyone, so naturally, people would be more tolerant of him.
On the other side, Tang Hao saw Flender stepping forward to ease the tension, which finally allowed his expression to relax a bit.
Tang Hao still retained some respect for Flender, considering that he had recently ascended to the rank of Soul Douluo, a decent level of strength.
If Flender were to combine his powers with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong in a Triangular Martial Soul Fusion technique, they would even be capable of battling at the level of a Titled Douluo.
With this thought, Tang Hao glanced at Flender and the others, saying, "Don't think my words are harsh. Do you really believe all teammates are trustworthy? You probably don't know this yet, but that Zhu Zhuqing from Shrek Academy has already joined the Spirit Hall."
"What? Is that true?!"
"Of course, it's true. She has even become Bibi Dong's personal disciple and was sent to the Slaughter City by Bibi Dong! In the past, only I and Bibi Dong possessed the Killing God Domain. Doesn't this prove something?"
This time, not only Yu Xiaogang but also Flender, Liu Erlong, and Qin Ming were all stunned in place.
Especially Flender, whose face turned pale.
In that instant, countless memories rushed to his mind, and finally, a figure emerged in his thoughts.
The vague premonition of unease seemed to be slowly coming true...
He took a deep breath and turned to Yu Xiaogang, "Zhuqing's Hell Civet Martial Soul, and Mubai..."
"You mean...?"
Hearing this reminder, Yu Xiaogang immediately connected the dots. Zhu Zhuqing's inexplicable possession of the Hell Civet Martial Soul and Dai Mubai's sudden disappearance.
"No wonder... No wonder... No wonder she was so strong, even stronger than Xiao San, whom I personally guided. I knew it! This was originally an unreasonable and impossible thing to happen. It turns out it was done through such a sinister method!" Yu Xiaogang's voice was filled with both anger and realization, mixed with a subtle trace of excitement at having uncovered the truth.
"Extracting someone else's Martial Soul to augment one's own... This is the technique of an evil soul master! What far-reaching schemes, what a venomous mind, what a cruel heart! Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall, Zhu Zhuqing—what wickedness!"
"Xiaogang!" Compared to Yu Xiaogang's fury at being deceived, Flender was genuinely heartbroken.
He had spent a long time with Dai Mubai. Back when Shrek Academy was in dire straits, financially struggling, it was thanks to the generous support of this prince from the Star Luo Empire that the academy could continue to operate.
Yu Xiaogang turned to meet Flender's gaze, saying, "To use such heretical methods and still dare to claim to be the Holy Land of Soul Masters! Don't worry, when Xiao San completes his cultivation, he will uproot the Spirit Hall to avenge Mubai and restore peace to the world!"
Watching the exchange between the two of them, Tang Hao remained silent.
As long as their goals aligned, that was enough. The reasons behind those goals didn't matter.
"In less than a year, Xiao San will be able to overcome the aftereffects of the Slaughter City. Master, you'd better start gathering more information about Sea God Island. The more intelligence we have, the better our chances. Don't think I'm being too harsh on Xiao San. The strength of the Spirit Hall is far greater than we imagined."
"..."
"Clear Sky Douluo, what about yourself? What are your plans?" Seeing Yu Xiaogang remain silent, Flender took the initiative to ask.
"I'm planning to return to the Clear Sky Clan to see how the sect is doing," Tang Hao replied calmly.
In truth, he only intended to meet his elder brother, Tang Xiao. As for the others, Tang Hao had no intention of engaging with them.
If he still had his past strength, he would naturally find a way to mobilize them.
But now, with the loss of his family's inherited spirit bone and the significant decline in his power, he lacked the confidence to face the stubborn elders of the Clear Sky Clan.
"By the way, I heard that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan encountered some trouble. Even the eldest grandson of the Yu family went to the imperial capital for help?"
At this moment, Tang Hao's expression shifted slightly as if he suddenly remembered something. He turned to look at Liu Erlong, who had remained silent.
"Dean Liu, didn't you say you returned to your family to make connections? How did that go?"
"..."
Hearing this, Liu Erlong was initially stunned, seemingly surprised by Tang Hao's words.
After a moment of silence, she finally parted her red lips and spoke in a low voice, "I only stayed with the family for a few days before my father kicked me out. He told me that unless I left Shrek Academy forever, he wouldn't acknowledge me as his daughter, and there was no room for negotiation. Moreover, he also ordered me to sever all ties with Xiaogang."
"Then you should listen to him," Tang Hao immediately frowned. "You two are siblings by blood. Your father isn't wrong; you shouldn't stay together. It goes against ethics. Why force it?"
"This—"
Yu Xiaogang was instantly enraged.
To ease the pressure from Spirit Hall, he had indeed advised Liu Erlong to temporarily set aside their personal feelings.
But that was his own decision. Who was Tang Hao to lecture them from a superior position?
Yet, as his gaze met Tang Hao's, and as their eyes locked, the crimson glint in Tang Hao's pupils sent a chilling sensation down his spine, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, instantly silencing him, and he dared not say another word.
Tang Hao was clearly on the edge.
Although Yu Xiaogang fell silent, Liu Erlong showed no fear. This matter was a sensitive topic for her.
For Yu Xiaogang's sake, she was willing to sever ties with her family and break relations with her father. How could she be swayed by a few words from Tang Hao?
Her eyes turned red with anger as she glared at Tang Hao, "Clear Sky Douluo, how can you say such things?! Who I love is my own business! Not even my father has the right to dictate my feelings!"
"..."
Tang Hao raised an eyebrow, glancing between the furious Liu Erlong and the frowning Flender. He decided not to continue the argument.
He waved his left hand, his tone impatient, "What's there to discuss about a forbidden relationship? Family should come first. I advise you to cut it off decisively. If it's really impossible, just deceive your father for a while. Once things settle down, you and the master might still have a chance to be together. Focus on the bigger picture; don't let personal matters cost us a valuable ally."