Tang Hao didn't stay long in the academy's board office.
He had never been one for socializing, and if it weren't for the current crisis, he would have waited until Tang San's current training stage was complete before returning to Shrek Academy.
Once Tang Hao had completely left, and Flender confirmed that there were no traces of spiritual surveillance, he stepped forward.
He gently patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder and glanced at Liu Erlong, who stood silently beside him, her head lowered. He consoled them, "Lord Clear Sky likely spoke without thinking.
"After all, as the youngest titled Douluo of his generation, inheriting the title 'Clear Sky,' his strength has always far surpassed his peers. It's only natural that he's proud.
"But to be gravely injured by a junior, lose a precious spirit bone, and an arm... It's understandable that he's mentally unbalanced and a bit agitated.
"However, with his character, I'm sure he'll adjust soon enough. You two shouldn't take it to heart.
"As for your relationship, that's between you two. No one has the right to interfere, and you shouldn't feel obligated to sacrifice your happiness for anyone else's approval."
Yu Xiaogang remained silent.
Liu Erlong, on the other hand, looked up at Flender, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Thank you, Brother Flender."
At that moment, she finally felt a bit of relief.
Though she was deeply emotional, it's extremely difficult for anyone to persist in something that no one else acknowledges or supports for a long time.
Very few people can do this. Those who can are either resolute and confident or indifferent to the world.
Clearly, Liu Erlong did not possess these qualities.
Her personality seemed impulsive and strong, but in reality, she was of average aptitude, far from as tough as she appeared.
After facing her father's repeated objections, Tang Hao's disdain, Yu Xiaogang's many evasions, and with a formidable woman like Bibi Dong as a rival in her mind, she desperately needed verbal comfort and encouragement.
On the other side, seeing Yu Xiaogang remain silent, Flender grew anxious. "Xiaogang, you should say something too!"
"Hmm?" Yu Xiaogang seemed to snap out of his thoughts, frowning as he looked at Flender. "Flender, don't you think Tang Hao has become somewhat deranged? He completely disregards Xiao San's safety and only cares about training and enhancing his strength. I suspect that the injuries he sustained from Su Cheng weren't as minor as he made them out to be—there might be more to it."
"This..."
Flender was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang's primary concern at this moment to be this.
After a moment of hesitation, Flender sighed and said, "Xiaogang, what exactly happened between you and Lord Clear Sky? I've felt that ever since we returned from the Slaughter City over two years ago, there's been some tension between you two."
"…Nothing."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened instantly at Flender's question, and he was unwilling to say more. He turned to leave.
"Yu Xiaogang, stop right there!"
Suddenly, Flender's angry voice rang out, seemingly enraged.
As the leader of the Golden Iron Triangle, Flender rarely lost his temper, usually yielding to his two close friends.
His sudden anger caught Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong off guard.
Yu Xiaogang's steps instinctively halted.
"What can't you tell us?" Flender grabbed his arm, turning him around forcefully.
"Our martial soul fusion technique requires us to be in perfect sync. The renowned Golden Iron Triangle's reputation is built on our mutual achievements. If you keep secrets from us now, there's nothing more I can say. But as a master of theory, you should understand that if this continues, we'll never be able to unleash the full power of the Golden Holy Dragon again!"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's dazed expression, Flender's tone softened. "You need to realize, no matter what happens, Erlong and I will always stand by you. You can share anything with us."
"…"
Yu Xiaogang pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time before slowly beginning to speak. "After we left that small town near the Slaughter City, we encountered a group from Spirit Hall led by Bibi Dong and Su Cheng. At that time, Bibi Dong displayed power far beyond what she showed in Spirit City. Tang Hao fought her but was overpowered and chose to flee."
"What?!"
"That's... impossible..."
Flender and Liu Erlong were both shocked and couldn't believe what they were hearing.
Such a cowardly act was completely out of character for the powerful and domineering Tang Hao.
"Yes, it's hard to imagine, right? In fact, if it weren't for Su Cheng's restraint and concern for my status as an imperial guest, fearing to provoke conflict between the two major powers, I would have died there."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, his voice tinged with bitterness as if his once-idolized figure had completely crumbled.
"To be honest, I was initially more shocked and confused than anything else. But later, upon reflection, it's not so surprising.
"Since his rise, Lord Clear Sky had never known defeat until his final battle with the previous Pope, Qian Xunji, where he emerged victorious. But that victory came at the cost of Qian Xunji's life, forcing the Clear Sky Clan into seclusion, and Tang Hao has been on the run ever since, hiding from Spirit Hall's manhunt.
"His so-called dominance was built on his overwhelming strength. But when faced with a threat to his life, how is he any different from an ordinary person?"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang's voice took on a note of mockery, perhaps even self-mockery. "Remember that battle in Spirit City? When he saw the situation was hopeless, didn't he retreat with Xiao San at the first opportunity? If I'm not mistaken, the woman who appeared back then was probably Xiao San's birth mother."
These revelations were the result of years of Yu Xiaogang piecing together his observations, his resentment deepening over time.
Now that he had spoken his mind, he felt a sense of relief, and his expression softened.
As Yu Xiaogang recounted this, Flender and Liu Erlong's expressions gradually turned to astonishment. They temporarily forgot their earlier frustrations, focusing entirely on processing this new information, unsure of what to say.
The weight of the revelations overloaded their minds.
Flender gripped Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, torn between admiration and pity.
He knew all too well that Yu Xiaogang had once idolized Tang Hao, viewing him as a beacon and spiritual guide.
Now, faced with such a harsh reality, the blow to Yu Xiaogang was likely far greater than they could imagine.
Liu Erlong, on the other hand, didn't think as much. She silently grasped Yu Xiaogang's hand, her resolve clear, "Xiaogang, I'll always be by your side, no matter life or death."
Yu Xiaogang glanced at her, sighed, and said nothing more.
After all, with her mere Soul Saint strength, even with unwavering determination, what could Liu Erlong do?
At best, she could assist in performing the martial soul fusion technique with him and Flender.
"By the way, Xiaogang, what do you think about what Prince Xue Beng mentioned a while ago? No, he's the Crown Prince now." Flender suddenly asked.
"Are you referring to those Elemental Academies?"
"Yes. Those Elemental Academies used to ignore even the Empire's attempts to recruit them. Now, they're willing to serve as branch academies for Spirit Hall Academy. It's quite puzzling, and I'm not sure if it's true."
Flender's expression was a mix of doubt and worry, with a touch of envy deep down.
Unlike other powerful individuals, Flender had no great ambitions.
Money came second; his primary goal was to make Shrek Academy bigger and better.
But no matter how he looked at it, Spirit Hall Academy had become the industry benchmark, the ultimate dream for everyone in the field of soul master education.
"There's an eighty percent chance it's true," Yu Xiaogang frowned tightly, looking a bit helpless. "You know, the methods of the Spirit Hall have always been ruthless. If they truly want to consolidate power among the academies, those few schools probably won't have much choice but to agree, even if they don't want to."
He couldn't help but sigh. "The Spirit Hall's ambitions are known to every sensible person under the heavens, but what can be done? To change this situation, in the end, it all comes down to relying on absolute strength to crush them.
"However, fortunately, it's just a few academies, and the deans are only at the Spirit Douluo level. As long as Little San's cultivation succeeds, and our academy's students also achieve results, it's not impossible for us to have the strength to fight back in the future.
"The layout of the Spirit Hall Academy will have a more significant impact in the future. For now, we only need to focus on the present."
"…" Flender's expression grew somewhat peculiar as he listened.
In Yu Xiaogang's words, everything revolved around "Little San," clearly showing that he had placed all his hopes on Tang San.
But after thinking about it, what Yu Xiaogang said wasn't wrong.
There was no other option. Even the renowned Clear Sky Douluo couldn't be relied on, so who else could they count on?
He nodded in agreement, "You're right."
In the Blue Silver Grass Forest, it had been nearly a month since they had driven away Tang Hao.
During this time, the relationship between Su Cheng and Ah Yin had progressed rapidly.
In fact, considering their previous situation, taking their relationship to the next level was only a matter of time.
Once they took that first step, the so-called boundaries were merely Ah Yin's one-sided stubbornness and hesitation.
Even if nothing significant had happened, she wouldn't have been able to hold out for long.
And with Tang Hao's arrival, their conversation, and the decisive words Ah Yin had uttered in a moment of desperation, it undoubtedly accelerated Su Cheng's continuous efforts to break down her mental defenses.
By now, except for not taking the final step, Su Cheng had taken advantage of almost everything else.
Even the final boundary would likely be crossed within ten days to half a month.
At this moment, Su Cheng was casually sitting on the ground, a massive wine jar placed in front of him.
This was the last of their stock. Finishing this jar would mean that the large amount of Hundred Flowers Brew that Ah Yin had painstakingly brewed was entirely consumed by him.
Opposite him, the ancient and colossal Blue Silver King, whose face was outlined by vine bark, appeared serene and peaceful. Several tendrils swayed gently around him, creating a pathway for the sunlight to pour through.
Ah Yin sat not far away, her arms resting on her bent knees, supporting her chin with one hand as she stared blankly at the casual conversation between Su Cheng and the Blue Silver King. A strange feeling suddenly welled up inside her.
It was as if the elderly relative who had accompanied her since childhood was now having a heart-to-heart conversation with her beloved, while all she needed to do was quietly accompany them, and a natural sense of home enveloped her.
Although it wasn't as thrilling as the life of adventure, nor as interesting as the human world, where she could see many sights she had never seen before, it was peaceful and comforting.
"If we could live like this forever, it wouldn't be so bad."
This thought suddenly flashed through Ah Yin's mind.
Then she shook her head with a wry smile.
How could that be possible?
He still had many things to do, a grand future, and magnificent ambitions. Even if she couldn't help, she shouldn't become an obstacle on his path forward.
But...
Various thoughts surged uncontrollably in Ah Yin's mind. "Would he be willing to stop for my sake..."
"…My lord, Her Majesty has a pure and kind heart. Although I have no right to say this, I still ask you to take good care of her in the future. I think you will also need her company."
"Of course," Su Cheng nodded slightly, calmly gazing at the Blue Silver King before him and said nonchalantly, "She said she wants to have a child with me."
"Oh? That's good news," the Blue Silver King replied with a surprised smile.
"Su Cheng! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Not far away, Ah Yin, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, instantly became flustered. Her face turned crimson as she angrily scolded him.
Then she turned to the old tree, "Don't listen to his nonsense, that's absolutely untrue!"
Though her boundaries were indeed low at the moment, she could swear that she had never said anything like that, not even when drunk!
"Of course, I believe you," the Blue Silver King gently swayed its tendrils, calmly reassuring her.
Su Cheng, however, ignored her rebuttal.
But he didn't continue joking either. Instead, he glanced at the Blue Silver King and casually asked, "You should have noticed it too, right? Ah Yin is no longer just a Blue Silver Emperor. She now carries a more inclusive and powerful energy and foundation. This isn't just the power of a plant-type spirit or simply the power of nature; it's the power of the entire earth."
"Is that so?" The Blue Silver King's ancient face revealed some surprise.
"Please forgive my ignorance. I can only vaguely sense that Her Majesty has undergone significant changes compared to before. But as for the nature of this power, I can't fully comprehend it. Compared to human spirituality and creativity, I might boast of seeing many things, but in the end, I've merely lived a long life."
Su Cheng waved his hand and said lightly, "You don't need to be modest. To have survived for so long and protect a region's peace is quite extraordinary. At least, I can't claim to do that."
He wasn't flattering him, nor did he need to flatter him.
The Blue Silver King before him was indeed quite remarkable.
It could be said that the peace and tranquility of this Blue Silver Grass Forest for tens of thousands of years were by no means ordinary.
In comparison, although the Star Dou Forest had existed for an equally long time, he had been there before, and neither the plants nor the spirit beasts there bore many marks of time.
The fact that this situation existed in the Star Dou Forest was partly due to its heavy human traffic.
But more importantly, the Star Dou Forest wasn't a cohesive whole. Spirit beasts like the Silver Dragon King, though powerful, were merely "residents" there, not its "masters."
In contrast, the Blue Silver Grass Forest, though the Blue Silver King's bloodline level was far from that of the Blue Silver Emperor, had undeniably played an indispensable role in maintaining the forest's current atmosphere.
Moreover, the Blue Silver Emperor's bloodline wasn't something that could easily emerge.
At least, in a place like an ordinary village, even if the world lacked a living Blue Silver Emperor, no amount of time would lead to a Blue Silver Emperor emerging there.
Of course, perhaps the Blue Silver King itself wasn't fully aware of this reasoning.