Powerful, overwhelmingly so, with no regard for the prestige of the Spirit Hall. Right there in the street, he forced the Platinum Bishop, second only to the Pope, to kneel on the ground. If one hadn't witnessed it firsthand, it would be hard to believe someone dared to do such a thing.
"Sect Master Ning, if it's not too much trouble, could you help me with something? After all, having a Platinum Bishop kneeling at the academy's entrance is rather unsightly and disrupts my students' normal comings and goings."
Gu Rong, standing behind Ning Fengzhi, couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. This was a deadly blow to Salas, treating him as if he was nothing.
"Let's go. Why are you just standing there?" Gu Yi turned and headed back into the academy, not forgetting to call out to the still stunned Wang Yanran.
"Oh, teacher, wait for me." Wang Yanran quickly caught up with Gu Yi, glancing at this incredibly domineering man, her heart filled with pride. This was her teacher, the only teacher she would ever have in her life.
Ning Fengzhi then walked up to Salas. "With these temple warriors here, I'm sure Bishop Salas can manage to return to the Spirit Hall on his own. I'll take my leave."
Ning Fengzhi had no intention of getting involved further. The Upper Three Sects had to stand united in matters like these. The Spirit Hall was far too powerful for any single sect to confront on its own. Even the once-glorious Clear Sky Sect had been forced to close its gates, with almost no disciples remaining outside. If they continued to act individually, being swallowed by the Spirit Hall was only a matter of time.
"Gu Yi, how dare you humiliate me like this. Your days are numbered." With blood in his mouth and his eyes bloodshot, Salas looked nothing like the dignified and solemn Platinum Bishop he once was. Anyone who dared to challenge the Spirit Hall's authority would become bones on the path leading the Spirit Hall to the divine throne. Gu Yi would be no exception. Salas was convinced that once this matter reached the ears of the Pope, Gu Yi's death was inevitable.
Supported by the temple warriors, Salas left and returned to the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City. After receiving some casual treatment from a support spirit master, he rushed to his study to write a letter directly to the Pope's Hall.
...
"Teacher, is everything alright?" Wang Yanran was still worried. After all, in her understanding, the Spirit Hall was high and mighty, and no one could oppose it. If her teacher became an enemy of the Spirit Hall just because of her, she would never forgive herself, even in death.
"What are you thinking? These things aren't important. I'm very pleased with your performance today. You did well, keep it up."
Gu Yi, as he used to do, reached out to ruffle Wang Yanran's hair, but he realized that over the past year, she was no longer that skinny little girl. She had grown into a beautiful and graceful young woman. Even the light blue school uniform couldn't hide her charm, especially her pair of light blue eyes, which seemed untouched by any impurity—they were her most striking feature.
Now, the imbalance between male and female students at Tianwen Academy was becoming more apparent. Especially the girls participating in the competition, such as Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, were showered with admiration from the students.
Although Wang Yanran wasn't as popular as some of the others, she was still quite well-regarded. After all, young boys tend to favor older sisters, and Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing were the epitome of that—total boy-crushers, with perfect figures and matching temperaments. But alas, none of the boys could capture their hearts.
"Yanran… what are you doing?"
Gu Yi was taken aback as he watched her bend down and place her head in his raised hand, like a kitten snuggling into his palm.
"Teacher, I'll always be that little girl you first met." Wang Yanran only stepped away once her hair was completely disheveled. Her words still echoed in Gu Yi's ears.
Watching her walk away, Gu Yi smiled. Having such a student—what more could one ask for? After all, who doesn't like a disciple who is so obedient? Keeping one's original intentions is the hardest thing. Many people, once they gain power, find it impossible to suppress their desires. But Wang Yanran's character was impeccable, simply perfect.
Of course, Salas wouldn't just let this go. Without a reply from the Pope, he still harbored resentment. He needed an outlet for his anger. Since he couldn't do anything to Gu Yi for now, he'd start with an easier target. Blue Sunshine Academy was just an excuse. While outsiders and weaker individuals couldn't see the extent of the students' injuries, Salas, being close to the level of a Spirit Douluo, could. If he couldn't see through such a simple matter, he wouldn't be worthy of the title of Platinum Bishop. If he didn't release this pent-up anger, he feared he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Moreover, if he could really pin this on Gu Yi, it would avenge his humiliation.
But things rarely go as planned. Soon, rumors spread throughout Heaven Dou City that Blue Sunshine Academy had maliciously exaggerated their students' injuries to frame Tianwen Academy. Of course, this wasn't Salas's doing, but rather the work of Ning Fengzhi's intelligence network, spreading information in secret.
Currently, even if Ning Fengzhi didn't protect his daughter, the other elders and seniors of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would. They would ensure that nothing would happened to Ning Rongrong, who represented the long-awaited Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the key to a brighter future for their sect. Anyone daring to tarnish the reputation of their beloved would be asking for death.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, damn you! You all deserve to die!" Salas raged, smashing everything in his room. By the time he was done, there wasn't even a place left to stand. Papers and the remnants of various objects were scattered everywhere. Salas slumped into a chair, suddenly feeling that being a Platinum Bishop wasn't as grand as it seemed.
In the face of truly overwhelming power, everything else was insignificant. A Platinum Bishop might appear imposing, but being neither the best nor the worst in a situation like this was incredibly frustrating, especially when dealing with those at the top.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knock came at the door.
"Get lost! Stop bothering me!" Salas was in a foul mood, having accomplished nothing in the past two days. His frustration had reached its peak.
"My lord... it's a reply from the Pope." The person outside was clearly nervous, but there was nothing he could do.
"Quick, bring it in."
Salas immediately perked up. Now Gu Yi was as good as dead. His subordinate opened the door and, after a quick glance at the chaotic state of the room, avoided looking any further. He kept his head down and carefully held out the letter. If one looked closely, they would see that his legs were trembling. Witnessing his superior's disgraceful behavior had sent his heart racing, making him cold and clammy with fear. It was terrifying.
"You can leave now," Salas waved him away. The subordinate, relieved, quickly left the room. But no sooner had the door closed and he walked a few steps when he heard a cry of despair from within.
"No! This can't be possible!"
(End Of Chapter)