"Alright, thank you for your help this time." Hearing Jiang Nan'nan's reply, Beibei nodded and, along with Xu Sanshi, turned and quickly chased after Yan Shaozhe and the others.
Though Jiang Nan'nan was beautiful, Beibei and Xu Sanshi both had girlfriends and naturally wouldn't pay too much attention to her.
Beibei only had Tang Ya in his heart, and Xu Sanshi's girlfriend had even given herself to him to help him awaken his Xuanwu martial soul, and he wasn't the type to be fickle.
Watching Beibei and Xu Sanshi leave, Jiang Nan'nan also turned and returned to Shrek City.
On the rooftop of the Jade Pavilion, a gentle breeze stirred, making the gauze curtains sway.
Ningguang sat gracefully at a table, her fair hand lightly raised, bringing a teacup to her lips. She took a slow sip of tea, her movements fluid and unhurried, exuding an air of composure and nobility.
She looked up, seeing Jiang Nan'nan's returning figure in the distance. Her expression was calm as she spoke softly, "You're back. Were they people you knew?"
Jiang Nan'nan walked steadily closer, nodding slightly, her hair swaying gently with the movement: "Yes, they were indeed two of my junior classmates."
As she finished speaking, a flicker of hesitation quickly crossed her eyes.
Ningguang was incredibly perceptive, instantly catching Jiang Nan'nan's unusual demeanor. A faint smile played on her lips as she said gently, "If you have any questions, just ask."
Jiang Nan'nan took a deep breath, as if finally making up her mind, and asked doubtfully, "Sister Ningguang, what's our relationship with the Underworld? The people who attacked my two junior classmates, their attire, I've seen it before in the Jade Pavilion. Dean Yan said they were from the Underworld."
Ningguang's hand paused slightly, the gently swaying teacup stopping in mid-air. In an instant, a look of amused interest surged in her eyes: "Oh, the ones who attacked your junior classmates were from the Underworld?"
Ningguang trusted Jiang Nan'nan implicitly.
In Shrek City, she had invested in and supported many people, and Jiang Nan'nan was just one of them. Yet, she valued Jiang Nan'nan especially highly.
This was not only because Jiang Nan'nan possessed outstanding beauty and good talent but also because of her loyal and righteous character.
Ningguang had once saved Jiang Nan'nan's mother. Since then, Jiang Nan'nan had regarded Ningguang as her most trusted elder sister, following her wholeheartedly.
Therefore, Jiang Nan'nan was a confidante she had carefully cultivated, someone who could become her right-hand woman in the future. Many things did not need to be hidden from her.
"You guessed correctly. The Underworld and our Jade Pavilion, you could say we are colleagues."
Ningguang set down her teacup, clasped her hands, and placed them on her lap, patiently explaining, "You don't need to worry about this matter. They were likely just on a hired mission. It's not that the people behind us are targeting your two junior classmates."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a reassuring power.
"I understand, Sister Ningguang." Jiang Nan'nan nodded obediently, secretly sighing in relief.
She knew in her heart that no matter what, she would firmly stand by Ningguang. However, she was also a student of Shrek Academy, having been so even before Ningguang saved her mother. Now, knowing that it wasn't Ningguang's intention, not having to be in a dilemma was truly a blessing.
Ningguang shifted slightly, adopting a more comfortable sitting posture, as if suddenly remembering something. She asked, "Oh, right, the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament is about to begin. Shrek Academy should also start selecting candidates for the reserve team. Do you have confidence?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan'nan's eyes instantly gleamed with confidence. Her chest puffed out slightly, and her tone was certain: "Don't worry, Sister Ningguang. In the outer court, besides Beibei and Xu Sanshi, few can threaten me. With the soul tools you gave me, I will definitely pass the selection."
In Shrek Academy's outer court, Jiang Nan'nan was not only the top beauty but also a top expert in her own right. Coupled with the powerful soul tools provided by Ningguang, she was full of confidence in her strength.
Ningguang looked at Jiang Nan'nan's confident demeanor and couldn't help but chuckle, teasing, "I've heard of your reputation as the outer court's top beauty. I wonder which man will be lucky enough to get you in the future?"
Jiang Nan'nan's cheeks flushed slightly. She intimately took Ningguang's arm and playfully pouted, "Sister Ningguang, those are just empty titles. How can I compare to you? Besides, I've already decided to follow Sister Ningguang my entire life. When you get married one day, I'll be your maid of honor."
In her heart, Ningguang was almost perfect: stunningly beautiful, incredibly strong, and owning the vast Jade Pavilion empire that spanned the original three Douluo kingdoms. It was truly hard to imagine what kind of man could be worthy of her.
If such a person ever appeared, even if it meant truly becoming a maid of honor, she would accept it.
"Oh, if you say that, then someone should be very happy." Ningguang's lips curved into a mysterious smile, as if recalling something amusing, her mood exceptionally pleasant.
Jiang Nan'nan looked at Ningguang's smile, and her heart suddenly "thumped," feeling inexplicably flustered. Could there really be such a person?
Wait! Did she just unknowingly "sell" herself?
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles outside Shrek City, in the void, space seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand. A transparent snake-shaped phantom suddenly darted out.
It opened its gaping maw, and with a burst of spatial fluctuation, it spat out a few figures. Then, the snake-shaped phantom twisted its body and drilled back into the void, vanishing instantly, as if it had never appeared.
"Thank you, Esteemed Mobius, for saving our lives!"
Bai Shisan, Hei Shisi, and the others, after the phantom disappeared, still respectfully bowed towards the direction it departed, remaining in that posture for a long time.
Mobius was a great figure, on par with their Yama Lord, and moreover, their savior. This kindness, they dared not forget.
The reason they dared to attack Shrek Academy disciples outside Shrek City, even after Huo Yuhao sent a distress signal and Beibei and the others quickly came to assist, was because they remained fearless.
They knew deeply what powerful force stood behind them.
And indeed, things unfolded as they expected. The renowned Gluttony Douluo was still heavily injured by a single blow from Esteemed Mobius. In the face of absolute power, Shrek Academy was nothing.
The thought of their Yama Lord's immense power, and the strength Mobius had just displayed, made the fanaticism in their eyes grow even more intense, almost burning.
Although they failed to successfully kill Huo Yuhao this time, their mission was complete. After all, their superiors only required them to give their full effort; regardless of Huo Yuhao's life or death, the mission would be considered accomplished.
Sea Abyss City. The night was like water, moonlight spilling into the streets and alleys.
Lu Jingming stood quietly in the courtyard, looking at the silver-haired girl surrounded by specks of fireflies in the darkness.
The girl seemed enveloped in a dreamlike halo, beautiful as an elf from a fairy tale.
At this moment, Lu Jingming received a message from Ji Yingying.
After he finished reading and learned the full story, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved into a meaningful smile, and the doubts in his heart were resolved.
It turned out that luck, while having an effect, was not omnipotent.
A person with strong luck could indeed turn misfortune into fortune and easily acquire various opportunities.
But if the person's own strength was too weak, they could easily be interfered with by stronger individuals.
Once a more powerful force intervened, then so-called luck would be difficult to manifest.
Just like Huo Yuhao, although his luck brought him continuous opportunities and rapid improvements in strength, he could not resist the schemes of a powerful figure like Sea God Tang San.
Lu Jingming's current probing had made Huo Yuhao encounter tribulations that he wouldn't have faced otherwise.
Thinking of Xu Tianran, who had also lost the most important thing to a man and whose personality had consequently changed drastically, a playful smile appeared on Lu Jingming's face.
He couldn't help but wonder if Huo Yuhao would also be affected and undergo a change in personality.
If Shrek Academy mishandled this incident, what would Huo Yuhao think? Lu Jingming was full of anticipation.
"A'Ming, let's go get some supper!" Firefly, like a cheerful little deer, skipped over to Lu Jingming, took his hand, and looked up, her pink-blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Okay!" Lu Jingming gently flicked Firefly's delicate nose, his demeanor one of pure indulgence.
Then, he let Firefly pull his hand, walking towards the brightly lit and bustling Sea Abyss City.
In a corner of Shrek Academy, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could be wrung from it.
"How is it? What's going on? What's the situation?" A petite girl, her emerald green pigtails swaying slightly with her anxious movements, her face filled with urgency, her eyes glued to the tightly shut door, as if wanting to pierce through it to see the situation inside.
"Yes, what exactly happened to little Yuhao?" Tang Ya was also nearby, craning her neck, constantly peering, wishing she could rush directly into the room to see Huo Yuhao's condition clearly.
Not long after, the room door slowly creaked open, and an old man in a plain white robe steadily walked out.
He was Elder Zhuang, an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, whom Shrek Academy had called upon to treat Huo Yuhao.
Elder Zhuang's martial soul was the Tree of Life. As a healing-type Titled Douluo, his healing abilities were considered top-notch in the entire Soul Master world.
"Elder Zhuang, what is the situation?" Yan Shaozhe quickly stepped forward and eagerly asked.
Elder Zhuang slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone, then he slowly shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh: "His life is not in danger, but... alas!"
This sigh was like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's hearts.
In an instant, everyone fell silent.
They all knew where Huo Yuhao was injured. While it was a great fortune that his life was not in danger, damage to that crucial area was an unbearable blow for any man.
"Dean Yan, who was so ruthless as to harm Huo Yuhao?" a woman wearing glasses asked.
Her face was old and stern, her eyes behind the lenses filled with anger and concern. This was also the common question in the hearts of many who cared about Huo Yuhao.
Yan Shaozhe shook his head helplessly, his voice low: "The attackers were the Black and White Impermanence of the Underworld, but they are just hired assassins. We are still thoroughly investigating the mastermind."
In reality, Shrek Academy's investigation had already found some clues, which, like vines, gradually led to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Yan Shaozhe also faintly guessed that the culprit who hired the assassins could only be Dai Huabin.
However, things were far from simple.
Firstly, there wasn't enough evidence. Dai Huabin had acted cautiously this time; only a servant from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion had appeared to hire the Underworld. It was unrealistic to convict him based on this.
Secondly, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion held a high position and had deep-rooted influence within the Star Luo Empire.
To escalate the situation solely due to a conflict between two younger generations, involving the Star Luo Empire and the White Tiger Duke, even if Shrek Academy was extremely protective of its own, they would have to weigh the consequences.
Furthermore, Dai Huabin was also a disciple of Shrek Academy.
The ancestor of the White Tiger lineage was none other than Dai Mubai, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils and the renowned God of War.
For years, the White Tiger lineage had maintained a subtle alliance with Shrek Academy. Indeed, both of the White Tiger Duke's sons had joined Shrek Academy; if the other one hadn't been slightly less talented, he would probably have entered the academy's gates already.
In such a complex situation, it was almost impossible for Shrek Academy to severely punish Dai Huabin.
To completely fall out with the White Tiger lineage for a Huo Yuhao who had not yet fully matured, Yan Shaozhe himself would not agree, let alone the elders of the Sea God Pavilion.
Although Huo Yuhao possessed exceptional talent and was highly valued by the academy, at this moment, he was merely a talented individual with potential.
In the considerations of the academy's high-level officials, his value, not yet having fully matured, indeed could not compare to the deeply rooted White Tiger lineage.
Therefore, the best solution at present was to downplay the matter.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao's body was only damaged, not without hope for recovery. As long as he was alive, there was still hope.