Since the day Lin Fan left Blue Tyrant Academy, three months had passed, and neither Liu Erlong nor Yin Shu had seen him return to the academy.
The two couldn't help but suspect that Lin Fan had merely come to play around for a day.
During these three months, Lin Fan had been enjoying a leisurely life, either spending time with Tang Yuehua or occasionally discussing political matters with Qian Renxue.
Lin Fan lived comfortably at home, without a care in the world.
Of course, he had been staying in Heaven Dou City, waiting for Shrek Academy's group to relocate and settle in the city.
After all, the system's task wasn't something that could be completed quickly—it required patience.
Thus, Lin Fan remained in Heaven Dou, calmly reviewing his cultivation progress over the past year.
That morning, shortly after Lin Fan had risen, Qian Renxue arrived alone at his house.
"Well, well, what brings our esteemed young lady here today?" Lin Fan teased.
"Don't even mention it," Qian Renxue huffed, clearly irritated. "I went to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy early this morning, only to find out that yesterday afternoon, Xue Xing drove away seven talented students along with several teachers, including Qin Ming! He even brought them along when they left."
"With this, our imperial academy has taken a huge hit. We even lost the teacher who led the academy's battle team!"
"That old fool Xue Xing is afraid of my growing influence as the crown prince. He must be insane!"
As soon as she entered, Qian Renxue began venting to Lin Fan.
"Oh? Were they calling themselves Shrek Academy?" Lin Fan asked with a faint smile.
"You know about them?" Qian Renxue looked surprised. "Captain Yu Tianheng said they lost to Shrek Academy back in Soto City."
"And Qin Ming is a graduate of Shrek Academy himself. He tried recruiting them to serve as our academy's second team—but Xue Xing kicked them all out." Qian Renxue's tone was tinged with anger and frustration.
"Ah, it's all a matter of fate," Lin Fan replied calmly. "Since they've already been driven away, what's the point of fretting over it? Besides, it was their loss, not yours. Why bother getting angry on Xue Xing's behalf?"
Qian Renxue nodded, then suddenly chuckled. "You're right. Xue Xing acted out of fear of my growing power. Perhaps this is the perfect chance for me to report his actions to His Majesty. If I succeed, I might gain full control over the imperial academy."
"Anyway, enough about that. I just left the academy and happened to pass by, so I came to check on you. I'll be going now."
Without waiting for a reply, Qian Renxue briskly headed toward the door.
"No time for tea?" Lin Fan asked, half-jokingly.
"Next time!" Qian Renxue waved without looking back as she left.
Standing at the doorway, Lin Fan watched her departing figure.
"So, Shrek Academy has arrived," Lin Fan mused. "They're probably at Blue Tyrant Academy by now."
He considered whether he should visit them, especially to see how strong Zhu Zhuqing had become and whether she had reached at least the 35th rank in spirit power.
Lin Fan was certain that Flender would bring Tang San and the others to Blue Tyrant Academy.
After all, Lin Fan knew Flender had been aware of Liu Erlong's position at Blue Tyrant Academy from the start.
Going to Heaven, Dou Imperial Academy had always been a ruse. Without interference from Xue Xing and Dugu Bo, Flender would never have joined.
After all, Flender and his group had long been accustomed to their free lifestyle—they wouldn't tolerate the rigid rules of the imperial academy.
In the original story, Flender hadn't been the least bit surprised upon seeing Liu Erlong at Blue Tyrant Academy.
It was clear that Flender's plan all along had been to use this opportunity to reunite Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang.
Lin Fan couldn't help but mutter, "Flender is the ultimate simp."
Suddenly, Lin Fan froze, his expression darkening.
"Wait a minute… What did Qian Renxue just say? The Heaven Dou battle team lost to Shrek Academy?"
"Doesn't that mean Tang San has probably been taken by Dugu Bo to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well by now?"
While Lin Fan had known Shrek Academy would eventually arrive, he hadn't remembered the exact timing—they had arrived earlier than he had anticipated.
After all, he wasn't truly a prophet—he couldn't possibly remember every detail perfectly.
"No… Even though I've already harvested all the immortal herbs from the spring, who knows whether Tang San has any hidden tricks left?" Lin Fan's gaze sharpened.
"Don't forget, Tang San hails from the Tang Sect. If he lingers too long at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, who knows what hidden weapons or poisons he might develop? And with his secret poison techniques, he could use the spring's toxic energies to strengthen himself even further."
Without hesitation, Lin Fan swiftly left his courtyard, heading straight toward Sunset Forest.
Boom—!
As Lin Fan neared the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he immediately sensed intense spirit power fluctuations from a fierce battle.
"Tch… Do you all have a death wish?" Soon, Lin Fan heard Dugu Bo's furious, ice-cold voice.
Approaching silently, Lin Fan soon saw what was happening:
A radiant golden dragon was clashing head-on against Dugu Bo's true form—his Bi Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Spirit.
"Holy Dragon True Form! One of their strongest fusion techniques!" Under Yu Xiaogang's direction, the three unleashed their ultimate attack.
The golden dragon, driven by Yu Xiaogang's control, charged violently toward Dugu Bo.
"You can even suppress my Medusa's Gaze? Impressive." Dugu Bo's gaze sharpened as he began to take the battle more seriously.
"Eighth Spirit Ability: Time Freeze!"
Dugu Bo released his eighth-ring ability.
Instantly, the rampaging golden dragon froze mid-air before him, completely immobilized.
"Your fusion technique isn't bad—but your overall strength is still too weak," Dugu Bo sneered, a cold smirk curling on his lips. "Break!"
A wave of dark green energy struck the golden dragon's belly. With a chilling command, "Shatter," Dugu Bo caused the golden dragon to explode.
Yu Xiaogang and the others coughed up blood, horrified.
"With just one strike… we're completely drained?" Yu Xiaogang and his companions were stunned.
Their triple fusion technique had been utterly destroyed by Dugu Bo's eighth-ring ability.
"I have a thousand ways to make you beg for death," Dugu Bo said coldly as he stepped toward them, watching the three as they lay powerless.
Lin Fan watched the scene, shaking his head.
Though Dugu Bo was often called the weakest among the Titled Douluo, that title only applied within the ranks of Titled Douluo themselves.
He wasn't someone that two Spirit Saints and a mere Grandmaster could handle.
If Dugu Bo unleashed his full toxic might, everything within a hundred miles would be reduced to a lifeless wasteland.
Lin Fan couldn't bear to watch Yu Xiaogang and the others continue their pathetic displays of self-sacrifice.
He instantly appeared between the four of them, landing calmly at the center.
"That's enough, Dugu Bo," Lin Fan said coolly. "All this over Tang San curing your granddaughter's poison? Isn't that a bit petty?"
Then he turned to Yu Xiaogang and the others, his tone.