Seeing both sides arguing, Tang San, who had been observing from the sidelines, turned to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and said, "This plays right into your hands. With the academy committee clashing with the prince, and even Poison Douluo getting involved, you now have an excuse to intervene in the academy's affairs. You can even win over several Soul Douluo committee members to expand your influence within the academy."
Xue Qinghe pretended ignorance, looking away as he replied, "Brother Tang, you really know how to joke. I don't know anything about this. I'm just passing by."
Tang San glanced at the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team—more precisely, the five besides Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan. It was possible that some of these five belonged to the crown prince's faction, or perhaps one of them had deliberately stirred the pot, hinting to Dugu Yan to inform Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing about the Shrek Academy incident, thereby sparking this conflict.
"The waters run deep here," Tang San muttered to himself.
However, the power struggles within the Heaven Dou royal family had nothing to do with him. In the Clear Sky Sect, Tang San was the sole heir, with connections so solid they were unshakable.
At this moment, even with the appearance of the three Soul Douluo committee members, Prince Xue Xing showed no intention of letting the Shrek Academy group off the hook.
"Three academy committee members, if you don't have an edict from His Majesty the Emperor, I suggest you step aside. It wouldn't be good if you got accidentally hurt later," Prince Xue Xing declared, raising his voice to the surrounding academy students. "Those who harm our students will be punished, no matter how far they flee!"
Hearing this, especially those students who had been injured by Dai Mubai, roared in unison, "No matter how far they flee!"
Prince Xue Xing then turned to his right, where his previously arrogant demeanor toward the three committee members and the Shrek Academy group shifted to one of utmost respect as he addressed Dugu Bo. "Master Dugu, I leave this to you."
The green-haired elder coolly surveyed the Shrek Academy members, his gaze indifferent as he said, "Prove with your strength that what you said is true—that everyone else is trash. Come at me together." As he spoke, a surge of intense green light erupted from his body, followed by rings rising one after another from beneath his feet. Yet, his physical form remained unchanged.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine Soul Rings spiraled upward, their dazzling radiance lighting up the entire space.
The expressions of the Shrek Academy members darkened. They had expected Dugu Bo to be strong, but they hadn't anticipated he would be one of the most supreme powerhouses on the Douluo Continent—a Titled Douluo with Soul Power surpassing level 90.
Not just the Shrek Academy group, but even the three Soul Douluo, each above level 80, had no confidence in facing him together. The gap between a Soul Douluo and a Titled Douluo was just a single rank in title, but the difference in power was like heaven and earth.
Faced with a Titled Douluo, the three Soul Douluo committee members ultimately yielded, slowly stepping aside.
After all, they had no deep ties with the Shrek group. They had only heard from Qin Ming that Shrek Academy was his alma mater and that it had nurtured several geniuses capable of defeating the Heaven Dou Royal Team. Out of admiration for talent, they had considered recruiting them.
Everyone values their life—no one would willingly suffer the agonizing effects of Poison Douluo's toxins.
Poison Douluo's voice was low as he said, "Blame yourselves for meddling in matters you shouldn't have and wading into these troubled waters."
A green light gathered in his hand, but at this critical moment, an unexpected figure stepped forward!
With a resonant hum, a seven-colored glazed light erupted from among the Shrek team. Ning Rongrong, holding the Glass Pagoda in her hand, slowly walked to the front, her small frame shielding the group from the Titled Douluo.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"
Upon seeing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, both Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing were shocked. They only knew that the Shrek Team had defeated Dugu Yan's group but hadn't heard much about their specific Martial Souls. Who would have thought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would have ties with Shrek!
Poison Douluo frowned, the poisonous energy in his hand dissipating slowly as he asked, "Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda... Are you a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
"My father is Ning Fengzhi," Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly. Proud as she was, she had always resisted relying on her father or the sect's protection, firmly believing she could carve her own path without their aid.
But today, after being defeated by Tang San once more, his words had finally made her face reality. Not using one's background or resources made the journey far too difficult.
Heroes were as numerous as fish in a river—who wasn't a genius these days?
Hearing this, even Qin Ming and the three Soul Douluo committee members were startled. The sect's young mistress! What was she doing in some backwater academy?
Was she playing the fool to catch the wise?
Ning Rongrong bowed her head and bent at the waist, pleading, "My companions were wrong to attack others. I beg Senior Dugu, for my father's sake, to spare their lives."
Seeing Ning Rongrong bow, Tang San's expression was as if he'd witnessed something earth-shattering, his face twisting in sheer astonishment.
"So she actually knows how to bow her head!"
But Tang San wasn't mocking her—he felt she had truly grown. Even if Ning Rongrong was Ning Fengzhi's daughter, at best, Dugu Bo might spare her alone. The others would almost certainly meet their end. Thus, her bow was a plea for Poison Douluo to spare the entire team out of respect for her father, not just herself.
Watching this, Tang San clicked his tongue in amazement. "Tsk tsk tsk, people can't teach you, but life's lessons stick fast."
Dugu Bo didn't immediately respond to Ning Rongrong's plea, but neither did he continue his attack. He and Ning Fengzhi had no personal ties—in fact, their interests clashed in some ways. Yet, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was one of the Upper Three Sects, with immense influence and two Titled Douluo within its ranks. Offending them wasn't wise, but letting the Shrek team go would disadvantage his side in the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition.
Just then, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had been inactive until now, finally made his move.
Unnoticed, he had approached Prince Xue Xing and greeted him with a smile. "It's been a while, Uncle Xue Xing... Fourth Brother."
Xue Beng was startled. "Why are you here?!"
Xue Qinghe's smile didn't reach his eyes. "The academy is under imperial management. As the crown prince, my presence here is hardly unusual, is it?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Prince Xue Xing and said, "Uncle, after all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has many business dealings with our royal family. Why don't we let this matter rest? If we continue, I'm afraid the civil and military officials at court might feel it lacks the dignity of a great nation, potentially causing unnecessary losses for our country."
Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Xue Xing fell silent. Although he was part of the opposition faction and didn't approve of the royal family allying with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, he also didn't want to completely sever economic ties between the school and the Heaven Dou Empire. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was the wealthiest sect on the continent, with shops and products everywhere.
There was no need to offend the God of Wealth to death.
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