Flender and his group descended the mountain, their expressions dark and their eyes burning with anger.
Xiao Tianyang, who was being supported by Saber and Ning Rongrong, walked among them.
Under normal circumstances, Dai Mubai and the others might have lightened the mood with some teasing.
But at this moment, their fists were clenched so tightly that their knuckles cracked. They were furious—not just at what had happened, but at their own powerlessness.
"Alright, enough with the long faces. I'm not dead yet." Xiao Tianyang patted the shoulders of the two beside him. "I've recovered."
"But the poison in your body..." Ning Rongrong asked, her voice trembling.
"My physique is special. No poison can harm me." Xiao Tianyang waved dismissively. "Tang San can confirm it. If you don't believe me, ask him."
Tang San's face turned slightly red. "I can't say for sure, but in the past, none of the poisons I used had any effect on Brother Tianyang."
"Give me your hand." Ignoring Xiao Tianyang's reassurances, Flender grabbed his wrist and sent a wisp of soul power into his body to check for himself.
The moment his soul power entered, it was instantly dispersed and absorbed!
Flender froze.
He looked up at Xiao Tianyang with a mixture of shock and disbelief. As a level 78 Soul Sage, he knew the difference between mere contact and direct energy probing.
"Are you really alright?" Flender asked, still unconvinced.
His soul power had been absorbed the moment it made contact. If he pushed harder, he might unintentionally harm Tianyang. With no other option, he had to ask directly.
Of course, he could bring in a healing-type soul master to verify, but considering the circumstances, it seemed unnecessary.
If Dugu Bo had recognized Xiao Tianyang's identity and dared not harm him, then there was no reason to suspect foul play.
Not to mention, if Xiao Tianyang had sustained internal injuries, Dugu Bo wouldn't have ignored them. Doing so would mean making an enemy of Miao Zhenshan—a mistake that would ensure he was hunted down and beaten into submission.
"It's just soul power exhaustion. That mouthful of blood was merely stagnant blood. I'm really fine," Xiao Tianyang reassured with a smile. "Besides, don't you all know my physical resilience by now?"
Hearing this, the group finally relaxed. As for why Xiao Tianyang had hidden his identity at the beginning, none of them asked. They understood that if he hadn't spoken of it, he must have had his reasons.
Just then, footsteps approached from behind.
As Xiao Tianyang had predicted, it was Qin Ming.
He quickened his pace and reached the group, his face filled with guilt. "Dean, I'm truly sorry. If I hadn't reassured you all that nothing would go wrong, this wouldn't have happened, and Junior brother wouldn't have been hurt..."
However, as his gaze landed on Xiao Tianyang, who stood there unharmed except for his slightly pale complexion, Qin Ming stopped mid-sentence, stunned.
"Tianyang... You're alright?"
Xiao Tianyang sighed, feeling a bit awkward. "Senior, you sound almost disappointed."
'Did he really have to be so expressive? This was getting embarrassing...'
Flender spoke in a serious tone. "This isn't your fault, Qin Ming. We've simply reached the end of our ties with Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"No, in the end, if I hadn't led you all there, the headmaster would never have had this idea," Qin Ming said bitterly. "I can only return to the academy, take up a position, and spend the rest of my life making up for my mistakes..."
"Oh, why trouble yourself over this?" Flender patted his shoulder. "Consider this trip nothing more than a journey. Once we return, everything will return to normal. There's no need to punish yourself."
"No. Tianyang's words have made me realize something." Qin Ming shook his head, determination flashing in his eyes. "Even if this wasn't entirely the fault of the dean, at its core, it's still Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's problem. How can I continue working there after witnessing such treatment?"
"Tianyang is right—Shrek Academy does not bow to others!"
Seeing Qin Ming's resolve, Flender nodded. "In that case, let's move forward together."
As they continued on their way, they soon arrived at the city gates, only to hesitate.
"Teacher, where do we go now?" Ma Hongjun asked hesitantly.
Flender's eyes flickered with thought before he finally smiled. "Since we're already near Heaven Dou City, why not take a look around?"
"It's perfect timing! You can let the students show their hospitality as locals," Qin Ming added with a smile.
For the first time, Xiao Tianyang was truly impressed by the architectural splendor of the Douluo Continent.
The grand structures before him were not inferior to the towering skyscrapers he had once seen. They carried an imposing sense of history that left him in awe.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ning Rongrong said proudly. "I come here often. If you ask nicely, I might just accompany you on a tour of the city..."
She turned around mid-sentence and suddenly froze.
"Huh? Where did he go? Wasn't he just here?"
"Over there," Saber said with a smile, pointing toward the city gates.
"Dean, come take a look!" Xiao Tianyang called out, waving them over. "There's a recruitment notice here!"
Flender stepped forward, his sharp eyes glinting as he read it.
Qin Ming, standing beside him, explained, "Blue Tyrant Academy is an advanced soul master academy near Heaven Dou City. In the last Continental Advanced Soul Master Competition, they even eliminated a team from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. They have a solid reputation."
"Dean, why don't we give it a try?" Xiao Tianyang suggested with a smile. "This might not be as prestigious as Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, but at least it won't look down on us."
"Tianyang is right," Qin Ming agreed. "The students who competed last time have graduated, and Blue Tyrant Academy hasn't found strong replacements yet. This could be a great opportunity."
"Then it's decided!" Flender declared. "Since those nobles look down on us, we'll carve our own path and prove that Shrek Academy students are not to be trifled with!"
With newfound determination, the group set off.
Dai Mubai and the others felt more united than ever.
As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens.
They were genius soul masters—any academy would welcome them with open arms. Moreover, Blue Tyrant Academy was known as a civilian institution.
Soon enough, they would show those arrogant noble soul masters that commoners could rise to greatness too!
Xiao Tianyang, trailing behind the group, sighed inwardly.
"This is what the dean wanted, but now that 'Old Poison' won't bother Xiaosan again, I've lost an opportunity to complete my task..."
Thinking of a particular secret location crucial to the Shrek Seven Monsters' future growth, he made a silent decision.
"If I disrupted fate, then I'll personally set it right."
…
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