Cracks and Disputes

"Your Haotian Mianxia, what is this...?"

At the Shrek Academy's Academic Affairs Office, a group of high-ranking academy officials, including Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Qin Ming, gathered.

Looking at Tang Hao's empty right arm and sensing that he was currently only at the Soul Douluo level, Flender was astonished.

"I encountered Su Cheng, and that kid's strength exceeded my expectations."

"You mean Su Cheng, the one who just became an elder of the Spirit Hall? He's already that strong?!"

Flender and the others knew Tang Hao's strength very well.

Even though his old injuries had not healed, he still possessed formidable combat power comparable to Peak Douluo.

Su Cheng is not even nineteen years old yet, and he managed to cut off one of his arms. No matter how you look at it, this is completely impossible.

But faced with everyone's surprise and doubt, Tang Hao did not offer any further explanation.

Even though he had made up his mind at this moment, he had no intention of recalling what had happened in the past few days.

What he experienced that day was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation of his life.

When he saw the worried expressions on the faces of the people in front of him, Tang Hao, who was already in a bad mood, became a little impatient. "Don't worry, even if I lose a Soul Bone and my cultivation level drops to the Soul Douluo level, ordinary Titled Douluo are still no match for me."

"Soul Bone?!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang finally couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, only then realizing why Flender had said that Tang Hao's strength had plummeted.

It turned out that it wasn't a recurrence of an old injury, but rather that there was still a piece of Soul Bone inside the arm that the other party had lost!

According to his "research", once Soul Master loses the Soul Bone they once fused with, their level will drop by at least ten levels.

As for Tang Hao's claim that he could still rival ordinary Titled Douluo, they did not question it.

After all, when Tang Hao first debuted, he had a record of fighting against Titled Douluo with the cultivation of Soul Douluo and not being at a disadvantage.

Now, he even possesses a 100,000 Year Spirit Ring, which is added to the Clear Sky Hammer, the First Martial Soul.

With such a foundation, even if one's cultivation level is insufficient, one can still be considered Titled Douluo- level fighter.

"Where is Xiao San? Where is he now? How did his training in the Slaughter City go?"

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth and hurriedly asked, temporarily unable to care about Tang Hao's messy affairs.

Compared to Clear Sky Douluo, who has now fallen from grace in his heart, Tang San, his only personally taught disciple, is undoubtedly much more important.

"Don't worry, he's not with me."

Tang Hao glanced at him, seeing right through his thoughts, and didn't bother with any more words, saying directly, "Xiao San has successfully passed the test of the Slaughter City and added the Divine Slaughter's Domain to the Clear Sky Hammer. However, the killing intent on his body is too heavy and needs time to slowly dissipate. So after I took him away from the Slaughter City earlier, I took him to see an old friend."

"An old friend?" Yu Xiaogang was taken aback, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Logically speaking, in this situation, the other party should send Tang San to their side as soon as possible so that they can formulate the next training plan for him.

Moreover, this was something the two of them had agreed upon after sending Tang San into the Slaughter City. They had already reached a tacit understanding, so it shouldn't be changed.

However, Yu Xiaogang believed he knew his limits and that if Tang Hao found other powerful figures, it wouldn't matter.

But the number of Titled Douluo in the world is limited. Apart from the elders of the Spirit Hall who are cultivating in seclusion and the Clear Sky Sect which is still in a state of seclusion, which other Titled Douluo are on good terms with our side?

Thinking of this, he tentatively asked, "May I ask which Your Majesty you are?"

"He's not Titled Douluo, he's just an ordinary person, but he can be of great help to the mistress at this stage."

Upon hearing his question, Tang Hao frowned subconsciously, but still offered an explanation.

Although Yu Xiaogang can no longer be used to restrain Bibi Dong, his knowledge is still indispensable for Tang San's future growth, and Tang Hao is still willing to give him face in this regard.

"Your Haotian Mianxia, is it inappropriate to have an ordinary person instruct a mistress?"

Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang was clearly not appreciative and was unwilling to compromise on issues concerning Tang San's educational philosophy.

"Xiao San is currently at an age where her cultivation is advancing by leaps and bounds. No matter what unique qualities your old friend may have, it's not advisable to waste too much time on him at this time." At this point, Yu Xiaogang seemed to suddenly become alert and asked, "Could it be that that person also has some achievements in theoretical fields?"

"What do you know?" Tang Hao said coldly. "How could you possibly understand the mysteries of the Divine Slaughter's Domain? Do you know what the consequences would be if you allowed the killing intent to flow back into Xiao San's body?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's expression changed slightly, but he was momentarily speechless.

He believed he was unique in teaching his disciples and his knowledge was unmatched, but unfortunately his own cultivation was too low. No matter how rich his theoretical knowledge was, his vision was still narrow.

True high-level knowledge is always held by a very small number of top experts, and with such a small sample size, it is naturally difficult for it to be passed down.

He had never even heard of anything like the Divine Slaughter's Domain before, let alone understood it.

After a moment's thought, Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to temporarily set aside the issue and instead said, "In that case, let's wait until Xiao San has calmed down before returning to the academy as soon as possible. Let's not delay for too long."

"After all, Soul Master need a lot of teamwork and support from their teammates when fighting. Shrek Academy has a very good pool of students now, all of whom are promising Soul Master talents."

"I mentioned Sea God Island to you before. If Xiao San wants to go there to make her way in the future, she will need to support each other with her partners."

"Since you brought this up, it reminds me of something." Tang Hao raised an eyebrow, his voice turning cold.

"You saw what happened in the Spirit Master Competition. Those so-called teammates were utterly useless. When it came to crucial moments, their role was extremely limited, and they actually hindered Xiao San's progress."

"Only the weak need to rely on a team. How many powerful Titled Douluo have you seen who fight with the help of teammates? Even Chrysanthemum Ghost from the Spirit Hall only act together because of that special Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"As for Sea God Island..."

He paused slightly, and before Yu Xiaogang and the others could object, he continued decisively, "Grandmaster, when you teach Xiao San in the future, please don't instill those team-related concepts in him anymore. As for Sea God Island, let him go and explore it on his own! How can he achieve significant growth without experiencing enough danger!"

"What?!"

Yu Xiaogang suddenly looked up, staring at Tang Hao in disbelief.

Looking at the other person's cold and hard face, a chill inexplicably rose in my heart.

He found it hard to believe that a father would say such a thing.

This kind of argument is not just crazy, it's downright obsessive!

Forgetting all manners and considerations, he retorted urgently, "Didn't I tell you before? That place is called Devil Island, and it's extremely dangerous. Even the Spirit Hall suffered a crushing defeat there. If Xiao San goes there alone, it's practically a death sentence!"

"Even a near-death experience is better than a hopeless one! With the Spirit Hall's current strength, if Xiao San doesn't fight desperately, they won't even have a 10% chance of winning!"

After being repeatedly refuted by Tang Hao, who even wagered Tang San's life, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

Not to mention that he was always extremely proud of his wisdom and knowledge, so he naturally found it difficult to tolerate such questioning.

"Then let me ask you, what about all those Spirit Hall wanted posters that are currently scattered throughout the Heaven Dou territory? Have you considered that in the future, Xiao San will not only face those difficult trials, but also have to be wary of assassinations from behind? Can you really bear to let him bear such enormous pressure alone?!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao frowned deeply, growing increasingly impatient.

He's not here today to spout nonsense or wait to be questioned; he's here to arrange the follow-up plans.

As a result, Yu Xiaogang started rambling on and on, which made Yu Xiaogang unable to suppress his anger.

"Alright, alright, Xiao Gang, since His Haotian Mianxia said so, he must know what he's doing, so don't worry too much. Xiao San is not only your student, but also his son."

Seeing that the atmosphere seemed a bit tense, and that Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang both seemed to be losing their temper, Flender quickly stepped in to smooth things over, though he felt quite helpless.

With a formidable enemy at hand, the atmosphere behind closed doors was so oppressive that it was impossible for him to be optimistic.

No one knows what happened between the two of them. Ever since they returned from the Slaughter City together, they seem to have developed a lot of estrangement.

In fact, the current situation is not due to Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang being too stubborn, but rather to human nature.

In favorable circumstances, even if someone has some problems or occasionally disagrees, these issues are often downplayed or ignored by other members of the team, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

However, when adversity strikes and external pressure increases, many people subconsciously magnify the problems of their teammates while ignoring their own mistakes.

Unless there is a leader in the team who can keep things in check, huge disagreements are inevitable, and the team may even fall apart.

Unfortunately, neither Tang Hao nor Yu Xiaogang now have the right to make that decision.

As for Flender, Liu Erlong, and others, they were not the core of the team to begin with, and could only temporarily play the role of mediator and conciliation. They were clearly not up to the task of becoming leaders.

If Tang San were here, he might be able to make the final decision.

Even though he is not yet strong enough or senior enough, he is everyone's hope, so others will naturally be more tolerant of him.

On the other side, Tang Hao's expression relaxed slightly when he saw Flender come out to ease the atmosphere.

He still held some respect for Flender, after all, the other had already advanced to the level of Soul Douluo and his own strength was decent.

If he were to combine with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong to form Tri-Unity Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he would be considered a Titled Douluo- level combat power.

Thinking of this, Tang Hao glanced at Flender and the others, "Don't think I'm being harsh. Do you really think your teammates are always trustworthy? You probably don't know yet, but Zhu Zhuqing from the Shrek Academy has already joined the Spirit Hall."

"What?! Is this real?!"

"Of course it's true. She has even become Bibi Dong's personal disciple and was sent to the Slaughter City by Bibi Dong! In the past, only Bibi Dong and I possessed the Divine Slaughter's Domain. Isn't that enough to prove the point?"

This time, not only Yu Xiaogang, but also Flender, Liu Erlong, and even Qin Ming were stunned in place.

Flender, in particular, turned pale.

In that instant, he suddenly thought of many things from the past, which finally materialized into a figure that appeared in his mind.

The vague sense of unease I had before seems to be slowly coming true...

He took a deep breath and turned to look at Yu Xiaogang, "Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld White Tiger Martial Soul, and Mu Bai..."

You mean...?

Upon hearing his reminder, Yu Xiaogang immediately realized that Zhu Zhuqing's inexplicably appearing Netherworld White Tiger Martial Soul, and Dai Mubai's disappearance at the same time, were also present.

"No wonder... no wonder... no wonder she's so strong, even stronger than the mistress I personally mentored. I knew this was completely illogical and impossible; it turns out she used such insidious methods!" Yu Xiaogang's voice was filled with both anger and realization, mixed with a subtle hint of surprise at Insight the truth.

"Extracting the Martial Soul of others to replenish one's own—this is the method of Evil Spirit Master! Such far-sighted planning, such a vicious mind, such a ruthless heart! What a Bibi Dong, what a Spirit Hall, what a Zhu Zhuqing!"

"Xiao Gang!" Compared to Yu Xiaogang's anger at being deceived, Flender was truly heartbroken.

He spent a long time with Dai Mubai. At that time, Shrek Academy was in extremely poor condition and had difficulty making ends meet. It was thanks to the generous support of this prince of the Star Luo Empire that the academy was able to continue operating.

Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Flender, "Using such evil methods, they still dare to call themselves the Holy Land of Soul Master! Don't worry, when Xiao San has achieved success in his cultivation, we will definitely make him uproot the Spirit Hall, avenge Mu Bai, and restore peace to the world!"

Observing their conversation and eye contact, Tang Hao did not say anything more.

As long as we share the same goal, that's enough; the reasons behind it are completely irrelevant.

"In less than a year, Xiao San will be able to resolve the aftermath left by the Slaughter City. Grandmaster, you'd better try to learn more about the situation on Sea God Island. The more information you have, the more confident you'll be. Don't think I'm being harsh on Xiao San; the Spirit Hall's strength is far greater than you imagine."

"..."

"Your Haotian Mianxia, what are your plans for the future?" Seeing that Yu Xiaogang remained silent, Flender took the initiative to ask.

"I plan to return to the Clear Sky Sect to see what the situation is like now," Tang Hao said calmly.

He said he was returning to the Clear Sky Sect, but in reality, he only planned to see his elder Tang Xiao.

As for the others, Tang Hao had no intention of paying them any attention.

If he still possesses the strength he once had, he will naturally try to mobilize some resources, no matter what.

However, the family's inherited Soul Bone has been lost, and his own cultivation level has dropped significantly.

Without the support of his strength, he did not have enough confidence to face those stubborn elders of the Clear Sky Sect.

"By the way, I heard that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is in some trouble, and even the eldest grandson of the Yu Family has come to the capital to ask for help?"

At this moment, Tang Hao's expression shifted slightly, as if he had suddenly thought of something, and he turned to look at Liu Erlong had remained silent until now.

"Dean Liu, didn't you say you were going back to your family to make contact? How's that going?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Erlong was taken aback, seemingly surprised by Yu Tianheng's move.

After a moment of silence, she finally parted her red lips, her voice low and deep, "I only stayed in the family for a few days before my father kicked me out. He told me that unless I left Shrek Academy forever, he would disown me as his daughter, and there was absolutely no room for negotiation. Moreover, he also told me that I could never have any contact with Xiao Gang again."

"Then just listen to him." Tang Hao frowned immediately. "You two are siblings, and your father isn't wrong. You really shouldn't stay together. It's against ethics, so why force it?"

"This--"

Yu Xiaogang was furious upon hearing this.

In an effort to alleviate the pressure on the Spirit Hall, he did indeed take a temporary measure, persuading Liu Erlong to put aside her personal feelings for the time being.

But this was his own decision, so why should Tang Hao look down on him and point fingers?

However, when his gaze met Tang Hao's, the crimson glint in the other's pupils sent chills down his spine.

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads, they instantly fell silent, not daring to say anything more.

Tang Hao was clearly starting to lose his composure.

However, although Yu Xiaogang remained silent, Liu Erlong was clearly not afraid at all, as this matter was her Achilles' heel.

For Yu Xiaogang, she was willing to leave her family and sever ties with her father, so how could she be swayed by Tang Hao's few words?

Her eyes immediately turned red as she glared at Tang Hao, "Your Haotian Mianxia, how can you say such a thing?! It's my freedom to like whomever I want, and even my father has no right to interfere with my feelings!"

"..."

Tang Hao's eyebrows twitched slightly upon seeing this. He glanced at the irritable Liu Erlong, then at Flender was frowning slightly, and decided not to pursue the matter any further.

So he waved his left hand, his tone slightly impatient, "What's there to say about this forbidden feeling? Family ties come first. I advise you to make a clean break. If there's really no other way, you can just deceive your father for a while. Once things improve, you and the Grandmaster will still have a chance to be together. Let's prioritize the bigger picture and not lose a great asset for nothing because of these trivial matters between children."