Ya Li's Analysis

"Xiao Luo, how did it go?"

Not long after leaving the cultivation room, Ling Luo was greeted by Ya Li's concerned inquiry.

"No problem, sister," Ling Luo said softly, signaling that she need not worry.

"The Divine Craftsman senior merely wanted to seek an opportunity to advance further in forging through my method. He bore no ill intent."

"And the result seems to have been quite good."

"The Divine Craftsman senior booked a viewing for when I upgrade my Four-word Battle Armor later. Um..."

"He'll cover the cost of two sets of Four-word Battle Armor in full."

Upon hearing that, Ya Li's pupils widened somewhat, much like Yuanen Yehui's earlier reaction.

Clearly, even Ya Li, the Holy Spirit Douluo, found herself rather impressed by the Divine Craftsman's generosity.

"Looks like Zhen Hua is a sensible man," Ya Li said softly, the trace of ruthlessness that had been hidden deep within her eyes gradually fading.

Even Ya Li, renowned for her kindness, had her own selfish desires.

If Zhen Hua feared that Ling Luo's methods would threaten him or the entire Blacksmith Association and acted against him, Ya Li would show no mercy.

The Prayer Angel saved the world from illness and pain.

But she would protect those she cared about even more.

"Where is my brother-in-law?" Ling Luo asked curiously, looking around without spotting Yun Ming.

Yun Ming was usually inseparable from Ya Li. Such a situation was indeed rare.

"Your brother-in-law went to make some arrangements."

Ya Li explained gently.

"Word of your Method of Sublimation for metals reached the Divine Craftsman. Though the outcome was good, whoever did this deserves to die."

"There must be some traitors within the academy. Your brother-in-law previously believed they were beneath notice and ignored them."

"But now, it seems necessary to drag out those maggots hiding in the shadows one by one!"

Ling Luo had anticipated this long ago and was not surprised.

"Was it the Tang Sect?" he suddenly asked.

Upon hearing that, Yuanen Yehui, who had just been bewildered, immediately widened her beautiful eyes.

Although she knew far less than the brother and sister before her, their conversation had allowed her to roughly understand what was happening.

Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's visit to Shrek Academy today had not been an accident. Someone had pushed it along.

They had intended to use this method to shift all of the Blacksmith Association's hostility onto Ling Luo.

But Yuanen Yehui never expected Ling Luo's first suspicion to fall on the Tang Sect.

After all, among the many factions, the Tang Sect was the one closest to Shrek Academy.

If Yuanen Yehui did not know her boss's capabilities so well, she might have suspected that he had lost his mind.

"Yes, your brother-in-law and I think so as well." Ya Li nodded slightly.

"There are quite a few factions capable of silently placing a letter on the Divine Craftsman's desk, but very few would know the matters written in that letter."

"The Tang Sect is indeed among the most suspicious factions."

"But, Your Holiness Holy Spirit, isn't the Tang Sect the faction with the closest relationship to Shrek Academy?" Yuanen Yehui asked in confusion.

"Why would they be hostile toward my boss?"

Ya Li knew something of Yuanen Yehui, the girl under Ling Luo's command.

Therefore, she did not deliberately avoid discussing the matter.

Faced with Yuanen Yehui's question, Ya Li explained softly:

"That is correct. The Tang Sect is indeed the faction closest to Shrek Academy."

"But precisely because of that, they are the most suspicious."

???

Yuanen Yehui's eyes turned into little dot-like circles.

She was becoming more confused the more she listened.

Weren't those two contradictory things?

Ya Li reached out and gently stroked Yuanen Yehui's little head.

"Child, some things are not binary, not simply black or white."

"The relationship between the Tang Sect and the academy is indeed good, but that does not mean everyone in the Tang Sect feels goodwill toward the academy."

"Just as there are quite a few students in the academy who are not fond of the Tang Sect."

"Although Shrek Academy is an academy, in a sense, it has long since become one of the factions on Douluo Continent."

"The academy holds seats in the Federal Council and even possesses its own exclusive city. That already surpasses most factions."

"In the eyes of the major factions, they have long ceased to regard Shrek Academy as merely an academy."

"Between major factions, even those with the best relationships have conflicts of interest. They would not wish to see other factions grow too powerful."

"Take the Federation. It has connections with the Spirit Pagoda, the academy, and the Tang Sect, and its relations with all of them are fairly good. Yet in truth, it would love to see all three of us decline."

"Because only then could it seize a greater share of the resources. That is the underlying logic of interests between the major factions."

"Resources are limited, so conflict will always exist."

"Even if their relationship appears excellent on the surface."

Hearing this, Yuanen Yehui finally understood the Tang Sect's motives.

After all, she was not some ordinary student who had lived her life in an ivory tower.

Having managed the Immortal Eater Pavilion for three years, Yuanen Yehui had long been exposed to such tangled interests.

"So my boss's existence placed tremendous pressure on the Tang Sect."

"They believe that once my boss grows up, he will surely lead the academy to unprecedented heights, and their own status will suffer a certain blow."

"That is why they developed hostility toward my boss."

"But because of the academy's strength, they could not openly fall out with it, so they used this method to kill with a borrowed blade?"

"Correct." Ya Li gave her an approving glance.

"However, we cannot say it was the entire Tang Sect."

"At the very least, I can confirm that the Tang Sect's two Hall Masters do not hold such thoughts."

"Those who put it into action were merely certain other high-ranking members of the Tang Sect, along with some elders of the academy who did not wish for Xiao Luo to take over the Sea God Pavilion from Brother Ming in the future."

Tang Sect Hall Master Ruthless Douluo Cao Dezhi was currently stationed with the Blood God Legion, guarding the Abyss Plane. He had long set aside Tang Sect affairs, so it could not have been him.

Ya Li also knew Passionate Douluo's character well.

Given the bond between him and Ruthless Douluo, he would never wish for Ling Luo to die young.

In fact, that Passionate Douluo likely hoped for Ling Luo's growth even more than most people in the academy.

Because once Ling Luo grew strong, he would not ignore the threat of the Abyss Plane.

Ruthless Douluo Cao Dezhi guarded the Abyss Plane, dancing on the edge of a blade every moment.

Given Passionate Douluo's feelings for him, he hoped more than anyone for a supreme powerhouse unlike any before to emerge on the continent and suppress the Abyss Plane.

Only then would Ruthless Douluo be completely safe and no longer need to bear such tremendous risks.

Only then could he leave the Blood God Legion and return to Passionate Douluo's side.

A meaningful smile curled across Ya Li's red lips.

"Once that Hall Master learns of this information, he should be even more excited than we are..."