Wherever the long sword passed, the air seemed to split apart with a piercing shriek.
Sword Douluo's pupils contracted. He hurriedly raised his sword to block, sending the Sword Qi around him to meet the incoming blade.
However, his Sword Qi was like thin paper before Lan Minghua's. In an instant, it was torn to shreds.
In the blink of an eye, the long sword slammed into the Seven Kill Sword's blade.
"Clang!!!"
A deafening crash rang out. Sword Douluo felt an irresistible force surge through his sword.
The next moment, it was as if ten thousand swords had pierced his heart. He flew backward like a kite with its string cut.
The Seven Kill Sword in his hand was chipped, and the web between his thumb and forefinger split open. Blood trickled down its hilt.
Lan Minghua glanced at Sword Douluo, who lay on the ground, and said calmly, "The sword way isn't about strength, but the heart. Your heart is unsettled, so your sword isn't pure."
Sword Douluo knelt on one knee, blood dripping from the wound in his palm and staining the earth beneath him.
Yet the flames of unwillingness still burned in his eyes. He refused to believe he didn't have even the slightest chance of winning.
He slowly stood up and gripped the chipped Seven Kill Sword tightly.
"I refuse to accept this!" Sword Douluo growled, his voice hoarse and resolute.
His body suddenly surged forward like a wounded beast, lunging at Lan Minghua with one last burst of madness.
Though the Seven Kill Sword was chipped, Sword Douluo's momentum reached its peak in that instant.
"Grandpa Sword, kill him! Kill him for me!" Ning Rongrong sobbed uncontrollably, still wanting someone to kill Lan Minghua.
Lan Minghua stood quietly, his eyes free of joy or sorrow.
Sword Qi surged around him as the second sword in the case slid free.
A look of madness flashed in Sword Douluo's eyes, and his Ninth Soul Ring suddenly lit up.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Gods and Demons Twin Slash!"
In an instant, two enormous streams of Sword Qi, one black and one white, shot across the sky and slashed straight at Lan Minghua.
But Lan Minghua didn't simply stand by and wait for death. He softly chanted, "Sword Two, Two Principles Mutual Generation Twin Lotus."
Two long swords shot through the air to meet Sword Douluo's black-and-white Sword Qi.
The moment the blades collided with the two streams of Sword Qi, the outcome was decided.
The black-and-white Sword Qi was shattered in an instant, breaking into countless points of light that vanished into the air.
Sword Douluo's pupils constricted. He couldn't believe his eyes.
His Ninth Soul Skill, his strongest attack, had been dispelled so easily.
Lan Minghua's lips curled slightly. His Sword Two, Twin Lotus, was capable of far more than this.
Before Sword Douluo could react, the two long swords streaked past like lightning.
He felt a chill in both arms, followed immediately by a searing pain.
When he looked down, he saw that both arms had been severed at the shoulders, blood gushing everywhere.
"Ah!!!"
Sword Douluo realized what had happened a moment too late and let out a scream toward the sky.
"Grandpa Sword!"
Ning Rongrong's face turned deathly pale. She covered her mouth and hurried toward him.
Seeing Sword Douluo in such a miserable state filled her with overwhelming sorrow.
She had thought that even if she threw another spoiled tantrum, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo would still be able to clean up every mess for her.
But Ning Rongrong had misjudged Lan Minghua's strength and character, and it had led to Ning Fengzhi's death.
Even Sword Douluo, a level ninety-six Douluo, had lost both arms to Lan Minghua's sword—the weapon he wielded best—and been reduced to a cripple.
Now she regretted it. She regretted it deeply.
Ning Rongrong believed she had caused everything and blamed herself terribly.
If she hadn't thrown a spoiled tantrum, her father wouldn't have died, and Grandpa Sword wouldn't have lost his arms.
Seeing her expression, Lan Minghua understood and sneered inwardly.
Who do you think you are, Ning Rongrong? Did you really think a few words slandering me would make me angry?
The main reason I struck so decisively was that your old man, Ning Fengzhi, was so irritating.
He was always scheming against one person or another, as if he thought his plans were flawless.
Others might have seen through him but put up with his little tricks because he was the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with two Titled Douluo at his side. They were outmatched, so they had no choice.
But I'm not putting up with that stinking habit of his. He was trying to scheme right to my face. What, was I supposed to leave him alive until New Year's?
All in all, neither Ning Fengzhi's death nor Sword Douluo's disability had much to do with you, Ning Rongrong. Don't flatter yourself.
Lan Minghua glanced at Sword Douluo, who had lost his fighting spirit, and didn't attack him again.
There was no need.
His sword, his hands, and his pride had all been crushed in that moment.
Leaving him alive would help spread the Heavenly Dragon Gang's reputation. What was there to lose?
Lan Minghua simply waved to Zhao Wuji and said softly, "Old Zhao, go recover. Once you're better, remember to treat me to a drink."
With that, he led Wu Song and the other three back to his dormitory, leaving the Shrek Academy crowd dumbfounded.
Yu Xiaogang watched Lan Minghua's retreating figure, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.
At the same time, Gui Mei and Yue Guan awoke inside Spirit Hall.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong hurriedly asked, "Yue Guan, Gui Mei, what exactly happened to you during this time?"
When Yue Guan saw Bibi Dong, he cried out in anguish, "Your Holiness the Pope, the whole continent is about to be turned upside down!"
Balak Kingdom, Shrek Academy.
Oscar watched Lan Minghua's retreating figure and swallowed.
It was the first time he had seen Lan Minghua so angry. His master had gone straight ahead and killed Ning Rongrong's father.
And that wasn't all. Sword Douluo had even lost both arms to the sword he was best at.
Though he was still alive, his heart had been shattered, leaving him a complete cripple.
Watching Lan Minghua stroll ahead, whistling, Oscar asked in a trembling voice, "Master, why do you hold such deep hostility toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Lan Minghua rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "You're still young. You don't understand the reasons behind it, so I don't blame you."
Oscar frantically tugged at his hair, nearly making himself bald, but still couldn't figure it out.
After all, as far as he knew, Ning Rongrong had simply complained to Sword Douluo and asked him to stand up for her.
And then... that was it.
"Master, then what was the reason?!"
Lan Minghua didn't explain. He said calmly, "I can't be bothered. Figure it out yourself."
Oscar nearly burst into tears. He felt that now his master had a junior sister, he'd been left out in the cold.
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing, walking behind him, explained, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to make a name for itself by stepping on Master. That's why he got angry."
As someone from the Hell Spirit Cat clan of the Star Luo Empire, she could see that much.
Oscar was dumbfounded. He hadn't realized those few words carried so much meaning.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to make a name for itself by stepping on Master?!
He could rack his brains all day and never have thought of that. He really wasn't very clever.
Lan Minghua was surprised to hear Zhu Zhuqing's explanation, too. He hadn't expected a little girl to see through it.
Still, it further confirmed his suspicions.
It wasn't that others didn't know Ning Fengzhi was scheming. They did; they simply lacked the strength to fall out with him.
Even a twelve-year-old girl like Zhu Zhuqing knew. How could the old foxes from the other forces not?
After all, a certain Immortal Venerable had once said, "Never underestimate the intelligence of others. Only fools tend to think everyone else is stupid."
And Ning Fengzhi was the real fool.
But he had already paid the price for his stupidity. It was too late to say anything now.
After learning the real reason, Oscar was furious.
Before you continue