A Flicker of Regret in Huo Yuhao

The Tang Sect, a sect that had completely fallen into decline due to the rise of Soul Tools.

Yet this sect had been founded by the Tang God King himself and possessed immense prestige throughout the Three Douluo Kingdoms.

Over the next ten thousand years, it would become the most powerful sect force on the continent under the Tang God King's plans.

It was also one of the Tang God King's most crucial pieces for influencing the entire Douluo Continent.

If such a sect could be brought into the Sun Moon Empire,

then it would be an extremely troublesome matter for the Three Douluo Kingdoms, Shrek Academy, and even the lofty Tang God King.

"Stop trying to mislead people. Xiaoya would never join the Sun Moon Empire!"

Before Tang Ya could say anything, Beibei could no longer hold back and spoke first.

"Too noisy!"

Xu Tianming raised a hand. Invisible Soul Power immediately rippled across his palm before traveling through the air by some special method and striking Beibei's face hard.

Slap!

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the dense forest.

Beibei staggered from the blow, his entire body involuntarily toppling to one side.

After steadying himself, Beibei ultimately remained standing.

However, a bright red handprint had appeared on his face, and half of his cheek immediately swelled up.

"Miss Tang Ya is an independent person. She has her own thoughts."

Looking at Beibei, whose eyes had turned red, Xu Tianming shook his hand and said coldly,

"If she is unwilling, then so be it. But who the hell are you to make decisions for her?"

"You!"

Beibei covered his face, his expression still carrying a trace of disbelief.

Since childhood, no one had ever slapped him like this!

Three Soul Rings flashed beneath his feet, blue lightning once again covering his entire body. Gritting his teeth, Beibei prepared to charge at Xu Tianming again.

"Beibei!"

Tang Ya shouted, then lowered her voice.

"Forget it. You're not his match."

Beibei froze at her words, and the momentum around him immediately wilted.

Other than getting beaten by Xu Tianming and humiliating himself in front of Tang Ya, there really was no point in going up.

"Mm..."

At that moment, Huo Yuhao, who had collapsed on the ground, finally let out the third soft groan heard in this area.

"What happened?"

Unlike Tang Ya and Beibei, Huo Yuhao genuinely had no idea what had happened.

Looking at Tang Ya, who stood with her head lowered in silence, Beibei, whose arm had been twisted into an unnatural shape and whose cheek was swollen high on one side, and Xu Tianming, who stood with his arms crossed,

Huo Yuhao's mind crashed for a moment.

"Yuhao, it's good that you're all right."

Xu Tianming stepped forward, patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder, and smiled.

"If you aren't happy at Shrek Academy, you're welcome to come find me in the Sun Moon Empire anytime."

"All right, Brother Xu."

Huo Yuhao nodded gratefully.

"Since that is the case, I'll be taking my leave as well."

Xu Tianming turned to Tang Ya nearby.

"The same goes for you, Miss Tang Ya. Our Sun Moon Empire will welcome you at any time."

With that, Xu Tianming cupped his hands toward the two of them. Without waiting for a return gesture, he headed toward the exit of Star Dou Forest.

After Xu Tianming's figure completely disappeared from the three's sight, they exchanged glances without saying anything.

For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat delicate.

"Yuhao, I'm injured right now. It seems I won't be able to help you hunt a Soul Ring."

Beibei was ultimately the first to speak, forcing a bitter smile at Huo Yuhao.

"Let's return to Shrek Academy first."

"Once I recover, I'll definitely help you hunt the Soul Ring most suited to you."

How could he possibly have the mood to help someone hunt a Soul Ring right now?

Huo Yuhao nodded. He had already obtained the unprecedented first million-year Soul Ring from Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and was just worrying about how to explain it.

Beibei's words happened to give him room to maneuver.

"Let's go. We'll return to the academy first."

Tang Ya finally raised her head. Her originally pretty face was utterly expressionless, and her complexion was frighteningly pale.

The three left Star Dou Forest together, barely speaking to one another along the way.

"Brother Sky Dream, what exactly happened?"

Huo Yuhao had no idea what had occurred, so he could only ask Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his heart.

"What else could have happened?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice rang out in Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness.

"Your Brother Tianming probably noticed the spiritual power I released, so he came over to investigate."

"As a result, that human Spirit Master named Beibei thought he was the one who knocked all of you unconscious, so he attacked without bothering to distinguish right from wrong."

"In the end, that guy stood still and let him attack, yet Beibei couldn't harm him in the slightest. All those injuries on his body were caused by the rebound force."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.

"Brother Tianming is that strong?"

"He really is strong. His body is practically no weaker than those ten-thousand-year soul beasts famed for their physical strength."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm clearly knew much more about soul beasts.

"The physical strength of a ten-thousand-year soul beast... Brother Tianming is actually that formidable?"

After sighing in admiration, Huo Yuhao suddenly noticed something.

"But even so, what about Sister Xiaoya?"

"Why do I feel like her emotions are off too?"

"Heh!"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chuckled.

"That little girl seems to belong to some Tang Sect, and then the Tang Sect was destroyed by some Iron Blood Sect."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice clearly carried a hint of mockery.

"That Tang Sect has had a ten-thousand-year friendship with Shrek Academy, yet Shrek Academy refused to help the Tang Sect take revenge."

"What?"

Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly. He had not expected the continent's former number one sect, which his mother had spoken of, to have long since been destroyed.

Nor had he expected Shrek Academy, which so often appeared alongside the Tang Sect in those stories, to stand by and watch without lifting a hand.

"Your Brother Tianming said that if your Sister Xiaoya went to develop herself in the Sun Moon Empire, he would help the Tang Sect take revenge."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm continued speaking.

"But before your Sister Xiaoya could say anything, that Beibei directly refused on her behalf."

"That slap on his face was because your Brother Tianming slapped him over it."

"Your Brother Tianming also said that your Sister Xiaoya was an independent individual, and it was not anyone else's place to make decisions for her."

Hearing that, Huo Yuhao fell silent.

He, too, bore a blood-deep grudge.

His mother had been killed by Duke White Tiger's wife, and he had sworn to take revenge on Duke White Tiger's lineage.

Yet judging by how Shrek Academy had turned a blind eye to the Tang Sect's destruction, Shrek Academy did not seem as wonderful as the legends claimed.

"This trip to Star Dou Forest was finally fruitful."

Watching Huo Yuhao and the other two gradually disappear into the distance, Xu Tianming stretched lazily.

"Elder Mu, once we return to Dongyang City, I think it will be time for me to head to Ming Capital to study."

His gaze fell on Mu Ye beside him. After pondering for a moment, Xu Tianming said,

"You don't need to go to Ming Capital with me. Go to the Extreme North instead."

"You must help me find a high-age Snow Lotus, then investigate the habitats of the three great clans of the Extreme North."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Mu Ye bowed slightly.