Zhao Wuji's Bad Luck

Spirit Hall, rear hall.

Hu Liena stood facing the wall in reflection. Although they had brought Li Tianyi back, their target, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, had died through sacrifice. And because they had failed to distinguish friend from foe, they had missed their chance. Bibi Dong had still decided to punish Hu Liena, the Holy Maiden.

Yan's arm had not been fully reattached. He could only move it with difficulty.

"How infuriating! If I weren't thinking of the bigger picture, I'd have killed that brat!"

A Support-type Soul Master's Healing Light gradually enveloped the stump of Yan's severed arm, but the healing was disappointingly slow.

Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo watched the Golden Generation looking so dejected in the rear hall and couldn't help sighing.

Ultimately, Tang San was responsible for all of this. They had reached the point where only one side could survive.

Meanwhile, in the Heaven Dou Empire.

When Chen Xin learned that Zhao Wuji had treated his personal disciple like garbage and thrown him aside, he'd nearly cut Zhao Wuji to pieces on the spot.

If Yu Xiaogang hadn't done his utmost to persuade him, arguing that Zhao Wuji's third Soul Skill—Gravity Enhancement—could help train the Heaven Dou Empire's soldiers, Zhao Wuji would probably have been strung up at the entrance to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect by now.

The situation was already dire. No matter how angry Chen Xin was, he wouldn't simply kill a Soul Douluo. Zhao Wuji still had a chance to grow into a Titled Douluo, and at the very least, he could play a vital role in the battles ahead.

"Old Zhao, hang in there! I heard even Poison Douluo can't protect you!"

Dai Mubai draped an arm around Zhao Wuji and teased him with a cheeky wink.

A bitter smile squeezed across Zhao Wuji's scarred face. How had he not thought of that? Not just anyone could meet Dean Flender. Besides, what brat could come and go freely at Shrek Academy?

Zhao Wuji could only blame himself for still being too young. He hadn't taken enough punches from Titled Douluos. His title of Immovable Wisdom King might carry weight, but only among Soul Douluos.

If he ever reached the Titled Douluo rank, he couldn't imagine what even more terrifying beings he might provoke.

"Don't gloat! Just because you graduated from Shrek and are the second prince of the Star Luo Empire doesn't mean I can't do anything to you!"

Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth as he spoke. Damn it, every one of them had powerful connections, and he had nothing.

"Teacher Zhao, don't be mad. Once we find Li Tianyi, you can apologize to him. Sword Douluo won't do anything to you."

Dai Mubai grinned and bumped Zhao Wuji in the chest. Then he turned around and waved over his shoulder.

"I have things to take care of in the Star Luo Empire, so I'll be off!"

In the blink of an eye, Dai Mubai had disappeared down the road.

"You little brat!"

With a mournful expression, Zhao Wuji continued drilling the soldiers.

A few days later, Tang San returned to the academy. When Yu Xiaogang learned that the Spirit Hall had taken Li Tianyi, he paced back and forth in his office without stopping.

If Chen Xin found out, Zhao Wuji might really not live much longer.

"Keep this under wraps for now, and don't let Zhao Wuji know either. The Spirit Hall won't harm him in the short term. They'll probably use him as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"But sooner or later, the truth will come out."

Liu Erlong was troubled too. Li Tianyi's sudden appearance was truly baffling.

Why had he left the Heaven Dou Empire and gone all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest to fight the Spirit Hall alongside Tang San?

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang couldn't make sense of it either. Even if Li Tianyi's Soul Power Level had reached 19 and he needed to hunt a Soul Beast, he shouldn't have gone anywhere near a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's territory.

There were too many questions, and none of them had answers.

Even when Yu Xiaogang tried to put himself in Ling Chen's shoes, he still couldn't figure it out.

"The Sword Douluo will find out sooner or later. But that won't change anything. He can't just storm the Spirit Hall and rescue Li Tianyi."

Tang San analyzed the situation. All he could do now was improve his strength; only then would he have a chance to rescue Li Tianyi.

"Exactly. But what I'm worried about is Li Tianyi joining the Spirit Hall!"

At Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San's expression instantly grew serious.

If Li Tianyi joined the Spirit Hall, they wouldn't stand a chance. Given how well the Spirit Hall nurtured its geniuses, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of monster he might become one day.

With Li Tianyi stationed among the enemy forces, the Spirit Hall could destroy the other sects at minimal cost.

"I don't think that's possible. Judging by what Li Tianyi has shown so far, the Spirit Hall won't let him off. After all those Soul Saints the Spirit Hall lost, Li Tianyi will have to pay for it."

Yu Xiaogang continued pacing. Whether to rescue him or not, either choice left him in a bind.

"Instead of that, why don't we plant a spy and have Li Tianyi contact us? That way, we can learn more about the Spirit Hall."

Tang San's suggestion opened Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but they still didn't have a suitable candidate.

After thinking it over, Yu Xiaogang decided to make use of the Heaven Dou Empire's resources.

"No need to worry about that. There are plenty of people in the Heaven Dou Empire. Surely someone can infiltrate the Spirit Hall and contact Li Tianyi."

With that, Tang San and the others set things in motion.

Seven days later, Ling Chen's Soul Power broke through to Level 20. Whenever Hu Liena came to bring him food, Ling Chen hid under the covers.

The cramped dungeon didn't make Ling Chen feel lonely or restless. Instead, it deepened his understanding of sword intent.

In a place like this, it was easy to quiet his mind and feel the power of the sword.

Ling Chen had no need to leave just yet. He didn't want to attract the attention of other Titled Douluos, much less get involved in the conflict between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall.

The situation was already chaotic enough. Ling Chen was more than content to calmly cultivate his mind here.

Bibi Dong had no time to talk with Ling Chen. As the Pope, she was already swamped with affairs. Would she really take time out of her schedule to visit a seven-year-old hostage? Ling Chen didn't believe Bibi Dong would make time to see him.

However, Hu Liena had noticed something was wrong too.

Although she was somewhat dazed and paid little attention to Ling Chen, such a large lump beneath the covers easily caught her eye. When she brought food for the second time, Hu Liena didn't go far. Instead, she hid nearby and watched.

Ling Chen, as usual, smashed the bowl. The man in his twenties before her looked nothing like the Li Tianyi Hu Liena remembered. Terrified, she rushed to find her teacher.

"Teacher, something's happened to Li Tianyi! The brat in the dungeon is gone, but there's a new face down there!"

Bibi Dong was skeptical of what Hu Liena told her.

What did she mean, a grown man in his twenties had appeared out of nowhere? Did she think Pope Bibi Dong had grown up eating for free?

Even a Martial Soul Fusion involving the strongest Beast Martial Soul—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—couldn't change someone's size and other physical features like that.

"Enough, Nana! Stop being so stubborn!"