Taking a Disciple!

"Injuries are inevitable in competition! The students of Shrek Academy have not suffered life-threatening wounds; with a few days of proper care, they will recover!"

His voice was heavy and steady, like a gavel striking the final verdict.

"Today's events end here. Anyone who dares to ignore the tournament rules and attack participating students without authorization again, regardless of their status, will be punished severely!"

"Your Majesty!"

Liu Erlong jerked her head up, the crimson in her eyes yet to fade, her resentment and fury nearly bursting forth.

Her Xiao Wu, along with those children she regarded as her own, were all lying on the ground, pale and motionless! That brat named Yang Teng had struck with such viciousness...

"Erlong!"

Yu Xiaogang reached out abruptly, gripping Liu Erlong's arm with a death-like hold.

His voice was kept extremely low, yet it carried an unprecedented sternness and a trace of imperceptible trembling.

"Calm down! Do you want Shrek Academy to be disqualified? Do you want Xiao San and the others to have been injured for nothing?!"

Liu Erlong shuddered, meeting Yu Xiaogang's eyes, which, despite his low soul power, were filled with complex emotions.

There was heartache, helplessness, and a form of dissuasion that bordered on pleading.

In the end, she squeezed a stifled, unwilling grunt through her teeth and shook off Yu Xiaogang's hand, but ultimately, she made no further move, only biting her lower lip hard.

Flender also hurried forward, bowing deeply in the direction of Emperor Xue Ye.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We were momentarily anxious and lost our composure. We will take the children away to treat their injuries now."

As he spoke, he signaled for Jiang Zhu and the other teachers who had rushed over to get onto the stage and carry the students away.

A conflict that had nearly escalated into a brawl between Soul Saints was quelled under the overwhelming pressure of Emperor Xue Ye.

Tianshui Academy, led by their dean Shui Yunxia, retreated calmly.

Shui Bing'er and the others wore the joy of victory on their faces, but there was more regret, as they had felt like mere bystanders from start to finish.

Yang Teng and Gu Yena were simply too strong!

Yang Teng silently took in these subtle expressions.

Returning to Shrek Academy, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive; the humiliation of Liu Erlong being forced to swallow her anger was like a poisonous thorn stuck in the heart of every Shrek member.

Liu Erlong stood alone at the end of the corridor, watching the deepening twilight outside the window, her fists clenched until they creaked.

Flender walked over and patted her shoulder, wanting to say something, but in the end, he only sighed.

"Erlong, it is a blessing that the children are unharmed. That Yang Teng... and that Gu Yena, their backgrounds are definitely not simple. Even the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall would likely struggle to compare."

"I don't care about their backgrounds!"

Liu Erlong interrupted him sharply, her voice strained by suppressed rage.

"Flender, did you see the look in Xiao Wu's eyes before she lost consciousness? And Mu Bai, Xiao San, and the others... that pack of little bastards, especially that Yang Teng!"

She turned around, her eyes burning with raging flames.

"I, Liu Erlong, have noted today's humiliation! There will be plenty of time in the future; I will make him pay ten, a hundred times over for what he did today!"

Deep in the night!

The others had all fallen into exhausted sleep or were meditating in their respective rooms, but Liu Erlong felt no sleepiness. She gently pushed open the door to Xiao Wu's room.

Moonlight filtered through the windowsill, spilling onto the girl's pale face. Xiao Wu lay quietly, her long scorpion braid spread across the pillow. Her usually lively, bright eyes were tightly shut, and her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she still felt uneasy in her dreams.

Liu Erlong sat by the bedside, the fury in her heart gradually replaced by a deep sense of pity and heartache.

She reached out and gently stroked the smooth scorpion braid, her movements cautious and delicate.

"My Xiao Wu..."

She murmured softly, her voice filled with a tenderness only she could hear.

"Don't be afraid, Mother is here. Sleep well; when you wake up, everything will be fine."

"You were wronged today... that little beast named Yang Teng..."

Her gentle tone suddenly turned cold, chilling as ice.

"Mother will definitely vent this anger for you, for everyone!"

"How do you intend to vent it?"

At that moment, a cold, flat, and emotionless female voice rang out abruptly in the silent room.

This voice did not come from outside the door; it seemed to resonate directly in Liu Erlong's ears, and even... in the depths of her consciousness!

"Who is it?!"

She scanned every corner of the room in an instant—it was empty!

But that cold sensation of being watched and locked onto was incredibly real! Danger! Extreme danger!

Without a moment's hesitation, Liu Erlong crashed through the window glass, rushing directly into the night sky outside!

The moonlight was cold. Liu Erlong hovered in mid-air, her soul rings flickering into view, the phantom of a scorching fire dragon looming behind her as she vigilantly sensed her surroundings.

Then, she saw it.

Atop the crown of a tall tree not far away, a slender silver figure stood in silence.

Moonlight poured over her like water, causing her waist-length silver hair to flow with a faint radiance. Her violet eyes shimmered in the night, gazing down at her with calm detachment.

This person was Gu Yena, though she had used certain means to ensure Liu Erlong could not see her clearly.

Gu Yena seemed to have no intention of attacking, merely watching her quietly. Her gaze was calm and rippleless, yet it made Liu Erlong feel an inexplicable pressure.

"You want to..."

"Mental Disorder!"

Gu Yena's red lips parted slightly to utter the two words, without any superfluous movement.

"Ugh..."

Liu Erlong let out a short, muffled groan. Her gathered soul power dissipated instantly, and the phantom of the Crimson Dragon flickered unsteadily.

She felt the world spinning and her head splitting with pain; her consciousness sank rapidly, as if falling into a quagmire.

Thud!

This renowned figure of the soul master world, the hot-tempered Horn of Slaughter, didn't even touch the hem of her opponent's clothes before falling straight from mid-air, losing consciousness entirely.

Gu Yena stood on the treetop, her silver hair fluttering slightly in the breeze, her violet eyes glancing at the unconscious Liu Erlong on the ground.

Then, her figure merged into the silver ripples of the moonlight and vanished quietly, as if she had never appeared at all.

Meanwhile, in a bustling district of Heaven Dou City, inside a dessert shop decorated with exquisite taste and filled with a sweet aroma.

It was already night, and there were few customers in the shop; the warm yellow lights created a cozy atmosphere.

Yang Teng sat alone at a window seat, with over a dozen delicate little cakes spread out across the table before him.

The cakes were of various colors and adorable shapes.

"Yang Teng!"

A low roar filled with anger shattered the tranquility of the dessert shop.

At the entrance, Liu Qingfeng stormed in with a malicious expression, followed by the Guardian Hand of the Balaque Kingdom, the Titled Douluo Tie Zhan.

Liu Qingfeng pointed at Yang Teng, his fingers trembling with rage.

"You! You actually dared to deceive this prince!"

"Senior Tie, teach this ignorant brat a lesson for me!"

Tie Zhan's face remained expressionless, though he secretly curled his lip.

If not for the fact that Liu Qingfeng's father had done him a favor years ago, he would never have spent his days fooling around with such a useless prince, given his status as a Titled Douluo and the Guardian Hand.

He took a step forward, his gaze landing on Yang Teng. The scenes from the arena earlier that day resurfaced in his mind: that bizarre "Space Lock" and that soul ring configuration which defied common sense.

"Brat!"

Tie Zhan spoke, his voice low.

"Today's match was quite spectacular."

He paused. "Your talent and strength are the greatest I have ever seen in my life. I will give you a chance—become my disciple. How about it?"

"Huh?"

Liu Qingfeng almost thought he had misheard. He jerked his head toward Tie Zhan, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Senior Tie, you..."

"Shut up."

Tie Zhan cast a faint glance at Liu Qingfeng. Even a mere sliver of a Titled Douluo's prestige was enough to make the Soul Ancestor-level Liu Qingfeng fall silent instantly, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Liu Qingfeng suddenly snapped to his senses; the man before him was a Titled Douluo! No matter how dissatisfied he was, he dared not defy him to his face.

The shop clerk hid behind the counter, not daring to make a sound, and everyone's eyes were focused on Yang Teng.

Yang Teng seemed not to feel the underlying pressure from Tie Zhan. He even picked up a small silver fork, leisurely cut off a piece of chocolate cake, and popped it into his mouth, savoring it carefully.

"And if I refuse?"

Tie Zhan's expression darkened slightly.

As a Titled Douluo, his initiative to take on a disciple was already a gesture of great respect; he had not expected the other party to be so unappreciative.

"Then I have no choice but to..."

Tie Zhan's voice turned cold. The second half of his sentence—let you know what it means to respect your master and know your place—had yet to leave his lips.

"Senior Tie."

A gentle voice came from the entrance, interrupting Tie Zhan.

"Are you intending to bully a distinguished guest of my Heaven Dou Imperial Family?"

Tie Zhan frowned and looked toward the source of the voice.

A young man stood at the entrance.

He stood tall and straight, dressed in a well-tailored, magnificent robe embroidered with elegant swan patterns in gold thread, which shimmered with a faint luster under the lights.

With neat, short golden hair, a handsome face, and a temperament that was both gentle and noble, he wore a perfectly measured smile as he looked calmly into the shop.

It was none other than the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe!