Tang San Exposed, Xue Xing Arrives

"Are you still going to fight?"

Tang San did not answer. Blue Silver Grass erupted from the ground once more, and simultaneously, eight purple-black spider lances extended from his back, thrusting toward Luo Chen from eight different directions.

Luo Chen did not dodge. An invisible pressure was released from his body—a fusion of the Laws of Time and Spirit Abyss Realm spiritual power—crushing down upon Tang San like Mount Tai. This move from Luo Chen shocked everyone present; it seemed he had already touched upon the embryonic form of a Domain!

The Eight Spider Lances could not advance a single inch once they reached three feet from him, their joints emitting a "clacking" sound. Tang San gritted his teeth, his knees beginning to buckle as he struggled to hold his ground with the spider lances. The pressure continued to intensify, and the spider lances began to snap one by one.

Tang San fell to his knees with a thud, his hands pressed against the floor as he gasped for air, yet he refused to concede.

Just then, a black hammer manifested in his left hand. The moment the Clear Sky Hammer appeared, the pressure suddenly eased—the domineering aura inherent to the Clear Sky Hammer helped him shoulder a portion of the burden.

A deathly silence filled the reception hall. Bai Baoshan stood up abruptly, not even noticing as his chair toppled over. Flender's face turned ashen, and Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes.

"The Clear Sky Hammer!" Meng Shenji set down his teacup. "Are you from the Clear Sky Sect? What is your relation to Tang Hao?"

Meng Shenji gave Luo Chen a look, and Luo Chen withdrew his power.

Tang San retracted the Clear Sky Hammer and stood up, bracing himself against the floor. "He is my father."

Meng Shenji leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "No one is to speak a word of what happened today." Bai Baoshan, Zhilin, and Flender nodded in succession.

Footsteps echoed from outside. Prince Xue Xing walked in, followed by Xue Beng, who was cradling his injured arm, and finally, Dugu Bo.

"This Prince heard that the academy had guests?" Prince Xue Xing's gaze swept over the group before landing on Tang San. "I felt a very strong fluctuation of soul power outside the door just now."

Meng Shenji's expression remained unchanged. "The young people were sparring; it was a bit boisterous."

Prince Xue Xing did not press the matter. Xue Beng jumped forward and pointed at Dai Mubai. "He's the one who hit me!" Flender hurriedly tried to explain, but Prince Xue Xing cut him off and looked at Dugu Bo. "Master Dugu, what do you say?"

Dugu Bo stood at the doorway with his arms crossed, not moving. He caught sight of Luo Chen, smiled faintly, and said lazily, "This old man is only here for tea today. Your Highness asked me to come and hold the line, so I came. But as for how to handle this, I am not getting involved."

Prince Xue Xing's smile stiffened. He had brought Dugu Bo specifically for the deterrent power of a Title Douluo, yet this Old Poison was refusing to intervene in public? He glanced at Dugu Bo, who kept his eyelids lowered, looking entirely indifferent. Prince Xue Xing coughed, finding a way to step down. "Since Master Dugu does not wish to interfere, this Prince will handle it himself."

He turned to Flender. "I have no objection to Shrek Academy merging into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. However, it must be done by the rules—student assessments and teacher interviews. I will not say a word against those who pass the assessment, but I will be the one to set the test questions."

This condition was much more lenient than the rumored "survive five minutes under Dugu Bo," but it left plenty of room for manipulation.

Flender hurriedly expressed his gratitude. Prince Xue Xing left with Xue Beng, and as he reached the door, he asked Dugu Bo if he was coming. Dugu Bo waved him off. "I haven't finished my tea yet."

The reception hall fell quiet. Dugu Bo walked to a corner, sat down, and took a sip of tea. "Still as bitter as ever."

Luo Chen walked over and sat beside him. "Why didn't you help him chase them away today?" Dugu Bo glanced at him. "I owe him a favor, not my life. He can do his own dirty work. Besides, with you standing here, could I really bully people in front of you?"

Luo Chen teased, "You must have sensed the aura of the Clear Sky Hammer from outside long ago, right? Are you afraid of Tang Hao?"

Dugu Bo snorted. "Afraid of him? Even though he is the Clear Sky Douluo, my poison is not to be trifled with!"

"Do you want to increase your strength?" Luo Chen tempted him.

The two spoke with a casual tone, as if chatting about daily life, completely disregarding the Shrek group nearby. Flender watched this scene, a complex mix of emotions churning within him—this young man named Luo Chen was not only unfathomably powerful but also surprisingly close to Dugu Bo.

Zhao Wuji remained silent with a dark face, but his gaze toward Luo Chen held a hint of wariness. Yu Xiaogang recovered from his shock, adjusted his glasses, and whispered to Flender, "This Luo Chen's soul ring configuration exceeds all my research on the limits of soul ring ages."

Tang San stood in the back, watching Luo Chen and Dugu Bo drinking tea and laughing together, a complex, indescribable feeling rising in his heart. Two years ago in the Star Dou Great Forest, this man had casually taken the Ghost Vine he had been guarding for days;

Two years later, he was already a five-ring Soul King, while Tang San couldn't even withstand his pressure. What bothered him even more was that Luo Chen hadn't looked at him directly even once from start to finish—it wasn't out of contempt, but genuine indifference.

Luo Chen set down his teacup and stood up. After bidding farewell to Dugu Bo, he bowed to Meng Shenji. "Teacher, this student will take his leave. An'an is still waiting for me to pick her up."

Meng Shenji nodded. "Go."

Luo Chen turned and walked out. He did not look at Tang San, nor did he look at anyone from Shrek. He did not pause as he passed them, walking straight out of the reception hall.

He took out his pocket watch to check the time, then tucked it away and quickened his pace toward the primary department.

An'an would be out of class soon.

Inside the reception hall, the Shrek group watched that silver-white silhouette disappear at the door, and for a long time, no one spoke.

Dugu Bo left as well, though his pace was unhurried as he exited the Education Committee building.

The corridor was empty, and the setting sun slanted through the window lattices, cutting the bluestone floor into golden tiles. He walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, then suddenly stopped and looked back toward the direction of the reception hall.

That little girl—a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit in human form.

With his level of perception, he had seen it at a glance. A hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit, transformed quite completely, but the aura of the soul beast was not hidden cleanly enough; in front of a Title Douluo of his caliber, she was as good as naked.

Why didn't he expose her?

Dugu Bo withdrew his gaze and continued walking. That rabbit was inseparable from the Blue Silver Grass boy, and their relationship was not ordinary. Who was the Blue Silver Grass boy? Tang Hao's son. And who was Tang Hao? The Clear Sky Douluo, a Title Douluo above level ninety-five; if that Clear Sky Hammer in his hand came crashing down, Dugu Bo might not be able to take it.

If he made a move, that boy would certainly intervene, and intervention would be troublesome.

What was even more troublesome was that the madman Tang Hao might be lurking in the shadows, watching over his son. Dugu Bo had lived long enough to know who could be provoked and who could not.

Although he could potentially obtain a soul bone, offending Tang Hao—the math just didn't add up. Forget it, he would find another way to obtain a soul bone.

The Old Poison snorted and quickened his pace as he walked out of the academy gates.