Shrek slunk away in disgrace

The outcome of their clash was plain to see. Sunday had merely struck out with one palm and sent Tang Hao's Great Sumeru Hammer flying.

"Pfft!"

Tang Hao spat out another mouthful of blood and crashed heavily to the ground.

Looking at Tang Hao lying in the crater, Sunday waved a hand, and the enormous Dominicus behind him slowly dissolved into golden musical notes.

"Tang Hao, you lost. You may take him away, but you must bring Qin Ming back."

Sunday stated his demand with effortless composure. This battle had been easier than he had imagined.

On the Douluo Continent, probably only those three peerless masters and that group of Ferocious Beasts in hiding could exchange blows with him.

As for opponents who could truly pique his interest, perhaps the Five Great God Kings qualified.

Tang Hao staggered to his feet, clutched his chest, and coughed twice more before shooting into the sky toward the fleeing Shrek group.

Moments later, Qin Ming was thrown to the ground, covered in blood.

Tang Hao then picked Yu Xiaogang up, and the two vanished from the entrance to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Even now, Flender refused to give up. He knew that everything Qin Ming had done had been for Shrek Academy.

He rushed over to Sunday in two strides and fell to his knees, his voice choked with desperate pleading.

"Your Excellency, please spare Qin Ming! It's my fault. I failed to teach him properly. If you must punish someone, punish me!"

As he spoke, Flender repeatedly knocked his forehead against the ground before Sunday.

Seeing what Flender was doing, Sunday raised a hand. Flender, who had been kowtowing incessantly, felt a force hold him motionless.

"It is not for me to determine where Qin Ming's wrongdoing lies. He holds a position at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so the academy will deal with him.

I will prevent oppression by those in power, but that does not mean I will show pity toward evil.

The law will determine the outcome. Order cannot be disregarded simply because you beg for mercy.

However, rest assured that I will ensure no one suffers an injustice in this affair!"

Hearing Sunday's words, Flender stopped struggling and sighed. In an instant, he seemed to age more than a decade.

"Then thank you, Your Excellency. On Qin Ming's behalf, I, Flender, apologize to everyone here. Farewell!"

With that, Flender pulled his old friends to their feet, gathered Liu Erlong into his arms, and left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Seeing that they had all left, Xue Qinghe hurried to Sunday's side, his eyes full of stars.

"I never imagined you possessed such strength, sir. I truly failed to recognize what stood before me. I hope you won't hold it against me."

I've struck gold! Judging by the power he unleashed just now, he's practically on par with Grandpa Golden Crocodile.

A level 98 Super Douluo would be a powerful ally in my bid to seize the Heaven Dou Empire!

Sunday paid little heed to Xue Qinghe's words. Even if he really said Xue Qinghe had failed to recognize his worth, the man would never admit it.

"You're too kind, Your Highness. I never expected so much to happen today either.

I did conceal things earlier, so it is I who should ask Your Highness not to take offense."

Xue Qinghe's eyes nearly narrowed to slits as he smiled and waved a hand.

"Not at all, not at all. Come, sir. We haven't attended to today's business yet!"

Only then did the Three Education Committee Members remember what they had intended to do today, and all three gave bitter smiles.

From today onward, they would have their hands full.

Meng Shenji approached Xue Qinghe and Sunday and bowed slightly.

"Your Highness, Your Excellency Sunday, what happened at the academy today was a failure of duty on the part of all three of us. We will accept our punishment tomorrow.

However, Qin Ming's case has far-reaching implications. I must first take him to meet His Majesty, so I shall take my leave."

Xue Qinghe nodded to Meng Shenji.

"You're being too hard on yourself, Chief Meng. This was not your fault. Even with education, there will always be one or two exceptions. Go."

Meng Shenji bowed to Xue Qinghe once more, then picked up Qin Ming and hurried toward Heaven Dou City.

"Heh, you truly are formidable, Mr. Sunday. You certainly kept me in the dark."

Holding Ning Rongrong's hand, Ning Fengzhi also approached Sunday with a smile on his face.

"You flatter me, Sect Master Ning. Compared with the world's greatest support Martial Soul, I am nothing remarkable."

"Oh, I could hardly claim to be the world's greatest. Since everything has been settled, I should head back as well.

I've retrieved my daughter, and there is still plenty of sect business to attend to."

Ning Fengzhi joked with Sunday with a smile, then announced his departure.

No one was happier about Ning Fengzhi leaving than Xue Qinghe. With that old lamp hanging around, it was difficult for him to win anyone over.

Now that Ning Fengzhi was leaving, it suited him perfectly.

A hint of regret appeared on Xue Qinghe's face, and he spoke with apparent reluctance.

"Are you leaving already, Teacher? I was hoping to discuss some difficulties I've encountered lately!"

Ning Fengzhi smiled and waved a hand.

"Now, Qinghe, you must learn to handle things yourself. Once I've gone back and made the necessary arrangements, I'll come over.

After all, your little sister Rongrong ran away and joined an academy like this. She really does make one worry. In a couple of days, I'll have to trouble you to help enroll her."

Naturally, Xue Qinghe knew what this old fox was scheming. Ning Fengzhi might as well have grown up drinking oil, he was so slippery.

"Of course, that's no problem. The Imperial Fighting Team happens to need reorganizing as well. We'll be counting on little sister Rongrong's help then!"

"All right, we'll be off."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi nodded to Sunday.

"I'll leave you to your business, sir."

Then he stepped through the spatial gate Gu Rong had opened.

Seeing that the nuisance had finally left, Xue Qinghe turned to Sunday.

"Sir, shall we go inside and have a look?"

Sunday did not refuse. He seemed to have come here to be a teacher. Speaking of which, tomorrow was Sunday, wasn't it...

Seeing that Xue Qinghe and Sunday had business to attend to, Dugu Bo waved a hand as well.

"I still have to spend time with my granddaughter, so I'll leave first. See you at the usual place tonight."

With that, he took Dugu Yan's hand and headed toward Heaven Dou City. He had promised Yanyan he would accompany her to buy dresses.

Meanwhile, at Blue Tyrant Academy in the southern part of Heaven Dou City...

Zhao Wuji and the others lay sprawled across their hospital beds, their bodies covered in bandages.

Flender was also covered in bandages, but he was sitting beside a bed.

Lying on that bed was Liu Erlong, whom Tang Hao had smashed into a wall with his hammer.

"Boss Fu, what do we do next? Ming has been taken away, and Ning Rongrong has left too. Can we even keep the academy running?"

Hearing Zhao Wuji's weak question, Flender reluctantly drew his gaze away from Liu Erlong.

He looked at Zhao Wuji and the others and sighed.

"What can we do? Our original academy has already been sold, and now we've offended the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

We don't even know whether we can survive in Heaven Dou City. How are we supposed to run an academy?"

Zhao Wuji and the others had no answer either. None of them had expected things to reach this point.

Remembering the state Qin Ming had been beaten into by Tang Hao, Flender's heart filled with remorse.

Looking at Zhao Wuji and the others lying in their beds, Flender spoke in bewilderment.

"Old Zhao, tell me... am I unfit to be a teacher? Ming suffered because of me, however indirectly, and Hongjun and Dai Mubai turned out like that under my teaching.

And now, the academy that seemed so united has begun to fall apart over this..."