"Hmm?" Ning Fengzhi's expression changed slightly.
Xuan Ming's recovery speed was absurdly fast, and his absorption rate of the energy he injected was also terrifying. Xue Qinghe's Soul Power circulation was also so fast that even he couldn't see the depth of it...
It seems this student of his also has quite a few secrets.
Before long, Xuan Ming and the other two had recovered considerably from their depleted bodies, and Ning Fengzhi also retrieved the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"The injury isn't serious, he just needs to rest," Ning Fengzhi said.
"But why did you suddenly come to a place like this to spar?"
"The scenery here is beautiful," Xuan Ming said.
"???"
Everyone was slightly taken aback, looked around at the desolate landscape, and couldn't reconcile this godforsaken place with a beautiful view.
"The scenery was actually quite nice just now," Xuan Ming said.
"It's just gone now."
Bibi Dong glanced around, her gaze returning to Xuan Ming and Xue Qinghe. "For safety's sake, let's return to Heaven Dou City first."
As she spoke, Bibi Dong stepped forward, unleashing a surge of powerful Soul Power that enveloped Xuan Ming and Xue Qinghe. Then, before Ning Fengzhi and the other could say anything, her Eight-Winged Purple Light Wings trembled slightly, carrying the two of them away towards Heaven Dou City, with Yue Guan Gui Mei following closely behind.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong exchanged a glance, somewhat puzzled, but quickly followed.
"What are you two doing?" Bibi Dong asked.
"It's just a friendly spar," Xuan Ming said.
"A friendly spar? You call that a friendly spar?" Bibi Dong glared at Xuan Ming.
The damage to that wretched place just now was definitely not something that Xuan Ming and Qian Renxue could have caused by fighting!
That's the kind of damage only a collision between the Martial Soul Avatar of Titled Douluo- level martial soul could cause!
"The fight was already over, but Tang Hao came out again," Xuan Ming said helplessly.
"He came crashing down with his hammer, what could I do? I could only fight him."
Bibi Dong looked at Xue Qinghe, "Where are She Long and the other two? Are they dead?"
"I... didn't let them follow." Xue Qinghe somewhat guiltily.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and slapped Xuan Ming head with both hands.
Xue Qinghe lowered his head, somewhat bewildered.
Xuan Ming turned around defiantly, "Why did you hit me?"
"What do you think?" Bibi Dong glared at Xuan Ming.
" Tang Hao has lost his mind, he attacked you?"
"Are you doing something behind my back again?"
Xuan Ming was a little confused, "What did I do? Tang Hao smashed her!"
"Her?" Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback.
"With those bird-like wings on her back and an aura of holiness emanating from her, who else would Tang Hao smash if not her?" Xuan Ming said speechlessly.
"And don't forget, I'm still nominally Tang Hao's brother-in-law."
"She was the matchmaker!"
"..."
Chapter 265 The Student Surpasses the Master
The turmoil outside the city did not cause much of a stir.
The Spirit Hall remained silent, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect kept quiet, since Xue Qinghe and Xuan Ming, who were involved, both had close ties with the sect.
The two were attacked by what appeared to be direct descendants of the Clear Sky Sect, and whatever the reason, it completely shattered the illusion that the " Upper Three Sects were of one mind and one branch."
Delving deeper will only worsen the already strained relationship between the two parties.
In the qualifiers, after the battle between Imperial Fighting Team and Thunder Academy, almost all the subsequent teams chose to forfeit, Xuan Ming's brutal methods that day served as a sufficient deterrent.
The Imperial Fighting Team won without a fight, preserving their strength but greatly disappointing the audience who were looking forward to a thrilling match.
The Heaven Dou Division preliminary rounds have concluded.
The top five rankings are: Imperial Fighting Team, Godwind Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, Skywater Academy, and Shrek Academy, which advanced by a narrow margin.
Shrek's advancement was widely considered a lucky break.
The spot that originally belonged to the Thunder Academy became vacant because its main player was severely injured by Xuan Ming and all members withdrew from the competition early.
Despite numerous questions about the legitimacy of the Imperial Fighting Team's match, which was even more intense than the previous Canghui Academy incident, all controversies were suppressed with the tacit approval of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Spirit Hall.
Moonlight Pavilion.
The preliminary round awards ceremony was held today, but Xuan Ming did not attend, and Gu Yuena was also invited to the Martial Soul Holy Temple by the Pope.
Xuan Ming was originally cultivating at the hotel, but was invited over by the Moonlight Pavilion's people.
Upon entering the private room on the second floor, Xuan Ming immediately noticed Tang Yuehua's unusual behavior. She hadn't slept all night, and her eyes were red, clearly indicating that she had been crying.
"What is it?" Xuan Ming asked directly.
Tang Yuehua slowly raised her head, revealing slightly reddened eyes, "You and the Spirit Hall, what exactly...?"
"It's unrelated."
What about after that?
"They're most likely enemies."
Tang Yuehua was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"The situation is complicated, there's no need to ask further." Xuan Ming said calmly.
" Tang Hao came to see you?"
Tang Yuehua stiffened, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
"He's your brother, and I understand why you trust him," Xuan Ming said.
"But you'd better not get involved in this matter anymore. It's beyond your capabilities, and your diplomatic skills are meaningless in this situation."
When violence takes center stage, everything else must yield.
"Don't get involved, that's my advice." Xuan Ming stood up.
"Unless you want to see the Clear Sky Sect fall into crisis again."
Tang Yuehua hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. "Which side are you on?"
Xuan Ming turned to look at her. "The past may have been a choice, the present doesn't belong to either side, and the future... won't be either."
"The target of everyone's criticism?" Tang Yuehua's eyes dimmed.
"Everything I've done is so that one day I can stand on my own side and do what I want to do, instead of what you think I should do," Xuan Ming said calmly.
"To have the right to speak, you must first have the ability to silence others; that's what the Pope taught me."
"That day is not far off."
After the preliminary rounds, there is a one-month break before the qualifying rounds begin.
Unlike the team-based qualifying rounds, the qualifying rounds focus more on individual skill demonstrations, which is where the Imperial Fighting Team has the advantage.
However, the problems exposed in the qualifiers kept everyone on their toes, and they immediately threw themselves into a new round of training.
Dugu Yan was personally instructed by Dugu Bo, Ye Lingling was entrusted to Xuan Ming by Xuan Ming, and Zhu Zhuqing Bi Ji, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong were personally led and trained by Xuan Ming.
As for Gu Yuena, her strength already necessitates no such training.
Training ground at the back mountain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
In the evening, Xuan Ming collapsed on the ground after finishing his day's cultivation.
Gu Yuena sat quietly beside him.
"What did she say to you when she asked you to go to the Martial Soul Holy Temple?" Xuan Ming asked.
Gu Yuena thought for a moment, "She asked me what my feelings were for you."
Xuan Ming was taken aback. "How did you answer?"
"To be honest..."
"Tell the truth?" Xuan Ming's expression shifted slightly.
He was well aware of the attraction his talent, strength, and appearance held for the opposite sex; the admiration of Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong all stemmed from this.
But this affection was too superficial, so he always kept his distance, never responding or crossing the line.
He even knew that they themselves understood he only saw them as friends, but they were simply unwilling to give up. And he, too, didn't want to lose these few friends, so he couldn't be too ruthless, which made the relationship seem somewhat ambiguous—but only superficially so.
Zhu Zhuqing was different; he gave her the opportunity and ability to choose. They had shared similar circumstances and personalities, and her feelings for him were more profound.
Therefore, he gave a limited response.
Ning Rongrong and the others knew this, so even when Zhu Zhuqing "Zhu Zhuqing cheated" on him, they didn't have any conflicts with him.
Then, Xiao Wu, this girl's feelings for him are very complicated, somewhat similar to Qian Renxue's, but also different. But in the end, he can still understand, after all, he was the one who created this relationship, he saved the mother and daughter, and he also took their lives.
Xiao Wu doesn't have romantic love for him, only a complicated longing. You could say she's a good friend, or you could say she sees him as an older brother, but it leans more towards familial affection, just like Ah Rou sees him as a child.
As for Hu Liena, her feelings for him evolved from the superficial infatuation of Ning Rongrong and the others. It wasn't just a superficial liking; she knew him better and her feelings for him were deeper. That's why he didn't stop Hu Liena like he had before.
Let's not even talk about Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue; their feelings for him are so twisted that they can't be explained in just a few words.
As for Gu Yuena... her feelings came inexplicably, were sincere yet unprovoked, profound yet abrupt.
"What truth?" Xuan Ming asked.
Gu Yuena tilted her head, looking at Xuan Ming with clear eyes, and said, "I told you I like you."
"Because of the Ice Dragon King, Soul Beast Clan, or... pitiful, pitiful?" Xuan Ming asked.
He Nightmare before; he didn't know how much of his past Gu Yuena had seen.
Moreover, Gu Yuena's mind was too pure, far purer than Xiao Wu's when she first took human form. He couldn't understand her at all, because she was just like she appeared, consistent inside and out, without the slightest pretense.
But he simply couldn't believe in this purity.
"These are just the causes, not the root cause," Gu Yuena said softly.
"What is that at all?" Xuan Ming asked.
"I feel you understand me very well, perhaps even better than I understand myself. Then you should know that I won't believe things I can't be sure of."
Gu Yuena leaned slightly closer to Xuan Ming, her hair gently brushing against his cheek. "It's you, all of you, your past, your present, your strength, your weakness, your maturity, your naivety, your courage, your vulnerability."
Xuan Ming's eyes held a complex expression. "Do you think I'd believe that?"
Gu Yuena gently grasped Xuan Ming's hand, "You are free to disbelieve, that's your prerogative, I won't force you to believe."
But this is my answer, now and in the future.
I know what you doubt, and I know what you're worried about, but at least for now, at least I, the me before you, exist only for you.
"This is for you, and for me."
"You can take this as a token of my gratitude, but it's also an act of selfishness on my part."
"Tomorrow may be tough, and I may not be able to be by your side tomorrow, but at least for now, I'm here with you."
"You're the only one in my eyes, and I'm the only one in yours."
Xuan Ming remained silent for a long time before his gaze slowly fell on their clasped hands. Gu Yuena's hands were cold, yet they carried a strange sense of calm, as if they could soothe the complex emotions churning within him.
"Is this something that Sister Bing taught in her training class?" Xuan Ming asked.
Gu Yuena gently shook his hand, "This student has surpassed his teacher."
Xuan Ming took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the clouds, dyeing the sky a brilliant orange-red, a beauty that was breathtaking.