When Xiao Wu returned to the dorm building in a daze, she happened to run into Zhu Zhuqing, who had just come back.
Her eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "How's Third Brother? Was he hurt in the fight with Tai Long?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer immediately. She stared at Xiao Wu's dust-covered clothes, her torn collar, and the familiar piece of clothing she held in her arms. Just from this, she could already piece together eighty percent of what had happened. 'You're in this state and still worried about Tang San getting hurt? If he finds out what happened, wouldn't he cry himself to death?'
But since the situation involved Yu Tianming, Zhu Zhuqing didn't dare to ask too much. Holding back her urge to comment, she slowly said, "Don't worry, Xiao Wu. Third Brother is perfectly fine. You can ask him yourself tomorrow morning if you want to know the details."
Hearing that Tang San was safe, Xiao Wu breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She didn't ask further and simply nodded, mindlessly starting to wash her clothes.
Unlike Xiao Wu's gloom after being threatened, Tang San had returned to the dorms beaming like a poor man who'd just won the lottery. After hearing from Tang Hao about his noble lineage, he was glowing with joy. He didn't cultivate that night; instead, his thoughts wandered wildly, 'Now that Tai Long's out of the picture, and I have the bloodline of the Clear Sky Clan, who could possibly compete with me for Xiao Wu?'
———
Early the next morning, before the scheduled meeting time, the members of the Blue Tyrant Battle Team had already arrived at the training grounds. They formed small groups scattered across the field.
Tang San and Xiao Wu gathered together. Seeing the worried expression on her face, Tang San couldn't hide his excitement. "Xiao Wu, there's something I want to tell you."
Xiao Wu glanced at the smiling Tang San, then remembered the threats Yu Tianming had made. Knowing they might not have much time left together, she also spoke, "Tang San, I have something to tell you too."
"Let me go first," Tang San said, suppressing his excitement. He lowered his voice and said,
"My father is a Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Clan. He can protect us. After the Soul Master Tournament and graduation from the Advanced Soul Master Academy, let's go live in the Clear Sky Clan together."
Pride was written all over Tang San's face. Although he'd never experienced noble life, as a farmer's son, the thought of being a noble filled him with dreams. Just knowing his noble identity made him feel like a man above others. He puffed out his not-so-broad chest with pride.
Up until now, even though he had decent soul power, Tang San lacked the backing of a powerful faction. He had always relied on Grandmaster, a so-called failure of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan. But now that he knew he was a descendant of the Clear Sky Clan, he felt much more confident and carried himself with more strength. A proud smile spread across his face.
But Xiao Wu, already made wary by Yu Tianming, looked at Tang San's joyful laughter and thought of her identity as a soul beast. Her eyes flickered. 'Third Brother's father is a Titled Douluo? Could it be that he already saw through my identity back in Holy Soul Village and just kept it hidden? When his strength is enough, will he kill me to obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone?'
From the moment doubt took root, she could no longer look at Tang San with the same straightforwardness. After a moment of silence, she forced a smile and said, "Third Brother, what I wanted to say is... I shouldn't have been so harsh to you yesterday. Also, I don't like Tai Long."
With her bunny-ear hair accessory and light pink outfit, Xiao Wu stood tall and graceful like a dance student. Every movement carried a natural sense of rhythm and beauty, though her face now carried a trace of sorrow.
Tang San felt like his heart was melting. The girl in front of him seemed so pure and lovely.
At this point, he hadn't yet faced life-or-death trials with Xiao Wu, nor did he have the courage to express his feelings beyond the "sibling" bond. After thinking for a moment, he gently placed his hand over Xiao Wu's and said softly, "I knew Tai Long wasn't right for you. As your big brother, I'll help you find someone better."
Xiao Wu let out a quiet sigh and said nothing more. 'Third Brother is still so pure and noble... In these last moments, let's just keep our friendship the way it is.'
Some time later, Flender arrived at the training field, and the newly-formed Blue Tyrant Battle Team assembled in order.
Aside from Tai Long, the original three seed students from the Blue Tyrant Academy and the six from Shrek stood in two neat rows before Flender.
Flender gave Tang San a meaningful look. He already knew what had happened yesterday. After years in the martial world, Four-Eyed Owl Flender never expected to be outdone by a young man like Tang San. With the injuries he sustained, Tai Long wouldn't recover for a year or more—he'd be missing out on the Soul Master Tournament for sure.
Tang San had used his mutated Blue Silver Grass to absorb Tai Long's vitality, injected poison into him, and filled his body with dozens of toxic Dragon Beard Needles. Each method was vicious. Even if Tai Long healed physically, his future cultivation potential would be limited.
After a moment of silence, Flender looked seriously at the students and announced,
"Tai Long is unwell and will be withdrawing from the team. The Blue Tyrant Battle Team now has only ten members."
"Ten? But aren't there only nine of us here?" As Flender's personal student, Ma Hongjun wasn't as reserved as the others. He asked curiously.
Hearing that, everyone looked around. Could it be that Ning Rongrong, who had been away from the team for days, was returning? Thinking of the powerful boost from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, everyone couldn't help but smile.
While Flender was still speaking, Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong had already arrived at Blue Tyrant Academy.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan was based not far from Heaven Dou City. To strengthen ties, the royal family had arranged for Crown Prince Xue Qinghe to become a disciple of Ning Fengzhi, the clan master.
Ning Rongrong was more than five years younger than Qian Renxue. You could say Qian Renxue watched her grow up. Thanks to their mutual connection with Ning Fengzhi, the two had a close relationship.
Ning Rongrong had originally come to rejoin the Blue Tyrant Academy, but along the way, she ran into Qian Renxue. The two ended up traveling together.
Since Yu Tianming was close to "Xue Qinghe," Ning Rongrong gushed to Qian Renxue like a girl newly in love, telling her all about him with a happy glow.
Qian Renxue didn't mind. Looking at the cheerful Ning Rongrong, she smiled warmly like a guardian and quietly listened.
When the two entered the academy, they found Yu Tianming waiting. Through electromagnetic sensing, he had already sensed their movements from afar.
"Long time no see, Brother Xue. Rongrong, come, I'll show you the new Blue Tyrant Battle Team and your new teammates," Yu Tianming said warmly, walking up to them.
Ning Rongrong lit up with joy, ran to Yu Tianming's side, and clung to his arm. Pressing her head against him, she said excitedly, "Stay at Blue Tyrant Academy these days and train with me!"
Qian Renxue just smiled and said nothing, stepping up beside Yu Tianming so the three of them stood side by side, with Ning Rongrong in the middle.
Yu Tianming, a Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan heir, was as tall as Yao Ming with broad shoulders—like a giant. Qian Renxue, with her angelic bloodline, was also tall, over 1.8 meters once unmasked.
Ning Rongrong, however, didn't have any physical enhancement from her spirit, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. She was the petite and cute type, barely 1.6 meters tall. Standing between them, she looked like a child.
Laughing and chatting, the three soon reached the team. Seeing her old Shrek teammates, Ning Rongrong naturally bounced over to join the group.
Flender laughed heartily and said, "Now the Blue Tyrant Battle Team has ten members again! Let me introduce her—this is Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the number one support clan in the world, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan."
Oscar, standing at the back, looked at Ning Rongrong.
After absorbing the immortal herb Beautiful Silk Tulip, her Seven Treasures Pagoda had evolved into the Nine Treasures Pagoda. She was even more beautiful, glowing as if surrounded by starlight.
Taking a deep breath, Oscar gathered his courage and whispered, "Rongrong, long time no see. You've become even more beautiful."
Hearing the compliment, Ning Rongrong didn't look happy. Instead, she quietly stepped back and whispered, "Little Ao, Tianming is right in front of us. Don't talk to me—I don't want him to misunderstand."
'Did you really just take a step back?' Oscar thought bitterly. 'Am I really that unwanted?'
Oscar wasn't dumb. He understood there was no place for him in Ning Rongrong's heart. His face dimmed, and he fell silent, staring at the ground.
Though their voices were quiet, everyone there had decent soul power and heard everything clearly.
No one showed much reaction, but Dai Mubai couldn't help smirking. His fiancée Zhu Zhuqing hadn't spoken a word to him—things were icy between them. Seeing Oscar's failure somehow made him feel better.
Still pretending to be Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue whispered teasingly to Yu Tianming, "Rongrong really is adorable. She's even distancing herself from others for you."
Yu Tianming casually slung his arm over Qian Renxue's shoulder and whispered back, "You're the future Angel God, are you jealous of Rongrong?"
Qian Renxue pinched his arm and chuckled, "I watched her grow up. She's like a kid to me. Why would I be jealous? But tell me, what treasure did you give her to evolve her spirit into the Nine Treasures Pagoda? You didn't even tell me."
The Spirit Hall, with masters like Chrysanthemum Douluo, had deep knowledge of rare herbs.
Yu Tianming thought of a very special immortal herb and calmly replied, "I gave Rongrong a Beautiful Silk Tulip. It helped evolve her spirit. Don't worry, I've got one prepared for you too. I'll teach you how to use it when we find time."
Qian Renxue's eyes sparkled. She patted his backside and said with a laugh, "Then let's find a secret room later. I want to properly see what this herb can do."
Not far off, Dai Mubai had been watching them and fell into deep thought, 'Yu Tianming and Xue Qinghe, one the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan, the other the Crown Prince. They act all friendly, but now Xue Qinghe's smiling like that and touching him…' With Dai Mubai's dirty mind, this scene looked quite intimate.
He suddenly remembered rumors that both Dai Weisi and Xue Qinghe were close to Yu Tianming. 'Could it be that Yu Tianming likes men? Did these two princes offer themselves to get the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan's support?'
With his own position unstable, Dai Mubai thought to himself, 'Should I do what Dai Weisi did to win the throne?'
While he was lost in thought, Yu Tianming stepped forward to replace Flender and addressed the group loudly, "Now that Rongrong is back, we'll be rearranging the Blue Tyrant Team. Dai Mubai, Tang San, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Ning Rongrong are all over level 35. With Xiao Wu at level 33, the six of you will be the main battle members."
He cleared his throat and looked at the rest. "Oscar makes all kinds of useful sausages, and Jiang Zhu has powerful healing skills. You two will appear based on the enemy team's makeup. As for Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing, who are still at Great Soul Master level, you'll be substitutes for now. Focus on raising your soul power."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Yu Tianming's reasoning was solid, and with his background and strength, no one dared object.
Only Flender asked in confusion, "Rongrong was still at Great Soul Master level before. How did she jump to Soul Elder level just by staying at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan for a few days? What method did she use?"
(End of Chapter)
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