"No, I must have the Hall Master come and take charge personally."
Elder Ma's mind moved, and he had made a decision. Then he instructed Qin Xiao, "Recently, you must be careful when you go out. Do not leave the range of my sight. I'm worried that a strong individual from the Body Sect may harm you. Unpredictable dangers could arise."
Qin Xiao nodded, "Okay."
In fact, he knew that Lang Ya and Yu Tao would not be returning any time soon.
However, this was merely the calm before the storm. The Body Sect was brewing something big. Silent but deadly, even Mingde Hall had been caught off guard.
Watching Qin Xiao return to his room, Elder Ma went to a hotel not far from the Imperial City Grand Hotel, where he saw Jing Hongchen.
Pushing open the door, Elder Ma found his academy's dean and Hall Master indulging in hotpot.
"Old Ma, you're just in time, join us," Jing Hongchen actively invited Elder Ma.
"Hall Master, with such big things happening, how can you still be in the mood to eat hotpot here?"
"What big things?" Jing Hongchen calmly picked up a slice of lamb and placed it in the hotpot.
"It's Qin Xiao, that kid has been targeted by the Body Sect!"
"Oh, that's normal. Gold will shine wherever it is. That kid Qin Xiao is so outstanding, it was only a matter of time before he attracted attention."
Jing Hongchen dipped the lamb slice in the sauce and put it in his mouth nonchalantly, but the next moment, he sprayed it out, "Wait a minute! Old Ma, you said he caught whose attention?"
"Hall Master, you're finally listening. Today a strong person from the Body Sect found Qin Xiao, but I drove him off."
After confirming that he hadn't misheard, Jing Hongchen's face showed a cold smile, "Heh, flies don't sting a seamless egg."
Elder Ma sighed, "Hall Master, you can still laugh? If I'd known, I wouldn't have let this kid enter the competition. If we had kept him hidden for a few more decades until Qin Xiao grew up, it would have been better."
But Jing Hongchen waved his hand indifferently, "What's there to worry about? We'll deal with whatever comes. If they bring soldiers, we'll meet them head-on. If they bring flood, we'll build a dam."
"It's not that easy..." Elder Ma was not as optimistic as Jing Hongchen, "The old monster from the Body Sect is not only overwhelmingly strong, but also domineering. Since Qin Xiao possesses a self martial soul, it's like giving them a perfect excuse."
Jing Hongchen slapped the table, "Who said the Body Sect gets to dictate everything? Then I might as well declare that all Soul Masters in the world belong to Mingde Hall and just waltz into the different Empires to whisk away all their Soul Masters, huh?"
"That's not possible..." Elder Ma hesitated a moment before answering, his head lowered.
Jing Hongchen snorted coldly, "Hmph, don't worry. I believe the old guy from the Body Sect won't cause trouble recklessly. And I'm not a pushover either. This time I'm fully prepared; anyone who faces me will have more than their fill."
...
Elsewhere.
Shrek Academy.
Beibei arrived outside a familiar room and gently knocked twice, softly saying, "Tang Ya, I'm back."
Normally, Beibei would be greeted by Tang Ya's coquettish rebuke, warning him to call her Hall Master, not Tang Ya... or at least, add the word 'Teacher' after Tang Ya.
Beibei really liked Tang Ya when she acted like that. So often, he would deliberately refer to Tang Ya as Tang Ya.
But today...
It was very strange...
"Eh, I've been knocking for a long time, why hasn't anyone opened the door?"
Beibei started to feel perplexed.
He had timed his visit knowing that Tang Ya had no classes today.
"If you don't open the door, I'm going to burst in!"
Beibei clamored outside the door again, but still there was no response from inside the room.
Beibei panicked, no longer speaking and instead took direct action to burst open the door and rush into the room.
Tang Ya's room was based in shades of pink.
Pink sheets, covers, curtains, and so on, filled with a girl's charm.
But Beibei keenly noticed a thick layer of dust on the desk in Tang Ya's room.
He touched it and the trace of his finger left a distinct mark on the desk.
"It looks like... Tang Ya hasn't come back for a long time."
Beibei was struck by a startling fact.
Did this mean that Tang Ya had left?
"But where could she go?"
"Why didn't she leave me any message?"
Panic spread across Beibei's face as he started to search around desperately.
He rummaged through boxes and drawers, but couldn't find any clues of value; even the items in the drawers had been tidied away.
"She really left."
Beibei looked lost.
He just couldn't understand, why would Tang Ya leave without saying goodbye?
Even if she had to leave, at least she could have left a letter for him?
So he would at least know where to look for her.
He thought helplessly.
But just then, a scream from outside the room pierced Beibei's ears.
It even spread throughout the entire dormitory building.
"Ah... everyone, come quickly, there's a pervert here!"
Beibei looked outside and saw a girl of above-average height and appearance.
"Where is the pervert? Don't be afraid, I'll help you..."
As Beibei said this, he went to the girl's side.
Who knew the girl would slap Beibei across the face.
Beibei was stunned.
He had just been glancing around trying to help the girl find the alleged pervert.
"Spit, you despicable pervert, you're trying to take advantage of me!"
The girl took a step back and covered her chest with her hands.
Beibei was baffled, am I the pervert?
```
"What a joke?"
"Who's joking with you?" The girl huffed, "Not only did you barge into the girls' dormitory, but you even rummaged through a girl's room. Despicable, shameless, and utterly disgraceless."
Beibei: "..."
After hearing the girl's words, Beibei realized the gravity of the issue. It seemed his conduct indeed bordered on the perverse.
"Where's the pervert? We're here!"
"Catch the pervert!"
"I wondered why I lost two sets of underwear a few days ago."
"..."
With shouts ringing out, figures rushed out of the dormitory.
Beibei's heart sank, cursing his bad luck.
He hadn't expected so many troubles in the girls' dormitory.
If caught, he'd be labeled not just a pervert, but also accused of stealing underwear.
No, this wouldn't do.
He couldn't stand here claiming his innocence.
Otherwise, it would be like trying to argue that the yellow mud in his pants wasn't feces.
But there was no way out behind him...
After a moment's thought, he steeled his resolve, activated his Soul Power, and charged straight into the wall.
Boom.
The wall crumbled into a person-shaped hole, and Beibei fled the scene.
"Are you okay?"
"Did he do anything to you?"
"That damned pervert is so brazen, acting under broad daylight, as if he does not hold us in regard."
Many young girls crowded around.
The girl who had confronted Beibei earlier was almost in tears, "If it weren't for my sisters coming in time, I really don't know what would have happened. It was truly terrifying."
After saying this, she patted her modest chest, still visibly shaken.
"No, we cannot let this matter rest. The offender must be severely punished. I suggest you draw a picture of that person and expose him to the public."
...
Evil Spirit Forest.
Here, powerful soul beasts were everywhere, and even Titled Douluos would pale at the mention of the Evil Spirit Forest.
Venturing deep inside often meant a one-way trip.
However.
Few knew that the headquarters of the Holy Spirit Cult, the most nefarious sect on the Douluo Continent, was located within this perilous Evil Spirit Forest.
Meanwhile, at the Spirit Hall Headquarters.
"Why did you bring someone back with you?"
The Sect Hierarch of the Holy Spirit Cult looked down condescendingly at the two individuals seated below.
Zhong Liwu had short silver hair, which was very fine and looked as hard as steel needles. His features were sharp and handsome; one could not sense the aura of an evil Soul Master from his appearance.
He looked young, resembling a middle-aged man if not for his silver hair. But in reality, his age had already reached a hundred and seventy-eighty years old.
"Husband, this time I went out, I found a real treasure."
The person standing in the grand hall of the Spirit Hall Headquarters was none other than Feng Ling.
Beside her was Ma Xiaotao, lying on the ground.
"A treasure?"
After hearing Feng Ling's words, Zhong Liwu's gaze lingered on Ma Xiaotao's body, curious. Feng Ling suggested this girl had something extraordinary; what could it be?
However.
When he took a closer look, he indeed noticed something different, and his expression changed drastically.
"How could such pure evil aura exist on this girl's body? Where did you find such a treasure?"
He was first shocked, then stared at Ma Xiaotao as if she were a rare treasure.
```
Feng Ling giggled, "Heeheehee, I knew Your Lordship would like her. But this girl's background is not simple; she's a student of Shrek Academy, and I've heard that she is the personal disciple of Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department in this session."
"Oh? Yan Shaozhe?"
The gleam in Zhong Liwu's eyes lingered on the Titled Douluo Feng Ling for a few moments longer.
Without dwelling on this topic, he sneered coldly and said, "Shrek Academy prides itself on justice, yet the dean has taken an inherently evil soul Master under his wing. What great irony."
Feng Ling laughed at this remark, "Hehe, isn't it? This world is just like that. The rules are set by those with the biggest fists; who would dare utter a word of refusal."
"Just like that often-quoted saying from Shrek, 'Only mediocrities are afraid of stirring up trouble.' A line that only Shrek could get away with saying. Any other academy that tries would promptly be labeled as evil."
"Enough about Shrek Academy, they've always held double standards. Let's not talk about them anymore. The initiated understand. Let's go back to discussing how to cultivate this girl, shall we? I feel her talent is exceptionally strong, and she may very well take my place in the future."
Zhong Liwu grew more and more excited as he spoke.
"As you arrange, my lord," Feng Ling giggled.
Zhong Liwu pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "I can sense that her aura is similar to yours, so let her be under your guidance for now. Plus, I've recently found a promising seedling. In some time, I'll arrange for someone to bring her back to the headquarters."
Feng Ling nodded, "Right, her Martial Soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix, which is indeed similar to mine, and I can certainly provide her some guidance to help her reach her full potential as soon as possible."
"However, I am rather curious about the promising seedling my lord mentioned. What kind of talent does she have?"
"She is..."
Zhong Liwu drew out his voice, "just a girl with a Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul..."
"Bluesilver Grass?" Feng Ling paused.
For as many years as Soul Land had existed, it had been a legend that the master of Tang Sect, Tang San, was the holder of a Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul, yet he eventually rose to the pinnacle of Soul Land, even establishing the once-glorious Tang Sect.
But with Bluesilver Grass came both triumph and failure; after Tang San, no exemplary Bluesilver Grass Soul Master had emerged.
And because of the lack of an outstanding leader, the Tang Sect had fallen into decline.
"I know you must be skeptical..." Zhong Liwu smiled, "Hehe, I found this Bluesilver Grass to be somewhat special. It possesses a devouring evil attribute. I believe she will one day shine brilliantly, stunning everyone."
"A devouring attribute?" Feng Ling's eyes immediately flashed with an unusual light.
Devouring...
This attribute was a skill countless evil Soul Masters dreamt of attaining. He hadn't expected it to appear in a Bluesilver Grass.
"If she can keep evolving through devouring, she might not be weaker than the Evil Fire Phoenix you brought back."
It wasn't difficult to see that Zhong Liwu was full of confidence in the Dark Bluesilver Grass.
Feng Ling huffed discontentedly, "Grass is just grass. Even if it were ten times, a hundred times stronger, it's still grass. I refuse to believe it could naturally compare to a top-level Martial Soul like the Phoenix."
"Hehe, we shall see," Zhong Liwu chuckled and stood up from his throne, making his way towards the exit of the great hall.
...
The sun and moon rotated in the sky.
In a blink of an eye, the day of the finals arrived.
As predicted, the final showdown was between Star Luo Royal Team and Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy.
This day captured everyone's attention.
No matter what, today's competition would be a historical change.
After all, in previous contests, Shrek Academy had always been the first.
So, the ticket sales for today were exceptionally high; they had almost completely sold out.
Xu Jiawei was moved...
Some blood had been regained.
It's worth mentioning that, as it was the last match of the finals, even the standard of the referees had risen sharply. They were replaced by the guest elder Sky Annihilation Douluo from the Xingluo Empire.
"Let both teams take the stage!"
As Sky Annihilation Douluo's voice echoed across the arena, the two teams nearly simultaneously stepped onto the stage.
On the side of Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy, it was still the lineup of Ma Rulong, Mika, Qin Xiao, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and others.
The Star Luo Royal Team, on the other hand, was led by Princess Jiu Jiu.
Worth mentioning, today the princess was dressed in a sharp outfit, looking both heroic and beautiful.
However, even though Jiu Jiu concealed it well, Qin Xiao still saw a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
Just then, Sky Annihilation Douluo issued another command, "Both sides, prepare!"
At that sound,
both teams spread out and formed up their arrays.
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