If there were no one around, it would be one thing, but someone was there, and no one stopped it, reigniting the fury within Fan Yu.
"It must be because of the minor frictions I've had with him on regular days, so this guy holds a grudge against me and wants to deliberately make things difficult for Zhou Yi."
"Teacher, you shouldn't guess wildly; it's not what you think. Director Du really wanted to stop what was happening, but he was controlled by Teacher Zhou's Absolute Defense. He was powerless to help. Without that Absolute Defense, things would never have escalated to where they are today."
Absolute Defense?
Upon hearing this name, Fan Yu was forcefully struck by realization and cried out in astonishment, "How is that possible? How could she possibly use Absolute Defense on Du Weilun? It was meant for her self-protection that I gave her."
After listening to Fan Yu, Wang Dong was taken aback. He had not expected that the powerful soul tool had been given by Fan Yu; in a sense, he was also one of the culprits.
If it weren't for the powerful soul tool provided by it, Zhou Yi would not have been stopped.
At this moment, Fan Yu also realized his own problem; he slumped into a chair, murmuring to himself in a daze: "I just wanted to protect you, but I ended up harming you. It's all my fault, all my fault!"
As he spoke, his emotions suddenly surged, and he even began to slap his own mouth, making slapping sounds.
"Teacher, don't do this! It's not entirely your fault; you had good intentions, it's just that Teacher Zhou has too much of a temper."
Seeing this, He Caitou quickly rushed to Fan Yu's side, opened his arms, and embraced Fan Yu tightly, preventing him from harming himself.
It was a long time before Fan Yu's emotions settled down.
"Caitou, let me go."
"I won't, I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself."
"I won't anymore, I've calmed down. Now go pack up, we're returning to Shrek Academy."
"What?"
At Fan Yu's words, He Caitou's face showed a look of astonishment.
"Didn't you hear me clearly? I said we're going back to Shrek Academy right now." Fan Yu repeated.
"But our plan isn't complete yet; we've been here for so long and have just begun to get on the right track, tapping into some useful knowledge. If we leave the Sun-Moon Empire now, won't our trip have been in vain?"
"If you're reluctant to leave, then you stay here. Zhou Yi is in trouble, without seeing her, I simply have no mind to study any damned soul tool knowledge."
Saying this, Fan Yu shook off He Caitou's restraint and began to pack his things by himself.
However, just at that moment, Wang Dong hesitated and then said, "Teacher, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."
Fan Yu paused, "Just say whatever you have to say."
"I think the academy needs you to stay here..."
"What? With things as they are now, you still bring up the academy to me?" Fan Yu felt no inner turmoil upon hearing Wang Dong's words, even feeling slightly amused.
If it weren't for the academy's problems causing a fire in his backyard, would he be diligently and properly learning soul tool knowledge in the Sun-Moon Empire?
"It's true, I'm not joking."
Wang Dong said, "Teacher, it seems you aren't aware of the recent incidents at Shrek Academy."
"What else could have happened?"
Fan Yu was astonished.
What could be more important than the expulsion of his wife?
"Here's what happened. Elder Xuan Zi from the Sea God's Pavilion of Shrek Academy massacred tens of thousands of civilians from the Sky Soul, Dou Spirit, and Xingluo empires and has now become an evil Soul Master."
"What? How could such a thing happen?"
Fan Yu was stunned, "Shrek Academy has always taken it upon itself to eliminate evil Soul Masters from Soul Land, maintaining stability on the continent.
Even the Shrek Monitoring Group specifically targets evil Soul Masters, and Elder Xuan is the deputy head of that group, who has slain innumerable evil Soul Masters. How could he possibly be an evil Soul Master? Impossible, absolutely impossible."
He was reeling from one shock after another, almost thinking it was all an illusion.
"I know it's hard to accept, but that's the reality. Because of this incident, the three great Empires of Soul Land already have significant differences with Shrek Academy and are strongly demanding sanctions against Xuan Zi."
"They really are against the heavens, daring to pressure Shrek Academy like this?" Fan Yu angrily slapped the table.
"They didn't just do that; they were successful as well. Xuan Zi, pressured by the three great Empires, chose to sever all ties with Shrek Academy and then announced his location, waiting for the challenges from the various empires."
"Hahaha..."
Suddenly, Fan Yu burst into loud laughter.
Wang Dong was puzzled, "Teacher, what's so funny? How can you still laugh at a time like this?"
"Of course, I can laugh, because the lie you've made up is laughable."
Wang Dong: "..."
I've been telling the truth from the beginning, okay?
He was really speechless.
Does speaking the truth fall on deaf ears?
"You must be feeling quite unreconciled, right? Well then, let me tell you where the problem lies."
Fan Yu was full of confidence: "How could Shrek Academy ever compromise! Inside the Sea God's Pavilion, there are so many Elders, and there's Elder Mu. With him there, how could anyone behave recklessly in Shrek Academy!"
"So that's how it is... Indeed, I neglected to tell you this matter."
Wang Dong suddenly understood, "Because Elder Mu has already died. Before the three great Empires pressured Shrek Academy, there was another battle. The Sect Master of the Body Sect, Poison Not Dead, had been pursuing Xuan Zi, even going so far as to risk his life to personally come to Shrek City.
In that battle, Elder Mu completely disappeared from this world, and even the Sea God's Pavilion collapsed."
There are no walls in the world that do not leak.
Even.
Shrek Academy also had many spies planted by various forces.
Good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news spreads a thousand miles. When a major change occurred at Shrek Academy, those with hidden agendas immediately became restless, wildly spreading all sorts of news with the aim of causing internal chaos and panic in Shrek Academy.
Originally, only a small number of people knew about the news concerning Elder Mu and the Sea God's Pavilion.
But under the operation of interested parties, it soon became common knowledge, becoming an open secret.
"Body Sect, Poison Not Dead..."
"How could this happen..."
This time, Fan Yu couldn't afford to question it any longer.
Because even if it was a lie, there were very few who dared to fabricate a story by combining these two characters.
"Teacher, please stay."
"Only leave after you have completely mastered the knowledge of soul tools."
"Following the consecutive loss or forced departure of strong figures from Shrek Academy, it is now at a critical juncture of transition. We urgently need to enhance our own strength, and soul tools are the best choice.
If our Shrek Academy could produce a Ninth-Level Soul Master, that would be a very powerful support. It's even more meaningful than having a Level 97 or 98 powerhouse."
Wang Dong couldn't help but persuade.
Of course, he didn't have too much time to think about these things.
Everything he said was what he had heard from others.
After all, once people found out that Elder Mu, the Sea Anchor Needle of Shrek, had fallen, and Xuan Zi had helplessly left, many began to speculate or plan how Shrek Academy should escape from its predicament.
A Level 99 powerhouse certainly could solve most problems.
But how many of such powerhouses are there in the Soul Land?
It might not even be possible to find one in 10 or 20 years.
Hence, people shifted their gaze, believing that the key to breaking the deadlock was soul tools.
Cultivating a Ninth-Level Soul Master seemed more feasible than cultivating a Level 99 Titled Douluo.
"Thud."
Fan Yu sat down on the chair with a complicated expression, not knowing what to think.
He Caitou hesitated for a moment but still asked, "Teacher, have you decided not to leave?"
However, Fan Yu didn't give a definitive answer. He waved his hand, "Go out, both of you. If it's nothing important, don't come and disturb me. You guys try to handle things on your own as much as you can, I want some quiet time alone."
"Alright then."
He Caitou nodded his head, leading Wang Dong out of the laboratory.
"He Caitou, can I ask you for a favor?"
Outside the laboratory, Wang Dong couldn't wait to ask.
He Caitou was taken aback, "What is it?"
Wang Dong said: "Could you help me find out where Qin Xiao is?"
"Are you looking for Qin Xiao, the one who participated in the Continental Soul Master competition?"
He Caitou asked in surprise.
Wang Dong nodded excitedly, "Yes, that's him."
He Caitou asked again, "Is it that Qin Xiao who went to Shrek Academy as an exchange student and returned two days ago?"
"Mm-hmm."
"He Caitou, that's the guy I'm talking about, could you please take me to see him?!"
Wang Dong was already impatient.
However.
To his frustration, He Caitou shook his head awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I only met him a few times during the Continental Soul Master competition.
I've never seen him at the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy.
I have no idea where he might be... My knowledge about him is only based on hearsay."
"What?" After hearing what He Caitou said, Wang Dong looked utterly baffled.
He Caitou had just asked so many questions, and he thought that He Caitou had some connection with Qin Xiao.
Turns out he was overthinking it.
Scratching his smooth bald head in consolation, He Caitou said, "However, don't be disappointed. Even though I don't know him, I've heard from others that he is always with Xuan Ziwen.
I can't find Qin Xiao, but I know where Xuan Ziwen is, and I can take you to the entrance of his laboratory to wait for him."
In his disappointment, Wang Dong's mood changed again.
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go."
"But my teacher, he..." He Caitou looked at the closed door of the laboratory, hesitating.
In his view, Fan Yu needed someone by his side at this moment more than ever. What if he did something impulsive in his absence?
Wang Dong saw through He Caitou's thoughts, "How about this, you draw me a map to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory, and I will find it myself. That should be fine, right?"
He Caitou's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly, "Yes."
As a professional soul master, He Caitou's drawing abilities were exceptionally strong. In just a few short minutes, he handed a detailed, three-dimensional map over to Wang Dong.
"The end point is the laboratory building, but remember to wait downstairs, never go upstairs.
Because that laboratory is not open to exchange students from Shrek Academy, entering could cause quite some trouble."
After giving the map to Wang Dong, He Caitou earnestly cautioned.
"Don't worry, I'll do as you said and won't cause any trouble," Wang Dong assured before he hurried away, following the route marked on the map.
"This guy, I really wonder what he wants from Qin Xiao..."
"Wait, Qin Xiao also went to Shrek Academy as an exchange student, logically speaking, at his age, he is very likely to have been placed in the first grade..."
Suddenly remembering this, He Caitou felt a jolt in his heart.
Could it be that Qin Xiao is the exchange student who fought with Teacher Zhou?
...
Elsewhere.
Holy Spirit Cult.
Zhong Liwu sat majestically on his throne, listening to his subordinate report with the latest secret missive in hand.
It was a skinny, sharp-faced middle-aged man.
A sly look flickered in his eyes from time to time, clearly not an easy person to deal with.
"Sect Hierarch, there's breaking news, there have been quite a few big events on Soul Land."
He said with a fawning smile.
"Let's hear it."
Zhong Liwu replied lazily.
"First off, our plan worked. Representatives from Sky Soul, Xingluo, and The Three Great Empires of Douluo gathered outside Shrek City to negotiate with the powers within Shrek Academy, with a very tough stance."
"Oh! How so?"
Zhong Liwu straightened up slightly, showing great interest in this matter.
It had taken him a lot of effort and resources to reach this point.
To make Xuan Zi walk the path of an evil soul master, he even sacrificed many evil soul masters who had been lurking for years as pawns for Xuan Zi to kill.
If this couldn't provoke a conflict between The Three Great Empires of Douluo and Shrek Academy, it would be a huge loss for him.
"Heh heh, things are progressing as we envisaged."
The sharp-faced man chuckled, "The Empires were very tough this time, not showing any sign of retreat in the face of Shrek Academy's martial suppression.
They insisted on sanctioning Xuan Zi, even at the risk of severing ties with Shrek Academy."
"Heh, that's quite unusual. I always thought The Three Great Empires were just domestics or laborers kept by Shrek Academy. Seems I underestimated them, they do have some spine after all," Zhong Liwu said with a sneer on his face.
"Even a clay figure has a temper. Besides, which Monarch of The Three Great Empires isn't superior to millions? None of them want to be suppressed by an academy."
"Mhm, that's true, so tell me the result. How was Xuan Zi dealt with in the end? But I guess, faced with a Grade 8 Titled Douluo, The Three Great Empires ultimately had to back down, right?" Zhong Liwu guessed.
"Sect Hierarch, you're just a little bit off..."
"Off by what?"
"Just a little bit from being right."
Zhong Liwu: "..."
Am I playing guessing games with you, huh?
Sensing the change in Zhong Liwu's gaze, the sharp-faced middle-aged man felt a sudden tightness in his chest—he knew the Sect Hierarch might be losing his patience.
So he hurriedly blurted out everything he knew, "The Three Great Empires didn't back down at all, remaining steadfast from beginning to end, demanding sanctions against Xuan Zi.
Their firmness also put considerable pressure on Shrek Academy. In the end, it was Xuan Zi who stepped forward, choosing self-exile from Shrek Academy, severing all ties with them. Moreover, at the meeting point of The Three Great Empires, he set up a challenge stage to await challengers from the Empires."
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