After a moment of silence, Flender finally stood with Zhao Wuji.
Tang Hao, observing Flender's expression, seemed to have realized something. Suddenly, he spoke:
"Enough, stop wasting words. Step aside, or I'll beat you up too. Zhao Wuji, I'll give you a chance. I won't use my martial spirit. If you can last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I'll leave without a word."
"Otherwise, you'll have to do something for me."
Upon hearing Tang Hao's words, Flender breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Wuji, however, smiled bitterly and said:
"Your Majesty, Lord Haotian, I really don't understand how I've offended you. Can you clarify it first?"
Zhao Wuji was clearly feeling a bit indignant. After all, he had spent the day testing the abilities of new students, so what did this have to do with Tang Hao?
But Flender, standing beside Zhao Wuji, immediately and without hesitation, stepped aside. It was clear he had no intention of helping Zhao Wuji anymore.
He was no fool. Tang Hao merely wanted to beat him up, and Zhao Wuji was still asking so many questions. Didn't he realize that in this world, the strong prey on the weak?
Tang Hao could even kill Zhao Wuji here, and there would be nothing he could do about it.
As expected, Tang Hao snorted coldly.
"Do I need to explain? You've beaten up the younger ones, so naturally, the older ones must come to seek justice. That's how it works. Now, let's fight."
With that, Tang Hao retracted his martial spirit, rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscular arms. His nine spirit rings disappeared, but in the next moment, he was already standing in front of Zhao Wuji.
Boom, boom, crash, ah—
The sounds of clashes, powerful energy waves, groans, and screams echoed through the forest.
Flender, who was watching from the side with his wings outstretched, couldn't bear to look anymore and covered his eyes, turning his head away.
There was no need to burn an incense stick. The fight was over within ten breaths.
Tang Hao stood with his hands behind his back, as if nothing had happened. His black clothes weren't even wrinkled. His presence was imposing.
Meanwhile, poor Zhao Wuji lay on the ground, his head swollen, his eyes blackened. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as he gasped for air.
The external wounds from earlier that day had all re-opened, and his abdominal pain was now excruciating, as if his insides were being torn apart.
Tang Hao, seeing Zhao Wuji drenched in cold sweat, looked at him with slight disdain.
He hadn't even used his spirit power, and Zhao Wuji was already in this state.
Zhao Wuji was truly suffering in silence.
"Zhao Wuji, do you understand now?"
Tang Hao asked calmly.
Only then did Flender dare to come over, helping the lying Zhao Wuji to his feet. Surprisingly, Zhao Wuji, despite his pain, showed gratitude, barely managing to say:
"Thank you, Lord Haotian, for your guidance."
Tang Hao nodded at the two of them and murmured something under his breath.
Both Zhao Wuji and Flender nodded seriously, expressions serious.
"What just happened was a small compensation. I'll trouble you both in the future."
Tang Hao's tone wasn't cold anymore, but still very calm.
Zhao Wuji and Flender stood there without moving for a long time. Zhao Wuji's body had reached its limit, and he needed Flender's support just to stay upright.
"Flender, you have no sense of loyalty! He told you to step aside, and you just did? If His Majesty had meant harm, I'd be dead by now."
Hearing Zhao Wuji's complaint, Flender smirked and said:
"You think he didn't have ill intentions at the start? He only changed his mind later. You should be thankful!"
Zhao Wuji fell silent. Flender was right; at first, he had felt the killing intent—undisguised and sharp.
Zhao Wuji chuckled bitterly.
"Of course, I get it. You didn't want to provoke him. But after being beaten so badly, can't I complain a little?"
"But his strength is terrifying. Even without using his martial spirit, I was no match for him. I think his spirit power is well over level 95, nearly at the peak. I doubt anyone on the continent could rival him."
Flender nodded in agreement.
"Title Douluos are not to be trifled with. Consider yourself lucky this time. Let's head back. Though you suffered today, getting guidance from him, with similar spirit power, will benefit you greatly."
Zhao Wuji didn't know what to say. It was just some force techniques—did Flender really think they were that valuable?
Flender noticed Zhao Wuji's dissatisfaction and quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, why did you get beaten up so badly? That's not like you."
Zhao Wuji had been holding it together, but when Flender asked that, a hint of grievance appeared in his eyes.
"You think I wanted this? I spent the day assessing Yun Feng and Tang San, those two little monsters."
"Guess what? One of them pierced my palm, and the other, I don't know if he used poison, made my whole body ache, especially my abdomen, arms, and legs. The pain was unbearable! How could I possibly fight back?"
Hearing this, Flender burst into laughter.
"You tried to show off, and it backfired."
Zhao Wuji remained silent.
It was late at night, and the students at Shrek Academy were unaware of the commotion that had taken place, except for Yun Feng, who had watched everything unfold through the Blue Silver Grass under Ah Yin's guidance.
As for Zhao Wuji's swollen, pig-like face, it wouldn't be healing anytime soon.
Yun Feng, however, eagerly awaited the next day. He noticed that the Dragon Whisker Needle that Tang San had implanted into Zhao Wuji earlier had now completely twisted and damaged some of his internal organs.
Thanks to Tang Hao's intervention, the process had sped up.
The next morning.
Yun Feng got up early to train, practicing Tai Chi.
Reflecting on the previous day's battle, Yun Feng realized one of his weaknesses: poor stamina.
If he could manifest the properties of Blue Silver Grass earlier, it would have prevented many issues.
However, Yun Feng hadn't yet figured out how to achieve this—the secret of Blue Silver Grass's endless regeneration and cycle remained elusive.
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