The captain of the Elephant Armored Sect, Huyan Li, tightly clenched the token in his hand.
His towering figure of over two meters trembled continuously, muscles twitching with strain.
Flashes of Luo Yu's terrifying sword that had cleaved the earth filled his mind.
He lifted his head, his face the picture of sorrow; such a burly man, yet tears were brimming in the corners of his eyes.
"Tyrant Instructor, what should we do now?"
The other team members also stepped forward one by one to lament their fears, expressions filled with terror.
"Tyrant Instructor, can't we just forfeit and not fight? Let's go back home."
"It's okay to compete against others, but competing against this guy is a matter of life and death."
"We can't even withstand a bit of his presence."
The team members' morale shattered, leaving Huyan Badao feeling even worse.
After all, he had been the one to directly face Luo Yu's attack that day, and he was well aware of the terror of Luo Yu's strength.
Suddenly, the corners of his mouth turned upwards, revealing a relaxed smile.
"Kids, have you forgotten that that guy is just like me, a team leader and instructor?"
"He's not participating in the competition, what are you afraid of!!!"
"Huh?"
Their expressions paused for a moment, then their eyes lit up.
"Right, we just talked about this earlier, how could I have almost forgotten."
"Since that guy is an instructor, then what do we have to fear."
"The little girls from Tianshui Academy might not necessarily be our opponents."
Huyan Badao nodded his head, then he shook it again.
"No, I still need to go over and give Tianshui Academy a heads up in advance."
"Otherwise, if you guys happen to injure the girls from Tianshui Academy, and he comes after you in private, I won't be able to stop him."
"Give them a heads up?" Huyan Li asked, puzzled.
"Right."
Huyan Badao looked towards Luo Yu's direction, with unmistakable wariness flashing in his tiger-like eyes.
He clenched his fist and finally walked towards Luo Yu.
…
"What are you doing here?"
Shui Yue'er glared at Huyan Badao; although this guy was at the Soul Douluo level, she had her man to rely on.
She was not afraid.
"Cough cough, I want to speak a few words with your academy's instructor," Huyan Badao said with a simple smile.
"Speak what?"
Shui Yue'er's pretty face was stern, holding no good feelings for this man.
"Yue'er, let him come over."
Luo Yu raised his eyes, signaling him.
Huyan Badao stood respectfully in front of Luo Yu, looking at the unimposing Luo Yu.
Yet inside, he felt not the slightest bit dismissive, but rather a sense of difficulty breathing and an upwelling of fear.
He steadied his mind.
"I have something I want to discuss with you."
Luo Yu looked askance, "Discuss what?"
"That..."
True to his name, Huyan Badao's life had always been about overwhelming dominance; yet now, he stumbled over his words.
"Speak your piece, or get lost."
Luo Yu huffed lightly.
"That is, our Elephant Armored Sect drew your academy."
"Originally, I wanted to forfeit, but thinking of the children's years of tireless hard work, I couldn't bear it."
"So I was wondering if our two academies could compete normally, and no matter the outcome, we wouldn't part on bad terms."
Before Luo Yu could even speak, Huyan Badao gestured and added, "Please rest assured, Instructor, I will definitely command the students to be merciful and not hurt your academy's girls."
"However, if the kids really accidentally exert a bit too much power, I hope your academy's instructor will understand, 'understanding is supreme'!"
"Afterwards, compensation will surely be offered."
Luo Yu and the girls around him all understood Huyan Badao's meaning, and their eyes became strange.
"Are you sure you want to compete with us?" Shui Yue'er asked from the side.
Huyan Badao nodded, "I'm sure!"
Xue Wu laughed, "Tyrant Instructor, you don't actually think your academy has a chance to win against ours, do you?"
Huyan Badao laughed in response.
"Ahem, I have some confidence, though as an instructor I'm not as brilliant, far from as good as the instructors from your esteemed academy, but my students are not bad."
"Alright, I agree with you," Luo Yu agreed and added, "You don't have to be polite with me."
"Since it's a competition, anything that happens in the arena is normal. I assure you, whichever side gets injured during our teams' match, I won't take it to heart once it's over."
Huyan Badao was ecstatic inside, nearly jumping for joy.
Forcing down his excitement, he asked in a low voice, "Are these words true?"
"What, do you think I would lie to you?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow.
"No, of course not!"
"Then I won't bother you any longer."
Huyan Badao left in elation, the heavy stone in his heart finally falling.
Surrounding Luo Yu, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Xue Wu could no longer contain themselves, and covered their mouths giggling.
"Brother Yu, that guy probably thinks he's taken a huge advantage," one of the girls said.
"I wonder if his face will turn green when he finds out later that you are a team member, not an instructor," another chimed in.
Luo Yu looked at the Elephant Armored Sect, now far away and caught up in their cheering and jumping.
He sighed.
"Oops, I forgot to tell him I'm a team member, not an instructor," Luo Yu said, feigning forgetfulness.
"Tsk." A Wu pursed her lips from the side, her eyes flirtatious like silk, "Husband, you're too naughty. It wasn't that you forgot, I saw you did it on purpose."
"Don't talk nonsense," Luo Yu glared, hands out in innocence. "He didn't ask me that, he only mentioned that whatever injuries happen when we start fighting, to not damage our good relationship."
The match between Luo Yu's team and the Elephant Armored Sect was the fourth event,
while the first was between Divine Wind College and Chi Fire Academy, with the host introducing the participating players from both sides.
Although the competition had not yet started, the arena brimming with over a hundred thousand spectators buzzed with excitement.
Countless viewers looked forward to the teams that had drawn their lots, speculating which one would ultimately take the victory.
Of course, what they were most curious about was who exactly was Ning Fengzhi's son-in-law.
This was a burning question in everyone's mind.
In the VIP seats, Ning Fengzhi was undergoing a "grilling" by the Snow Night Emperor, the Platinum Bishop, and Sect Master Hu Lianzhen of the Elephant Armored Sect.
The Snow Night Emperor asked with curiosity, "Fengzhi, who exactly is this son-in-law of yours that you trust so much?"
"Hmph!"
The Platinum Bishop couldn't help but mock.
"Even foxes praise their own cubs, claiming assured victory—what a bold claim. Even Hulena, the strongest prodigy of our Martial Soul Hall's Golden Generation, wouldn't dare to boast like that."
Sect Master Hu Lianzhen immediately followed the Platinum Bishop's lead.
"There's no need for Martial Soul Hall to act; my Elephant Armored Sect does not accept this. I wonder which team Ning's son-in-law belongs to, my sect is quite interested in having a match."
Ning Fengzhi paid no attention to the sarcasm from the Platinum Bishop and Hu Lianzhen.
His smile grew bigger, and there was a mischievous glint deep in his eyes.
He thought inwardly.
Platinum Bishop?
Mere fools.
Doubting my son-in-law's strength?
When even your Female Pope got played by him, is there really any need for doubt?
Tsk tsk.
As for the Elephant Armored Sect, Ning Fengzhi stayed quiet, already prepared to see how Hu Lianzhen would cry later on.
"Your Majesty, allow me to keep you guessing. Once the event is over, you will know for yourself just who my son-in-law is," Ning Fengzhi teased.
The Snow Night Emperor stroked his beard, revealing a profound smile.
"Fengzhi, in fact, I am also fond of someone—a young man with unparalleled talent, whose skills in guqin and medicine are unrivaled in this world, he is the Heavenly King of the Empire that I've honored."
"I was even considering betrothing Princess Xue Ke to him."
"With the person I have high hopes for participating, your son-in-law might just end up meeting his Waterloo here," the emperor spoke confidently.
"Oh?"
Ning Fengzhi, the Platinum Bishop, and Hu Lianzhen were all surprised and somewhat incredulous.
"When did Tiandou Empire produce such a figure that Your Majesty holds in such high regard?"