The bodies of the black-clad attackers were hastily buried, while the wounded received initial treatment from healing-type Soul Masters like Ye Lingling and the accompanying military medics. Damaged carriages were patched up or combined for use. The thick scent of blood and lingering energy in the air silently spoke of the brutal ambush that had just ended. Everyone's face bore the exhaustion of having narrowly escaped death, along with deeper vigilance and unease.
After a brief rest, the procession set off again. The soldiers of the Royal Knights wore bloodstained armor, their expressions solemn, their alertness raised to the highest level, with scouts dispatched far ahead. The teachers and students from the various academies no longer chatted and laughed as casually as before. Most sat silently in their carriages, seizing the time to recover their Soul Power and tend to their injuries, their eyes frequently glancing out at the treacherous terrain beyond the windows, fearing another attack.
After this battle, everyone understood that the road to Spirit City was far from as peaceful as they had imagined. The Spirit Hall's brazen attack and the appearance of two Titled Douluos were like a bucket of ice water, sobering up those young people who had held relaxed or complacent attitudes toward the Grand Finals. This was not merely a competition; the power struggles and grudges behind it far exceeded their imaginations.
Beside Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's carriage now stood Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin. They did not return to their hidden carriage but chose to travel alongside the Crown Prince, both for protection and as a display of stance. After comforting his daughter Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi also accompanied her to the Shrek Academy carriage.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside the Shrek Academy carriage was heavy. Tang San had regained consciousness. With the aid of Oscar's Recovery Sausage and Ning Rongrong's support, his injuries had stabilized somewhat, but his face remained pale and his aura weak. He leaned against the carriage wall, head bowed, his expression unclear. Only his tightly clenched fists and slightly trembling body revealed the turmoil within. Xiao Wu's disappearance, the successive blows, and especially today's near-death experience of utter helplessness before a Titled Douluo had filled his heart with resentment, humiliation, and an almost twisted desire to grow stronger.
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, and the others also sat nearby, each bearing injuries, their expressions grave.
Ning Fengzhi sat opposite Tang San, his gaze sweeping gently over everyone before settling on Tang San. He spoke slowly, "Those who attacked you today were from the Spirit Hall. The Golden Eagle Soul Douluo is named Sardias, a core force within the Spirit Hall. As for the man in white…" He paused, his voice carrying a note of gravity, "He is a Spirit Hall Elder, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, a ninety-fifth rank Titled Douluo, with the Martial Soul Exquisite Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum. The black shadow forced back by the Godly Spear Douluo was Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, also ninety-fifth rank, with the Martial Soul Ghost. He works in perfect coordination with Yue Guan, excelling in stealth and mental attacks. These two are the most capable right-hand men under Pope Bibidong."
Although they had already suspected as much, hearing Ning Fengzhi personally confirm that the attackers were actually two Elder-level Titled Douluos from the Spirit Hall still made the Shrek members gasp in shock, their hearts growing heavy. Just what had they done to warrant such "attention" from the Spirit Hall, to have such a lineup dispatched to intercept them?
"They... were after Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer? Or..." Yu Xiaogang asked hoarsely, his gaze instinctively glancing toward the direction of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy outside the window, "Or were they after someone else?"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes sharpened slightly as he slowly said, "Today's attack likely had more than one target. Tang San possesses the Clear Sky Hammer and extraordinary talent. He is certain to become a formidable power in the future. For the Spirit Hall, this is both a potential threat and a sign of the revival of the Three Upper Schools they are unwilling to see. That is one reason."
He paused, lowering his voice a little, carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "And the other important target was probably that one at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy... Marco."
The Shrek group felt a shock in their hearts. Although they had some suspicions, hearing Ning Fengzhi state it so clearly still sent a chill down their spines. Even the Spirit Hall was targeting Marco? And they were willing to dispatch two elders for it?
"This young man's displayed strength and potential are too astonishing, one could even say... they defy common sense," Ning Fengzhi said gravely. "With the cultivation of a Soul Emperor, he possesses such combat power. The various incredible abilities he commands have even astonished Titled Douluo. Not to mention, behind him stands a powerhouse like the Godly Spear Douluo. If allowed to grow freely, no one can predict what heights he might reach in the future. For the Spirit Hall, whose ambition is to unify the Soul Master Realm, such a peerless genius who cannot be controlled and clearly holds no goodwill toward the Spirit Hall poses a threat probably no less than the reappearance of the Clear Sky Sect."
"So, they want to strangle a genius?" Liu Erlong couldn't help but exclaim angrily.
"Not necessarily strangle. It could also be control, or weakening—at the very least, preventing him from smoothly growing to a point where he can threaten them," Ning Fengzhi analyzed. "Today, Gui Mei's infiltration likely targeted Marco himself or someone important around him, attempting to create chaos or conduct some kind of probe or ambush. They just didn't expect the Godly Spear Douluo to also be secretly accompanying them, causing their plan to fail."
Tang San clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. So, in today's earth-shattering ambush, both he and that Marco—who had severely injured him and brought him endless humiliation—were primary targets? What was this? Fellow sufferers? No, it was the same... being seen as "obstacles" that needed to be cleared by those lofty, powerful figures!
A mixture of humiliation, anger, and a strange, twisted sense of resonance churned within him.
"You two, one bearing the Clear Sky Hammer, the other with world-shaking talent, are both already at the eye of the storm," Ning Fengzhi said, looking at Tang San with a serious tone. "This journey to Spirit City to participate in the Grand Finals is not just about competing for honor for you. It means placing yourselves at the very center of the most dangerous whirlpool. You must be extremely cautious, every step carefully considered."
Tang San gritted his teeth, lowering his head again, his fingernails digging deep into his palms until blood seeped out. Power! He needed power! Without power, not only could he not take revenge or wash away his shame, but even his own life and death were in the hands of others, becoming pawns in the games of those great figures!
Seeing the heavy, grim expressions on everyone's faces, Ning Fengzhi shifted the topic to discuss the upcoming Grand Finals...
Ning Fengzhi observed the heavy, somber expressions on everyone's faces and shifted the topic to the upcoming Grand Finals. "This tournament has gathered all the elites from the two great empires. But forgive my bluntness—judging by the strength each team has displayed so far, there are no more than three teams with the capability to contend for the championship."
Everyone perked up and looked at him. Though their spirits were low, the Grand Finals were, after all, the goal of their journey.
"The first, naturally, is the Spirit Hall team," Ning Fengzhi said gravely. "The Spirit Hall has deep foundations and has cultivated an endless stream of young geniuses. From what I know, this generation's Golden Generation likely far exceeds external estimates, with at least three Soul Kings among them. They have the advantage of playing on their home ground, with limitless resources, making them the strongest contenders for the championship—one could even say they are... the predetermined favorites."
Three Soul Kings?! The Shrek team's expressions shifted again. Among them, even the strongest, Dai Mubai, was only a high-level Soul Ancestor. Tang San and Ma Hongjun were Soul Ancestors, Ning Rongrong was a Soul Ancestor, while Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar were slightly weaker. Facing a team that might even have a Soul Emperor... the gap was simply too vast.
"The second is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team Two," Ning Fengzhi continued, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. "With Marco Lee among them, they possess limitless potential. That young man's strength is unfathomable, and the power his father, the Godly Spear Douluo, displayed today makes one even more wary of the hidden depths behind him. A team formed around Marco alone is enough to rival any other."
Mentioning Marco stirred mixed emotions in the hearts of the Shrek team. Especially Tang San—upon hearing that name, a flash of deep-seated hatred and resentment crossed his eyes, but more than that, a sense of powerlessness. Today, he had suffered a crushing defeat at the other's hands, nearly losing his life, while Marco had managed to force Gui Mei, a Titled Douluo, to retreat after suffering a setback... The gap between them was like an impassable chasm.
"Then... what about the third team?" Dai Mubai couldn't help but ask, holding onto a sliver of hope.
Ning Fengzhi glanced at him, then at Tang San, who remained silent with his head lowered, and at the others nearby—Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun, injured but with stubborn determination in their eyes. Slowly, he said, "The third team is still the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One."