Chapter 167: Enduring Hardships
With Platinum Bishop Salas secretly fanning the flames, the subsequent match schedule for Shrek Academy was incredibly smooth sailing.
Their continuous victories astonished the uninformed audience at the dark horse status of this 'Green-Clad Legion, " making them exclaim how terrifying it was!
What's more, when facing Shrek, some opponents showed absolutely no Battle Intent, even directly forfeiting, which caused many ticket-buying audience members to shout 'Fixed Match, " leading to a wave of boos at the scene.
However, these petty tricks that could fool ordinary spectators could not deceive the thousand-year-old fox watching from the stands.
"Fengzhi, regarding the Spirit Hall... aren't they being a bit too obvious?"
Gu Rong frowned deeply and asked in a low voice.
As the hidden mastermind of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was the most sensitive to the scent of conspiracy.
At a glance, he could tell that the opponents Shrek faced were all carefully selected'soft persimmons."
For a moment, Gu Rong couldn't quite figure out the twists and turns involved.
In response, Ning Fengzhi merely gently shook the scepter in his hand, a meaningful cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Although he looked down on Yu Xiaogang, that good-for-nothing buzz cut, from the bottom of his heart, there was one thing he had to admit!
With the body of a twenty-ninth-rank Great Soul Master, he could actually make the current high and mighty female Pope of the Spirit Hall unable to forget him to this day.
If he, Ning Fengzhi, possessed such means, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have long since been revived.
"Uncle Gu, it seems our Pope still has feelings for the past, doesn't she?"
"Fengzhi, are you saying... all of this is the Pope's idea? She is helping Yu Xiaogang?"
A trace of disbelief flashed in Gu Rong's eyes.
In his entire life, this was the first time he had seen someone who would use the resources of the Spirit Hall to manipulate a tournament for the sake of a good-for-nothing ex-boyfriend.
"Nine times out of ten."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, the worry in his eyes receding slightly, replaced by the shrewdness of a businessman.
"This is precisely why, even though I know Shrek is a pit and I know Yu Xiaogang is a good-for-nothing, I still let Rongrong stay there."
"As long as Yu Xiaogang remains at Shrek for one day, the Spirit Hall will give them special 'care." As an investor, we must know how to utilize this relationship, even if this relationship is a bit..."
Don't put all your eggs in one basket; this was Ning Fengzhi's philosophy for survival. Befriending the rising Tang Sect while using Shrek to keep the Spirit Hall tied to them—this was the way to thrive by playing both sides.
...Unlike the guaranteed passage for Shrek, the match schedule for the Royal Fighting Second Team appeared quite arbitrary.
Except when facing certain strong teams where they strategically controlled their scores, once they encountered specific opponents, this team would instantly transform into bloodthirsty Asuras.
For example, their opponent today was the Thunder Academy, the direct combat team of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!
Following Jiang Li's previous instruction: 'When you meet people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, don't kill them, but beat them until they wish they were dead."
The moment the match began, the Soul Breaking Spears in the hands of The Three Yang Brothers instantly shone with dark light. That tragic, relentless Spear Intent locked onto one of the Blue Lightning Twin Stars opposite them—Yu Tianxin.
There were no fancy probes; it was a complete one-sided crushing.
The 'Ignore Defense' trait inherent to the Soul Breaking Spear, combined with the trio's terrifying burst power nearing that of a Soul King, pierced through the 'Dragonization' defense that Yu Tianxin prided himself on, leaving it riddled with holes.
In the rest area, the faces of several Elders from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect twitched, their temples throbbing.
Normally, if they discovered a Genius who was uncontrollable and posed a great threat to the Clan, they would absolutely move secretly to strangle them in the cradle. But remembering that these three were backed by Jiang Li, by the mysterious and unfathomable Tang Sect, these old fellows could only forcibly swallow their killing intent.
"Pfft—!"
On the stage, with a dull thud, Yu Tianxin was sent flying backward like a broken sack, slamming heavily onto the ground. The majestic dragon scales on his body were now shattered.
"Why..."
Yu Tianxin struggled to stand up, his eyes filled with confusion and unwillingness.
According to what the Clan Elders said, his cousin Yu Tianheng was weak because Yu Xiaogang, that good-for-nothing, had led him down the wrong path. But he, Yu Tianxin, had received the most orthodox elite education within the Clan; why did he still lose so miserably against these guys from single-attribute Sects?
Even though the Breaking Clan was once a subsidiary sect of the Clear Sky Sect, the number one Sect under heaven, in the eyes of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, which was also one of the Upper Three Sects, they were still just dogs not worthy of being mentioned.
Now, the sense of superiority derived from having the number one Beast Martial Soul under heaven was once again brutally trampled upon...
"We are both Soul Sects... why is the gap between us so vast?"
Yu Tianxin stared intensely at the three figures holding long spears and looking down at him, roaring hoarsely.
Hearing this defeated dog's mournful cry, The Three Yang Brothers exchanged glances, and a look of arrogant laughter appeared on their lips simultaneously.
Jiang Li had not only bestowed upon them the Immortal Herb capable of changing their fate, but also shattered the shackles in their hearts that they were 'also Mortals." Now, they had one foot already stepping across the threshold of Soul King!
The leader, Yang Kang, performed a spear flourish, the tip of his spear pointing directly at Yu Tianxin's throat. "Why are you so strong?"
"We have merely endured hardships."
As these words left his mouth, Tang San's eyes instantly lit up below the stage.
"Endured hardships..."
For some reason, Tang San felt this sentence was strangely familiar at this moment!
After saying this, the group turned around dashingly and left. The host timely announced the victory for this match.
The Royal Fighting Second Team once again won the match effortlessly. Although it brought a powerful visual shock to the audience present, they belatedly realized a problem.
"Have you noticed? Although Shrek Academy's record on the board looks great, they basically only fought weak teams. Whereas the Royal Fighting Second Team, except for certain specific teams, basically held back their strength."
"You don't say, that's actually true."
"Could it be that this Shrek Academy pulled strings?"
"Hiss—"
"They have people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and a prince from the Star Luo Empire in their academy..."
"It's over, the sky of our Heaven Dou Empire has completely turned dark..."
Comments like these, reaching the ears of Ning Fengzhi and the members of Shrek Academy who came to gather intelligence on their opponents, made them all feel utterly embarrassed.
Especially Yu Xiaogang, feeling the pointing gazes of the crowd, wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. "What is going on with Bibi Dong?"
"Even if she wanted to help This Master, she shouldn't have done it so obviously!"
"Damn it! My lifelong reputation!!!"
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