Most people from Shrek Academy were basically aware of Huo Yuhao's identity, but they hadn't expected him to reveal it at this moment. Everyone's eyes instinctively turned toward Dai Yueheng, the eldest Young Master of the White Tiger Dukes Mansion.
His expression was complex, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. Seeing everyone looking at him, he merely gave a bitter laugh and said nothing. In that smile was helplessness, bitterness, and an indescribable mix of emotions.
Wang Dong's gaze fell upon the slender figure on the stage, his heart seemingly even more agitated than Huo Yuhao's. His fists were tightly clenched; he had said before that he would help Huo Yuhao strike at the White Tiger Dukes Mansion, and those were not empty words.
He knew that Huo Yuhao would definitely clash with the White Tiger Dukes Mansion during this visit to Star Luo City, so he had contacted the Clear Sky Sect in advance. At this moment, a Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect was indeed sitting in the audience.
Meanwhile, everyone's attention was focused on Emperor Xu Jiawei atop the city wall, wondering what the Star Luo Emperor would say next.
Emperor Xu Jiawei first glanced behind him, his gaze slowly sweeping across his ministers.
He looked at the Duke of White Tiger, Dai Hao, and then at Zhu Yunhao, the Head of the Zhu Family and the Minister of Finance.
Finally, he turned his gaze back to Huo Yuhao, his voice calm and majestic: "This matter cannot be handled carelessly. Since you say this, do you have any evidence?"
"Of course there is evidence!" A voice followed, echoing throughout the entire square.
But these words were not spoken by Huo Yuhao; they came from the audience. Everyone then saw two figures leap from the audience and land steadily upon the stage.
Emperor Xu Jiawei recognized one of them at a glance—wasn't that the Dean of the Spirit Hall Department of Shrek Academy, the Bright Phoenix Douluo, Yan Shaozhe!
A glint flashed in Emperor Xu Jiawei's eyes, and he thought to himself that Shrek Academy truly valued Huo Yuhao.
This Dean of the Martial Soul Department, who usually might not even attend an invitation from the Empire, had personally come to Star Luo City today to testify.
He immediately smiled and said, "I didn't expect Dean Yan to come in person?"
Yan Shaozhe smiled, his expression carrying a hint of refined elegance. Then, in a protective tone, he said, "It couldn't be helped. Someone wants to harm our academy's Genius, so as the Dean, I naturally had to come and support him."
As soon as these words were spoken, the favorability of countless people on the scene for Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of Shrek Academy, reached its peak.
There was much discussion in the stands as many people whispered to one another, their eyes filled with envy. After all, who wouldn't want a Dean who could stand up for his Students like this?
However, they wouldn't stop to think if they possessed a talent as powerful as Huo Yuhao's. Nor would they consider whether Dean Yan Shaozhe would stand up for every single Student. They only saw Yan Shaozhe standing on the stage, righteously seeking justice for his Student, which truly inspired admiration.
Yan Shaozhe glanced at the thin and weak old man beside him and said coldly, "Tell them everything you know."
The one beside Yan Shaozhe was precisely the Spirit Saint who had attacked Huo Yuhao in Shrek City. Sparing his life back then was for this very moment.
This Spirit Saint, named Zhou Qing, hurriedly spoke, his voice fast and urgent, as if he couldn't wait to spill everything he knew.
"I am Zhou Qing, the leader of the Azure Shadow Mercenary Group. In addition to normal missions, I occasionally take on jobs involving robbery and murder." He paused, swallowed hard, and his voice trembled slightly: "It was Zhu Tianfu of the Zhu Family who found me and paid a high price for me to go to Shrek City to eliminate Huo Yuhao."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone again. That appearance was like a rat pulled out of a sewer, shivering in the sunlight, without a shred of a Spirit Saint's dignity remaining.
On the city wall, Zhu Yunhao, the Head of the Zhu Family, stepped forward. Standing by the edge of the wall, he looked down at Zhou Qing on the stage: "This is nothing more than his one-sided statement; it cannot serve as evidence!"
Yan Shaozhe glanced at Zhu Yunhao and snorted, "Since I brought him here, I can naturally confirm that what he says is absolutely true."
"What, do you not trust the credibility of Shrek?"
Zhu Yunhao was left speechless upon hearing this. Shrek Academy was at the peak of its power, with a Ten Thousand Years Legacy and being number one on the continent; he naturally did not dare to question Shrek.
His face turned flushed, his lips quivered a few times, and he finally remained silent. He glanced at Huo Yuhao on the stage, not expecting Shrek Academy to value him so much.
At the same time, he was cursing his younger sister to death in his heart. If she hadn't caused these problems, how could there be today's trouble?
Zhu Yunhao then looked at Dai Hao with an expression that clearly said, 'I'm staying out of this, you handle it.'
Emperor Xu Jiawei also turned to look at Dai Hao. He did not wish for Huo Yuhao to return to the White Tiger lineage, as that would further strengthen the power of the Dai Family.
But now the Empire also needed Dai Hao to command the army and resist the threat of the Sun Moon Empire, so he naturally couldn't ignore his opinion.
Therefore, at this time, Dai Hao had to step forward. He took a deep breath, his resolute face showing no emotion.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a heavy voice: "I will give you a satisfactory result regarding this matter; there is no need to waste time here."
Huo Yuhao was unmoved by the words. He had said he would let everyone know what Zhu Yunqing had done, and that was not an empty statement.
So, looking at Dai Hao, Huo Yuhao's voice was calm and firm: "If the Duke of White Tiger wishes to handle this, he might as well say it directly here."
On the city wall, Dai Hao frowned, his resolute face clouded with gloom. He was silent for a moment, then, bracing one hand against a battlement, he vaulted over and leapt down from the city wall. His tall figure traced an arc in the air and landed steadily on the stage, directly opposite Huo Yuhao.
Dai Hao controlled his voice, lowering it so only those in close proximity could hear: "Do you truly intend to be this ruthless?"
Huo Yuhao met his gaze directly, his eyes clear and cold, without the slightest sign of backing down: "I already told you my purpose yesterday!"
Dai Hao's chest heaved violently, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly. Being defied by his own son and pushed to such a state in public, the anger in his heart could no longer be contained.
He instinctively erupted with his Spirit Douluo aura, and the slaughterous aura honed from battles on the battlefield surged from his body like something tangible, crushing toward Huo Yuhao!
That aura was so strong that it made everyone around the stage feel a weight in their hearts.
Yet Huo Yuhao remained motionless, merely looking at him coldly.
Yan Shaozhe took a step forward, and the power of light radiated from him. That soft yet profound light acted like an invisible barrier, easily blocking the aura for Huo Yuhao.
Standing beside Huo Yuhao, he looked at Dai Hao and said calmly, "Duke of White Tiger, bullying a Student of Shrek Academy in front of me is a bit too much."
Dai Hao's face was livid, and his voice was low and raspy, laced with uncontainable rage: "Your Excellency Bright Phoenix, this is my family matter!"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
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