"The situation is just as I said…"
Tang San sat quietly, listening to Tai Tan's explanation. His face was bruised and swollen, his body wrapped in bandages. He couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart—his own father, the youngest titled Douluo on the continent… and after all these years, he surely hadn't stayed stagnant. Just how formidable had he become by now?
"Young Master, who did this to you? Allow this old servant to kill him!" Tai Tan was fuming as he looked at Tang San, who was anchored to his seat with bandages, barely able to move without extreme care.
"Him." Tang San pointed expressionlessly at the trembling Tai Long next to Tai Tan.
"Uh…" Tai Tan's mouth twitched.
With a sudden motion, Tai Tan raised his massive hand and slapped Tai Long, sending him crashing through the wall and flying straight out of the courtyard.
"What happened?!" Outside, Flender was dumbfounded as he saw the smashed wall, his heart aching. "Senior Tai Tan! Don't forget to pay for the damages!"
…
Inside, Ning Fengzhi and the others just smiled, as if they had expected this.
"I originally just wanted to check on Rongrong, but ended up running into an interesting kid instead. Rongrong, show me your Flying Godly Claw again," Ning Fengzhi said, beaming.
"Then you'll have to pay extra!" Ning Rongrong huffed proudly. "San-ge's Flying Godly Claw and the Zhuge Divine Crossbow are both treasures—you mustn't be stingy!"
"What are you saying…" Ning Fengzhi frowned. His daughter sided with Tang San rather than the clan, which gave him quite a headache.
After all, he had always intended to cultivate Rongrong as the sect's successor, hoping she would marry a talented offensive-type Soul Master in the future. But Tang San… this boy was shrewd and extremely self-serving. If he really became the sect's son-in-law, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan might be in for trouble. (In the original, Ning Rongrong earned Ning Fengzhi's full favor after absorbing the Beautiful Silk Tulip, but in this timeline, it was just a simple transaction, so Ning Fengzhi was somewhat displeased with Tang San's "greed.")
The Zhuge Divine Crossbow and Flying Godly Claw were indeed fine, but asking for ten thousand gold soul coins per set was daylight robbery. He could afford it, but Tang San's lofty tone made him suddenly lose interest in buying.
"Daddy, the Flying Godly Claw is so useful. Why not buy a few thousand sets for the sect?" Ning Rongrong pouted, trying to wheedle him.
"A few thousand sets? Do you know how much that would cost?!" Ning Fengzhi grew even more displeased. "That boy wants ten thousand gold soul coins per set. If we buy thousands, we'd be spending tens of millions!"
"Ten thousand is ten thousand." Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and shot a pleading look at the two elders.
But Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo hesitated and said nothing. They weren't fools—ten thousand gold soul coins could buy dozens of excellent slaves in the most expensive city, let alone a mere 'hidden weapon.'
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was rich, but not stupid enough to be fleeced by everyone.
"Rongrong, I sent you to Shrek Academy to gain experience, not to let you act willfully…" Ning Fengzhi's tone hardened.
"And if you meet that student from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy again, you must bow and greet him! Even I have to be polite when I see him. How dare you threaten him to his face?!"
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong's pouting was almost sky-high, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Did you hear me?" Ning Fengzhi slammed the table, his voice tinged with anger.
"What right does he have?!" Ning Rongrong burst out. "He insulted our Shrek Academy. Why can't I scold him back? You're my father, yet you're siding with him?"
Ning Fengzhi took a sip of tea and spoke calmly, "He was just stating facts—hardly an insult. You can't possibly think Flender is some noble soul, can you? Back in the day, his reputation was so awful that he and the Grandmaster, both scoundrels, had to hide away and become deans in some remote place. You think he did that willingly?"
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
"Then why did you send me to Shrek Academy?"
"You ran away from home and chose the school yourself. What's it got to do with me?" Ning Fengzhi coughed lightly.
"All right, Fengzhi," Bone Douluo finally interjected, unable to watch any longer. "Rongrong is your own flesh and blood. Why be so harsh?"
He turned to the aggrieved Ning Rongrong, his heart melting. "Enough. Next time I see him, I'll say something. Targeting Shrek Academy is one thing, but why target our Rongrong? Really…"
"Uncle Bone…" Ning Fengzhi looked helpless.
"At worst, we'll spar with him and test his strength," Sword Douluo Chen Xin added quietly.
"Sigh…" Ning Fengzhi rubbed his forehead.
The last thing he wanted was to offend someone with such a mysterious background. Who knew what power stood behind him? A powerhouse on par with Uncle Dust was unlikely to appear out of nowhere.
…
On the other side.
Tang San looked at Tai Tan, who was kneeling and declaring his loyalty, and sighed. He helped Tai Tan up. "Since Senior Tai Tan is willing to continue serving me, please keep in contact with the other three clans. United, the four clans are not a force to be underestimated."
"Understood…" Tai Tan hesitated, but nodded.
"According to these blueprints, forge five hundred sets…"
"I'll have Ning Fengzhi purchase them at ten thousand gold soul coins per set. This will be the starting funds for our Tang Sect." Tang San smiled.
"Ten thousand each? Will they buy them?" Tai Tan took the blueprints, doubtful.
"With Rongrong as our lobbyist, they will…" Tang San's confident smile grew.
…
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
A group of young figures stood tall.
Looking down at the gathered students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, a flame-haired youth sneered, "This is it? These losers are worthy of the Pope sending us here for an exchange? Trash will always be trash. Do they think a golden phoenix will rise from this lot?"
"Watch your words," the leading youth said calmly.
"Our target is the new core team of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Besides, the Pope must have her reasons for sending us here," a charming girl agreed.
"The new generation?" Yan curled his lip. "I heard they even lost to some unknown chicken coop academy. How strong can they be?"
"Then you can go back." The leader shot him a cold look.
"…." The flame-haired, hot-headed youth shut his mouth and shrugged.
"Uncle Chrysanthemum, sorry to trouble you." The leader bowed slightly to the black-robed elder at his side.
"Your Highness flatters me," Chrysanthemum Douluo grinned.
But there was a glint of seriousness in his eyes. He wasn't just here to protect the Holy Son and Holy Maiden. The true purpose… was to probe that so-called friend of the former Pope, to see just what kind of person he was.
…