An Zhen looked at the Inner Court Seven Freaks.
Two figures lay on the ground, their distorted expressions due to enduring immense pain, or perhaps an unwillingness to accept reality and attempting to escape it. This was especially true for Yao Haoxuan. Although Chen Zifeng lost half a leg, his Spirit primarily relied on long-range attacks, so his future wasn't completely ruined. However, Yao Haoxuan's legs were completely blown off due to his large size, and the poisonous blood even spread upwards along his waist. Fortunately, it was stopped in time by Illuminating spirit power, but his future was almost completely over. Growing bones and flesh might be achievable with special healing Spirit Ability, or by the Body Sect, which has deep research into the body.
"Does Medical Immortal Douluo have a solution?"
"It's hard to say. I will go and try," Yan Shaozhe did not conceal the severity of the injuries, as they were all adults and had the right to know.
From a bright future genius to a cripple.
Such a huge disparity might lead to a complete breakdown, like Dai Huabin. So, these words offered a glimmer of hope.
Gongyang Mo and Xixi sat cross-legged on the ground, their inner armor on their backs already torn open, revealing flesh contaminated by poisonous blood. Both were bathed in the light of the Bright Light Phoenix, and wisps of black aura emanated from their bodies.
Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao, relying on their powerful cultivation and Spirits that were comprehensive in attack and defense, were not eroded by the poisonous blood. However, their pale and weak complexions showed that they were not lightly injured.
An Zhen looked at Ling Luochen, the only one who was almost unharmed.
"Thank you."
The cold Ice and Snow Princess sincerely thanked him.
An Zhen's reminder was very quick, giving the Inner Court Seven Freaks more reaction time than in the original story. The reason their injuries were less severe than in the original, and even those who would have died survived, was largely due to Ling Luochen having more time to erect several ice walls, greatly weakening the damage from the explosion. However, they were still at the core of the explosion. Nearly two hundred bandits had already died by their hands, including three Spirit Kings. Compared to them, An Zhen's side was much better off; the explosion's power was smaller, and the main concern was preventing the poisonous blood.
"We are all teammates."
As if remembering something, An Zhen walked into a deeper part of the cave. A moment later, he carried out a skeleton. It was a gaunt figure wrapped in a black robe, but its gauntness wasn't due to a weak body, but because there was almost no flesh on its entire body. A human skin was directly pasted onto the skeleton, looking extremely eerie.
"This is their boss."
Upon hearing An Zhen's words, the Inner Court Seven Freaks, including Yao Haoxuan, who had been lying on the ground with a distorted expression and despair in his eyes, supported himself with his arms and crawled up. Several pairs of eyes stared hatefully at the skeleton.
'It's strange. My Soul Impact at that time held nothing back. Let alone this five-ring Spirit Master, even a six-ring Spirit Master hit by that attack would have their soul shattered. But this guy didn't die immediately; instead, he was delayed by half a second.'
In the Virtual World, An Zhen expressed his doubts to Teacher Electrolux.
Electrolux saw the problem at a glance, "This guy should be a Corpse Lich who just touched the edge of necromancy and sacrificed his own flesh and blood. Although not a strong undead creature like a Lich, he already possessed some of the undead's immortal characteristics. Either your soul needs to be stronger, or you need to add purifying power to your Soul Impact to kill him in one blow."
"So, hurry up and complete the study tasks I assigned you!" Electrolux knocked An Zhen's head impatiently. He shielded his perception of the outside World all day, probably sticking with those few girls. It's impossible for a student not to want their teacher to see their hard work, right?
"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm."
An Zhen nodded repeatedly.
He really needed to study, otherwise, if he encountered other Evil Soul Masters in the future, what if they suddenly launched an attack before dying, like this time? This time, it had already been released, but An Zhen's attack didn't immediately interrupt the Spirit Ability.
Reality.
Although they wished they could slice this Evil Soul Master into a thousand pieces, the opponent was already dead.
"This time, thanks to our junior brother striking down the opponent in advance, a greater disaster was avoided." Yan Shaozhe looked at the heavily injured Inner Court Seven Freaks, a hint of sorrow and regret flashing in his eyes. He had thought it was just a simple warm-up before the competition, but he never expected such a tragic outcome.
"As the team leader, I bear an unshirkable responsibility. After returning this time, I will apply to strengthen the resource allocation to the Soul Guidance System, ensuring that every student who goes out on a mission can be equipped with flying and defensive spirit tools of the same level." Looking at An Zhen and the others, who were completely unharmed, Yan Shaozhe said seriously.
Fortunately, this time, Junior Brother and the others did not go deep and were also equipped with defensive spirit tools. The hope of the academy for the next few hundred years rested here. If there were any losses, he would not be able to atone for his sins even with his death.
The sudden tragedy gave Yan Shaozhe a great lesson. He had to admit that the inner armor equipped by the supervisors was indeed far inferior to defensive spirit tools.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, the Inner Court Seven Freaks looked at An Zhen, recalling the defensive spirit tool An Zhen had offered them earlier. If they had accepted it then, would their current situation be much better? But there's no turning back in the World, and they were all adults who had to pay for their choices.
Ma Xiaotao saw the sadness in her master's eyes and remembered her pride when she refused the defensive spirit tool earlier. Looking at the injuries of her companions behind her, especially Yao Haoxuan and Chen Zifeng, a wave of self-reproach and regret surged within her.
"Hoo~"
Taking a deep breath, Yan Shaozhe raised his hand and enveloped Chen Zifeng, Yao Haoxuan, Xixi, and Gongyang Mo in four light spheres using Illuminating spirit power. "Junior Brother, Le Xuan, Wang Yan, these four are too severely injured. I need to take them back to the academy for treatment. However, the Soul Fighting Competition is about to begin, and the Sun Moon Empire is restless, constantly making small moves at the border. We cannot be absent from this competition."
Zhang Lexuan nodded lightly.
Yan Shaozhe was very glad that Zhang Lexuan had come with An Zhen this time. After he left, there would at least be a high-level Spirit Master who could shoulder heavy responsibilities.
Yan Shaozhe looked at his beloved disciple and said in a heavy tone, "Xiaotao, you must not act rashly or impulsively again. Listen to the commands of Junior Brother and the other two in everything."
"Yes!"
Ma Xiaotao nodded heavily, tears in her eyes.
Yan Shaozhe finally looked at the reserve team and Ling Luochen, "Children, this time, it's up to you to step up. Do your best. Victory and honor belong to you; failure and shame belong only to me."
Fortunately, this team had a Junior Brother who could suppress the two Spirit Emperors of the Inner Court Seven Freaks.
After saying this, Yan Shaozhe lifted the severely injured individuals and left, rushing to the academy at his fastest speed. Although the injuries sealed by spirit power would not worsen, receiving treatment earlier would give them a greater chance of recovery in the future.
Inside the cave, silence reigned for a moment.
"Let's go out first. The environment here is too bad," An Zhen broke the silence.
The ground was covered with blood, flesh, and bones, and the smell of blood permeated the air.
After taking the pills, Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao's conditions also recovered slightly; at least, they could move normally. The group walked out of this cave filled with tragic memories.
…
One day later, Sea God Pavilion.
"Teacher, have you recovered?"
In the Sea God Pavilion conference hall, the despondent Yan Shaozhe and the other elders were startled by the old man who walked into the hall. The old man, who had been in a wheelchair ever since his battle with Poison Must Die, had miraculously stood up. He walked with powerful strides, and although he still looked white-haired, several highly senior elders seemed to vaguely see the spirited Dragon God Douluo of yesteryear again.
"I met with An Zhen's Divinity Emissary teacher. The other party used a very sacred purifying power to dispel the Violence (negative energy) from the Illuminating dragon core within me."
"!"
Met a Divinity Emissary?
When?
"That Divinity Emissary's strength is above mine. It's highly probable that he is truly an emissary of a Divinity, or even a split consciousness of a Divinity. That sacred Illuminating Power is something even I feel inferior to."
Mu En spoke. This meeting, on the contrary, brought him more questions, but one thing was beyond doubt: the other party should truly bear no ill will towards An Zhen and was even cultivating him as an heir. Not to mention the many treasures the other party gave An Zhen, just his strength, which was still above his own, meant that even if he wasn't a Divinity, he was infinitely close to one. No matter how good An Zhen's talent was, there was nothing worth coveting.
"His strength is even above yours?"
The elders exchanged glances, all seeing the shock in each other's eyes. A strength above a 99th-level Limit Douluo Mu En…
The white-haired elder, respectfully called Old Song, spoke, "A few months ago, during the Shrek holiday, high-level Spirit Masters from the north saw Illuminating Power battling a powerful ice-attribute Spirit Beast in the Far North, almost splitting the sky in half."
Old Song looked at Yan Shaozhe, "Shao Zhe previously speculated that the humanoid fierce beast summoned by An Zhen's fourth spirit ring was an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion."
These related events easily led people to connect them.
"Hiss~"
Someone gasped, even though their power and strength had almost reached the peak of the continent, they couldn't help but be shocked by such a grand gesture. Immortal Herbs, which had rarely appeared in history, were given away casually, and the fourth spirit ring was somehow bound to a peerless fierce beast like the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
"This matter ends here," Mu En said, and the other elders also nodded lightly. Otherwise, what? To investigate an expert stronger than a Limit Douluo? Who would dare to be so brave? As long as it was confirmed that the other party had no ill will towards them, that was enough.
"Shao Zhe, tell us, what is the reason for convening this Sea God Pavilion meeting?"
"Yes."
Yan Shaozhe self-reflected on the matter of the punitive expedition against the Death God Emissary, taking all responsibility, and wanted to resign from his position as dean, but was stopped by Mu En. Yan Shaozhe, who had previously rejected spirit tools, voluntarily stated that resources should be tilted towards spirit tools, ensuring that every Inner Courtyard disciple going out on a mission could be equipped with corresponding levels of flying and defensive spirit tools.
"The Watchers' equipment should indeed be updated," Mu En said. "Lin'er, this matter is entrusted to you and Duoduo. These funds will come from the Martial Soul Department."
"Yay!" Xian Lin'er was happy.
Yan Shaozhe did not object, nodding lightly.
"As for this Soul Fighting Competition, let those children perform on their own," Mu En decided.
An elder frowned slightly, but the figure of a certain Little freak appeared in his mind, and he did not refute.
Yan Shaozhe was puzzled by this but had no rebuttal. He was clear about his junior brother's strength: powerful mental force, Ice Dragon King Domain, and that Universe that even he couldn't trap. If anyone under twenty could defeat his junior brother, then he would accept his fate.
"From today onwards, I will depart for the Sun Moon Empire to observe their spirit tools and also investigate the traces of Evil Soul Masters. I suspect they have a unified organization."