Tang San and the other six participants from Blue Tyrant Academy were taken away from the scene, leaving the crowd in a state of heated discussion.
The competition commentator explained the current situation to the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please do not be anxious. Regarding the incident between Blue Tyrant Academy and Blue Sunshine Academy, His Majesty has already entrusted Sect Leader Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Platinum Bishop Salas of Martial Soul Hall to conduct a detailed investigation. We will certainly provide everyone with an explanation."
"Moving on, the competition continues. In the next match, Elephant Armored Academy will face..."
The competition proceeded, while Yun Ming was detained by the Competition Organizing Committee, who requested his cooperation with the investigation.
Yun Ming agreed. After making arrangements for the Empire Team, he followed the committee members away.
Yu Xiaogang was burning with anxiety as he watched Tang San being taken away, yet he was powerless to do anything at this moment!
He had witnessed what happened on the VIP Platform earlier; the fact that Sword Douluo Chen Xin had intervened was enough to clarify his stance. Although he did not know the reason, in an era where Martial Soul Hall held such immense power, the Upper Three Sects should have stood together. Yet, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had clearly chosen to stand on Yun Ming's side, positioning themselves as enemies to the other two sects.
The reason for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was actually quite simple: it was merely because of Yun Ming's choice. They hadn't moved against Tang San before because Yun Ming didn't want to deal with him yet, and Tang San was still weak, so there was no rush. Now that Yun Ming had decided to strike hard, and Tang San had provided the opportunity himself, they certainly wouldn't let it slide.
Yu Xiaogang paced back and forth off the stage, racking his brain for a solution.
Now that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the organizers, had confirmed their stance, he feared that if Martial Soul Hall discovered Tang San's true identity, they would also be eager to kill him. Although he held the Honorary Elder Token given by Tang Hao, even if he could use it to command Salas, it would only create a stalemate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Therefore, he had to seek reinforcements.
After much thought, the only person who could help him was that individual. Even though he was reluctant to ask, he had no other choice. With this in mind, Yu Xiaogang told Xiao Wu to go and seek help immediately. Since a substitute had taken her place during the soul fight, Xiao Wu had not been taken away.
Burning with anxiety, Xiao Wu immediately set off upon hearing that she could save Tang San.
As for Yu Xiaogang, he now had to head to the backstage area of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, where Tang San and the others had been taken. He intended to use his status as an Honorary Elder of Martial Soul Hall to put on a show of authority; he had to buy time.
Beyond Yu Xiaogang's actions, others were moving as well.
In the VIP Lounge of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, the gorgeously dressed Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had left the viewing platform at some point and arrived here.
Xue Qinghe spoke to the empty lounge, where no one else was present.
"Pass the order to Salas: nail down the charges against Tang San, but keep him alive."
"At the same time, prepare to use this momentum to spread the truth about his background and the fact that Tang Hao was angered to death, so the whole world knows."
"Even if Tang Hao is dead, I will make his name stink for ten thousand years."
"The Clear Sky Sect and his son must all bear the weight of his sins."
In this life, Qian Renxue was not close to Tang San. Not only did she not fall in love with him, but she also had Yun Ming, a target of conquest who interested her far more. As for the son of the man who killed her father, she naturally would not tolerate him any longer.
Spreading the news and striking at the reputation of the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao was something Qian Renxue had long wanted to do. It was just that when she first learned the truth, simply spreading it wouldn't have been sensational enough. Now, by leveraging the heat of this year's greatest tragedy in the Soul Master Competition—with Tang San as the primary culprit—it was perfect.
The son of a human and a Soul Beast acting inhuman and committing wanton slaughter? It was just perfect!
Hearing Qian Renxue's order, the hidden Snake Lance Douluo She Long acknowledged the command.
"Yes, Young Master."
She Long received the order and departed.
Qian Renxue looked up at the ceiling and whispered to herself.
"Compared to death, living while being loathed by everyone is far more terrifying, isn't it?"
It was unclear who she was thinking of at that moment.
In a large lounge in the backstage area of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
Yun Ming looked at Salas, Ning Fengzhi, and Chen Xin before him and bowed.
"Yun Ming greets Bishop Salas, Uncle Ning, and Senior Chen Xin."
Tang San and the others were being held separately in other locations and were not present.
Salas nodded faintly at Yun Ming.
Ning Fengzhi looked at Yun Ming, smiling and nodding.
"No need for formalities, nephew."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi's attitude toward Yun Ming, Salas's eyes flickered slightly. Just then, he heard a telepathic message from She Long and nodded slightly to show he understood.
Originally, Salas hadn't cared much about investigating Tang San, but now that that person had given the order, Salas naturally had to handle the matter properly.
Chen Xin also sensed She Long's arrival, though he came and went quickly. He glanced at Salas, keeping his guard up while sending a telepathic message to Ning Fengzhi. Ning Fengzhi signaled for him to remain still.
Salas got to the point, asking Yun Ming politely.
"Young Master Yun, please tell me and Sect Leader Ning in detail about the anomalies you discovered during the fight between Blue Tyrant and Blue Sunshine, so we can have a preliminary direction for our investigation."
Yun Ming nodded and told the three of them everything: how he had sensed with his Spiritual Power that the Blue Sunshine members were seeking revenge for their teacher, how they had insulted Tang San and attacked him, how Tang San had become enraged and intentionally used his own abilities to cause a backlash of the Blue Sunshine members' soul skills, and finally, how Tang San had taken advantage of the lingering Seven Shura Illusion Realm to have the Blue Tyrant members fake their injuries.
Upon hearing that Yun Ming had sensed this, Salas asked.
"Young Master Yun, could you tell us how you sensed it? It would provide us with more credible evidence."
Ning Fengzhi also looked at Yun Ming with curiosity upon hearing the question. What even Sword Douluo Chen Xin hadn't been able to see through, Yun Ming had seen clearly.
Yun Ming replied casually.
"It's simple. I just observed it with my Spiritual Power."
Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi, and Salas: "???"
While Chen Xin was somewhat shocked that Yun Ming could manipulate Spiritual Power despite only being at the Soul King realm, he was even more shocked that Yun Ming's control of Spiritual Power was sufficient to see through the chaotic Seven Shura Illusion Realm at the time. Chen Xin asked with curiosity.
"Little Friend Yun, I can understand using Spiritual Power to execute it, but with the chaotic Soul Power and spiritual fluctuations on the field at that time, your Spiritual Power would have been shredded upon entry. How did you manage it?"
Seeing the confused expressions on all three men's faces, Yun Ming couldn't help but sigh at the lack of knowledge regarding Spiritual Power in this era. He explained it in simple, accessible terms.
"The Soul Power and Spiritual Power in the Soul Arena were indeed extremely chaotic at the time; releasing it directly would certainly not have worked."
"However, if you compress your Spiritual Power, turning it from something loose like cotton into something as tough as steel, it can naturally remain unmoved amidst the chaotic field of Soul Power and spiritual energy."
Chen Xin asked, filled with shock and suspicion.
"Spiritual Power can be compressed? Bishop Salas, shall we give it a try?"
Salas nodded in agreement. Salas mobilized his Soul Power and Spiritual Power to create a chaotic field, while Chen Xin attempted to compress his own to break through.
After several attempts, although Chen Xin could not compress his to the degree Yun Ming described, it did indeed prove the feasibility of Yun Ming's plan.
But this only made them feel more terrified; the fact that Yun Ming could do what even Chen Xin could not was, well, damn impressive.
Watching the two look at him as if he were a monster, Yun Ming felt no emotional fluctuation. This was purely a gap in eras, not a lack of ability on their part.
To become a Title Douluo in this era, one's talent was absolutely sufficient. After all, compared to the perfected Soul Master system and theories of Yun Ming's time, they were truly growing wild, relying solely on their talent! If Chen Xin had been born in the era twenty thousand years later, with sufficient theoretical knowledge and resources to support his cultivation, not to mention reaching the level of a quasi-god, he might well have become a Limit Douluo.
After the three were shocked for a while, they regained their composure to handle the business at hand.
Once Ning Fengzhi and Salas confirmed that Yun Ming's method was feasible, they began to interrogate the others from Lanba Academy one by one, just as Yun Ming had suggested.
The first to be interrogated was Dai Mubai.
Salas asked with a gloomy expression.
"Speak! Was it Tang San who told you to fake your injuries before the Canghui Academy soul skill shattered?"
Dai Mubai glanced at Salas and said calmly.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
After spending some time with Tang San, Dai Mubai found that Tang San was quite to his liking. When it came to his brothers, he was very loyal.
Watching Dai Mubai pretend to be ignorant, Ning Fengzhi also spoke calmly.
"Third Prince, this matter, in essence, has nothing to do with you."
"Furthermore, you know the truth of the matter in your heart; why bother shielding him like this?"
Seeing Ning Fengzhi reveal his identity, Dai Mubai's expression remained unchanged as he said with arrogant firmness.
"Sect Leader Ning, there is no need to waste your energy on me."
"I, Dai Mubai, have a backbone of iron. I am not the type of person to intentionally frame a friend to ensure my own safety."
"If I am guilty, just kill me. Asking me to frame a friend is impossible!"
Now that they knew he was a prince, things were easier. Dai Mubai did not believe that the Heaven Dou side would dare to harm him while he was being taken away in public.
Watching Dai Mubai refuse to budge, Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"Third Prince, you misunderstand. You are a prince; how could I possibly harm you!"
"Since you have said so, I naturally believe you."
"In that case."
"I will inform His Majesty shortly and have someone escort the prince back to Star Luo City."
"This matter is too egregious; only by having the prince leave Heaven Dou early can we minimize the impact on the dignity of the Star Luo Royal Family!"
Hearing that Ning Fengzhi intended to send him back to Star Luo, Dai Mubai's heart skipped a beat, and his expression stiffened. Sending him back to Star Luo was the same as sending him to his death!
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi thought to himself, 'Still a bit green after all.'
Yun Ming watched the change in Dai Mubai's expression and secretly unleashed his Absolute Dominance pressure, deepening the boy's fear. Dai Mubai, who was already somewhat afraid, was now even more terrified.
Yun Ming counted to three in his heart, and seeing that Dai Mubai still hadn't moved, he said calmly.
"Uncle Ning, it seems he is homesick. Send him back!"
Hearing Yun Ming's voice, the fear in Dai Mubai's heart deepened once more. Seeing Yun Ming chime in, Ning Fengzhi followed his lead.
"Third Prince, I admire your dedication to friendship and your loyalty to your partners."
"Since that is the case, I will not make things difficult for you."
"Next."
With that, he ordered the Organizing Committee to take him away.
As Dai Mubai was being hauled away, seeing that Yun Ming and Ning Fengzhi showed no signs of hesitation, the fear in his heart finally overcame his sense of brotherhood. Just before they reached the door, he hurriedly responded.
"I'll talk!"
Having spoken so firmly just moments ago, Dai Mubai's face flushed red at the sudden self-contradiction.
Hearing Dai Mubai's response, the corners of the mouths of Yun Ming and Ning Fengzhi, who had their backs to him, curled into a sunny smile in perfect synchronization.
'The first one is done!'
Chen Xin, standing to the side, watched the two in such perfect sync and sighed in his heart, It's a real pity you two didn't end up as father-in-law and son-in-law!
───────────────
Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader