After watching for a while, Xiong Jun belatedly realized something.
Wait, isn't it just that Spirit Ice Douluo has returned and formed an alliance with Her Majesty?
He wouldn't oppose it.
So what was the purpose of Her Majesty's previous concealment?
Xiong Jun pursed his lips, feeling like he had stumbled upon a big scoop, but couldn't quite see the inside story clearly.
However, he then thought of another matter.
Now that Spirit Ice Douluo has become a junior of the Spirit Pagoda, doesn't that mean he can take advantage of him?
"Greetings, Senior Xiong Jun."
Imagining Huo Yuhao addressing him like this, a wanton smile spread across Xiong Jun's face.
The current Spirit Ice was no match for him.
"Given Huo Yuhao's relationship with the Extreme North, the first to know about his return should have been Snow Empress, right? No wonder Snow Empress went to Heaven Dou before... Wait, wouldn't Di Tian and those guys already know? Am I the last to find out?"
Xiong Jun came to his senses and curled his lips.
These guys always like to exclude him when discussing matters.
...
Tang Wulin was still a one-ring soul master and not proficient in using his spiritual power.
The previous two times he entered that sealed space were when "Old Tang" pulled him in. Now that he was actively searching for it, he couldn't find the way for a while.
During this time, Zhuo Shi also arrived at Skysea City. Unlike Cai Yue'er, he was more rational.
He didn't go to meet the Spirit Pagoda personnel first, but instead found Shen Ying to understand the situation.
Looking at Shen Ying's expression of fear while explaining the situation, Zhuo Shi sighed, "Why did you notify her first? You know her temperament is eccentric, and her coming here is likely to cause trouble."
Not to mention Xiong Jun, among the five first-tier cities of the Tianhai Alliance, the Spirit Pagoda also had five Super Douluo. If it really turned into an all-out fight, the one who would get beaten up would be Cai Yue'er.
Unfortunately, Zhuo Shi knew how stubborn this colleague was.
Back then, her title was still "Silver Moon". Who in this era didn't know about the legendary military god Silver Moon Douluo of the Sun Moon Empire?
Under those circumstances, Cai Yue'er, who was neither from the Illustrious Virtue Hall nor a soul tool master, what would be the consequences of taking that title?
But Cai Yue'er did it anyway, and only changed her title after returning seriously injured once...
"..." Shen Ying was speechless.
Zhuo Shi didn't blame her further, "By the way, I only heard a general account from you earlier. What was the main cause of the conflict? What did she say?"
"To teach their elders a lesson on their behalf."
"What did you say?" Zhuo Shi thought he had misheard and asked again.
"To teach their elders a lesson on their behalf." Shen Ying lowered her head and said, "Then Xiong Jun appeared on the scene and slapped the dean away. According to their conversation, that Tang Wulin is Xiong Jun's disciple."
"Because the commotion was too big, the matter has now spread, saying that Shrek Academy teachers bully children... The public opinion is even more unfavorable to the academy."
Zhuo Shi was dumbfounded.
What is a pig teammate?
This is a pig teammate!
Didn't you check those people's identities beforehand? Or did you know, but still charged ahead without looking back?
Zhuo Shi's expression was indescribable.
After a moment of silence, he asked:
"Where's Zhangkong?"
"Senior brother has already left." Shen Ying averted her gaze, "He is now a teacher of Class Zero, afraid of being caught in a dilemma, he has already left Skysea City."
Zhuo Shi opened his mouth, then sighed helplessly.
He was a step too late. It seems he has no choice but to take on this mess.
Fortunately, the Pavilion Master gave him resource authority. Hopefully, the Spirit Pagoda's demands won't be too harsh.
...
At noon the next day, the scorching sun baked the streets of Skysea City. Zhuo Shi arrived at the top floor where Xiong Jun was, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, not from the heat, but from anxiety.
"Senior Xiong Jun—"
As Zhuo Shi entered the room, he wanted to pay his respects, but found three people inside —
Xiong Jun, Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao.
"???" Zhuo Shi was puzzled, but didn't stop his actions due to his thoughts, "Senior Xiong Jun, such a trivial matter has troubled you."
"You're certainly more polite than that old woman, sit down." Xiong Jun nodded, "But even if it was a small matter before, it's not small anymore."
Before his words fell, the temperature in the room suddenly began to plummet. The air beside Huo Yuhao began to condense, countless ice crystals refracting rainbow light in the sunlight, gradually forming an elegant figure.
Gu Yuena glanced at the Snow Empress beside Huo Yuhao, a hint of imperceptible fluctuation in her eyes, then projected a crimson figure from her soul communicator.
In the blink of an eye, two stunning figures appeared.
"Snow Empress? Heavenly Phoenix Douluo?"
Zhuo Shi's throat tightened, his back instantly drenched in cold sweat.
With the three top figures of the Spirit Pagoda focusing their attention here, the purpose didn't need to be said.
Cai Yue'er, you pig teammate, you've killed me!
Snow Empress's icy eyes turned, "I heard that Shrek wants to discipline our disciples for us?"
Leng Yaozhu also looked at Zhuo Shi with a half-smile, "Since when do outsiders get to discipline my, Leng Yaozhu's, disciples?"
Xiong Jun then said, "There are three of us here as representatives, and three more who didn't come. That woman said she wanted to discipline our disciples, now we're here."
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
Zhuo Shi felt even breathing became difficult.
Cai Yue'er, you've provoked six Titled Douluos at once, including two Limit Douluos, and one close to Limit?
You really have some skills!
Zhuo Shi's vision darkened, almost fainting on the spot.
He took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words, "There's been a misunderstanding, Cai Yue'er just spoke rashly, with no intention of offense. Shrek Academy has always held the Spirit Pagoda in high esteem, this incident was purely accidental."
Snow Empress's gaze met Huo Yuhao's, recalling their conversation before the negotiation, said:
"A simple misunderstanding won't suffice, will it?"
"Of course!" Zhuo Shi said, "Elder Cai is impulsive and has offended everyone. Shrek Academy is willing to apologize and offer compensation."
Xiong Jun snorted coldly, "Compensation? What can Shrek offer as compensation?"
Zhuo Shi: "A ten-thousand-year soul bone..."
"Just ten thousand? At least a hundred thousand years!"
Leng Yaozhu's tone was cold.
"...Alright, a hundred thousand years." Zhuo Shi looked at the three top experts before him, and could only helplessly agree, "One hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
The three before him each represented a faction of the Spirit Pagoda. With the three united, if they wanted Shrek to pay a price, he didn't dare to say no, and could only try to minimize the loss.
"There are seven of us, how can one bone be divided?" Heavenly Phoenix Douluo said lightly.
Zhuo Shi felt the immense pressure on his shoulders and smiled bitterly, "Two hundred-thousand-year soul bones, and... seven spots to enter the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, how about that? The fault for this conflict lies with us, but as you all know, soul bones are not abundant these days."
Leng Yaozhu's eyes were subtle, "As far as I know, Shrek Academy's spots for the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well only guarantee a safe return. Whether one can bring out immortal herbs still depends on the soul beasts inside, right? This doesn't show much sincerity..."
Leng Yaozhu wanted to make Zhuo Shi offer more, but at this moment, Snow Empress, who had been communicating with Huo Yuhao via voice transmission, said:
"That's acceptable. But for the safety of our disciples, I will personally go to protect them."
Xiong Jun glanced in Gu Yuena's direction and nodded slightly, "I will also go personally."
Leng Yaozhu: "???"
Why are you two not in sync with me? Not wanting soul bones, but immortal herb soul spirits?
For the Spirit Pagoda, powerful soul spirits aren't that precious, not to mention it still depends on the immortal herbs' mood to get them...
"..."
Two Limit Douluos going personally? Are you planning to force the immortal herbs to agree?
Zhuo Shi hesitated, but then thought that the academy could also send people to follow, and calmed down, "That's acceptable."
"The soul bones must be top-notch."
Xiong Jun ignored Leng Yaozhu's look and added, "Otherwise, the consequences will be on you."
"..."
Zhuo Shi nodded with a bitter expression.
This time, the cost was a bit too high.
With that, the matter of Cai Yue'er was temporarily settled. Next was about the aftermath of this incident.
Heavenly Phoenix Douluo didn't miss the opportunity and, under the condition that the Spirit Pagoda would suppress some of the fallout, extorted some more.
However, it was only part of the impact, such as the public opinion about Cai Yue'er and this competition. Matters involving federal warnings were not their concern.
Seeing Heavenly Phoenix Douluo extorting so actively, Huo Yuhao and the others fell silent.
To be fair, she was indeed impartial in separating public and private matters…