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"What does this mean?" Dai Mubai's expression turned dark.
However, due to Ning Fengzhi's status and position, he dared not lash out.
By now, Shrek Academy's account was completely drained of funds. The prize money from this match had been unanimously agreed upon by the Shrek team to be handed over to the academy as operational funds.
Without the prize money, what would Shrek Academy do?
Ning Fengzhi blatantly ignored them—what did this mean?
Tang San quietly replied, "Don't rush. The prize money is provided by the Tiandou Empire, and Sect Leader Ning wouldn't dare embezzle it. Let's wait a little longer."
However, after Ning Fengzhi finished distributing the prize money to the fifth-ranked Divine Wind Academy Team, he simply walked off the awards stage without any intention of giving anything to Shrek Academy.
"Sect Leader Ning, please wait a moment!" Below the awards platform, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly called him back.
"Master Yu, do you have something to say?" Ning Fengzhi feigned confusion.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened, but he didn't dare show his displeasure toward Ning Fengzhi. In a low voice, he said, "Sect Leader Ning, have you perhaps forgotten about Shrek Academy's prize money?"
Ning Fengzhi suddenly understood. "Ah, that matter. Later on, His Majesty will personally make arrangements. Master Yu, please don't worry."
The emperor himself would present them with their award?
Yu Xiaogang was stunned.
Thinking about it, it seemed impossible.
After all, during the opening match, they had forced the second team of the Imperial Academy—the face of the royal family—to withdraw from the tournament.
Yu Xiaogang knew better than to expect fairness. He believed there had to be some ulterior motive at play.
But considering the academy's current predicament, he had no choice but to wait.
The awards ceremony concluded, and the master of ceremonies announced loudly, "Next, Emperor Xue Ye will close the preliminary matches with a speech."
Xue Ye's gaze swept over the students from the five academies, lingering for a few seconds on Ning Tianchen, his eyes revealing satisfaction.
After a pause, he smiled and said, "First of all, I congratulate the five teams here for successfully advancing in the preliminary matches. Ahead of you are the promotion matches and, finally, the highly anticipated finals. I hope you won't grow arrogant from temporary victories, nor stop striving forward."
"The preliminary matches are just the starting point for you—a brief interlude in your lives. You are all the future hopes and pillars of the empire. On behalf of the Tiandou Empire, I hereby make a promise to you."
"To the captains and vice-captains of the five academy teams—you hold positions of great importance in this tournament. I have decided to bestow upon you ten individuals the title of Viscount, and all other participating students shall receive the title of Baron. If any of your teams achieve a top-three finish in this tournament, all members of that team will have their titles elevated by one rank."
"After your graduation, the doors of the imperial family will always be open to you. Upon your appointment, I will personally allocate fiefs to each of you!"
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples.
The members of these five teams represented the most talented individuals within the Tiandou Empire (excluding the major kingdoms and duchies).
It wasn't surprising that Xue Ye sought to win them over, but the promises he made were unprecedented.
Receiving titles without having achieved any feats immediately caused an uproar among the crowd.
"My goodness, not only titles, but even fiefs!"
"It has been many years since the empire last granted titles. Never would I have imagined that His Majesty would personally promise such rewards to the teams!"
The audience buzzed with discussion.
The power of the Tiandou Empire was extremely fragmented, largely because too many nobles and princes had been granted titles during the founding of the empire, leading to them ruling independently.
Since Xue Ye took the throne, the Tiandou Empire had never bestowed titles upon anyone. Today's exception showed just how far Xue Ye was willing to go to secure talent.
"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. In the past two tournaments, participants were never granted titles. Moreover, the titles you're offering seem far too high!"
Xue Ye glanced at him and waved his sleeve dismissively. "How we distribute titles is an internal matter of the empire and unrelated to this tournament. Are you, Bishop Salas of the Spirit Hall, trying to interfere in imperial affairs?"
"I wouldn't dare," Salas bowed deeply.
Interfering in another nation's internal matters could incite public outrage.
If Salas admitted to such interference, within an hour—let alone by tomorrow—the Spirit Hall would be surrounded by angry crowds.
"Big Brother Tianchen, it seems the relationship between the Tiandou Empire and the Spirit Hall is quite tense," Ning Rongrong tugged at his sleeve, her voice filled with concern.
This was not a good sign.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was the guardian sect of the Tiandou Empire and had deep ties with the imperial family.
If the Tiandou Empire were to face trouble, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would inevitably need to step forward.
Ning Tianchen patted the back of her hand and solemnly reassured her, "Don't worry. For now, it's just covert conflict. There's still plenty of time before the two powers bring their disputes into the open."
"All we can do is try to strengthen ourselves as much as possible before war breaks out on the continent."
Nearby, Tang San of the Shrek Academy team kept his gaze fixed on the two arguing figures on the high platform.
In his mind, he recalled a scene from the past.
It was during his first soul hunt when he asked Yu Xiaogang, "Does the Soul Hunt Forest belong to the Spirit Hall or to the two empires?"
At the time, Yu Xiaogang hadn't answered.
With his current understanding, he could see clearly now.
The Soul Hunting Forest was located within the territories of the two empires and funded by them, but the true administrative authority rested with the Spirit Hall.
Combined with today's events, it wasn't hard to see that the relationship between the Tiandou Empire and the Spirit Hall had reached a point of irreconcilable conflict.
Next, Xue Ye briefly outlined the details of the promotion matches.
Finally, he added, "Leader of the Shrek Team, I am aware of your concerns."
Yu Xiaogang gave a slight bow. "Please, Your Majesty, give us an explanation."
Questioning the emperor directly! The people of Shrek Academy still maintained their unruly attitude!
Xue Ye sneered inwardly but maintained a smile on his face. "I remember that Sect Leader Ning's judgment against your Shrek Academy included a clause requiring you to compensate the second team of the Imperial Academy."
"But after a month has passed, you haven't made any compensation, not even a word of consolation. Given your performance in the preliminary matches, I have decided that the empire's finances will cover the compensation on your behalf."
It seemed Yu Xiaogang didn't catch the underlying meaning of those words and instead pressed further, "If that's the case, I, on behalf of Shrek Academy, express our sincere gratitude to Your Majesty. However, regarding the prize money for our participation in the preliminaries, when will Your Majesty distribute it?"
What a fool!
Both Ning Fengzhi and Xue Ye couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
The empire paying your compensation—isn't that just using your prize money to pay it? How thick-skinned could Yu Xiaogang be to still ask for the prize money?
Xue Ye ignored him and, with the help of an attendant, left the stage.
Behind him, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe stood up and explained to Yu Xiaogang, "Master Yu, your prize money is the compensation. I will personally deliver your compensation to each member of the second team of the Imperial Academy."
"What?!" Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened. By the time he realized what was happening, both Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi had already left the scene.
Without that ten thousand gold soul coins in prize money, how would Shrek Academy survive the days ahead?
Wasn't this forcing them into bankruptcy?
"The Tiandou Empire and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—what sinister minds!" Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
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