"A mere piece of trash who hasn't even reached Rank 30 dares to threaten me?"
Dugu Bo was so enraged he laughed.
This brat had been putting on airs, posturing and throwing titles around—who was he trying to scare?
He no longer bothered to waste words. With just a glance, Yu Xiaogang felt as if he'd plunged into a cold abyss. His body trembled uncontrollably, then collapsed straight backward like a felled tree.
"Teacher!"
Tang San, seeing his teacher faint without warning, instantly used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. He moved faster than even Flender, catching Yu Xiaogang before he hit the ground.
"Is this… poison?"
Tang San instantly recognized the signs of poisoning. But he didn't have any detoxifying pills on him, and he could only turn to the others for help, eyes full of urgency.
"Poison Douluo, don't you think you've gone too far?"
The members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy quickly stepped forward to shield the Shrek group. Meng Shenji looked at Dugu Bo warily, his voice questioning and stern.
Meanwhile, another one of the academy's deans, Zhi Lin, squatted beside Yu Xiaogang. Green light emitted from his hands, and color rapidly returned to Yu Xiaogang's pale face.
Originally, the Heaven Dou deans had already felt guilty after the cooperation talks were ruined by Shrek Academy's decision to leave. Now that Dugu Bo had actually attacked someone within the academy, they had to step in.
"Hmph! You old geezers think I won't kill you?"
Dugu Bo snorted coldly, his pressure intensifying.
"Tang San nearly killed my granddaughter. I'm here to demand an explanation, and you still want to interfere?"
"This…"
The three deans turned their gazes toward Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who stood at his side.
She frowned and looked at the Shrek students with hostility.
Could there be more to this than they knew?
Meng Shenji was the first to catch on, his eyes shifting toward Qin Ming, who was also standing protectively with the Shrek students.
It was true Dugu Yan was Poison Douluo's granddaughter—but she was also one of their most gifted students. If something this serious had happened between students, why hadn't Qin Ming reported it?
In his memory, Dugu Yan had always stayed within the academy and never had any particular dealings with Shrek.
The only time the two groups interacted was when Qin Ming led the exchange trip to Shrek Academy.
If this was such a serious incident, how could Qin Ming have kept it hidden?
"Please, Your Excellency, calm your anger. Allow me to ask a few questions."
Meng Shenji clasped his hands politely toward Dugu Bo, then turned to Qin Ming and asked, confused:
"Qin Ming, is what he said related to your recent visit to Shrek Academy?"
Qin Ming's mouth twitched. His expression kept shifting as he hurriedly sorted his thoughts before replying with a bow:
"Teacher, I believe there's been some sort of misunderstanding between Dugu Yan and Tang San…"
Seeing that Qin Ming seemed to be siding with Tang San, Meng Shenji's expression darkened.
"Tell me exactly what happened during your visit. Why would Dugu Yan nearly die at Tang San's hands?"
"This…"
Qin Ming was at a loss, glancing guiltily at the Shrek group.
"Heh. Since you don't have the guts to explain, allow me to inform these lofty deans how your academy's instructors 'protect' their students."
Dugu Bo scoffed, then recounted—briefly but sharply—what he'd heard from Dugu Yan about the student sparring match.
"Esteemed deans, this boy was that ruthless in a mere sparring match. Do you still think I have no right to demand accountability?"
"That… does seem a bit excessive…"
Meng Shenji replied awkwardly.
He turned to the Shrek students, and the guilt in his eyes faded, though some doubt still lingered.
After all, they had only heard one side of the story, and it was far too early to make a definitive judgment.
"In battle, getting hurt is a common occurrence. If Poison Douluo is going to nitpick over every wound, maybe he should just keep his precious granddaughter sheltered at home."
Tang San could see the deans, who had initially stood on their side, beginning to waver.
He knew if he didn't explain himself soon, he'd likely end up clashing with this old monster.
"Arrogant brat!"
Dugu Bo flicked his sleeve, sending a wave of soul power laced with deadly poison sweeping toward Tang San.
"Stop! Do you even know who he—"
Yu Xiaogang, seeing Dugu Bo launch another attack without warning, suddenly leapt up from Tang San's arms despite his earlier weakness. He seemed ready to reveal an earth-shattering secret.
But just as the words reached his lips, his eyes were caught by something else.
A teapot-shaped object had appeared, floating between him and Dugu Bo. The old man's attack was swallowed whole by this strange vessel, vanishing without a trace.
It radiated a faint glow, as if announcing to everyone that it was no ordinary artifact.
Even a blow from a Title Douluo had disappeared into it like a stone into the sea—without even causing a ripple.
"This is…"
Yu Xiaogang snapped his head around and saw Tang San forming a sword seal with his fingers, seemingly controlling the artifact.
But sweat was starting to bead on his forehead. He looked visibly strained.
"How could Xiao San possess such a treasure—one capable of withstanding a Title Douluo's attack?"
Yu Xiaogang's heart surged with both relief and shock.
Now wasn't the time to ask questions. Even though Tang San had blocked the strike, they were still in danger.
"What is that?!"
Dugu Bo was astonished.
A treasure capable of absorbing all his soul power and remaining unscathed? He'd never seen or even heard of such a thing!
Since Tang San had revealed the teapot to deflect the attack, even a figure hiding at the very rear of the Shrek group—face pale and aura withdrawn to avoid detection—was now staring wide-eyed along with everyone else.
All eyes locked onto the floating artifact, minds racing to identify what it was.
Seeing the intense attention focused on it, Tang San's expression grew complicated.
He'd found this artifact by accident while searching for Xiao Wu after she was taken by the Titan Giant Ape. It had been lying casually in a bush, looking like an ordinary teapot.
If not for a moment of caution that made him activate his Purple Demon Eye, he might have overlooked the opportunity of a lifetime.
He had never told anyone about it—not Xiao Wu, not even his teacher.
The artifact was simply too mysterious. Since that day, he'd been secretly studying it and had discovered that it could intermittently absorb and release energy.
No matter what kind of energy was generated nearby, as long as it was within a certain range, the teapot would absorb all of it.
That was why, in the heat of the moment, he had chosen to bring it out and save his life.
Moreover, he suspected that an astonishing treasure might be hidden inside.
Once, while fiddling with it alone, a sword had unexpectedly fallen out from the spout.
Though it looked ordinary, no amount of soul power could damage it in the slightest.
He suspected he just hadn't found the right method to unlock its true potential—and the key must lie inside the artifact.
But ever since that day, the artifact hadn't released anything else, deepening his obsession with unlocking its secrets.
Had he not been on the brink of death just now, he would never have revealed it before completing his research.
_
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