Great Spirit Arena, a room beside the stage.
Tap tap tap—Ning Fengzhi arrived quickly with Bone Douluo at his side.
After all, Tang San and Yu Tianheng were the heirs of the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As the leader of one of the three upper sects, and also a senior, he had to show some form of respect. At least release a sixth soul skill to treat them a little.
Of course, the most important reason was to see Tang San and the others' physical condition.
In the stands, Tang Hao glanced in the direction Ning Fengzhi left, his gaze flashing before he followed the dispersing crowd.
"Greetings, Sect Master Ning." Seeing Ning Fengzhi arrive, Yu Xiaogang's expression visibly softened. The team's only healing-type soul master, Jiangzhu, was injured and unconscious, while Oscar's first soul skill recovery sausage had limited effect. At this moment, Ning Fengzhi's arrival was undoubtedly a timely help.
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, summoned his martial soul, and released his sixth soul skill.
Seven-colored radiance shone as the group's complexions visibly improved. Their burns gradually dried, scabbed, peeled, and eventually fell off, revealing tender new skin. Although the new flesh stood out against the rest of their wheat-colored bodies, at least there were no scars left behind.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang finally sighed in relief.
"Many thanks, Sect Master Ning, for your aid." As dean, Flender cupped his hands respectfully.
"This is what I should do." Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly, withdrawing his martial soul before turning his gaze toward the seven lying in a row beside Flender. He continued, "Dean Flender, I also know a bit of medicine. Why don't I help you check the children's internal injuries?"
"Then I'll trouble Sect Master Ning." Flender replied politely.
With seven students lying down, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong not knowing medicine, he truly couldn't handle it alone.
Ning Fengzhi nodded, then strode over to Tang San's side. He placed a hand on Tang San's wrist and began probing his condition.
'Hm? This is…' His heart stirred.
Because Tang San had just eaten one of Oscar's recovery sausages, he already had some soul power in his body, no longer completely exhausted. With his superior soul power control and spiritual power, Ning Fengzhi saw something that Flender had missed.
If Flender had sensed it earlier, Ning Fengzhi was sure he would have politely refused him from checking further.
Tang San's soul power had already broken through rank 40!
Yet according to his own daughter Rongrong's earlier report, Tang San had only mentioned being close to rank 39 not long ago. Barely two months had passed—how had he suddenly leapt up a level?
Moreover, within his meridians, there were faint traces of impurities in his soul power.
'Could it be Yu Xiaogang giving Tang San special treatment behind everyone's backs? Did he use medicines improperly? This is practically overdrafting his potential! I never thought Yu Xiaogang would go so far.'
'Perhaps Yu Xiaogang himself doesn't even realize the consequences…'
It certainly couldn't be Tang Hao. With Tang Hao's strength, he would have noticed such impurities at once.
Without showing anything, Ning Fengzhi withdrew his hand and placed it on Xiao Wu to check her condition.
'Hm? Impurities as well, but this time it looks like some sort of medicinal residue. Different from Tang San's impurities.'
Ning Fengzhi frowned inwardly. Though he knew some medical arts, it was only a shallow study—he lacked time to pursue it deeply. Faced with this, he couldn't figure out the cause. Still, something about it left him feeling uneasy.
He moved on and examined the others.
Soon, Ning Fengzhi stood, his suspicions only deepening.
Why did Tang San and Xiao Wu have impurities, while none of the others did?
And as expected—Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, and Xiao Wu all had internal injuries. These were long-accumulated dark wounds in their organs, beyond what even he could fully heal. Yet Tang San had none.
Such an anomaly was something he had never encountered before.
"Sect Master Ning, how is it?" Yu Xiaogang's voice broke his thoughts.
"No great harm, a few days' rest will suffice," Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "But Tai Long will need longer to recover."
After all, Huo Wu was only a rank 43 Soul Ancestor, and she had deliberately reduced the power of her fourth soul skill. In the end, the merged skill's power was equivalent only to a Soul King's full strike. With Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Huang Yuan all countering with their own soul skills in time, the explosion's force wasn't too destructive. The real damage came from the aftershock and the flames.
Tai Long had been at the center, directly taking the brunt—his serious injuries were inevitable.
Yu Tianheng and Dai Mubai, with top-level beast martial souls and prior self-buffs, weren't too badly hurt.
Tang San, however, had brought it on himself.
By unfolding his external spirit bone, the Eight Spider Lances, before the explosion, he increased his exposed surface area. The shock force channeled through the lances into his body, injuring his back muscles and bones—his injuries ranked second.
Huang Yuan had been farther back, so he was less injured. Xiao Wu came next. Jiangzhu, who was smallest and shielded by teammates, suffered the least. With Ning Fengzhi's sixth soul skill healing burns, she had nearly fully recovered.
Thus, Jiangzhu was already close to being completely healed.
"Thank you, Sect Master Ning." Flender, having clearly followed the battle, understood well and spoke politely.
"It's nothing." Ning Fengzhi smiled, glanced at Ning Rongrong, and said, "Since there's no further issue, I'll take my leave. Outside, His Majesty has already arranged carriages for you. Just ask the staff."
"Many thanks for informing us." Flender once again thanked him. With carriages, it would be far easier than carrying students one by one.
"Father, I'll walk you out." Ning Rongrong immediately said.
"Mhm." Ning Fengzhi nodded, then turned to Flender. "I'll have Rongrong meet you at the carriages later."
"Very well. Sect Master Ning, safe travels." Flender nodded.
Ning Rongrong left with her father, while Flender and the others began carrying students out.
In a quiet spot outside the room, Ning Fengzhi asked his daughter, "Rongrong, tell me—have there been any unusual events at the academy lately?"
"Unusual events…" Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, then raised her head. "Two nights ago, Xiao Wu said Ma Hongjun ran into three enemies in Heaven Dou City, all Soul Kings. He was beaten up, and Xiao Wu invited me to help take revenge."
"I refused politely, and afterward Tang San and Xiao Wu returned without ever mentioning it again."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed. "Rongrong, you must not tell anyone of this."
"Father, did you discover something?" Ning Rongrong asked.
Shaking his head slightly, Ning Fengzhi said, "This matter is serious, but at the moment it's only a suspicion. Until we confirm the truth, act as if you know nothing. Once the tournament ends, I will bring you back to the sect immediately."
"Understood." Ning Rongrong nodded, not pressing further.
Soon, she returned to the carriage first. When Flender and the others arrived, she helped them settle the students inside.
On the carriage outside Heaven Dou City, Bone Douluo asked, "Fengzhi, did you discover anything?"
"I'll speak back at the sect." Ning Fengzhi's expression was serious.
A short while later, within a room of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi gathered with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
"Tang San has already reached rank 40. And within his meridians, I sensed impurities, faint but distinct," Ning Fengzhi explained concisely. "Two nights ago, Ma Hongjun clashed with three Soul Kings in Heaven Dou City, fled injured. Later, Tang San led a team for revenge, yet said nothing afterward. Don't you think it's a little too coincidental?"
"His external spirit bone, the Eight Spider Lances, comes from the Man-Faced Demon Spider."
Both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo's expressions darkened. Sword Douluo frowned deeply. "Fengzhi, you mean Tang San and his group killed those three Soul Kings, and Tang San used the Eight Spider Lances' devouring ability to absorb their energy for cultivation?"
"It must be so. Otherwise, how could he suddenly rise by one full level?" Bone Douluo said grimly.
"This was likely Tang San acting secretly, even without Tang Hao's knowledge," Ning Fengzhi added.
"This Tang San is truly self-degrading!" Sword Douluo snorted coldly.
"Probably because of his repeated defeats, always being suppressed by Yang Yunhai, leaving him unwilling to accept it," Bone Douluo reasoned. "To him, victory has always been paramount. He never cares for consequences and stops at nothing."
"If this continues, Tang San may be ruined, possibly even becoming a evil soul master." Sword Douluo followed up. "Once one starts cultivating by devouring, it's hard to stop. It will inevitably leave lasting harm to the body."
"Fengzhi, we must take precautions, even be ready to act decisively if needed!"
"What about Yang Yunhai?" Bone Douluo asked suddenly. "After all, his second soul skill…"
"Impossible," Sword Douluo shook his head.
"First, his second soul skill was reported to Spirit Hall. With his innate level of soul power, if he wanted to rely on devouring, he would've done so long ago. Besides, once he reached Heaven Dou City and came into contact with Dugu Bo, Dugu Bo would have noticed. There's no way Dugu Bo would allow his granddaughter to be tied to a evil soul master."
"Indeed. That child is well-versed in medicine—he knows the dangers of devouring cultivation," Bone Douluo agreed. "And his willpower is far beyond Tang San's. With his talent, he has no need to take shortcuts. He's never lost a fight, so why rush for power?"
Only Tang San would be so desperate, resorting to shortcuts.
"For now, we have no proof. Let's observe," Ning Fengzhi concluded, his gaze sharp.
"If action is needed, then we'll be the last straw that breaks the camel's back."
"Additionally, we must seek new allies to replace the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," Sword Douluo added.
"The balance of the continent must be maintained. With our current strength, we can't oppose Spirit Hall alone."
He and Bone Douluo exchanged a glance. The ideal partners were clear, but regrettably…
As for Ning Rongrong, they weren't worried. At least for now, Tang San wouldn't dare act rashly.
"Troubled times indeed," Ning Fengzhi sighed.
"We'll find an opportunity to make contact again."
(End of Chapter)
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