Ju Zi hurriedly stood up and pushed Xu Tianran's wheelchair.
"Your Highness, what happened?"
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion was the strongest among the protective forces of the Sun Moon Empire, seldom taking the initiative to strike, only accompanying the imperial family. For Xu Tianran to suddenly transfer the Imperial Soul Engineer Legion into Mingdu, something major must have occurred.
Xu Tianran glanced left and right, then turned his head toward Ju Zi. "The three great empires have set their sights on me; how could I not be furious?"
"Do they really think I am someone anyone can bully? Since they want to come, I will make sure they have no return."
Upon hearing this, Ju Zi slightly lowered her head and thought carefully for a moment. "Your Highness, please do not anger yourself to the point of harming your health. However, in my opinion, there may be more to this matter than meets the eye."
"Oh?" Xu Tianran's expression quickly calmed.
Seeing this, Ju Zi's expression shifted slightly. Xu Tianran's temperament was unpredictable, and even she could not always tell whether he was truly angry.
She pondered inwardly while continuing to speak. "Even if experts from the three great empires have been mobilized to enter Mingdu, they would not rashly attack the heavily defended imperial palace. They likely have other objectives."
"Then, in your view, what exactly are their intentions?"
Ju Zi pushed Xu Tianran slowly forward. After hearing this, she fell silent for another moment before leaning down slightly and whispering a few words into Xu Tianran's ear.
Upon hearing Ju Zi's words and listening to the sound of the wheelchair rolling over the stone slabs, a trace of almost imperceptible smile appeared on Xu Tianran's face. He gave a light nod.
Apart from the ministers on the high platform, not many people noticed what was happening around Xu Tianran. Most of the surrounding audience were still thinking about what had just occurred, unfortunately, no one was destined to explain the story behind it to them.
In the Shrek Academy rest area, Huo Yuhao looked at Bei Bei lying nearby with blood flowing freely and did not speak for a long time. Scenes of memories kept flashing through his mind.
Those were memories of Bei Bei teaching him the Mysterious Heaven Skill and helping him clear his meridians, of teaching him Tang Sect secret techniques and giving him Mysterious Water Pill. After entering the Tang Sect, although Tang Ya was his teacher, many things had been taught to him by Bei Bei, his senior brother.
Whether for Tang Ya on the stage or for Bei Bei, who was injured and unconscious, he could not possibly remain unmoved.
Suddenly, he stood up abruptly and looked toward Tang Ya on the stage.
"Yuhao!"
Wang Yan called out to stop him. "What are you planning to do?"
"Teacher Wang, let me go up for the next match."
"Can you guarantee that when facing Tang Ya, you won't be affected the same way Bei Bei was?"
"I—" Huo Yuhao suddenly paused, unsure how to answer. Perhaps even he himself did not know the answer.
Wang Yan sensed the aura of a seven-ring Soul Saint emanating from Tang Ya, closed his eyes slightly, and after a moment spoke in a deep voice. "We concede this match."
"Teacher Wang?"
"No need to say more. We'll first help Bei Bei with his injuries. As for Tang Ya's situation, we need to report it to the other teachers at the academy and have them investigate. Until then, we should avoid the Holy Spirit Sect."
"The round-robin is points-based; the outcome of one match won't affect much. Let's head back first."
"Alright." The group looked at Bei Bei, who was still unconscious, and finally nodded in agreement.
Afterward, without further hesitation, they quickly left the rest area carrying Bei Bei. Before leaving, Huo Yuhao glanced at Tang Ya, his gaze lingering for a long time on the Holy Spirit Sect's rest area.
Lin Xiao simply pretended not to notice, leaning back in his chair in the rest area with his eyes closed, resting.
"Elder Xuan, how is he?"
At the Mingyue Hotel, several Shrek Academy contestants stood outside Bei Bei's room. An unkempt old man had somehow appeared in the hotel without anyone noticing.
"He's fine. The opponent seems to have deliberately avoided vital points; that penetrating chest wound isn't too severe." Xuan Zi sighed lightly and took another swig from the wine gourd at his side.
"Then why hasn't Senior Brother woken up yet?"
"Perhaps he himself does not wish to wake up." Xuan Zi turned back to look at Bei Bei's room and made a guess.
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao looked toward Bei Bei's door. After a moment of silence, he suddenly turned to Xuan Zi. "Elder Xuan, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Mm, come with me then." Xuan Zi nodded and led the way toward a nearby meeting room. He Caitou, seemed to realize something and hurriedly followed.
"Elder Xuan, I want to infiltrate the Holy Spirit Cult to investigate."
"No!" Xuan Zi had just sat down, but upon hearing Huo Yuhao's words, he abruptly stood up again.
"Elder Xuan…"
"I understand how you feel. Seeing Bei Bei like this pains me as well, but dealing with the Holy Spirit Cult is no simple matter. You cannot let these emotions rush you into a hasty decision."
"Elder Xuan, the biggest problem the Holy Spirit Cult poses to us is its mystery. We know far too little about it. The only way to obtain concrete information is to investigate from within."
"It's not just because of Teacher Xiao Ya and Senior Brother, I've also discovered other secrets of the Holy Spirit Cult." As Huo Yuhao spoke, he recounted in detail how he had participated in the Soul Engineer Competition and how he had encountered members of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Xuan Zi looked at Huo Yuhao's serious expression and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Even if this is not a spur-of-the-moment idea, how can you guarantee your own safety?"
"Elder Xuan, the abilities of a spiritual-attribute soul master are inherently difficult to detect. Combined with my Imitation soul skill and the disguise techniques taught by the academy, I can ensure I won't be discovered."
"No, it's still too dangerous." Xuan Zi waved his hand.
"Elder Xuan." Huo Yuhao spoke again. "The academy has trained me as an ultimate single soldier, surely not just to keep me protected?"
"Moreover, there is currently a very good opportunity. If we don't decide now, I'm afraid this chance will be missed."
Xuan Zi fell silent for a long time upon hearing this. He turned to look out the window and saw that night had already fallen unknowingly. The light from the illuminating soul tools on the streets below shone through the window and fell onto the ceiling.
"It's getting late. There are other arrangements tonight. Let's put aside what you said about infiltrating the Holy Spirit Cult for now. I'll think it over carefully."
Huo Yuhao opened his mouth but did not try to persuade further. He knew Xuan Zi had important matters to attend to soon, and he also knew that Xuan Zi's refusal was for his own safety. But some things…
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao raised his head. "Alright then, we'll go prepare as well."
"Mm." Xuan Zi slowly nodded. "Be careful in everything."
Outside the meeting room, He Caitou watched Huo Yuhao push the door open, then poked his head in to look, but saw nothing.
"Yuhao, Elder Xuan he…"
Huo Yuhao gently shook his head. "Let's talk about these things later. There are other matters to handle tonight."
"Alright." He Caitou let out a small sigh of relief. "I'll go with you."
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