Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"Dean, what just happened here? It was such a loud noise." Xiao Wu looked around curiously as she walked up to Flender.

Beside her, Zhu Zhuqing kept her usual cool demeanor. She had noticed Dai Mubai being carried out by Zhao Wuji and had come out to see what was going on along with Xiao Wu.

"It doesn't concern you all. Disperse, go back now," Flender sighed, then waved dismissively at the gathered students.

"Oh, fine then." Xiao Wu looked slightly disappointed but didn't think too much of it. She took Zhu Zhuqing's hand, ready to leave.

"Xiao Wu, you're close to Ning Rongrong. Could you help me with something?" Just as Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were turning to leave, Tang San spoke up.

After getting beaten up so many times, even a fool would learn. To avoid starting off at a disadvantage, Tang San planned to use Xiao Wu's connection to get some information from Ning Rongrong, saving him from being controlled in this so-called cooperation Ning Fengzhi had mentioned. That wasn't his style, nor was it the style of the Tang Sect.

Hearing his request, Xiao Wu paused mid-step, turned back slightly, and her face showed a trace of irritation. "I'm close to Rongrong, but what's that got to do with you? And why should I help you?"

Tang San's face froze. For some reason, Xiao Wu's words struck his heart like a sword, causing an inexplicable pain.

"My friendship with Rongrong has nothing to do with you," Xiao Wu glanced coldly at Tang San, who stood rooted in place. "You dislike Rongrong, yet you want to use my relationship with her to gain information that benefits you. Tang San, don't you think that's rather hypocritical?"

"I remember when we were at Nuoding Academy, you weren't like this. Ever since you began studying with the Grandmaster, you've become less and less like yourself. Or maybe this is who you really are."

With that, Xiao Wu turned away without looking back, leaving with Zhu Zhuqing.

As he watched them walk away, Tang San felt a crushing pain in his chest, as if he couldn't breathe. In a daze, he seemed to see a pink figure moving further and further away. He reached out to grab it, but that figure only grew more distant.

"No… don't go." Tang San seemed to fall into a trance, his hand outstretched, fingers grasping as if to catch something. But even as that pink silhouette disappeared, his hand closed on nothing.

Just then, the scene in Tang San's mind shifted. A blue-haired man sat leisurely on a throne, and beside him was the same pink figure he had seen fading away.

"Is… is that me?" Tang San struggled to process what he was seeing. The blue-haired man looked so much like him; aside from the hair color, they shared nearly every feature.

In a flash, Tang San felt he understood something, but at the same time, he didn't. Taking a deep breath, the vision faded, and a faint golden mark appeared on his forehead.

"This being the case, I have no choice but to secure my own interests as much as possible." His thoughts cleared, and the doubt in his eyes disappeared. Turning around, he walked back into the academy.

He was going to negotiate with Ning Fengzhi. He already suspected why Ning Fengzhi wanted to work with him. Since the other party was interested in his hidden weapons, he wouldn't miss the chance to make a profit.

A few days ago, just before Dugu Bo knocked him out, Tang San had hidden a few herbs in his storage tool. Luckily, Dugu Bo had been too focused on him to notice the small move, giving him an opportunity.

"After I finish the negotiations with Ning Fengzhi, I'll take some time to absorb these herbs. Since Xiao Wu doesn't want to be close to me, I'll give the herbs I risked my life for to Boss Dai and Ma Hongjun."

---

Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After talking with Ye Lingling for a while, Cheng Xiao left the dormitory with her, heading to the training grounds for the Royal Fight Team. With Qin Ming gone, Sun Buyu had taken over as their team leader, and as a member of the Royal Fight Team, Cheng Xiao figured he should pay him a visit.

Upon entering the Royal Fight Team's training hall, Cheng Xiao and Ye Lingling found Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the rest of the team sitting on the floor, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"You guys… just finished training?" Seeing everyone's flushed faces and sweat-drenched clothes, Cheng Xiao hesitated before asking.

Yu Tianheng laughed and pointed to Sun Buyu, who was jotting down notes. "With a new leader, we're working on some new strategies."

"So, are you here to train too?"

"Not quite. I heard from Lingling that Teacher Qin Ming left, so I wanted to come over and say hello to Teacher Sun Buyu. After all, I'm still part of the Royal Fight Team." Cheng Xiao smiled.

"You and your formalities," Yu Tianheng shook his head before sitting cross-legged to recover his soul power.

Seeing this, Cheng Xiao and Ye Lingling found seats, but no sooner had they sat down than Sun Buyu approached them eagerly. "Cheng Xiao, you're finally back! Just in time—let me know your current soul power level so I can record it. And afterward, could you spar with Yu Tianheng? I want to see your practical combat skills."

Everyone in the room froze slightly at his words, and then all eyes turned toward Cheng Xiao.

"Teacher Sun Buyu, there's no need for a sparring match, right?" Cheng Xiao scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward. "My soul power level has just reached forty-three. Lingling told me Tianheng only recently hit level forty, so it wouldn't really be fair to fight him."

"Then fight me!" Dugu Yan stepped up with a smirk. "Thanks to you, my martial spirit evolved, and now I'm at level forty-six. How about a sparring match between us?"

As Dugu Yan finished speaking, a momentary silence fell over the room. After a brief pause, Yu Tianheng coughed lightly and said, "Yan, let me spar with Cheng Xiao. I want to see just how far apart we are in strength."

"Right, Tianheng's got a point." Sun Buyu waved his hands quickly. "Dugu Yan, even though your soul power level is higher, your practical combat ability isn't quite up to par with Tianheng's. If he didn't hold back, would you have won so easily?"

Dugu Yan said nothing, shooting a resentful glance at Yu Tianheng before huffing and going to rest.

"Cheng Xiao, are you okay with this?" Sun Buyu asked, looking at Cheng Xiao, curious about his choice.

Cheng Xiao thought for a moment, then stood up, stretched his neck, and smiled. "Alright, since Teacher Sun Buyu wants to see me and Tianheng spar, I'll accept."

"Though, if I use my martial spirit abilities, Tianheng might not have much of an advantage."

"Martial spirit abilities?" Sun Buyu raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. He hadn't been with the Royal Fight Team for long and wasn't aware of Cheng Xiao's martial spirit abilities.

"Your martial spirit abilities are indeed tricky," Yu Tianheng chuckled, then, in one fluid motion, leapt to the sparring platform in the center of the room and gestured for Cheng Xiao to join him. "But don't forget, I have the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, one of the most powerful beast martial spirits on the continent. I won't back down from a fight."

"In that case, let's see what you've got," Cheng Xiao said with a grin as he moved to face him. "I'll give this fight my all; I think that's the kind of match you're hoping for."

"Couldn't ask for more," Yu Tianheng said, smiling.

At this, Cheng Xiao gave a small shake of his head, then, in a flash, appeared opposite Yu Tianheng, ready to face off.