"Ming'er!"
Zhang Lexuan's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but chide coquettishly.
Even with her mature temperament, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but lose her composure in the face of Wu Ming's words.
After all, there were still so many students around.
Wasn't she, as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, supposed to save face?
"I was just speaking the truth."
Faced with Zhang Lexuan's fierce gaze, Wu Ming pouted but didn't say anything more.
Wu Ming still listened to what Zhang Lexuan said.
Glaring fiercely at Wu Ming, Zhang Lexuan barely managed to compose herself and said calmly, "Xiao Yu, come in with me."
Su Yu nodded with a smile.
A group of people entered Sky Villa No. 2. Under Zhang Lexuan's arrangement, the Shrek Academy students all went to choose their rooms.
In the spacious living room, only Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and Wu Ming—the team leaders—remained.
Wang Yan, being a perceptive person, had already left with the others.
On the leather sofa, everyone sat separately.
Su Yu crossed his legs and smiled, "Sister Lexuan, how come you're leading the team this time? Where's Dean Yan?"
Zhang Lexuan smiled and replied, "Dean Yan stayed at the academy. Right now, the academy can't be left without a strong person to guard it."
Su Yu nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"Let's talk about you. Why aren't you with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy this time?"
"Are you representing the Ice God Palace?"
Zhang Lexuan asked.
The students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy were staying in Villa No. 3.
She had seen them go in herself.
But Su Yu was in Villa No. 1.
Clearly, for this tournament, their paths were different.
"The Ice God Palace won't reveal itself lightly, let alone participate in the Soul Master Tournament. I just formed a new sect."
"I just brought some of my sect members here for fun."
Su Yu said casually.
"The Holy Slayer Palace?"
Su Yu chuckled, "So you've heard?"
"Your Holy Slayer Palace has caused quite a stir lately. It'd be hard not to know,"
Zhang Lexuan sighed.
As the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, how could she not know about the commotion caused by the soul tools Holy Slayer Palace was selling?
She hadn't expected that even after creating a new faction, Su Yu could gain such influence in such a short time.
Su Yu just smiled lightly at her words.
At this moment, Han Ruoruo spoke up: "Su Yu, I heard you guys recently developed a soul tool that can fire eighteen shells at once?"
"And you can even pre-charge it so that ordinary people can use it?"
Su Yu glanced at Han Ruoruo and asked with a smile, "Yes, we have that. Your information is pretty well-informed."
"So, is Shrek Academy interested?"
Han Ruoruo nodded without hesitation, "How could we not be interested in such a powerful weapon?"
"Shrek Academy would like to purchase a batch if that's possible."
"Of course, as long as you pay. I think you're aware of the price,"
Su Yu replied with a smile.
"We do know, but it's a bit expensive. Any chance for a discount?"
Han Ruoruo asked.
Su Yu laughed, "I'm afraid not. We have a fixed price for everyone—our costs are high, too."
Wu Ming interjected, "Can't you give us a deal, considering your relationship with our senior sister?"
"Even close siblings settle accounts. My relationship with Lexuan won't affect the business between Holy Slayer Palace and Shrek Academy."
"Public is public, private is private—how can we mix them up?"
Su Yu put on a serious face.
"You… that's just an excuse! Isn't Holy Slayer Palace all up to you anyway?"
Wu Ming said angrily.
Su Yu grinned, "You're right, but Shrek Academy isn't all up to Lexuan, is it?"
"If you admit that Shrek Academy is Lexuan's personal property, then I have nothing to say."
"I could even send the stuff over for free."
"But that's not the case, right?"
"Shrek Academy has so many factions, Lexuan can't make all the decisions, can she?"
This left Wu Ming speechless.
Indeed, Zhang Lexuan and Shrek Academy weren't the same thing.
Unlike Holy Slayer Palace, which was truly Su Yu's private domain.
But Shrek Academy was never a personal possession.
"Hmph, I can't out-argue you."
Wu Ming snorted, folded her arms, and turned her head away.
Her outstanding figure became even more prominent in this pose.
Su Yu had to admit, that Wu Ming's figure was something.
Even Zhang Lexuan, whom he had already developed, was a bit inferior.
"Ming'er was a bit rude, don't take it to heart. We're willing to pay the market price,"
Han Ruoruo smoothed things over, then changed the subject: "By the way, how's Xiaotao?"
"Dean Yan and all of us are quite concerned about her."
Han Ruoruo mentioned Ma Xiaotao.
It had been several years since Ma Xiaotao left with Su Yu.
When Yan Shaozhe visited the Ice God Palace before, he didn't see Ma Xiaotao.
Within Shrek Academy, Ma Xiaotao was still a matter of great concern.
No need to say more—her talent was outstanding.
At the very least, she was guaranteed to become a Super Douluo.
Such a talented student was naturally highly valued by Shrek Academy.
"Xiaotao is fine, just not by my side at the moment. I'll arrange for you to meet her when I have time,"
Su Yu said.
Han Ruoruo frowned slightly, "Isn't Xiaotao always with you?"
Because of Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem, she had to stay with Su Yu at all times.
Yet Su Yu said she wasn't here?
Han Ruoruo felt a bit uneasy.
Su Yu explained, "She's still at the Ice God Palace."
"In the Palace, her Evil Fire won't erupt easily."
"With Xiaotao's identity, it's not very convenient for her to always be by my side."
Of course, these words were just to placate Han Ruoruo.
Ma Xiaotao had already evolved to Ultimate Fire, so there was nothing to worry about anymore.
But Su Yu didn't want to reveal this too soon.
At the very least, he wanted Zhang Lexuan to first win over everyone at Shrek.
Once the unstable factors were cleared, it wouldn't be too late for Ma Xiaotao to appear.
Listening to Su Yu's explanation, Han Ruoruo wanted to say something but held back.
There might be something off about Su Yu's explanation, but she had to admit, with Ma Xiaotao's status, staying in Radiant City wasn't convenient.
From that angle, Su Yu's explanation made sense.
But she still felt something was odd as if Su Yu didn't want them to see Ma Xiaotao.
Before Han Ruoruo could continue, Su Yu got straight to the point, looking at Zhang Lexuan: "Sister Lexuan, you said you had something to tell me before, right?"
"Is something wrong?"
Mentioning business, Zhang Lexuan's expression turned serious, and even Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming looked grave.
Seeing this, Su Yu's gaze sharpened. He knew something serious must have happened.
Zhang Lexuan's face was grave as she spoke, "Xiao Yu, do you still remember Bei Bei?"
A trace of doubt flickered in Su Yu's eyes. "Of course. He's one of the most outstanding people of the younger generation."
"By the way, why didn't I see Bei Bei in your team lineup?"
"Logically, Bei Bei should be more than enough to serve as Shrek Academy's team captain now, right?"
"In your current team, no one is stronger than him, right?"
Shrek's team was strong, but not enough to make the top four.
With the current lineup, they were just making up the numbers in this tournament.
And the strongest, Bei Bei, wasn't even there—this confused Su Yu.
"Bei Bei came, but he… was injured,"
Han Ruoruo said.
"Hmm?"
Su Yu raised an eyebrow, "Who hurt him?"
Wu Ming said angrily, "You'd never guess. Even I didn't expect it…"
Su Yu: "…"
Then just say it.
A bit speechless, Su Yu said casually, "Was it Tang Ya?"
One sentence, and he was met with three shocked faces.
Wu Ming stared wide-eyed at Su Yu as if seeing a ghost, "How… how did you know?"
"So it was Tang Ya."
Su Yu's eyes flickered.
That brought back distant memories.
If he remembered correctly, in the original work, Bei Bei was also injured by Tang Ya.
And now he was injured by her again?
If nothing unexpected happened, Tang Ya was probably already an Evil Soul Master now.
Maybe even the Blue Silver Saintess.
Su Yu didn't have strong feelings about Tang Ya. He'd met her a few times, but that was all.
Whether or not she became an Evil Soul Master, he didn't care.
It just seemed like quite a coincidence.
Bei Bei was injured by Tang Ya in the original, and now again.
Maybe it was fate.
"Hey, Su Yu, what are you daydreaming about?"
Wu Ming's urging brought Su Yu back. Wu Ming asked anxiously, "How did you know it was Tang Ya?"
"I just guessed."
Su Yu replied casually, then asked, "So what happened?"
"It went like this…"
Zhang Lexuan began to explain. Bei Bei had discovered Tang Ya during registration.
Then, in an unexpected encounter, he was injured by Tang Ya, who was already acting very abnormally.
Zhang Lexuan's tone became heavy, "Tang Ya's soul power was extremely strange—not only sinister and domineering, but it could absorb life force."
"If Bei Bei weren't so strong, and Tang Ya hadn't just instinctively pushed him, Bei Bei could have been in real danger."
"Even so, Bei Bei will need time to recover. He can't participate in the early knockout rounds."
"Most importantly, Tang Ya was taken away by a strange black-clothed elder afterward."
"That person's soul power was strong—at least a Super Douluo. Behind him was a group of students with equally sinister auras."
"So I suspect… they're all from the Holy Spirit Cult."
"As for Tang Ya, if nothing unexpected happened, she's probably already been controlled and fallen to become an Evil Soul Master."
Zhang Lexuan looked grim, and Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming didn't look much better.
The Holy Spirit Cult was hated by every righteous soul master.
Yet such an evil group was now appearing in broad daylight.
That spoke volumes.
"The Holy Spirit Cult…"
Su Yu muttered, "These rats have finally shown themselves."
Zhang Lexuan reminded him seriously, "The Holy Spirit Cult has appeared in plain sight, even coming to participate in the tournament."
"It shows how brazen they've become; they don't care about the other factions at all."
"They've probably colluded with the Sun Moon Empire."
"Xiao Yu, you need to be careful and stay on your guard."
This was the main reason Zhang Lexuan had called Su Yu in.
She wanted to warn him to be careful of the Holy Spirit Cult.
As someone close to Su Yu, she knew his attitude toward the Cult.
He and the Holy Spirit Cult were destined to be enemies, with no chance for compromise.
Given the situation, she had to warn him right away.
"Thank you for the reminder. I'm well aware,"
Su Yu smiled.
At that moment, Wu Ming suddenly said, "Don't be careless; you also have to watch out for the Sun Moon royal family."
"Don't think that just because you have connections with Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Sun Moon Empire won't target you."
"If they can work with the Holy Spirit Cult, they're capable of anything."
"If possible, you should leave Radiant City soon. This is the Sun Moon Empire's home turf."
Han Ruoruo chuckled, "Su Yu, hear that? Ming'er's worried about you."
"Sister Ruoruo!"
Wu Ming's face turned red as she tugged at Han Ruoruo.
Han Ruoruo was pulled off-balance but still smiled.
Su Yu smiled, "Thank you for your concern, but the Holy Spirit Cult is nothing I can't handle."
"I've suspected something was wrong with them for a long time and prepared accordingly."
"This tournament probably won't be peaceful. If you need anything, just come to me."
"If nothing else, I can at least guarantee the safety of you senior sisters."
"You said it! We won't be polite about it then~"
Han Ruoruo joked.
For Han Ruoruo and the others, this was good news.
With Su Yu's help, at least Shrek's team would be safe.
Shrek had suffered a lot in recent years—not only losing strong members, but also losing many top students.
Every student was precious now; they couldn't afford more losses.
Su Yu smiled and turned to Zhang Lexuan again, "So how do you plan to deal with Tang Ya?"
Zhang Lexuan blinked, "What do you think?"
Su Yu didn't hesitate, "Tang Ya is an Evil Soul Master now…"
Han Ruoruo quickly said, "Tang Ya seems to have lost her mind. I think she's probably been controlled."
"So it's not her fault."
"I agree with Sister Ruoruo,"
Wu Ming chimed in.
Su Yu glanced at Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming but said nothing.
Maybe Tang Ya had been controlled, but the choice to activate the dark Blue Silver Grass bloodline was hers.
Tang Ya's current power came at the cost of many lives and soul essence.
That wasn't something that could be excused as simply being controlled.
Zhang Lexuan frowned slightly, and after a moment, said softly, "Xiao Yu, do as you think is best."