Chapter 459: The Narrow Minded Dai Huabin Part Five
On the Soul Battle Platform
The more powerful the technique, the more concentration it required. At that critical moment, Huo Yu'er had poured all her focus into defeating Dai Huabin. Despite having her Mental Detection soul skill active, she could not avoid the sudden attack from behind in time.
Just as the incoming soul skill was about to strike her, a thunderous voice rang out, "How dare you!"
In an instant, a tremendous wave of soul power surged like a collapsing mountain. The force swept everyone off their feet Huo Yu'er, Dai Huabin, and the assailant alike. Even though she was not directly targeted by this soul force, just the shockwave made Huo Yu'er feel as if her internal organs had been rearranged.
"What… what just happened?" Huo Yu'er's head was spinning as she struggled to stand. She looked back at the stage.
There stood a disheveled elderly man, holding a middle aged man aloft by his throat, his eyes fierce and unforgiving.
"How dare you act so brazenly on Shrek Academy's grounds! The White Tiger Duke's family sure is arrogant," Xuanzai sneered coldly.
With Mu En's health deteriorating daily, Xuanzai had become increasingly determined to protect Shrek Academy's honor. Lately, he'd been investigating Tianxing Academy, but had come up with nothing no background, no records, only Huo Yu'er's impressive Flowing Rock Shatter Fist displayed on the day of the freshman competition, a technique that hinted at a masterful, even awe inspiring understanding of combat.
By coincidence, Xuanzai happened upon Dai Huabin's challenge to Huo Yu'er and, curious, decided to watch from the shadows. He was captivated by her skill and tenacity; though she didn't perform her Flowing Rock Shatter Fist at its peak, her prowess was nonetheless extraordinary. Xuanzai couldn't help but think how unfortunate it was that Huo Yu'er wasn't available for Shrek's direct training.
Yet all of this paled in comparison to what he had just witnessed. Within Shrek City a place renowned for its strict adherence to order this middle aged man had dared to launch an unprovoked attack in front of everyone, on Shrek grounds. Xuanzai, for whom Shrek's reputation was everything, would not tolerate such brazen behavior.
Xuanzai tightened his grip on the man's neck, eyes cold as ice. "Answer me, scum how would you like to die?"
The middle aged man's face turned blue and purple as he gasped, his life hanging by a thread. Huo Yu'er, who was still catching her breath nearby, shivered at Xuanzai's murderous aura and felt an even stronger resolve to reach the level of these titled Douluos one day.
Just then, several beams of light streaked across the sky and landed near the Soul Battle Platform. An elderly woman with silver hair stepped forward, her voice calm but firm, "Let him go, Xuanzai."
However, Xuanzai was on the verge of losing control. His martial spirit, infamous for its berserk tendencies, often led him to the edge of reason in moments of anger, especially when the honor of Shrek was at stake.
"You !" Xuanzai began.
But the elderly woman cut him off, her voice unwavering. "That's the Pavilion Master's command."
Her words instantly doused the flames of fury in Xuanzai's eyes. The mention of the Pavilion Master seemed to act as a calming agent, forcing Xuanzai to release his grip, allowing the man to fall to the ground gasping for air.
"Understood," Xuanzai replied reluctantly. With a wave of his hand, he whisked the man and Dai Huabin away, along with the other powerful figures who had arrived to witness the scene. Only those with Titled Douluo level strength had the privilege to fly within Shrek City.
Left alone, Huo Yu'er surveyed the now empty stage, her face darkened by frustration and disappointment.
"So much for Shrek…"
The incident became the talk of the academy the following day. Students buzzed with gossip about the altercation until their instructors imposed a gag order, silencing the chatter. Instead, a formal announcement was issued detailing the disciplinary actions: Dai Huabin was expelled, and no member of the White Tiger Duke's family would be admitted to Shrek Academy for the next ten years.
After a night spent in deep meditation to mend her wounds, Huo Yu'er could only scoff at the so called punishment. To her, it was far from satisfactory.
"All this talk about Shrek's pride and integrity, yet they only hand out such a paltry punishment? Is it because the White Tiger Duke's family fights on the frontlines against the Sun Moon Empire? Just to keep up appearances and maintain harmony among the Douluo Kingdoms, I'm expected to swallow this bitter pill?" She clenched her fists tightly, seething with a mix of indignation and determination.
"Everything Teacher said is right. Power is all that matters in this world. As long as hypocrites control the Douluo Continent, how many ordinary people will suffer unjustly as I have?"
Her heart ablaze, Huo Yu'er felt her spirit solidify with new purpose.
After the first class of the day, an Inner Court teacher approached Huo Yu'er, handing her two Soul Coin cards, each worth 100,000 coins.
"This is the academy's compensation," he said tersely before turning to leave, as if the money should be considered a magnanimous gift.
Huo Yu'er accepted the money in silence, suppressing her anger. If nothing else, at least she could use it to fund her future training. But in her mind, Shrek Academy now wore a label of arrogance and hypocrisy. She couldn't ignore the fact that, without Xuanzai's intervention, she might have been maimed or killed.
With a renewed fervor, Huo Yu'er dove even deeper into her training after that day. She was determined to never again find herself in a situation where she was helpless to defend herself.
Meanwhile, back at the White Tiger Duke's family manor in Shrek City
The academy's announced sanctions weren't the only measures taken against the White Tiger Duke's family. Behind the scenes, the family had been forced to make several concessions to placate Shrek Academy and stifle the outrage.
Dai Huabin sat in stunned silence as servants packed up his belongings. Given a choice, he would have rather been humiliated by a direct defeat than suffer the fallout of an outsider's interference, which had ultimately ruined his duel with Huo Yu'er.
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