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Several months prior, Ye Lan had been assaulted by a mysterious Spirit Saint.
At the time, Ye Lan had found it quite peculiar, assuming the Spirit Saint was an outsider who had traveled to Suotuo City.
He reasoned that if someone had been targeting the spirit bone he possessed, the ambush should logically have occurred not within Suotuo City, but rather in the desolate expanse of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yet on that particular day, during the very early morning, the mysterious Spirit Saint, accompanied by a Spirit Grandmaster, had made a direct attempt on the spirit bone integrated into his body.
That mysterious Spirit Saint had also confidently asserted that the only reason Ye Lan could absorb a thousand-year spirit ring at the twentieth rank was because he had first assimilated a hundred-year spirit bone.
Recalling it now, Ye Lan realized the timing of that incident was just a few days after he had published his theory on "New Martial Soul Competitiveness."
Now, Ye Lan could only find the situation amusing; he never imagined that because of the martial soul theory he had published, that pair had mistakenly believed they had uncovered the truth behind his ability to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring.
Of course, aside from Zao Wou-Ki, there had been another mysterious Spirit Grandmaster present that day.
That Spirit Grandmaster had remained utterly silent, never revealing his martial soul, spirit skills, or even his spirit power level.
Although Ye Lan couldn't deduce the Spirit Grandmaster's true identity from the few clues available from that encounter.
It only took a moment for Ye Lan to speculate on the Spirit Grandmaster's real identity.
That Spirit Grandmaster had to be Tang San, without a doubt, though he lacked concrete evidence.
However, only Tang Hao's son possessed the authority to command someone like Zao Wou-Ki.
Having pieced together the identities of his attackers and the full sequence of events, Ye Lan began to advance step by step toward the Shrek Five.
As Ye Lan steadily closed the distance, the members of the Heaven Dou First Team and Silver Wolf followed closely in his wake.
Elsewhere, Zao Wou-Ki was lying on the ground, drenched in a cold sweat from the excruciating pain.
He was gulping down Oscar's recovery sausages in large bites. As the sausages took effect, Zao Wou-Ki's injuries began to mend slowly.
However, Zao Wou-Ki's complexion was terribly unnatural, a ghastly mix of black and green.
This was because the sausages Oscar concocted were absolutely disgusting!
If not for the unbearable agony from the numerous wounds covering his body, Zao Wou-Ki would have preferred to starve rather than eat one of Oscar's sausages.
Besides administering the sausages, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and the others were also helping to bandage Zao Wou-Ki's injuries.
Halfway through her bandaging, the ever-vigilant rabbit suddenly sensed the relatively calm atmosphere instantly turn grim.
Xiao Wu glanced over her shoulder to see Ye Lan and his group of eight steadily approaching their position.
A mass of dark clouds abruptly gathered in the sky, seeming to follow Ye Lan's movements, and swiftly plunged the day into shadow.
The sky became instantly dim.
Realizing that Ye Lan still had no intention of letting them go, Xiao Wu angrily jumped to her feet.
"Ye Lan, what more do you possibly want? You've already injured Teacher Zao Wou-Ki this badly! Can you be so heartless? Considering we were classmates for so many years, can't you just let us go?"
Oslo scoffed disdainfully, "That's not the tune you were singing earlier. And what are you looking at, you damned fatty! Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"
Hearing Oslo's threat, Ma Hongjun immediately cowered, pretending to turn back to continue tending to Zao Wou-Ki's wounds.
Seeing the red-haired fatty back down so quickly, Oslo felt a wave of disappointment and cursed, "Useless trash! Where did all that arrogance from before disappear to?"
Ye Lan observed the exasperated Xiao Wu, who was now attempting to emotionally blackmail him, but he didn't grace her with a response.
Instead, he remarked, "Is it cowardice to avoid trouble? That is truly the most laughable joke I have ever heard. Xiao Wu, you are just like a cowardly rabbit, capable only of wagging your tail and begging for my forgiveness."
Tang San retorted angrily, "Xiao Wu is not some cowardly rabbit! You won today, so we admit our loss, isn't that enough?"
"Not a rabbit? Heh heh," Ye Lan mocked.
Xiao Wu's expression changed dramatically, while Tang San looked on, somewhat bewildered.
But Ye Lan gave them no time to process, continuing, "Since you admit defeat, then act like you've been defeated."
"Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai! Both of you, step forward! Kowtow to Dugu Yan!" On his way over, Ye Lan had learned from Yu Feng the reason for the conflict with the Shrek Five.
As he suspected, it was rooted in that absurd philosophy, 'It's cowardice to avoid trouble.' Well, fantastic, now they had brought their trouble to his doorstep.
Today, he would teach them the price of provoking others.
Hearing Ye Lan's command, Ma Hongjun's face went pale.
Nevertheless, he still walked forward, trembling with each step, until he stood before Ye Lan.
Tang San cried out anxiously, "Ma Hongjun, don't kowtow!"
Ma Hongjun felt a brief warmth in his heart, followed by a sense of utter speechlessness.
Could Tang San truly not grasp the severity of their current predicament?
The man standing beside Ye Lan was a Spirit Douluo who had incapacitated Zao Wou-Ki in just a few moves!
If he refused to kowtow, there was no telling what that Spirit Douluo might do next.
Ma Hongjun dared not look Ye Lan in the eye. He had never expected that the blond Spirit Master who had defended Cui Hua that day was none other than 'Green Emperor' Ye Lan, who was also the premier theorist, 'the Scholar.'
No wonder he had suffered such a crushing defeat that day; losing to Ye Lan was no disgrace.
Ma Hongjun gritted his teeth and forced his knees to the ground.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He quickly performed three resounding kowtows to Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan smiled and said, "Alright, my idol told you to kowtow, so you kowtowed. Since you're so obedient, I'll forgive you just this once."
Ma Hongjun let out a quiet sigh of relief and silently began to walk back to the Shrek group.
Just as he was returning, Ye Lan's voice echoed from behind him:
"Ma Hongjun, this is the second time. You're just as perceptive this time. I will let you go for now. But if there is a third time, you won't want to find out the consequences."
Hearing Ye Lan's voice, Ma Hongjun's body trembled uncontrollably.
He didn't dare to respond to Ye Lan; the mere thought of doing so was too frightening to entertain.
Ye Lan's gaze then shifted to Dai Mubai.
"And what about the other one?"
Dai Mubai bellowed in fury, "You want me to kneel? Impossible! A prince of Star Luo dies on his feet! We are not princes who kneel!"
Dai Mubai, confident in his status as a Star Luo prince, didn't believe Ye Lan would dare to do anything significant to him, and so he adopted the haughty demeanor of a royal who could not be dishonored.
Hearing Dai Mubai's laughable declaration, Ye Lan sneered.
"If you truly possessed that kind of mettle back then, you would never have fled from the Star Luo Empire to Suotuo City in disgrace."
Seeing Dai Mubai's defiant posture, Ye Lan was reminded of the cold stares, the ostracism, and the neglect that Zhu Zhuqing had endured alone in the Star Luo Empire for all these years.
A wave of fury surged through him.
"Since you don't want to do this the easy way, I'll help you do it the hard way!"
Dozens of strands of Blue Silver Grass erupted from Ye Lan's body, instantly shooting toward Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai tried to resist, his body glowing with white spirit power as he activated his White Tiger Possession.
The moment his transformation was complete, the empowered Dai Mubai was ensnared by more than a dozen strands of Blue Silver Grass!
Dai Mubai roared:
"White Tiger Diamond Transformation!"
"White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
Dai Mubai's already muscular tiger-like form swelled once more, growing even larger and more imposing.
The black stripes across his body became deeper and more lustrous.
The 'White Tiger Diamond Transformation' doubled Dai Mubai's attack power, defense, strength, and resistance to status effects!
After his muscles finished expanding, a spherical white energy shield materialized around his body.
The Blue Silver Grass that had been restraining him was instantly forced outward.
Seeing his 'White Tiger Protective Barrier' repel the Blue Silver Grass, Dai Mubai prepared to mock Ye Lan.
He opened his mouth, but before any sound could escape.
In the next instant, the dozens of Blue Silver Grass strands exerted their full force, violently crushing the 'White Tiger Protective Barrier'!
Bang!
The moment the barrier shattered, the dozens of Blue Silver Grass strands, carried by their momentum, slammed into and compressed Dai Mubai at the center.
"Ahhhhh!"
At that moment, Dai Mubai felt as if he were being crushed to a pulp, a shattering pain radiating from every part of his body.
Believing he was about to be squeezed to death by the Blue Silver Grass, he immediately screamed for mercy, "Ye Lan! I was wrong! I was wrong! Please spare me!"
Ye Lan hadn't actually intended to kill him, but he was surprised that the supposedly fearsome White Tiger had surrendered so quickly.
Ye Lan said disdainfully, "If you were going to end up like this, why did you have to put on such a tough act just now?"
The constricting pressure on Dai Mubai's body vanished, and he gasped in relief.
But his relief was short-lived. Dozens of Blue Silver Grass strands lifted him into the air and brought him before Ye Lan.
Ye Lan then used his 'Exquisite Eight-Sided Heart' skill to meticulously control Dai Mubai's body, forcing him to perform three heavy kowtows toward Dugu Yan.
Only, the force of these kowtows was extraordinary.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Dai Mubai's forehead was instantly reduced to a bloody pulp, with blood streaming down his entire face.
After the third kowtow, Dai Mubai fell completely unconscious.
Ye Lan glanced at the unconscious form, then used his Blue Silver Grass to contemptuously toss Dai Mubai toward Oscar.
After catching the limp body, Oscar took one look at Dai Mubai's horrific state and immediately stuffed one of his large sausages into his mouth.
When Ma Hongjun saw the unconscious Dai Mubai, he was secretly grateful for his quick surrender.
Otherwise, he might very well have been crushed to death by that Blue Silver Grass.
After all, this was already the second time he had provoked Ye Lan.
Tang San glanced at the unconscious Dai Mubai, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, but he remained silent.
Tang San couldn't believe that even with the 'White Tiger Diamond Transformation' active, Dai Mubai's fully powered 'White Tiger Protective Barrier' had been unable to withstand the crushing force of Ye Lan's Blue Silver Grass.
His own first spirit skill, 'Blue Silver Binding,' couldn't even breach Dai Mubai's standard 'White Tiger Protective Barrier,' let alone one at full power!
Why was Ye Lan's Blue Silver Grass so much more powerful than his own?
Tang San clenched his fists tighter.
Teacher!
Is pursuing the poison path for my Blue Silver Grass truly the right choice?
Can my Blue Silver Grass ever become as overwhelmingly strong as Ye Lan's?
Xiao Wu's voice shattered Tang San's train of thought:
"Ye Lan, Boss Dai and Ma Hongjun have already admitted their mistake! Why won't you let us go?"
Xiao Wu grew frantic when she noticed Ye Lan and his companions were making no move to leave.
Everyone else present also looked toward Ye Lan, their faces filled with confusion.
From the exchange between Ye Lan and Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan understood that Ye Lan already knew this group.
So, does Ye Lan have some old grudge with them that remains unsettled?
Ye Leng Leng, however, maintained a tranquil expression. She trusted that Ye Lan had a profound reason for his actions.
Ye Lan shook his head and said, "Could you please stop questioning me with the attitude of a victim? Dugu Yan is the real victim here!"
Hearing Ye Lan's words, a warmth spread through Dugu Yan's heart.
The feeling of her idol standing up for her like this was incredibly satisfying for Dugu Yan.
At this moment, she was the happiest fan in the entire world!
Xiao Wu bit her lip and fell silent.
Tang San gently squeezed Xiao Wu's hand and shook his head, signaling for her to say no more.
He seemed to believe that if they just buried their heads in the sand, Ye Lan would eventually leave.
However, Ye Lan's next words caused Tang San's expression to change drastically.
"Zao Wou-Ki! Stop lying there playing dead. I know you're not unconscious," Ye Lan stated coolly.
Zao Wou-Ki instantly sat bolt upright, his face grim. "Ye Lan, what do you want?"
"You're asking me? I want to know if you were the one who attacked me several months ago," Ye Lan questioned sharply.
"What attack? Why on earth would I attack you?" Zao Wou-Ki replied, his face a mask of innocence.
Hearing Zao Wou-Ki's denial, Tang San's clenched fist relaxed slightly.
That's right, as long as we deny it to the bitter end!
So what if Ye Lan suspects it was Zao Wou-Ki who attacked him that day?
But Zao Wou-Ki's feigned innocence was short-lived. An immense spirit pressure instantly locked onto him.
The fully armored Silver Wolf appeared before Zao Wou-Ki in a flash, his massive and intricate silver armor exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression over the Shrek members.
Silver Wolf spoke to Zao Wou-Ki, his voice metallic. "Do not take me for a fool. I command you to use your first and second spirit skills on me, immediately!"
Silver Wolf remembered that on that day, a faint yellow light had pulsed from the mysterious Spirit Saint's body right before the brilliant golden radiance erupted.
Hearing Silver Wolf's command, Zao Wou-Ki's face turned ashen!
He knew he was exposed!
Just as Zao Wou-Ki hesitated, the spirit pressure bearing down on him intensified several times over, slamming him flat against the ground.
With his spirit power nearly depleted, Zao Wou-Ki stood no chance against Silver Wolf's full, oppressive aura.
Ye Lan gave Silver Wolf an approving glance.
Even though Zao Wou-Ki hadn't released his hundred-year spirit skills, his face was a canvas of indecision.
Doesn't this hesitation clearly prove he's afraid to use them?
Silver Wolf's intuition had been correct!
The Spirit Saint from that day was, without a doubt, Zao Wou-Ki.
Seeing Zao Wou-Ki pinned to the ground by Silver Wolf, Tang San could no longer remain seated.
"What attack? Teacher Zhao has never done such a thing! Why do you keep harassing us!" Tang San shrieked, on the verge of hysteria.
Ye Lan found Tang San's performance utterly laughable.
So, you have the guts to act but not the courage to admit it?
Ignoring Tang San, Ye Lan turned to the crowd and explained, word by word, what had transpired. "Several months ago, here in Suotuo City, I published my theory on 'New Martial Soul Core Competitiveness.' Only a few days later, in the early morning, I was ambushed by a mysterious Spirit Saint and a Spirit Grandmaster!"
"This mysterious Spirit Saint immediately claimed that I possessed a hundred-year spirit bone, stating it was the reason I could absorb a thousand-year spirit ring at the twentieth rank."
"On that day, although the mysterious Spirit Saint did not try to take my life directly,"
"He closed in on me several times with the intent of breaking my limbs to extract the spirit bone."
"If Uncle Wolf had not been nearby, I fear I would have met a grim fate."
"To escape that day, the mysterious Spirit Saint unleashed a brilliant golden light from his entire body."
"You all saw Zao Wou-Ki's sixth spirit skill just a moment ago, didn't you? It was the very same golden light from that day."
A chill went down Ye Leng Leng's spine. She never imagined that Ye Lan had endured such a perilous ordeal.
The compassionate Ye Leng Leng instantly withdrew all her physician's mercy for the heavily injured Zao Wou-Ki.
At this moment, her only desire was to see Zao Wou-Ki pay a terrible price.
"Idol!" Dugu Yan clung to Ye Lan's arm, a lingering fear in her eyes.
She dared not imagine the horrific outcome had Uncle Wolf not been there to rescue Ye Lan that day.
After hearing Ye Lan's account, the members of the Heaven Dou First Team had a moment of revelation, yet they weren't entirely surprised.
It seemed only natural that such a despicable teacher would produce such vile students.
After listening to Ye Lan's explanation, Tang San said nothing, terrified of exposing himself.
Thank goodness I didn't say or do anything that day, so I didn't leave any clues.
Why did Zao Wou-Ki have to reveal a flaw like that golden flash when he encountered a Spirit Douluo?
Why did he even need to use his sixth spirit skill just now?
If he hadn't used it, maybe Ye Lan wouldn't have connected him to the events of that day.
If Zao Wou-Ki could hear Tang San's thoughts, he would undoubtedly curse him out:
If I hadn't used my sixth spirit skill just now, I'd be dead already!
The Shrek Five each wore a different expression; they, too, were shocked to learn that Teacher Zao Wou-Ki was capable of such an act.
No wonder Ye Lan had been so relentless.
Ma Hongjun's gaze drifted between Dai Mubai, Oscar, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
He tried to guess who the Spirit Grandmaster from that day might have been. Although he had no real proof.
His intuition told him that only Tang San would be involved in something like this.
Who else gets up that early in the morning? Tang San rises with the sun to train every single day, more diligent than a crowing rooster.
Meanwhile, the crowd of onlookers, upon hearing that the Spirit Saint on the ground had once attacked 'the Scholar,' immediately began to revile Zao Wou-Ki.
"Tch! Some Spirit Saint! He looks human enough, but he actually tried to harm 'the Teacher'!"
"Did 'the Teacher' publish all those brilliant theories just so people like you could try to kill him?"
"Have you no conscience at all?!"
Hearing these ordinary citizens speak up for him, Ye Lan felt a surge of warmth in his chest.
Just as expected of his home turf, Suotuo City. His reputation as 'the Scholar' had finally won him the hearts of the people.
As long as he committed no evil, he would forever stand on the side of justice.
Seeing that the atmosphere was appropriately charged, Ye Lan said to Silver Wolf:
"Uncle Wolf, since Zao Wou-Ki wanted to take my spirit bone, then today, I'll take a bone from him."
"Zao Wou-Ki, which will it be? Which hand or which leg do you wish to lose?"
Zao Wou-Ki shook his head frantically, terrified at the prospect of being disabled.
"Neither my leg nor my hand, I choose neither! Ye Lan, how about you spare me?"
"I can compensate you with a spirit bone!"
Dugu Yan sneered, "Idol, I'll take both of Zao Wou-Ki's hands and feet! I'll compensate him with three spirit bones!"
Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Zao Wou-Ki's face contorted in terror as he shook his head wildly. "I choose my left hand! I choose the left hand!"
He truly believed the purple-haired woman would compensate him with spirit bones, but he had no idea if they would be hundred-year or mere ten-year spirit bones.
Regardless of the compensation, if he lost both his arms and legs, he would truly become a human stump, a fate worse than death!
Silver Wolf glanced back at Ye Lan, who gave a slight nod.
In the next instant, a crescent blade of energy flashed through the air.
Zao Wou-Ki's entire arm went flying!
As the thick limb sailed through the air, several strands of Blue Silver Grass shot out from Ye Lan's body.
They instantly wrapped around the severed arm and crushed it into pulp, utterly destroying any hope Zao Wou-Ki might have had of reattaching the limb.
Zao Wou-Ki stared, dazed, at the airborne mess of flesh and bone that had once been his arm.
Just when Tang San and the others thought the ordeal was finally over.
Ye Lan's demonic voice sounded once more: "Now, I want to ask you, who was the Spirit Grandmaster on that day?"
The color drained from the faces of the Shrek Five. Dai Mubai and Oscar frantically shook their heads, crying, "It wasn't me! It wasn't me!"
Tang San pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
Ye Lan fixed his gaze on Tang San. "Is no one really going to confess? If not, then I'm afraid I'll have to take one of Zao Wou-Ki's legs as well!"
Tang San avoided Ye Lan's piercing stare, acting as if he hadn't seen it.
He then turned his head to cast a chilling glance at the now one-armed Zao Wou-Ki.
Zao Wou-Ki felt a shiver run down his spine under Tang San's dark gaze, which seemed to be blaming him for not covering his tracks properly that day.
Although Zao Wou-Ki desperately wanted to keep his other leg, he knew that if he exposed Tang San as the Spirit Grandmaster right now, the Clear Sky Douluo would never let him live it down.
Conversely, if Tang San confessed and was subsequently crippled by Ye Lan, the Clear Sky Douluo would likewise never forgive him.
He could not afford to offend the Clear Sky Douluo!
Zao Wou-Ki could only grit his teeth and shake his head at Tang San.
He then turned to Ye Lan and declared, "The Spirit Grandmaster that day was just some random person I found to act as a lookout. If you have an issue, direct it at me!"
When Ma Hongjun heard Zao Wou-Ki take the blame, and saw the dark look in Tang San's eyes, he began to feel contempt for Tang San.
Teacher Zao Wou-Ki has already lost an arm, is he now expected to sacrifice a leg for Tang San as well?
Ye Lan pondered for a moment, then said, "Fine. I respect you, Zao Wou-Ki, for being a man. You can take your students and get out of my sight!"
Hearing Ye Lan's words, Zao Wou-Ki finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his perception of Ye Lan began to change slightly.
Although they were now enemies, Zao Wou-Ki knew he had been the one in the wrong that day, driven by his greed for Ye Lan's spirit bone.
Even though Ye Lan had crippled his left arm, he had brought it upon himself.
But he had never expected Ye Lan to actually spare him further harm.
A sliver of gratitude toward Ye Lan formed in Zao Wou-Ki's heart.
His emotions at this moment were incredibly complex, directed not only at Ye Lan, but also at Tang San.
He couldn't believe Tang San had looked at him with such a gaze just now. Even without that look, Zao Wou-Ki would have taken the fall for what happened.
But that look from Tang San sent a chill through his heart. Is this really my student, Tang San?
If you didn't have the Clear Sky Douluo for a father, I'd have been the first one to cripple you!
You sold out your teammate that day, and now you have the gall to resent me?
If it hadn't been for your bright idea in the first place, none of this would have happened!
Ma Hongjun and Oscar helped up Zao Wou-Ki and Dai Mubai, and the group slowly departed from the scene.
Ye Lan could have easily crippled Zao Wou-Ki completely, but with one hand gone, he was no longer a threat.
Now that he had Uncle Wolf's protection, there was no need to be absolutely ruthless.
By sparing Zao Wou-Ki today, he also placed the man in his debt.
Beyond creating a favor, the most important outcome was driving a wedge between Zao Wou-Ki and Tang San.
Perhaps, someday in the future, an opportunity to make use of Zao Wou-Ki might present itself.
After the Shrek Five and Zao Wou-Ki had disappeared into the distance, Ye Leng Leng approached Ye Lan's side. She took his hand firmly, her voice icy.
"Ye Lan, why did you let Zao Wou-Ki go?"
Everyone present turned their gazes to where Ye Leng Leng's hand was clasped around Ye Lan's.
It wasn't just her action, but her voice was also utterly foreign to them.
It was so cold.
The expressions on the faces of the Heaven Dou First Team were quite something to behold as they all tried to guess the nature of the relationship between Ye Leng Leng and Ye Lan.
Moreover, Ye Leng Leng had grabbed Ye Lan's hand while Dugu Yan was standing right there!
When Dugu Yan saw Ye Leng Leng holding Ye Lan's hand, even she, who was usually slow to pick up on such things, realized something was amiss.
So, my rival in love has been right beside me all along!
But Dugu Yan had no idea how far things had progressed between Ye Lan and Ye Leng Leng!
So, all Dugu Yan could do was press herself more firmly against Ye Lan's other arm.
When Yu Tianheng saw Dugu Yan's openly jealous display, the color that had just returned to his face instantly drained away, replaced by a look of bitterness.
Yu Tianheng sighed and said to Oslo and Yu Feng, "Weren't you going to pour me a drink? Get to it. Tonight, we drink to our heart's content!"
Ye Lan did not pull his hand away from Ye Leng Leng's; he knew she was only worried about him.
Thinking this, Ye Lan squeezed her hand reassuringly and said, "Leng Leng, don't worry. With Uncle Wolf protecting me, Zao Wou-Ki is no longer a threat to me."
"Besides, I wasn't actually injured that day, and I never sensed any true killing intent from him."
"Taking his arm today is punishment enough. Besides, if I truly backed him into a corner and made him hysterical, I would have to worry about your safety."
"Mm! I understand," Ye Leng Leng nodded, satisfied.
(End of Chapter)