"Your Eminence, Bishop!"
Huyan Zhen had watched anxiously over the fallen Huyan Li. Without hesitation, he followed Salas off the battlefield.
He had to. As Sect Master of the Elephant Armor Sect (and grandfather to Huyan Li), Huyan Zhen harbored ambitions of his own—ambitions he couldn't afford to put at risk. Salas's fury over the match's outcome was palpable: a reckoning from Spirit Hall could shatter the sect unless Huyan Zhen regained favor.
He knew well: Spirit Hall's influence—and its gifts—weren't freely given.
Despite his concern for his grandson's condition, Huyan Zhen reminded his disciples to treat Huyan Li's poisoning, citing the tournament's no-killing rule.
Shortly after stepping outside...
"Your Eminence, Bishop!"
Huyan Zhen caught up.
"Sect Master Huyan," Salas responded coolly. "Is there something you wish to discuss?"
"Your Eminence, I apologize for our defeat today. We've betrayed your trust in the Elephant Armor Sect."
Huyan Zhen bowed humbly. His tone was apologetic and sincere.
Salas's expression softened slightly.
"You assured me we'd win before the battle," Salas reminded.
"Bishop Salas," Huyan Zhen explained, "a Wuji Academy Soul King-level student was unexpected—especially a poison-type: the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.
Her venom… our training couldn't overcome it."
Salas's silence spoke volumes—Huyan Zhen had overpromised.
"Do not disappoint me in the matches ahead," Salas said coldly.
"You must not forget what you pledged."
"Spirit Hall's gift wasn't meant for failure."
"If your incompetence drags down the Elephant Armor Sect—" A thin smile crept across Salas's lips.
Inside the arena, Emperor Xue Ye turned to Ning Fengzhi:
"Ning Sect Master—what is your opinion?"
Ning smiled and stood, bowing respectfully:
"Your Majesty, congratulations are in order."
Xue Ye tilted his head, eyes narrowing in interest:
"Sect Master Ning, what do you mean?"
Ning straightened his posture and spoke gravely:
"Wuji Academy was co-founded by Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and three single-attribute clan leaders—one each from offense, defense, and mobility.
None have ties to Spirit Hall."
"Given this, Spirit Hall cannot sway Wuji Academy."
"And that is precisely why Wuji Academy should, by all means, be aligned with the Heaven Dou Empire.
While Spirit Hall continues to woo various Soul Master factions, this academy—independent and strong—could be a major asset."
"As Wuji Academy's performance improves, so too does our ability to cultivate elite Soul Masters for the Empire."
"Thus far, two of their prodigies—Feng Xiaotian and Oscar—are already at their full soul power and are destined to become Title Douluo.
Then there's Dugu Yan—a young Soul King whose poison Martial Soul seems already evolved from her grandfather Dugu Bo's Serpent Emperor."
"And we have yet to see their team captain: Yun Yibai, descendant of the Blue-Electric Tyrannosaur clan. A few years ago, he defeated a Soul Ancestor while still a Soul Elder. Now, at eighteen, he's not weaker than Feng Xiaotian or Dugu Yan."
"If we establish a partnership with Wuji Academy, many strategic issues will become far easier to manage."
Ning paused, smiling enigmatically:
"And let us not forget—Yutian Heng, direct heir of the Blue-Electric Tyrannosaur clan, is currently at the Royal Academy and serves as their team captain."
"With Yutian Heng and Yun Yibai on our side, this neutral academy could even pave the way for an alliance with the Blue-Electric Tyrannosaur Clan—a proud and haughty power indeed."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded approvingly:
"Sect Master Ning is indeed the Empire's strategist."
Meanwhile…
Following Wuji Academy's victory, Dugu Yan administered an antidote to her opponents from Elephant Armor.
But she left behind traces of venom—a lesson they badly needed.
In Round Twelve of preliminaries, Elephant Armor faced Shrek Academy.
Still recovering and weakened by poison, they were easy prey for Shrek's full squad:
Soul Ancestors: Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing
Additional members: Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun
Huang Wenhua, a Level 8 innate soul power addition recruited by Flender from a noble Soul Master family in Soto, whose strongest member was also a Soul Sage.
Exhausted and overshadowed, the Elephant Armor team was not in peak form.
Nevertheless, Sect Master Huyan Zhen had made one thing clear: no more losses.
Even if it meant using Spirit Hall's gift artifact.