Everyone was still struggling to accept reality.
Just a short while ago, Zhu Zhuqing was a mid-tier member of the team.
Now, she had leapfrogged everyone—
And not just a little.
She was miles ahead.
Almost like she was chasing after Tang Lan himself…
And all of this—
All of it—
Just because she went on one trip with Tang Lan?!
—
Wait.
Hold on.
She only went on one trip, and this happened?!
Ning Rongrong and the others turned to look at Jing Ling with envy.
—This guy was about to hit the jackpot.
Jing Ling, despite his usual cold expression, couldn't help but—
Smile.
He couldn't help it!
His future soul rings were going to be personally customized by the Sect Master himself.
He didn't even need Zhu Zhuqing-level strength.
If he got even half of that, he'd be grinning in his sleep!
—
Not far away, Chen Xin (Sword Douluo) also sighed deeply.
No wonder Tang Lan was so insistent on giving Zhu Zhuqing the Tiger-Eagle Left Arm Bone and that powerful soul ring.
It was ridiculously strong.
Wait—
Zhu Zhuqing hadn't even used the soul bone skill yet?!
Oh, damn.
Tomorrow, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was in serious trouble.
'I should remind Xiao Lan to go easy on them…'
'At least a little—since Emperor Xue Ye will be watching.'
—
"Beep beep beep—"
Liu Erlong's chest vibrated suddenly.
She reached into her robe, pulled out a communication soul tool, and checked the caller ID.
"It's Xiao Gang."
"He's at the school gates handling admissions. Could someone be causing trouble again?"
"Sect Master, I'll take this call."
Tang Lan nodded.
Internally, he sighed.
Such an amazing woman… how did she end up with Yu Xiaogang?
—
"What?!" Liu Erlong suddenly exclaimed.
"Alright! I understand!"
She hung up and turned to Tang Lan.
"Sect Master, the Crown Prince has brought Fire Academy's Headmaster, Huo Rong, to the school gates to make a formal apology."
Oh?
Qian Renxue personally got involved?
"No more training today. Balance work and rest."
"Dismissed."
After giving the order—
Tang Lan activated his Life Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, using its flight ability to speed toward the front gate.
—
At the school gates—
Admissions had been paused.
The once arrogant and overbearing Huo Rong was now—
Shirtless, kneeling on one knee, carrying an iron thorn vine as tall as a person, with his head lowered.
A massive crowd had gathered to watch.
Although no one openly mocked him,
Simply standing there under their gazes made him burn with humiliation.
If it weren't for "Xue Qinghe" standing beside him,
He probably would have exploded with rage already.
—
The moment Tang Lan landed—
Qian Renxue immediately approached him.
"I did not order this."
Her expression was serious—
"I never even met Huo Rong. I only passed a message that he should seek your forgiveness, and I would naturally release—"
"I never expected him to use my name to throw his weight around!"
"This is my failure in leadership, causing damage to Tang Sect's reputation. I will make it right."
Qian Renxue then turned toward Huo Rong.
—
Huo Rong's face was red with suppressed fury, but he didn't dare to show even the slightest resistance.
Instead, he raised his voice and declared—
"I, Huo Rong, failed to discipline my daughter and allowed her to create a scene at Tang Sect Academy!"
"On top of that, I acted disrespectfully toward Sect Master Tang in front of the academy, worsening my mistake!"
"Today, I will sever one of my own arms as penance!"
—
As soon as the words left his mouth—
Huo Rong raised his right hand high—
And smashed it down on his left arm!
"BANG—!"
His entire left arm exploded into a bloody mess.
A glowing red soul bone floated into the air.
The crowd's eyes immediately turned green with greed.
But before anyone could react—
Huo Rong bit down, enduring the pain for several seconds,
Then pulled out a 10,000-year Fire Essence Core, along with his freshly extracted soul bone,
And pushed them toward Tang Lan.
—
"This is a 12,000-year Fire Spirit Left Arm Bone and a Fire Essence Core!"
"I offer them as compensation, in hopes that Sect Master Tang will be merciful and spare my daughter and me!"
—
This display—
Was an absolute surrender, in both face and substance.
Tang Sect's dignity, which had suffered a slight blow before, had not only been restored but had skyrocketed.
—If a Soul Douluo-level academy head had to go this far to apologize to Tang Sect,
Who else would dare to provoke them?
—
However—
As Tang Lan looked at Huo Rong's miserable state, his eyes narrowed.
—
Severing his own arm… losing precious treasures… could he truly have no resentment?
The Tang Sect was still in its early stages.
Having a Soul Douluo holding a grudge against them was not a good thing.
But at the same time—
Killing a Soul Douluo over this was unrealistic.
They were second only to Titled Douluos in power.
So—
Tang Lan suddenly smiled.
"Ah, why make this so bloody?"
"It was just a little misunderstanding. We've talked it out, haven't we?"
"Come on, let me help you out."
Tang Lan opened his palm.
A Life Soul Heart emerged—
Just like a Soul Seed, it could be stored inside his body.
He pressed it against Huo Rong's chest.
Huo Rong instinctively tried to move away, but—
Qian Renxue cleared her throat.
With a slight twitch of his body, he remained kneeling in place.
—
Tang Lan embedded the Life Soul Heart into Huo Rong's chest.
From this moment forward—
Huo Rong's life was in Tang Lan's hands.
Then—
Tang Lan activated the Life Soul Heart, channeling its vitality alongside his Nine Yang Divine Skill's internal energy into Huo Rong's severed arm.
At the same time—
He activated Blue Silver Domain.
Since Blue Silver Grass was classified as a "nationally protected plant,"
Almost all greenery in Heaven Dou City had been replaced with it.
Now—
A massive amount of life energy surged into Huo Rong's body.
His severed arm began regenerating—slowly but visibly.
—
The process was agonizing.
But compared to the loss of an arm, Huo Rong gritted his teeth and endured.
—
Several minutes later.
Tang Lan staggered slightly as he stood up—drenched in sweat.
Even his steps were a little unsteady.
—Healing a Soul Douluo's severed limb was an enormous drain.
He had even burned through two Life Soul Hearts just to sustain it.
But the effect was worth it.
Huo Rong's gaze was still complicated,
But his emotions had stabilized significantly.
—
Now that he thought about it—
He and his daughter were the ones in the wrong to begin with.
What did Tang Lan ever do?
—
Huo Rong stood up.
With the Fire Spirit Soul Bone in one hand and the Fire Essence Core in the other,
He bowed deeply and offered them to Tang Lan.
"As expected of someone the Crown Prince values—I, Huo Rong, submit!"
"If you ever need anything in the future, just give the order!"
This free favor—
Tang Lan happily accepted.
After he stored away the soul bone and heart core,
Qian Renxue spoke at just the right moment—
"Headmaster Huo, weren't you in a hurry to pick up your daughter? You should get going."
Only then did Huo Rong straighten up.
He nodded at Tang Lan—
Then activated his Martial Soul and flew off in a rush.
—
Qian Renxue smiled.
"I have informed my father—tomorrow's match will be relocated to Tang Sect Academy."
Originally, it was supposed to be at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
This was her way of compensating for the earlier misunderstanding.
Tang Lan could only chuckle.
—Scamming Qian Renxue's resources was just too easy.
—
Without hesitation—
Tang Lan stepped forward and punched Qian Renxue squarely in the chest.
"Qinghe, you're a real bro! If you weren't my senior brother's disciple, I'd want to swear brotherhood with you!"
Qian Renxue's body stiffened.
He… punched her chest?!
Even though she had altered her appearance using her soul bone ability…
She was still a girl at heart!
—
"Ha… Haha… Of course! We can be brothers!" Qian Renxue forced a smile.
"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I have other matters to attend to—I'll be leaving now!"
Then—
She fled in a panic.
Tang Lan grinned.
The future Angel Goddess… had surprisingly soft pecs.
—
As he turned around—
He was met with Yu Xiaogang's unsettling gaze.
📌 (End of Chapter)