Chapter 144: Collecting Some Interest from Bibi Dong's Precious Darling

As the attackers retreated, the various spirit master academies, especially the teachers who had vaguely guessed the true identity of the assailants, finally let out collective sighs of relief.

Qian Renxue fully leveraged the education she had received in the imperial palace over the years, methodically commanding the Royal Knights to restore order, clear the battlefield, and unblock the roads.

Before long, the Royal Knights reformed their ranks and, under Qian Renxue's command, resumed their journey.

Not long after they set off again, Qian Renxue sent someone to invite Xiao Yu for a meeting.

Xiao Yu did not refuse; he also wished to speak further with Qian Renxue. He immediately followed the accompanying royal guard to Qian Renxue's carriage.

Along the way, whether it was the guarding soldiers of the Royal Knights or the spirit master academies they passed, everyone looked at Xiao Yu with eyes full of reverence.

These people were not fools. If those several Title Douluo who had displayed such earth-shaking might were not subordinates of the Nine Stars Palace, how could they possibly have clashed with the attackers, who were also Title Douluo?

That was a full five Title Douluo!

Furthermore, they were Title Douluo whose ninth spirit rings reached a hundred thousand years. Such a lineup was something even the Upper Three Sects could not produce. To what extent had Xiao Yu's status risen? Many female students who considered themselves exceptionally attractive cast frequent glances and seductive winks at Xiao Yu.

Ignoring the affections of these worldly women, Xiao Yu stepped straight into Qian Renxue's carriage.

"Where did Ning Fengzhi go? And what about Xueke?"

Naturally, Xiao Yu could not have come alone. Aiolia and Milo, hidden in the shadows, had informed him before he boarded that only Qian Renxue was inside the carriage; neither Ning Fengzhi, the Sword Douluo, nor Princess Xueke—sent by Emperor Xue Ye to throw herself at him—were present.

"Xueke was frightened just now, so I sent her to rest in another carriage."

Qian Renxue replied, "Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo went over to Shrek Academy. I suppose it's to comfort his daughter and have another chat with that fellow Tang Tiansan."

Shrek had also been one of the targets of the Spirit Hall's attack this time. Although most of the firepower had been drawn by Xiao Yu, there was still a Platinum Bishop with a spirit power level around eighty-five and four Spirit Saints who made their move against them.

However, such a lineup could not pique the Sword Douluo's interest; he would rather watch Aiolia display his swordsmanship a few more times, which might yield some personal enlightenment.

The ones who ultimately stepped in to help were several powerful Spirit Saints from the Clear Sky School. Ning Fengzhi certainly did not travel with only the Sword Douluo; trivial matters could not possibly be left for the Sword Douluo to handle, so he was accompanied by several trusted aides at his beck and call.

Combined with the several Spirit Saints of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, alongside Fland and Liu Erlong, although they could not defeat the Spirit Hall's forces, holding them off to protect Tang San was not a problem.

After Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and the other three Title Douluo were defeated and forced to retreat, these people no longer wanted to press the fight. Abandoning their objective of killing Tang San, they broke away and fled.

Although the plot differed slightly from the original story, overall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still managed to save Tang San's life. Ning Fengzhi seized the opportunity to board Shrek's carriage, stirring up Tang San's hatred toward the Spirit Hall and continuing his grand strategy of uniting the Upper Three Sects to resist the Spirit Hall together.

"Xiao Xue, since no one else is here, you can drop the act. Speaking with you wearing a man's face feels rather awkward to me."

With Ning Fengzhi absent, Xiao Yu could not be bothered to keep up pretenses. He flopped down casually right beside Qian Renxue, sliding one hand rather mischievously around her waist. In any case, with Milo and Aiolia outside, external perception of the interior had been completely shielded.

"Hmph, who are you calling Xiao Xue!"

Qian Renxue slapped away Xiao Yu's wandering hand. At Xiao Yu's request, she removed her disguise, revealing her breathtaking and peerless face.

Looking somewhat aggrieved, Xiao Yu clutched his chest and said, "Xiao Xue, I just barely escaped with my life from your Spirit Hall's assassination attempt, the least you could do is comfort me!"

At the mention of this, Qian Renxue's expression involuntarily darkened. Gritting her teeth, she said, "That damned woman! To dare disregard my Elder Palace's warning and openly attack my ally—she simply has no regard for me at all!"

Seeing that Qian Renxue was not taking his bait, Xiao Yu returned to a serious demeanor and said in a deep voice, "Over the years, the Spirit Hall has constantly expanded, and all the strength they've gained belongs to the Pope's Palace. It seems she truly has the power to rival your Elder Palace now. However, that Sea Turtle Douluo was still a Title Douluo after all. Since we killed him off just like that in the Nine Stars Palace, won't your Elder Palace have any objections?"

"That Sea Turtle Douluo only joined the Spirit Hall after that woman assumed the position of Pope; he's just a loyal lapdog of the Pope's Palace. Let him die if he's dead. Those five Title Douluo who came today are all her trusted confidants—even if you wiped out every single one of them, it has nothing to do with our Elder Palace!"

Qian Renxue waved her hand dismissively and continued, "Her attacking you clearly stems from the fear that the addition of your Nine Stars Palace would widen the gap in strength between our Elder Palace and her Pope's Palace. Therefore, she didn't hesitate to push your Nine Stars Palace into a position of hostility. Does a woman as selfish as her even deserve to be Pope?"

"That's why I've always said there are endless internal conflicts within your Spirit Hall."

Xiao Yu explained, "This is also the reason I have always been unwilling to pursue deeper cooperation with your Spirit Hall."