Douluo Continent: Starting with a Tom Cat

Page 139

A hint of cunning shone in Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's small, golden eyes.

On the other side, upon discovering that all of its students had died, Canghui Academy immediately lodged a protest with the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall, and reported the Heaven Dou deputy captain.

“Shen An, don’t worry. None of the injuries on the seven people from Canghui Academy are fatal. We can say that they played with fire and got burned, and died because they couldn’t control the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique.”

Xue Qinghe said with a smile.

The organizer was the Heaven Dou Empire, but Canghui Academy also filed a complaint with the Spirit Hall at the same time, which clearly showed that they did not trust the Heaven Dou Empire and felt that the other party might cover for them.

Therefore, they found the Spirit Hall, which was directly opposed to the Heaven Dou Empire.

This line of thinking is correct. Unfortunately, Salas had already regarded Shen An as the future pillar of the Spirit Hall because of Xue Qinghe's secret letter.

Both the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire consider Shen An to be one of their own, so why would they make things difficult for him?

However, the two major forces still officially established an investigation team to investigate Shen An and Canghui Academy respectively.

Soon, the investigation team arrived. Representing the Spirit Hall was Platinum Bishop Salas, while representing the Heaven Dou Empire was Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

Ning Fengzhi came on behalf of the Heavenly Dou Royal Family as the Crown Prince's tutor, in order to prevent Salas from taking the opportunity to target Shen An.

The two seemed to have a subtle antagonism from the moment they met.

“Bishop Salas, I think we should prioritize fairness in this investigation and not wrong innocent people, don’t you think?” Ning Fengzhi chuckled.

"My eyes are the ruler, so there's no need for you to say more."

Salas said calmly.

"Then please." Ning Fengzhi made up his mind that this Salas was no good, and he would just go against him. He was determined to protect Shen An.

Chapter 248 Is Salas an upright man?

Xue Qinghe's residence.

Ning Fengzhi and Salas were naturally familiar with each other. The group of more than ten people entered under the guidance of Xue Qinghe.

Ning Fengzhi brought Gu Rong with him, while Salas brought two cardinals and ten Templar warriors dressed in silver outfits.

"Shen An, don't worry. With me, Ning Fengzhi, here, you can explain the whole story clearly. I will absolutely not let you suffer any injustice."

Ning Fengzhi’s opening remarks clearly indicated that he was determined to protect Shen An at all costs.

In the past, Ning Fengzhi would naturally have been wary of the Spirit Hall, but now, he is a Sword Douluo at level 97, and even claims that he can advance to level 98 within five years.

And all of this originated from Shen An's cat.

Moreover, Shen An had a close relationship with his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, so he was naturally happy to stand up for Shen An.

Salas remained expressionless, inwardly scoffing. The kid you're so desperate to protect has long been won over by my young master, so why would I target him?

“I, Salas, have always acted with integrity. This time, I am simply investigating the matter thoroughly,” Salas said calmly.

"Shen An, I'm asking you, is this murder unrelated to you?" Salas asked in a deep voice.

Ning Fengzhi, who was originally prepared to refute Salas at any moment, opened his eyes wide. Why did Salas give off such a strange feeling from the start?

Shen An... you can ask questions like that? Of course there's no relationship, and even if there were, you can't admit it.

"It's alright."

“Then tell me your reasons,” Salas spoke again.

“I didn’t make a move at the time. Besides, Na’er is only a Soul Master. How could a six-year-old child possibly defeat the opponent’s Seven-in-One Fusion Technique?”

"Therefore, I conclude that the Canghui team died from the backlash of their own soul skills."

Shen An presented the explanation he had prepared beforehand.

"Hmm, that makes sense. Alright, the matter has been clarified. Tomorrow I will announce that you have not violated the competition rules."

"Sect Leader Ning, do you have anything to say about the investigation results?" Salas asked, turning his head.

"Wait, I have something~" Ning Fengzhi, who was always ready to contradict Salas, spoke up without hesitation.

Gu Rong nudged Ning Fengzhi without making a sound, and only then did Ning Fengzhi realize that Salas was treating Shen An so casually.

"Ahem, I have no objection. I think Assistant Coach Salas is very fair," Ning Fengzhi said, regaining his composure.

Could it be that all the rumors about Salas over the years are false, and that he is actually a fair and just person?

Ning Fengzhi was still somewhat surprised and unsure. It was hard to say that such a person was not fair, given that his own faction's rival had treated a genius so lightly.

"Alright, Sect Leader Ning, next we'll head to Canghui Academy."

Salas turned around and said, glancing secretly at Xue Qinghe from an angle unseen by everyone, as if to say, "This old servant did a good job, didn't he?"

Xue Qinghe also secretly looked at him with an admiring gaze.

Ning Fengzhi walked silently with Salas to Canghui Academy, feeling that something was amiss.

Judging others by his own standards, although Ning Fengzhi was an upright man, if a genius from an enemy force made a mistake, he wouldn't hesitate to make that person suffer eternal damnation.

Here we can refer to Gu Rong's reaction when he saw Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer: his first instinct was to kill it, and he even went so far as to take action as a Title Douluo.

Canghui College Office.

Ning Fengzhi quickly realized he was wrong.

"Bring him here and lock him in the dungeon!"

At Salas's command, the Templars brought forward the teachers of Azure Sun Academy, treating them like prisoners.

The people from Canghui Academy were sweating profusely. What was going on? Why didn't the Spirit Hall target Shen An, but instead attacked them?

"Your Excellency, you haven't started the trial yet?"

Salas glanced at Ning Fengzhi beside him and hesitated before saying, "Then... then should we interrogate him?"

He suddenly realized that Ning Fengzhi was there, so he still had to go through the motions.

Ning Fengzhi maintained his smile: "That's only right."

"Plead guilty?" Salas asked in a deep voice.

"Of course we don't admit it, Your Excellency! It was Shen An who killed first!" Teacher Cang Hui shouted.

"That's right, you'll accept being locked up in jail."

A cold glint flashed in Salas's eyes. He was a man who had achieved his current status by extorting money from these people.

Shen An is untouchable, but he'll try to squeeze some money out of these people from Canghui Academy no matter what.

"Your Excellency, I refuse to accept this! Why should I?" someone roared.

“To dare to disrespect the Platinum Bishop is an even greater crime. If you dare to argue, then it will be an even greater crime!” Salas said casually.

The students from Canghui Academy looked ashen-faced; they had realized that Salas was trying to mess with them.

Ning Fengzhi... He retracted his previous assessment of Salas.

That evening, the organizing committee announced that the Tian Dou deputy team had not violated the competition rules; on the contrary, Cang Hui Academy had retaliated maliciously and had been imprisoned and dealt with seriously by the Spirit Hall.

The preliminary rounds continued in full swing, and soon, with only two rounds left in the twenty-seven rounds of the preliminary rounds, they were about to come to an end.

Every team that drew Shen An automatically forfeited.

Even if Shen An said he would not take action and would let Na'er do it, these teams were still unwilling.

They've seen Na'er's fighting prowess before; if they were to be completely defeated by a six-year-old girl on the field, they might as well admit defeat.

Escaping is shameful, but it's useful; after all, they're not the only ones admitting defeat.

The teams currently ranked highest in the qualifiers are:

Tian Dou's vice-captain has a record of 25 wins out of 25 matches.

Shenfeng Academy won 24 out of 25 battles, losing only one game because their captain's heart belonged to a certain female Soul Master named Chi Huo.

Tianshui Academy, 23 wins out of 25 matches.

Thunder Academy, 25 battles, 23 wins.

Shrek Academy, with 24 wins out of 25 battles, led by Soul King Tang San, only lost to Shen An's Heaven Dou Vice Team.

Blazing Academy, 22 wins out of 25 battles.

Needless to say, even with their captain Hu Yanli revealing his soul bone, the Elephant Armor Sect still couldn't defeat the other elemental academies.

The sect leader of the Elephant Armor Sect now spends every day with Hu Yanli, fearing that someone coveting Hu Yanli's soul bone might try to harm him.

It can be said that he gained a wife but lost his army.

This round features a match between the Tiandou Vice Team and the Blazing Fire Academy.

The students from Blazing Fire Academy had grim expressions; they had been drawn after all. In the round-robin tournament, every team had to compete against each other, which was unavoidable.

They must win the remaining two matches, otherwise they will miss the qualifying rounds this year.

This is an utter disgrace for a long-established powerhouse like them.

However, the thought of Shen An's strength filled them with despair. How could they possibly fight him? They had absolutely no chance of winning.

A hint of madness flashed in Huo Wu's eyes.

Ever since she was decisively defeated by Shen An in the Five Academies Exchange Competition, she has been determined to get revenge.

But she discovered that the gap between her and Shen An was widening. Not to mention Shen An, she might not even be able to beat the little girl next to her.

"We must fight. Blazing Fire Academy doesn't have the concept of forfeiting. Even if we lose, we should lose on the battlefield. Besides, we might not be without a chance of winning."

Huo Wu said decisively.

Chapter 249 The Unreasonable Fire Rabbit

Just as Huowu was passionately encouraging the team members, a staff member came to deliver a message.

"Tian Dou's vice-captain said that as long as you don't forfeit, he will concede if he can't win within ten seconds."

Upon hearing this, Huo Wu nearly fainted. Pointing at the staff member, she trembled and said, "This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"

"Go back and tell Shen An that our Blazing Fire Academy is fearless!"

At this moment, the Blazing Fire Academy was in an uproar, with everyone filled with righteous indignation.

"Who does he look down on? Does he think he's so great that he dares to be so contemptuous of my Blazing Fire Academy?"

"Yes, it's only ten seconds, how could we not hold out!"

Huo Wu suddenly turned her head and looked at the teammate who said to hold on for ten seconds. How could she be so demeaning to herself and boost the morale of the others?

"Tomorrow, I will make you all revolve around me. I will let him know that anyone who underestimates Blazing Fire Academy will pay the price!"

Shen An waited for news with great boredom. He regretted that he had been too ruthless in the previous two matches, which had caused no Soul Master Academy to want to play with him anymore.

With 27 rounds of competition and only two matches played so far, what's the difference between this and a guaranteed admission?

Fortunately, audience expectations for Shen An have been built up, and his popularity is still increasing rapidly.

The number has already reached a staggering five million. Once the preliminary rounds are over, Shen An will absorb the spirit rings and advance to the level of Spirit King.

I also absorbed the mysterious soul bone that the system gave me.

The next day, Shen An led Na'er into the arena.

The most anticipated contestants were naturally assigned to the main arena, which has the largest space and can accommodate the largest number of spectators.

There will be fourteen matches in one day, divided into three rounds. The other arenas, which are usually packed with spectators, have mostly disappeared.

They would rather stand in the main arena than miss watching Shen An's match.

The audience, who hadn't seen Shen An make a move in a long time, cheered excitedly, their voices deafening, truly maximizing their anticipation.

"Tian Dou, Shen An! Na'er!"

Countless spectators cheered for Shen An.

"Both teams are in the middle of a match. Please prepare to unleash your Martial Souls!"

The extremely beautiful Huo Wu's face was ashen: "Shen An, you shouldn't have looked down on Blazing Fire Academy like that."

Shen An shrugged slightly. Of course, he had no grudge against Blazing Fire Academy; it was all just for the sake of reputation points.

Although he is now considered number one, countless people know his name.