Chapter 286: The Elemental Academies Are Under My Protection
Chapter 286: The Elemental Academies Are Under My Protection
Ten days later, the temporary base of the Blazing Fire, Heavenly Water, and Divine Wind Academies buzzed with tension.
"Three deans, and three seniors, have you made your decision?" asked Shrek Academy's Dean Flanders, his shoehorn-shaped face glowing with smugness.
Beside him stood Bone Douluo Gu Rong, lending him unshakable confidence, and Ning Rongrong, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Behind them trailed a group: Flanders' friend Zhao Wuji, Liu Erlong—his dream goddess—and Ma Hongjun, his disciple, now round as a ball.
Yu Xiaogang, Yu Tianheng, and Yu Tianxin stood with stiff, zombie-like expressions, while Oscar seemed the most normal among the men.
Facing them were the leaders of Divine Wind, Heavenly Water, and Blazing Fire Academies, a formidable lineup.
At their head stood Huo Ao, former dean of Blazing Fire Academy and grandfather of Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang, at level 85.
Beside him were Feng Qing, former dean of Divine Wind Academy and grandfather of Feng Xiaotian, also level 85, and Shui Linglong, Shui Bing'er's grandmother, level 84.
Behind them were the current deans: Huo Yang, father of Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang, level 78, led Blazing Fire.
Feng Lin, Feng Xiaotian's uncle, level 77, headed Divine Wind, while Shui Qingwu, Shui Bing'er's mother, level 79, led Heavenly Water.
All six glared at the gloating Flanders, their faces dark with rage; only Bone Douluo's presence held them back from attacking.
Flanders' shamelessness knew no bounds—Spirit Hall had at least offered a branch title with some autonomy.
Shrek, however, aimed to swallow them whole, leaving not a scrap of their legacy behind.
Had they foreseen this, Feng Lin mused bitterly, they'd have chosen Spirit Hall, whose methods outshone Shrek's by far.
Huo Yang silently cursed his past self for rejecting his daughter's help—joining his son-in-law would've spared this mess.
Flanders, unfazed by their silence, flashed a thick-skinned smile. "Seniors, you're people I deeply respect," he said.
"I've long admired the three deans too. I truly don't want this to spiral beyond repair!"
The six sucked in a collective breath, their eyes dripping with contempt—how could he be so brazen?
"Flanders, enough!" Huo Yang snapped, his fiery temper barely restrained from exploding.
"Blazing Fire Academy is my family's legacy, built by generations—I won't let it crumble in my hands!"
"Exactly!" Feng Lin and Shui Qingwu chimed in. "Cooperate sincerely, Dean Flanders, and you're a friend."
"But if you aim to dismantle and devour our academies, severing our ancestral legacies, we'll fight you to the death!"
Flanders' face stiffened as he turned to the three Soul Douluo. "Seniors, do you share this view?"
Huo Ao, Feng Qing, and Shui Linglong, all over eighty, dismissed him entirely—Flanders was just a junior, unworthy of their attention.
The three elders locked their gazes on the gaunt old man beside Flanders. "Gu Rong, is your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan really stooping to collude with this Shrek Academy, engaging in such despicable acts of swallowing others' foundations?"
Had Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood here today, his upright nature might have stirred shame under the Soul Douluo's accusations.
But that's exactly why Ning Fengzhi sent Bone Douluo instead—Gu Rong's ruthless temperament spared no one, not even Tang San of the Clear Sky Clan, let alone these unfamiliar Soul Douluo.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had suffered heavy losses in the soul hunting operation and urgently needed to replenish its strength—any means justified that end.
Bone Douluo's voice was icy. "Shrek Academy is our close partner. I'm here today only to uphold its rightful interests, not to engage in the vile annexation you claim."
"If you dare slander the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Shrek Academy again, hmph, don't blame this old man for being impolite!"
Huo Ao, Feng Qing, and Shui Linglong's faces turned cold. "Bone Douluo, so there's nothing left to discuss?"
Bone Douluo's tone sharpened. "There was never anything to discuss—everything follows the contract you signed!"
"Martial soul, possession!"
As Bone Douluo finished his final words, Huo Ao, Feng Qing, and Shui Linglong, knowing retreat was impossible, unleashed their martial souls simultaneously.
Two yellow, two purple, and four black soul rings—eight in total—rose from their feet in succession.
Their children behind them followed suit, releasing their own martial souls: two yellow, two purple, three black—each with the optimal soul ring configuration.
"Overestimating yourselves!"
Bone Douluo sneered, a surge of intense black light bursting from his body.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine soul rings spiraled upward from his feet.
His overwhelming aura instantly dimmed the six opposing martial souls.
Bone Douluo struck first, his figure flashing forward, appearing among the six in an instant.
Despite his withered frame, his arm carried terrifying strength, landing a punch on Feng Lin—the weakest at high-tier Soul Sage.
Feng Lin flew backward, crashing into a wall that collapsed into rubble, burying him beneath.
As Gu Rong prepared to strike again, an extreme chill swept in, carrying a lethal threat.
Instinctively, he dodged, reappearing with his right arm encased in frost.
"The Elemental Academies are under my protection. Today, I'd like to see who dares act recklessly!"
A commanding voice, brimming with authority, echoed through the air, striking deep into everyone's souls.
(End of Chapter)
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