Chapter 15: The Shrek Seven Devils Falling Apart Ahead of Schedule

Chapter 15: The Shrek Seven Devils Falling Apart Ahead of Schedule

The original work didn't mention Oscar's and Ma Hongjun's origins, only clarifying that Oscar was two years older than Fatty, which added considerable difficulty to the search. However, hard work pays off. After several hours of "arduous struggle," Oscar's record was also found.

"Oscar, Male, Ling Shi Village affiliated with Soto City, Balak Kingdom. Orphan. Tool Spirit: Sausage. Innate Full Spirit Power."

Just as I expected, Xia Tianling thought. The personnel responsible for awakenings in the villages near Soto City committed serious dereliction of duty. They must have cut corners and didn't carefully examine Fatty's spirit, and also failed to report Oscar's Sausage spirit and innate full spirit power.

But logically, even a food-type spirit with only level one spirit power should be treated as a treasure! What on earth was that person doing back then? How could they let such a peerless genius remain undiscovered?

Once I expose this matter about Oscar, it will trigger a chain reaction; this whole faction at the Soto City Spirit Hall branch will likely fall. But they deserve it. As the branch master and vice-master, they should have conducted secondary and final reviews after the awakening personnel brought back the records. Those two probably cut corners too, sending them directly to Spirit City without looking.

Thinking this, Xia Tianling took the scrolls containing the two records and walked to the entrance of the Records Room. "Uncle, may I temporarily borrow these two scrolls?"

"Uh? Your Highness? Of course, you can. Just sign the register here." The guard, originally drowsy, saw it was the Pope's disciple and hurriedly facilitated the request, trying to leave a good impression.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle." So being Bibi Dong's disciple is this convenient. Not bad.

It was now late at night. The brightly lit corridors were quiet, with only occasional patrolling Spirit Masters. Soon, Xia Tianling arrived before Bibi Dong's chambers.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Teacher, are you resting?" Xia Tianling knocked gently three times. He was certain Bibi Dong would be in routine cultivation. At the Titled Douluo level, although they still needed to eat, sleep was long unnecessary, mostly replaced by meditation.

Creak.

"Enter." The two large doors opened outwards automatically. Hearing this, Xia Tianling stepped inside.

"Not cultivating late at night, what brings you to seek your teacher?" Bibi Dong, initially annoyed at being disturbed during cultivation, suppressed her temper upon seeing it was her disciple.

"Teacher, look at this. I accidentally discovered these while looking through the Records Room tonight." To ensure his plan's success, Xia Tianling communicated with the system while speaking, directly activating Mind Interference.

Bibi Dong took the scrolls and opened them. Upon seeing the two records, she flew into a rage, nearly crushing the two scrolls in her hands into dust.

"Good, good, good! What a bunch of capable subordinates!" Bibi Dong ground her teeth. "A mutated fowl with innate level nine spirit power? An unprecedented food-type innate full spirit power genius not reported? Such audacity!"

"Someone!" Bibi Dong roared, and two maids hurried in. "Notify Elder Ghost. Take my Pope's Token, depart immediately for Soto City in the Balak Kingdom, and execute the derelict personnel on the spot! Regardless, bring these two geniuses back to my Spirit Hall! Especially the Spirit Master with the Sausage spirit!"

"Tianling, you discovered this matter. How about going with Elder Ghost on behalf of Teacher?"

"Disciple will naturally share Teacher's burden." This was exactly what Xia Tianling wanted; he was wondering how to ask to go along. If he didn't go, how could he easily make Oscar and Ma Hongjun part of his future team?

The next morning, Ghost Douluo brought Xia Tianling to the Soto City Tier 3 Main Spirit Hall branch.

Xia Tianling walked in front, Ghost Douluo behind. The two swaggered towards the main entrance of the branch hall. This was planned on the way. The former needed a blatant opportunity to show off, while the latter intended to train the junior's capabilities.

"Who are you two? Please show some restraint; insolence is not permitted before the Spirit Hall!" A guard on duty stepped forward to block them. It wasn't that they couldn't enter, but mainly that Xia Tianling was walking too arrogantly, looking somewhat punchable.

This was precisely the effect he wanted. If the guard didn't speak up, how could his planned script proceed?

However, he didn't make things difficult for the guard; the man hadn't offended him. He simply took out the Pope's Token Bibi Dong had given him before departure from his ring. He spoke coldly, "Have your branch master and vice-master roll out here to see me immediately."

The Pope's Token! The appearance of the Pope's Token was like the Pope arriving in person!

The guard who had stepped forward felt his throat go dry. He quickly saluted and answered tremblingly, "Milords, you... please wait a moment first. Please rest inside the hall for a while." Another quick-witted guard had already saluted when he showed the Pope's Token and, after receiving tacit approval with a glance, hurried back to summon people.

"Mm." Xia Tianling grunted through his nose, lifted his foot, and walked on, perfectly maintaining that extremely arrogant/cocky demeanor.

Not long after they sat down in the reception room, two middle-aged men rushed in flusteredly, hurrying to salute Xia Tianling, who was enjoying some fruit juice. The branch master and vice-master, who had been bragging in their office, were terrified upon hearing that two important figures holding the Pope's Token had arrived. They didn't even bother tidying their appearance before rushing downstairs. As for suspecting the token was forged? Who would be audacious enough to dare forge the Pope's Token? They must be tired of living! Forge it in the morning, and by evening, a squad of Spirit Hall Praetorian Guards would charge them. Moreover, this person spoke with such authority, directly telling them both to roll down; this probably wasn't anything good!

"This... Milord, subordinate is the master of the Soto City Tier 3 Main Hall. May I know..." the branch master asked cautiously while saluting.

"Easy, easy. My esteemed teacher is the current Pope, Her Majesty Bibi Dong," Xia Tianling said slowly, swirling the exquisite silver cup in his hand. It wasn't even wine; who knows why he was swirling it. However, this display of status made the master and vice-master even more apprehensive.

"Your Highness, then your visit this time is...?"

"Whoever was responsible for the awakening work in Sichen Village this year and Ling Shi Village two years ago, have them roll over here to see me immediately!" Xia Tianling slammed the empty silver cup onto the table. Although his tone hadn't changed much, the bone-chilling coldness in his words made the master and vice-master below feel a deep chill.

"..."

"It... it was subordinate," the vice-master standing aside spoke cautiously after a moment of silence.

"Oh? It was you, was it?" Xia Tianling stood up, face stern, gathered his strength, and kicked the bowing vice-master right in the face, sending him tumbling. He followed up with several more kicks. Accompanying the kicks was a torrent of curses, "Innate level nine spirit power mutated fowl, huh! Innate full spirit power food-type Spirit Master, huh! Why didn't you report it! You're quite something! Do you know how much loss you almost caused the Spirit Hall! I'll teach you about dereliction of duty!"

The vice-master didn't dare fight back, nor even use spirit power to protect himself. Covering his head with his hands, he was kicked until his face was bruised and swollen, even losing two teeth.

Back when he was lying in bed reading the novel, the more he thought about it, the more absurd this seemed. An unprecedented food-type Spirit Master with innate full spirit power! And with a clean background, no backing. How could such a commoner genius not be recruited by the Spirit Hall! Damn it, this beating feels really satisfying.

Having had his fill of beating him, he called out to Ghost Douluo, who was still sipping tea and watching the show behind him. "Elder Ghost, please trouble yourself to cripple this fellow's spirit power, then take this damned guy with us and head to the two villages."

Ghost... Elder Ghost... Could it be Ghost Douluo? That's a Titled Douluo! The branch master was so scared his body trembled like a sieve; he didn't dare breathe loudly beside them. The moment Xia Tianling mentioned the innate full spirit power food-type Spirit Master, he knew he was finished. This problem was incredibly serious. He had cut corners and not reviewed the awakening records submitted by the vice-master, missing such a genius – this was severe dereliction of duty! Never mind a mere Tier 3 Main Hall Master like himself, even Platinum Bishop Salas would have to kneel if he came. This damned vice-master really screwed me over.

"As for this branch master," Xia Tianling continued, "You are stripped of your position as Hall Master. You are sentenced to perform awakenings for appropriately aged children nearby for twenty years, and simultaneously forfeit twenty years of salary. Do you have any objections?"

How could the branch master dare have any objections? He hurriedly expressed thanks for being spared. With such a huge blunder, just keeping his life was thanks to his ancestors' virtue. As for salary, money was external; if he was alive, would he fear having no money? As the former master of a Spirit Hall branch, he still had some assets.

As for the vice-master, he had already been trembling like a sieve when Ghost Douluo approached, a large wet patch spreading on the hem of his robe. When Ghost Douluo struck, shattering all the meridians in his body, the pain caused him to faint immediately.

Xia Tianling ordered his subordinates to put the crippled vice-master into a small cage and tie it to the back of the carriage to be dragged along. Then, leading a group of guards, they set off in grand style by carriage.

(End of Chapter)