Xia Yi had long guessed that Zhen Hua had come to Shrek Academy because of the spirit-forged Starfall Iron.
"I did indeed help my teacher spirit-forge Starfall Iron," Xia Yi admitted truthfully.
Zhen Hua nodded and said, "I won't comment on the matters between the Spirit Pagoda and Heavenly Phoenix Douluo. Speaking only about her as a teacher, Her Eminence is indeed a qualified instructor."
Not commenting—wasn't that just another way of expressing discontent?
"My teacher has indeed treated me well." Xia Yi understood the meaning behind Zhen Hua's words, but he didn't care. It had nothing to do with him.
Although he and Leng Yaozhu were not true master and disciple, she had done no less for him than any real teacher would.
"There's another matter—do you know when your teacher broke through the limit?" Zhen Hua glanced at Xia Yi and added, "If it's inconvenient for you to say, forget I asked."
"Uh, it's not that it's inconvenient—I just have no idea. As far as I can remember, my teacher was already at the Limit Douluo level when I met her," Xia Yi scratched his head. "Is something wrong?"
"Is that so? That makes sense. Even though she's your teacher, she probably wouldn't discuss something like that with you." Zhen Hua shook his head and continued, "By seniority, I'm actually a generation younger than your teacher and her peers. That generation was one of the most remarkable in the history of the Douluo Continent—true prodigies emerged one after another. Most of the renowned Limit Douluos today, aside from the senior ones like Shrek Academy's Light-Dark Douluo and the War God Hall's Vast Sea Douluo, are from that era. It was truly a time of heroes.
"Among them, aside from the Skycover Douluo, the rest—including your teacher—were all on par with each other. Yet while everyone else successfully broke through their limits, your teacher remained stuck at Rank 98 for years, unable to progress. Everyone assumed she had reached her peak and had no further potential. No one expected that she would break through after all."
"I really don't know much about this," Xia Yi shook his head.
"We once speculated that your teacher's inability to break through might be related to her sister's disappearance," Zhen Hua said in a low voice. "If that's true, then her sudden and secretive breakthrough might also have something to do with her sister."
"I have heard my teacher mention her sister, Dark Phoenix Douluo. No matter what, a breakthrough should be a good thing, right?" Xia Yi had already guessed where Zhen Hua was going with this.
"That's exactly why I'm reminding you. Do you remember when you and Mu Xi were attacked by Evil Soul Masters outside Heaven Dou City? Although I didn't see the assailant, based on the dark flames left at the scene, I suspect it was your teacher's sister, Dark Phoenix Douluo," Zhen Hua said gravely. "Your teacher's relationship with her sister is very complicated, so you need to be careful."
Zhen Hua took a deep breath and continued, "Right now, the Holy Spirit Cult is rampant. The Federation government, Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the Spirit Pagoda have attempted multiple sieges against them, but each time, they failed at the most critical moment. Many high-ranking figures in the Douluo Continent suspect that there is a mole within these organizations."
"You suspect my teacher?" Xia Yi's eyes turned sharp in an instant, his voice turning ice-cold.
"I know you trust your teacher, and I mean no offense to her. I'm merely stating the facts. Based on the current situation, she is the most suspicious," Zhen Hua shook his head calmly and continued, "This time, it seemed like she was standing up for you, but in reality, she has thrown the entire Douluo Continent into chaos. Now, tell me—who benefits the most from this situation? Isn't it the Holy Spirit Cult?"
"Senior!" Xia Yi cupped his hands toward Zhen Hua in a perfunctory manner, his tone cold. "I call you 'senior' out of respect. You are highly esteemed, but before speaking, I ask that you weigh your words carefully. As the saying goes, 'It takes only a moment to spread a rumor, but a lifetime to dispel it.' Senior, you have no evidence whatsoever and are speaking purely based on speculation. Are you aware of how much damage your words could cause my teacher?"
Zhen Hua smiled and said, "I mean no harm, and I understand your desire to defend your teacher. I am simply advising you to view things rationally so that you are not manipulated by others."
"Senior?" Xia Yi suddenly shouted, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Zhen Hua. "If you suspect my teacher, then show me the evidence! If you have none, then it would be best to say less!"
Seeing that Xia Yi was truly furious, Zhen Hua could only shake his head helplessly. "Sigh, if you won't listen, then leave. Whether my words hold merit, you will realize in time."
"Farewell!" Xia Yi snorted coldly, turned on his heel, and walked out. As he left, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang!
Luckily, the doors of the Blacksmith Association were made of special materials. Otherwise, they would have shattered from the force.
"He's got quite a temper," Zhen Hua muttered under his breath.
"If you falsely accuse my teacher without a shred of evidence, I would turn against you too," Mu Chen rolled his eyes and sighed. "Is this really the right thing to do?"
"What's wrong with it?" A cold voice suddenly interrupted. Long Yeyue appeared before them, her gaze icy. "Leng Yaozhu played her tricks first. Why shouldn't we fight back?"
"First, she schemed against Shrek Academy. Then, she used the kindness of Holy Spirit Douluo to make Xia Yi brainwash her and sow discord within the Sea God's Pavilion, all while claiming it was for Shrek's benefit. Hmph, what a cunning move," Long Yeyue sneered. "If she can make Xia Yi sow discord within the Pavilion, then we can also drive a wedge between her and Xia Yi."
Xia Yi had claimed that his words to Yali were nonsense, but Long Yeyue refused to believe it.
She was convinced that Leng Yaozhu had taught Xia Yi exactly what to say to manipulate Yali, using her kindness against her.
"If the Pavilion Master finds out about this, he will be furious," Feng Wuyu sighed, at a loss for words.
"And what if he does? What can he do to me?" Long Yeyue's voice was ice-cold. "She's too kind—that's why she was so easily manipulated by Xia Yi. Otherwise, things wouldn't have reached this point."
Although Yali was now the Sea God's Pavilion Master, even with Yun Ming stepping back, the real authority in the Pavilion did not lie with her.
Most of the Pavilion's powerhouses only listened to Long Yeyue.
"Judging by Xia Yi's attitude, he trusts Heavenly Phoenix Douluo deeply. Even if I speak out, he probably won't doubt her so easily," Zhen Hua said seriously.
Watching Xia Yi storm out, he was already beginning to regret getting involved in Shrek Academy's scheme to sow discord between Xia Yi and Leng Yaozhu.
Initially, he had been against it.
But Shrek Academy had offered him too much.
Long Yeyue had promised him that if he helped them this time, Shrek Academy would spare no expense in cultivating Mu Xi into a Hyper Douluo.
For Mu Xi, he had agreed.
At first, he had deliberately demonstrated his forging techniques to Xia Yi, helping him identify his own flaws and gaining his trust.
Then, he had begun subtly misleading him, trying to guide his thoughts.
But unexpectedly, Xia Yi had remained completely unaffected from beginning to end.
"Xia Yi and Leng Yaozhu have been master and disciple for years. He wouldn't start suspecting her just because of a few words from us," Long Yeyue shook her head and said coldly, "I never expected him to doubt her immediately. That's unrealistic. What I want is to plant a seed—a seed of suspicion that Leng Yaozhu may be colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult.
"Every time he sees her, he will remember what the Divine Craftsman said today. Over time, this seed will take root in his heart.
"Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times—eventually, he will begin to doubt her.
"When he starts to distance himself, Leng Yaozhu will sense it. Then, their relationship will spiral into mutual suspicion."
Long Yeyue was certain—Xia Yi would never directly ask Leng Yaozhu if she was colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult.
So, he would have to bury this doubt deep within himself.
And once buried, it would only grow.
(End of Chapter)