Chen Xinjie was truly furious. He had just unraveled the entire sequence of events.
He now understood why the sea soul beasts had attacked the Star Luo and Far Ocean ships.
He also knew why Cai Yue'er had deliberately provoked the Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiaobai.
Even though he was well aware that everything was Shrek Academy's responsibility—something that had absolutely nothing to do with Xia Yi—he couldn't help but empathize with Shrek Academy and understand why Cai Yue'er had done what she did.
After all, she was doing it to protect Tang Wulin.
Chen Xinjie could understand that.
Looking at the now lifeless Tang Yinmeng, resentment toward Xia Yi filled his heart.
Xia Yi clearly had the ability to sustain Tang Yinmeng's life, yet he had chosen to stand by and do nothing.
Tang Yinmeng was Long Yeyue's student!
Now that Tang Yinmeng was dead, just how much pain would Long Yeyue have to endure?
It was all Xia Yi's fault—he had let her die without lifting a finger.
"I'm just stating the facts. If Xia Yi had used the Phoenix Heart Jade, with Heavenly Phoenix Douluo being an Ultimate Douluo, her attack power would have likely been enough to scare away the sea soul beasts. If that had happened, we wouldn't be facing this tragic situation now." Chen Xinjie's cold voice rang out, loud enough for everyone on both giant ships to hear.
At once, all eyes turned to Xia Yi.
"Hanhai Douluo is not wrong," Xia Yi sneered as he held back the furious Leng Yaozhu, who had been ready to explode. "But whether I save someone or not is my own choice. There isn't a single federal law that states refusing to save someone is a crime, is there? On the other hand, Shrek Academy, for their selfish motives, caused the deaths of so many people. Hanhai Douluo, as the Palace Master of the War God Hall and the Legion Commander of the Sea God Army, instead of wasting time questioning a law-abiding citizen like me, why don't you go apprehend the real culprits and give the dead the justice they deserve?"
"You certainly have a sharp tongue, Master Xia Yi. No wonder Heavenly Phoenix Douluo is so devoted to you." Chen Xinjie sneered. "As for Shrek Academy, once we return to the Douluo Continent, the Federal Government will conduct an official investigation and ensure justice is served. That's none of your concern. But you, Xia Yi—you chose to let people die when you could have saved them. Shouldn't you give an explanation for that?"
"I didn't break any laws. What is there to explain?" Xia Yi shook his head indifferently. Ignoring the gazes around him, he took Leng Yaozhu's hand and turned to leave.
"You're still too young. This is exactly what I wanted you to do!" A nearly imperceptible smirk appeared on Chen Xinjie's lips.
He could already sense that the way the people on the ships looked at Xia Yi had changed.
The more righteous Xia Yi acted, the more these people would resent him.
Even though no one had spoken yet, it was undeniable that, no matter what, Xia Yi would now have to shoulder a portion of the hatred meant for Shrek Academy.
Inside the Room
Once back in their room, Leng Yaozhu looked at Xia Yi with an expression of exasperation. "You're usually so sharp, but today you acted like a fool! You could've just denied it completely!"
"Own up to what you do—what's the point of denying it?" Xia Yi shook his head, completely unconcerned.
He had indeed miscalculated.
He had anticipated that someone would try to push the blame onto him.
But he had expected it to be Long Yeyue.
He hadn't thought it would be Hanhai Douluo Chen Xinjie.
"Do you even realize how much damage this could do to you?" Leng Yaozhu bit her lip as she questioned him.
"What damage? At worst, I'll just be condemned by the masses," Xia Yi shrugged nonchalantly.
"You…" Seeing Xia Yi's carefree attitude, Leng Yaozhu was utterly frustrated.
"Yaozhu, don't worry. I wouldn't gamble with my own reputation." Xia Yi chuckled, guiding Leng Yaozhu to sit on the sofa. "Activate a mental power barrier—I have something to show you."
"What is it? Why do I need to set up a barrier?" Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow but still released her spiritual power, sealing off the entire room from the outside world.
"They want to pin this disaster on me, to drag me down? Chen Xinjie isn't worthy." Xia Yi sneered, pulling out a soul communicator and playing a recording.
"Xia Yi is indeed outstanding. At his age, I wasn't even close to his level in any aspect. But he's too dazzling. Now that he's far from the Douluo Continent, many people will definitely be eyeing him."
"Lan-ge, what do you mean by that?"
…
"If something happens to Xia Yi, then Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect will have the leverage to push Tang Wulin into the position of Divine Craftsman. At that point, if we also act more favorably toward Star Luo Continent, the Federal Government will have no choice but to come begging to us. I doubt they'd want the next Divine Craftsman to emerge in Star Luo Continent, would they?"
As the recording ended, Xia Yi immediately held back the enraged Leng Yaozhu, who had already activated her Martial Soul in fury.
"Yaozhu-jie, calm down! Calm down!" Xia Yi urged.
Hearing the recording, Leng Yaozhu had genuinely developed killing intent. If Xia Yi hadn't stopped her, she might have stormed out and slapped Lan Muzi to death on the spot—or severely injured Cai Yue'er, who was already wounded.
"What exactly are you planning?" Leng Yaozhu asked in a low voice.
"Right now, Shrek Academy's people have probably arrived. They're likely working with Chen Xinjie to smear my name and stir public resentment against me. That's exactly what I want. At the critical moment, I'll release this recording. Let's see how they try to explain themselves then." Xia Yi said coldly.
"Alright. I support you." Leng Yaozhu clenched her delicate hands so tightly that her knuckles cracked.
It was one thing for Shrek Academy to plot against Xia Yi—she wasn't even surprised by that anymore.
What truly enraged her was the fact that Shrek City had deliberately spread a plague among ordinary people.
At this point, how were they any different from Evil Soul Masters?
Xia Yi's prediction was spot on. Not long after he and Leng Yaozhu left, Yun Ming and Long Yeyue arrived above the Yuanyang and Xingluo ships.
As soon as they appeared, Lan Muzi, carrying an unconscious Cai Yue'er, rushed toward them.
"Teacher, Sky Transcendent Douluo, where is Holy Spirit Douluo? Please, she must save Silver Moon Douluo!"
"What happened?" Seeing how gravely injured Cai Yue'er was, both Yun Ming and Long Yeyue were startled.
Without another word, Yun Ming took Cai Yue'er and transformed into a spear of light, shooting into the sky and disappearing in an instant.
"Teacher, Holy Spirit Douluo didn't come!" Seeing Yun Ming's reaction, Lan Muzi suddenly realized something, his face turning pale.
He had assumed that Yali was simply lagging behind.
But judging by Yun Ming's panic, Yali had likely never been summoned at all.
Cai Yue'er's injuries were critical—even at Yun Ming's speed, it was impossible for him to get her to Yali in time.
"You first tell me—what happened?" Long Yeyue's face also paled.
She was the one who had stopped Shrek Academy from calling Yali.
If Cai Yue'er died because of that decision, she would never forgive herself.
"Dead… dead… they're all dead!"
Lan Muzi fell to his knees in mid-air, tears streaming down his face.
"Teacher, Yinmeng is dead! She was gravely wounded by the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, left untreated, and died! I begged Xia Yi to save her, but he refused! I hate him—I hate that I'm not a healing-type soul master! I hate that I couldn't save her!"
"What?! Yinmeng is dead?!" Long Yeyue was stunned, shaking her head frantically.
"This can't be! If you had revealed your identity as Shrek Academy students, the Demon Soul Great White Shark King would never have attacked you! She wouldn't have killed Yinmeng!"
"She only learned our identities after Yinmeng had already died…"
Lan Muzi sobbed as he recounted everything that had happened.
"Thirteen… We lost thirteen of our most promising students…"
Long Yeyue nearly coughed up blood. Her already aged face instantly aged another ten years.
The students who had been selected to go on this exchange were all among Shrek Academy's elites.
Losing thirteen of them at once—even Shrek Academy couldn't afford such a loss.
"Not thirteen. Fourteen."
A deep, murderous voice rang out—Yun Ming had returned.
In his arms, Cai Yue'er had stopped breathing.
"Yun Ming, why are you blaming me?! You think I wanted this to happen?! If you want to blame someone, blame your sweetheart Leng Yaozhu's husband! If he had just used the Phoenix Heart Jade, Yinmeng and Silver Moon Douluo wouldn't have died!"
Grief-stricken, Long Yeyue finally lost control.
"Long Yeyue! Do you think I don't know about the plague you used to delay Yali?! Do you think I'm an idiot? Maybe I am, but do you think Leng Yaozhu and Xia Yi are idiots too?! You tried to set them up, so why should they help you?!"
For the first time, Yun Ming called her by name, his voice filled with rage.
"Hah! So what if they figured it out? Do they have proof?"
Long Yeyue sneered.
"This time, Xia Yi stood by and let people die. I won't let this go!"
Her eyes turned ice-cold.
"I want him utterly ruined!"