Tang Ya sat opposite Wang Dong'er, her mood quite complex.
She looked at the young girl in front of her, who was a few years younger than herself. Those pink-blue eyes were clear and bright, and every gesture carried a sense of composure and confidence she had never seen before.
Both were the Tang Sect.
The name was the same, and the Cultivation Technique inherited was also from the same lineage.
However... the current situations of the two were completely different.
Her Tang Sect was on the verge of extinction, with only her and Bei Bei left struggling to support it, and most of the sect's Cultivation Technique had been lost.
And the Tang Sect where Wang Dong'er belonged...
Tang Ya's gaze fell on the exquisite academy uniform worn by Wang Dong'er, and she recalled the flowing, seamless movements Wang Dong'er had displayed when using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step and Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, a feeling she couldn't describe welling up in her heart.
It was a sour, bittersweet feeling, carrying a hint of envy and a hint of self-mockery.
In the end, it turned into a sigh.
Wang Dong'er noticed that Tang Ya's expression was not good, so she did not ask about her Tang Sect.
Although she was young, she knew that some scars would only hurt more if opened.
Tang Ya did not speak, and Wang Dong'er did not urge her, simply eating the dishes on the table quietly, waiting for the other party to speak first.
After a long while, Tang Ya finally took a deep breath and looked up at Wang Dong'er.
"Wang... Wang Dong'er."
She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts.
"Did you just... defeat one Spirit King and two Spirit Ancestors relying solely on the Tang Sect's ultimate skills?"
"Yes."
Wang Dong'er nodded.
Tang Ya's eyes dimmed a little more.
Relying solely on Tang Sect's ultimate skills to defeat a Spirit King and Spirit Ancestors...
And in such a short time, without even releasing her Spirit.
This combat record was countless times stronger than her, the Tang Sect Leader.
Tang Ya lowered her head, looking at her hands on the table. In those hands, she had once held the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons and had once practiced the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step.
However...
She had never had the confidence to defeat one Spirit King and two Spirit Ancestors relying solely on the Tang Sect's Cultivation Technique.
Let alone a Spirit King, even facing a Spirit Ancestor, she might not necessarily win.
Although the Tang Sect's Cultivation Technique was exquisite, it was ultimately only an auxiliary.
Without sufficient strength to support it, no matter how exquisite the Cultivation Technique, it was difficult to exert its true power.
Even now, she was only at the Three-Ring cultivation level.
A Three-Ring fighting a Four-Ring was already not easy, let alone a Five-Ring.
Tang Ya bit her lip, and the sense of powerlessness in her heart became even stronger.
She felt she was very weak.
So weak that... she feared she wouldn't even have the qualifications to avenge the Tang Sect in this lifetime.
"Then... what is the strength of the strongest person in your Tang Sect?"
Tang Ya looked up, her eyes filled with a hint of trepidation.
Wang Dong'er thought for a moment, then said.
"I'm not too sure about the strongest person, but my acting teacher is a level 99 Limit Douluo."
Tang Ya's pupils shrank violently, and she froze in her seat.
Level 99... Limit Douluo?!
Her mind went blank, and a stormy sea surged in her heart.
What was the concept of a Limit Douluo?
That was an existence standing at the very pinnacle of the entire Douluo Continent!
In her Tang Sect, let alone a Limit Douluo, even a Spirit Emperor was hard to find.
And this other branch of the Tang Sect actually had a Limit Douluo?
Tang Ya felt her brain could no longer process this.
She had originally thought that although her branch of the Tang Sect had declined, it at least preserved the orthodox Legacy of the Tang Sect.
But now...
Looking at Wang Dong'er's matter-of-fact expression, she suddenly felt that her previous thoughts were simply a joke.
The other party not only had a complete Legacy of Cultivation Technique and a powerful academy as a backing, but also had a powerhouse of the Limit Douluo level sitting in charge.
And she... had nothing.
Tang Ya took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the waves in her heart, but found she simply couldn't do it.
The gap was simply too large.
...
Outside the restaurant, Bei Bei stood alone by the street, his brows tightly locked.
His gaze swept across the end of the street from time to time, his heart full of worry.
The law enforcement team had been beaten down; this matter definitely couldn't be hidden.
It wouldn't take long before the higher-ups of Shrek City received the news, and they would definitely send people over then.
Moreover, the people who came would definitely not be of the level of Zhao Tieshan.
Bei Bei's hands were tightly clenched into fists inside his sleeves.
He didn't want to let the matter blow up larger and larger.
If it could be resolved peacefully, that would be the best.
But the problem was... would the other party be willing to resolve it peacefully?
Judging from Zhao Tieshan's attitude just now, behind this matter stood the City Lord and Xuan Zi.
Would those two people let it rest?
While Bei Bei was thinking, a burst of heavy footsteps suddenly came from the end of the street.
He looked up, his gaze narrowing.
He saw a team of Spirit Masters wearing black armor, surrounding an old man dressed in brocade and fine clothing, striding towards this side.
The old man looked to be in his sixties or seventies, his hair combed meticulously, his face plump and prosperous. He wore a brocade robe with gold-threaded edges, and a crystal-clear jade pendant hung at his waist. Every gesture carried the majesty of someone who had held a high position for a long time.
It was precisely the City Lord of Shrek City, Shen Ce, a powerhouse of the Titled Douluo level. (Not Shi Xing; Shi Xing only took office when Huo Yuhao was fourteen; it was explained earlier.)
Bei Bei's heart tightened, and he hurriedly went up to meet him, stopping before Shen Ce and bowing in salute.
"City Lord Shen Ce."
Shen Ce stopped, his muddy but sharp eyes falling on Bei Bei, and he raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Bei Bei?"
His tone carried a hint of surprise.
"Why are you here?"
Bei Bei took a deep breath, trying hard to keep his voice calm.
"City Lord Shen Ce, today's matter is actually a misunderstanding."
Shen Ce frowned slightly.
"A misunderstanding?"
Bei Bei nodded and hurriedly explained the ins and outs of the matter simply.
From the restaurant waiter recommending the signature dish, to the exorbitant price of 500,000 gold coins when paying the bill, to Wang Dong'er and the others arguing based on reason, and finally the law enforcement team favoring the shop... he said it all without missing a word.
After finishing, Bei Bei looked up and looked at Shen Ce sincerely.
"City Lord Shen Ce, this matter was indeed caused by unreasonable pricing. I ask that you please not hold those young ladies responsible anymore."
He paused and added.
"At the same time, I also implore you to reconsider this pricing strategy. Such prices not only harm the interests of visiting Spirit Masters and ordinary commoners, but will also damage the reputation that Shrek Academy has accumulated over ten thousand years!"
After listening to Bei Bei's words, Shen Ce was silent for a moment.
Then, he sighed long and hard.
"Bei Bei, I understand everything you said."
He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"However... this pricing was not set by me."
Shen Ce gave a bitter smile.
"The guiding price was set by Elder Xuan personally; I am only... executing it."
Bei Bei's face instantly became ugly.
It was just as he had guessed.
"Can it not..."
"No."
Shen Ce interrupted Bei Bei, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness.
"Bei Bei, you should know who is truly in charge of Shrek Academy nowadays."
He looked up at the distant sky, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
"Elder Mu is unconscious and it is unknown when he will wake up. Now, the entire academy is decided by Elder Xuan."
"Although I am the City Lord of Shrek City, in the end, I am only someone working for the academy."
"Whatever Elder Xuan tells me to do, I must do."
Shen Ce withdrew his gaze and looked at Bei Bei, his tone carrying a hint of apology.
"Bei Bei, I know you are doing this for the good of the academy, but... I also have my own difficulties."
"Regarding this matter, I must give Elder Xuan an explanation."
Bei Bei's face turned alternately blue and white.
Shen Ce did not pay attention to Bei Bei anymore and strode towards the restaurant.
Bei Bei subconsciously wanted to reach out to stop him, but he saw a terrifying Aura suddenly erupt from Shen Ce's body!
Boom!
That was the Aura belonging to the Titled Douluo level, heavy as a mountain, spreading in all directions, covering the sky and earth!
Bei Bei only felt his breathing choke, and his whole body was shocked by that Aura, causing him to retreat several steps, his face instantly turning pale.
Titled Douluo.
Is this the strength of a Titled Douluo?
He hadn't even made a move yet, merely releasing his Aura, and it already made it impossible for him to even get close.
Bei Bei gritted his teeth, standing firmly in place, wanting to go forward again, but found that his legs felt like they were filled with lead, completely unable to move a single bit.
...
Inside the restaurant lobby.
Wang Dong'er was talking with Tang Ya when she suddenly felt a terrifying Aura surging in from outside the door.
She looked up, her gaze narrowing.
She saw an old man dressed in brocade and fine clothing striding in.
The old man exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
Titled Douluo.
Wang Dong'er's eyes instantly became serious.
She turned her head and took a glance at Xi'er, Xiao Xiao, and Xu Xiaoyan beside her, discovering that they were also wearing serious expressions.
Obviously, they also felt this terrifying Aura.
Wang Dong'er took a deep breath and stood up.
She looked up, her pink-blue eyes staring directly at Shen Ce, without the slightest hesitation.
"Are you the City Lord here?"
Wang Dong'er's voice was calm, yet carried an Aura that could not be ignored.
Shen Ce stopped, looking down at Wang Dong'er, a strange look flashing in his eyes.
"Little girl, you have quite some guts."
He said calmly.
"Daring to cause trouble on my turf, and even daring to injure my law enforcement team—do you know that this is a major crime?"
"A major crime?"
Wang Dong'er chuckled, the laughter carrying a hint of undisguised mockery.
"It was clearly your shady shop ripping off customers, and your law enforcement team twisting black and white, yet now it has become our fault?"
She looked up, staring at Shen Ce without showing any weakness.
"Is this the rule of your Shrek City?"
Shen Ce's brows frowned slightly, a cold look flashing in his eyes.
"Little girl, sharp-tongued."
He raised his hand, and a wave of terrifying Spirit Power condensed in his palm.
"However, this is not a place for you to run wild."
"Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your teachers!"
As his words fell, he suddenly slapped out with one palm!
A violent wave of Spirit Power, like a tsunami, came crushing towards Wang Dong'er!
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.