“What? Blue Sunshine Academy’s students have all become imbeciles?”
Flender looked at Salas with ‘shock’.
Salas snorted coldly,
“You teach such good students. At a tender age, their methods are so ferocious. You should know the rules of the tournament. This kind of deliberate use of deliberate methods absolutely can’t be forgiven in the tournament.”
What he said sounded very ordinary, but they were all misleading. As long as Flender said one word wrong, he’d immediately grab the opportunity.
“An unjust accusation, lord!”
Flender stood sharply. Because of being wronged, his face was somewhat deformed.
Both his eyes were clearly reddened,
“Lord Salas, we’ve been unjustly accused! Those Blue Sunshine Academy bastards actually dare lodge a complaint? Six of our seven participating students are all seriously injured, three of them even life threatening, right now in emergency treatment by our Academy’s several healing system Spirit Masters. And they still have the nerve to protest? I intend to raise a protest to the organizational committee and apply for an investigation.”
Salas snorted coldly,
“You should know best whether it’s an unjust accusation. Even if you don’t know, call out the Shrek Academy students that participated today. We want to conduct our investigation and interview them separately.”
Flender’s ‘shocked’ expression didn’t show the slightest intent of weakening. He said resolutely:
“No, out of the question. The children's injuries are too severe. If they’re not treated promptly, let alone participating in the match tomorrow, I’m afraid it might affect their entire careers as Spirit Masters. What’s most important right now is treating them. How could they answer your questions?”
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
A cold light flashed in Salas’ eyes,
“By saying this, are you opposing the organizational committee? I can take your actions as refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The tournament organizational committee will then have the right to strike Shrek Academy from this year’s Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.”
“Wait a moment.
Ning Fengzhi didn’t say anything before, only silently watched Flender and Salas’ discussion. Now he leisurely said:
“Your eminence, legal doctrine can’t exceed reason. Shrek Academy’s participating students are seriously injured. It seems inappropriate to rashly make decisions before even investigating.”
Salas calmly said:
“Shrek Academy is currently refusing investigation of the participating students, this in itself is a significant issue. How do you believe it should be handled, school master Ning? If we can’t even make inquiries, how can we prove their innocence?”
Ning Fengzhi turned to Flender, saying:
“Dean Flender, are all of your noble institution’s competing members in serious condition? I recall that at that time there was still one student who was well. Is it possible to let him cooperate with our inquiries? This matter relates to the fairness of the tournament. I’ll ask you to cooperate.”
In agitation, Flender’s eyes were thoroughly red, seeming as if he was about to cry,
“Why must we be investigated? Since the tournament is fair, the judges should have seen the situation at that time. Blue Sunshine Academy’s competing members used a seven spirit fusion ability, don’t tell me that’s going easy? If our students didn’t block their attack, perhaps not even one could have returned alive. Everyone could see that our students only resisted passively, we never did anything wrong. If the tournament organizational committee still wants to expel us, we don’t have anything to say.”
A radiant light flashed in Salas’ eyes:
“You said it yourself.”
Flender glowered at Salas,
“Your eminence, what is the meaning of aiming at our Shrek Academy like this? Fine, I want to see how you’ll expel our Shrek Academy from the tournament. Xiao Gang, tomorrow we’ll go to the Holy City to visit the lord Supreme Pontiff, and have the lord Supreme Pontiff give us justice.”
Ning Fengzhi somewhat anxiously signaled Flender with his eyes. He didn’t know why the always shrewd Flender would suddenly become so impulsive. Could it be that those children really were injured, leaving Flender unable to control his temper?
Flender didn’t seem to have seen Ning Fengzhi’s signal, and while roaring at Salas, he repeatedly beat the table.
“Outrageous.”
A Temple Knight stepped forward, and spirit power radiance flared over all the ten Temple Knights. The two cardinals also stood. As long as Salas gave the order, they would act immediately.
Salas also ignored Flender, turning his head to look at Ning Fengzhi to his side, saying:
“School master Ning. You’ve also seen it. Shrek Academy is this rampant, refusing the organizational committee’s investigation. Without due process, how can we justify ourselves to the other competing academies?”
“This……”
Even though Ning Fengzhi wanted to help, right now he was powerless.
Salas then turned to Flender, sneering,
“You want to go appeal to the lord Supreme Pontiff? Then you can set out at once. As a result of Shrek Academy violating the tournament rules, I hereby proclaim……”
He had just said this when suddenly, a voice interrupted him,
“Wait a moment.”
This time it was Grandmaster who spoke up. Even though he wasn’t as agitated as Flender, his face was ashen,
“Salas. Think clearly before you make a decision.”
“Who are you to use the lord platinum bishop’s name directly?”
One of the cardinals immediately reprimanded.
Just when Salas was about to continue his speech, kicking Shrek Academy out of the tournament, Grandmaster suddenly flicked his hand, and something flew out of his sleeve, directly at Salas.
Without need for Salas to do anything, a Temple Knight swiftly stepped in front of him, one hand striking at that thing, spirit power suddenly erupting. At the same time, the other Temple Knights reacted quickly, instantly surrounding Flender, Grandmaster and Liu Erlong.
“Hold it.” One hand suddenly stuck out, blocking the hand of that Temple Knight, forming an incorporeal barrier that completely surrounded that spirit power strike. Bizarrely, there wasn’t a trace of energy collision, that Temple Knight’s spirit power simply faded away like melting snow.
The one to act wasn’t Ning Fengzhi, nor anyone from Shrek Academy, but rather platinum bishop Salas himself.
Seeing Salas act, the Golden Iron Triangle couldn’t keep from shivering at the same time. Even though the Temple Knights weren’t very strong compared to Flender and Liu Erlong, when that Temple Knight struck there had been five spirit rings glistening around him, he was clearly a Spirit King over fiftieth rank. But when Salas had acted after him, his strike had arrived first, and without using his spirit had easily dissolved his palm strike.
The Golden Iron Triangle could naturally also dissolve a Spirit King’s attack, but doing it as effortlessly as Salas had done was still impossible. Flender secretly thought that even if this guy didn’t have Title Douluo strength, he should already be extremely close. Spirit Hall really was unfathomably deep!
Salas used one hand to block that Temple Knight’s attack, while the other hand caught the thing Grandmaster threw at him. He looked at the surrounding Temple Knights with a face as calm as water,
“What are you doing, get out of here all of you. When did I let you move?”
The Temple Knights clearly didn’t understand why the platinum bishop suddenly was angry, but nobody dared refuse, and all ten immediately dejectedly left the room.
Salas didn’t even need to look at it to know what had landed in his hand. His back felt moist, and along with the Temple Knights leaving the room, a faint sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
His f
acial expression clearly somewhat moderated, he bowed to Grandmaster,
“Greetings elder.”
Grandmaster indifferently swept his eyes across him,
“Everyone sit down.”
Flender snickered inwardly, but Ning Fengzhi was extremely astonished. With his eyesight, he had naturally seen what that tile was. The highest warrant tile Spirit Hall issued to Spirit Hall staff, possessing six symbols, this tile also had another name: Spirit Pontiff Writ. Anyone holding this tile would possess the seniority of Spirit Hall elders, or even more like the Supreme Pontiff in person.
Even though Salas knew Grandmaster has some shady relationship with the holy court, he hadn’t expected him to actually hold the Supreme Pontiff Writ. In fact, Spirit Hall had altogether three Supreme Pontiff Writs outside, granted to each of the seven great schools’ three upper sects.
Even Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School master Ning Fengzhi next to him couldn’t casually take out this badge of the Supreme Pontiff’s authority. Who could have thought that Grandmaster would actually have this thing? Could it be that this was a fourth?
Some fragmentary memories appearing in his mind, Salas couldn’t keep his heart from suddenly dropping. He knew that he would be unable to get what he wanted here today, no matter what.
Right now there was still a Ning Fengzhi next to him. If he was the slightest bit disrespectful and it got out, then he wouldn’t stay a platinum bishop.
It might seem that a platinum bishop’s position in Spirit Hall was second only to the Supreme Pontiff, but in fact, even though they held a great deal of power, they still didn’t have the authority to truly make decisions.
Besides the Supreme Pontiff, Spirit Hall still had a hidden Elder Palace. That was the true heart of power of Spirit Hall. Major matters all required the decision of Elder Palace. In a vote, even the Supreme Pontiff only held three votes. But Elder Palace held as many as seven people. When necessary, as long as these seven were all in agreement, they could even depose the Supreme Pontiff.
And people with the Supreme Pontiff Writ, even though they couldn’t compare to true elders, they still had held the position of honorary elders, and had the qualifications to directly enter Elder Palace.
Even though the upper three sects of the seven great schools had always had some distance with Spirit Hall, they still held monumental power and stood together, therefore, even Spirit Hall didn’t dare lightly offend them.
Grandmaster wasn’t only born from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon school, but now he also had this thing. Salas didn’t dare be presumptuous.
Both hands clasping the Supreme Pontiff Writ, he deferentially handed it to Grandmaster,
“Please take it back, elder.”
Grandmaster took the Supreme Pontiff Writ but didn’t put it away, only leaving it in front of him, indifferently sweeping Salas with a glance,
“Taking out the Supreme Pontiff Writ isn’t with the intention of interfering with your eminence. I only hope our Shrek Academy can obtain fairness. Each student in the Shrek Academy team is a genius Spirit Master we’ve spent all our hearts fostering, I don’t want their injuries to grow more serious as a result of these inquiries, risking lifelong effects. If the lord bishop absolutely wants to interrogate them, then please wait until the condition of their injuries has improved.”
Even though Salas was unwilling, with the intimidation of the Supreme Pontiff Writ, what could he say? Unless the Supreme Pontiff or a member of Elder Palace were here, the Spirit Hall staff present didn’t have the qualifications to say anything.
“I was impetuous. Since it’s like this, this investigation is dismissed. I’ll take my leave.”
Salas was only using the issue for his own ends, the matters of Blue Sunshine Academy’s life or death was unrelated to him.
Originally he had wanted to pretend he didn’t know who Grandmaster was, but now that the Supreme Pontiff Writ had appeared in front of everyone, if he didn’t act tactfully and Grandmaster really went to Supreme Pontiff Palace to speak to the Supreme Pontiff, his later prospects would be bleak.
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
Let alone speaking of entering Elder Palace.
Flender’s face was already covered with a smiling expression,
“Lord bishop, don’t worry! Just now was also my bad, a bit too impetuous. What do you say? Among our students, Tang San’s injuries aren’t serious. It might be better if you ask him? He is after all the soul of the whole team. I think his knowledge of the match should also be relatively clear.”
Salas shot Flender a glance, anger building in his heart, ‘If you’d said so long ago, would I have had to see the Supreme Pontiff Writ? Since I’ve already sold my face, I can only sell it to the end. Even if I really found something, don’t tell me I could really cancel your tournament qualifications?’
“No need, no need. I already understand. Those Blue Sunshine Academy students should only have been injured by spirit ability backlash. Under such circumstances, what could be done to your noble institution’s students? I’ll take my leave.”
Finished speaking, Salas quickly brought his two cardinals away without paying any attention to Flender’s urging, even to the extent that he forgot to say anything to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi looked deeply at Grandmaster, then left with Bone Douluo following.
The Golden Iron Triangle trio saw them to the Academy gate.
“No need to see me further. I’ve troubled you today. Grandmaster, about the Supreme Pontiff……”
Grandmaster looked at Salas’ evasive gaze with a faint smile, saying:
“Don’t worry, your eminence. The tournament is exceptionally impartial this year.”
Salas’ face revealed a trace of satisfaction, then he nodded and brought his people away.
Ning Fengzhi was in no hurry to leave, and looked at Grandmaster with a smile:
“I truly didn’t expect that Grandmaster would actually be an honorary elder of Spirit Hall, Ning Fengzhi has been lacking in manners before.”
The expression in Grandmaster’s eyes was reserved,
“It’s only to scare some mediocre people, that’s all.”
Ning Fengzhi seemed like he wanted to ask something, but in the end he still held back,
“The children’s health is important, it would be better to forfeit tomorrow’s match. That would also give the organizational committee a way out.”
Finished saying this, Ning Fengzhi took his leave of the trio, turning and leaving with the Bone Douluo.
Following the two fading backs with his eyes, the fake smile on Flender’s face gradually faded,
“This school master Ning is worthy of his reputation. Only, Xiao Gang, even though you managed to scare off Spirit Hall’s people with a tiger’s roar this time, I’m afraid it’ll attract even more attention from them in the future.”
Before Grandmaster had time to open his mouth, suddenly, his ear twinged painfully. Liu Erlong’s somewhat ice cool voice rose,
“Yu Xiao Gang, you’re unexpectedly still in contact with that slut, speak, aren’t you……”
Seeing Liu Erlong display the power of her anger, Flender first looked distracted, then hastily said:
“Eh, I still have some things to do. I’ll go back first. You chat.”
Finished speaking, he turned and ran without any semblance of brotherly spirit.
“Ouch, Erlong, let go. You misunderstand.
Grandmaster helplessly looked at Liu Erlong.
Currently, the rims of Liu Erlong’s eyes had turned red, teardrops forming,
“Misunderstand? That slut even gave you a Supreme Pontiff Writ, what’s there still to misunderstand? She has such an affair with you, and you won’t even admit it.”
Grandmaster’s face was stiff as a board,
“Don’t talk nonsense. Let go. She didn’t give me this Supreme Pontiff Writ.”
Even though Liu Erlong was a lot stronger than Grandmaster, when Grandmaster’s true anger st
ill made her somewhat afraid. Releasing the ear she’d grabbed,
“Then speak, who gave you this Supreme Pontiff Writ? If your answer doesn’t satisfy me, I won’t let it go at that.”
Grandmaster helplessly said:
“Ah, you. No matter what your age you’re still so impulsive.”
Liu Erlong’s eyebrows shot up,
“You’re saying I’m old?”
“Eh…… You know that wasn’t what I meant. Don’t you want to hear the story of this Supreme Pontiff Writ?”
“Speak.”
Liu Erlong then restrained her temper somewhat.
Grandmaster sighed lightly, saying:
“Little San’s father gave it to me.”
Liu Erlong wasn’t very familiar with Tang San’s background. Ever since Grandmaster had appeared, she’d set her entire heart on him alone. Now she couldn’t keep from astonished saying:
“Little San’s father? How is that possible, don’t tell me……”
Grandmaster took Liu Erlong’s hand, walking into the Academy. While walking, he slowly spoke four words:
“Title Douluo: Clear Sky.”
……
In order to prove that their students were indeed seriously injured, the next day, Shrek Academy announced that they would be forfeiting the next two matches to give the team members enough time to rest.
Shrek Academy’s undefeated golden record was also smashed with this. Moreover, the opponents they drew for these two days were unexpectedly the two great powers, Godwind Academy and Thunderclap Academy.
If Thunderclap Academy felt they were somewhat lucky, then Godwind Academy’s captain Feng Xiaotian was depressed.
Shrek Academy forfeiting admittedly directly gave them the victory, but Huo Wu’s anger clearly wouldn’t abate because of a victory like this. Feng Xiaotian hadn’t truly defeated Tang San, so he could only temporarily shelve his plans of bringing back the beauty.
The qualifiers continued with the momentum of wildfire. After Shrek Academy returned, their strength hadn’t weakened like some spectators had thought, and they continued playing their victory song. Very soon, altogether twenty seven rounds of the qualifiers approached their conclusion. Only the last round remained before the end.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 186