Diyi Hong's movement drew the attention of everyone present.

Their eyes shimmered faintly with anticipation.

None of them had much respect for Tang San's behavior either. They were just waiting for Diyi Hong to put him in his place.

Tang San, aware of his own guilt, watched Diyi Hong warily.

"W-What do you want? I didn't do anything to you this time!"

"Relax. I'm not here for you." Diyi Hong turned to Xiao Wu. "But can you tell me what you were thinking, giving away that external spirit bone?"

The birth of a spirit bone required bloodline extraction. Absorbing it back was one thing—after all, it was just an external spirit bone. But to give it away?

That was practically destroying her own future.

Xiao Wu remained silent.

Diyi Hong understood.

She'd contracted that deadly disease that plagued the Continent of Love—love brain.

One willing to give, one willing to take. What was there for him to say?

He cast a look of disdain at Tang San.

If not for the fact that spitting on him would damage his own image, he might've hawked a loogie right in his face.

"I didn't take it for nothing!" Tang San said confidently. "I've already brought Xiao Wu into the Tang Sect. I'll be teaching her the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record without holding anything back!"

Diyi Hong's eye twitched.

"So you admit it—your whole 'I need to dissipate my cultivation and rebuild from scratch' excuse was a lie?"

Tang San went silent.

He'd forgotten that loophole completely.

Ning Rongrong, never one to pull her punches, clicked her tongue in mock wonder.

"Six years of living together, and not even a copper coin."

"Get an external spirit bone, and suddenly it's 'I'll teach you everything I have.'"

"And maybe it's because he already broke the rules by leaking the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record in a bet with Diyi Hong—so now he's just giving up entirely."

"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu… what exactly do you like about him?"

"His average looks? His selfishness? Or the fact that he sneaks around and uses hidden weapons?"

Xiao Wu glanced at the angry Tang San, then silently lowered her head again.

Tang San was furious!

But Diyi Hong was here, and so were Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.

Could he go against Ning Rongrong?

He couldn't.

He could only try to pull Xiao Wu away.

If he couldn't win, he'd just walk.

Huh?

Tang San was stunned. Xiao Wu had dodged his hand.

"I want to be alone for a while."

Xiao Wu walked away toward the bonfire by herself.

Leaving Tang San standing there, face flushing from red to pale.

Xiao Wu had never acted like this before!

No matter what disagreements they had, she would always soften up when he coaxed her.

She couldn't bear to see him upset.

But today… she actually refused him?

Ning Rongrong, ever the instigator, went over to whisper to Xiao Wu, shooting Tang San scornful looks every now and then.

She was obviously talking trash about him.

Tang San was livid!

But he didn't dare explode.

Stifled!

Frustrated!

He wanted to kill someone!

Faintly, Diyi Hong heard a familiar phrase drift in—

["Pheonix God": You've walked the path of death!]

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Haha! I was just about to say that!]

["God of Speed": See? Tang San's true nature is exposed. Even Xiao Wu will leave him.]

["God of Emotion": Leave? No way! My Valley of Love Trials layout still needs more progress!]

'Don't worry,' Diyi Hong comforted.

'Tang San was Xiao Wu's first friend after she took human form. They filled each other's emotional gaps.'

'Their bond is deep. They're just having a spat.'

'Besides, this continent runs on love brain logic. Take Rakshasa God for example—didn't she once drink tea that Grandmaster had spat in?'

["Rakshasa God": "…"]

["Pheonix God": Gasp! Tell us more, streamer!]

[User "Rakshasa God" sent gift: "Rakshasa Divine Sense" ×5]

["Rakshasa God": Please forget that black history!]

["Rakshasa God": I was just too pathetic back then. I thought it was my fault… but now that I think about it, why should some useless cripple get to say 'I won't let the Spirit Hall off'?]

Seeing the donation, Diyi Hong immediately changed his tune.

'Exactly! It was clearly Yu Xiaogang who was in the wrong!'

As for Bibi Dong betraying Spirit Hall to elope with a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan…

Well, they paid hush money, didn't they?

Whether good god or bad god—

As long as they donated, they had his respect.

"Diyi, what are you daydreaming about?"

He looked up to see Flender beaming, as proud as a rooster.

"Sect Master Ning has agreed to sponsor Shrek! From now on, we'll never have to worry about funding!"

"We can buy more training gear, set up simulated environments, improve the cafeteria!"

"He even agreed to register Shrek Academy for this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"

Wait, what?

Diyi Hong's expression turned serious.

That couldn't happen!

If Shrek Academy had its own resources and secured a tournament slot—

Then there'd be no "rent-a-chicken-to-get-its-egg" plan!

They wouldn't go to Heaven Dou City, wouldn't meet Dugu Bo, and wouldn't access the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

And what about God of Emotion's carefully laid Valley of Love Trials?

Build it in this countryside dump?

What kind of divine spectacle would that be? It'd barely trick a few viewers!

No drama, no traction.

—Sabotage it!

"Well, Dean, you didn't come all this way just to brag, right?" Diyi Hong cut in.

"Oh right! Almost forgot!" Flender smacked his forehead. "Sect Master Ning wants to have a word with you. What do you say?"

"Well, since the Dean personally requested it, how could I refuse?" Diyi Hong agreed cheerfully.

Flender looked even prouder now.

He strutted off with Diyi Hong, then sensibly bowed out after a few pleasantries.

Chen Xin waved a hand and cast a soul power barrier, cutting off sound and disturbance.

Only then did Ning Fengzhi speak.

"This sudden visit has been unexpectedly fruitful."

"I have four spirit bones here. Hong, if you don't mind, you're free to distribute them however you like."

He held out his hand.

Four spirit bones floated above his palm. Even the least complete was over 70%, and all were at least ten-thousand-year level.

"Since it's a gift from a senior, I humbly accept." Diyi Hong smiled.

—Ten-thousand-year spirit bones like these were worth at least 10,000 stream points each.

They couldn't be sold directly, but they could be used as bait—dangle the carrot and run more "Winner Takes All" contests.

And as both referee and event organizer, it was laughably easy for him to rig the results.

Seeing Diyi Hong's composed manners, Ning Fengzhi was even more satisfied.

He exchanged a glance with Chen Xin.

Then both turned toward Ning Rongrong, which made Diyi Hong instantly realize something was off.

This atmosphere… was way too familiar!

—These two old coots were trying to set up a marriage!

He quickly jumped in.

"As for the recipe to increase spirit ring age, I checked with my clan—it's nothing too important. I can let Uncle Ning use it freely."

The words Ning Fengzhi had prepared stuck in his throat. He looked at Diyi Hong with glowing eyes.

"That's truly wonderful!"

"But Uncle Ning can't take it for nothing."

"If there's anything you want, let me know—I'll do my best to make it happen."

Chen Xin's gaze turned odd.

He had a sneaking suspicion this kid had deliberately diverted the conversation…

But a recipe that could increase spirit ring age was no trivial matter.

So he stayed quiet too.

Diyi Hong chuckled, completely in control.

"What I want…"

"I'd like Uncle Ning to let the Dean know that Shrek Academy can't complete the registration—so they won't qualify for the Elite Tournament."

"And don't give them too much funding all at once either."

Ning Fengzhi: "???"

Did this kid have a grudge against Flender?

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