The investigation team dispatched by the Grand Competition's organizing committee arrived even faster than Flandre had anticipated. A group of over a dozen people strode briskly into Shrek Academy.
What truly startled Flandre was that he had met both leaders of the delegation before. He never would have guessed that the organizing committee would treat this matter with such gravity.
The organizing committee for the Tian Dou City preliminary rounds was jointly composed of Spirit Hall and the Tian Dou Imperial Household, so it was natural that the two leaders would represent each faction respectively. The reason Flandre was so surprised was that the one representing Spirit Hall was none other than Sallas, the Platinum Bishop and master of the Martial Soul Holy Hall in Tian Dou City. And the one representing the Tian Dou Empire was actually Ning Fengzhi, the clan master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
It was only later that the Shrek Academy crowd learned that Ning Fengzhi had come in his capacity as the Crown Prince's teacher. With that identity, he could just barely be considered a member of the Tian Dou Imperial Household.
Although seven of Canghui Academy's participating members being reduced to idiots was no small matter, it was far from significant enough to warrant the personal attention of two powerhouses like Ning Fengzhi and Sallas. The fact that both had come to Shrek Academy together was, when you thought about it, somewhat amusing.
Originally, Sallas had only intended to send a subordinate. He had long harbored plans to make a covert move against Shrek Academy, given their outstanding performance in the competition and the sensitive relationship they maintained with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. But as Spirit Hall's chief representative in Tian Dou City, he was hardly as reckless as the Dream Abyss Soul Master Shi Nian. So he had been biding his time. The seven Canghui Academy members being turned into idiots had handed him the perfect excuse. This Platinum Bishop, whose influence reached to the highest levels, immediately began preparing to use this incident to have Shrek Academy expelled from the competition.
But how could Ning Fengzhi allow him to have his way? When the organizing committee was deliberating the dispatch of an investigation team, Ning Fengzhi immediately declared his willingness to personally lead one of the teams to Shrek Academy for the investigation.
If Ning Fengzhi went, then Sallas's plans would certainly fall apart. But Sallas was unwilling to simply concede. In terms of rank, he still fell short of Ning Fengzhi, and the relationship between Spirit Hall and the Seven Great Clans had always been delicately ambiguous. Left with no alternative, the Platinum Bishop had no choice but to go himself. By accompanying Ning Fengzhi to Shrek Academy, he hoped to seize upon some leverage—so that no matter how lofty Ning Fengzhi's position might be, he would be unable to interfere with the fairness of the competition.
And so, these two prominent figures, along with their entourages, arrived directly at Shrek Academy.
Ning Fengzhi was practically familiar with the place. When word reached them that the delegation had arrived at the academy gates, Flandre hurriedly went out to greet them together with Great Master and Liu Erlong. Before stepping outside, Flandre pulled Ning Rongrong aside and instructed her not to reveal her identity to her father, and that it would be best for her to avoid him for the time being.
"Headmaster Flandre, forgive the intrusion," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile, nodding toward Flandre.
Although their Soul Power levels were not far apart, their standing in the world of Soul Masters was worlds apart. Flandre hastened to return the courtesy. "Clan Master Ning, you are too kind. Your distinguished presence brings great honor to our humble academy!"
Ning Fengzhi gave a slight smile, stepped half a pace aside, and introduced to Flandre: "This is the master of the Martial Soul Holy Hall in Tian Dou City, Lord Sallas, Platinum Bishop."
Flandre was nothing if not smooth. His expression did not change in the slightest as he promptly bowed again. "So it is Lord Bishop Sallas. I am Flandre. Please, both of you, come inside."
Sallas offered Flandre a faint nod. The group of over a dozen filed into Shrek Academy under the lead of Flandre and his companions.
Ning Fengzhi had brought only Bone Douluo Gu Rong with him. But the Platinum Bishop Sallas had brought a full twelve people. Among them were two Red-Clothed Bishops clad in scarlet robes.
And ten Holy Hall Warriors dressed in fitted silver attire.
Within Spirit Hall, there existed a dedicated division of warrior-guards known as the Temple Knights, separate from the ecclesiastical staff. Excluding the Sacred Imperial Warriors who served the Pontiff and the Douluo Warriors exclusive to the Douluo Hall, the Holy Hall Warriors of the two great Martial Soul Holy Halls held the highest rank among all warrior divisions.
These Holy Hall Warriors were comprised of outstanding Soul Masters from within Spirit Hall. Their strength was nothing short of formidable.
It was said that the threshold for becoming a Holy Hall Warrior was a Soul Power level of fifty-one. The threshold for Sacred Imperial Warriors and Douluo Warriors was, of course, even higher—sixty-one.
In other words, every single Holy Hall Warrior possessed strength at the Soul King level or above. And the Sacred Imperial Warriors and Douluo Warriors had reached the level of Soul Emperor or higher.
These were merely the minimum requirements for the three great warrior divisions.
The commanders of both the Sacred Imperial Warriors and the Douluo Warriors possessed the strength of Titled Douluo. From this alone, one could see just how immense Spirit Hall's power truly was.
Stepping into Shrek Academy, Sallas's gaze flickered slightly as the surrounding scenery was imprinted upon his mind.