A cold gleam flashed in Sallas's eyes. "So you're saying you're opposing the organizing committee? I can interpret your behavior as a refusal to accept the investigation. The Tournament Organizing Committee will then have the right to disqualify Shrek Academy from this Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."
"Hold on." Ning Fengzhi had remained silent until now, simply watching the exchange between Flandre and Sallas. Only now did he speak up in a leisurely tone. "Lord Sallas, as the saying goes, the law cannot account for every human situation. The competitors from Shrek Academy have suffered serious injuries. To make a rash decision without conducting an investigation first doesn't seem proper, does it?"
Sallas said coolly, "Shrek Academy is now refusing to let its participating students submit to an investigation. That in itself is a serious problem. Sect Master Ning, how do you think this should be handled? When we can't even conduct a simple inquiry, how can we prove their innocence?"
Ning Fengzhi turned to Flandre. "Dean Flandre, are all your participating students seriously injured? I recall that one of them seemed to be in relatively good condition at the time. Could you have him come forward for our investigation? This matter concerns the fairness of the tournament. I hope you'll cooperate."
Flandre's eyes were red with agitation, looking as though he might burst into tears at any moment. "Why should we submit to an investigation? If the tournament is truly fair and impartial, the judges should have clearly seen what happened. The competitors from Canghui Academy used a Seven-as-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique—do you really think they held back? If our students hadn't blocked their attack, I doubt any of them would have come back alive. Everyone saw it—our students were only defending themselves passively. We've done nothing wrong. If the Tournament Organizing Committee truly wants to disqualify us, then there's nothing more we need to say."
A sharp light flashed in Sallas's eyes. "Those are your own words."
Flandre glared at Sallas furiously. "Lord Platinum Bishop, what exactly do you mean by targeting our Shrek Academy like this? Very well—I'd love to see how you plan to disqualify us from this tournament. Xiaogang, tomorrow we'll set off for the Holy Land to audience with His Holiness the Pope and ask him to deliver justice for us."
Ning Fengzhi shot Flandre an anxious look. He couldn't understand why the normally shrewd Flandre had suddenly become so impulsive. Could it be that those children really had suffered devastating injuries, making it impossible for Flandre to control his emotions?
As though he hadn't noticed Ning Fengzhi's signal at all, Flandre continued roaring at Sallas while repeatedly slamming his fist on the table.
"How presumptuous!" One of the Holy Hall Warriors suddenly stepped forward, and all ten Holy Hall Warriors ignited the glow of their Soul Power simultaneously. The two Red-Clothed Bishops also rose to their feet. At a single word from Sallas, they would spring into action to seize the accused.
Sallas ignored Flandre entirely, turning his head toward Ning Fengzhi beside him. "Sect Master Ning, you've seen it for yourself. Shrek Academy has grown this arrogant, flatly refusing the organizing committee's investigation. If we don't take action against them, how are we supposed to account to the other participating academies?"
"This..." Although Ning Fengzhi wanted to help, he was powerless to do so at this point.
Only then did Sallas turn back to Flandre, letting out a cold laugh. "You want to appeal to His Holiness the Pope, is that it? Then you may set out immediately. I hereby declare that Shrek Academy, for violating the tournament rules—"
He had barely spoken when suddenly a voice cut him off. "Wait."
This time it was the Great Master who spoke. Though he was not as agitated as Flandre, his face was equally ashen. "Sallas, you'd better think carefully before making your decision."
"You dare address the Lord Platinum Bishop by name?" one of the Red-Clothed Bishops immediately rebuked him.
Just as Sallas was about to continue and officially expel Shrek Academy from the tournament, the Great Master's wrist flicked, and an object shot from his palm straight toward Sallas.
Without Sallas needing to lift a finger, one of the Holy Hall Warriors swiftly moved to block in front of him, raising a hand to strike at the incoming object as Soul Power erupted from his body. At the same time, the other Holy Hall Warriors reacted instantly, surrounding Flandre, the Great Master, and Liu Erlong in the center.
"Stop." A hand thrust inward, intercepting the Holy Hall Warrior's strike and enveloping it in an invisible barrier that absorbed all the Soul Power behind the blow. Strangely, there was no collision of energy whatsoever—the Soul Power unleashed by the Holy Hall Warrior simply vanished silently, like snow melting away.
The person who had intervened was neither Ning Fengzhi nor anyone from Shrek Academy. It was the Platinum Bishop Sallas himself.
Seeing Sallas make his move, all three members of the Golden Iron Triangle felt a chill run through them. While the Holy Hall Warriors weren't enormously powerful compared to Flandre and Liu Erlong, the one who had attacked had all five of his Soul Rings blazing simultaneously—he was clearly a Soul King of at least the fiftieth rank. And yet Sallas, who had moved after him, had arrived first. He hadn't even manifested his Martial Soul, yet he had effortlessly neutralized the warrior's full-force strike.
Neutralizing a Soul King's attack was something the Golden Iron Triangle could manage as well. But to do it as seamlessly and effortlessly as Sallas had—that was utterly impossible for them. Flandre thought to himself, Even if this fellow doesn't have the strength of a Titled Douluo, he must be very close. Spirit Hall truly is unfathomable!