Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy.
Qin Ming, once hailed as Shrek Academy's most talented teacher, immediately transferred from Heaven Dou Royal Academy upon hearing that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Academy had been renamed Shrek Academy.
Although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Academy had become Shrek, the scene from the original story where Tang San and the others beat up Xue Beng did not occur.
This was largely due to Liu Erlong's influence her forceful push ensured the name change went smoothly.
At this moment, Shrek's key members had gathered in a circle, deep in discussion.
"Can Dugu Bo's herb garden really restore me?" Tang Hao suppressed his emotions and asked with patience.
His cultivation had already dropped from rank 95 to rank 89, and his injuries were severe death could come at any moment.
Yet his son claimed that Dugu Bo's herb garden contained immortal herbs capable of healing him. It was shocking.
"Very likely." Tang San's expression was solemn as he recalled the toxic barrier he had encountered while searching for a soul beast for Zhu Zhuqing in Sunset Forest.
Beyond that barrier, he had glimpsed a breathtaking paradise.
If immortal herbs existed anywhere, that place was the most probable location.
Even if they couldn't fully restore his father to his peak, they could at least heal most of his injuries perhaps even return him to an undamaged rank 89 state.
"Flender, what's this about Dugu Bo being connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?" Tang Hao's gaze shifted past Tang San to Flender, who had remained mostly silent.
"Well..." Flender's expression turned awkward. "Title Douluo Tang, it's... not exactly a pleasant memory."
Under the collective stares of the group, Flender felt immense pressure.
"Because of that incident, I spent some time in a prison in the Kingdom of Barak."
Knowing he couldn't evade the topic, Flender reluctantly recounted how he had scammed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and ended up imprisoned.
"You really outdid yourself!" Zhao Wuji beside him couldn't help but comment. "No wonder when I tried to bail you out back then, you refused to leave, spouting nonsense about renouncing worldly desires and seeking peace."
"So you were just scared!"
Flender: "..."
If you don't know how to speak, don't. No one thinks you're mute.
"Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo are together meaning Dugu Bo has joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Tang Hao wasn't overly surprised. He had heard similar rumors, though without concrete evidence.
"That seems to be the case." Flender nodded. "Grandmaster's father might have more accurate information on this."
Most of their group were independent cultivators with limited knowledge of major clans' interactions and no special channels for information.
But Yu Yuanzhen, as the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, would surely have insights into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's affairs.
"Should I go ask my father?" Yu Xiaogang knew it was time to prove his worth.
"No need." Tang Hao shook his head lightly. "I plan to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan myself. I still have some rapport with Clan Leader Ning."
"Dad, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, seems to have the Eight Spider Lances too..." Tang San hesitated.
"Exactly!" Yu Xiaogang cut in eagerly. "That external spirit bone looks just like Xiao San's!"
During their confrontation with Dugu Bo, a girl presumed to be his granddaughter had appeared.
She possessed two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring.
What shocked Tang San, a master of poison, was that the girl called "Yan Yan" by Dugu Bo could wither a flourishing tree with just a touch, as if inflicting instant lethal poisoning, without even summoning her martial soul.
The Eight Spider Lances on Dugu Yan's back bore an uncanny resemblance to the ones Tang San had lost.
"The external spirit bone you mentioned does ring a bell." Qin Ming stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Not long ago, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's patriarch spent 10 million gold spirit coins at Heaven Dou Auction House to purchase one."
"From the description, it matches what you're talking about."
"Tsk "
Everyone present inhaled sharply.
Flender, in particular, briefly entertained the thought of "redistributing wealth from the rich."
But the idea vanished as quickly as it came.
He had no desire to revisit prison. Besides, attempting such a scheme wouldn't just land him behind bars it might erase him from existence entirely.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, ranked second among the great sects despite being an auxiliary-type clan, was no pushover. Their immense wealth was protected by formidable means otherwise, they would have been devoured long ago.
"So, the external spirit bone on Dugu Yan is indeed the one Xiao San lost."
"It was just picked up by someone, auctioned off, and bought by Ning Fengzhi." Tang Hao's voice was heavy.
As the wealthiest clan on the continent, splurging on an external spirit bone wasn't surprising.
But for Ning Fengzhi to gift such a valuable, growth-capable spirit bone to Dugu Bo's granddaughter? That was unexpected.
Clearly, Dugu Bo held significant status within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"Disgraceful! How dare they auction off Xiao San's external spirit bone? This is infuriating!"
Yu Xiaogang gnashed his teeth. His prized disciple's rare external spirit bone had been snatched away.
It was all because of that unknown Title Douluo back then. Otherwise, the spirit bone wouldn't have gone missing and ended up in Ning Fengzhi's hands.
"Is there any way we can reclaim Xiao San's spirit bone?" Yu Xiaogang's resentful gaze turned to Tang Hao, hoping the mighty Clear Sky Douluo would take action.
Tang Hao understood his intentions and sighed deeply.
"Give it up. If I were still a rank 95 Title Douluo, maybe there'd be a chance. But now, as a mere Soul Douluo, I might not even defeat Dugu Bo."
"Besides, Ning Fengzhi paid a hefty price for it. We have no grounds to demand its return."
"Ten million gold spirit coins even for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, that's a crippling sum."
Asking Dugu Yan to return the spirit bone would be like carving flesh from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's body.
They'd fight to the death over it.
"Who was the person selling the spirit bone?" Tang Hao pondered briefly before turning to Qin Ming, Shrek Academy's elite talent.
"Unknown. He was completely concealed in a black robe." Qin Ming shook his head. "Rumor has it he wanted to sell the spirit bone quickly, which is why it wasn't advertised extensively before auction."
Qin Ming could only guess the spirit bone's origins were shady.
Had the seller waited for a full promotional campaign, the bidding would have soared even higher possibly beyond even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's willingness to pay.
"Where did the seller go after receiving the gold?"
"The exact route is unclear, but the direction suggested Vast Sea City."
"Vast Sea City the gathering place of sea Soul Masters?" Tang Hao frowned.
Could it be related to Sea God Island? If a Title Douluo from Sea God Island had stumbled upon the spirit bone, selling it for resources and gold made sense.
After all, Sea God Island had many mouths to feed, all crying, "Hungry, hungry, hungry!"
Memories surfaced of when he and his brother, Tang Xiao, had barged into Sea God Island and been captured.
That was many years ago.