Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

After the Soul Battle ended, the members of the Royal Fighting Team immediately returned to the rest area. However, shortly after they sat down, Qin Ming led them out of the Grand Soul Arena.

Outside the arena, Qin Ming brought the team to a corner where a few middle-aged men were standing. Behind them were the defeated Shrek team members.

Seeing Qin Ming leading his team, Flender quickly stepped forward and said, "You finally showed up, kid."

As he spoke, Flender's gaze fell on Cheng Xiao, and with a darkened expression, he asked, "Kid, be honest. Did you take the opportunity to retaliate against my students?"

"It's not revenge. At most, it's a bit of a lesson," Cheng Xiao replied calmly.

Originally, Cheng Xiao had no intention of taking action in this battle. Before it started, he and Qin Ming had already agreed that as long as they didn't target Ye Lingling, the Emperor team would admit defeat once the other five lost their ability to fight. But unfortunately, they didn't do that.

"Your 'lesson'..." Flender sighed and shook his head, saying, "Forget it. Ultimately, it's because they lack strength. They lost to you because I didn't manage them well."

"Still, speaking of it, would you consider joining our Shrek Academy?"

"No, but I appreciate your kindness, Dean Flender." Cheng Xiao cupped his hands and politely declined.

"Dean, you're still the same as always," Qin Ming thought with a hint of helplessness but said nothing, as Flender was his dean.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce you." Qin Ming turned to the somewhat confused members of the Royal Fighting Team. "The dean of Shrek Academy is my teacher, so they are all my juniors."

"Ye Lingling, why don't you heal them?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling didn't release her martial soul immediately but instead looked toward Cheng Xiao.

Understanding her meaning, Cheng Xiao nodded slightly.

With his approval, Ye Lingling activated her martial soul. The Nine Heart Begonia bloomed from her palm, releasing soft pink petals that floated over to the injured Shrek members, merging into their bodies.

Before long, under the powerful healing abilities of the Nine Heart Begonia, the severe injuries sustained by the Shrek members were almost completely healed. The formidable healing power left Ning Rongrong, who was watching, in awe.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were the first to open their eyes. Most of their injuries came from the backlash of their martial soul fusion skill and the shockwaves of the explosion.

After waking, for some reason, Dai Mubai looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a trace of anger in his eyes. However, Zhu Zhuqing remained indifferent, as if Dai Mubai's anger meant nothing to her.

Next to wake were Tang San and Ma Hongjun. Upon seeing Cheng Xiao, they froze momentarily, but after hearing Oscar's explanation, they finally understood what had happened.

Yet, when Tang San looked at Cheng Xiao, something stirred in his eyes. His hand, hanging behind his back, clenched into a fist, clearly filled with frustration.

Seeing this, Grandmaster secretly felt pleased. He had initially feared that this defeat would break Tang San's spirit, but from his clenched fist, the Grandmaster could tell that Tang San's frustration was now his driving force to reach even greater heights.

"My disciple, I am proud of you," Grandmaster thought to himself.

Once the Shrek team members had mostly recovered, Qin Ming suggested, "Dean, since it's rare for me to return, why don't we all head to the Suotuo City Grand Hotel together so everyone can get to know each other?"

"Sure, as long as you're paying," Flender replied with a sparkle in his eyes, readily agreeing.

Qin Ming hesitated for a second, then remembered his dean's stingy nature and quickly added, "Dean, it's been so long since I last came back. I can't possibly let an old man like you treat us, right?"

"Then it's settled. We'll meet in two hours at the Suotuo City Grand Hotel."

After saluting Flender, Qin Ming turned to leave with the Royal Fighting Team.

At that moment, Yu Tianheng, who had been observing the Grandmaster for a while, suddenly spoke up. He stepped forward and addressed him, "Uncle, is it really you?"

The Grandmaster's face darkened instantly. Without a word, he turned and left. Ever since he was expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had severed all ties with that family. Even though Yu Tianheng was his nephew, he didn't want to have anything to do with that cold, unfeeling clan.

"Uncle!" Yu Tianheng called out in shock when the Grandmaster walked away without looking back. He quickly followed after him.

Qin Ming, seeing this sudden turn of events, looked confused and asked Flender, "Dean, what's going on with the Grandmaster?"

"Sigh, you wouldn't know." Flender smiled bitterly. "The Grandmaster, Xiaogang, is actually Yu Tianheng's uncle. In other words, he's from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?" Qin Ming was stunned. The clan's reputation was legendary, but he had never imagined that the Grandmaster was a member of such a prominent family.

"Don't worry about it. Xiaogang has gotten used to this over the years. Let's stick to the plan and meet up in two hours," Flender said.

"Alright," Qin Ming nodded and left with his team.

After they had gone, Flender turned to Oscar and the others. "Let's go. If we aren't as skilled, we need to train harder. We'll head back to the hotel first, tidy up, and then go to the Suotuo City Grand Hotel."

Hearing this, the Shrek team nodded slightly, though Flender's comment about their lack of skill made Tang San, who viewed the Grandmaster as a father figure, clench his fists again.

"Dean, shouldn't we wait for my teacher?" Tang San asked.

Flender frowned and sighed. "Don't worry about Xiaogang. He's just throwing a little tantrum. Let him work it out on his own."

...

Meanwhile, on a secluded street in Suotuo City.

The Grandmaster walked with a grim expression, Yu Tianheng following closely behind, afraid to let him out of sight.

The uncle and nephew walked in silence for a while until the Grandmaster suddenly stopped. Turning around, he looked at Yu Tianheng, who was standing three meters away, hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a trembling voice, "Tianheng, why did you come looking for me?"

"Uncle, come home with me," Yu Tianheng said, not moving forward, his face filled with concern.

"Home? I haven't had a home for a long time," the Grandmaster replied, shaking his head.

"But… the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has always been your home!"