Douro Continent

Chapter 358 A Harmonious Reciprocation (Part 2)

Salas's eyes flashed coldly. "So, you're going against the organizing committee? I can interpret your actions as a refusal to cooperate with the investigation. The organizing committee will therefore have the right to decide to remove Shrek Academy from this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."

"Wait a moment." Ning Fengzhi, who had remained silent until now, watching Flander and Salas converse, finally spoke up, "Lord Salas, as the saying goes, law and reason are inseparable from human sentiment. Shrek Academy's team members are seriously injured. Making a hasty decision without investigation seems inappropriate."

Salas said calmly, "Shrek Academy's refusal to allow its participating students to be investigated is itself a serious problem. Sect Master Ning, what do you think should be done? If they can't even conduct an inquiry, how can their innocence be proven?"

Ning Fengzhi turned to Flander and said, "Dean Flander, are all the students from your academy seriously injured? I remember there was one student who was in relatively good condition. Could you let him come in for our investigation? This matter concerns the fairness of the competition. We ask for your cooperation."

Flander's eyes were red with emotion, as if he were about to cry. "Why should we be investigated? If the competition is supposed to be fair and just, the judges should have seen what happened. The Canghui Academy team used the Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Technique. Did they show any mercy? If our students hadn't blocked their attack, none of them would be alive today. Everyone saw that our students were only passively resisting. We did nothing wrong. If the competition committee really decides to disqualify us, we have nothing to say."

Salas's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said, "You said that yourself."

Flander glared at Salas. "Your Excellency, the Platinum Archbishop, what is the meaning of your targeting of Shrek Academy? Fine, I'll see how you manage to disqualify Shrek Academy from this competition. Xiao Gang, tomorrow we'll head to the Holy Land to see His Holiness the Pope and ask him to uphold justice for us."

Ning Fengzhi gave Flander a somewhat anxious look. He didn't know why the usually shrewd Flander had suddenly become so impulsive. Could it be that the children had really been severely traumatized, causing Flander to lose control of his emotions?

Flander seemed oblivious to Ning Fengzhi's glare, roaring at Salas while pounding the table repeatedly.

"How dare you!" A Templar Knight suddenly stepped forward, and all ten Templar Knights simultaneously ignited with their soul power. Two cardinals also stood up. They were ready to seize the man at Salas's command.

Salas ignored Flander and turned to Ning Fengzhi beside him, saying, "Sect Leader Ning, you've seen it for yourself. Shrek Academy is so arrogant, refusing to cooperate with the organizing committee's investigation. If we don't deal with them, how can we explain this to the other participating academies?"

"This..." Although Ning Fengzhi wanted to help, he was powerless to do so at the moment.

Salas then turned to Flander, scoffing, "So you're going to appeal to His Holiness the Pope? Then you may depart immediately. I hereby declare that Shrek Academy has violated the tournament rules..."

He had just finished speaking when suddenly a voice interrupted him, "Wait a minute."

This time it was the master who spoke. Although he wasn't as agitated as Flander, his face was still ashen. "Salas, you need to think carefully before making a decision."

"Is it permissible for you to address His Excellency the Platinum Bishop by his name?" a cardinal immediately rebuked.

Just as Salas was about to continue speaking and announce that Shrek Academy would be kicked out of the tournament, suddenly, the master flicked his wrist, and something flew out of his palm, heading straight for Salas.

Without Salas needing to make a move, a Templar Knight swiftly stepped in front of him, raising his hand to strike the object with a sudden burst of soul power. At the same time, the other Templar Knights reacted rapidly, immediately surrounding Flander, the Master, and Liu Erlong in the center.

"Stop." A hand slashed in, blocking the Templar Knight's attack and forming an invisible barrier that enveloped all the soul power behind his palm strike. Strangely, no energy collision occurred; the Templar Knight's soul power vanished silently, like ice melting away.

The one who made the move was neither Ning Fengzhi nor anyone from Shrek Academy, but Platinum Bishop Salas himself.

Seeing Salas make his move, the Golden Trio couldn't help but tense up. Although the Templar Knight's strength wasn't as great as Flander's and Liu Erlong's, all five of his spirit rings lit up simultaneously when he attacked, clearly indicating that he was a Soul King of level 50 or higher. Salas, who attacked later, struck first, effortlessly deflecting Salas's palm strike without even using his martial spirit.

The Golden Iron Triangle could certainly neutralize a Soul King's attack, but to do it as subtly as Salas was simply impossible. Flander thought to himself, "Even if this guy doesn't have the strength of a Title Douluo, he's already very close. The Spirit Hall is truly unfathomable!"

Salas blocked the Templar Knight's attack with one hand, and caught the object the master threw at him with the other. His face remained impassive as he looked at the surrounding Templar Knights. "What are you doing? Get out of here! Did I tell you to attack?"

The Templars clearly didn't understand why the Platinum Bishop had suddenly become angry, and none of them dared to refute him. All ten Templars immediately slunk out of the room.

Salas didn't even need to look to know what he had in his hands. A dampness surged from his back, and as the Templar Knights left the room, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

His expression softened considerably, and he bowed respectfully to the master, saying, "Greetings, Elder."

The master glanced at him indifferently, "Sit down and talk."

Flander chuckled inwardly, while Ning Fengzhi was also extremely surprised. With his sharp eyesight, he could clearly see what the token was. It was the highest-level token issued by the Spirit Hall to non-Spirit Hall personnel, bearing six symbols. This token also had another name: the Papal Token. Anyone who held this token possessed the prestige of a Spirit Hall elder, as if the Pope himself were present.

Although Salas vaguely knew about the ambiguous relationship between the Grandmaster and the Holy See, he never expected that the Grandmaster would have a Papal Decree in his possession. It should be noted that the Spirit Hall only possessed three Papal Decrees, which were given to the top three of the seven major sects.

Even Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, wouldn't casually wear this token symbolizing the Pope's authority. So who would have thought that the master would have such a thing? Could this be the fourth one?

Fragments of memory surfaced in Salas's mind, and his heart sank. He knew that there was no way he could win any favors here today.

With Ning Fengzhi by his side, if he showed the slightest disrespect and word got out, he would lose his position as a Platinum Bishop.

It appears that the Platinum Bishop's position in the Spirit Hall is second only to the Pope.

In reality, although they wield great power, they do not have real decision-making authority.

Besides the Pope, there is a hidden Elder Hall within the Spirit Hall, which is the true core of power. Important matters must be decided by the Elder Hall. Even the Pope only has three votes in a vote, while the Elder Hall has as many as seven elders. If necessary, a unanimous decision by all seven can even depose the Pope.

Those who possess the papal decree, while not in the same position as true elders, are still equivalent to honorary elders and have the right to communicate directly with the Elders' Hall.

Although there has always been some distance between the three upper sects of the seven major sects and the Spirit Hall, their power is extremely large and they are a trinity, so the Spirit Hall does not dare to offend them easily.

Not only did the master come from the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan, but he also possessed this item. How could Salas dare to act recklessly?

He held the papal decree in both hands and respectfully handed it to the master, saying, "Please take it back, Elder."

The Grandmaster accepted the papal decree without taking it back, simply placing it before him and glancing indifferently at Salas. "I presented the papal decree not to interfere with Bishop Salas. I merely hope that Shrek Academy can receive justice. Every member of the Shrek Academy team is a genius Soul Master whom we have painstakingly nurtured. I do not wish for their injuries to worsen or even be affected for life by this inquiry. If Your Excellency insists on investigating, please wait until their injuries have healed."

With the Pope's decree in place, Salas, though unwilling, could only stand by and do nothing. Unless the Pope or a member of the Elders were present, none of the Spirit Hall's current personnel had the right to say anything.

"I was being reckless. In that case, let's cancel the investigation. We'll take our leave." Salas was just using this as an excuse; what did the fate of Canghui Academy have to do with him?

He had originally intended to pretend he didn't recognize the master, but now that the master had even produced the papal decree, if he didn't know better and the master actually went to the papal palace to say a few words to the pope, his future would be in jeopardy.

(End of this chapter)