Royal Team training ground.
Rumors were spreading wildly throughout the city. Ironically, Yu Feng and Oslo, the ones directly involved received little attention, while Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng, who had stepped in to help, were being slandered and ridiculed in every possible way.
Originally, after Qin Ming was suspended, Sun Buyu had followed their wishes and continued taking them to the Spirit Arena to participate in spirit battles.
Now, however, the rumors were extremely unfavorable to them. Whenever they entered the arena, the audience would hurl insults and criticism at them. Left with no choice, Royal Team One's spirit battle plans were temporarily put on hold.
As Wu Qi and the other two returned from their break, Sun Buyu shifted his focus back to them, leaving Royal Team One almost entirely on their own.
With no one to advise them and forced to bear the pressure of public opinion alone, the team's atmosphere became extremely tense.
Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng had originally been relatively composed, but recently their moods had become unpredictable.
Yu Feng and Oslo, the ones who started the conflict, didn't even dare to lift their heads these past few days, afraid of angering the two and getting beaten for nothing.
"This is infuriating! Who exactly is spreading these rumors about us?!" Dugu Yan cursed loudly, smashing everything around her.
Yu Tianheng had once suspected Wu Qi and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan of being behind this, but information from his clan confirmed it wasn't them.
For a moment, he was at a loss.
If it wasn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, then whoever dared to slander the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan must have significant backing. Moreover, the matter had been handled so discreetly that even the clan couldn't trace the mastermind.
"Yan, calm down first. Later, I'll go with you to find Senior Dugu and ask him to investigate."
Just as Dugu Yan was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.
"Grandpa?"
A long-lost smile appeared on her face as she said, "Tianheng, Grandpa is here. Wait for me here."
Yu Tianheng nodded. "Go and come back quickly."
The rumors weren't only affecting the clan—they were also affecting him personally.
The branch led by Yu Tianxin was waiting to see him fail. If the rumors weren't stopped soon, he would completely lose his competitiveness.
Inside the dormitory, Dugu Yan recounted everything that had happened over the past few days.
After listening, Dugu Bo frowned deeply.
Even if Wu Qi and the others weren't responsible, whoever was behind this was most likely trying to curry favor with them.
After identifying a possible motive, Dugu Bo asked, "Yanyan, tell Grandpa did that boy Wu Qi really defeat all of you by himself?"
Dugu Yan shook her head. "No. He only defeated Tianheng and Oslo. When Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and I made our moves, he only blocked us."
Dugu Bo let out a slight sigh of relief.
If Wu Qi had truly defeated Royal Team One alone, such a genius would not be someone to offend lightly. It was even possible that powerful figures were protecting him from behind.
Even so, a genius under thirteen years old with Spirit Power at Level 34 was still extraordinarily rare.
"Where is that boy? I'd like to see him for myself!" Dugu Bo snorted.
Dugu Yan quickly tried to stop him. "Grandpa, we're all classmates you mustn't act recklessly. The young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has a good relationship with him. If you anger them…"
Although she was dissatisfied with Wu Qi, her sense of right and wrong had not disappeared.
After all, she had been the one to launch a sneak attack first. Using that as a reason to kill him would be far too tyrannical.
Dugu Bo naturally understood this as well. Behind Wu Qi stood Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi. Offending both forces would leave no place in the world for him and his granddaughter.
Besides, Dugu Bo had no intention of giving up the vast medicinal resources within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Don't worry. Grandpa just wants to ask him a few questions. From him, we might learn the identity of the one spreading the rumors. Only then can we clear your names."
"Yanyan, don't get too close to that boy from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He's using you and using Grandpa as well."
Dugu Bo had already gathered information about the situation within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
It could be said that if not for Yu Tianheng's relationship with Dugu Yan, he would have already lost the competition for the position of young clan leader.
Dugu Bo disliked being used, which made him particularly dissatisfied with Yu Tianheng.
Dugu Yan frowned. "Grandpa, Tianheng and I truly love each other. You mustn't try to separate us!"
Every family has its own difficulties. Dugu Bo sighed and went off to find Wu Qi.
At this moment, Wu Qi and the other two were sitting in a pavilion within the academy.
"These rumors are spreading fiercely. I heard from Father that His Majesty Xue Ye and the Thunder Douluo are both very angry…"
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong glanced around. After confirming that no one was paying attention to them, she lowered her voice and said, "Brother Wu Qi, Changkong, what I'm about to say must not be told to anyone else."
"Father said that the one behind these rumors is most likely Prince Xue Xing."
"Prince Xue Xing is His Majesty's brother and contributed greatly during his struggle for the throne. If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan finds out, it could lead to a conflict between them and the imperial family."
The bond between Xue Ye and Xue Xing was very strong.
Whether for the sake of reputation or brotherhood, the Heaven Dou Empire would never hand him over.
Moreover, Prince Xue Xing still held a favor from Dugu Bo. To repay it, Dugu Bo would also step in to protect him.
If things really escalated, it would turn into quite a spectacle.
The only question was how much strength the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan still retained.
At the same time, hidden somewhere they hadn't noticed, Dugu Bo had overheard their entire conversation.
His first reaction wasn't to go confront Prince Xue Xing, but to be surprised that Ning Rongrong would reveal such confidential information to Wu Qi.
It seemed Wu Qi had deep ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. If he made a move against him, the retaliation from both the Heaven Dou Empire and the clan would be more than he could handle.
His goal for coming here had already been achieved. Now that he knew Prince Xue Xing was behind it, even if he couldn't directly cause trouble for him, he could at least force him to stop spreading the rumors.
Just as he was about to leave, he happened to hear Wu Qi's analysis of the situation, which made him reconsider and want to speak with him.
Wu Qi had laid bare the essence of power struggles in a single sentence was this really something a twelve-year-old could see through?
That night, after returning from the Great Spirit Arena, Wu Qi had just pushed open the dormitory door when he noticed a faint, fishy stench lingering in the room.
Holding his breath and focusing, he sensed that the airflow inside was disturbed, someone was clearly hiding there.
"Who's there?!"
As he spoke, he slowly stepped back out of the room.
Suddenly, a pair of large hands landed on his shoulders.
"Good awareness. As expected of a top genius."
Wu Qi turned around instantly. "Your Excellency, Poison Douluo?"
He smiled inwardly.
The foolish actions of Xue Xing were bound to attract Dugu Bo.
He just hadn't expected Dugu Bo to arrive so quickly.
"You've got good judgment. Won't you invite me in to sit for a while?"
Wu Qi shrugged, led him into the living room, and casually poured him a cup of tea.
The stench coming from Dugu Bo was extremely unpleasant, and Wu Qi instinctively pinched his nose.