Xiao Tianyang rolled his eyes behind his back.
He had originally thought he would need to use some tricks to get Tang San to reveal the Clear Sky Hammer, but unexpectedly, Tang San volunteered to step forward.
'Is this the unchangeable plot?' Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but complain silently in his heart.
Of course, this wasn't entirely realistic.
Now, he was fully aware that his little "butterfly effect" had brought subtle changes to the entire Douluo Continent.
It might not be obvious now, as the Shrek Seven Monsters hadn't yet fully matured, and Bibi Dong's ambitions hadn't been fully exposed.
But once everything came to fruition, Xiao Tianyang's influence would gradually become apparent.
As for whether these changes were good or bad, he couldn't say for sure until they happened.
However, one thing was certain: if Tang San and the others grew up smoothly, their strength would undoubtedly surpass what was depicted in the original story.
Not only that, but with Xiao Tianyang's assistance in accelerating their cultivation speed, they would become even more powerful.
This was precisely why Xiao Tianyang had decided to play his tricks on the Spirit Hall.
It wasn't that he wasn't afraid—it was that he simply didn't care.
After all, he had no deep ties to this Douluo Continent. His only companion was by his side, and they spent their days huddled together.
Once they ascended to godhood, they would be able to protect themselves. So, why should he worry about the Spirit Hall?
Of course, playing tricks and being an outright enemy were two different things.
Xiao Tianyang merely wanted to avoid drawing too much attention to himself and to ensure his own safety.
Being an enemy, on the other hand, meant standing in direct opposition to the Spirit Hall.
Whether that would happen in the future, he didn't know, but at least for now, Xiao Tianyang had no such intentions.
…
Everyone's attention was focused on the small hammer in Tang San's hand.
"This is the Clear Sky Hammer!" Tai Tan was the first to recognize it and exclaimed, "Boy… who is your father?"
"Senior, why do you ask?" Tang San replied, his eyes filled with vigilance.
This reaction was natural. After all, it was a bit strange for someone to immediately inquire about another person's parents, especially when Tai Tan had just been tormenting them moments ago.
In Tang San's eyes, Tai Tan was far from being a good person.
Tai Tan's face darkened as he realized his mistake.
Ning Fengzhi, who had been standing nearby, understood the situation and stepped forward with a smile. "You must be the Tang San Rongrong has mentioned, right?"
Tang San glanced at Ning Fengzhi, then at Ning Rongrong.
Although he had met Ning Fengzhi before, that didn't mean he fully trusted him. After all, they had only interacted briefly.
"Don't worry, Tang San. He's my father, not a bad person," Ning Rongrong quickly explained.
Ning Fengzhi's eye twitched slightly as he glanced at his daughter. 'Is this really how you introduces your father to your friends?'
"This junior greets Sect Master Ning," Tang San said, quickly putting away his martial soul and bowing respectfully.
Although Tang San had always been polite, this level of formality was influenced, in part, by Xiao Tianyang.
Xiao Tianyang, on the other hand, only put on a superficial show of respect. Deep down, he didn't hold these teachers and seniors in particularly high regard—though he wasn't outright disrespectful either.
Tang San, however, was different. He genuinely respected his teachers and seniors, even if he wasn't overly formal in his speech.
But the current situation was different. Ning Fengzhi was not only the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect but also Ning Rongrong's father. This dual identity naturally carried significant weight.
"Your relationship with Rongrong is so close. Since she calls you Tang San (Third Brother), there's no need to be so reserved in front of me," Ning Fengzhi said with a warm smile. "Just call me Uncle Ning."
Tang San nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Seeing Tang San's nod, Ning Fengzhi continued, "As for the person in front of you, you can trust him. He has a good relationship with you."
Tang San hesitated, unsure how to respond.
At this moment, Xiao Tianyang stepped forward and cleared his throat lightly. "Seniors, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to discuss this matter here? If it's convenient, perhaps we could move to the reception room inside the academy. I believe we'll be able to communicate more effectively there."
"That makes sense," Ning Fengzhi agreed, smiling at Xiao Tianyang. "I wonder if this little brother could lead the way?"
"Father, what do you mean by 'little brother'? Don't mess up the seniority!" Ning Rongrong quickly interjected, running over to Xiao Tianyang. "Didn't I tell you? His surname is Xiao, and his given name is Tianyang. He's not a 'little brother'!"
"What should I call him, then?" Ning Fengzhi asked with a wry smile. Of course, he already knew Xiao Tianyang's name. But being so eager at the start seemed a bit too hasty.
Besides, wasn't there still plenty of time to get to know Xiao Tianyang better?
This would also give him a chance to assess the young man. After all, why had his daughter become so attached to him?
"It doesn't really matter what you call me," Xiao Tianyang said with a polite smile, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
His natural charm, combined with his demeanor, left Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo exchanging subtle nods of approval.
"Tianyang, could you take us to the reception room now?" Ning Fengzhi asked, gesturing behind him. "As you can see, we're not in a hurry, but Tai Tan is."
"I can't make that decision on my own. Please allow me to ask," Xiao Tianyang replied before turning and calling out, "Teacher Zhao, Sect Master Ning would like to use a reception room. Could you arrange that?"
Zhao Wuji: "..."
He had been hoping to slip away and let Flender handle the situation, but now, thanks to Xiao Tianyang's words, he was stuck.
Still, there wasn't much for him to do besides nod in agreement and dismiss the students who had gathered to watch the commotion.
Oh, and he also had to make sure Tai Tan stayed behind. After all, with so much property damage, someone had to foot the bill.
As the saying goes, tearing things down is easy, but paying for it is a nightmare.
Initially, the fight between Tai Long and Tang San had been relatively restrained, limited to the academy's entrance, so not much damage had been done.
But when Tai Tan had made his move earlier, he hadn't held back.
With just a few strikes, nearly two-thirds of the square in front of the academy had been destroyed, leaving the ground uneven and littered with debris.
And let's not forget the two flower beds and a side door that had also been reduced to rubble.
Later, when Flender handled the matter, the Strength Clan would have to pay for medical expenses, lost work compensation, emotional distress, and other damages. While each individual cost wasn't excessive, the total amount would still be significant.
So, when Tai Long received the bill, he was utterly dismayed.
He had no idea how to explain the source of the funds to Tai Tan.
In the end, he had no choice but to pay out of his own pocket, wiping out half a year's worth of savings.
But then again, there was no point in complaining.
First, the Strength Clan wasn't the type to shirk responsibility.
Second, the compensation was actually quite reasonable.
After all, they had been the ones to start the fight. Who else could they blame?
In the end, they could only blame themselves.
So… they just had to accept the loss and move on.
…
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