On the plains, two carriages raced side by side.
Liu Erlong emerged from her carriage, sitting on the frame as she shouted toward the other carriage, "Come out and chat! Talk to me, don't act like some shy little girl, Teacher Zhou!"
A moment later, Zhou Sheng'an stepped out, looking helplessly at Liu Erlong, this brash and reckless woman.
Seeing Zhou Sheng'an, Liu Erlong felt even more uneasy.
She forced a smile and cautiously asked, "So, how do you know Tang Xiao, the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Didn't you hear me clearly? He approached me first. We didn't know each other before."
Zhou Sheng'an looked at her as if she were an idiot.
Liu Erlong gritted her teeth, her face momentarily flashing with anger, but she quickly restrained herself. She couldn't afford to offend him—this man was someone she had to treat carefully!
Especially since even the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect had lowered himself to make his acquaintance. What did she amount to in comparison?
Besides, Zhou Sheng'an had even risked offending Tang Xiao just to stand up for her. That warmed her heart.
"How do you think he found out about you? Our Blue Tyrant Academy should have kept the information locked down pretty tightly, right?" Liu Erlong asked curiously.
Most of the students and teachers at Blue Tyrant Academy were commoners. While Zhou Sheng'an's classes were widely talked about within the academy, it shouldn't have been enough for news to reach the reclusive Clear Sky Sect.
Zhou Sheng'an pondered for a moment before a sudden guess formed in his mind.
Tang Yuehua was very likely also a simulator player!
The Goddess Simulator was naturally for goddesses to participate in!
Following that logic, any female character from Douluo Dalu had a chance to be a player.
"You're zoning out again! Is that guy trying to steal you from me?" Liu Erlong asked aggressively.
Zhou Sheng'an smirked at her. "What, afraid I'll leave?"
Liu Erlong's face reddened. She huffed, "What's the point of being afraid? He's the grand sect master of the Clear Sky Sect. I'm just a weak little woman—how could I possibly stop him?"
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, like someone was eyeing her treasured possession.
Zhou Sheng'an shook his head, laughing. "He did invite me, but I refused. Compared to serving a sect, I prefer the way things are now. Of course, that's assuming a certain someone doesn't come to the academy."
The smile on Liu Erlong's face instantly froze. She sighed helplessly, glancing at Zhou Sheng'an.
"You really hate Xiaogang that much?" Liu Erlong sighed, her expression complicated.
Now that Zhou Sheng'an had other options, she didn't dare bring Yu Xiaogang to Blue Tyrant Academy anymore. But she had already sent out a letter. If he actually came, what would she do?
If she angered Zhou Sheng'an into leaving, the academy would likely revolt.
Both she and Yu Xiaogang would be resented.
Liu Erlong bit her lip, setting aside her usual toughness. She pleaded softly, "Teacher Zhou, just think of it as doing a good deed…"
"No room for discussion. Also, someone's coming."
Zhou Sheng'an cut her off directly and turned to look behind the carriages, toward the sky.
Liu Erlong shot him a resentful look before also turning in that direction.
A small black dot appeared on the horizon behind them, rapidly growing larger, stretching into a long shape before forming a human silhouette. In just a few blinks, the figure was less than a thousand meters away from the carriages.
Zhou Sheng'an said, "Stop the carriages. That's Tang Xiao."
Liu Erlong's expression turned odd. "Why is he chasing us again? Did he change his mind?"
Zhou Sheng'an shook his head. "Something's wrong with him. You should step back—I'll deal with him."
"I refuse! I'm the academy's dean—how could I let Teacher Zhou face a Titled Douluo alone?" Liu Erlong immediately countered. She jumped down from the carriage, positioning herself in front of Tang Xiao.
Zhou Sheng'an sighed helplessly and had no choice but to rush forward as well.
By the time he reached Liu Erlong, Tang Xiao had already arrived.
Compared to earlier, Tang Xiao's appearance hadn't changed, except for his eyes, which had turned dark red. His aura had shifted from broad and imposing to violent and oppressive.
His tiger-like eyes locked onto Zhou Sheng'an, exuding an intense sense of malice.
Meeting that gaze, Liu Erlong's heart sank.
Zhou Sheng'an frowned. His Blue Silver perception told him that Tang Xiao's condition was seriously off—his internal energy was chaotic…
It hadn't even been an hour since they last saw each other, and Tang Xiao had undergone such a drastic change?
If Tang Xiao went berserk, no matter how much theory Zhou Sheng'an had mastered, he wouldn't stand a chance against him!
"Mr. Zhou, come with me." Tang Xiao's tone allowed no room for refusal.
Liu Erlong immediately stepped between them and shouted, "Sect Master Tang! This wasn't your attitude before! Teacher Zhou is a guest of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—are you planning to take him by force?"
Tang Xiao let out a cold chuckle. "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? What does that amount to? If the Clear Sky Sect wants something, would that old dragon dare to stop us?"
"You!!!" Liu Erlong was furious.
She roared and her arms transformed into dragon claws as she prepared to push Tang Xiao away.
Suddenly, nine soul rings rose beneath Tang Xiao's feet as he swung a punch toward Liu Erlong's dragon claw.
"Stop!!!" Zhou Sheng'an shouted urgently.
But it was too late—Liu Erlong was sent flying backward, blood spraying through the air.
Zhou Sheng'an's eyes widened in shock as he roared, "Sect Master Tang! Do you even know what you're doing?!"
Tang Xiao burst into laughter, staring at Zhou Sheng'an's enraged face. He sneered, "Mr. Zhou, I know exactly what I'm doing. It's you who has no idea who you're dealing with!"
"I am the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect! The Howling Sky Douluo!"
"And you dared to refuse me?!"
Tang Xiao's face darkened as he coldly glared at Zhou Sheng'an.
A wave of violent and overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped Zhou Sheng'an.
Zhou Sheng'an remained unfazed.
During his War God Simulator run, he had developed a domain ability called Blue Silver Breath of Fate, specifically designed to counteract suppressive pressure and other negative effects by distributing the damage among the surrounding Blue Silver Grass.
Forget Tang Xiao—even if Qian Daoliu unleashed his full presence in front of him, Zhou Sheng'an wouldn't flinch.
But if Tang Xiao insisted on taking him by force, there wasn't much he could do!
Liu Erlong lay on the ground, momentarily incapacitated by Tang Xiao's punch.
Now, seeing Tang Xiao target Zhou Sheng'an, she was so furious that she grit her teeth.
Even if she couldn't use her martial soul or stand up, she would crawl over if she had to!
She refused to back down!
So what if he was a Titled Douluo? She wasn't afraid!
"Tang Xiao! If you dare lay a finger on Teacher Zhou, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will never rest until one of us is dead! Try touching a single hair on his head—I'll take a bite out of you even if I die!"
Liu Erlong glared at Tang Xiao with fierce determination, inching forward on the ground.
Tang Xiao was momentarily stunned before laughing. "Are you threatening me? What a joke! In that case, I'll just break one of his fingers and see how you plan to bite me!"
Tang Xiao reached out toward Zhou Sheng'an.
But in the next second…
He was the one who dropped to his knees first.