Ye Tian and Bo Saixi rode a hot air balloon, arriving high above the Sunset Forest.
Below, the forest was like a pot of boiling water, with fierce spirit beasts running rampant everywhere.
"This commotion is quite intense."
Bo Saixi's beautiful eyes narrowed as she stared downward.
With her powerful spiritual energy, she immediately sensed that the spirit beasts in this area had fallen into a state of mental agitation.
"Someone has poisoned them." Ye Tian sniffed the air, his expression grave.
"It's the crimson mist from the City of Slaughter."
He had smelled this scent before—on Tang Chen, the Slaughter King.
"The spirit beasts are all heading south," Bo Saixi noted, sensing something amiss.
"That's the direction of Heaven Dou City."
"Could the Evil Soul Masters be targeting Heaven Dou City?"
"If these spirit beasts form a beast tide, it would be devastating for the villages near Heaven Dou City."
Hearing this, Ye Tian pressed a hand to his forehead in thought. "What exactly are the Evil Soul Masters trying to do?"
Artificially manipulating a beast tide on such a large scale meant the Evil Soul Masters had mobilized most of their forces.
If their goal was to seize a divine inheritance, it would make sense.
After all, the allure of a godhood was enough to drive the Evil Soul Masters to madness.
However...
They knew full well that Heaven Dou City was heavily guarded. Exposing their strength openly and fighting the Heaven Dou Empire to mutual destruction would be a losing gamble.
The Evil Soul Masters' organization had limited resources.
If they exhausted them here, they would have nothing left.
What would they use to compete with other forces rushing in for the divine inheritance?
"At this rate, the beast tide ahead has likely already taken shape."
Watching the restless spirit beasts below, Ye Tian sighed softly.
"Mobilizing the army for active defense is already too late."
"All we can hope is that Qian Renxue receives the news quickly."
Ye Tian shook his head.
The Sunset Forest was dozens of kilometers from Heaven Dou City.
By the time he and Bo Saixi turned back, the beast tide would likely have reached the outskirts of the city.
The Heaven Dou Empire's intelligence-gathering capabilities, while lacking, weren't so poor that they wouldn't notice a beast tide at their doorstep.
However, in such a short time, the military would struggle to organize a proper defense.
It was foreseeable that this would be a disaster for the residents outside Heaven Dou City.
"It seems the Evil Soul Masters want to create mass slaughter to absorb the power of slaughter." Ye Tian clenched his fists tightly.
Bo Saixi's expression was equally cold.
Though she disliked involving herself in the conflicts between good and evil, the Evil Soul Masters' indiscriminate killing was utterly heinous.
"Should we turn back and lead the army to resist the beast tide?" she asked, turning to him.
"No. The Evil Soul Masters who spread this poison must still be in the Sunset Forest. We'll cut the problem at its root."
"Very well. These scum among soul masters must die." Bo Saixi extended her hand, her gaze resolute.
The hot air balloon drifted westward with the wind.
Along the way, Ye Tian and Bo Saixi encountered small teams of Evil Soul Masters lurking in the forest.
They all wore masks and carried large tanks on their backs, spraying mist everywhere.
Bo Saixi showed no mercy to these Evil Soul Masters.
She obliterated them with overwhelming force.
The Evil Soul Masters died without even knowing what hit them.
"Smoke ahead."
With sharp eyes, Bo Saixi suddenly pointed toward the northern mountains.
Thick white smoke billowed from the mountainside.
This was clearly man-made.
"Could it be Ning Rongrong and the others? Did they see the Shrek Academy emblem on our hot air balloon?" Bo Saixi raised an eyebrow.
"Very likely." Ye Tian nodded in agreement.
"Should we go over?" Bo Saixi lifted her gaze.
Ye Tian lowered his head in thought. "Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing are quite strong. Against the Evil Soul Masters, they'd be valuable allies."
"Let's set aside our grudges for now."
Compared to the Evil Soul Masters, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were as pure as blank sheets of paper.
The primary conflict had to be resolved first.
Secondary conflicts could wait.
Ye Tian walked to the center of the hot air balloon.
He extinguished the flame in the basket.
The wind was blowing westward.
If they didn't descend now, they would miss the source of the smoke.
Five minutes later.
The hot air balloon landed safely.
The two swiftly traversed the dense forest, heading toward the source of the white smoke.
...
In the distance.
Ning Rongrong, covered in dust, spotted shadowy figures moving through the forest ahead and stood up in excitement.
"The academy sent someone to rescue us!"
"As expected of Shrek Academy—they actually thought to hang a marker in the sky to find us." Zhu Zhuqing wiped a trace of blood from her lips, her right hand pressed to her chest, her face pale.
They had originally come to the Sunset Forest for training.
But they hadn't expected to encounter large numbers of Evil Soul Masters lurking in the forest.
After several skirmishes, to protect the twenty-some junior students, Zhu Zhuqing had taken a full-force strike from a Spirit Sage head-on.
As a result, she was seriously injured.
But when she saw the figures in the distance, she felt a sense of relief.
No matter what, she had protected the lives of her juniors.
It was all worth it.
Her mission was complete.
"Something feels off."
After a closer look, Ning Rongrong hesitated.
"Look at that handsome young man up ahead—doesn't he look like Ye Tian?"
"Ye Tian?" Zhu Zhuqing instinctively tensed. "That can't be, right?"
Her heart sank.
Just a week ago, they had attempted to assassinate Ye Tian.
If the saviour was really him...
They wouldn't be safe—they'd be in even greater danger!
The two girls exchanged glances.
They quickly stepped back and warned the students, "Hide! The people approaching might be enemies!"
At this, the previously exhausted students panicked.
"We're doomed! Just escaped the tiger's mouth, only to enter the wolf's den—there's no way out this time!"
"Heavens! Am I going to die here?!" one student lamented.
"What's there to fear? Even if we die, we'll fight the Evil Soul Masters to the end!" another declared firmly.
"It seems the students of Shrek Academy are nothing more than a disorganized mob."
At that moment, Bo Saixi and Ye Tian landed gracefully on the ground.
Bo Saixi swept her gaze over the panicked students and smiled faintly.
"So it really is you, Ye Tian!" Ning Rongrong knew there was no escaping now, so she showed no fear.
Better to die with dignity than in terror.
"Taking advantage of our weakness—how petty of you," she sneered, lifting her chin defiantly.
Ye Tian narrowed his eyes. "If this counts as taking advantage, then what does that make your assassination attempt with Dai Mubai and the others?"
"I wasn't even a soul master, yet you sent a Titled Douluo after me. Isn't that going too far?"
Ning Rongrong's face paled.
It was true—assassinating someone who wasn't even a soul master was despicable.
"Hmph!" Even knowing she was in the wrong, Ning Rongrong refused to admit it.
As the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, everything she did was for the peace of the continent!
"If I were as petty as you, you'd already be a corpse."
Ye Tian crossed his arms, frowning.
"Honestly, you should thank the Evil Soul Masters—they're ten times worse than you."
"Compared to them, your actions seem almost forgivable."
"That's why I have no intention of fighting you now."
Ning Rongrong froze.
She looked at Ye Tian, then at Bo Saixi.
She couldn't believe his words.
Ye Tian would spare her?
After she had tried to kill him?
"What? You're not happy about being let off?" Bo Saixi raised an eyebrow.
Ning Rongrong's expression twisted with shame.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Ye Tian was really letting her go?
Did that mean she had been the clown all along, jumping around in front of him?
"Th... thank you." Her lips trembled, pale with guilt.
She lowered her head, no longer able to meet his gaze.
She had to admit—Ye Tian's current status wasn't unearned.
His magnanimity was extraordinary.
"Thank you." Zhu Zhuqing's expression was equally complicated.
She hadn't interacted much with Ye Tian, but she could tell he was an exceptional young man.
No wonder Xiao Wu had become such close friends with him—and why she had been so heartbroken when forced to cut ties.
A friend like this was truly once in a lifetime.
She smiled bitterly at Ye Tian and said self-deprecatingly,
"Now I finally understand the bond between you and Xiao Wu. If not for our opposing sides, I might have wanted to be your friend too."
Ye Tian chuckled. "As much as I enjoy praise, now isn't the time for it."
"On our way here, we noticed the Evil Soul Masters gathering south of this mountain. They're likely planning something big there."
"We need you to help divert their attention."
Ning Rongrong laughed bleakly. "I knew meeting you wouldn't bring anything good."
Ye Tian wasn't bothered. "What, did you expect me to escort you out safely?"
Ning Rongrong fell silent.
She couldn't ask for too much.
Especially from someone she had wronged.
That Ye Tian was willing to cooperate was already a mercy.
And she was grateful.
Even if she died at the hands of the Evil Soul Masters, it would be better than dying in a vendetta.
"Zhuqing is injured." Ning Rongrong pointed at Zhu Zhuqing's pale face. "I know your medical skills are exceptional."
"If you heal her, I'll agree to be your decoy."
She looked at Ye Tian pleadingly.
She had nothing of value to offer in exchange.
All she could do was hope for his compassion.
Ye Tian glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. Her injury was just internal instability—likely from taking a heavy hit during battle, displacing her organs.
But Zhu Zhuqing's physique was strong.
She would recover in a couple of days with rest.
He tossed her a pill.
"Take this and meditate for two cycles. You'll be fine."
Zhu Zhuqing took the pill hesitantly, glancing at Ning Rongrong for confirmation.
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Ye Tian's medical skills are unmatched on the continent. Take it—he wouldn't stoop to tricks like this."
Then she shot Ye Tian a look.
Ye Tian replied calmly, "No need for the reverse psychology. I don't play petty games."
Ning Rongrong quickly averted her gaze.
She had been testing him—and he'd seen right through it.
Fifteen minutes later.
Zhu Zhuqing had fully recovered.
The group gathered to plan their strategy against the Evil Soul Masters.
Ning Rongrong shared valuable intel:
"Before bringing the students here, Zhu Zhuqing and I passed by the valley south of the mountain. We were attacked by several powerful experts before we could explore further."
"If not for our teamwork, the entire team would have been wiped out."
Zhu Zhuqing added, "Though we didn't get far, I saw a massive altar being built there as we retreated."
"Given its size, it couldn't have been built in just a day or two."
"That must be the Evil Soul Masters' base."
With this information, Bo Saixi's eyes gleamed with battle intent.
"The more, the better. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down."
"What's your plan, Ye Tian?" Ning Rongrong asked.
Ye Tian smiled. "Simple—make the Evil Soul Masters lose on both fronts."
"If Bo Saixi and I charge in directly, they'll just scatter."
"But if it's you, they'll try to surround and eliminate you."
"So you want us to bait them while you ambush?" Ning Rongrong bit her lip.
It was a dangerous move.
"Only half right." Ye Tian shrugged.
"To the Evil Soul Masters, you're not important enough to mobilize their entire force."
"They didn't set up camp here just to deal with a few students."
"The altar is their priority."
Zhu Zhuqing seemed to understand. "A feint?"
"Still only half right." Ye Tian smirked.
"Combine your guesses, and you'll have the full plan."
He clenched a fist.
"When the altar is attacked, they'll realize you're just decoys."
"They'll rush back to defend it."
Bo Saixi stepped forward, grinning.
"Of course, they won't know our real goal isn't to destroy the altar—but to wipe them all out."
"...Wipe them all out?!" Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing gasped.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Rongrong asked, "May I ask... what level you are?"
"Level 97 and a half!" Bo Saixi declared proudly.
Her power had dropped another half-level over the past week.
"A Super Douluo!" Ning Rongrong inhaled sharply, nearly stumbling.
No wonder the Titled Douluo sent to assassinate Ye Tian had been instantly crushed.
Ye Tian had such a powerhouse guarding him!
His background was truly unfathomable!
(End of Chapter)