The boundless crimson, the sunless sky, the overturned earth—the endless golden-red divine light enveloped the chaotic battlefield.
Jing Shaoyu and Mo Hentian emerged from the crimson glow. The iron hooks and chains were nowhere to be seen; all that remained was a ravaged land and a few bloodstains. Not far away, the Obsidian Sword Hemp stood tall, while in the distance, the God of Machine Zero lay quietly. Further off, the third Evil Soul Master stood with a vacant, foolish expression.
The figures of the first and second Evil Soul Masters had completely vanished. Had they fled?
No, they had simply evaporated.
"Class Monitor, what was that just now?" Mo Hentian asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"A Soul Skill," Jing Shaoyu replied calmly, answering Mo Hentian's question.
"Qingtian"—this was the Soul Skill Yun Ming had imprinted on the jade bracelet on Jing Shaoyu's wrist. It was his ninth Soul Skill. The golden-red divine light that blotted out the sky was a manifestation of this skill. The fact that two Soul Douluo-level Soul Masters had evaporated into thin air seemed insufficient to demonstrate its full power, but its strength was undeniable.
Jing Shaoyu glanced at the slightly dimmed red jade bracelet on his wrist, feeling a pang of regret. Such a powerful Soul Skill had been wasted on two insignificant Soul Douluo. It was truly frustrating.
The two walked over to the third Evil Soul Master, only to find that he had already stopped breathing—dead.
Just as Jing Shaoyu was about to say something, he noticed ten fully armed black military Mecha flying in from the direction of Tiandou City. By the time Jing Shaoyu spotted them, they had already flown overhead, surrounding the two.
"Attention below! We are the Tiandou Enforcement Team of the Federal Army. We have received reports that you were engaged in combat on a federal highway, posing a threat to public safety. Immediately retract your Martial Souls and submit to inspection!" A stern voice came from one of the ten Mecha.
Hearing this, Jing Shaoyu and Mo Hentian exchanged glances but did not immediately retract their Martial Souls. Although the ten Mecha bore the insignia of the Federal Army, it did not prove that their pilots were indeed members of the Federal Enforcement Team.
"We were attacked by Evil Soul Masters and were forced to retaliate. It was a matter of necessity. Please verify this," Jing Shaoyu stepped forward, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.
"Evil Soul Masters?" The Mecha that had spoken earlier emitted a surprised voice. "Stay where you are."
The ten Mecha landed simultaneously, forming a circle that enclosed Jing Shaoyu and Mo Hentian. Then, one by one, the Mecha opened, and ten individuals dressed in Federal Army uniforms emerged, landing on their respective Mecha and looking down at the two.
Jing Shaoyu noticed that the uniforms of these ten individuals were indeed the exclusive attire of the Federal Army Enforcement Team. Each of them bore the rank of Second Lieutenant or even Lieutenant, and one among them was actually a Major—the same person who had spoken earlier.
"I am Major Chen Xiaojie of the Federal Army, Captain of the Tiandou Enforcement Team. You two, state your names," Major Chen Xiaojie said. He appeared young, no more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with handsome features and an extraordinary demeanor. It was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.
"My name is Jing Shaoyu, and this is my classmate, Mo Hentian," Jing Shaoyu replied.
"Mm," Chen Xiaojie nodded, then instructed a teammate beside him, "You, go verify their story."
"Yes, Captain," the lieutenant who was called out immediately leapt down from his mecha and landed beside the deceased Evil Soul Master Third. He crouched down and began to investigate.
Seeing the lieutenant investigating, Chen Xiaojie turned his gaze back to Jing Shaoyu and Mo Hentian, a strange glint flashing in his eyes. Only now did he notice that the two of them appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, and both were exceptionally handsome, a rare sight in the world. At the same time, he also noticed the Soul Rings behind Mo Hentian.
"Explain what happened," Chen Xiaojie said, his tone arrogant as he issued the command.
"We were ambushed by three Evil Soul Masters on our way from Tiandou City to Shrek City," Jing Shaoyu said succinctly.
"Three? What about the other two?" Chen Xiaojie asked.
"Turned to ashes," Jing Shaoyu replied calmly.
"?" Chen Xiaojie looked puzzled, then as if he had thought of something, he asked, "What was that red light earlier? That commotion couldn't have been caused by the two of you, could it?"
"A defensive measure given to us by our elders," Jing Shaoyu explained.
"Mm," Chen Xiaojie nodded and said no more.
A moment later, the lieutenant finished his investigation and verification, returning to Chen Xiaojie's side. He whispered his report into Chen Xiaojie's ear, and as he spoke, Chen Xiaojie's expression grew increasingly strange.
"Major, may we leave now?" Jing Shaoyu asked, seeing that the lieutenant had finished his report.
"What's the rush?" Chen Xiaojie said. "According to protocol, the two of you need to come with us for observation for a few days to confirm that you're not Evil Soul Masters."
"Protocol?" Jing Shaoyu's expression darkened immediately. "Major, according to protocol, Evil Soul Masters should be handed over to the Federal Tribunal for handling, not the military enforcement team, right? It seems you're overstepping your authority."
"How dare you!" Chen Xiaojie barked coldly. "The Federal Tribunal and the military enforcement team are both part of the federal security forces. Anything that poses a threat to federal security falls under our jurisdiction. There's no need to draw such clear lines. I now have reason to suspect that you are spies planted by the Evil Soul Masters within the Federation. Surrender and come with me to face judgment, or don't blame me for being harsh!"
As he spoke, Chen Xiaojie's body trembled, and four purple and three black Soul Rings flew out from behind him. A faint blue light wave surrounded his body, resembling rippling waves filled with moisture.
Jing Shaoyu was puzzled. Why did this Major Chen Xiaojie harbor such hostility toward them? Logically, they had never met before.
Chen Xiaojie's sudden outburst not only confused Jing Shaoyu but also left some of his teammates bewildered. Another lieutenant in the team spoke up, "Captain, isn't this a bit inappropriate? I see these two kids are wearing Shrek Academy uniforms. They're probably students of Shrek Academy. They couldn't be Evil Soul Masters, could they?"
"Humph! What about Shrek Academy? Are you saying Shrek Academy doesn't have Evil Soul Masters?" Chen Xiaojie snorted. "Don't speak out of turn, or I'll have you kicked out of the enforcement team."
The lieutenant immediately shut his mouth. Despite the reluctance in his heart, he dared not speak further.
Meanwhile, Jing Shaoyu finally understood why Chen Xiaojie harbored such malice toward them. It was because they were wearing the uniforms of Shrek Academy and were students of Shrek Academy!
"I thought the major was genuinely righteous and concerned about the harm Evil Soul Masters could cause to society," Jing Shaoyu said with a mocking smile. "Turns out it was just a facade for personal vendettas. Major, you seem to have a strong bias against Shrek Academy students. Could it be that you were once humiliated by a senior from Shrek Academy, and now you're taking out your grudge on us, two innocent Shrek students?"
"Ha, quite the silver tongue!" Chen Xiaojie sneered. "You're right, I do have a bias against your Shrek Academy. Meeting me is just your bad luck. Who told you to be students of Shrek Academy? Now, I'll give you two choices: either surrender and have your teachers come to our law enforcement team to claim you, or I'll shoot you dead on the spot for assaulting federal troops."
"Hahaha," Jing Shaoyu laughed outright, then said coldly, "Are you so sure you've got us cornered?"
"Thinking of resisting?" Chen Xiaojie also laughed. "With what? You think you're capable?"
A tense atmosphere immediately spread across the area. The other members of the law enforcement team, seeing this, looked uneasy. They wanted to dissuade Chen Xiaojie, but considering his terrifying background, none dared. Only the lieutenant who had tried to intervene earlier gritted his teeth and said, "Captain, treating Shrek Academy students like this... you might not worry, but the rest of us..."
The lieutenant's words were immediately echoed by the other members, who nodded in agreement.
"Hmph!" Chen Xiaojie said disdainfully. "They're just two lowly Outer Academy students from Shrek Academy. What does it matter if I kill them? If you're worried about Shrek Academy's retaliation, then go somewhere else. Don't stay here and get in my way."
Hearing this, the law enforcement team members didn't hesitate. They all entered their Mecha and left the scene. In the end, only Chen Xiaojie, his loyal lieutenant, and their Mecha remained.
"Come on, make your move. Don't say I didn't give you a chance,"
Chen Xiaojie said arrogantly. "Defeat me, and you can leave. Otherwise, just accept your fate!"