Not just Xuan Zi, but the other powerhouses of Shrek Academy too, upon hearing the Snow Empress's utterly arrogant words, felt their anger ignite simultaneously.
Their soul power surged uncontrollably around their bodies, and gazes filled with fury and hostility, sharp as blades, simultaneously shot towards the Snow Empress.
In their hearts, Shrek Academy, having undergone ten thousand years of sedimentation and tempering, possessed profound heritage and lofty prestige. Its dignity was not to be infringed upon by anyone or any force.
Yet, this soul beast dared to be so audacious on Shrek Academy's territory, truly pushing them beyond their limits and filling their hearts with indignation.
"Hmph!" The Snow Empress snorted disdainfully. She had come today with no intention of peaceful negotiations with Shrek Academy. Her purpose was simple and direct: snatch Huo Yuhao away.
"Emperor's Cold Heaven, Snow Dance Dazzling Sun!" A cold glint flashed in the Snow Empress's eyes. In an instant, ice-blue light spread outwards from her, transforming the surrounding several thousand meters into a frigid domain of ice and snow.
Terrifying cold air erupted fiercely, mercilessly expelling all elements except for ice.
Within this domain, the temperature plummeted, as if the entire world had been frozen in an eternal winter.
"Alas!" Mu En sighed helplessly. There was no way he could hand over Huo Yuhao.
Not to mention his high hopes and great regard for Huo Yuhao as a disciple with immense potential, from Shrek Academy's standpoint alone, Huo Yuhao was a member of the academy. To surrender him to a soul beast in front of everyone would undoubtedly be a trampling of the academy's dignity, causing students' trust in the academy to vanish.
Once this precedent was set, Shrek Academy's ten thousand years of accumulated prestige would surely be destroyed. This was something he absolutely could not accept.
"Snow Empress, go back. This old man will not hand over the academy's disciple to you!"
Mu En's expression was grave. Accompanied by bursts of impassioned dragon roars, golden light surged from his body, like a dazzling sun, emitting endless brilliance, resisting the surging cold.
At this moment, two yellow, one purple, three black, and three red soul rings, a total of nine, slowly appeared around Mu En.
Such a luxurious soul ring configuration surpassed even the Body Sect's Undying Douluo.
"If you don't hand him over, then die!" The Snow Empress's voice was as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion.
As her words fell, the ice elements in the air instantly boiled. Bitter cold winds, carrying vast amounts of ice and snow, swept across Shrek City. Wherever they passed, it became a world of ice and snow, as if to completely freeze this prosperous city and wipe it from the Douluo Continent.
"Shrek Academy, prepare for battle!" Yan Shaozhe roared, his voice echoing through the sky. Accompanied by a clear, melodious phoenix cry, his soul power surged around him, and his soul rings shone with brilliant light.
In a blink of an eye, he transformed into a hundreds-meter-long Bright Phoenix, burning with warm and scorching bright flames.
This Bright Phoenix soared through the sky above Shrek City, like a barrier, its warm light slowly circling Shrek City, attempting to dispel the suffocating cold.
At the same time, the other Titled Douluo of Shrek Academy also unleashed their martial souls and soul rings.
For a moment, various lights intertwined, and powerful soul power fluctuations filled the entire space.
As for the powerhouses below the Titled Douluo level, they had already retreated into Shrek City at the first opportune moment.
They clearly understood that the upcoming battle would be a peak showdown between super powerhouses, and its intensity and danger were far beyond what they could bear.
In the face of such a battle, non-Titled Douluo didn't even have the资格 to watch from close quarters; a slight mistake could lead to being caught in the aftermath of the battle, jeopardizing their lives.
This time, facing the Snow Empress was completely different from facing the Body Sect previously.
Against such a powerful soul beast, Shrek Academy no longer needed to have too many reservations. They prepared to work together to besiege the Snow Empress, defending the academy's dignity and honor.
"They're fighting!" Undying Douluo, already dozens of miles away from Shrek City, looked back towards the direction where the wind and snow raged.
Above Shrek City, dark clouds gathered, and the icy coldness intertwined with powerful soul power, forming a breathtaking scene.
He found a high mountain peak and slowly descended, his gaze fixed on the distant battlefield, watching the impending fierce battle with great interest.
"They're already fighting!" In the distant Sea Abyss City, Lu Jingming and Herta were watching the projection screen in front of them, which clearly showed the tense situation at Shrek Academy.
Lu Jingming's face showed a hint of surprise; he clearly hadn't expected Shrek Academy to so decisively choose to engage in battle against the terrifyingly powerful Snow Empress.
"Heh, they've been attacked at their doorstep. If they don't show some toughness now, they'd be too pathetic," Herta commented indifferently, her arms crossed.
"True. After all, it's their own stronghold. Shrek Academy can't back down, no matter what."
Lu Jingming nodded slightly in agreement.
Aside from maintaining Shrek Academy's glory and prestige, the very fact that the battle was taking place near Seagod Island, where Shrek Academy was located, gave the academy a strong foundation.
"Let's see, Sea God Tang San, if you've left any trump cards within the Golden Tree!" Lu Jingming's lips curved slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
He gently picked up the black tea brewed by the Herta doll, took a small sip, and a hint of anticipation showed in his eyes.
The Snow Empress attacking Shrek Academy was all within Lu Jingming's predictions.
He helped the Snow Empress not just because of certain emotional filters from his previous life.
Using the Snow Empress to probe Shrek Academy's trump cards was one of his true goals.
He wanted to know if Sea God Tang San had left any contingencies within the Golden Tree, especially since the Golden Tree was replaced ten thousand years later. He didn't believe it happened without long-term preparation.
After all, the Golden Tree was the plane's core. How could it be replaced so easily? Without enough time to plot, how could a mere Ah Yin possess such great ability?
With the Snow Empress's current strength, though incredibly powerful, she might still struggle somewhat against a divine sense clone of a God King.
However, Lu Jingming believed that with the Snow Empress's abilities, escaping shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Furthermore, Mobius had already made preparations for a rendezvous in secret, which meant he didn't need to worry about the Snow Empress being lost at Shrek Academy.
Currently, Sea God Tang San was being closely watched by the God of Destruction, his every move greatly restricted, so he dared not make too grand gestures.
Therefore, Lu Jingming inferred that Tang San could at most descend with a divine sense clone. As long as the deity's true body didn't personally descend, then there was still room to play the game, and he wouldn't need to consider overturning the table.
"Emperor Sword, Peerless Ice!" The Snow Empress raised her right hand high. In an instant, the surrounding cold air surged frantically towards her hand like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
A massive ice-blue giant sword formed in her hand. The sword body exuded an extreme chill that made one's heart tremble, as if it could freeze everything in the world.
The Snow Empress swung her arm fiercely, and this giant sword, imbued with terrifying coldness, slashed towards Mu En and the others.
Accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, wherever the ice sword energy passed, space itself was frozen, and clear ice traces appeared.
"Alas!" Mu En sighed helplessly again, but the next moment, his eyes instantly became resolute and determined.
The giant Golden Tree on Seagod Island suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light. A vast and terrifying life energy surged from the Golden Tree, instantly merging into Mu En's body in the high sky.
With the influx of this life energy, Mu En's previously stooped body seemed to be infused with endless power at this moment, gradually straightening.
The wrinkles left by time on his face began to dissipate like melting ice and snow, and his originally graying hair rapidly turned black, radiating vibrant vitality.
In the blink of an eye, Mu En's aged figure had vanished, replaced by a heroic, majestic, and valiant man.
Upon closer inspection, his face bore an eighty percent resemblance to Bei Bei, causing those who knew Bei Bei to look on with surprise.
"Great Ancestor!"
Within Shrek Academy, Bei Bei looked at the rejuvenated Mu En, a ominous premonition rising in his heart.
Xu Sanshi stared blankly at Bei Bei, then at Mu En in the sky, never expecting Bei Bei to have such a powerful backing.
"Elder Mu! Why go so far?" Seeing this, Xuan Zi's expression instantly changed, his eyes filled with sorrow and worry.
He was well aware of the dire price Mu En would have to pay to forcibly restore himself to his peak state using the Golden Tree's life energy.
It could be said that the original Mu En, relying on the Golden Tree's vitality, might have had at least five more years of life. But after this battle, regardless of the final outcome, Mu En was undoubtedly destined to die.
"To face such a formidable foe in the final battle of my life, I have no regrets!"
Mu En looked at the sword that froze the void, his eyes filled with boldness and determination.
His right hand instantly transformed into a golden dragon claw covered in golden dragon scales. Accompanied by an earth-shattering dragon roar, golden light shot into the sky. A massive, nearly hundred-meter-long golden dragon claw extended from the void, fiercely grabbing at the giant ice sword.
"Bright Dragon Claw!"