Shrek City.
It was another peaceful day.
Shrek City remained as bustling as ever. In fact, with the alliance of the Four Great Empires and the restoration of cross-border trade, commerce across the continent flourished even more, and Shrek City surpassed its former peak, becoming more prosperous than ever.
After all, Shrek Academy was located near the Star Dou Forest, making it a vital resource hub. It also sat at the intersection of roads connecting three major empires, making it a crucial transportation center.
Adding to that, the city's lord, Shi Xing, was a Titled Douluo, and the city was backed by Shrek Academy and the Sea God Pavilion. Security in the city was absolutely assured.
In short, if Shrek City couldn't thrive under these circumstances, something would be seriously wrong.
Currently, Shrek Academy had wealth, powerful individuals, territory—everything it needed. It was undoubtedly one of the top forces on the continent.
Who would have thought that this prestigious institution was once a mere backwater academy in a small kingdom ten thousand years ago, with more teachers than students?
For such a humble academy to grow into what it is now, it clearly consumed an unimaginable amount of resources. Yet all other factions could do was envy them.
If there was one flaw in this otherwise perfect picture, it was that the current Sea God Pavilion Master's loyalty to Shrek was practically in the negative.
Huo Yuhao, the Pavilion Master, was at that moment inside the Sea God Pavilion. He had packed his luggage and double-checked to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.
Then, he sat in a chair, gazing out at the beautiful scene of the Sea God Lake and the vibrant Shrek Academy in the distance, sipping tea brewed from the tender leaves of the Golden Ancient Tree.
A view like this—every time he looked might be the last.
"Shrek's ten thousand-year dream... it's time to wake up."
"And my breakthrough… only needs one last piece of the puzzle."
A wind rose on Sea God Island, sweeping in from the academy—or rather, it was a gale enveloping the entirety of Shrek City!
As if driven by the wind, dark clouds rushed in and covered the skies. In mere moments, the sunny skies turned gloomy and eerie.
Such an unnatural change in weather immediately drew the attention of the city's many powerful cultivators. In an instant, more than ten figures flew out from all corners of Shrek City, spreading out to investigate.
At that moment, the invader appeared.
A blinding sun burst through the dark clouds, descending from the heavens. Its diameter spanned several dozen li, and its brilliant light bathed all of Shrek City.
"Is that… the sun? The sun fell from the sky?!"
"No, that's a martial soul! It's the Sun Martial Soul from the Sun-Moon Empire!"
"Look! There's someone inside that sun!"
People on the ground looked up and could barely make out a tiny black dot in the center of the sun.
As the blazing sun descended, that black dot became clear—it was a man.
Dressed in black and yellow robes embroidered with a radiant sun and a Purple Radiant Heaven-Devouring Dragon, the man appeared both noble and magnificent.
The loose robe couldn't hide his tall, well-built figure, and his almost otherworldly handsome face was framed by long, flowing hair. A light smile played on his lips, charming and captivating.
His straight nose, prominent brow bones, and the way the sunlight reflected off him gave off the aura of a true dragon.
The only thing marring his otherwise divine image were his eyes—eyes that glowed with an evil light.
This man was none other than Xu Tianchen.
Backed by his Sun Martial Soul, Xu Tianchen descended from the sky and arrived in Shrek City.
"Who is that?"
"Could he be a powerhouse from the Sun-Moon Empire?"
"Quick! Summon the Shrek defenders!"
Those who had attended the previous Soul Master Tournament in the Sun-Moon Empire felt the man looked extremely familiar. Eventually, someone recognized him.
"That man… he's the new Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire! I saw his face at the last tournament!"
"What?! That's the guy? The one with a harem of ten thousand beauties and who supposedly beds a hundred women every night? The most envied man on the entire continent?!"
…
Good news travels slowly, bad news travels fast.
Compared to his strength, Xu Tianchen was far more infamous on the continent for his massive harem and his lustful persona.
Of course, rumors always exaggerated things.
But Xu Tianchen's real actions were outrageous enough that they didn't need much embellishment.
From the Sea God Pavilion, several figures flew out—Huo Yuhao at the forefront, accompanied by Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Gong Changlong, and Elder Lin.
Shi Xing and the other Titled Douluos in Shrek City also made preparations for combat.
Currently, counting Shrek Academy and the Sea God Pavilion, the city housed over a dozen Titled Douluos, some of whom were Super Douluos.
Yet all of them were tense and alert.
Because they knew that Xu Tianchen was a true Limit Douluo. It was precisely because Shrek had once hosted a Limit Douluo that they understood just how terrifying such a figure was.
Unfortunately, Shrek's own Limit Douluo was currently not in the city.
And Xu Tianchen's arrival certainly didn't seem like a peaceful visit.
At that moment, the entire city seemed to fall into silence. Everyone was intently watching the exchange between Huo Yuhao and Xu Tianchen.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire. May I ask the purpose of your visit to Shrek City?" Huo Yuhao asked politely.
Xu Tianchen's lips curled up in a wide smile.
He had to admit, seeing his main body treating him so deferentially gave him a special kind of thrill.
Even better than wrestling with a furnace!
Huo Yuhao felt exasperated.
Come on, say something. If you don't reply, I'll look like a fool!
If you keep this up, you'll regret it later.
Fortunately, Xu Tianchen only took a moment to savor the flattery before replying.
"Pavilion Master Huo, it's been a long time. Years have passed since our last encounter. I regret not having had a good conversation with you back then."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness and for saving me back then. If the opportunity arises, I will repay you."
Xu Tianchen chuckled lightly.
"Very well, Pavilion Master Huo, you're straightforward—I like that. I'll get to the point. The reason I've come personally this time… is for you."
"Me?" Huo Yuhao asked, feigning confusion.
Yan Shaozhe and the others exchanged glances.
Some even let their imaginations run wild.
Has the lecherous emperor finally turned his attention to men?
But considering Huo Yuhao's face, more beautiful than most women's… it kind of made sense.
"I've received secret intelligence that the Holy Spirit Cult plans to strike while Shrek City is vulnerable. So I came ahead of time to invite Pavilion Master Huo to join the Sun-Moon Empire. I can guarantee your safety."
"Naturally, any other Shrek personnel willing to follow you will be welcomed equally. I'll protect everyone you bring and nurture them well in the future."
As Xu Tianchen finished speaking, Huo Yuhao and the others' expressions changed drastically.
So the Sun-Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult knew Shrek was currently weakened—and they planned to attack?
Xu Tianchen had come to loot the burning house!
"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty. But Shrek nurtured me, gave me everything—I consider it my home. I, Yuhao, am willing to live or die with Shrek!"
"Furthermore, since ancient times, evil has never triumphed over good. The Sea God Pavilion does not fear the Holy Spirit Cult, and we will never back down—now or in the future!"
"To clear the world of evil, I would die without regret!"
"Well said!!" Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but cheer. This was the kind of talent Shrek needed. He was right about Huo Yuhao all along.
Xu Tianchen smiled faintly.
"Pavilion Master Huo, my offer remains open—forever."
Then, he withdrew his Sun Martial Soul and flew back into the dark clouds.
"That Sun-Moon Emperor is surprisingly decent. He didn't attack?" Gong Changlong muttered.
Dark clouds once again covered Shrek City.
At that moment, Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao appeared together—the aura of three Limit Douluos tore through the sky.
But those weren't ordinary clouds—they were thick, malevolent black mist!
Yan Shaozhe and the others' faces turned even grimmer. They were now itching to curse out Xu Tianchen.
Come on, you said you arrived early to warn us, but you literally just came one step ahead!
You're totally in this together!
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er immediately recognized Zhongli Wu.
"Careful! The one in the middle is the Holy Spirit Cult's leader—Zhongli Wu. He's even stronger than last time!"
Elder Lin gasped and looked toward Long Xiaoyao.
"That man—is he the Dark Holy Dragon who once rivaled Elder Mu? Long Xiaoyao? He joined the Holy Spirit Cult?!"
Huo Yuhao's gaze fell on Ye Xishui, standing to Zhongli Wu's right, golden light flashing in his eyes.
Ye Xishui's true body… had finally revealed itself!
Ye Xeshui — Level 99 Strength-Type Ultimate Douluo, Rank 9 Soul Engineer, twin spirits: Blood Soul Marionette and Radiant Phoenix.
Long Xiaoyao — Level 99 Strength-Type Ultimate Douluo, martial soul: Dark Holy Dragon.
Zhongli Wu — Level 99 Strength-Type Ultimate Douluo, martial soul: Reaper Marionette.
The arrival of three Ultimate Douluo in Shrek was an overwhelming force that the current Shrek Academy simply could not withstand.
Though Ye Xeshui still appeared as her Blood Soul avatar, Huo Yuhao could clearly see that her true body was hidden beneath the guise—it was merely a disguise.
"They're all as powerful as Senior Xuan Z i… They're all Ultimate Douluo! The Holy Spirit Cult actually has three Ultimate Douluo!!" Huo Yuhao's cry rang in everyone's ears, eliciting expressions of utter shock.
How did the Holy Spirit Cult, of all forces, manage to gather three Ultimate Douluo?
Zhongli Wu and the others didn't immediately strike—they instead unleashed their oppressive auras without restraint, plunging the entire city of Shrek into panic.
Yet Shrek's response was swift.
Shi Xing immediately activated a city-wide soul barrier, and the city's guard forces rapidly assembled, ready to fight to the death.
The strongest fighters of Shrek Academy all entered their martial soul possession states and summoned their spirits, prepared to battle to the bitter end.
Naturally, many citizens attempted to flee Shrek City, but once the soul barrier was raised, the city was completely sealed—no one could enter or leave.
No one paid attention to the people crying and begging to escape.
Those who wanted no part in the conflict simply hid in their homes, hoping to avoid being caught in the crossfire between the Holy Spirit Cult and Shrek.
But what they didn't yet realize was this: the Holy Spirit Cult's objective wasn't just to destroy Shrek. The number of survivors by the end of today in Shrek City was still uncertain.
"Yuhao! Get the inner courtyard disciples out of here! We'll buy you time!" Yan Shaozhe barked immediately.
"No!" Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"Yuhao!" Yan Shaozhe stepped forward in desperation, grabbing Huo Yuhao's shoulders and shouting, "This isn't the time to be stubborn! Shrek cannot be destroyed today—you all must escape!"
"He's right!"
Everyone else agreed.
When faced with an unbeatable enemy, retreat was the only option.
Only by ensuring the safe escape of Yuhao and the other disciples could Shrek have a chance to rebuild once Xuanzi returned.
Those who stayed would die to protect Shrek's honor. Those who fled would carry its hope.
Elder Lin added solemnly, "Yuhao, you must understand—Shrek's future doesn't lie in this city, or in the Academy, or even in the Sea God's Pavilion. It lies in all of you, the future of Shrek! There's a secret passage in the city that leads to the Star Dou Forest. We'll buy you time to escape!"
Yuhao glanced around at everyone, then responded resolutely, "How can we flee without even trying to fight? Besides, three Ultimate Douluo… may not be unbeatable!"
"What?!"
Everyone was stunned again.
Huo Yuhao continued, "Don't forget the Golden Ancient Tree. In the legacy left behind by the previous Pavilion Masters of the Sea God's Pavilion, there are methods to harness the power of the Golden Ancient Tree to protect the Academy. If we can tap into its strength, even fighting Ultimate Douluo isn't impossible!"
"Besides, as the current Pavilion Master, if anyone's going to flee, I'll be the last one to go!"
Gong Changlong exclaimed in delight, "Yuhao, are you serious?!"
"Of course!" Yuhao said firmly. "When we faced the beast tide from the Star Dou Forest, the teacher used the power of the Golden Ancient Tree to battle Di Tian himself!"
"That's amazing! Shrek still has hope!" Gong Changlong cried out in joy.
Everyone was willing to believe Huo Yuhao—because he had never lied to them.
At the same time, everyone recalled Mu En's contributions to Shrek. Their eyes grew misty.
Without further delay, Huo Yuhao flew straight toward Sea God's Island to harness the Golden Ancient Tree's power.
High above in the sky—
Zhongli Wu and the other two watched from above, observing Huo Yuhao and the others' movements.
Ever since becoming Ultimate Douluo, the three of them stood at the peak of the continent, qualified to look down on all others.
"So, Shrek doesn't intend to surrender," Ye Xeshui said with a faint smile.
"Hmph. Just the helpless resistance of the weak. Fine by me—I want to see what cards Shrek Academy still has left," Zhongli Wu said indifferently.
Ye Xeshui and Long Xiaoyao exchanged glances, their expressions subtly complex. They had sensed it too—Zhongli Wu was getting arrogant lately.
Did he really think that being an Ultimate Douluo made him invincible?
They had once thought so themselves. After Mu En's death, they believed there were even fewer who could challenge them on the continent.
But that belief was shattered the night of the Mingde Hall's destruction, when they were repeatedly crushed by the main body clone.
Only then did they realize—this continent ran deeper than they imagined. Even Ultimate Douluo were not untouchable.
From then on, they both kept a low profile. Ye Xeshui no longer revealed her true body lightly. She only did so now because they intended to annihilate Shrek—and even then, she disguised herself.
Zhongli Wu finally moved.
He had intentionally waited for Shrek to show their hand before striking, so he could destroy all hope and plunge them into despair.
He activated his martial soul: the Reaper Marionette. Four black rings and five red soul rings appeared.
This immediately caught Ye Xeshui and Long Xiaoyao's attention. They knew that after Zhongli Wu used a secret Holy Spirit Cult technique, his configuration should have been six black and three red. Why did two of them appear different now?
"Could this be due to some new opportunity he acquired?" Ye Xeshui narrowed her eyes.
Zhongli Wu raised his Reaper's Scythe and sliced through the air—tearing open space and creating a summoning portal.
With a thunderous draconic roar, the Bone Dragon King emerged.
But this Bone Dragon King was vastly different from before.
Its body now stretched a massive 500 meters, and the draconic pressure it exuded was overwhelming. In addition to its original wind and fire elements, it now carried a devastating force of destruction.
Once merely a sub-dragon, the Bone Dragon King now radiated a dominance surpassing many true dragons.
Both Ye Xeshui and Long Xiaoyao were visibly shaken—especially Long Xiaoyao, whose entire body tensed instinctively the moment he saw the Bone Dragon King. His own martial soul reacted in alarm!
Zhongli Wu was silently watching their reactions—and he was very pleased with what he saw.
What he didn't know, however, was that at the exact moment the Bone Dragon King appeared...
Xu Tianchen, above the dark clouds, and a certain presence deep within the Star Dou Forest, both sensed something unusual.
He had disturbed the gods!
In the forest's core zone, a voice echoed in the minds of all the great soul beasts:
"Shrek. Destroy. Dragon. Bring it back. Dead or alive."
All the beasts looked at each other in shock.
With Di Tian absent, it was the Bear King who stood up and took charge.
"Wait—Bear King, what about our pact with Shrek…" Bi Ji said nervously.
"That pact was signed by Di Tian. What's that got to do with me, the Bear King? Besides, this command came from that one. You dare disobey?" the Bear King glared, his tone irritated.
If it were anyone else, he would've already smashed them with his Darkgolden Terrorclaws.
"I…" Bi Ji hesitated, unwilling to damage Di Tian's reputation.
The Bear King waved impatiently. "Bi Ji, your injuries haven't healed. Stay here. We'll handle this."
With that, he stopped paying her any mind. He brought along the Red King and selected several other beast kings before heading out of the core zone.
The Ten Thousand Beast King stayed behind to guard the core and protect Bi Ji.
Meanwhile, high above the clouds, Xu Tianchen focused his divine sense on the new Bone Dragon King. What he sensed shocked him—the energy of the Violet Radiant Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon!
His own Violet Radiant Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon martial soul began to stir restlessly.
"What's going on? What did Zhongli Wu just summon? Where the hell did he get that power?"
The others couldn't tell what had caused the Bone Dragon King's transformation, but Xu Tiancheng saw through it instantly.
The Bone Dragon King had astonishingly inherited the legacy of the Purple Radiance Sky-Extinguishing Dragon!
And it wasn't just an inheritance—within the Bone Dragon King surged the essence of that mighty dragon. The purity and quantity of the essence it possessed even surpassed Xu Tiancheng, the original wielder of the Purple Radiance Sky-Extinguishing Dragon spirit.
In essence, the Bone Dragon King was no longer just the creature it once was. It had become a Purple Radiance Sky-Extinguishing Dragon in the guise of the Bone Dragon King.
There was no doubt—Zhongli Wu's fortune must have been directly tied to that very dragon.
A strange gleam flickered in Xu Tiancheng's eyes.
Once the Shrek side had made their preparations, Zhongli Wu finally gave the order for the Bone Dragon King to begin its assault on Shrek City.
"Breach that city," Zhongli Wu said calmly.
The Bone Dragon King opened its maw, and winds and flames surged together within it, fused with an overwhelmingly destructive aura.
No longer bound by the limitations that once forced it to "warm up" before fighting at full strength, the Bone Dragon King opened with its ultimate move. The destructive element fused into its attack made it far more powerful than any soul skill it had ever unleashed before.
ROAR—!
With a deafening roar, a storming dragon tornado infused with destruction erupted from its mouth, crashing down onto the giant soul device barrier shielding Shrek City.
It was like an apocalyptic tempest engulfing the world.
"Grand Elder, Chief Worshipper, I've named this move the Windfire Destruction Tornado. What do you two think?" Zhongli Wu asked with a smile.
Long Xiaoyao's gaze darkened slightly. He replied bluntly, "It's powerful."
That destructive aura was troublesome—he wasn't even sure if he could block it himself.
"Seems like the Sect Master has gained greatly from this encounter," Ye Xeshui said with a polite smile. "This Bone Dragon King's attack has now reached the level of an Ultimate Douluo. It'll surely bolster the Sect Master like wings to a tiger. I'll go ahead and congratulate you in advance on breaking through Shrek and shaking the entire continent."
But how sincere her words were—only Ye Xeshui herself knew.
Zhongli Wu, however, didn't care. He simply felt elated.
The Grand Elder and Chief Worshipper had long relied on their power and seniority to suppress him, making his role as Sect Master frustratingly limited.
But now, he had finally reclaimed his authority and dignity!
The windfire tornado clashed with the barrier for over half a minute.
Crackling sounds from the overloaded soul devices rang out, and the expressions of the soul engineers maintaining the barrier changed drastically.
They didn't need to be told—fractures had begun appearing across the barrier. As the governor of Shrek City, Shi Xing immediately realized the city's defenses couldn't withstand the attack.
And the tornado only grew more ferocious as the barrier fractured.
Shi Xing made a swift decision. He soared from the City Lord's Mansion and raised his martial spirit—the Temporal Silver Disc—high above.
The Temporal Silver Disc was a weapon spirit lying between time and space, capable of manipulating both.
"Third Soul Skill: Temporal Reversion!"
Though it was only a third-tier soul skill, empowered by Shi Xing's level 94 strength, it achieved remarkable effects.
More importantly, he used the skill continuously.
Its target wasn't the Bone Dragon King—but the giant soul device barrier.
Thanks to the Temporal Reversion, the barrier flickered between states of destruction and repair, creating a bizarre balance.
At last, the Bone Dragon King completed its Windfire Destruction Tornado attack.
Though the barrier was now full of cracks, it still hovered above Shrek City.
It took a moment for everyone inside the city to register what had happened—then, cheers erupted like a wave.
"It held! It held! We're saved!"
"Incredible! As expected of Lord Governor!"
"Long live the Governor! Long live Shrek Academy!"
Shi Xing descended back to the ground and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Had he not taken a clever approach by leveraging the barrier, even exhausting himself wouldn't have been enough to stop the Bone Dragon King.
Zhongli Wu's smile vanished. Failing to breach Shrek's defenses immediately was a blow to his pride.
"Sect Master, Shrek is still Shrek. Don't underestimate them," Ye Xeshui warned with a grin.
"Hmph!" Zhongli Wu snorted coldly, silently cursing her for her sarcasm.
Then he said coldly, "That was just a greeting. Don't worry—Shrek won't have another chance."
"Bone Dragon King, tear down that barrier!"
At his command, purple light imbued with destructive energy burst from the Bone Dragon King's body and gathered in its claws.
With claws charged with annihilative force, the Bone Dragon King broke away from Zhongli Wu and dived downward at the barrier.
Just as it reached the barrier, it thrust out its claws—piercing through—and then ripped it apart.
With a sound like shattering glass, the already-cracked soul barrier was completely destroyed.
Shi Xing's face turned pale. "Prepare for battle!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the city.
The Bone Dragon King had broken into Shrek City.
The city's defensive forces sprang into action. Waves of elemental soul skills bombarded the dragon as it descended.
Support-type soul masters strengthened their allies or tried to weaken the Bone Dragon King.
But the dragon seemed like a final boss—it was immune to debuffs, and the attacks only managed to slow its descent briefly.
Shi Xing prepared to unleash his martial spirit avatar for a desperate fight.
Just as the Bone Dragon King was about to begin its massacre—
A brilliant golden light erupted from the direction of the Sea God's Pavilion, piercing the heavens. The golden radiance swiftly spread into a golden barrier that enveloped all of Shrek City, bathing everything in gold.
Even the Bone Dragon King was repelled by the barrier and thrown out of the city bounds. The light's divine attribute scorched its body, leaving charred black scars all over it.
The once-majestic Bone Dragon King now looked battered and humiliated.
In a rage, it attacked the golden barrier. Its claws—still infused with destructive power—tore at it madly.
But this barrier was far sturdier than the soul device one. No matter how fiercely the Bone Dragon King attacked, it could not damage it.
Ye Xeshui, Long Xiaoyao, and Zhongli Wu all turned to look toward the Sea God's Pavilion.
There, a towering golden tree appeared—its canopy shielding Shrek City.
It was the Golden Ancient Tree!
Yet, instead of anger, Zhongli Wu's eyes gleamed with fanaticism at the sight of it.
At that moment, Huo Yuhao's voice echoed in the ears of everyone within Shrek City:
"I am Huo Yuhao, Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion. I now invoke the power of the Golden Ancient Tree to protect all those who fight for justice!"
"Soul masters of Shrek, to preserve the honor of our academy—launch your counterattack!"
"All evil soul masters shall be annihilated!"
Huo Yuhao: All evil shall be brought to justice!
At this moment, Huo Yuhao was already within the Golden Tree, harnessing its power to encompass the entirety of Shrek City.
It was precisely this overwhelming strength radiating from the Golden Tree that reignited hope in the hearts of everyone within Shrek City, greatly boosting their morale.
Cheering erupted throughout the city.
Huo Yuhao even sensed faith power flowing into the Golden Tree.
Since the Golden Tree had already been refined by him, anything the Golden Tree gained was essentially gained by him as well.
"What a pity… This will be the Golden Tree's final performance. From now on, there will be no more Golden Tree in the Sea God Pavilion," Huo Yuhao sighed inwardly.
At this moment, he was alone inside the Golden Tree, channeling its full power.
And how much of that power would be unleashed depended entirely on the wielder—him.
In truth, the Golden Tree's strengths didn't lie in offense, but rather in support and healing. However, it had a soul power reserve that far surpassed any soul master or soul beast. Creating a defensive barrier that could envelop the entire Shrek City posed no strain at all.
High above in the sky—
"Pontiff, do you think Shrek still stands a chance?" Ye Xeshui suddenly asked Zhongli Wu.
Zhongli Wu, whose gaze was burning with fervor at the sight of the Golden Tree, suddenly looked sour. This old woman was clearly poking at his sore spot!
He had just been bragging to Ye Xeshui and Long Xiaoyao that Shrek was done for—only for the Bone Dragon King to get blasted out of Shrek City right afterward. It wasn't the Bone Dragon King's butt that got smacked—it was his own pride!
Yet, the power emitted by the Golden Tree did make Zhongli Wu feel threatened. Its light attribute was especially effective against evil soul masters.
Zhongli Wu knew he couldn't keep acting tough.
"Grand Elder, don't forget what I promised you. Until then, I can't afford to waste too much strength. And you should be showing your hand too," Zhongli Wu said.
Zhongli Wu: I'm not holding back because I'm afraid—I'm conserving strength!
Hearing that she should take action, Ye Xeshui gave a faint smile and didn't refuse. She called out gently, "Xiaoyao, I'll be troubling you."
Long Xiaoyao nodded, then dove from the sky. His Dark Holy Dragon martial soul enveloped him, and he unleashed his dark attribute powers to clash with the Golden Tree's barrier.
Although light attributes restrain evil, they are in a mutual restraint relationship with darkness. It all depended on who was stronger.
In terms of soul power volume, Long Xiaoyao couldn't match the Golden Tree. But he didn't need to completely destroy the barrier—he only needed to pierce a hole in it big enough for them to enter.
"Xiaoyao, let me give you a hand."
Ye Xeshui acted as well. Countless blood souls, formed from beast spirits, emerged from her body like a rain of blood, scattering across the barrier.
These blood souls weren't meant to break the barrier directly, but to consume its energy, helping Long Xiaoyao carve out an opening more easily.
Though the blood souls seemed numerous, compared to Ye Xeshui's reserves, they were barely a drop in the ocean.
After all, this was an attack from an Ultimate Douluo. Under her pressure, the distribution of soul power in the barrier became uneven, exposing weaknesses.
Long Xiaoyao seized the opportunity, unleashing a surge of dark power that exceeded the Golden Tree's peak output. Like a giant drill, his attack pierced a hole in the barrier.
Long Xiaoyao: "Now's our chance!"
Zhongli Wu charged in first atop the Bone Dragon King. Ye Xeshui and Long Xiaoyao followed immediately behind.
The gap in the barrier then sealed itself.
Shrek's second barrier had failed again to stop the intruders.
"Now I can unleash carnage!" Zhongli Wu's eyes glinted coldly. "Everyone in Shrek City will become soul slaves for my Death Puppets! They'll all be sacrifices to help me surpass the limits of the mortal world!"
Zhongli Wu's martial soul, Death Puppet, much like Ye Xeshui's Blood Soul Puppet, could absorb and manipulate souls.
Although he typically preferred beast spirits for their greater strength, the sheer number of human souls in Shrek City more than made up for any difference in quality.
Besides, who said absorbed souls had to be used for combat?
On the Douluo Continent, when it came to "making use of talent," only the Holy Spirit Cult bore some resemblance to Huo Yuhao's style.
At that moment, Shrek's defense forces launched another attack.
The Bone Dragon King roared and charged forward.
But this time, the city defenders were empowered by the Golden Tree. Their attacks could finally injure the Bone Dragon King.
Though the damage wasn't massive, it left visible marks. Given time, even a drop of water can wear down stone—they could eventually cripple the Bone Dragon King!
Seeing this, Zhongli Wu gestured for the Bone Dragon King to fall back.
Meanwhile—
Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Gong Changlong, Elder Lin, Shi Xing… over ten Titled Douluo appeared together, surrounding Zhongli Wu, Ye Xeshui, and Long Xiaoyao.
Each of Shrek's Titled Douluo now carried the Golden Tree's blessing. Every one of them wore a golden leaf, which vastly amplified the Golden Tree's support effects.
This was what gave them the courage to stand against three Ultimate Douluo.
"Zhongli Wu, how dare you attack Shrek Academy! Then die here and now!" Yan Shaozhe declared in a deep voice.
With the Golden Tree's support, he wasn't even coughing anymore.
Zhongli Wu sneered, leaping atop the Bone Dragon King's head again. "Such arrogance!"
"Let me deal with him!" Shi Xing declared, charging ahead with his Time-Space Silver Disk martial soul gleaming above his head.
"City Lord, I'll assist you!"
"Count me in!"
"No need for honor when fighting evil soul masters—let's fight side by side!"
Several more Titled Douluo rushed out alongside Shi Xing.
Of the more than ten present, not all were from Shrek. Some were powerful allies stationed here from other factions. Still, the majority were Shrek's own.
That said, none of them were Huo Yuhao's devotees. Even Nan Shuishui, who had been stationed in Shrek, had already found an excuse to leave earlier.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had also withdrawn, citing their duty to guard the Douling Empire.
So, no one had suspected anything at the time.
Shrek had more than just the Sea God Pavilion's top Titled Douluo. In fact, those in the Pavilion were usually Super Douluo.
The "regular" Titled Douluo of Shrek didn't usually reside in the Pavilion. They were often out cultivating or managing various industries tied to the academy.
Shi Xing was a representative of these Titled Douluo.
Before taking over as the city lord of Shrek, he had never once attended a Sea God Pavilion meeting.
Zhongli Wu was now blocked by Shi Xing and the other Titled Douluo.
Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, and others each took on Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xeshui.
"Senior Long Xiaoyao, I've heard that you and my master, Mu En, were once known as the 'Black and White Twin Sacred Dragons.' Today, allow me to humbly challenge you!" Yan Shaozhe faced Long Xiaoyao without the slightest hesitation.
Long Xiaoyao glanced over him and said calmly, "Then let me see what kind of disciple Mu En raised to dare speak to me like that."
Gong Changlong and Elder Lin joined Yan Shaozhe in combat. There was no way they'd let him fight Long Xiaoyao alone.
Elsewhere, Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er teamed up to take on Ye Xeshui—shocking those who knew their history.
Wait a minute—weren't you two long-time rivals? Since when did you start practicing combo attacks in secret?
Of course, other Titled Douluo also supported them in confronting Ye Xeshui.
However, Ye Xeshui, facing Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er, kept her attention focused solely on Yan Shaozhe. Her eyes briefly flashed with a complex emotion when she saw his Radiant Phoenix martial soul.
What gave the Titled Douluo enough confidence to confront three Ultimate Douluo—and a Bone Dragon King that was practically on par—was the Golden Tree's support.
High-level support-type soul masters were rare. Titled Douluo-class supporters even rarer. But their impact in high-level battles was undeniable.
Take Elder Zhuang of the Sea God Pavilion for example. With his assistance, as long as he remained standing, the combat endurance of the other Titled Douluo could more than double.
If there were a Titled Douluo-level Nine-Heart Begonia soul master on the battlefield, no one on their side would die as long as they had soul power left!
And the Golden Tree far surpassed even the Nine-Heart Begonia. Its strength was comparable to an Ultimate Douluo.
Huo Yuhao: I play support—deny me, and I throw the match!
While the mighty clashed in battle elsewhere, more than twenty figures broke through the main gates of Shrek Academy and charged straight toward Sea God's Island.
"Shrek Academy! I, Tang Ya, have returned for revenge!"
The leader pulled back her hood, revealing a familiar face—none other than Tang Ya.
That's right. This operation against Shrek Academy wasn't just led by Zhongli Wu and his two companions. He had also brought elite members and powerful figures from the Holy Spirit Cult. Xu Tianchen had even arranged for Tang Ya to participate directly.
As Zhongli Wu's forces stormed Shrek City to draw everyone's attention, Tang Ya and Feng Ling led the Holy Spirit Cult's troops in a surprise assault on Shrek Academy, aiming to take control of Sea God's Island.
Soul masters from the Sun Moon Empire didn't appear.
In the original plan, Zhongli Wu had believed that he alone was enough to annihilate Shrek City. Bringing others from the Holy Spirit Cult was merely a measure to ensure the inheritance left behind by Shrek could be secured.
But he hadn't anticipated Huo Yuhao using the Golden Tree to assist Shrek's Title Douluos, effectively balancing the power gap between both sides' top-tier combatants.
If the battle dragged on, the Golden Tree's deep reserves could sustain a prolonged fight, possibly lasting beyond a full day, long enough for reinforcements from the three empires to arrive.
Under such circumstances, the squad led by Tang Ya and Feng Ling became a true wild card.
The evil soul masters had flanked their way into the heart of the stronghold!
Yet Shrek Academy wasn't completely unprepared. Although Huo Yuhao was the only Title Douluo left behind, there were still inner court disciples like Jiang Nannan and numerous outer court teachers and staff guarding the campus.
Their objective wasn't to defeat the enemy, but to stall for time—enough for Shrek City's garrison to arrive and reinforce them.
Tang Ya had once lived within Shrek Academy. She knew the approximate strength of its defenses, and before setting out, she instructed her team: avoid drawn-out battles, strike quickly and decisively.
Their top priority was to reach Sea God's Pavilion and disrupt Huo Yuhao's assistance to the other Title Douluos. As long as Zhongli Wu's group could claim victory, the tide of the battle would be decided.
"Despicable evil soul masters! You dare invade Shrek Academy? Faculty, rally with me!"
The outer court's Wuhun Department Director, Du Weilun, charged to the front, followed by a group of staff. All of them were at least six-ring Soul Emperors, and their numbers weren't small.
But when the Holy Spirit Cult responded, only two figures stepped forward—and easily stopped the entire group.
Those two were none other than Holy Spirit Cult's Vice Leader Feng Ling, and the Sixth Worshiper, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng.
Two Super Douluos. Against a group lacking even a single Title Douluo, it was hardly a contest.
For this operation, the Holy Spirit Cult had mobilized all its top fighters, including every Worshiper.
Originally, the Cult had twelve Worshipers. Two Super Douluos were killed in the Mingde Hall incident by the main body clone. Ten remained—three of them Super Douluos, the others all Titled Douluos.
Zhang Peng, with his Scorpion Tiger martial soul, ranked sixth.
The other two Super Douluos were:
Second Worshiper: Beast Blood Douluo, Sun Xiaoyu, with a martial soul of his own blood.
Fifth Worshiper: Raven Douluo, Wu Yun, with a Dark Raven martial soul.
Indeed, Beast Blood Douluo's martial soul belonged to the Body Sect line of soul traits.
The Third and Fourth Worshipers were the two previously slain.
The rest had already led elite squads toward Sea God's Pavilion, with the sole aim of confronting Huo Yuhao.
Of note: except for Long Xiaoyao, the remaining eleven Worshipers shared similar pasts. Though not born as evil soul masters, their martial souls were misunderstood due to their form or nature. Marginalized by society, they fled to the Sun Moon Empire and sought refuge in the Holy Spirit Cult.
Yes, most of the Holy Spirit Cult's Worshipers were neither evil soul masters nor originally from the Sun Moon Empire.
They were but a small sample of persecuted soul masters.
Over the years, who knows how many soul masters had been misunderstood and branded evil due to ignorance and prejudice—many dying without ever escaping.
This wasn't just all Shrek Academy's fault. The real blame lay with the e,pires and sect too who along with shrek sealed away knowledge, allowing ignorance to fester and barbarity to spread.
Because real evil soul masters had committed countless atrocities, ordinary citizens had developed seething resentment—resentment that inevitably needed a target.
And indeed, martial souls that looked inherently sinister—those related to darkness, bones, or blood—were most prone to corruption.
Feng Ling and Zhang Peng were perfect examples of that contrast.
Zhang Peng, whose martial soul evolved by absorbing blood and souls, was not an evil soul master.
Feng Ling, on the other hand, had a martial soul that fell from a Dark Phoenix into a Wicked Phoenix—requiring the blood of other phoenix-type soul masters to grow stronger.
"Director Du Weilun, I wonder if you still remember me?" Tang Ya stepped out from behind Feng Ling and Zhang Peng, confronting Du Weilun directly.
Though Tang Ya's appearance and hair color had changed, Du Weilun recognized her after a few seconds. As Beibei's former girlfriend, she had left a strong impression.
"You're... Tang Ya?!"
Others recognized her too.
"That really is Tang Ya! The one with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul!"
"I heard she fell and became an evil soul master—and the Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess!"
"A Blue Silver Grass soul master born evil! Kicking her out back then was the right call!"
"Wasn't she the heir to the Tang Sect? The sect founded by Tang San himself! She's a disgrace to her ancestors!"
Though most of her fellow students had graduated, many of the teachers who once taught her were still here.
Tang Ya paid their accusations no mind. She smiled sweetly at Du Weilun.
"Director Du Weilun, weren't you the one who processed my expulsion back then? Heh... fate really is funny, isn't it~?"
Du Weilun's expression was rigid, his eight soul rings glowing fiercely. He spoke coldly, "If I had known this day would come, I'd have killed you on the spot!"
"Well, it's not too late~"
Tang Ya's smile grew brighter, nearly radiant.
"Vice Leader, Sixth Worshiper—please take care of the others. Du Weilun is mine."
Feng Ling gave a nod and unleashed her Wicked Phoenix martial soul, charging into the fray.
Zhang Peng offered Tang Ya a grin. "Be careful, Lady Saintess."
With that, his Scorpion Tiger martial soul burst forth as he dove into the crowd.
Two Super Douluos against the outer court's soul masters—an outright massacre.
"Damn it all!!!" Du Weilun's eyes went bloodshot. He launched a furious assault directly at Tang Ya. He knew he couldn't beat the Super Douluos—but if he could capture Tang Ya, perhaps he could force their hand.
But Tang Ya was unfazed.
"Director Du Weilun, I'm no longer the weak Blue Silver Grass soul master you all once bullied…"
"Let me show you—my current martial soul: Dark Blue Silver Grass!"
Dark Blue Silver Grass exploded from her hands, writhing like countless black tentacles, radiating malice and destruction. They surged outward like a spreading veil of darkness, engulfing Du Weilun.
Tang Ya's Dark Blue Silver Grass had been infused with the seeds of Evil and Destruction by Huo Yuhao—and now, it had fully evolved.
Du Weilun tried to cut through the encroaching grass, but it just kept regenerating, thicker and more ferocious, eventually binding his body completely.
From within the black mass came his agonized screams—chilling, prolonged.
Crackling sounds of bones breaking and the gnawing of flesh echoed ominously within.
The screams went on for minutes.
Finally, the grass withdrew with a wave of Tang Ya's hand.
There was no sign of Du Weilun.
Only a tattered pile of clothing remained.
Tang Ya's face was bright with a lovely blush and a smile that was both radiant and unnatural.
"Thanks for the meal~"
Tang Ya: Ancestors... I've finally made something of myself!