After learning the truth about Zhongli Wu, both of them finally felt a bit of relief.
In the quiet of their room, Yan Shaozhe and Elder Song both wore grim expressions. Elder Song looked at Yan Shaozhe, who was pacing back and forth, and said,
"Perhaps I should return to the Academy. You and that Xue Qing girl can handle things here, can't you?"
Yan Shaozhe thought it over and finally nodded. "That might be best. We have to inform Elder Xuan and the other nations about Ma Xiaotao and that evil soul master who might be an Ultimate Douluo — the sooner they know, the better we can prepare."
After discussing the plan, Elder Song wasted no time. She immediately set off toward Shrek Academy.
But every move she made was being reported to Kong Deming by his agents.
As soon as he learned of it, Kong Deming ordered Jing Hongchen to take Elder Hong and Ye Yulin to intercept her before she could leave the Sun Moon Empire.
On the bustling streets of Mingdu, Yan Shaozhe stood among the crowd, his heart heavy.
He had watched Ma Xiaotao grow up. Seeing her now turned into an evil soul master — who could possibly feel at ease about that? Worse, everyone had seen her fall into darkness. Even if she could be saved one day, she would never again be able to walk the world in the open.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yan Shaozhe suddenly noticed a red-haired girl who looked strikingly similar to Ma Xiaotao.
He froze, then quickly stepped toward her.
"Xiaotao?"
The girl flinched at his voice, instantly becoming alert. She took a few steps back and asked cautiously, "Who are you?"
Sensing that her aura was not fire-type, Yan Shaozhe's hopeful gaze dimmed again. He sighed softly. "Never mind. I'm sorry — I mistook you for someone else."
The girl blinked, studying him closely. Then she suddenly pointed and said, "I know you! You're that guy from the arena — the one who protected the evil soul master!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to draw attention.
Passersby turned to look.
Hearing that this man had "protected an evil soul master," the crowd began whispering among themselves, pointing at Yan Shaozhe with judgmental stares.
Yan Shaozhe clenched his fist, the urge to lash out rising — but he forced himself to restrain his emotions and simply swept his sleeve, turning away.
Only after he left did the girl wipe the sweat from her brow and sigh in relief.
"So scary! Good thing I reacted fast… if he'd found out what I really am, I'd be in trouble…"
"You're a soul beast?"
A calm voice suddenly spoke from behind her.
The girl froze, eyes wide. She turned to see three figures — Jiang Shengyu, Jiang Qingtong, and Jiang Feixin — standing a short distance away.
Jiang Qingtong smiled and waved lightly. "You might want to keep that inner monologue to yourself. You were practically announcing it through a loudspeaker. Lucky for you, we heard — if it were anyone else, you'd already be caught and turned into a soul ring."
The girl panicked, stepping back again and again.
But Jiang Feixin simply strode forward, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and dragged her over to the others.
"Let go! Let me go!"
The girl struggled frantically, but couldn't break free.
Jiang Shengyu glanced around and said calmly, "This isn't a good place to talk. Let's move somewhere quieter… Miss Soul Beast."
Without asking for her consent, the three of them took her off the main street, turning corner after corner until they reached the Soul Hall.
Inside the Soul Hall's reception chamber, the three humans stood facing the girl like judges before a criminal.
The red-haired girl sat nervously, her eyes darting around for a chance to escape — but the oppressive aura radiating from Jiang Feixin kept her rooted to the spot.
She could tell that Jiang Feixin was a soul beast as well — and a far stronger one than herself.
Otherwise, how could this woman see through her disguise? The Evil Emperor had placed a powerful barrier around her; even a Titled Douluo shouldn't have been able to detect her true identity!
What should she do? She'd heard that outside the Evil Demon Forest, soul beasts were ruthless — kill or be killed!
Seeing her trembling like a frightened rabbit, Jiang Shengyu muttered under his breath, "This is a soul beast? Why does she look so timid?"
"Are you doubting the Emperor Beast's judgment?" Jiang Feixin shot him a glare, then turned to Jiang Qingtong. "Qingtong, trust me — she's definitely a soul beast."
Jiang Shengyu: "…"
What's with the double standard?
"Hey, where are you from?" Jiang Feixin asked sharply, summoning her Golden Dragon Spear. "How dare you wander around out here so carelessly? And how come human Titled Douluo can't see through your disguise? Speak honestly!"
Feeling the crushing pressure from the spear, the girl straightened up at once and stammered,
"M-my name's Xie Lingling (OC)! I'm an Evil-Eyed Tyrant! I came from the Evil Demon Forest! The Evil Emperor placed a restriction on me so that human Titled Douluo wouldn't recognize what I am! I told you everything, so please don't hit me!"
She blurted out everything — her origin, her purpose, her entire story.
"An Evil-Eyed Tyrant…"
"…That's it?"
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong looked her up and down. Jiang Shengyu sighed, "The Evil-Eyed Tyrant race is doomed."
"I've heard of them," Jiang Feixin said. She glanced between the two siblings and continued,
"The Evil Emperor is fiercely protective of his own. All the Evil-Eyed Tyrants live deep in the Evil Demon Forest under his protection. They almost never have contact with the outside world."
At that explanation, the two finally understood.
Jiang Shengyu's eyes lit up with a thought. He reached into his storage ring and took out a black dragon scale. "Lingling, look! This is Ditian's scale. We're good friends! Do you want to know why Ditian wants to unite the soul beast world — or what's been happening in the human world? Come with me, and I'll tell you everything!"
As Jiang Shengyu grinned and dangled the black scale temptingly, Jiang Feixin sidled up next to Jiang Qingtong and whispered, "Does he… do this kind of thing often?"
Xie Lingling stared at Jiang Shengyu uncertainly. "Really?"
"Of course! If I'm lying, may thunder strike that golden-haired one behind me," Jiang Shengyu said with a big smile.
A golden blur moved — and clang! — Jiang Feixin's Golden Dragon Spear slammed straight into the back of his head.
Standing beside her, Jiang Qingtong went silent.
That looked painful.
In the end, thanks to Jiang Shengyu's dubious "persuasion," Xie Lingling stayed at the Soul Hall.
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen, accompanied by Elder Hong and Ye Yulin, managed to capture Elder Song. Though she was famed for her speed, she couldn't escape from the encirclement of three class Nine Soul Engineers.
In the Soul Hall's underground dungeon, Jiang Shengyu approached the imprisoned Blue Eagle Douluo, Elder Song of Shrek Academy.
"Elder Song," he greeted from beyond the bars. "We meet again."
Her soul power had been completely sealed, making escape impossible. Seeing Jiang Shengyu there, her eyes widened in disbelief. Then realization struck, and her expression hardened.
"You… You've been acting this entire time? You never truly sided with the Academy?"