"Boy, where have you been these past few days?"
The moment Neuvillette returned to the academy, a figure blocked his way — one hand holding a half-eaten chicken drumstick, speaking in his usual blunt tone.
"Elder Xuan, you were looking for me… is something that matters?"
Neuvillette glanced at the scowling Xuan Zi, entirely not sure what this was about.
"In a little while, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will be held. Interested in going out to take a look with me?"
Elder Xuan asked in a casual, offhand tone, as if it didn't matter much.
But every so often, he'd turn his head, and in his eyes there was a glimmer of expectation that made Neuvillette's lips twitch in mild amusement.
"I can go. I recall correctly that's still at least four or five months away."
Neuvillette paused in thought for a moment before nodding lightly.
"Well, I just don't want you running off again. If I can't find you when the time comes, what then?" Elder Xuan waved dismissively.
He walked off, leaving only his retreating.
"Don't you forget, boy!"
"Your Holiness… this 'Continental Academy Elite Tournament'—what exactly is that?"
The young woman beside him looked over with curiosity in her eyes.
"It's exactly what the name suggests," Neuvillette replied calmly.
Yet in his heart, he recalled the events from the original tale.
During the journey to the Star Luo Empire for the tournament, "Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult" Chicken Drumstick Douluo—Elder Xuan—encountered a mission to eradicate an Evil Soul Master.
Under the protection of a rank 98 Super Douluo, the Shrek Academy team should have been completely safe… yet still suffered disaster.
The Evil Soul Master self-detonated. The main team was left with one dead, two crippled, and four heavily injured. The reserve team escaped with only minor injuries.
As for Elder Xuan? Unable to stand the stench of the Evil Soul Master's lair, he lingered outside "to watch the fun" — only arriving after the tragedy had already unfolded.
And, in the most absurd twist, the Evil Soul Master — merely a Soul King — managed to escape right under this rank 98 Super Douluo's nose by seizing Huo Gua as a hostage after killing Yao Haoxuan.
If not for Electrolux's intervention, the plan might have succeeded.
One could only say — when it came to the position of Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, Elder Xuan was without peer.
That battle's casualties forced Huo Gua and the others to shoulder the burden, turning the tide in desperation.
"Sigh."
Neuvillette exhaled quietly.
He would prevent deaths this time — but he would not shield them from the lesson. Even Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yutong, and the rest needed to experience the danger that came with Elder Xuan's "protection."
"Oh…"
The young woman pressed her lips together, stealing a glance at him.
She felt a twinge of disappointment… but when she thought of their journey together to the Extreme North, her spirits lifted. That was a secret belonging to them alone…
"Alright, you should prepare as well. I've secured three days of leave for you. But in two months, the academy assessment begins — your coordination with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao is still far from adequate."
Of course, Neuvillette had noticed the girl's feelings.
But his original goal was to preempt Huo Gua and derail Tang Shenwang's plans.
Forget it, one step at a time.
He tilted his head back, gazing into the sky. Beyond the endless expanse of cloudless blue, it was as though a phantom shadow was quietly watching the land below.
God Realm.
In a boundless, ethereal sea of clouds, a majestic palace stood tall. Bathed in a faint halo of light, it seemed both real and illusory.
A figure stood motionless at the edge of the cloud sea, gazing into the infinite horizon.
His hair was a cascade of water-blue silk, flowing down to his feet. If not for his tall, commanding stature and broad shoulders, one might have mistaken him for a woman from behind.
The noble blue robe he wore seemed to ripple with living water. His handsome face appeared no more than twenty-something in years, yet his eyes held unfathomable depth.
"Hm?"
The man's brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his gaze.
"His fate has changed."
"What exactly went wrong?"
"Third brother."
A soft voice called to him. A pink-clad figure stepped out from the void, naturally and tenderly taking his arm.
"What's caught your attention so deeply?"
"Ah, I'm simply worried for our daughter. For her to sneak down into the lower realm on her own… It's enough to trouble any parent's heart."
Tang San's voice returned to calm as he forced a small smile.
At this, Xiao Wu's expression turned sharp. "Those two — Good and Evil — are far too irresponsible! How could they allow my daughter to enter the mortal realm so casually? I'll settle this with them when I have the chance!"
Tang San's mouth twitched faintly, and he hastily pulled the beauty into his embrace, steering the topic away.
"Enough of these troubles. Let's think instead about the gathering with Mubai, Xiao Ao, and the others. The Seven Devils haven't all been together in far too long."
"Oh, in that case, I'll start preparing things right away."
Xiao Wu's mood lifted instantly, and her figure soon vanished from the realm.
Yet, the moment she was gone—
Tang San's brows drew tightly together once more, his gaze locked on the world below the cloud sea.
Something… was slipping from his control.
No.
His eyes turned cold.
He had gone to great lengths to split his daughter's soul into two halves — hiding it from Xiao Wu, risking discovery by the other two God Realm enforcers — placing one half into the body of the Auspicious Beast, and the other into the mortal realm to fall in love with the so-called "child of destiny."
Both… were the Tang family's hounds.
A world's child of destiny, born only once in tens of thousands of years, was nearly certain to ascend to godhood.
Perhaps even qualified to replace an Enforcer.
With such a loyal hound, the entire God Realm could be made the property of the Tang family…
Thus, he would never allow anyone to destroy this plan.
Tang San raised his right hand slightly. Below the cloud sea, the barrier sealing Douluo Continent from the God Realm began to loosen.
But in the next instant, two abrupt voices rang out—
"Hehe… Lord Enforcer, we can't be held responsible for your daughter's little escapade into the mortal realm."
"That's right. Wasn't it you who personally tore open the barrier to send Wutong down? If Xiao Wu comes asking later, we'll be sure to tell her the truth."
With their words, two figures appeared before Tang San — one clad in black, the other in white.
"Good and Evil."
Tang San's eyes narrowed.
Quietly, he lowered his hand, clasping both behind his back.
He smiled warmly.
"What rare guests. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"God of Asura, our visit is for one purpose only," the God of Good said with a mild smile.
"The God Realm has always abided by the law of non-interference in the mortal realm. We hope you will cease your actions."
The God of Evil, his form swathed entirely in a black robe, added slowly:
"Otherwise… we will act to stop you. And I believe, God of Asura, that is not an outcome you would wish to see."
(End of Chapter)
PS GOAL: 100- 5 CHAPS.