As an Inner Court disciple, he had once thought himself gifted. But here, surrounded by monsters of genius, that talent meant next to nothing.
Only after entering did he truly understand—geniuses, too, were divided into ranks.
Usually, he passed the days bragging in front of younger students, goofing around, and living idly without pressure. Never did he expect to be caught in such a mess today.
"ROAR!!"
The white-furred ape rolled its neck, its bulging muscles crackling like firecrackers as bones popped. It let out a deafening bellow at Dai Yueheng and the others.
"Soul Tool Department disciples—build temporary turrets and fire from the back! Protect the auxiliaries and controllers! Assault types, with me—hold it back at all costs! All we need to do is buy time until the teachers or senior brothers arrive—then our task is complete!
Dai Yueheng's face was grave, yet his voice remained calm and orderly as he issued commands.
The crumbling formation of students gradually pulled itself together, forming at least the outline of a battle line.
"BOOM!"
Under the sweeping barrage of soul tool fire, countless students rose into the air, soul rings flaring beneath their feet—a spectacular sight.
One by one, their soul skills struck the white ape, and for the moment, they managed to stall its advance.
While the crowd fled in panic toward the back, three black-robed men walked calmly against the tide of bodies. They stood unmoving, watching the raging ape not far away, utterly out of place amid the chaos.
"Cult Master, shall we act now?"
The Scorpion-Tiger Douluo's hood was lifted slightly by the tremors of combat, revealing a savage black tattoo curling across his neck. He turned to Zhongli Wu.
"No rush. Let's enjoy the show…"
Beneath his hood, a smile tugged at the corners of Zhongli Wu's mouth.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
He soon fixed upon three small figures: two pretty young girls, and a boy whose handsome features were still marked by immaturity—all clad in the Shrek Outer Court uniform.
His eyes lingered on one particular girl, her light-blue eyes betraying nervous tension.
"The Spirit Eyes martial soul… Yet the necrotic aura seeping from her body is impossibly pure. An invisible Evil Spirit martial soul, perhaps…"
Zhongli Wu tilted his head back, intoxication flashing in his eyes.
"A natural Saint Body for the Holy Spirit Cult. With her, the entire cult will rise to prominence within decades."
"But I cannot be hasty."
He clasped his hands behind his back, exuding absolute confidence.
The strongest aura rushing from Shrek Academy was, at best, that of an ordinary Titled Douluo. He could deal with that effortlessly.
With the target already within reach, there was no longer any need to keep up the disguise.
Take her and retreat. That was enough.
"Cult Master, why not seize her now?"
Another black-robed man spoke, his voice unnaturally sharp.
"Heh, Crow, do you think that if I take her away now, she will wholeheartedly devote herself to the Holy Spirit Cult?"
Zhongli Wu smiled faintly.
"This…" The man known as Crow faltered, then realized, "She belongs to Shrek Academy. Though she might submit temporarily under threat to her life, in time…"
"Exactly. If we forcibly erase her memories, her comprehension will weaken, and her potential on the Evil Soul Master path will be crippled. That is not what our cult needs."
Zhongli Wu's lips curled.
"No. I must craft an illusion, one that ensures her grudge is aimed at Shrek Academy."
Everything was unfolding as if preordained, falling perfectly into his hands…
Under the combined efforts of Shrek's students, the ape was momentarily suppressed, roaring furiously but unable to break free.
At last, the crowd exhaled in relief. Dai Yueheng wiped sweat from his forehead, his own shoulders easing.
Already, he could sense powerful auras rushing forth from the depths of Shrek Academy, streaking through the skies toward them.
He looked at the ape, now showing a flicker of fear in its eyes, and sneered.
"Regretting it now?"
"Heh. Too late for that."
But just as the defenders allowed themselves a moment of ease—
The white ape suddenly roared with renewed ferocity, its muscles bulging like mountains, its massive feet slamming into the ground. Its body shot skyward like a cannonball, then came crashing down toward the crowd at the rear.
"Damn it!"
Dai Yueheng's pupils shrank.
He drained the last dregs of soul power in his body, forcing out one final Sand Bind. From beneath the ground, torrents of sand erupted in a storm, condensing into a massive hand that reached up to seize the falling ape.
When it was done, his face went deathly pale.
He stared skyward with grim resolve.
If he could stop this one strike, they would win!
But this time, the ape's power was monstrously different. Its aura suddenly spiked, steeped in bloodlust, malice, and darkness that exploded outward.
"This… this is the aura of an Evil Soul Master!!"
Blood dribbled from Dai Yueheng's lips as he shouted in disbelief.
"Which Beast Tamer of the Evil Soul Masters dared to infiltrate Shrek Academy?!" someone else cried in alarm.
In the next instant—
Empowered by the evil energy, the white ape seemed fully demonized. Its eyes glowed blood-red, black-red patterns crawled across its snowy fur, and it radiated the presence of a fiend descended upon the world.
It smashed through the giant sand hand with a single punch, tanked the blast of countless soul tools, and plummeted straight into the heart of the crowd.
"NO!!!"
Dai Yueheng's eyes bulged in despair. If the beast struck, nearly a thousand people at the rear would suffer—at least half would die.
Among them were countless Outer Court juniors—the future of the Academy.
If they were slaughtered here, the loss to Shrek would be incalculable.
That was why, as their senior, he was willing to throw his life on the line to shield them.
The crowd didn't even have time to scream. They could only stare upward in frozen horror, their faces stiff with terror.
Dai Yueheng shut his eyes in pain.
He was already spent, his soul power bled dry—there was nothing left to squeeze from his body.
(To be continued…)