"Damn it—how could this happen!"
Zhongli Wu's expression twisted in shock.
He could sense it.
Some unknown force instantly devoured the dark aura he had planted within the girl's body. Connection to the White Ape's soul was severed in the same breath.
"How is this possible!"
The Scorpion Tiger Douluo and the Dark Raven Douluo at his side were equally stunned.
The Sect Master… had failed? That shouldn't be possible.
She was just a Soul Elder, a mere child. How could she possibly resist their master's control? And this extreme radiance of light—where had it come from?
But before they could react further, Zhongli Wu's figure flickered, vanishing from where he stood.
His face was grim.
Two powerful auras had entered his perception, fast approaching. If Shrek Academy's true high-level elders were to arrive, even he would face no small amount of trouble. This had already gone further than planned.
Then there was only one choice—
Take the girl by force!
"So, you couldn't hold yourself back after all."
A faint smile tugged at Neuvillette's lips, his deep-blue staff lightly tapping against the air, ripples spreading outward.
Zhongli Wu's speed was terrifying. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the girl, his hand darting out to grab her.
"Careful!"
Wang Dong's face went pale. Though he reacted quickly, he only had time to shout a warning— too late to intervene.
The other students stood frozen, still unable to distinguish friend from foe.
"Come with me to the Holy Spirit Cult, child. That is where you truly belong," Zhongli Wu said in a gentle voice, his hand stretching ever closer.
"You are destined to be the Saintess of our sect, to inherit all its resources—"
"I don't want to go!"
The girl's eyes brimmed with terror. Yet beneath Zhongli Wu's oppressive aura, her body was locked in place, unable to move even a finger, forced to watch as his hand came ever nearer.
But in the very instant his hand was about to touch her—
A figure appeared.
Blocking the space between them.
"Lord Zhongli Wu, why such impatience?"
Time itself seemed to pause.
Neuvillette gave a faint smile as he looked at the black-robed man, whose expression was darkening. His tone, however, was light, almost casual.
"To think you'd try to steal a student of Shrek Academy… without asking my opinion first?"
"Interesting. Very interesting."
Zhongli Wu exhaled softly, his eyes narrowing with a weight he had not shown before.
In that fleeting instant of confrontation, they had already exchanged blows in silence.
As Zhongli Wu's hand drew close to the girl, a piercing chill flooded his veins—so intense it seemed ready to freeze his very blood solid. If not for his quick reaction, he might have been crippled outright.
That single heartbeat had been enough to halt his strike.
"And so…"
Neuvillette tapped his staff once more.
Above, the heavens trembled. A vast storm gathered in the sky, as though stirred by divine wrath. Behind him, a colossal water dragon slowly took form, its roar thundering across Shrek Academy.
The oppressive might that descended felt nothing short of godlike.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as countless eyes lifted toward the enormous water dragon coiled in the heavens.
At the same time, a stunning figure appeared at his side.
Her black hair danced lightly in the storm winds. Above her head hung a brilliant moon, silver light washing over all, while at her feet rose eight soul rings. When the eighth, a blood-red hundred-thousand-year ring, flared into view, every onlooker felt their pupils contract, scalp prickling with numb terror.
Behind Zhongli Wu, even the Scorpion Tiger Douluo and Dark Raven Douluo could not mask their horror.
This… this was the true depth of Shrek Academy.
Genius after genius—such was the burden borne by the Continent's number one academy.
It was terrifying beyond words.
Neuvillette's voice was calm, almost serene, his smile as warm as flowing water.
"So tell me, Sect Master… do you still intend to take her?"
Zhongli Wu stared at the boy before him, at the gentle smile concealing power vast as the sea. His face darkened further. From the strength Neuvillette had revealed, even if he could not defeat Zhongli Wu outright, stalling all three was no challenge.
And beyond that—
Two even greater powers were drawing near, their auras now clear and undeniable.
If he allowed himself to be delayed here, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Withdraw."
Zhongli Wu cast one last, heavy glance at Neuvillette before turning away.
There would be other chances. He did not believe this girl could remain under Shrek's protection forever.
And as for this youth—Neuvillette—he now burned in Zhongli Wu's mind as a mystery worth unraveling.
"This…"
The Scorpion Tiger Douluo and Raven Douluo both wore dark, unwilling expressions. Yet they, too, knew there was no other choice. They shot a final look at Neuvillette before retreating behind their master.
"Teacher Neuvillette… what exactly is going on?"
Wang Dong finally exhaled, relief washing through him as he looked toward the bewildered Huo Yutong, then back to Neuvillette.
"That man was Zhongli Wu, the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult," Neuvillette explained evenly, his words carrying clarity and authority for all those gathered.
"He intended to abduct Yutong, and so he framed the White Ape incident upon her to sow doubt."
"Only if she despaired of Shrek entirely would she ever willingly join their cult."
"I see… so you weren't an undercover spy after all, Yutong!"
Wang Dong's face lit with joy, and he rushed forward to embrace the girl tightly.
"Of course I'm not!"
Huo Yutong exhaled deeply, her beautiful eyes still fixed in hatred upon the departing Zhongli Wu. Her lips pouted in frustration.
If not for the Holy Son's sharp eye and unwavering judgment, she would not only have been smeared as a traitor, but dragged away to serve as some so-called "Saintess" of that wretched sect.
"Ptui! Ptui! Ptui!"
What damned Holy Spirit Cult? She wanted no part of it.
She had only one small wish—
To remain forever by the Holy Son's side. Always. Always…
And anyone who tried to take that from her—
Would be her enemy.
(End of Chapter)