That night, Xu Tianxi didn't sleep. Instead, he used his Mirror Flower, Water Moon Soul Skill to conjure three illusions in his room, while his true self, along with Yue Lao and Zhi Sen, quietly slipped away. They observed the inn from a distance, keeping a close watch on the situation.
Zhi Sen went off to track down the Evil Soul Master, while Xu Tianxi and Yue Lao kept watch.
There was no other way. The persona had been established. If they had killed someone and then just run off, would they still be the arrogant and unruly good disciples of Shrek?
Only by killing someone, then resting in the inn with a clear conscience and righteous indignation, could they truly display the absolute confidence of the Shrek People, who remain calm in the face of danger and look down on all under heaven!
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However, they couldn't just disregard their safety for the sake of showing off. To prevent Xu Jiujiu from going berserk in anger and summoning Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Imperial Capital to cause trouble, they fled immediately, ready to retreat into the Ming Dou Great Forest at any moment.
He could only say that only he knew how much effort he had put in to maintain his new persona.
Instead of staying in a warm, comfortable room and sleeping in a soft bed, he spent the entire night outside enduring the biting northwest wind. Xu Tianxi felt he had truly put in too much effort and believed that the Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, would be very moved once he heard about what happened here.
Even if he could only endure it silently due to his limited strength, he would certainly harbor deep hatred for Shrek. Once the seed of hatred is sown, it will take root and sprout, eventually growing into a towering tree.
As for Xu Jiujiu, whose dignity had been trampled into the dust and mercilessly crushed countless times...
Xu Tianxi felt that as long as this woman was alive, she would never forget this unforgettable night. He had nourished the seed of hatred with abundant nutrients, and it had probably already grown into a small sapling.
This woman and Vina, the Heavenly Soul Empire Princess, were among the rare women on the Douluo Continent who weren't blinded by love. They even had some brains. Xu Tianxi looked forward to her seizing an opportunity to get revenge on Shrek in the future.
The night passed without incident.
Xu Jiujiu neither sent word to the Imperial Capital for experts nor contacted the nearby Star Luo Empire's Western Legion. She perfectly fulfilled Xu Tianxi's demands, and at dawn, she delivered a scroll along with Xu Tianxi's Shrek Inner Courtyard Disciple Token.
"Everything you requested is here, Your Excellency. If there's nothing else, Jiujiu will take her leave."
With a lifeless expression, Xu Jiujiu placed the two items down and stiffly performed a court courtesy for Xu Tianxi. Her fair arms hung limply at her sides, like a helpless sinner awaiting a final judgment.
"The information is very detailed. Princess, you are indeed a trustworthy person."
Xu Tianxi said faintly, a smile playing on his lips.
Xu Jiujiu offered a weak smile and was about to turn and leave.
As she neared the doorway, a calm male voice came from behind her.
"Given how cooperative the Princess has been, I'll offer you a piece of advice: never show hatred easily in front of someone you can't possibly defeat."
Xu Jiujiu stopped, her eyes instantly reddening. She spun around abruptly, staring at Xu Tianxi, who was seated in the Grand Preceptor's Chair, and questioned him word by word:
"Do you mean, in your eyes, that everyone in this world should be emotionless machines, without even a hint of feeling?!"
She had nothing left to fear. All her dignity had been completely lost last night, and all her pride had been utterly shattered by the cold, ruthless, and despairingly powerful man before her.
Even if she returned safely, she would no longer be the radiant, kind, and generous Princess Jiujiu she once was. Instead, she would be Xu Jiujiu, who dedicated her entire life to the destruction of Shrek!
The other party's attitude was terrifyingly indifferent, but this also made her firmly believe that this person, who completely looked down on her, would not kill her.
It wasn't out of fear of her status, but because in his eyes, she wasn't even worth him dirtying his hands.
What a pathetic and ridiculous reason, Xu Jiujiu thought, a bitter and self-mocking smile gracing her lips.
Xu Tianxi smiled, the curve of his lips revealing undisguised contempt. He pushed himself up from the armrest of the Grand Preceptor's Chair and said,
"Of course not, but if you truly want revenge, you should be more ruthless, not hesitant like this.
Either you shouldn't have brought these two things to me; you should have gone directly to your Imperial Brother or the White Tiger Duke for help, and had them send people to kill me overnight.
Or, you should gather all your resentment, try to make me and Shrek drop our guard, and from then on, become a venomous snake hidden in the shadows, developing in secret, accumulating strength, and searching for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to us."
"That's the quality a wise imperial princess should possess, and it would earn my respect. But your current appearance doesn't even warrant a hint of caution from me."
"I've heard of your good reputation in the Star Luo Empire before, and it truly lives up to its name—a useless decorative vase. Aside from a bit of looks, a bit of talent, and an unparalleled background, you are good for nothing."
"Do you think everything you're doing is great? Not only fulfilling your responsibility as a Star Luo Princess to consider the bigger picture, but also winning over the hearts of those few useless people?"
"At a time like this, still worrying about so many rules and regulations is truly laughable. Is it really that difficult to kill us and then frame Evil Soul Masters or Soul Beasts?
The power you can wield is far more than this, yet you chose the most foolish method, leading only to self-pity and internal strife! No wonder you possess powerful Martial Souls, yet can never threaten Shrek's dominance in competitions."
Seeing how far behind Xu Jiujiu's capabilities were, Xu Tianxi decided to personally intervene and teach her what a true avenger should be capable of.
He wanted to shock the intellectually backward people of the Douluo Continent with a bit of astonishing wisdom.
Xu Jiujiu gave a miserable smile, her emotions gradually rising. A deep red appeared on her fair, delicate neck, and she roared, clenching her fists:
"Are you teaching me how to get revenge on you and Shrek? Aren't you afraid I'll become one of the types of people you described and deliberately retaliate against Shrek?!"
"It's not as if I haven't had contact with or understood Shrek's Inner Courtyard disciples. I don't believe they're all like you, powerful enough to make me despair! To make me tremble! Some of them are nothing special; they can't all be peerless monsters like you!"
It's great if you want to get revenge on them. I should say even more.
Xu Tianxi chuckled dismissively, completely unconcerned:
"So what? Shrek, with its ten-thousand-year legacy, has weathered how many storms? You wouldn't think a mere Star Luo Princess like you could shake such a legendary academy, would you?"
As he spoke, Xu Tianxi changed his tone, walking unhurriedly towards Xu Jiujiu. As he walked, he said,
"But you're right about one thing: many Shrek Inner Courtyard disciples really aren't that capable. Once they enter the Inner Courtyard, they assume they can rest easy, not much stronger than those good-for-nothings from last night. It's truly unbearable to watch."
"Shrek, which has carried ten thousand years of glory, shouldn't always live in comfort. Only with external pressure can there be the motivation to grow stronger."
Xu Tianxi walked up to Xu Jiujiu, gently blew on her delicate, alluring earlobe, and chuckled softly:
"So… I hope you, the Star Luo Princess, have some real capability, and can give us a little bit of pressure. Only through intense heat can true gold be refined. Shrek needs challenges to become stronger."
As for whether your Star Luo Empire can achieve what it desires in this struggle, that will depend on your own capabilities..."
"To earn respect, you must display strength. Dignity is fought for; if you are weak, you have no right to be taken seriously by the strong.
If you are unwilling to accept this, you must make yourself stronger and prove to Shrek on the field that you deserve respect!
He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight; only after great waves can true gold be seen. This principle applies to both you and me.
Do you understand what I'm teaching you? Hmm? My incompetent and laughable Princess?"