The battle didn't last long. The moment the Netherworld Spirit Cat was restrained, its fate was sealed.
"Smack—!"
The Soul Power within the Netherworld Spirit Cat was brutally drained, no longer able to maintain its Martial Soul True Body form, and it reverted to its human shape.
Zhu Wen was tightly bound by the Azure Ghost Vine, her limbs pulled apart, her alluring figure stretched out in a "big" character shape. Large patches of crimson skin were exposed beneath her torn clothes, and she whimpered uncontrollably.
Xu Tianxi nodded slightly as he watched this scene, then turned his gaze back to Xu Jiujiu, saying coldly,
"Princess, I've received the sincerity of your apology. I'm not interested in your life, but I am somewhat interested in this woman's life. Since you're apologizing sincerely, how about you do me a favor and dispose of this foolish attendant who caused such a huge mess?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Jiujiu suddenly looked up, her expression sharp and furious. She stared intently at Xu Tianxi, gritting her silver teeth, and cried out heartbreakingly,
"Your Excellency, your demand is too excessive! Have you considered how you'll face the common people and public opinion?!"
Xu Tianxi snorted coldly, lifted his leg, and kicked Chen Xiaojie in the abdomen again. Mimicking Yan Shaozhe, he spoke from a position of superiority,
"Don't look at me with that unconvinced gaze. I'm telling you, as the Princess of the Star Luo Empire, you should remember that you represent the image and dignity of the Star Luo Empire! You must exert sufficient control within this team! Yet, you failed to notice your disobedient subordinate's little tricks immediately, nor did you stop this good-for-nothing under my foot, which led to you provoking someone you shouldn't have and committing the greatest mistake in the Star Luo Empire's millennia-long history! From the current situation, your losses are due to your indulgence and carelessness. While those two old good-for-nothings from your academy are certainly at fault, you, the Star Luo Princess, are equally, and greatly, at fault!"
"By protecting your companions with your life now, you've balanced out your merits and demerits. I won't pursue your responsibility further."
"If you're unconvinced that I want to kill her, then train hard. If you can become a powerful expert one day, an expert who can catch up to me, I'll give you a chance to challenge me!"
"But right now, you have no right to criticize me, a member of the Shrek Supervision Group who eliminates harm for the continent and safeguards the lives of its inhabitants! What right do you have to lecture me?! The Douluo Continent rests on Shrek Academy's shoulders; those words 'common people' are not yours to speak!!!"
At this moment, the Little Grand Secretary seemed to possess him. Xu Tianxi felt like a genius at improvising, the kind who infuriates without paying the price.
"Pffft—!"
Xu Jiujiu's face flushed upon hearing this, and she was so enraged that she spat out a mouthful of heart blood. Before her eyes was an endless darkness, as if she was about to lose all vision.
This is Shrek! This is Shrek! They've long considered the Douluo Continent their own! Yes, if not for Shrek, their three great empires might have fallen before the Sun Moon Empire over four thousand years ago. Of course, they have the right to be arrogant about their achievements!
"Princess!"
The geniuses from Star Luo Royal Academy, who had been silent for a long time, finally snapped out of it. They scrambled forward to support Xu Jiujiu, who was mentally shattered and on the verge of collapsing.
"If you're unconvinced, you can also come up and spar with me. Don't push yourselves too hard; I guarantee no elders will make a move."
Xu Tianxi added fuel to the fire, his tone playful, his face plastered with an arrogant expression that screamed, "Come on, you bunch of good-for-nothings, I dare you."
Only today did he realize that "Li Feiyu, the murderer and arsonist, and Han Tianzun, the savior" was truly an excellent strategy. This feeling was simply fantastic.
Huang Xingyun, the Dark Demon Tiger Soul King, Dugu Shangshan, the Netherworld Mad Lion Soul King, and others trembled upon hearing this. They glared angrily at Xu Tianxi, their Soul Power pressure uncontrollably surging forth.
However, they didn't lash out in their rage!
Chen Xiaojie was still being trampled underfoot, and the Princess was spitting blood from anger. If they went up there... who would guarantee Chen Xiaojie's and the Princess's safety?
"Tsk tsk, as expected, a bunch of good-for-nothings, not worth a second glance."
Xu Tianxi shook his head disdainfully, his gaze still fixed on the dispirited Xu Jiujiu, his voice growing even colder.
"You're a high-level Soul Ancestor, after all; spitting blood won't kill you! How have you considered my demand, Princess?"
"Don't think I'm being too excessive. My temper is quite good within the Inner Courtyard; I prefer to keep a low profile. Only Senior Sister is naturally gentle and easier to talk to than me. But that doesn't mean I'm easy to bully! To be pushed around by you and still hold my temper! If it were other students from Shrek who encountered this today, like our Dean Yan's excellent student Ma Xiaotao, or perhaps the Golden Crow Saintess Wu Ming... Heh heh, what would happen then, even I can't imagine..."
Xu Tianxi subtly drew more hatred towards Shrek, and he wasn't lying. Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming were known as the two active volcanoes of Shrek's Inner Courtyard, each with a fiery temper. If they encountered such a situation, Xu Tianxi truly didn't know how they would handle it. However, given Ma Xiaotao's nature of "defending Shrek's honor with her life," it was possible she might kill in a fit of rage?
While he was feeling leisurely, the five students from Star Luo Royal Academy suddenly felt a rush of blood to their heads. The dam of their rationality was almost broken by the raging river, their eyes turned crimson, and their Soul Power surged, determined to go up and fight Xu Tianxi at all costs!
Too much, simply too much! You, of all people, dare to say your temper is good? Do you think we're all blind?! If only one person in Shrek's Inner Courtyard has a better temper than you, what kind of monsters must everyone else be? Even Evil Soul Masters aren't as ruthless as you Shrek people!
At this moment, Xu Jiujiu's mind returned, and she urgently stopped the enraged individuals.
"Calm down, all of you! Don't go up there to your deaths! Don't, don't end up like Xiaojie..."
Xu Jiujiu clutched her suffocating chest. Supported by her companions, she struggled to her feet quickly, staring at Xu Tianxi, and coughed,
"Cough, cough, Your Excellency, your demand... I'm willing to agree, but can you promise me that you won't pursue this matter further, and let my companions behind me go?"
Her face was ashen, lifeless, with crimson blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Every word was spoken with great difficulty, as if it took all her strength. Killing Zhu Wen was something she absolutely did not want, but in the current situation, she had no other choice.
If she didn't kill Zhu Wen, she, along with all of them, would face a tragic end.
If she did kill her, they could endure the humiliation and hope to survive.
Xu Tianxi's lips barely moved as he coldly and unhesitatingly answered Xu Jiujiu, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"Do you really think these wastes behind you, who don't even have the courage to fight, are worth my attention?"
"If I wished it, everyone here would be dead by my hand within fifteen minutes, and your brother would never know. But I won't do that. The glory of Shrek shines in the heart of every one of us Shrek people. We only kill those who deserve to die."
His tone was indifferent and calm, as if stating an undeniable truth, filling Xu Jiujiu and the others from Star Luo Royal Academy, and even everyone in the inn who had been forced to witness this shocking spectacle, with anger and helplessness.
Then came a deep sorrow and pain, their hearts feeling like sponges soaked with water, aching with fullness.
Yes, this arrogant genius from Shrek, with his ambition to look down on the world, who considered himself a soaring dragon, how could he dirty his hands by killing mere ants like them?
They didn't even qualify to be seen as a threat by him!
They were simply not in his eyes, and that was the saddest thing in the world!
"Good, good, good! Jiujiu has long heard of the various deeds of your esteemed academy's genius, sometimes astonishing, sometimes awe-inspiring. Seeing it today, it's true that a great reputation is never undeserved!"
Xu Jiujiu uttered three "goods," then tremblingly stood up. She didn't look at Xu Tianxi, who resembled a world-shattering demon king, again. With a flick of her wrist, she produced a level five Soul Guided Device short dagger and walked directly to the despairing Zhu Wen.
"Auntie Zhu, Jiujiu is sorry."
After saying this, Xu Jiujiu's hand moved, and the knife fell, severing Zhu Wen's head. Blood immediately gushed from the latter's neck like a spring, and her limbs drooped limply.
Holding Zhu Wen's still-gaping head, Xu Jiujiu turned around with a sorrowful expression and shouted to Xu Tianxi:
"This is the result you wanted! This is the explanation you demanded! A Soul Sage has paid the price of her life for her mistakes. Are you satisfied now?!"
Xu Tianxi's lips curved upwards. He pointed outside the inn, shaking his head slightly as he spoke, his low voice growing steadily louder.
"It would have been enough, but now it's not. Your knight guards have arrived. If you don't want them to sacrifice themselves needlessly, go out and tell them to get as far away as possible!"
Xu Jiujiu let out a bitter laugh, gently set down Zhu Wen's head, and loudly replied, "Alright! Everything will be as Your Excellency wishes!"
With that, she lowered her head, like a walking corpse that had lost its soul, and slowly walked out. The gate formed by the Azure Ghost Vines naturally opened, clearing a path for her.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot something important."
Xu Tianxi's devil-like voice came from behind Xu Jiujiu again. He seemed to ponder for a moment, then added:
"I originally planned to rest for the night and ask those guards for information about the 'Abomination Demon Soul' assassin group tomorrow. Since Princess is going to communicate with them, perhaps you could help me get that information as well, how about it?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiujiu immediately stopped at the doorway. Her shoulders twitched uncontrollably for a moment, and her fists clenched, suppressing her rage. Her voice was terribly hoarse.
"I said, everything will be as Your Excellency wishes!"
"Then many thanks, Princess. Shrek will remember the cooperation of the Star Luo Empire's officials. And this trash, I'll return him to you out of respect for Princess!"
After dropping his last remark, Xu Tianxi kicked Chen Xiaojie towards the Star Luo Royal Academy group like a dead dog, sending him crashing into several people. Then, he turned around with a smile and tossed a bag of Gold Soul Coins to the innkeeper.
"I'll double your losses today. Remember not to slander us by saying Shrek bullies people. Also, prepare us the best rooms. After dealing with a bunch of wastes for so long, I'm tired."
The innkeeper trembled as he took the Gold Soul Coins, repeatedly assenting.
Following the innkeeper upstairs, Xu Tianxi seemed to remember something else and called out from a distance:
"What happened today ends here. I hope when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll see the information laid out before me. Also, my Inner Courtyard Token, please trouble Princess to bring that along as well."
"Everyone, the grand show is over. Good night."