Chapter 10: The Shockwave and the Shadow of Shrek
**Huo Wujiu** landed silently outside his private apartment, the physical toll of absorbing the **Tier 2 Golden Dragon Fragment** immense but contained. He knew he had minutes at best before the Headmaster overcame his terror and sounded a general alarm. The immediate, agonizing priority was **stability**.
He sealed his door and threw up every spiritual ward he possessed. He fell onto his cultivation bed, forcing his focus inward. The new gold essence was a swirling vortex of primal, destructive energy, actively fighting the **Primordial Phoenix Divine Flame** for control. The chaotic energy slammed against his spirit sea, attempting to expand his bones and muscles into a terrifying, monstrous form. Wujiu fought back, not with force, but with the Phoenix's absolute authority, refining the Dragon's rage into raw, usable physical power.
This immediate struggle was a race against the clock. The chaotic energy was violently pushing him toward **Rank 21**, but if he didn't stabilize it first, the backlash could destroy his soul. Hours passed in a torrent of internal agony and spiritual purification. By dawn, the new fragment was subdued, settled rigidly in his abdomen. Wujiu didn't breakthrough in rank yet, but his physical defenses and raw life force surged beyond even the exaggerated estimates of his **Rank 22 Equivalent** power. He was now operating with the raw durability of a five-ring Spirit King.
He rose, pale but victorious. The chaos was contained. Now, for the public narrative.
***
The chaos had already begun. The moment Wujiu left the cliff, **Gu Yue** had turned to the Headmaster, who was still gibbering in fear over the unconscious **Tang Wulin**.
"Headmaster," Gu Yue commanded, her voice cutting through his terror with icy precision. "That was not a Spirit Master duel. That was attempted theft of a profound heavenly treasure. Huo Wujiu attempted to steal this boy's Martial Soul essence."
She knelt beside Tang Wulin, discreetly placing her hand on his chest. While she stabilized his energy, she mentally projected her conclusion to the terrified Headmaster: *Huo Wujiu is not a simple prodigy. He possesses a deviant technique capable of stealing soul essence. This incident must be reported immediately, but only to the highest authority capable of dealing with a soul thief.*
The Headmaster, still reeling, could only nod. The sheer display of power from both Wujiu and Gu Yue, combined with the catastrophic energy imbalance, was already setting alarms off beyond East Sea City.
**External Shockwaves: The Continent Reacts**
Across the mainland, thousands of miles away, the sudden, violent clash of three divine auras did not go unnoticed by the truly powerful.
In the secluded, ancient halls of **Shrek Academy's** Sea God Pavilion, the reigning **Title Douluo** and a key Elder were instantly alerted. A spectral map of the continent, usually calm, pulsed brightly over the East Sea region.
"Elder Mu," the Title Douluo whispered, her voice laced with deep concern. "That was the **Silver Dragon King's** essence, unmistakable. But it was met by a power of equal, scorching divinity—the **Phoenix**. And a third, chaotic signature... vanished."
Elder Mu, whose face was usually impassive, frowned heavily. "The two great enemies meeting so early, and one stealing the power of the other's charge? This is unprecedented chaos. The **Dragon God's** balance is utterly broken. If the Phoenix is involved in soul theft, this is an existential threat."
"We must send a representative," the Title Douluo declared, rising from her seat. "Not to interfere directly, but to observe, confirm the source of the Phoenix power, and secure the host—the boy who lost the essence. He is still a central piece. Send the most discreet and capable observer we have. We cannot let this spiral into open war."
Simultaneously, at the towering headquarters of the **Spirit Pagoda**, the internal sensors were screaming. Their system was less mystical and more scientific, focusing on the sheer magnitude of the spiritual release.
"Energy spike detected, East Sea Region," a technician rattled off, his voice strained. "Magnitude: Class Nine. Consistent with ancient, primal Spirit Beast Kings. We have two unique signatures—one cold, one heat. The heat signature rapidly *consumed* a third, chaotic one."
The Vice President of the Spirit Pagoda, a formidable individual focused on the future of Spirit Soul research, stepped forward. "A heat spirit capable of absorbing primal chaos? This is the ultimate breakthrough in elemental integration. We must secure this 'Phoenix' talent. Forget the traditional path. This is the key to creating the next generation of True God-tier Spirit Souls. Send the best field agent to East Sea City. We must recruit Huo Wujiu at any cost. Use the Academy structure as a cover, but move fast."
***
Wujiu, oblivious to the high-level alarms he had triggered, stepped out of his apartment. He found the Headmaster waiting for him, flanked by two fearful security guards.
"Huo Wujiu!" the Headmaster stammered, his eyes wide. "The incident at the cliff—explain yourself! The boy, Tang Wulin, his spiritual energy is shattered, yet he lives. What did you do to him?"
Wujiu activated his **Primordial Phoenix Divine Might** just enough to project an aura of arrogant, defensive power. He met the Headmaster's gaze without blinking.
"I did nothing to him, Headmaster," Wujiu stated, his voice cool and confident, perfectly executing his scripted lie. "Gu Yue attacked me on that cliff. Her immense frost and spatial power, focused on me, collided with the dormant power inside that boy. The boy's power, being an unstable variant, was destabilized by the clash of our auras. I merely used my fire to push the residual chaos away. If I had not, he would be dead."
He paused, then delivered the final, crippling blow to the Headmaster's nerves.
"If the Academy cannot protect its students from the reckless, devastating power of Gu Yue," Wujiu challenged, his eyes burning with controlled gold, "then perhaps I should contact my father and transfer to **Shrek Academy**. They would never allow such dangerous, unfocused power to run loose among their prodigies. Your decision, Headmaster. Blame me, and you lose your top talent and attract the attention of Shrek's internal investigation team over the destroyed spiritual foundation of a transfer student."
The Headmaster paled, visualizing the devastating politics. Gu Yue was terrifying, but the wrath of Shrek Academy's investigation team over a political scandal was far worse.
"It was... a sparring misunderstanding," the Headmaster whispered, defeated. "A reckless, overly enthusiastic sparring session between you and Gu Yue. The new student was simply too close."
Wujiu smirked. The narrative was set. He had successfully cemented the public rivalry with Gu Yue, covered the theft, and simultaneously pulled the political levers of the continent. The coming days would be tense, but he was now one step closer to absolute power.
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