Imprisoning Cai Yue'er's Soul in the Heavenly Spirit Tower for Five Years!

Not his teachers!

His great-grandfather and great-grandmother.

Nan Liujing sat on the bench, gazing at the two imposing figures, his eyes widening slightly.

Cold Rhyme Douluo Xia Zheng Leng, the continent's strongest soundwave-type Soul Master.

The domineering middle-aged man radiating black light was none other than Purgatory Douluo Qian Gu Qingfeng.

After so many years, Nan Liujing had finally met them in the true sense. No wonder Teacher Leng had looked so amused when telling him not to worry. So that was what this was about.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, two streaks of light descended from the sky at tremendous speed. Once the light faded, two figures appeared before Nan Liujing.

"Yue'er."

Ya Li, dressed in a flowing aqua-green gown that accentuated her graceful figure, cried out in alarm.

Beside her stood Yun Ming, his gaze slightly narrowed.

The moment Cai Yue'er saw them, she immediately perked up like a dog spotting its owner. Her mouth opened as though she wanted to say something.

But with Qian Gu Qingfeng's Spiritual Power suppressing her, she could not utter a word.

"Qian Gu Qingfeng, you should understand what it means to rashly attack a member of the Sea God Pavilion." Yun Ming glanced at Cai Yue'er, who kept signaling frantically at him, and spoke in a deep voice.

"How ridiculous." Xia Zheng Leng sneered. "I'd like to ask you instead. Cai Yue'er is a dignified member of the Sea God Pavilion, yet she inexplicably targeted a child barely eight and a half years old. She kept calling him an Evil Soul Master and even intended to use the power of her martial soul to erase a child's future. Who gave her such authority?"

Hearing this, Yun Ming and Ya Li both froze, their gazes turning in unison toward Cai Yue'er.

Cai Yue'er continued struggling wildly with her soul, but it was useless. She remained firmly suppressed.

"What, you don't believe it?" Xia Zheng Leng could not be bothered with further nonsense. With a thought, a recording soul device flew over from nearby.

Without wasting a moment, the device projected a screen of light. It showed Cai Yue'er appearing and knocking Ye Xinglan unconscious, then looking down arrogantly at Nan Liujing while prattling about Evil Soul Masters and how Shrek Academy was the law, before finally attacking him.

If Cai Yue'er had still been able to swallow, her throat would surely have bobbed. Yun Ming and Ya Li's expressions were growing darker and darker.

Qian Gu Qingfeng finally spoke. "Liujing, come here."

Hearing his name, Nan Liujing did not hesitate. He took a soft pillow from his storage ring, propped Ye Xinglan against it, and only then rose to walk over.

The moment he stopped beside Qian Gu Qingfeng, he heard his great-grandfather say, "Ya Li, you are the continent's foremost healing-type Soul Master, and your martial soul is the purest Wishing Angel. Take a look and see whether this child is truly an Evil Soul Master."

Ya Li took a deep breath, no longer paying attention to Cai Yue'er's pleading gaze, and walked straight over to Nan Liujing.

A gentle smile rested on her soft features. "Child, may I examine you?"

"Yes." Nan Liujing answered calmly.

Ya Li placed one hand atop Nan Liujing's head. Pure golden light blossomed, carrying a dense aura of life. It was as though heaven and earth had entered early spring, the finest season of all things returning to life.

Nan Liujing clearly felt a gentle energy enter his body. There was no threat whatsoever, only the comfort of soaking in a hot spring.

A moment later, Ya Li withdrew her hand. Though she still wore a smile, Yun Ming saw the icy glint in his beloved's eyes.

His gaze also deepened.

"Well?" Qian Gu Qingfeng asked blandly.

Ya Li's expression was solemn. "This child is not an Evil Soul Master. He merely has an extremely unusual dark power within his body."

Xia Zheng Leng trusted Ya Li's character, so her tone softened. "Then now, we should discuss how to deal with Cai Yue'er, this lofty member of the Sea God Pavilion."

Ignoring Cai Yue'er, Yun Ming said, "State your demands for resolving this matter."

Qian Gu Qingfeng said coldly, "First, a Lightning Element Soul Bone of at least high quality and sufficient age. Second, one baptism by the life force of the Golden Ancient Tree. Third, I will take Cai Yue'er's soul and imprison it in the Heavenly Spirit Tower for five years!"

The first two demands were still within an acceptable range, but upon hearing the third, Ya Li's expression changed. "Yue'er is a member of the Sea God Pavilion. How can she be imprisoned in the Spirit Pagoda for five whole years?"

Hearing that she was to be imprisoned for five years, Cai Yue'er visibly panicked. Even though she was a Super Douluo, if her soul remained separated from her body for five years, her cultivation would inevitably plummet even if she eventually returned. She would rather die.

Qian Gu Qingfeng ignored Ya Li and faced Yun Ming directly. "Yun Ming, you make the decision."

"What is this child to you?" Rather than answering directly, Yun Ming asked an additional question.

"He is my only blood relative in this world." Xia Zheng Leng spoke in a deep voice.

Yun Ming glanced at Nan Liujing, then at Cai Yue'er, his tone gentle. "Yue'er, back then, the academy saved you after you committed a grave error. You promised never to make the same kind of mistake again, but today, you have broken that promise."

Cai Yue'er's pupils contracted as a terrible premonition rose in her heart.

Yun Ming said calmly, "You often speak of the academy's glory. I presume you do not wish to see the academy go to war with the Spirit Pagoda and cause needless casualties. So bear with it for a while and stay in the Spirit Pagoda for five years. How about it?"

"Don't worry. If your cultivation falls, I will find a piece of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to compensate you."

Cai Yue'er's eyes went blank for a moment, then her soul power erupted as she tried to break through Qian Gu Qingfeng's suppression. At that very moment, Qian Gu Qingfeng loosened his hold, and everyone immediately heard her shriek:

"Was it Ya Li who made you agree to this? I only added one of your characters to my Battle Armor's name! Why are you targeting me?"

Ya Li froze. "Your Three-word Battle Armor even uses Brother Ming's character?"

Cai Yue'er suddenly stiffened. Even in soul form, her face turned deathly pale.

Oh no, I let it slip.

Yun Ming's expression stiffened. Back then, he had rejected Cai Yue'er's confession. Out of consideration for her teacher, he had not forced her to change the character in her Battle Armor's name, only demanded that she never reveal it in this lifetime. Yet unexpectedly...

Cai Yue'er panicked, still trying to salvage the situation. "I'm a member of the Sea God Pavilion. I can't be taken by the Spirit Pagoda and imprisoned. The Soul Masters of the entire world will laugh at us. It will damage the academy's ten-thousand-year glory."

"I want to see Elder Long, I want to see..."

Qian Gu Qingfeng had enjoyed quite the juicy revelation, and his mood improved considerably. "You don't have to be imprisoned."

Those words were like fireworks of hope igniting in Cai Yue'er's heart.

But Xia Zheng Leng's next words plunged her back into the Abyss. "But Shrek Academy must permanently strip you of your status as an elder of the Sea God Pavilion."

"Choose one."

Cai Yue'er fell silent, her gaze frozen.

At Shrek Academy, the highest status was that of an elder of the Sea God Pavilion. It was not something one could join simply by reaching a certain cultivation level. One had to make enormous contributions to the academy. Even now, quite a few nine-ring powerhouses had not been admitted and remained only candidates.

Even she had only joined through the support of her late teacher. If she were stripped of her position, all the resources belonging to her branch would be cut in half. In particular, as the dean of the outer academy, she had special authority to help certain students advance.

Cai Yue'er lowered her head weakly, her voice trembling. "I choose imprisonment."

"The Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures I promised you still stand." Yun Ming looked at her calmly. "Afterward, I will announce internally that you have entered seclusion in pursuit of a breakthrough. You won't lose face."

"The academy's ten-thousand-year glory will remain intact as well. Five years from now, you will still be a member of the Sea God Pavilion."

Cai Yue'er did not respond at all. With her head bowed, intense hatred gradually gathered in her eyes.

Forget the academy's glory. She had seen the indifference in Yun Ming's eyes when the name of her Three-word Battle Armor was mentioned.

In that case, don't blame me.