Holy Spirit Sect Member, Xuan Zi

"Pfft—"

Xuan Zi spat out a mouthful of river water, collapsing onto the cold stone bank like a dead dog, gasping for air.

His lungs burned as if pierced by countless steel needles.

"Damn Yan Shaozhe… you heartless bastard…"

Xuan Zi coughed violently, mentally cursing Yan Shaozhe's entire lineage.

Leaving him alone in that godforsaken place to face Crimson King while he and his men ran off so quickly!

He was supposed to be the pride of Shrek Academy, yet he abandoned him, an old man who had bled and suffered for the academy?

Xuan Zi struggled to get up, his wheelchair nowhere to be found.

He was like a puddle of mud now, sprawled pathetically on the ground, soaked and in tattered clothes, no longer possessing any of the might of Taotie Douluo.

"Where… where is this?"

Xuan Zi shook his groggy head, forcing his swollen eyes, irritated by the river water, to open.

A nauseating smell of blood permeated the air.

Silence reigned all around, broken only by the sound of unknown liquid dripping.

"Drip… drip…"

An inexplicable chill crept up Xuan Zi's spine, making his hair stand on end, as if he were being stared at by some terrifying beast.

He subconsciously looked up ahead.

At that sight, Xuan Zi's pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks.

On the open ground not far in front of him, several figures in black robes knelt.

They trembled, their heads pressed firmly to the ground, not daring to breathe, clearly terrified of something.

And directly in front of them…

Xuan Zi's gaze slowly shifted upward.

A man with short silver-white hair, deep purple eyes, handsome features, and clad in armor forged from the bones of unknown creatures and black iron, exuded a suffocating aura of terror. He was being held by the neck with one hand.

That person was definitely a Titled Douluo!

Perhaps… even slightly stronger than he was in his prime!

Yet now, such a powerful individual was being held by the neck with one hand, suspended in mid-air like a chicken ready for slaughter, barely alive.

"This…"

Xuan Zi was completely stunned.

And the person holding him…

Looked so familiar?

Just then, the man's wrist flicked, and he casually tossed the man in his grip aside like trash.

Then, he slowly turned around.

The moment he saw that face, Xuan Zi felt a deafening roar in his mind, freezing him in place as if struck by lightning.

That face…

He would recognize it even if it turned to ash!

"Mu… Mu Xuan?!"

Wasn't this Mu Xuan, who had emerged from that damned little river?!

Where had he been washed ashore?

The surroundings were completely unfamiliar, eerie and terrifying, nothing like the Star Dou Great Forest.

As Xuan Zi stood there in shock and uncertainty, Mu Xuan's deep purple eyes swept over him indifferently.

Their gazes met.

Buzz—

In that instant, Xuan Zi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his blood turning to ice.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped him.

He couldn't move!

Completely immobilized!

Xuan Zi wanted to flee, to cry out for help, but his body was like it was under a paralysis spell, refusing to obey.

Mu Xuan merely glanced at him casually, then beckoned with his right hand.

Whoosh—

Xuan Zi felt an irresistible suction pull him in, and the next second, he was airborne, flying uncontrollably towards Mu Xuan.

With a thump.

Xuan Zi slammed heavily onto the ground, landing right at Mu Xuan's feet.

From above.

Mu Xuan looked down at Xuan Zi, his eyes devoid of any ripple, as if he were looking at an ant he could crush with a flick of his hand.

"Work for me, or die."

His voice was flat, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

He didn't ask Xuan Zi why he was here, nor how he got here.

Because it wasn't necessary.

To a strong individual, the origin of a weakling was of no importance; what mattered was whether they had any use.

Xuan Zi, prostrate on the ground, felt a surge of humiliation upon hearing these words.

Work for Mu Xuan?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

He, Xuan Zi, though gluttonous and sometimes unreliable, had Shrek's blood flowing in his veins!

He was Taotie Douluo! A Sea God Pavilion elder!

How could he bow to darkness?

"You wish!"

Xuan Zi gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear in his heart, and spat out two words through clenched teeth.

"I belong to Shrek in life, and I'll be Shrek's ghost in death! I do not fear death! You dream if you think I'll betray the academy, betray honor!"

At this moment, Xuan Zi felt his image was incredibly noble.

For the glory of Shrek Academy, for justice, he would rather die than yield!

However.

Crack—

The next instant, an indescribably terrifying pressure descended.

Xuan Zi felt as if he were caught between two great mountains, his entire body's bones groaning under the unbearable strain.

"Ah—!"

A piercing scream erupted from Xuan Zi's throat.

Pfft—

A mouthful of blood spurted out violently, dyeing the ground before him red.

Xuan Zi's face instantly turned as pale as paper, his aura growing extremely weak.

He was going to die!

He was really going to die!

Mu Xuan had no intention of wasting more words with him; his deep purple eyes remained placid.

"I'll give you one more chance."

His voice was still flat, but it carried a chilling killing intent.

Mu Xuan's gaze swept over the several black-clothed men kneeling beside him, then returned to Xuan Zi.

Although this trash had a broken leg, he still possessed a cultivation of level ninety-eight, far stronger than these trash subordinates.

But that was all.

If he refused again, Mu Xuan would have no choice but to crush him.

Sensing the undisguised killing intent in Mu Xuan's eyes, Xuan Zi's previously resolute demeanor instantly deflated like a popped balloon.

Fear once again took hold.

As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn!

If he died here, then everything would truly be lost!

Moreover...

Since this Mu Xuan was hiding here, he must be plotting some earth-shattering conspiracy!

And judging by the situation, this force was definitely not to be underestimated.

If this information wasn't taken out, if Shrek Academy wasn't made aware of this huge threat, wouldn't the Douluo Continent be in danger?

Right!

He wasn't afraid of death!

He was enduring hardship for future success! He was infiltrating the enemy's interior to gather intelligence!

It was for the future of all humanity, for the peace of the Douluo Continent!

With that thought, Xuan Zi's guilt vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of mission he called "bearing humiliation for a greater cause."

"I... I agree..."

Xuan Zi said weakly, lowering his head.

Mu Xuan didn't say much more, instead directly activating his Martial Soul.

ROAR--

A low dragon's roar echoed, filled with an aura of darkness and evil.

Behind Mu Xuan, a pair of enormous black dragon wings suddenly unfurled, blotting out the sun.

Immediately after, Mu Xuan casually grabbed and pulled a black-clothed man kneeling beside him into his hand.

"Ah! Sect Master, spare me! Spare me!"

The black-clothed man let out a piercing scream, but before Mu Xuan, he possessed no power to resist.

A wisp of black mist surged from Mu Xuan's palm, instantly engulfing the black-clothed man.

In just a few seconds, the black-clothed man dissolved into a pool of blood, not even a speck of bone remaining.

All his life essence was completely devoured by Mu Xuan.

Xuan Zi watched, his heart pounding. What kind of power was this?

Just as he was still reeling from the shock, Mu Xuan's massive black wings suddenly flapped, enveloping Xuan Zi entirely.

The next moment, a surge of potent life energy flowed into Xuan Zi's body.

The sensation was like a long drought finally receiving sweet rain.

Xuan Zi felt a warmth spread through his entire body. His broken bones were rapidly healing, and the injuries to his internal organs were also recovering quickly.

What shocked him the most was...

His legs!

Those two severed, numb thighs now felt a tingling sensation!

Then, bone grew, flesh was reforged!

In just a few breaths, as the pair of black wings unfurled again.

Xuan Zi was stunned to discover that he... could stand?

He moved his legs, and the feeling of his feet on the ground almost made him weep.

He was healed!

Completely healed!

Not even a single after-effect remained!

After the shock, what followed was endless resentment and rage.

Mu Xuan's strength was definitely inferior to Radiant Mu En's. If Mu Xuan could do this, couldn't Radiant Mu En?

He definitely could have!

But why didn't he help him?

Why did he watch him become crippled and suffer such humiliation?

"Hypocritical wretch!"

Xuan Zi's heart burned with fury, directed entirely at Radiant Mu En. This man wasn't his junior uncle at all!

He wouldn't even save his own people!

"From this day forward, you are a member of the Holy Spirit Sect."

Mu Xuan said calmly, looking at the fully recovered Xuan Zi.

"Holy Spirit Sect?"

Xuan Zi's heart tightened.

So this organization was called the Holy Spirit Sect.

He outwardly bowed respectfully, concealing the cold glint in his eyes.

"Yes."

But inwardly, Xuan Zi sneered repeatedly.

So what if you healed my injuries?

Do you really think I'll sincerely fight for you?

I am an elder of Shrek Academy!

Just you wait, Mu Xuan.

Once I figure out your secrets, once I find an opportunity to send word out.

I will bring the army of Shrek, the true army of justice, to flatten this place!

And eradicate your damned Holy Spirit Sect completely!

For the Douluo Continent! For Shrek!