Shrek Had to Turn the Tide Against the Odds!

Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion meeting room.

"Creak—"

The heavy wooden door swung open.

Yan Shaozhe walked in, and everyone's eyes immediately turned to him.

He said nothing, silently walked to his seat, and sat down.

"Shaozhe?"

Elder Zhuang frowned slightly. He could tell that something was wrong with Yan Shaozhe.

"How did it go? What did that person say?"

Yan Shaozhe looked up, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces around him. At last, he shook his head bitterly.

"He's unwilling to help."

The simple words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

A deathly silence fell over the meeting room.

Even before Yan Shaozhe returned, they had feared the worst. But now that the truth was laid bare before them, the despair still weighed on them until they could hardly breathe.

If they couldn't gain control of That River, if they couldn't keep it in check, then once the Soul Beast army descended—and Beast God Di Tian truly gained control of that power—

It would spell utter disaster for Shrek Academy and the entire Douluo Continent.

Qian Duoduo looked at Yan Shaozhe.

"Shaozhe, did you fail to explain how serious the situation was?"

"That's Beast God Di Tian! An eight-hundred-and-ninety-thousand-year-old Ferocious Beast! If he succeeds, then even that person... even that person might not be able to guarantee victory. Did you tell him that if he doesn't act now, it'll be too late?"

Yan Shaozhe must have failed to explain it properly—or perhaps he'd said it the wrong way.

Yan Shaozhe jerked his head up, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Qian Duoduo.

The murderous aura that burst from him in that instant even caught Qian Duoduo off guard.

"Explain it properly?"

Yan Shaozhe's voice was hoarse.

"I told him every detail—the stakes, the consequences, even the terrifying scene of three Di Tians descending!"

"And what happened?"

Yan Shaozhe gave a bitter laugh.

"He didn't care in the slightest! He was even looking forward to Di Tian growing stronger, so he could stretch his muscles!"

"If you think I didn't explain it clearly enough, if you think you can persuade that great lord..."

Yan Shaozhe stared coldly at Qian Duoduo.

"Then go yourself! See for yourself!"

Yan Shaozhe's words were harsh, and his anger was plain in his voice.

He was truly afraid, and truly exhausted.

Silence fell over the meeting room once more.

This time, the silence was even more oppressive.

Clearly, they couldn't count on that person to help.

"Ah..."

An aged sigh rang out.

Elder Zhuang slowly set down his teacup.

"Since we can't gain control of this river, and that person refuses to help..."

Elder Zhuang's gaze was profound as he slowly looked around the room.

"Then we'll change our approach."

"Let's make good use of the river."

Everyone turned to Elder Zhuang.

Elder Zhuang pointed to the map spread across the table, tracing the river outside Shrek City with his finger.

"This river doesn't stand alone. It's fed by flowing water."

"Its course is clear."

Elder Zhuang's voice was calm and firm.

"Since we can't stop the Soul Beasts from using it, we have to use it better than they do—and faster!"

A glimmer of light appeared in everyone's eyes.

That was right.

If they couldn't stop them, they'd seize the opportunity first!

Rather than sit here and wait for disaster, they could take the initiative and use the river's power to strengthen Shrek Academy.

"But..."

Elder Song frowned, voicing a concern that weighed on everyone's minds.

"There's one major problem."

"The people who come out of the river won't be easy to control."

Elder Song glanced toward the floor above, leaving the meaning clear.

Radiant Mu En was a living example.

If the academy's experts tried to replicate the process and the ones who emerged were all arrogant, or even hostile to the academy, wouldn't they be letting the wolf in through the door?

"That is indeed a hidden danger."

Elder Zhuang nodded.

"But we have no other choice."

"Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. If we stand still, then when the Soul Beast army descends, we won't even have a chance to fight back."

Yan Shaozhe had calmed down by now. He thought for a moment, then a resolute look flashed in his eyes.

"Elder Zhuang is right."

"We can't let fear of choking make us stop eating."

Yan Shaozhe stood up, his gaze firm.

"I plan to take the promising students from the academy over first and see what happens."

"They're still relatively weak. Even if someone with a nasty disposition comes out, I'm confident I can take them down myself."

Yan Shaozhe looked at Qian Duoduo.

"The two of us will lead this expedition."

"I'll notify Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochеn, and Dai Yueheng."

"You pick a few promising students on your end, too."

Though Qian Duoduo and Yan Shaozhe had just argued, Qian Duoduo never wavered when it came to matters of right and wrong.

"All right!"

"I absolutely won't let anything happen to those kids!"

With the plan settled, everyone acted at once, splitting up without further hesitation.

Shrek Academy, Inner Court.

Yan Shaozhe soon summoned Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochеn, and Dai Yueheng to his office.

The three of them sensed that something was wrong as soon as they stepped inside.

"Teacher, what happened?"

Ma Xiaotao was straightforward and couldn't help asking.

Yan Shaozhe looked at his most prized disciple, his heart weighed down with conflicting emotions.

If he could, he truly didn't want to send these children into danger.

But he had no choice.

"Xiaotao, Yueheng, Luochеn."

Yan Shaozhe's voice was low.

"The academy is facing an unprecedented crisis."

He didn't reveal everything about Radiant Mu En. Instead, he briefly explained the river's strange and dangerous nature, along with the threat the Soul Beasts might pose.

"We need strength—enough strength to protect Shrek Academy and the entire Douluo Continent."

"What happened with Xuan Zi was an accident. This time, President Qian and I will take you there."

"As long as I'm still breathing, I won't let anything happen to you."

Yan Shaozhe had made the situation perfectly clear. Once the Soul Beast army descended, Shrek Academy would have no way to hold it back.

As for Radiant Mu En? Yan Shaozhe didn't believe he could stop three Di Tians.

"Teacher, I'll go."

Ma Xiaotao spoke first, her red hair flying and fire burning in her eyes.

With their captain volunteering, Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochеn could only nod. If the Soul Beast army descended... at least they could still do something to resist.

And with Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo leading the way instead of Xuan Zi, they felt the two were fairly reliable.

Yan Shaozhe looked at them, his eyes growing warm. He patted each of them firmly on the shoulder.

"Good kids..."

Qian Duoduo's recruitment efforts were much simpler and more direct.

He found He Caitou and Fan Yu hard at work in the laboratory and explained the situation to them.

Then Qian Duoduo went to find Beibei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan.

Beibei was Mu En's great-grandson, and Qian Duoduo didn't want him to take the risk. But Beibei's talent and character were both exceptional. Shrek Academy needed greater strength, so it couldn't do without him.

Half an hour later.

At the entrance to Shrek Academy.

The two groups assembled.

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo stood at the head of the group.

Behind them were row upon row of young faces, tense and solemn.

"Move out."

Yan Shaozhe gave a low command.

The group blurred into streaks of light and raced toward the mysterious river outside the city.

The mood was different from the last time they set out. This time, the atmosphere was heavier than ever.