Chaos Over Shrek City

Trembling, he knelt prostrate on the ground, digging a thin metal sheet and a metal collar from the pile of ashes, clutching them tightly to his chest as Chen Fu looked up at the high heavens.

Sacred and vast radiance fell from the sky, his broken, barely supported body like the most devout worshiper kneeling at the feet of his god, appearing so filthy and stained within the pure white halo.

No shouting, no head-banging, not even a flicker of emotion—he merely dragged his body across the ground, using his bloody, flesh-torn hands to cradle the [Crimson Phoenix] and [Nirvana], once the highest achievements of his soul and bloodline, while the scarlet divine power that severed life seemed to target only organic matter. Then he raised his head and silently watched the lofty god above.

After all, he seemed to have been through this scene before.

It was just the people who held weight in his life melting and dissolving before his eyes, bit by bit.

Of course...

You'd better just kill me.

Within the torrent of Heaven and Earth's rejection, the scarlet deity of life and death stood quietly beyond the thickening boundary wall, watching the nearly broken mortal kneeling and gazing up at Him. In the end, He chose not to cross over and swing a second sword before the wall fully closed.

Gods are proud, and merciful. He decided to bestow His arrogance upon this mortal, who had endured two of His strikes, had his Soul Rings shattered and Soul Power severed, yet still refused to die.

Forgive his ignorance, grant him the grace to live and enjoy life.

Then He tore through the void and returned to the God Realm, where He still had to preside over a "commoners suing the official" God Realm Judgment meeting. Fortunately, He had cleaned up His trail thoroughly, and in the end, no inheritor had died directly—there were plenty of subjective angles to exploit.

Heaven and Earth began to return to their normal colors.

"Hehe... how arrogant."

The two Soul Tools were carefully cradled in his arms. With his Soul Power severed, he couldn't even open the Space Ring he carried.

Chen Fu looked at the restored sky, glanced around at the crowd with their unreadable expressions, and couldn't help sneering.

"What, not going to keep offering your devotion to your god? Like, say, killing me, this cripple, on divine orders?"

Just a wisp of scarlet divine power passing through his body had severed Chen Fu's perception of Soul Power.

The Golden Dragon Girl, clad in golden Soul Power armor, stepped forward, leveling her Dragon Spear to shield Chen Fu behind her, warily eyeing the crowd trapped in an eerie silence.

It seemed they were still waiting for something, none willing to reveal their most naked intentions.

"If you're not going to kill me, then I'll be leaving."

Long Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment, then ultimately stood behind Chen Fu, his Limit Douluo aura pressing down toward the Shrek Academy side.

Though he had suffered some heavy damage in the [Ascension] Big Bang, he was still a peak human Limit Douluo, far beyond what any Super Douluo could match.

"Old Dragon, let's go."

"You can't leave!"

A Pavilion Elder stepped forward, his Super Douluo aura erupting.

"You must stay and compensate the Academy for its losses!"

Another Super Douluo Pavilion Elder stepped forward, sharing the burden of the opposing Limit Douluo's terrifying pressure.

The damaged Sea God Island, the destroyed [Ascension] Soul Tool, the Golden Ancient Tree blasted to nothing by two Divine Punishments... and so on. Of course, these were just the surface.

Seeing the two Pavilion Elders barely holding out against Long Xiaoyao's Limit Douluo pressure, Yan Shaozhe turned his gaze to Xuan Zi. Chen Fu was saved by his disciple's life—if he, as the master, now... he truly couldn't bring himself to do it, and besides... it was uncertain who he would strike at.

Xuan Zi held the unconscious Mu En's hand without letting go. Catching Yan Shaozhe's look from the corner of his eye, he let out a deep breath, then shook his head. His heart was too tired; he didn't want to deal with this.

"And if I insist on leaving?"

Supported by Jin Lin, Chen Fu struggled to rise from the ground, trembling.

Looking at those who were already stirring restlessly, he continued.

"Your god doesn't let you become gods, so why bother?"

Chen Fu's gaze at the two Pavilion Elders who had stepped forward was utterly flat. The two Titled Douluo dared not meet the eyes of this mere mortal.

"Even if it happened again, it would just be a momentary burst of fireworks."

"Hand over all the Soul Tool blueprints, and you can leave!"

A few more Titled Douluo stepped forward, pressuring Chen Fu, revealing their ultimate goal.

A living Chen Fu > a dead Chen Fu > a Chen Fu not in their hands.

"Why flaunt your own arrogance and ignorance?"

Even the First Generation Ark had only been half-sealed and half-sent off, and now they wanted him to hand over all his blueprints?

"Kill him!"

The might of a titled powerhouse suddenly blasted toward Chen Fu, vast dark Soul Power swelling instantly.

"Looking for death!"

The Limit Douluo's immense Soul Power suddenly expanded, crashing toward the crowd.

Under Long Xiaoyao's black Soul Power cover, Chen Fu watched the group of Titled Douluo get beaten down in just a few exchanges, feeling no surprise at all.

Before long, the Phoenix's light Soul Power joined the fray, slamming toward Long Xiaoyao. If he didn't act, he'd have to watch his own Pavilion Elders get pummeled to death by someone else.

A jade-shattering phoenix cry made Chen Fu look over, and a faint ripple passed through his calm, still eyes.

A black dragon shrouding half the sky, a blazingly radiant phoenix, an ancient tree piercing Heaven and Earth... more and more Titled Douluo joined the melee, the vast Soul Power of Douluo-level experts dyeing the sky over Shrek City into a dazzling, multicolored glaze.

"Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, hear my command! Protect Chen Fu at all costs!"

The girl who had once been sheltered behind him now raised the Inheritance Token of their sect high above the crowd.

"Sect Master..."

The Titled Douluo Venerable who had escorted Ning Yi outside the city sensed the message and turned to look at the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect Master who truly held the authority.

"...Carry out the order."

The next moment, a fierce and overwhelming blade aura slashed toward the skies above Shrek City.

A Super Douluo from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect joined the battlefield.

"Original Body Sect disciples, follow me to capture Chen Fu!"

"Go! If you can't take him alive, kill him!"

Divine Punishment faded, and mortals took the stage.

Over a dozen Titled Douluo from outside the city surged into Shrek City from every direction, each bearing their own motives, forcing their way into the battle with soul power fluctuations that could shatter heaven and earth.

Instantly, the skies above Shrek became a chaotic mess, with waves of soul power smashing down and destroying building after building within the city.

"Enough insolence!"

The ninety-eighth-level Super Douluo, Taotie Douluo, tore himself free from the hand gripping Mu En's and forcibly joined the fray, launching indiscriminate attacks against the Titled Douluo of other factions.

If he didn't act now, Shrek City would be leveled flat by the residual force of the battle!

Normally, Titled Douluo would not wage war within a city, abiding by the basic agreement to settle duels outside. But the location of this melee was not theirs to decide.

"...I'll go protect the students."

Qian Duoduo looked at Fan Yu, who was clinging tightly to his thigh, and the crowd of Soul Engineer teachers and students staring at him. He sighed inwardly.

As the only Titled Douluo in the Soul Tool Academy, his leg had been firmly held by Fan Yu ever since Divine Punishment faded.

Hearing this, everyone finally let go of his legs.

Ah...

Boom!

The Golden Dragon Girl was blasted away by a Titled Douluo in a sub-dragon form, her Dragon Spear carving a deep trench through the ground as she skidded back until Long Xiaoyao caught her with his soul power, halting her momentum.

Streams of pale golden, blood-tinged crimson slid from the girl's lips, dotting the dusty ground with scattered blossoms of red.

With the dual enhancement of Melting Ring body refinement and Golden Dragon bloodline, the Golden Dragon Girl possessed physical strength that rivaled or even surpassed that of a Titled Douluo. But under the amplification of a Titled Douluo's martial soul and soul power, those advantages were instantly neutralized or even overturned.

Whoosh!

A sound of something cutting through the air came from behind, and the girl instinctively reached out to catch it.

A Silver-Blue Small Sword appeared in her hand—the key to [Ascension] that Chen Fu had pulled from the earth: the Level Nine Soul Tool, [Banished Immortal].

The Golden Dragon Girl looked over instinctively, only to see the youth who had remained silent all this time speak:

"Kill him."

His tone was cold, carrying a suppressed fury.

[Banished Immortal]—a sword of protection for the new Soul Master system, and a sword of severance for the old.

Thanks to [Book Friend 1437] for the 2000 tip.

Thanks to [Zero Self-Discipline Association President] for the 500 tip (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ

Thanks to [Book Friend 1437], [Zero Self-Discipline Association President], [Huang Brad Leikun], [Book Friend 6688], [Cloud 301x], [Walker Has Three I Am Your Urger], [Starlight Holy Radiance], [Book Friend 1295], [Xuan Yan] for the monthly tickets (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ

Thanks to all the good brothers for the recommendation tickets (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ

The first volume's plot is almost coming to a close. Thanks to all the good brothers for your comments and support (I really love lurking in the background). I can't believe I'm almost done writing the first volume. I honestly didn't expect this book to be so well-liked. It makes me happy.

Sometimes, when I see the tips and monthly tickets from all the good brothers in the background, my tired heart from a day's work suddenly fills with energy. I type pretty slowly—averaging over two hours per chapter. Sometimes, when I hit a climax part that needs careful thought, it takes three or four hours.

The morning update every day is finished at two in the morning the night before. The evening update is done after I get home from work.

Sometimes I think about just slacking off, but then I remember the support from all the good brothers, and I silently get up and keep typing.

This book went into its first round of new book recommendations today. I don't know if facing a potentially larger readership will lead to the problem of not being able to please everyone.

Still, I'm very grateful to all the good brothers for your continuous voting and encouragement over this past month (σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ. Thank you very much. Amen (palms together).