Temporary Change

At this moment, the Shrek Seven Devils had already reached a decision regarding Bibi Dong's invitation.

Tang San stepped forward to represent the group and said, "Thank you for your favor, Your Eminence the Pope. However, we Shrek Seven Devils yearn for freedom and do not wish to be bound by rules. Therefore, we must regretfully decline Your Eminence's kind offer."

"Oh, yearning for freedom."

Bibi Dong seemed to recall something, her hand gripping the scepter tightening, but she still curved her lips slightly and said with a smile, "Since that is the case, I shall not force you. However..."

Bibi Dong's expression suddenly turned cold, and she narrowed her eyes, saying, "The matter of Tang Hao killing the previous Pope of my Martial Soul Hall years ago is full of doubts. Tang San, as Tang Hao's son, you will remain in the Martial Soul Hall for investigation first."

Upon hearing this, everyone from Shrek Academy immediately became tense. Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong, who had long formed a tacit understanding, immediately positioned themselves on the periphery and unleashed the Golden Triangle Formation, protecting the Shrek Seven Devils within.

Bibi Dong glared at Yu Xiaogang, gritted her teeth, and then said coldly, "Attack, capture Tang San! Those who disobey will be killed without mercy!"

The battle was on the verge of erupting. The members of Shrek Academy began to circulate their soul power with all their might. Yu Xiaogang also summoned Luo Sanpao into the formation, though his expression was much calmer than the others.

It's time to make an appearance, my idol!

As Yu Xiaogang thought this, a domineering voice rang out.

"A chrysanthemum, a little ghost, with just the two of you scumbags, you dare to touch my son, Tang Hao!"

Accompanying the domineering lines, Tang Hao made his entrance, and the crisis for Shrek Academy was finally resolved.

The younger generation students on the scene did not know much about the figure in mid-air, while the older teachers looked up at the sky with eyes full of reverence.

The earliest Titled Douluo in the continent's history, his martial soul the Clear Sky Hammer, titled "Clear Sky," the person before them was a Living Legend.

"What, Bibi Dong, if you want to avenge your teacher, you should come directly to me. What kind of skill is it to attack my son!"

Hearing Tang Hao's words, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but shake his head.

That was incorrect. Bibi Dong was merely trying to verify her strength and clear the obstacles to her unification of the continent. As for avenging the previous Pope, that was absolutely impossible.

After all, the one who truly killed the previous Pope was Bibi Dong herself.

In mid-air, the mountain-like Clear Sky Hammer smashed down, and seven Titled Douluo from the Martial Soul Hall met the attack.

Yu Xiaogang watched everything intently. With the aid of the Golden Triangle Formation and the Purple Demon Eye within the Mustard Seed Realm, he gained a deeper understanding of the strength of Titled Douluo.

Boom!

A powerful energy shockwave instantly swept across the entire Inner City, even reaching the Middle City and Outer City areas.

With such immense power, even with the Golden Triangle Formation, Yu Xiaogang's figure swayed precariously.

But he gritted his teeth and persevered, partly to ensure the Shrek Seven Devils within the formation remained unharmed, and partly to understand the true strength of Titled Douluo.

Once this matter was concluded, he would return to his family and begin preparing for the Martial Soul Hall's Soul Hunting Operation.

As the impact dispersed, Yu Xiaogang took the initiative to withdraw the Golden Triangle Formation and looked back at the Shrek Seven Devils behind him.

The seven monsters had all fainted and fallen to the ground, but Tang San and Xiao Wu were nowhere to be seen among them.

It was finally over. Tang San was about to embark on the next stage of his cultivation, and perhaps Xiao Wu would also have a different ending.

But just as Yu Xiaogang was sighing inwardly, a clear system prompt suddenly sounded in his ear.

[God-Becoming Person, Destiny is Predetermined. Though there are temporary changes, all paths ultimately lead to the same destination.]

Looking at the system prompt that popped up before him, Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened slightly. He finally understood why the Shrek Seven Devils' soul skills were exactly the same as originally planned. Coupled with Xiao Wu's future fate...

Yu Xiaogang could only sigh.

This session of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition thus concluded, but no one expected it to end in such a farce.

To ensure their safety, the Shrek Academy group immediately left the Competition Venue and returned to the hotel.

In the lobby on the third floor of the hotel, the teachers and students of Shrek Academy gathered together.

Flender looked at the remaining students, his eyes involuntarily reddening slightly, and then said, "Children, you have won the championship of this session's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition. You are the first batch of students to achieve this honor representing Shrek Academy."

"Your names will be forever etched in Shrek Academy's School History. Every one of you is the Pride of Shrek Academy!"

"But there is no banquet that does not end. You have already proven your abilities in the competition."

"Therefore, on behalf of all the teachers and students of Shrek Academy, I congratulate you. From this moment on, you have graduated!"

The teachers and students of Shrek Academy present all showed smiles, with a hint of tears in their eyes.

Flender then took out several wooden boxes from his Soul Tool and distributed them one by one to the students in front of him, according to the names written on the boxes.

"Open them. This is the academy's final Gift to you."

The students opened the wooden boxes one after another, revealing a scroll and a badge inside each.

Opening the scrolls, they recorded each student's Learning Experience and Graduation Comments, with the Seal of Shrek Academy stamped at the end.

The badge was made of Pure Gold, inlaid with gems to form Shrek Academy's Monster Pattern. Everyone could see its preciousness at a glance.

"Thank you, Dean!" everyone said in unison.

Upon seeing the badge in the wooden box, Ma Hongjun couldn't help but joke, "It's not easy. I never thought you, Teacher, this Stingy Person, would ever shed feathers."

Flender's face immediately darkened, and he reached out and slapped Ma Hongjun on the Back of the Neck.

Everyone smiled again, and then Flender dismissed them, telling them to return to their rooms and pack their belongings.

The Heaven Dou Empire's escort team was originally scheduled to depart tomorrow morning, but with the current situation, the officer of the Guard Knights had to change the plan temporarily and set off from Martial Soul City this afternoon.

When everyone had packed their luggage and gathered in the hall again.

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing suddenly stepped forward. Dai Mubai spoke to Flender, "Dean, since we've graduated, Zhuqing and I will be returning to the Star Dou Empire. We defeated the Star Dou Empire team this time, and we have some clan matters to attend to back home."

"Alright, you may go. Be safe on your journey," Flender said.

"Understood, Dean."

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing nodded, bid farewell to the students and teachers present, and after making the Five-Year Agreement, they turned and left, disappearing around the corner of the stairs.

The teachers and students of Shrek Academy also followed the guidance of the escort knights shortly after, went downstairs, and got into the carriages they had arrived in.

The carriages traveled rapidly, passing through Middle City, Outer City, and finally exiting the city gates of Martial Soul City.

In one of the carriages at the rear of the convoy, because four people were missing from the group, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were assigned to a carriage by themselves.

At this moment, Liu Erlong leaned on Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, her beautiful eyes tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang said, "It's alright. Xiao San and Xiao Wu were taken by Tang Hao, so they're definitely safe."

Liu Erlong nodded, then sighed and said, "I just don't know when we'll meet next."

"Perhaps in five years. Didn't Mubai and Zhuqing make the Five-Year Agreement when they left? Xiao San, Xiao Wu, and Xiao Wu will definitely rush back when they know."

"That's true." Liu Erlong pursed her lips, then said indignantly, "When we get back, I'll also cultivate diligently. The next time I see Xiao Wu, I must have the strength to protect her."

"Then let's work hard together when we get back."

Yu Xiaogang looked into Liu Erlong's eyes, and they both smiled.

Martial Soul City, Inner City, Papal Palace.

A Golden Armored Guard strode into the hall, then approached the Pope's Throne and knelt, saying, "Reporting to Your Eminence the Pope, the Heaven Dou Empire's participating team has already left the city."

Bibi Dong, seated at the head, heard this and waved her hand. The Golden Armored Guard immediately withdrew from the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong took a teacup from her Soul Tool with her left hand and brought it before her eyes. Images of Yu Xiaogang from the competition began to flash through her mind. Her gaze grew firmer, and she then murmured, "Xiaogang, I will prove to you that only my path is the correct one."