Temporarily Changed

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

Tang San stepped forward on everyone's behalf and said, "Thank you for your favor, Your Holiness. But we, the Shrek Seven Devils, yearn for freedom and don't wish to be bound by rules, so we can only decline your kind offer."

"Oh? You yearn for freedom."

Bibi Dong seemed to remember something. Her grip tightened around her scepter, but a faint smile still touched her lips. "In that case, I won't force you. It's just..."

Bibi Dong's expression suddenly turned cold. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "There are many unanswered questions surrounding Tang Hao's murder of the Previous Pope of Spirit Hall. Tang San, as Tang Hao's Son, you'll stay in Spirit Hall and be investigated."

At her words, everyone from Shrek Academy immediately tensed. Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong had long been in sync. They quickly moved to the perimeter and formed the Golden Triangle Formation, protecting the Shrek Seven Devils within it.

After staring at Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong gritted her teeth and spoke coldly. "Attack! Seize Tang San! Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

A battle was on the verge of breaking out. The people from Shrek Academy began circulating their Soul Power with all their might. Yu Xiaogang also summoned Luo Sanpao into the formation, though he looked far calmer than the others.

It was time for my idol to make his entrance!

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

"A chrysanthemum and a little ghost—two pieces of trash like you think you can lay a hand on my son?"

With those commanding words, Tang Hao made his entrance, and the crisis facing Shrek Academy was finally resolved.

The younger generation of students present knew little about the figure in the air, but the older teachers looked up at him with awe.

The first Soul Master on the continent to become a Titled Douluo at such a young age, wielding the Clear Sky Hammer and bearing the title Clear Sky—this man was a Living Legend.

"What's this, Bibi Dong? If you want revenge for your teacher, you should come straight to me. What kind of skill is it to go after my son?"

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

That wasn't quite right. Bibi Dong was only trying to test her strength and clear away the obstacles to unifying the continent. As for taking revenge for the Previous Pope, that was absolutely impossible.

After all, Bibi Dong herself had been the one who killed the Previous Pope.

In midair, the mountain-sized Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down. The seven Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall rushed forward to meet it.

Yu Xiaogang watched intently. With the help of the Golden Triangle Formation and the Purple Demon Eye in the Mustard Seed Realm, he gained an even deeper understanding of a Titled Douluo's strength.

Boom!

A powerful shock wave swept across the entire Inner City in an instant, even reaching the Middle City and Outer City.

The force of the impact was so immense that, even with the Golden Triangle Formation's protection, Yu Xiaogang's body swayed unsteadily.

But he gritted his teeth and held on, both to protect the Shrek Seven Devils inside the formation and to understand the true strength of a Titled Douluo.

Once this was over, he would return to his family and begin preparing for Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Operation.

When the shock wave subsided, Yu Xiaogang took the initiative to withdraw the Golden Triangle Formation and turned to look at the Shrek Seven Devils behind him.

All seven had fainted and collapsed on the ground. Tang San and Xiao Wu, however, were nowhere to be seen.

At last, it was over. Tang San was about to embark on the next stage of his cultivation, and perhaps Xiao Wu's fate would be different too.

But just as Yu Xiaogang was musing over this, a crisp System Prompt suddenly sounded beside his ear.

[Those destined to become gods have fates of their own. Though there may be temporary changes, all roads ultimately lead to the same destination.]

Looking at the prompt that appeared before him, Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened slightly. He finally understood why the Shrek Seven Devils' Soul Skills had been exactly the same as before. And when he thought of Xiao Wu's future fate...

Yu Xiaogang could only sigh.

This year's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition had come to an end, but no one had expected it to conclude with such a farce.

To ensure everyone's safety, the group from Shrek Academy immediately left the competition venue and returned to the hotel.

The teachers and students of Shrek Academy gathered in the hotel's Third Floor hall.

Flender looked at the students who remained. His eyes reddened before he spoke. "Children, you've won this year's Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition. You're the first students to bring this honor to Shrek Academy."

"Your names will be inscribed in Shrek Academy's history forever. Every one of you is a source of pride for Shrek Academy!"

"But all good things must come to an end. You've already proven what you're capable of in the competition."

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

Smiles spread across the faces of the Shrek Academy teachers and students, and tears glimmered in their eyes.

Flender then took several wooden boxes from his Soul Tool. Checking the names written on them, he handed them out to the students one by one.

"Open them. These are the academy's last gifts to you."

At his words, the students opened their boxes. Inside each one lay a scroll and a badge.

The scrolls recorded each student's academic history and graduation comments. At the bottom was Shrek Academy's seal.

The badges were made of Pure Gold and bore the image of Shrek Academy's monsters, inlaid with gemstones. Anyone could tell at a glance how valuable they were.

"Thank you, Dean!" everyone said.

When Ma Hongjun saw the badge in his box, he couldn't resist cracking a joke. "This is a rare sight. I never thought you'd see the day you shed a feather, you stingy old rooster."

Flender's face darkened at his words. He reached out and smacked Ma Hongjun on the back of the neck.

Everyone smiled again. Flender then dismissed them, and they returned to their rooms to pack their things.

The Heaven Dou Empire's escort party had originally planned to leave the next morning, but after what had happened, the Guard Knights' commander had to change the plan at the last minute. They would leave Spirit City that very afternoon.

Once everyone had packed their luggage and gathered in the hall again,

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward. Dai Mubai spoke to Flender on their behalf. "Dean, now that we've graduated, Zhuqing and I will be returning to the Star Dou Empire. We defeated the Star Dou Empire's team this time, so there are some clan matters we need to take care of when we get back."

"All right, off you go. Stay safe on the road," Flender said.

"Understood, Dean."

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing nodded, said their goodbyes to the students and teachers present, and made the Five-Year Agreement. Then the two turned and left, disappearing around the stairwell.

Not long afterward, the teachers and students of Shrek Academy followed the escort knights downstairs and climbed into the carriages they had arrived in.

The carriages sped along, passing through the Middle City and Outer City before finally leaving Spirit City through its gates.

In one of the carriages at the back of the procession, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong had a carriage to themselves, since four people were missing from the group.

Liu Erlong leaned against Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, a trace of melancholy in her beautiful eyes.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang said, "It's all right. Tang San and Xiao Wu were taken away by Tang Hao. They're sure to be safe."

Liu Erlong nodded, then sighed. "I just don't know when we'll see them again."

"Perhaps in five years. Didn't Mubai and Zhuqing make a Five-Year Agreement before they left? Tang San and Xiao Wu will surely come back when they hear about it."

"That's true." Liu Erlong pressed her lips together, then said indignantly, "When we get back, I'm going to train hard too. The next time I see Xiao Wu, I want to be strong enough to protect her."

"Then we'll work hard together when we get back."

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

Spirit City, Inner City, inside the Papal Palace.

A Golden Armored Guard strode into the hall and stopped before the Pope's Throne. He knelt and reported, "Your Holiness, the Heaven Dou Empire's team has left the city."

Bibi Dong, seated at the head of the hall, 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. As she raised it before her, scenes involving Yu Xiaogang from the competition began to replay in her mind. Her gaze grew increasingly resolute. Then she murmured, "Xiao Gang, I'll prove to you that only my path is right."