The Leader Youth burst into laughter.
"The Federation?"
"The law?"
He looked utterly disdainful.
"Listen up, kid!"
"Here!"
"Shrek is the law!"
"Get him!"
Everyone rushed forward.
However...
More Ghost Shadow Soldiers surged out of the shadows.
Ghost Shadow Ninjas and Ghost Shadow Warriors appeared in dense ranks, over thirty in all, and clashed with the dozen or so people.
The Shrek Students' faces changed dramatically.
With so many of them, they could have held their own against an ordinary Soul Saint.
And yet they couldn't even take down a little Two-Ring brat?!
It was outrageous!
Humbled, they struck even more viciously, hoping to deal with the Ghost Shadow Soldiers as quickly as possible.
However...
As Wang Zhi's Spiritual Power rapidly recovered, a steady stream of Ghost Shadow Soldiers continued to emerge from the shadows.
Forty, fifty, sixty...
The Shrek Students grew more and more alarmed as the fight went on.
Taking advantage of the moment, Wang Zhi lowered his body, merged with the shadow beneath his feet, and fled toward the outskirts of the city.
He wasn't stupid enough to stand around waiting for Shrek's Titled Douluos to arrive.
Once he was subdued, Shrek would get to decide who was right and who was wrong.
"Not good!"
"He's getting away!"
The Leader Youth's face changed dramatically. He immediately tried to chase after Wang Zhi, but the Ghost Shadow Soldiers still held him back.
Seeing that he couldn't pursue him, he promptly took out his Soul Tool Communicator and contacted a teacher from the Inner Court.
They had to suppress this matter!
Otherwise, it would damage Shrek's reputation!
Soon, just as Wang Zhi reached the base of Shrek City's walls...
An aged voice rang out.
"Trying to run?"
"Did you ask for this old woman's permission?!"
In the next instant, a silver-white streak of light appeared in front of Wang Zhi.
It was an old woman who looked to be in her sixties or seventies. Her expression was cold, with a hint of unmistakable arrogance, and powerful energy radiated from her.
She merely stood there, yet terrifying Soul Power pressure spread out and sealed off the surrounding space in an instant.
Wang Zhi was forced out of the shadows.
He looked at the newcomer, his expression grave.
The Shrek Outer Court Dean, Sea God Pavilion Elder, Silver Moon Douluo—Cai Yuer.
"What is it?"
Wang Zhi looked at her, his tone calm.
"Is Shrek really so overbearing that if you don't want someone to leave, they aren't allowed to?"
Cai Yuer's tone was indifferent.
"If it were someone else, they would be free to leave."
"But not you!"
Her gaze was as sharp as a blade as she stared directly at Wang Zhi.
"You tried to run when questioned by the Shrek Inspection Team. That clearly shows you have something to hide."
Wang Zhi was so angry he laughed.
"Something to hide?"
"How interesting!"
He took a deep breath, his voice turning cold.
"Your people from Shrek came right out and said that because I beat your Shrek Student at the Tianhai Competition, they would stop me from competing in the Youth Ranking."
"I didn't bother stooping to their level, but they only pushed their luck, pinning the blame for colluding with Evil Soul Masters on me and trying to arrest me."
"So..."
"You're allowed to act this tyrannically, but I'm not allowed to fight back?!"
Cai Yuer snorted.
"If you have nothing to do with the Evil Soul Masters, we'll clear your name once our investigation is complete."
Faced with Cai Yuer's irrelevant reply, Wang Zhi regained his composure, though he was also annoyed with himself.
Why was he arguing with an idiot?
Did Cai Yuer really not know what would happen if he was caught?
She knew.
She just didn't care.
And that was Shrek's tradition.
Ten thousand years ago, Ma Xiaotao lost control when her Evil Fire ran wild. If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hadn't stepped in, Huo Yuhao would have died.
Yet in the end, Ma Xiaotao paid no price at all and could still keep causing trouble for Huo Yuhao. That said it all.
Go back even further—to two thousand years ago, when Shrek Academy was first founded—and it was even more outrageous.
They recruited students, then refused to admit anyone who lacked talent, while refusing to refund their tuition.
That was truly absurd!
Who makes you pay tuition before testing your aptitude?
It was a blatant scam!
And if you tried to get your money back, they would beat you and throw you out.
That such an academy could last for two thousand years was a testament to the despair of the times.
Wang Zhi looked at the Silver Moon Douluo before him and said nothing more.
He simply stood there quietly, waiting to see what she would do next.
He would meet change with stillness.
Seeing that Wang Zhi had fallen silent, Cai Yuer assumed she had refuted him and left him speechless.
She was secretly pleased with herself.
She had always loathed Wang Zhi.
Especially when she saw him repeatedly causing trouble for Shrek, she wanted to take him out herself.
But for the sake of Shrek's bright and honorable image, she could only watch him keep provoking Shrek without daring to make a move.
Now things were different.
Wang Zhi had been branded as someone who colluded with Evil Soul Masters.
As long as she took him back to Shrek Academy and locked him up, what would the truth be?
Wouldn't she be the one to decide?
Besides, if Wang Zhi really was innocent, why did he keep opposing Shrek?
After all, everyone who had opposed Shrek before had been an Evil Soul Master!
Wasn't that even better proof that Wang Zhi had colluded with the Evil Soul Masters and intended to attack Shrek Academy?!
At the thought, a cold smile appeared on Cai Yuer's lips.
She reached out to grab Wang Zhi.
She would take the boy back to Shrek and put him on trial in a live broadcast across the Federation!
She would tell everyone that everything Wang Zhi had done was part of an Evil Soul Master conspiracy!
Whether he had defeated Ye Xinglan or resisted the Shrek Inspection Team's investigation, it was all evidence of his crimes!
By then...
Shrek would still be just as it had always been...
Flawless!
And she, Cai Yuer, would be the greatest contributor to preserving Shrek Academy's glorious image!
However...
The moment she reached out, the atmosphere around them suddenly changed.
More than sixty Ghost Shadow Soldiers had appeared around them at some point, completely surrounding the area.
The shadow beneath Wang Zhi's feet churned wildly, like a boiling black sea.
The Shadow Domain unfolded at full strength!
The power of more than sixty Ghost Shadow Soldiers converged on Wang Zhi all at once!
The force was too immense for his Two-Ring Soul Grand Master body to withstand.
His skin began to crack, blood seeping from the fissures, and in an instant, he was covered in blood.
But he gritted his teeth and held on.
With that power behind it, the Shadow Domain expanded to its limit. Shadows covered everything nearby, plunging the area into absolute darkness!
Then, a gigantic black finger emerged from the shadows.
That single finger gathered all of Wang Zhi's power, carrying the full force of more than sixty Ghost Shadow Soldiers as it slammed down toward Cai Yuer!
"What?!"
Cai Yuer's pupils contracted.
She was a dignified Level 98 Super Douluo and Sea God Pavilion Elder, yet this single finger made her feel threatened?!
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion rang out.
Dust billowed, and shock waves surged.
Before you continue