Long Yeyue: Ya Li, You Too...

Seeing Long Yeyue's angry expression, Zang Xin knew that she truly thought so.

She genuinely believed that the Tang Sect might be coveting Shrek's legacy, and she truly felt that there were ulterior motives behind this upheaval.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Zang Xin's heart. He couldn't understand why things had suddenly turned out this way; a friendship that had lasted for millennia had been torn apart to this extent in just a few words.

But as Limit Douluo, Zang Xin was not without temper; he just kept it to himself.

But at this moment, Long Yeyue's words had touched upon the very foundation of the Tang Sect, and his expression darkened accordingly.

After a moment of silence, he controlled his emotions and slowly spoke, "Whether Elder Long believes it or not, the Tang Sect has always supported the reconstruction of the Shrek Academy. Many people in the Tang Sect were originally Shrek graduates. This connection will not be severed because of a disaster."

Upon hearing this, Long Yeyue snorted, "Fine! Since you put it that way, then let him hand over the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal now!"

As she spoke, her gaze pierced Tang Wulin like a knife.

Zang Xin turned to look at Tang Wulin and called out, "Wulin!"

Based on his understanding of Tang Wulin, he absolutely did not believe that the other party would do something like snatching away an opportunity, especially in front of so many people.

Zang Xin believed he had a clear understanding of Tang Wulin's character, temperament, and style of conduct; otherwise, he wouldn't have taken him as his disciple.

Tang Wulin's mind was in complete turmoil. He had been calling out to Old Tang from the depths of his Spirit Sea, over and over again, but Old Tang had not responded.

After the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal merged into his body, he couldn't sense where it went, let alone hand it over.

He met Zang Xin's gaze, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke, "Teacher, I..."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing once.

"I don't know what just happened. Now I can't even sense where that crystal is."

In the end, he still chose to lie, first concealing Old Tang's existence.

Upon hearing this, Long Yeyue sneered, her tone laced with undisguised sarcasm. "Ha! You really think you can just wash your hands of this with a simple 'I don't know what happened'?"

Zang Xin frowned slightly. He knew in his heart that Tang Wulin was indeed in the wrong in this matter.

Regardless of the reason why the crystal flew into his body, to outsiders, it was as if he had stolen the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal.

No matter how much she explained, Long Yeyue would only hear it as sophistry.

He remained silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words, before finally speaking, "Elder Long, perhaps the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal truly chose Wulin on its own initiative. Such a divine object possesses its own spirit, and perhaps he will only truly establish a connection with it after he grows up."

Long Yeyue's heart surged with anger, so much so that she wanted to take action on the spot and force the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal out of Tang Wulin's body, but in the end she did not move.

Because she knew this was Tang Sect territory.

She suppressed the urge with all her might, finally managing only a deep, cold snort from her nose, "What do you want?"

Seeing her barely suppressed anger, Zang Xin slowly stated his plan. "I guarantee with the reputation of the Tang Sect that as long as Tang Wulin can control the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal, I will make him retrieve it and return it to Na'er."

He paused, then added, "There's no better way right now."

Long Yeyue gritted her teeth, her cloudy eyes surging with resentment and anger.

In the past, she wouldn't have needed to discuss any terms with anyone.

She had even slapped the Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda to his face; what was there for a Tang Sect disciple not to do?

But now the situation is beyond her control. Shrek Academy is destroyed, Yun Ming is gone. She has no choice but to bow her head.

Long Yeyue remained silent for a long time before finally squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth. "Fine! I'll trust the Tang Sect one more time."

Her gaze fell on Zang Xin's face, then swept over Tang Wulin's lowered head. "I hope you won't disappoint me."

After speaking, Long Yeyue turned to look at Na'er, her expression finally softening.

"Na'er, come back to Shrek Academy with me to prepare for the reconstruction of the academy."

Na'er did not hesitate. The unexpected appearance of the Vast Sea Cosmic Crystal made her reassess the value of the Shrek Academy.

She nodded, responding crisply, "Yes."

Seeing that she agreed so readily, Long Yeyue's expression relaxed a little, and then she turned her gaze to Ya Li.

She was one of the few remaining Titled Douluo at the Shrek Academy, and her tone was one of natural enticement. "Ya Li, come back to the academy with me. Shrek needs you now."

Long Yeyue thought Ya Li would agree without hesitation, but to her surprise, Ya Li shook her head.

Long Yeyue's expression instantly darkened, her brows furrowed, and her voice rose several decibels. "Ya Li, what do you mean?"

Ya Li sat calmly in the chair and slowly said, "Yun Ming is dead, and my heart died with him. What's the point of going back to the Shrek Academy?"

Upon hearing this, Long Yeyue's expression changed drastically, and her voice instantly became sharper. "Rebuilding Shrek Academy is also Yun Ming's hope!"

Ya Li shook her head again, but didn't say anything more.

She didn't tell anyone that Yun Ming had passed a message to her before he perished.

Those words pierced through the smoke of battle and the roar of colliding Soul Power, clearly reaching her ears.

He said he had dedicated his life to the Shrek Academy, repaying the kindness of his teachers and the nurturing he received from the academy.

His last and only wish was that Ya Li could live a good life; he asked for nothing more.

Ya Li knew that Yun Ming had deliberately left those words because he was worried that she would follow him in death.

In Yun Ming's last words, he never mentioned rebuilding Shrek Academy.

He never asked her to carry anything or inherit anything; he only hoped that she could live a good life, that was all.

As Yun Ming's closest confidante over the years, Ya Li has also clearly sensed the various obstacles he has encountered in managing Shrek Academy.

She saw all the constraints from within the academy, the clashes between old and new ideas, and the overt and covert resistance.

Yun Ming had mentioned to her at home more than once that nothing can last forever, and even Shrek Academy, which has been passed down for thousands of years, might one day decline and be Destruction God.

He saw things more clearly than anyone else, yet he still stayed at that academy until the end of his life.

Therefore, Ya Li truly has no intention of returning to Shrek with Long Yeyue.

Her heart was no longer there; she didn't want to return to that ruin filled with memories, to be reminded again and again by those broken bricks and tiles of what she had lost.

But Long Yeyue clearly didn't want to "let her go." Looking at Ya Li's resistant expression, she raised her voice. "You're from the Shrek Academy. Shouldn't you be doing your part for the academy at this time? What kind of behavior is it to be indulging in personal feelings?"

Just now they were using Yun Ming's name to pressure people, and now they're saying it's just personal feelings between lovers.

Upon hearing this, a hint of annoyance flashed in Ya Li's eyes.

Back in the academy, Long Yeyue had often given Yun Ming pointers on his arrangements.

Because of her status and seniority, Yun Ming always treated her with the respect due to a junior and never confronted her directly.

Ya Li saw it all and remembered it all, but she never said a word about it.

But now that Yun Ming is gone, she has no intention of continuing to make concessions.

Ya Li took a deep breath, her previously gentle voice hardening slightly. "Seriously speaking, I'm actually a member of the War God Temple."

The moment these words were spoken, the reception room fell silent.

Everyone knows that Ya Li was originally a genius Soul Master trained by the War God Temple, but she was later "domineeringly" snatched away by Yun Ming.

That was a widely circulated anecdote in the Soul Master World back then: the philandering Sea God Pavilion Master stole the love of the War God Temple's genius girl.

Ya Li and Yun Ming were truly in love, which is why they stayed at the Shrek Academy and protected the academy for over a hundred years as Holy Spirit Douluo.

But her words at that moment created a rift in the bond between her and Shrek Academy.

Long Yeyue's expression changed drastically. Her lips moved, and her hand pointing at Ya Li trembled slightly. "You..."

She opened her mouth, but found herself unable to find any words to refute it.

Because what Ya Li said was true, something everyone already knew.

At the same time, she also understood that once she said this, Ya Li would no longer be able to go with her to rebuild Shrek Academy.

Long Yeyue gave a heavy snort. She didn't look at Ya Li again, but turned to Na'er and said, "Let's go."