Love at First Sight, Long-Planned

[Dou Er Era]

Shrek Academy, Sea God Plaza.

Everyone was still immersed in the massive shock of the collapse of Yu Xiaogang's persona as the "Number One Theoretical Master in History."

Xuanzi had already recovered from his initial shock and looked at Wang Yan, who stood before him, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

He had already decided to execute Wang Yan right then and there.

It was both to silence him and to see if he could interrupt the exposure process on the Sky Screen.

He had even thought of the reason: he would claim he was "clearing the sect of traitors for Shrek"!

The terrifying soul power of a Super Douluo erupted like a mountain torrent, and an invisible Taotie claw prepared to crush Wang Yan into a pulp!

However, at that very moment, a golden light shot down from the Sky Screen, enveloping Wang Yan within it.

The moment Xuanzi's soul power, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, touched the golden light, it vanished without a trace, like a clay ox entering the sea!

Xuanzi's expression shifted, and he discovered with astonishment that he was completely unable to penetrate this thin layer of golden light!

Immediately after, a line of large golden characters appeared on the Sky Screen, announcing to the world.

[Sky Screen Rule: During the exposure period, those on the list are under absolute protection; any form of attack is ineffective.]

Inside the work-study dormitory.

Ji Xuan looked at the incredibly ugly old face of Xuanzi in the Mirror, a playful curve tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"The show has only just begun; I can't have the protagonist exiting the stage at a time like this."

The rules on the Sky Screen undoubtedly conveyed a clear message to everyone.

This was not just an exposure; it was a trial!

And until the trial concluded, no one was permitted to lay a finger on the accused!

Everyone, whether from the Douluo I or Dou Er era, realized that this was no longer a joke or mere gossip.

It was a storm that would sweep across the entire continent and span ten thousand years of time!

Those in the future hoped to gain more secrets scattered in the dust of history;

While those in the past wanted to glimpse the future and find the possibility of changing their predetermined endings!

On the Sky Screen, the images shifted once again.

This time, the scene switched to a dilapidated, gloomy underground stronghold.

Under the dim, yellow light of soul guidance lamps, a group of sallow, emaciated, and ragged people lay scattered about.

Their eyes were filled with numbness and despair.

There were disabled soul masters with missing limbs, white-haired elders, and even children with vacant, ignorant gazes.

They were the last survivors of the Martial Soul Hall.

A line of cold text appeared on the Sky Screen.

[Since the fall of the Martial Soul Empire, forces led by Shrek Academy began a ten-thousand-year-long purge of the remnants of the Martial Soul Hall.]

[They conducted an endless pursuit and extermination of all remaining forces and descendants of the Martial Soul Hall.]

[Regardless of age or gender, anyone associated with the Martial Soul Hall was to be executed without mercy!]

[They were not Evil Soul Masters, yet they endured a purge even more brutal than that faced by Evil Soul Masters.]

[They claimed this was to completely eradicate the soil of evil.]

[But what crime did these defenseless old, weak, women, and children commit? They were not Evil Soul Masters; they were merely tainted by the bloodline of the Martial Soul Hall.]

[Yet Shrek left no room for mercy.]

[Dou Er Era]

BOOM!!!

These few lines of text were like a loud slap, fiercely striking the face of Shrek Academy!

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and the others turned deathly pale.

The Shrek Academy they were so proud of had, at this moment, its bloodiest and ugliest corner exposed.

"No... impossible... how could our Shrek do such a thing?"

A student muttered in a broken voice, their faith collapsing.

"Slaughtering defenseless old people, women, and children? This... isn't this what only Evil Soul Masters do?"

Xuanzi's face turned livid, yet he could not utter a single word.

Because he knew that what the Sky Screen said... was all true!

He had even personally participated in the purge back then!

Sun Moon Empire, Mingde Hall.

Hall Master Jing Hongchen watched the images on the Sky Screen, clapping his hands and laughing, his laughter filled with undisguised mockery.

"Hahahaha! What a righteous Shrek! What a number one academy on the continent!"

"They talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality every day, yet behind the scenes, they carry out scorched-earth tactics that even we would be ashamed to match! It is hypocrisy to the extreme!"

Beside him, the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen also wore expressions of disdain.

"So the so-called 'glory' of Shrek is also built upon the corpses of women and children. It is truly nauseating."

Heaven Dou Empire, Body Sect.

Sect Master Du Busi let out a harsh, strange laugh.

"Tsk tsk tsk, did you see that? These are the hypocrites who claim to be the guardians of the continent! When it comes to being ruthless, they are the true ancestors!"

"Cutting weeds and eliminating roots, not even sparing infants!"

"This bunch from Shrek has truly opened my eyes!"

Holy Spirit Cult, dark and damp headquarters.

Zhongli Wu, shrouded in a black robe, let out a "hehehe" cackle.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

"So Shrek Academy are our fellow travelers after all!"

"The only difference is that when they kill, it is called 'upholding justice,' and when we kill, we are called Evil Soul Masters."

"This world is truly ironic!"

In the Sky Screen image.

Fifteen-year-old Qiangu Wangyan knelt before the group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, his youthful face filled with a resolve that did not match his age.

["Yan'er, do you really have to do this..."]

A one-armed old man said hoarsely, the eyes of the people behind him filled with unspeakable heartache.

Qiangu Wangyan kowtowed heavily three times.

["We have hidden for ten thousand years, concealed ourselves for ten thousand years; we have hidden and concealed long enough!"]

["One day, I will let everyone live under the sun again, without having to fear any more hunts!"]

After speaking, Qiangu Wangyan stood up and touched the face of a timid little girl.

Then, without further hesitation, he turned and walked step by step toward the direction of Shrek Academy.

That thin back carried the weight of a blood feud.

[Douluo I Era]

Inside the valley.

Tang San's face showed indifference.

"The fifth rule of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record general outline: As long as an enemy has a path to death, one must cut the weeds and eliminate the roots; one must not show mercy!"

Regarding the act of Shrek slaughtering the innocent on the Sky Screen, he felt it was perfectly normal.

The scene shifted; Qiangu Wangyan had already arrived at Shrek City.

[I put on tattered clothes, perfectly playing the role of a poor boy from a remote village coming to chase his dreams.]

[During the enrollment examination, I revealed my martial soul—the Panlong Staff.]

[After ten thousand years, almost no one on the continent knew of the Panlong Staff martial soul of the Qiangu clan.]

[I took the first step of my plan: to hide myself.]

[My true Innate Soul Power is level nine.]

[But to maintain my disguise, and also to avoid attracting attention, I displayed level five.]

[No one knows how many painful brands I had to imprint on my own meridians using secret techniques just to perfectly disguise my level nine Innate Soul Power as level five.]

[Dou Er Era]

"What? Innate Soul Power level nine!"

A commotion erupted across Shrek Plaza.

Everyone stared at Qiangu Wangyan, their scalps tingling.

A peerless genius with Innate Soul Power level nine had been hiding in plain sight right under their noses for so many years!

Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and the other Sea God Pavilion elders felt their faces burning, as if they had been slapped repeatedly.

The Sky Screen continued to play.

[After successfully entering the academy, I began a disguise that lasted over a decade.]

[I worked while studying, lived frugally, spent my days immersed in the library, remained gentle and polite to everyone, and displayed a fanatical obsession with martial soul theory.]

[At the same time, I used the excuse of finding inspiration in the records of that trash Yu Xiaogang to craft the image of a theoretical genius.]

[Until one day, while I was reading in the library, I suddenly felt an inexplicable throb!]

On the Sky Screen, Qiangu Wangyan, who had been bowing his head to read, suddenly shuddered!

[That throb came from the depths of my Panlong Staff martial soul!]

[Following the guidance of this sensation, I saw her—]

Qiangu Wangyan was seen suddenly looking up, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the bookshelves and locking firmly onto the back of a young girl not far away.

Han Ruoruo!

[It's her! It has to be her!]

[This is what is recorded in the ancient texts... martial soul resonance!]

[My Panlong Staff martial soul was able to deceive everyone's eyes, and besides my Innate Soul Power level, there was one more crucial factor.]

[That is, my Panlong Staff is not a complete Panlong Staff martial soul!]

[Because my Qiangu clan lost the most critical inheritance—the method to awaken the true spirit of the martial soul!]

[Attached within my Panlong Staff is a martial soul true spirit: the Heaven Awakening Holy Golden Dragon! Also known as the Evil-Breaking Dragon!]

[Only by awakening it can the Panlong Staff become a true top-tier tool martial soul!]

As the monologue reached this point, the screen showed Qiangu Wangyan looking at Han Ruoruo's back, his eyes filled with unprecedented excitement and fanaticism!

But it was not the affection of a young man; it was the look of a hunter spotting his prey!

[The method to awaken the true spirit had long been lost, and I had always thought there was no hope in this lifetime.]

[I never expected... Heaven has not abandoned my Qiangu clan!]

[This girl's Huangjin Rope martial soul has achieved the highest level of martial soul resonance with my Panlong Staff!]

[I might... be able to use the power of her martial soul as a catalyst to forcibly break the seal on the true spirit!]

[The cultivation notes I gave her were the most critical link in my plan.]

[I secretly modified the soul power circulation paths within them and added a catalyst technique researched from ancient texts.]

[As long as she continues to cultivate according to this method, her martial soul will unknowingly become the perfect catalyst!]

[When the time is ripe, I will be able to... use her as a sacrifice to awaken the sleeping "Heaven Awakening Holy Golden Dragon" in one fell swoop!]

[Han Ruoruo, I will thank you...]

[You will become the most important stepping stone on my path of revenge, Qiangu Wangyan!]

[Dou Er Era]

On Shrek Plaza, Han Ruoruo felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She finally understood that from their very first meeting to the notebook that later changed her fate, everything was... a scheme!

Tears slid down silently.

There was no such thing as love at first sight; it was nothing more than a long-planned exploitation!