"Interesting."
Bibi Dong gripped the evolved Rakshasa Demon Scythe, feeling its pulse of bloodlust. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
All the frustration from her earlier defeat had vanished.
She turned to look at Qian Renxue, who had been standing at the foot of the steps the entire time.
"Xue'er."
For once, there was less of her usual severity in her voice and more of a triumphant confidence.
"The list has only reached ninth place, and the reward is already this impressive."
"If we can take Skywater City while we're at it..."
The ambition in Bibi Dong's eyes blazed without restraint.
"Immediately assemble the forces of the Elder Hall and come with me to Skywater City."
"We have to make sure this prize ends up in Spirit Hall's hands."
Watching Bibi Dong's air of absolute certainty, Qian Renxue furrowed her brows slightly.
She didn't agree at once. Instead, she calmly shook her head.
"No."
The smile froze on Bibi Dong's face. She struck the ground hard with Iudex's Cane.
"What did you say?"
"Mother, you're being too hasty."
Qian Renxue met Bibi Dong's gaze, her tone calm but firm.
"The battle at Jialing Pass is imminent. The main forces of both Heaven Dou and the Star Luo Empire are gathering."
"Dividing our forces now to attack Skywater City, whose true strength is unfathomable, would be a grave mistake."
"And besides..."
Qian Renxue paused, her gaze drifting toward the sky beyond the hall.
"Tang San's name hasn't appeared yet."
Her words doused Bibi Dong's excitement like a bucket of cold water.
That's right.
Tang San.
That Shrek boy, the one who had foiled her plans time and again.
His Seagod Trident hadn't appeared on the list yet.
Since her Rakshasa Demon Scythe was only ninth, Tang San's divine weapon was certain to rank above it.
And its reward would surely be no weaker.
If they provoked Neuvillette, whose true strength they couldn't even gauge, and something else happened with Tang San at the same time, Spirit Hall could easily find itself attacked from both sides.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling several times.
She might have been mad, but she wasn't stupid.
As the Pope who had ruled Spirit Hall for many years, she knew how to distinguish what mattered most from what could wait.
"You're right."
Bibi Dong closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the fervor in her gaze had faded, replaced by a calculating look.
"Dealing with the two empires comes first. That's what matters."
"As for Skywater City and Tang San..."
She tightened her grip on the Demon Scythe.
"Once the battle at Jialing Pass decides everything, I'll deal with them myself."
Deep in the woods outside Skywater City.
The atmosphere in Shrek Academy's camp had grown oppressive.
"What did you say?!"
A furious roar startled birds from the trees.
Tang San clutched Ma Hongjun's shoulders, squeezing so hard he nearly crushed the other man's collarbones.
His eyes were instantly bloodshot. His normally refined, handsome face had turned almost ferocious.
Ma Hongjun grimaced in pain, but he didn't dare cry out.
He knew this was his last chance.
If he didn't shift the blame, Tang San would skin him alive for bringing the truth out into the open: that this "monster" of a genius had lost his manhood and Xiao Wu.
"Third Brother... You have to get justice for me..."
Ma Hongjun was a snotty, tearful mess, weeping pitifully.
Clutching his bloodied crotch, he curled up on the ground like a cooked shrimp.
"Grandmaster and I went to discuss an alliance with them in good faith."
"We thought that, as righteous Soul Masters, we should help one another."
"But Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy..."
Ma Hongjun sniffled, his eyes darting about as he began spinning the most vicious lies.
"The moment she heard we were from Shrek, her whole expression changed."
"She called Grandmaster a fraud who'd made a name for himself through deceit, and said we Shrek people were a bunch of useless nobodies."
"I couldn't stand it, so I argued with her."
"And then... then she crippled me right there..."
Dai Mubai, who had been standing nearby, heard this and erupted in anger. He slammed a fist into the tree beside him.
With a crack, the thick tree snapped in half.
"She's gone too far!"
"Does she really think Shrek has no one who can stand up to her?!"
Oscar was red with anger, too. He conjured a Recovery Sausage and tried to feed it to Ma Hongjun, but the sight of his injuries made Oscar hesitate.
"Third Brother, let's charge in!"
"When has Shrek ever had to put up with humiliation like this?!"
Tang San ignored their shouts.
His chest rose and fell as he fought to suppress the Mysterious Heaven Skill energy raging inside him.
There was someone else he cared about more.
"Where's Xiao Wu?"
Tang San's voice was hoarse.
"Xiao Wu... Wasn't she with you?"
"Where is she now?!"
At the mention of Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun stiffened noticeably.
But he quickly continued with the lie he'd already started.
"Xiao Wu... They took Xiao Wu!"
Ma Hongjun lifted his head, his face full of hatred and outrage.
"Shui Bing'er said their city lord loved collecting all kinds of rare and exotic beasts."
"She said Xiao Wu was pretty, so they'd take her back... to be that Neuvillette guy's... his concubine."
Boom—
A terrifying wave of killing intent erupted from Tang San.
All the Blue Silver Grass around them turned black, twisting and growing wildly, like countless venomous snakes ready to devour their prey.
A concubine?
Neuvillette?!
How dare they!
"She also said..."
Seeing that Tang San was on the verge of exploding, Ma Hongjun decided to go all in and stoke his rage one last time.
"She said you, Tang San, were a worthless piece of trash who couldn't even protect your own woman. How could you possibly hope to conquer the continent?"
"If you want her back, get on your knees and beg outside the City Lord Mansion!"
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Tang San threw his head back and roared, his voice filled with boundless murderous intent.
The Seagod Trident mark on his forehead shone brilliantly. He looked like Asura himself, descended upon the world.
A dragon's scales were not to be touched; anyone who did would die.
Xiao Wu was Tang San's most vulnerable spot.
Skywater City had not only injured his teacher and his brothers, but had dared to covet the woman he loved—and even humiliate him like this.
This was no longer a simple grudge.
It was a fight to the death!
"Skywater City, Neuvillette, Shui Bing'er—you've got some nerve!"
Tang San gritted his teeth, each word forced through them.
"Since you're asking to die, I'll grant your wish!"
At that very moment.
In the back courtyard of the Skywater City Lord Mansion.
There was none of the tense hostility people outside might have imagined. Instead, the place exuded an air of languid decadence.
Incense curled through the spacious room.
Neuvillette reclined against a chaise, his silvery-white hair falling loosely around him and adding to his unrestrained, noble air.
Snow Empress was curled up on his lap like a docile cat.
Her stunning face, which usually struck terror into the hearts of countless Soul Beasts in the Far North, still bore a flush that had yet to fade. Spring lingered in the corners of her eyes and the curve of her brows.
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