News of the Heavenly Dragon Sect's destruction spread quickly through Dragon City, then raced across the entire Douluo Continent like lightning.
Dragon City's residents were all on edge, and the Earth Dragon Sect went so far as to step up patrols and screening within its sect overnight.
The imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire was furious. They had already sent a team to Dragon City to investigate and ordered that the culprit pay for the bloodshed.
At the same time, the words "Holy Spirit Cult" gradually began to surface, becoming a frequent subject of private discussion.
Three days later, several commoners were carrying shovels on their way to the fields.
"This year's harvest is poor. Once we pay the rent, there'll only be enough left to feed the whole family for half a year."
"You can say that again. I'm planning to find work in the city after the harvest. I should be able to earn some money by the end of the year."
"I envy those Soul Masters so much. We're the only ones without Soul Power. If we could become Soul Masters, we wouldn't have to live like this."
They sighed and grumbled for a while. Suddenly, all of them stopped in their tracks and toppled to the ground, their faces filled with terror.
The road ahead was piled with corpses. They wore the uniforms of officials from the Heaven Dou Empire, and the leader had been beheaded.
In large letters, a message had been written on the ground:
"May holy light shine upon the earth, and the Holy Spirit descend upon the mortal realm."
Signed: Holy Spirit Cult.
Before long, several commoners dropped their hoes and hurried to report the matter to the authorities.
The Holy Spirit Cult had killed officials of the Heaven Dou Empire. The group had been on its way to Dragon City to investigate the destruction of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, but had been wiped out along the way.
When news of the incident spread, the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire was said to have been enraged. First the Heavenly Dragon Sect had been destroyed, and now officials of the empire had been killed. This was no longer a simple matter of revenge over a sect's destruction; it had become a matter of national importance.
The Heaven Dou Empire imposed martial law throughout its territory, and patrols began searching the cities. For a time, people were gripped by fear, and the powerful figures of the various factions felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
After all, even Old Heavenly Dragon, a level-95 Super Douluo, had died. Every one of them was now uneasy until the danger had passed.
In the forest on the outskirts of Shrek Academy, two Shrek Academy disciples in red Inner Court uniforms emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest. They had just obtained their respective Soul Rings and were on their way back to the academy.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice called out.
"Excuse me, are you students from Shrek Academy?"
One of them answered instinctively, "That's right. What do you need?"
Whoosh!
A pale blade flashed. Before either of them could even call for help, their throats were slit, and they died instantly.
A middle-aged woman in plain clothes walked out of the forest, carrying a gleaming purple scythe. She lifted their uniforms to inspect them, then nodded. "So this is the Shrek Academy uniform. I'll know who to kill next time."
Meanwhile, inside Shrek Academy.
Sea God Island, Sea God Pavilion.
The Sea God Pavilion Meeting had been called. The elders and all four deans and vice-deans had arrived and taken their seats.
Mu En lay back in his chair, his eyes half closed. He spoke in a low voice. "There's only one reason I called this sudden meeting of the Sea God Pavilion. I'm sure you've all heard about the recent events in the Heaven Dou Empire."
Yan Shaozhe, whose hair had turned white but who still exuded a carefree air, frowned. "Teacher, you're talking about the destruction of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, aren't you?"
Mu En nodded. "The incident has caused an uproar throughout the Heaven Dou Empire. After killing his victims, the culprit left behind the words 'Holy Spirit Cult.'"
"The Holy Spirit Cult? I've never heard of such an organization before."
"Could it have only just appeared?" Xian Lin'er ventured.
"It could also be an attempt to frame someone," Qian Duoduo offered.
"Whatever that person's purpose, Shrek Academy cannot stand by and do nothing. Shaozhe, Lin'er, get ready to go to Heaven Dou City. The imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire has asked Shrek Academy for help. They want the academy to send powerful experts to examine the scene. The two of you will protect the empire's delegation, investigate the scene firsthand, and look into every clue left behind. Report back to me once you return."
"Yes."
Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe nodded.
Mu En then looked toward the empty seat beside him. Xuan Zi, the academy's second-most powerful expert, was absent.
"Lexuan recently broke through level eighty. Xuan Zi took her and eleven other Inner Court Students who had also broken through to hunt Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. They set out three days ago."
As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous boom sounded outside the Sea God Pavilion.
Everyone leapt to their feet, their eyes blazing with anger. Dragon God Douluo Mu En opened his eyes, his gaze flashing like lightning as he swept a cold look across the surroundings.
When Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, Xian Lin'er, and the others rushed out of the Sea God Pavilion, they clenched their fists without thinking.
Two bodies lay in the smoking crater before the Sea God Pavilion. They wore the red uniforms of Shrek Academy's Inner Court, their throats slit by a sharp weapon and their eyes wide open, clearly unwilling to accept their deaths.
"Chongdeng!"
"Qianhuang!"
Yan Shaozhe called out their names and jumped into the crater to examine the two Inner Court Students.
"How are they?" Qian Duoduo jumped in and hurriedly asked.
"They're dead," Yan Shaozhe said grimly, his voice cold. His clenched fists cracked.
Silence fell over everyone present as an invisible killing intent spread through the air.
"Look. There's a note stuck to Qianhuang's chest."
Suppressing his rage, Yan Shaozhe unfolded the note. Written in blood, it read:
"May holy light shine upon the earth, and the Holy Spirit descend upon the mortal realm."
Signed: Holy Spirit Cult.
That's right!
It was the same message!
The one left behind when the Heavenly Dragon Sect was destroyed and the Heaven Dou Empire's delegation was wiped out.
Had Shrek Academy become the next target?
In nearly ten thousand years since Shrek Academy's founding, when had it ever suffered such an insult?
Every Inner Court Student was a precious asset of the academy. They were its true pillars.
Now two of them had been killed, and their bodies brazenly dumped in front of the Sea God Pavilion. This was no mere provocation against Shrek Academy—it was a declaration of war!
"How dare they! They've killed two of my Inner Court Students!"
Yan Shaozhe spoke in a low voice, rage churning within him.
"Who did this? Get out here, you coward!"
Xian Lin'er rose into the air. Nine Soul Rings blazed beneath her feet, and she held a green spear as she glared in every direction.
But it was no use. Bibi Dong had already entered the deepest part of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Not good!"
Qian Duoduo's expression changed drastically. "Xuan Zi and the twelve Inner Court Students are still in the Star Dou Great Forest. I remember Qianhuang said he wanted to hunt a Soul Beast alone, so he teamed up with Chongdeng and headed there. He said they'd meet up with Xuan Zi and the others along the way."
Yan Shaozhe's expression changed as well. Without another word, he rushed straight toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
I hope there's still a chance to turn this around.
Before you continue