Lin Yu didn't have Yue Guan and the others investigate who else was at Shrek Academy. He simply took them back to Suotuo City.
However, Lin Yu knew perfectly well that only Oscar and Ma Hongjun remained at Shrek Academy.
The two had stayed at the academy ever since awakening their Martial Souls. Even if Lin Yu took them back to Spirit Hall, they wouldn't leave.
So there was no need to waste time on them. Besides, without an Immortal Herb, Ma Hongjun was no threat. The only one worth worrying about was Oscar, the first auxiliary Soul Master in the history of Douluo Continent to possess Innate Full Soul Power.
As long as Lin Yu found a chance to deal with him without anyone noticing, there'd be nothing to worry about. Pretending he didn't know about Oscar and the others for now would also make it easier to handle them.
It wasn't that Lin Yu hadn't considered capturing everyone and quietly killing them. But Dai Mubai was with them this time.
Dai Mubai was a prince of the Star Luo Imperial Family. Someone had undoubtedly helped him in secret when he escaped Star Luo City. With the Soul Power he'd had as a child, he couldn't possibly have escaped on his own.
Even now, people were still protecting him from the shadows. If Lin Yu acted that way, he'd only push all the factions on Douluo Continent into joining forces against Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall wasn't yet strong enough to take on the entire continent alone. After all, it wasn't united within its own ranks, either.
"Come out. You've been following us for a while. Are you going to tell me what you want? If you don't show yourselves now, you won't get another chance." Lin Yu stopped and casually glanced behind him.
Dugu Bo, Yue Guan, and the others also turned to look at a spot behind Lin Yu. They'd sensed the presence already, but since Lin Yu hadn't said anything, they'd let their followers continue trailing them.
As Lin Yu's words fell, two people indeed emerged behind him.
One had a curvaceous figure, but her expression was cold—a pure, bone-deep chill. Her dark eyes held not a trace of life.
The other wore a white dress and had neat, ear-length hair. A gentle smile graced her face. The two made a striking contrast standing side by side.
"Tell me, what do you want from following me?" Lin Yu knew who the two girls before him were, but he didn't feel like wasting time entertaining them.
"I want to follow you." As soon as Lin Yu spoke, the girl radiating coldness answered.
Her demeanor was icy, and her voice even colder.
"Follow me? Why?" Lin Yu looked at Zhu Zhuqing in surprise.
"I want to become as strong as you. If you can make me stronger, I'll be yours from now on. I'll do whatever you ask." Zhu Zhuqing's expression didn't change as she spoke.
"Wouldn't that just mean going from one cage to another?" Lin Yu shook his head at her words.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing held no interest for him.
She'd come to Shrek Academy full of hope, thinking she'd finally found a way forward, only to sink into even deeper despair. There was no hope for life left in her eyes—only emptiness. She just wanted to grow stronger.
"As long as you can make me stronger, I don't care if it's another cage." Zhu Zhuqing continued to stare straight at Lin Yu, unmoved by his words.
"Show me what you're worth. If you can impress me, I'll give you a chance—not just to become stronger, but to escape the cage holding you prisoner." Lin Yu gave Zhu Zhuqing a long, measured look.
At Lin Yu's words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. Her expression finally changed, excitement appearing on her face.
Then Zhu Zhuqing summoned her Martial Soul. Two yellow Soul Rings appeared, and she attacked Lin Yu.
Zhu Zhuqing knew what her figure could offer, but she wasn't trying to prove her worth by selling her body. She would show him her strength instead.
She launched a fierce attack at Lin Yu, but he dodged every strike with ease. He didn't even summon his Martial Soul.
When her attacks failed, Zhu Zhuqing still didn't give up. This was her only chance to break free of the cage. She didn't want to let it go, even if it cost her life.
"Hell Stab! Netherworld Hundred Claws!" Zhu Zhuqing immediately unleashed her Soul Skills, using two in quick succession.
"Not bad." Seeing Zhu Zhuqing like this, Lin Yu nodded.
Her strength was still low, but her refusal to give up was commendable.
"Good. You can follow me." After easily dodging Zhu Zhuqing's next attack, Lin Yu nodded again. As a member of the protagonist's group, Zhu Zhuqing did have some redeeming qualities.
"What about you? Why do you want to follow me?" Having agreed to let Zhu Zhuqing come along, Lin Yu turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong.
"I want to follow you too." Ning Rongrong blinked, her gentle voice ringing out.
"Heh. The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wants to follow me, a member of Spirit Hall? Do you think I'd believe that?
"Besides, what makes you qualified to follow me?
"Your spoiled nature? Or the fact that you're more talented than Zhu Zhuqing and older than her, yet your Soul Power Level is the same as hers?" Lin Yu looked at Ning Rongrong scornfully.
At his words, Ning Rongrong's gentle expression finally crumbled.
"You know I'm the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and you still dare talk to me like that? Who gave you the nerve?" Ning Rongrong dropped all pretense and pointed at Lin Yu's nose as she shouted.
"You're asking who gave me the nerve? I'm a Soul Ancestor. A mere Soul Grandmaster like you has no right to offend me. Besides, you're beneath me in status, too." Lin Yu's expression turned icy.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the sects Spirit Hall would destroy in the future. Lin Yu had no reason to be nice to Ning Rongrong.
"Come out! Take your young lady back. If you let someone with that kind of temper wander around, she won't even know how she died." Lin Yu had lost patience and called out to the hidden disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
At his words, the hidden disciples hurried out and led Ning Rongrong away, not daring to say a thing.
They'd witnessed what had happened in front of Shrek Academy with their own eyes. With a Titled Douluo at Lin Yu's side, they weren't in a position to act recklessly.
"Since you're one of my people now, I should tell you who I am.
"Remember, I'm the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. No one is allowed to bully my people—not even the Star Luo Imperial Family or the Zhu Family.
"You're too weak right now. You need to get stronger quickly." Lin Yu looked at Zhu Zhuqing.
"Uncle Yue, find a way to get her Soul Power up to Level 30 as soon as possible. Level 27 is still too low." After saying this, Lin Yu didn't linger and turned to leave.
The trip had gone well. Everyone from Shrek had been captured except the two still at the academy. Shrek had effectively been erased.
Now it was time to meet Tang San.
"But what's going on with that rabbit? Why isn't she with Tang San?" Lin Yu couldn't figure it out and had no idea what had happened.
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