"Your servant greets you, Lord."
The ancient tree's voice was old and hoarse, its tone filled with reverence from the depths of its heart, without the slightest trace of perfunctoriness or reluctance.
"All the people of Shrek Academy have been restrained by your servant. The inner court, outer court, and Sea God Pavilion—not a single person escaped."
Xu Yanli gave a slight nod and drifted down, landing firmly on the cold bluestone ground of Sea God Island.
The instant his feet touched the ground, a cacophony rose from nearby.
Curses, weeping, and unwilling roars tangled together, mingling with the clatter of iron chains dragging across the ground—a piercing, chaotic din.
Following the sounds, he walked slowly down the shaded path he had traveled countless times before.
Seven years ago, it was here that he first met Zhang Lexuan.
Back then, he had been nothing more than a Soul King who took every step with care, a nobody.
Zhang Lexuan, meanwhile, had been the inner court's dazzling senior sister, admired by all and basking in glory. When they had passed each other, that radiant senior sister had even stopped and turned back to study the unfamiliar new student with a hint of curiosity.
Time had changed everything. The senior sister who had once stood high above him now stood firmly on his side.
The forest clearings on both sides of the path were packed with people kneeling shoulder to shoulder.
The students and teachers of the entire Shrek Academy were all gathered here.
At the very front were students from the outer court, most of them only fifteen or sixteen. Their youthful faces were etched with utter terror, and their whole bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Some lowered their heads and wept in silence. Others were so terrified they froze in place, afraid