Eternal Thief--!

Lan Muzi stood at the exit of the Spirit Ascension Platform, watching the students emerge one by one.

Guo Zhen and Shi Gandang came out; they were fine.

Tang Bingning and Lu Fengming came out; they were also fine.

Then, he saw a girl being sent out.

Ye Xinglan.

Her face was pale and her soul power was overdrawn, but she was unharmed.

A chubby boy ran over, wanting to help her, but she ignored him.

Lan Muzi walked over.

"Where is Jingheng?"

Ye Xinglan opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a cabin door suddenly opened.

Lan Muzi turned his head to look.

Yun Jingheng was lying inside, his face as white as paper, his eyes closed, motionless.

Lan Muzi's mind went blank for a second.

Then, he rushed over.

"Jingheng!"

There was no response.

Lan Muzi scooped him up and probed him with his soul power to inspect him.

His breathing was weak, his heartbeat was weak, but they were still there.

He was merely unconscious.

Lan Muzi let out a sigh of relief, but before he could finish, he suddenly froze.

The soul power fluctuations within Yun Jingheng were wrong.

It wasn't an overdraft, nor was it an injury; it was a state he had never seen before.

It was as if something was sleeping inside him, or perhaps waiting to wake up.

Lan Muzi's expression changed.

He held Yun Jingheng, turned around, and bolted toward the exit.

"Teacher Lan!" Ye Xinglan shouted.

Lan Muzi did not look back.

Shrek City, Sea God Pavilion.

Yun Ming sat in the main seat with a pile of files laid out before him.

Ya Li sat beside him, reading a report.

Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, and Cai Yue'er were all present, each busy with their own affairs.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Lan Muzi rushed in, carrying Yun Jingheng in his arms.

He had even forgotten to knock.

"Pavilion Master—"

Before he could finish, Yun Ming had already stood up.

He took a single step to appear before Lan Muzi, took Yun Jingheng, and probed him with his soul power.

Then, his expression changed.

It became extremely grim.

Ya Li walked over, took one look at Yun Jingheng, and her expression changed as well.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice soft, yet everyone could hear the underlying tension.

Lan Muzi opened his mouth.

Before he could speak, Yun Ming suddenly shouted.

"Eternal Thief!"

He roared a name; the volume was not high, but the entire Sea God Pavilion trembled.

Then, he rushed out.

Ya Li was stunned for a moment and wanted to chase after him, but Yun Ming had already vanished.

Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, and Cai Yue'er exchanged glances before rising to rush out as well.

Ya Li stood where she was, looking at Lan Muzi.

"Speak."

Lan Muzi took a deep breath.

"There was a riot in the Spirit Ascension Platform. They encountered a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Jingheng is fine, just unconscious, but the Pavilion Master, he—"

Ya Li interrupted him.

"What about Xinglan?"

"She made it out. She's fine."

Ya Li nodded.

She looked down at Yun Jingheng in her arms and reached out to stroke his face.

"As long as he's fine," she said.

Then, she carried Yun Jingheng into the inner chamber.

Lan Muzi stood where he was, stunned for a few seconds.

He suddenly remembered something.

Who was the Pavilion Master shouting at just now?

The Eternal Thief?

The Spirit Pagoda Master?

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.

Qiangu Dongfeng sat in his top-floor office, holding a cup of tea with a leisurely expression.

There was nothing major today; that group of children from Shrek had come for spirit ascension, and with Leng Yaozhu watching over them, he didn't need to worry.

He took a sip of tea.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

A staff member rushed in, his face pale and covered in sweat.

"Pagoda, Pagoda Master!"

Qiangu Dongfeng frowned.

"What is the meaning of this panic?!"

The staff member gasped for air.

"Something happened! Over at the Spirit Ascension Platform, several children have fallen unconscious!"

Qiangu Dongfeng set down his teacup.

"Isn't it a common occurrence to be knocked out by soul beasts? When will you people ever learn to handle things with ease? Can't you let me worry a little less?"

"Speak, who is it?"

The staff member opened his mouth.

"A girl with the surname Ye, named Ye Xinglan, and also—"

"Ye Xinglan?" Qiangu Dongfeng interrupted him. "The girl from the Ye family?"

The staff member nodded.

Qiangu Dongfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Ye family was not small, they weren't enough to make him nervous.

"Who else?"

The staff member stammered.

"Also..."

"Speak up, will you?"

"...Yun Jingheng."

Qiangu Dongfeng froze for a moment.

"Who?"

"Yun Jingheng." The staff member's voice grew even quieter. "The son of Sea God Pavilion Master Yun Ming."

Qiangu Dongfeng's expression crumbled in that instant.

He stood up, forgetting to even set down his teacup.

"What did you say?"

The staff member took a step back.

"He, he also fell unconscious, but he was carried away by someone, it seemed to be a teacher from Shrek—"

Before he could finish, a roar erupted from outside the window.

"Qiangu Dongfeng—!"

That was the voice of Yun Ming.

Qiangu Dongfeng's expression changed completely.

He rushed to the window and looked out.

From the direction of Shrek, several figures were flying over at high speed.

The one in the lead, radiating a terrifying aura, was none other than Yun Ming.

Behind him, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, and Cai Yue'er were all present, not a single one missing.

Qiangu Dongfeng took a deep breath.

He turned around and looked at the staff member.

"You—"

Before he could finish, another roar came.

"Qiangu Dongfeng! Get out here!"

The entire Spirit Pagoda was shaking.

Qiangu Dongfeng stood where he was, his expression complex.

He suddenly felt a bit of regret.

He should have just skipped work today.

Wait?

That's not right, I didn't do anything. Leng Yaozhu was the one watching over Shrek's side, what am I afraid of?

Qiangu Dongfeng took a deep breath, pushed open the window, and flew out.

He had barely steadied himself in the air, not even having time to speak, when a silver spear light thrust right in front of his face.

"I—"

Qiangu Dongfeng dodged in a panic; the spear light grazed his shoulder, leaving a massive hole in the wall of the Spirit Pagoda behind him.

"Yun Ming! What are you doing?!"

Yun Ming didn't speak, and a second strike was already thrusting toward him.

The spear body was entirely silver-white, the tip gleaming with a cold, biting light; it was his martial soul—the Sky-Piercing Divine Spear.

This strike was faster and more ruthless than the last.

Qiangu Dongfeng dodged again, sweat already breaking out on his forehead.

"Have you gone mad?!"

Yun Ming still didn't speak.

Behind him, nine soul rings—black, black, red, red, red, red, orange-gold, orange-gold, orange-gold—floated behind him like ghosts.

Qiangu Dongfeng's face changed.

"Are you truly insane?!"

Yun Ming raised his spear.

Behind him, the seventh and ninth soul rings lit up with blinding light.

"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul Avatar."

His voice was icy.

"Ninth Soul Skill—Sky-Piercing: Sun-Shooting."

Qiangu Dongfeng's face turned pale.

"No! Wait a second!"

He raised his hands and took a step back.

"Leng Yaozhu was the one watching the Spirit Ascension Platform today! Not me! It has nothing to do with me!"

Yun Ming's spear paused.

Qiangu Dongfeng panted and continued, "I've been in my office drinking tea the whole time! I wasn't even at the scene when your son had his accident! If you want to find someone, you should find Leng Yaozhu! Why are you coming after me?!"

Yun Ming looked at him, his eyes as cold as ice.

"How did you know my son had an accident?"

Qiangu Dongfeng froze.

"...The staff member just reported it."

"What report?"

"The report about..."

Qiangu Dongfeng suddenly realized, "The report said a few children fell unconscious, and one of them is named Yun Jingheng."

Yun Ming said nothing.

Qiangu Dongfeng hurriedly added, "I just found out! I haven't even had time to ask! You rushed over here!"

Yun Ming stared at him, the spear in his hand still pointed his way.

Behind him, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, and Cai Yue'er had also arrived.

Feng Wuyu looked at Qiangu Dongfeng and let out a cold snort.

"Old thief, you had better be telling the truth."

Qiangu Dongfeng glared at him.

"When have I ever lied?!"

Zhuo Shi interjected.

"You've lied plenty of times."

Qiangu Dongfeng: "..."

Cai Yue'er looked around.

"Where is Leng Yaozhu?"

Qiangu Dongfeng froze for a moment and looked around.

That's right, where was Leng Yaozhu?

He had been too panicked just now and had forgotten about this.

"Leng Yaozhu!" he shouted.

No one answered.

Qiangu Dongfeng's expression turned somewhat ugly.

He suddenly had a bad premonition.

Yun Ming watched him, slowly lowering the spear in his hand.

"Call Leng Yaozhu out."

Qiangu Dongfeng gritted his teeth.

"Someone, come here!"

A staff member flew out from the Spirit Pagoda, looking at this group of people with trepidation.

"Pagoda, Pagoda Master..."

"Where is Vice Pagoda Master Leng?"

The staff member was stunned for a moment.

"Vice Pagoda Master... she has been over at the Spirit Ascension Platform keeping watch."

Qiangu Dongfeng's heart sank.

He looked at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming was also looking at him.

The two locked eyes for a second.

Then, the spear in Yun Ming's hand was raised once more.

"Qiangu Dongfeng—"

"Wait a damn minute!"

Qiangu Dongfeng hurriedly waved his hands, "I really don't know! Let me go ask!"

He turned and flew toward the direction of the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Yun Ming and the others followed behind.

At the entrance of the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Leng Yaozhu stood there, her expression calm, speaking with a few staff members.

Seeing Qiangu Dongfeng flying over with Yun Ming and the others, she was slightly taken aback.

"Pagoda Master? Yun Ming? Why are you—"

Qiangu Dongfeng landed and stared at her.

"Vice Pagoda Master Leng, did something happen at the Spirit Ascension Platform just now?"

Leng Yaozhu nodded.

"Yes, a few children lost consciousness, but they have already been brought out."

Qiangu Dongfeng took a deep breath.

"Is Yun Jingheng also unconscious?"

Leng Yaozhu was taken aback.

"Yun Jingheng?"

She looked at Yun Ming, then back at Qiangu Dongfeng.

Qiangu Dongfeng's heart turned completely cold.

He turned his head to look at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming stared back at him, his gaze even colder than before.

"You didn't know?"

Qiangu Dongfeng opened his mouth.

"I..."

He suddenly felt like cursing.

Leng Yaozhu watched this scene, her expression somewhat subtle.

"Tower Master," she said, "I reported to you this morning that the Shrek Genius Class was coming to the Spirit Ascension Platform today, and Yun Jingheng was on the list. You said 'Understood' at the time."

Qiangu Dongfeng froze.

"I said that?"

Leng Yaozhu nodded.

"You did."

Qiangu Dongfeng fell silent.

He recalled this morning; Leng Yaozhu had indeed come to see him and said a mouthful of things. He had been looking at files at the time and had casually replied, "Understood."

He had assumed it was some trivial matter.

He hadn't expected it to be this.

He turned his head to look at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming watched him, the spear in his hand rising once more.

"Qiangu Dongfeng—"

"Wait!"

Qiangu Dongfeng raised both hands. "I did know! But I didn't know he would get into trouble! Problems within the Spirit Ascension Platform are uncontrollable! You cannot blame this on me as well!"

Yun Ming did not speak.

He stared at Qiangu Dongfeng for a long time.

Then, he lowered his spear.

He turned and walked away.

Feng Wuyu and the others followed behind him.

Qiangu Dongfeng stood where he was, letting out a sigh of relief.

Leng Yaozhu walked over and looked at him.

Qiangu Dongfeng glanced at her.

"Did you do this on purpose?"

Leng Yaozhu was stunned.

"What?"

Qiangu Dongfeng stared at her for a few seconds, then waved his hand.

"Forget it."

He turned and walked away.

After taking two steps, he looked back.

"Go investigate why that Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear in the Spirit Ascension Platform was so violent."

Leng Yaozhu nodded.

"Very well."

Qiangu Dongfeng flew away.

Leng Yaozhu stood in place, watching his retreating figure, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

It was very faint.

So faint it was almost imperceptible.