"You Jie, you mean..."
Recalling some things You Jie had told her before, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help forming a terrifying thought.
But before she could feel afraid, a warm force flowed into her from where her hands were clasped with You Jie's. In almost an instant, it dispelled the fear and dread in her heart.
At the same time, You Jie's voice reached Zhang Lexuan's ears:
"Don't tell anyone about this yet, but we need to notify the Mystic Ancestor as soon as possible.
"Since Wang Dong isn't aware of her own identity, and apparently even has some problems with her memories, that's enough to show she must be part of the Sea God's underhanded plan. Otherwise, there'd be no need for all this skulking around.
"However, judging by the situation so far, even the Sea God can't interfere with much. Otherwise, his interference wouldn't have been so easily neutralized by my third Soul Skill.
"(Although that's actually a lie... If Tang San really can stand against Forbidden, I'm afraid I'll have to find a way to ask Pharaoh to summon the Creator God of Light...)"
Although You Jie had prepared more evidence, including this statue, the Golden Trident mark that had appeared on Wang Dong's forehead was clearly more persuasive.
Without the Golden Trident mark, all the other evidence could only give rise to suspicions that weren't convincing enough.
Zhang Lexuan nodded firmly, then pulled You Jie straight toward the inner courtyard.
At the Sea God Pavilion, You Jie and Zhang Lexuan recounted everything that had happened that day, and presented the chain of indirect evidence You Jie had prepared in advance as well.
After hearing all of it, the smile vanished completely from Mu En's face.
Although Sea God Tang San was respected by many of the powerful figures on the Douluo Continent, and held an extremely lofty place in Shrek Academy's history, if Wang Dong really was his means of interfering in the mortal world, Mu En would have to reassess this deity who meant so much to both the Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy.
Given Sea God Tang San's reputation on the Douluo Continent, if he really wanted to personally change something, he could simply display a divine miracle openly and honorably. Even the Sun Moon Empire, which refused to submit to the emperor's rule, would probably bow down in worship. Why resort to such furtive methods?
Even if the Divine Realm had rules against interfering in the mortal world, Sea God Tang San could have directly issued a divine oracle and bestowed a divine token through the clan that guarded the Sea God Inheritance, which was recorded in Shrek Academy's archives.
The methods Tang San was using now had clearly given him away.
There had to be something terribly wrong here—perhaps even a conspiracy!
Taking Wang Dong's behavior over the past few months into account, Mu En couldn't help imagining a particularly grim possibility.
Still, the fact that You Jie's ever-changing third Soul Skill could counter Wang Dong's bizarre ability gave Mu En a little more hope.
But according to Zhang Lexuan, that particular third Soul Skill of You Jie's took an exceptionally heavy toll on him. What if...
Thinking of this, Mu En asked worriedly:
"You Jie, just how much does that Soul Skill of yours—the one that can counter Wang Dong's strange power—cost you?"
"Right now, I can use it at most six times in a row. After that, I'll have very little Soul Power, stamina, or mental strength left, and I won't be able to use Solemn Judgment again to counter Wang Dong.
"But as long as I break through to Soul Ancestor, I'll be able to double that number. It can keep increasing after that."
In theory, Solemn Judgment could be used almost indefinitely, but You Jie didn't know whether, in K-language, it could still be used when his health was down to one point.
On the Douluo Continent, however, the price of using Solemn Judgment was directly related to the effect it nullified. The Imperius Curse and Avada Kedavra cast through the Golden Trident mark on Wang Dong, for instance, would cost half his maximum health in K-language. If he used only Soul Power, he could manage them twice at most in a short period.
As for how You Jie knew about an ability similar to Avada Kedavra...
What Wang Dong had just used on Ning Tian was that very ability.
In the original story, Wang Dong had once used a similar ability to shatter a Soul Ancestor's Martial Soul in a tournament held in Star Luo City.
If You Jie hadn't nullified the effect with Solemn Judgment, Ning Tian's Martial Soul might not have completely collapsed, but it would certainly have suffered badly.
Mu En nodded, and his gentle smile returned.
"If that's the case, then I know how we should respond.
"Rather than let an uncertain factor like her run loose on the continent and stir up trouble, we should keep her under surveillance at Shrek Academy. Surely the Sea God's plan doesn't include anything that would harm Shrek Academy.
"But You Jie, although you can directly neutralize the threat Wang Dong poses, if she tries to hurt you by influencing the environment around you, your current strength won't be enough to handle it. When that happens, I'll personally protect you."
"Then, Mystic Ancestor, when are you planning to go into seclusion and recover? Without a healthy body, even a Limit Douluo like you might not be able to give it your all, right?"
Looking at Mu En's back, which he still couldn't straighten, You Jie couldn't help asking.
"Let's wait a few more days. At least until you've finished the Freshman Assessment and been assigned to your classes. If anyone tries to cause trouble in the meantime, I can help you deal with them."
Mu En replied cheerfully, and You Jie and Zhang Lexuan both relaxed considerably.
Now that Mu En was preparing to recover, the only ordinary threats from the Douluo Continent that could threaten You Jie were the short-tempered Di Tian and the deranged Silver Dragon King—and Tang San couldn't immediately bring either of them into play.
That meant You Jie could focus on growing stronger with greater peace of mind.
"Red Dragon, awaken Yama and light the road ahead!
"Come forth, Crimson Ascending Dragon!"
On the field for the Freshman Assessment finals, everyone—from Ning Tian and the others to the teachers in the stands—stared in shock at the fiery red dragon You Jie had summoned.
Wu Feng, especially, finally realized what it was about You Jie that made it impossible for her to hate him.
It was a fire dragon even more powerful than her Martial Soul! And it already had the strength of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Not only would they be no match for it—even their teachers might not be able to beat this colossal dragon.
In the stands, Zhou Yi's expression grew even uglier.
Although she could console herself by taking pleasure in seeing Mu Jin's students suffer, watching You Jie—the one who had humiliated her—win only made her feel worse.
To top it all off, after seeing the Crimson Ascending Dragon on the field, Zhou Yi's Martial Soul actually felt fear. It even left her legs weak, nearly making her fire off a massive stream of urine. Every last bit of it was a humiliation multiplied tenfold.
But she couldn't retaliate, because You Jie's backing was far beyond anything she could afford to provoke.
Even if she didn't know that You Jie was the Sea God Pavilion Master's great-grandson, the fact that he was a rising star in the Soul Tool Department, whom Qian Duoduo had taken under his wing, was already enough to keep her from making a move.
Otherwise, the iron-fisted punishments of Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er would make it clear to her exactly who ruled Shrek Academy—and who didn't.
Before you continue