Watch Honestly

The young mother came out from behind the wooden door, carrying her child home.

The old man opened the door. His grandson was already asleep.

He sat on the threshold and smoked a pipeful of tobacco. Smoke curled upward beneath the moonlight like a silent sigh.

Damn it, even the tobacco in Shrek City cost more than what was sold outside.

Shrek City returned to "normal."

So-called normal meant the Inspection Group was gone.

News of Xuan Zi leaving traveled faster than he did.

As a Level 98 Super Douluo of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, every move he made drew the close attention of the major powers across the continent.

This was not his first time leaving Shrek City, but every departure set off a chain reaction.

Star Luo Empire Imperial Palace, Council Hall.

Xu Jiawei set down the secret report in his hand and rubbed his brow.

The report contained only a few words: Xuan Zi had left the city, heading toward White Tiger City.

"Elder Cheng, what do you think?"

Cheng Gang stood below the dais, his expression grave. "Your Majesty, Xuan Zi is an elder of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, a Level 98 Super Douluo.

There is an eighty to ninety percent chance that Martial Soul Academy is his target."

Xu Jiawei fell silent for a moment, lightly tapping his fingers against the dragon throne. "The Princess just returned from Martial Soul Academy. She said Shen Zhou bore no ill will toward the empire."

"Your Majesty, Shrek Academy is not the empire." Cheng Gang paused. "When Shrek acts, it never asks for an empire's wishes."

Xu Jiawei said nothing.

Of course, he knew what Shrek Academy was like.

That place, flaunting the title of "the continent's number one academy," was more overbearing at heart than any empire.

Under the banner of "maintaining continental stability," they interfered in the internal affairs of every major empire, supported pro-Shrek factions, and suppressed regimes that refused to obey.

The Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire, the Sun Moon Empire—none had escaped Shrek's "interference."

"Elder Cheng, do you think this Xuan Zi will make things worse?"

Cheng Gang gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, you know Xuan Zi's temper.

He will definitely make a mess of things. The question is how big a mess."

Xu Jiawei rose and walked to the window, gazing at the starry sky outside.

"Issue an order. Have the Princess remain in White Tiger City and closely monitor the movements of Martial Soul Academy and the Shrek Inspection Team.

If anything unusual happens, report back immediately."

"Yes."

Xu Jiawei stared blankly out the window.

Shen Zhou... just who are you?

Even Shrek has been stirred... will this bring fortune or disaster?

Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Palace.

Emperor Li Yelan sat in the Imperial Study, holding a secret report as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Xuan Zi went to Star Luo? Interesting."

The prime minister beside him bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, the Shrek Inspection Team plus Xuan Zi is not a lineup going out for tea.

According to what I know, a Martial Soul Academy has appeared near White Tiger City. Its dean is suspected to be a Titled Douluo, with several Titled Douluo under his command.

Xuan Zi is most likely going after them."

Li Yelan raised his brows. Titled Douluo? Several of them? Since when had such a force emerged on Star Luo Empire territory?

"Let us wait and see." Li Yelan tossed the report onto the table and lifted his teacup. "I would be delighted to see Shrek and Star Luo tear each other apart."

Sun Moon Empire, Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xu Tiande stood before a map, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Xuan Zi... Shrek Inspection Team... Martial Soul Academy..." he murmured those three names, his finger tracing back and forth across the map.

Several civil and military officials stood beside him, but no one dared make a sound.

Xu Tiande raised his head, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. "Issue an order. Double the spies at the border and closely watch the situation in White Tiger City.

If anything unusual happens, report back immediately."

"Your Majesty, Shrek Academy has suddenly moved against a newly established academy. Could it have something to do with us?" a military official asked cautiously.

Xu Tiande sneered. "Whether it has anything to do with the Sun Moon Empire is unimportant.

What matters is that if Shrek and the Star Luo Empire fall out, it will only benefit us."

"Send orders to the border. Hold position and wait until they finish fighting."

At the same time, Martial Soul Academy cafeteria.

Shen Zhou set down his chopsticks. His Heavenly Eye opened slightly, and his gaze pierced through the layers of night toward the distance.

"More people are coming."

Er Ha lay beside him, chewing Braised Pork as it mumbled indistinctly, "Who's coming again, boss?"

"The Shrek Inspection Team.

And... a Level 98 old man."

Er Ha's ears perked up. "Level 98? Isn't that almost as strong as Big Brother?"

"Not even close." Shen Zhou shook his head. "Big Brother is a Peerless Douluo. He is merely a Super Douluo, and the kind of trash who will never break through to become a Limit Douluo in his entire life."

Er Ha blinked, then spat out a shocking remark. "Then can This Emperor beat him?"

"You?" Shen Zhou shot it a glance. "If you fight seriously, you can last thirty exchanges.

If you fool around like last time, he will stew you in ten."

Er Ha shrank its neck and behaved itself.

Shen Zhou rose and headed toward the Spirit Pagoda.

"Where are you going?" Er Ha asked.

"To notify Big Brother. Guests have arrived." Without looking back, Shen Zhou said, "A Level 98 Super Douluo, bringing a bunch of brats. They come with ill intent.

Big Brother needs to show himself and let them know what real strength is."

Er Ha leaped up and followed him, its tail wagging happily. "This Emperor is going too! This Emperor will give that old man a show of force!"

"Just make sure he does not give you a show of force by grinding you into the ground."

"Boss, you look down on this emperor!"

Shen Zhou did not answer. The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he entered the Spirit Pagoda.

Er Ha followed behind him, still muttering under its breath.

The man and dog vanished through the tower gates. The Spirit Pagoda's blue light flickered faintly, as though it sensed something—or as though it was waiting for something.

At the same time, on the official road to White Tiger City.

Xuan Zi walked at the front of the group, his wine gourd already more than half empty.

His eyes were narrowed as he hummed an unknown tune, his steps light enough that he did not seem like a man over a hundred years old.

"Elder Xuan, do you think that Martial Soul Academy is really that strong?" Ma Xiaotao could not help asking.

Xuan Zi took a swig of wine and wiped his mouth. "Whether they are strong or not, we will know once we take a look.

If they are putting on a front, this old man will slap them to death.

But if they truly have strength..."

He chuckled twice and did not continue.

Ma Xiaotao's heart tightened.

She had known Xuan Zi for many years, yet she had never seen that expression on his face.

It was neither anger nor vigilance, but a kind of... hunger.

Like a starving wolf spotting prey.

Dai Yueheng walked at the back of the group without saying a word.

His mother's words in her letter kept replaying in his mind: two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings... he had only read about them in Shrek Academy's records. Other than at Shrek Academy, he had never seen one with his own eyes.

And now, he was about to face someone possessing two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

His hand clenched unconsciously.

"Yueheng, nervous?" Ma Xiaotao glanced back at him.

"No." Dai Yueheng shook his head.

"Stop pretending." Ma Xiaotao laughed. "I was nervous too, the first time I carried out an inspection mission.

You will get used to it."

Dai Yueheng did not speak. Get used to it? How could anyone get used to something like this?