Yun Ming was just about to tear open space when he realized it had already been sealed all around him. Leng Qingning's aura had locked firmly onto him, too.
Le Lingzhao had moved Cai Yue'er far away because she was worried Yun Ming would interfere and ruin her chance to beat Cai Yue'er senseless. Leng Qingning was perfectly in sync with her. They didn't need to say a word: she had donned her Battle Armor at once and blocked Yun Ming.
Yun Ming could only stop, offering a wry smile. "Qing Ning, Yue'er has always been outspoken. There's no need to make such a huge fuss."
"Sky-Prop Douluo, there's no need to worry. Ling Zhao knows what she's doing. She's just teaching her a lesson."
Leng Qingning released her immense demigod-level Soul Power without holding back, and its oppressive might swept across the surroundings.
Yun Ming was in a difficult position.
Was a Quasi-God strong? Of course. He was more than strong enough to crush a demigod.
And he was Yun Ming, no less.
But Leng Qingning, clad in Four-Word Battle Armor, was more than capable of holding him off. Unless he used his demigod status, there was no way he could break through her seal right away.
His heart was full of frustration. He truly couldn't understand how a journey of a thousand miles to offer help, which should have been a timely rescue, had turned into this.
Although the crisis facing the Yuanen Family had been resolved and their original plan had fallen through, the fact remained that Shrek Academy had traveled a thousand miles to help them. They couldn't simply deny that kindness.
His original idea had been to use the opportunity to invite the eligible young talents of the Yuanen Family to study at Shrek Academy and grow closer to them.
But he hadn't even gotten a few words out before Cai Yue'er ruined everything.
Now, they hadn't succeeded in drawing closer to the Yuanen Family; instead, they'd made enemies of both the Phoenix Family and the Angel Family.
What was more, the people Cai Yue'er had insulted were all direct descendants of major families. If their elders learned that Cai Yue'er had spoken so carelessly, they certainly wouldn't let it go.
A sudden wave of helplessness washed over Yun Ming. He abruptly realized that Shrek Academy and the word "Yue" were born at odds.
No matter what happened, as long as his mistress and Cai Yue'er were involved, everything ended up in a complete mess.
The aura around Yuanen Zhentian tightened abruptly, his expression full of wariness.
Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao had done the Yuanen Family a great kindness. If Yun Ming really intended to fight here, then even if Yuanen Zhentian didn't want to make an enemy of Shrek Academy, he wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
Nearby, Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi remained impassive.
They hadn't stopped Cai Yue'er at once because they'd done it on purpose.
Feng Wuyu was Level 98 in Soul Power. He could sense that the Soul Power radiating from Le Lingzhao was deep and powerful, in no way inferior to his own. Meanwhile, Leng Qingning's aura was as contained as a deep pool. It was hard to believe, but he had reached his own conclusion.
He knew that this younger member of the Phoenix Family had most likely truly reached the Limit Douluo level.
Zhuo Shi was a little weaker, at Level 97, but he was right at the threshold of a breakthrough, just one step away from reaching the next realm. His senses were exceptionally sharp.
Besides, he and Feng Wuyu were the closest of friends. They often bickered and sparred, exchanging pointers, so he could also vaguely sense that Le Lingzhao's cultivation was probably no lower than that of "Old Madman."
Cai Yue'er was domineering and unreasonable. Her greatest talent was turning even the weakest case into a three-point argument. They'd had enough of her for a long time.
The two had stood by for two reasons. First, they wanted Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao to knock Cai Yue'er's arrogance down a peg and make her suffer a little. Second, Cai Yue'er's shrewish temper had worn them down. Given her personality, if they stepped in to stop her, she would certainly turn around and bite them.
They didn't have skin as thick as Cai Yue'er's. If she gave them a tongue-lashing in front of outsiders, how would they ever show their faces again?
Although Cai Yue'er being taken away outright had caught them somewhat by surprise, things were still broadly going according to plan.
Shrek Academy was one of the continent's top powers, and the Tang Sect stood by it. Even if Cai Yue'er had acted like a fool, Le Lingzhao wouldn't really kill her.
Not for any other reason than that making a mortal enemy of Shrek Academy just to kill such a good-for-nothing would be a terrible trade. At most, she'd beat her a little harder.
The two exchanged a glance. Everything was understood without a word.
They could ignore Cai Yue'er, but they couldn't disregard the Pavilion Master's dignity.
Both could see that Yun Ming was in an awkward position, already caught between a rock and a hard place.
Cai Yue'er was vastly outmatched by Le Lingzhao. If Yun Ming had chased after them right away to rescue her, he might have been able to stop it. But now, after this delay, who knew what shape Cai Yue'er would be in by the time he got there?
Things had come to this. Cai Yue'er had already taken a few hard slaps. Making enemies of both the Phoenix Family and the Angel Family on top of that wasn't worth it. He might as well take the chance to back down.
At this moment, all Yun Ming needed was a way to save face.
As their thoughts raced, Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi exchanged another glance. Their intentions aligned, and in an instant they had communicated everything.
The two released their Soul Power almost simultaneously. The immense dragon might of the Blazing Fire Dragon and the Red Armored Dragon burst forth, and waves of scorching heat swept through the surroundings.
They sprang forward and landed in front of Yun Ming.
Zhuo Shi's expression was grave. He circulated his Soul Power and shouted, "Pavilion Master, go after Yue'er! Old Madman and I will hold her here!"
Facing Leng Qingning, now a Level 99 demigod clad in Four-Word Battle Armor, the two didn't even summon their own Battle Armor. They simply drove the Soul Power within them into a frenzy and took a firm stand.
Where Yun Ming couldn't see, their eyes kept flicking toward Yuanen Zhentian, silently signaling him and frantically exchanging glances.
Yuanen Zhentian was a shrewd old fox, too. He instantly saw what the two Sea God Pavilion Elders had in mind and understood at once.
He gave a cold snort, and the aura around him surged. Black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red, red—nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet. "Her Excellency Purple Phoenix and Her Excellency Judgment have done the Yuanen Family a great kindness. If you insist on fighting, then this old man will see it through to the end!"
His voice shook the heavens. He was both helping Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi keep up the act and making his own position clear.
Yuanen Zhentian understood as well: Yun Ming had been bound not only by the authority he wielded as the head of Shrek Academy, but also by Shrek's ten-thousand-year reputation and his status as the continent's strongest.
One demigod wouldn't be enough to make Sky-Prop Douluo back down. At least Yuanen Zhentian had to be added to the equation!
Seeing Yuanen Zhentian play along perfectly, Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi breathed a sigh of relief.
With the Phoenix Family, the Angel Family, and the Yuanen Family together, there were now four Limit Douluos!
Cai Yue'er had been the one to provoke them in the first place. If the Pavilion Master backed down rather than antagonize the three families, even if word got out, it wouldn't tarnish his reputation as the continent's strongest.
"Shrek's honor must not be profaned by anyone!"
Just as the two sides were locked in a standoff, a voice rang out, impassioned and grief-stricken. A figure clad in black Three-Word Battle Armor hurried to Feng Wuyu's side and stood shoulder to shoulder with the two men.
His back was ramrod straight, his face resolute. "Even if we die here fighting the two Elders today, we will never yield to you!"
The newcomer was Lin Feng, an instructor from Shrek Academy's Inner Court and one of the five Titled Douluo Yun Ming had brought with him: Black Crocodile Douluo.
His Martial Soul was the Ancient Black Crocodile. At Level 92, he was a Titled Douluo—and around here, about as useful as a stray dog.
A flicker of admiration passed through Feng Wuyu's eyes. The academy wasn't made up entirely of people like Cai Yue'er, who disregarded the bigger picture.
With the four Limit Douluos from the three families standing as a deterrent, along with the two Super Douluos, him and Zhuo Shi, the lives of the five Inner Court Titled Douluo would be safe. That made Yun Ming's retreat all the more reasonable.
Zhuo Shi was just as pleased. He silently praised Lin Feng: This boy is clever and decisive, with a fine mind. He has the makings of an Elder, and a touch of this old man's style. In less than ten years, he'll surely break through to Super Douluo, take his place alongside me as a Sea God Pavilion Elder, and become a pillar of the academy.
Before you continue