Brocade City Bathed in Morning Light · Soul-Devouring Tribulation in the Dark Alley

The next morning.

The dining room of the Qi-Huang Residence was filled with the faint, appetizing aroma of food.

Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao sat across from each other, eating breakfast. On the table sat rice noodle rolls and soy milk, dishes he had cobbled together based on his memories of Mother Jin's techniques. After only a few days, Ma Xiaotao had gone from initial skepticism to enjoying them with ease.

"Senior Sister, the weather is great today, perfect for heading out," Long Jinyu said, slurping up a smooth, tender rice noodle roll.

"Mm, let's go once we're done," Ma Xiaotao nodded, efficiently finishing her portion. "We'll head to the 'Hundred Herbs Hall' in the East Market first; their medicinal quality is the most reliable. Then..." Her voice dropped slightly, "...we'll stroll through the West Street to see if there are any new dresses."

Long Jinyu heard her clearly, finding this glimpse of her girlish side particularly endearing. He grinned, "Sure, whatever you say, Senior Sister."

Once they had tidied up, the two left Shrek Academy together.

The streets were bustling with people. Although it wasn't his first time in Shrek City, Long Jinyu still looked on with interest at the shops on both sides, which blended soul tool technology with classical aesthetics. Ma Xiaotao pointed things out occasionally, acting like an impromptu guide.

The shopping went smoothly. With Long Jinyu's precise energy perception acting as a filter, Ma Xiaotao managed to purchase high-quality medicinal herbs. Next, they moved to the clothing stores on the West Street. When Ma Xiaotao tried on dresses, Long Jinyu naturally acted as her consultant; drawing on his experience from Blue Star, his aesthetic sense left Ma Xiaotao quite satisfied.

By noon, the two reached the entrance of a relatively secluded alleyway that led to the next shop.

Just as Ma Xiaotao was excitedly planning their next stop, the docile Phoenix Flame within her body throbbed without warning, sending a faint, sharp alert—a reaction that only occurred when encountering high-level dark, evil auras that were either of the same origin or mutually antagonistic.

She subconsciously paused, her brows furrowing as her gaze swept sharply toward the shadows deep within the alley.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?" Long Jinyu immediately sensed her abnormality. His spiritual power was far stronger than Ma Xiaotao's, and he had already captured the faint, cold, and deathly soul power fluctuations hidden in the shadows.

System, scan.

[Scan complete. Targets: three Soul Kings, one Soul Emperor. Energy attribute: highly consistent with "Evil Soul Master" characteristics. Equipped with high-concentration paralytic poison mist Soul Tools; high-level spatial fluctuations detected in the dark (suspected Titled Douluo). Malicious intent directed at: Host and Ma Xiaotao (Capture priority: Ma Xiaotao >> Host). Analysis: Identified as a Holy Spirit Cult capture squad.]

Evil Soul Masters?! The Holy Spirit Cult?! They're coming for Senior Sister Xiaotao already?! Long Jinyu's anger flared. That's not right... Why? Could it be...

His face remained calm, however. He reached out and gently took Ma Xiaotao's wrist, his fingertips seemingly resting casually on her pulse point. A wisp of pure, peaceful, ultimate life energy quietly flowed into her, instantly smoothing out the agitation of her martial soul.

Ma Xiaotao was stunned by his sudden intimacy, her face heating up. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Long Jinyu wink at her, and a faint spiritual fluctuation reached her: Senior Sister, there are rats. Don't alert them. Follow me and give them a "surprise."

He pulled Ma Xiaotao along, acting as if he hadn't noticed a thing, continuing to chat and laugh. However, he subtly veered their direction, heading toward the deeper, more secluded dead-end alley as if looking for a shortcut.

Ma Xiaotao understood immediately, her heart tightening: The scum of the Holy Spirit Cult actually dares to run wild in Shrek City!

But feeling the warmth of Long Jinyu's palm and his unwavering resolve, she suppressed the urge to strike immediately. She matched his pace, even intentionally raising her voice to complain, "Hey, where exactly is that dessert shop you mentioned? Why are we walking into such a remote area?"

Seeing this, the black shadows in the dark flashed with the joy of a successful scheme. Thinking their prey had foolishly walked into a trap, they silently closed in, sealing the alley entrance—

Thick, pungent, sweet-smelling paralytic poison mist erupted from a specialized Soul Tool, instantly engulfing Long Jinyu and Ma Xiaotao! The movement was fast and ruthless, clearly the work of veterans.

"Careful!"

Ma Xiaotao let out a sharp cry, her Phoenix Flame erupting instantly in an attempt to disperse the mist.

But Long Jinyu was faster!

"You're courting death!"

A cold, low shout rang out like a dragon's roar! The poison mist was instantly scattered. The vast, majestic Dragon God's might was no longer restrained, spreading outward like a physical tsunami with him at the center! That aura, containing the supreme majesty of the Dragon God, held an innate, absolute suppression over evil and filth!

"Argh!"

The three Soul King-level Evil Soul Masters bore the brunt of it. Under this pressure, their evil martial souls collapsed like snow meeting a scorching sun. Their spiritual seas were shattered, and they collapsed, bleeding from their seven orifices.

The Soul Emperor leader managed to hold on through sheer cultivation, but the greed and ruthlessness in his eyes had long been replaced by boundless terror! He saw the dragon shadow spiraling in Long Jinyu's heterochromatic eyes and felt as if he were facing the end of the world!

"Mon... monster! Retreat... retreat now!"

He roared, trying to crush a teleportation talisman.

"Since you're here, stay!"

How could Long Jinyu let him succeed? With a mere flick of his finger from a distance, a condensed beam of ice-blue light instantly froze the Soul Emperor into an ice sculpture, his movements coming to an abrupt halt.

At the same time, his left hand naturally wrapped around Ma Xiaotao's waist, pulling her gently toward him, while his unfurled dragon wings shielded her completely.

Ma Xiaotao felt a gentle yet irresistible force, and the next moment, she was pressed against a warm, reliable chest, her nose filled with his refreshing scent.

She hadn't even seen how he attacked before the battle was over. This feeling of being firmly protected made her heart skip a beat, and she even forgot to maintain her Phoenix Flame.

Long Jinyu tightened his hold on her waist, his gaze cold as he shot a look toward a seemingly empty shadow at the end of the alley, his voice icy: "If you don't come out now, I'll have to 'invite' these 'guests' back to the academy for tea and a chat!"

The shadow distorted, and a cold snort filled with shock and wariness echoed: "Hmph! Kid, you're ruthless! This Seat will remember this! We'll see about this!"

Spatial fluctuations flashed and vanished; the obscure aura of the Titled Douluo retreated and disappeared instantly. Seeing that Long Jinyu had instantly identified the ambush and used thunderous means to eliminate his pawns, and even pointed out his presence, the enemy knew there was no chance of success today and decisively chose to abandon his subordinates and flee.

Long Jinyu did not pursue. He knew his current strength; chasing a space-type Titled Douluo intent on escaping was not a wise move.

He dissipated the chill from his fingertips and turned to look at the still-dazed Ma Xiaotao, his tone softening: "Senior Sister, it's alright... it's all over."

Ma Xiaotao leaned against him without a word, seemingly not yet fully recovered.

Just then, a lazy, alcohol-scented voice drifted down from the air: "Oh my, the youngsters these days are so hot-blooded. You didn't even give this old man a chance to stretch his bones..."

Before the words faded, a ragged old man with white hair, gnawing on a chicken leg, drifted down unsteadily. He glanced at the four Evil Soul Masters neatly dealt with on the ground, a flash of surprise in his eyes before he returned to his slovenly appearance.

Long Jinyu recognized who it was and sneered inwardly: Heh, as expected of a Holy Spirit Cult Supreme Elder. If I hadn't been prepared and strong enough, by the time he slowly reacted, it would have been too late...

But he showed nothing on his face, simply releasing his hold on Ma Xiaotao and bowing slightly: "Xuan Zi. I had to act in an emergency; fortunately, I did not fail the mission and captured these scoundrels. Please handle them as you see fit."

His tone was respectful, but the subtle criticism regarding the academy's lack of security was hidden beneath his calm demeanor.

Ma Xiaotao finally snapped out of it, her cheeks slightly flushed as she quickly stepped half a step away from Long Jinyu, though that sense of security lingered. She quickly reported to Xuan Zi: "Xuan Zi, they were people from the Holy Spirit Cult! And there was a Titled Douluo providing support!"

Xuan Zi took a bite of his chicken leg and waved his hand: "I know, I know. Take these pieces of trash back and interrogate them slowly. Kid, you did well... hmm, quite well."

Long Jinyu smiled modestly and didn't respond. He crouched down and quickly searched the Soul Emperor, finding several evil Soul Tools marked with hideous skulls, some potions and tokens of unknown use, and one item that made his pupils shrink and nearly lose control—

"Judgment Sword"!!!