Crisis Upon Crisis, Beacon Fires Blaze · Solitary Shadow Decides the Azure and Yellow

The soft lighting in all the rooms extinguished instantly, replaced by harsh red lights flickering and rotating from the edges of the ceiling, casting the entire space in the likeness of a purgatory.

A cold, rapid, and emotionless female electronic voice broadcasted at maximum volume through the Soul Tool speakers scattered throughout the facility:

"Highest Alert! Highest Alert! High-intensity hostile energy attack detected! The outer defensive barrier is being forcibly breached!"

"All non-combat personnel, please proceed to the underground shelter immediately according to the emergency protocol! Repeat, proceed to the underground shelter immediately!"

"All combat and guard personnel, take your positions and prepare to engage the enemy!"

A more intense tremor came from beneath their feet, and fine dust rained down from overhead. Amidst the flashing red lights and the piercing alarm, the entire world seemed to be dragged into chaos and crisis in an instant.

"Ah!"

Ma Xiaotao shuddered at the sudden turn of events, instinctively burying her head into Long Jinyu's chest. Her hands gripped his lapels tightly, and her body trembled slightly.

Long Jinyu subconsciously held her, feeling the light tremors of the soft body in his arms. Looking at her face—stripped of its usual pride and left only with a pitiful, panicked expression—a strange feeling stirred in his heart.

If this were the normal Sister Xiaotao, she would have already had her phoenix eyes burning with rage and activated her Martial Soul Possession to charge out, right? he muttered to himself. Good thing she hasn't fully recovered yet; she's easy to fool... ah, no, easy to coax!

He quickly suppressed his distracting thoughts and looked toward the door with sharp eyes. Vice Dean Liu and Luo Yun arrived within ten breaths of the alarm sounding.

"Master!" Liu Tao reported quickly. "We have detected several extremely powerful evil auras violently attacking the outer barrier, causing severe tremors. Two of the Medical Pavilion's elders have personally led the Yanhuang Guard to intercept the enemy, and they are currently locked in fierce combat! Please rest assured, you and Miss Ma, we will defend the Medical Pavilion with our lives!"

Long Jinyu's eyes turned cold. They really had a backup plan! It's a good thing I didn't go back to Shrek Academy. That group... He wasn't trying to belittle them, but in the original work, Shrek's security performance was truly "a pile of trash." They allowed Ma Xiaotao to be kidnapped from within the academy, and Mu En's strength had declined so severely in his later years that he couldn't even instantly kill eleven Evil Soul Masters. He found it hard to trust them.

He wore an apologetic expression as he said to Liu Tao and Luo Yun, "Vice Dean Liu, Physician Luo, to be honest, those people outside are likely targeting me and Senior Sister Xiaotao. I anticipated they wouldn't give up, and feeling that Shrek might not be secure enough, I specifically came here to take refuge. I didn't expect to implicate the Medical Pavilion and cause everyone such trouble."

Upon hearing this, Liu Tao felt no dissatisfaction; instead, his eyes erupted with surprise and excitement! The Master had entrusted his own safety to them—this trust was more precious than any praise!

"Master, you speak too heavily!" Liu Tao's voice was resonant. "It is our greatest honor to share your burdens! To dare to plot against you is to be an enemy of our entire Yanhuang Lingyun! Today, we shall ensure they never return!"

Luo Yun also nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Master. The barrier left by Dean Su is indestructible; they have no possibility of breaking through! The Medical Pavilion is absolutely safe, and no innocents will be harmed. While Shrek is strong, their protection of students... is truly hard to compliment. We receive no small number of severely injured Shrek students. Your decision was very correct!"

"Good, thank you both!"

Seeing them say this, Long Jinyu felt deeply moved. He silently thanked that Sister Su he had never met once more; she really had given him a "newbie starter pack."

Just then, the sounds of Soul Skill collisions and explosions outside the window grew increasingly intense.

Long Jinyu intended to send Ma Xiaotao to the underground shelter while he remained ready to act at any moment.

However, the moment he moved, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, refusing to let go no matter what.

Long Jinyu: "..."

Great, I've really become a "Xiaotao-brand pendant" now.

Helpless, he had to carry her and move to the window with Liu Tao and Luo Yun to observe the battle.

Outside the light-curtain barrier of the Medical Pavilion, dark shadows flickered, and evil energy soared to the heavens.

The number of attacking Evil Soul Masters was not large, but each possessed a formidable aura; they were all experts above the Soul Saint level. The lineup was even stronger than the one that captured Ma Xiaotao in the original story!

Long Jinyu's heart tightened.

The Medical Pavilion is just a hospital after all. If you set aside the barrier, their high-level combat power is still a notch below Shrek...

These Evil Soul Masters have already reached Shrek City; what on earth are Mu En and the others doing? Why haven't they come to support us yet?

In the air, a man in black holding a long black sword with a strange, flickering figure was particularly eye-catching. His moves carried spatial fluctuations; he was the Nether Douluo, an expert in the space element.

Contending with him was a handsome man with flowing black hair, wielding a white-gold longsword. His sword light was brilliant and filled with righteous energy; he was single-handedly holding his own against multiple powerful enemies, including the Nether Douluo, without falling behind!

Not far away, a woman's figure flickered. As she waved her slender hands, rays of soft yet resilient light fell, sometimes assisting the man and sometimes stabilizing the formation of the Yanhuang Guard below.

The Yanhuang Guard below drew Long Jinyu's gaze even more. Each of them held a sophisticated Soul Tool, combining offense and defense, cooperating with tacit understanding. They moved as a single entity, utilizing the advantages of the Soul Tool array to the fullest.

"The Yanhuang Guard is well-trained and perfectly coordinated; it is truly admirable," Long Jinyu praised sincerely, then looked at the man and woman in the air. "Those two elders possess profound cultivation; they are truly the pillars of the Medical Pavilion! May I ask who they are?"

Liu Tao immediately introduced them respectfully, "Returning to Master, those two are Elder Yan Rong and Elder Huang Yue. They are a married couple—and were the right and left arms of Dean Su in the past. They are the guardian deities of our Medical Pavilion."

"Good, good! After the battle, I must personally thank the two elders," Long Jinyu nodded.

"BOOM—!!!"

Suddenly, a massive, earth-shattering explosion erupted from the direction of Shrek Academy in the distance! The soaring flames could be vaguely seen even from here!

This sudden turn of events caused both sides of the battle to pause.

In the air, Yan Rong and Huang Yue were clearly concerned for the civilians, fearing the explosion would harm innocents. Their offensive momentum slowed, revealing a momentary opening!

"Watch out!" Long Jinyu shouted a warning.

However, the warning came too late. The Nether Douluo seized the fleeting opportunity, and a sinister black sword qi shot out with cunning precision. Although Yan Rong managed to block most of it, it still left a deep, bone-visible wound on his arm. Huang Yue was also ambushed by another attacker, letting out a muffled groan as her aura became slightly disordered.

"Bastard! A feint to the east to attack in the west!" Long Jinyu instantly understood the enemy's scheme, his heart burning with rage. "No wonder Shrek's reinforcements are so late!"

His eyes turned sharp, and he made a decision instantly.

"Vice Dean Liu! Organize the best medical team immediately and launch the emergency rescue ship; be ready to head to the explosion area for rescue at any time!"

He then looked down, attempting to hand Ma Xiaotao over to Luo Yun. "Senior Sister, be good. I have urgent matters I must attend to. You go with Physician Luo first, be obedient."

But Ma Xiaotao hugged him even tighter, refusing to let go.

Long Jinyu sighed, forced to use a little strength while coaxing her gently, carefully transferring her to Luo Yun's side. Ma Xiaotao watched him prepare to leave, her eyes filled with panic and reluctance, but this time she did not stop him.

"Sister Luo Yun, please take good care of Miss Ma," Long Jinyu said with a solemn tone.

Luo Yun took Ma Xiaotao, looking at Long Jinyu with worry: "My Lord! Those Evil Soul Masters possess formidable strength; even the two elders were injured. Please reconsider!"

Cold flames ignited within Long Jinyu's heterochromatic pupils, and an invisible dragon's might began to coalesce around his body.

"That is precisely why I must go."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.

"This matter began because of me, so it is only natural that I should be the one to end it personally."

Before the words had even faded, his figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward that chaotic and dangerous battlefield!