Shrek City, a thousand miles away, was even more desolate and grim.
Once, Shrek City had been one of the continent's only two supercities, bustling and prosperous, filled with outstanding talents.
Academies stood everywhere within the city, shops lined every street, and Soul Masters came and went in an endless stream. Laughter and youthful vitality filled every corner. Sea God Lake shimmered with blue waves, while the Golden Ancient Tree towered into the sky. Golden light fell from its canopy, bathing the entire city in warmth and tranquility.
But now, everything had changed.
That ancient tree, which had accompanied Shrek through countless generations, had also left Shrek Academy several months ago.
Without the Golden Ancient Tree nourishing the world's spiritual energy, the entire city seemed to have lost its soul. Even the air carried a hint of bleakness.
As though it had lost the protection of fortune itself, Shrek Academy had faced trouble at every turn after the Golden Ancient Tree departed.
The Holy Spirit Cult's surprise attack had been like a sharp blade driven viciously into the heart of the city.
A godslayer-class soul-guided shell had landed in the inner city, directly annihilating Tang Sect headquarters and reducing half a block to ruins. The soul-guided defensive array that had been passed down for ten thousand years had been blasted full of holes. Numerous sections of the city walls had collapsed, and scorched traces of battle could be seen everywhere.
The city guards patrolled back and forth with heavy footsteps, every face bearing the exhaustion and grief of those who had survived disaster.
There were few pedestrians on the streets. The occasional students passing by all kept their heads lowered, their expressions solemn. None retained the vibrant youthful spirit of the past.
By Sea God Lake, Long Yeyue stood silently.