Countering with Guardian Spirits: Punishing Them and Saving Jiang Nannan with Ultimate Fire

Cao Longyan stepped out of the shadows first and stood in front of Jiang Nannan, separating her from the others. Though he was too short to make quite the impact he'd hoped for.

His eyes fixed coldly on the three members of the Mysterious Underworld Sect.

"Well, well. Where'd this little brat come from? You dare meddle in the Mysterious Underworld Sect's business? Tired of living?"

The senior brother leading them darkened his expression, his tone arrogant and his eyes full of mockery. Looking at the boy, who barely reached his waist, the two beside him couldn't help laughing.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Lexuan appeared beside Cao Longyan. Her expression was cool, and her gaze at the three Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples was icy.

However, the three disciples seemed determined to court death. When they saw Zhang Lexuan, who was even more mature and beautiful, all three pairs of eyes filled with hearts. They leered obscenely, their gazes roaming over her body, especially her delicate face and prominent curves.

Their disgusting stares made Zhang Lexuan feel deeply uncomfortable. She was just about to teach them a lesson when Cao Longyan beat her to it.

"You three scumbags, why are you staring at my sister? Don't want to keep your eyes?!"

Cao Longyan stood in front of Zhang Lexuan, his gaze devoid of emotion, as if he were looking at three corpses. His voice was filled with anger.

Watching this, Zhang Lexuan felt something she couldn't quite put into words...

"Pfft—"

The three of them couldn't hold back their laughter.

"Little brat, you haven't even been weaned yet, and you're already sticking your nose into everything? Just watch how your future brothers-in-law win over your sister! Hahaha!"

"How dare you!"

Cao Longyan's eyes turned cold. Though he spoke only two brief words, the six-year-old boy radiated an overbearing aura.

"Brat, I'll show you what 'how dare you' means!"

The senior brother leading them clicked his tongue in disdain. As he spoke, he made the first move, summoning his Mysterious Underworld Shield Martial Soul. Three Soul Rings—one white and two yellow—gradually appeared beneath his feet, and he swung his shield at Cao Longyan.

Seeing the Mysterious Underworld Sect members attack, Jiang Nannan thought of stepping forward to block the blow for Cao Longyan.

They were only trying to help her. She couldn't drag them into this.

But Cao Longyan stretched out his right hand and made a grabbing motion in the air. A flash of light later, the Ten Halls of Yama had appeared in his grasp, and a dazzling purple Soul Ring emerged beneath his feet.

Jiang Nannan stopped with one foot already raised and stared wide-eyed at the purple Soul Ring.

The three Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples reacted much like Jiang Nannan, and they cried out in shock.

"A thousand-year first ring? How is that possible?! That brat must be using some kind of illusion! Don't think you can fool me!"

The Mysterious Underworld Sect's senior brother didn't let his sudden shock stop his attack.

Cao Longyan clicked his tongue and curled his lips, wearing a brazen expression. Then he shouted:

"Xu Chu, Dian Wei, beat them to death!"

Two surging waves of murderous aura erupted. Xu Chu and Dian Wei, the two Guardian Spirits, appeared out of thin air, tall and imposing, radiating an undaunted, death-defying presence. In an instant, they had the three Mysterious Underworld Sect members surrounded.

"Yes, my lord! Your subordinate obeys!"

Xu Chu roared and swung his enormous fist, meeting the Mysterious Underworld Sect senior brother's punch head-on.

Boom!

A thunderous crash rang out. Xu Chu's punch sent the senior brother flying, and he slammed heavily into the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His face turned deathly pale.

Dian Wei blurred and appeared in front of the other two Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples. After only a few moves, he had beaten them black and blue, leaving them in a pitiful state and unable to fight back.

The three Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples lay on the ground, barely clinging to life. They knew they'd finally met their match.

The senior brother leading them struggled to his feet and pulled a signal flare from inside his robe. He wanted to light it and summon members of the sect for backup.

"Daring to call for help?" Zhang Lexuan's eyes turned cold. She flashed in front of him, then pulled out a token. It was pure white, with the three characters "Shrek" engraved on it, and it gleamed brilliantly. "Open your eyes and take a good look! What is this?"

The three Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples saw the characters on the token and were instantly scared out of their wits. Their last thread of composure snapped. They trembled all over, their earlier arrogance gone.

Shrek's name resounded across the entire Douluo Continent. Even the Mysterious Underworld Sect, which ruled supreme in the Heaven Dou Empire, didn't dare offend anyone from Shrek.

The senior brother hurriedly put away the signal flare and dropped to his knees with a thump, kowtowing repeatedly to Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan.

"Sorry! We're sorry! We were blind and didn't recognize your status, honored Shrek representatives! Please spare us! We'll never do it again!"

The other two disciples also hurriedly dropped to their knees, apologizing and begging for mercy, utterly wretched.

Cao Longyan shot them a cold glance and pointed at Jiang Nannan.

"You want us to spare you. But once we're gone, will you leave her alone?"

The three Mysterious Underworld Sect disciples froze. They knew the answer was no, but still put on an act, bowing and scraping as they begged.

"Honored representatives, we absolutely won't—"

Before they could finish, Cao Longyan used his first Soul Skill, the Great Flame Sky-Splitting Hammer, and smashed them to ashes.

Their hesitation had betrayed what they really intended. Cao Longyan naturally wouldn't leave a hidden threat behind.

Zhang Lexuan didn't stop Cao Longyan. She didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

With the danger gone, Jiang Nannan looked at the scene before her, hope rekindling in her eyes. Her despair had completely faded, replaced by gratitude and astonishment.

She looked at Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan, her voice catching slightly.

"Th-thank you, honored representatives. Are... are you from Shrek?"

Cao Longyan recalled Xu Chu and Dian Wei, put away the Ten Halls of Yama, then turned around, his tone much gentler.

"You don't have to call us that. My name is Cao Longyan, and she's my sister, Zhang Lexuan. We could tell you were in trouble. Tell us, what happened?"

Zhang Lexuan came over to Jiang Nannan's side as well. Her voice was gentle as she chimed in.

"That's right, little sister. You can tell us about whatever trouble you're facing. It must be fate that brought us together. If there's anything we can do to help, we will."

Jiang Nannan couldn't hold back anymore. Tears ran down her cheeks again, and her body trembled as she choked out her words.

"My name is Jiang Nannan. My mother is seriously ill and bedridden. There's some strange filth inside her body. The physician said only a Mystic Water Pill could cure her completely. I'd been saving up for a long time, hoping to buy one at the auction, but then they..."

Jiang Nannan... She was the Jiang Nannan from the original story!

Cao Longyan immediately connected the name to her face, and his joy was plain to see. He'd long wanted to help Jiang Nannan escape the shadow of her childhood.

He hadn't expected that, by a twist of fate, he'd actually saved her childhood.

Zhang Lexuan listened, filled with pity.

"Nannan, would you take us to see your mother? We don't have a Mystic Water Pill, but perhaps there's another way we can treat her."

A glimmer of delight flashed in Jiang Nannan's eyes. She quickly nodded and led them toward her home.

Jiang Nannan's home was in a remote alley in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was a cramped, dim, and simple mud-brick house. The only furnishings were sparse; an old wooden bed stood inside, and on it lay a pale, frail woman. It was Jiang Nannan's mother.

Cao Longyan went to the bedside and carefully examined Jiang Nannan's mother's condition. His brow furrowed slightly.

Just then, Xu Chu and Dian Wei's voices sounded in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.

"My lord, her illness might be extremely difficult for an ordinary person to treat. Her soul has been tainted by filthy energy. But your Ultimate Fire is pure and domineering, the natural bane of this filthy energy. It'll be easy to purify, and you can cure her completely."

Cao Longyan was startled. With a thought, Hellfire flickered faintly in his palm. It was the Ultimate Fire.

"Nannan, I might be able to cure your mother."

"Really?!"

Jiang Nannan was so excited she almost threw herself at him.

"Mm. I'll do everything I can."

Cao Longyan nodded at Jiang Nannan, whose eyes were shining with hope.

He didn't want her to lose hope.

He carefully channeled the Ultimate Fire into Jiang Nannan's mother. The gentle flames flowed slowly through her body, enveloped the filthy energy within, and gradually purified it until it dissipated.

As the filthy energy was cleansed, Jiang Nannan's mother's face gradually grew rosy, and her breathing steadied. She slowly opened her eyes.

"Mom!"

Jiang Nannan rushed to the bedside in excitement and held her mother's hand tightly. Tears streamed down her face again, but this time they were tears of joy.

Jiang Nannan's mother looked at her daughter, then at Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan. She hurriedly struggled to prop up her body, already worn down by illness, and said weakly:

"Th-thank you, my benefactors."

Seeing this, Cao Longyan quickly stepped forward to steady Jiang Nannan's mother as she wavered, stubbornly trying to sit up. He gave her a sincere smile.

"Please don't mention it, Auntie. It was nothing. Just make sure you rest and recover. You'll be back to full health soon. Don't let Nannan's care and hard work go to waste."

After they had settled Jiang Nannan's mother, Jiang Nannan took Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan by the hand and led them outside. She was just about to kneel when the two of them quickly helped her up.

Only then did she straighten her back. She bowed deeply to them, then lifted her head and spoke with a determined gaze.

"Longyan, Sister Lexuan, I'll never forget what you've done for me! I have nothing to repay you with, but tell me—if there's anything I can do, I'll do my best!"

Cao Longyan saw how unsure she felt and smiled faintly, his voice gentle but firm.

"Nannan, you don't have to repay us. If you really want to do something, then work hard at your cultivation and get into Shrek Academy. Become stronger and protect yourself and your mother. That'll be the best way to repay us!"

Jiang Nannan stepped forward and hugged Cao Longyan, joyful tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

"Thank you, Longyan! You're so kind..."

Zhang Lexuan looked at Cao Longyan, her gaze a little complicated.

Longyan, you're making it so hard for people to forget you... You're gentle and kind; how could anyone not fall for you...?

If I were a little younger, would I... No, no, no! Zhang Lexuan, what are you thinking?!

After they parted a moment later, a resolute glint flashed in Jiang Nannan's eyes as she looked at them. She nodded firmly, tears streaming down her face again, but this time they carried hope and determination.

"I will! I'll get into Shrek, and I'll work hard to become stronger! I won't let you down!"

Cao Longyan and Zhang Lexuan exchanged smiles. After saying goodbye to Jiang Nannan and her mother, they set out on their return journey.