Suspicion from Shrek

"Old Sword, what do we do now? Two hundred million Gold Soul Coins just vanished! I've never even seen that much money in my life!" Chen Bingqin's expression looked worse than if he had eaten shit. The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had truly suffered a crippling blow this time.

"What else can we do? We'll wait until the sect master wakes up." Jian Lingyuan sighed helplessly, seeming to age decades in an instant.

"Just what is this Soul Hall? How could it have a Limit Douluo with ultimate ice?" Chen Bingqin's tone was grave. Recalling the Ice Empress's terrifying pressure, he could not help but shudder.

Xiao Jinchen had only left the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect for two or three days when the name Soul Hall swept across the Douluo Continent like a gale, shaking every faction.

Shrek City, Sea God Island.

Inside the grand conference hall of the six-story Sea God Pavilion, silence reigned. The last time a Sea God Pavilion meeting had been convened was because of Huo Yuhao's ultimate martial soul.

After Xiao Jinchen had departed with the Ice Empress, Huo Yuhao had returned to the core region of the Extreme North with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's help and tricked a hundred-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion into sacrificing itself.

Since it was not the Ice Empress that Tian Meng had been yearning for, Tian Meng mercilessly erased its soul. Huo Yuhao thus successfully obtained his second martial soul of ultimate ice.

Mu En remained lazily concealed in the shadows, his appearance impossible to make out. Lin Huiqun, Xuan Zi, and the four vice deans and deans of the Martial Soul and Soul Tool Departments sat on either side, occupying the lowest seats.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin. Shaozhe, you'll preside over this one as well," Mu En said gently.

"Yes, Teacher." Yan Shaozhe rose and respectfully bowed to Mu En.

"As for why we have convened another Sea God Pavilion meeting, I believe everyone is aware." Yan Shaozhe's tone suddenly turned grave as he slowly said, "Two days ago, a Limit Douluo descended upon the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect and forcibly took two hundred million Gold Soul Coins. You have all heard about it, haven't you?"

The moment Yan Shaozhe said this, everyone's expressions grew heavier. Shrek could make all sides wary only because it had the sole publicly known Limit Douluo holding the fort. Now, an unknown Limit Douluo had appeared out of nowhere. The entire continent's balance of power would likely be tilted as a result.

"Shaozhe, it seems you have not investigated everything thoroughly," Mu En said with a soft chuckle.

Yan Shaozhe froze slightly before respectfully saying, "Please enlighten me, Teacher."

"According to intelligence from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, that Limit Douluo also possesses the ultimate ice attribute," Mu En said warmly.

"What?!" Yan Shaozhe abruptly raised his head and blurted out, "An ultimate attribute? Why did I not find out about this?"

"A... a Limit Douluo of ultimate ice?!" Xuan Zi's pupils contracted. He had been trapped at Rank 98 for far too long and knew better than anyone how difficult it was to reach Rank 99 and become a Limit Douluo, let alone possess an ultimate attribute.

"Your information came from the academy's intelligence network, so it is normal that you did not know." Mu En continued, "I only learned of it from their three sect-protecting Douluo after personally visiting the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect."

"Xiaotao's evil fire is becoming harder and harder to control. Though Yuhao can suppress it, his Soul Power is too low; it only treats the symptoms, not the root cause." Yan Shaozhe's face flushed as he excitedly said, "If we can win over this Limit Douluo, not only can we resolve Xiaotao's hidden danger, but Shrek's position will become even more secure amid these changes. We may even rise to greater heights!"

Mu En sighed softly, pouring a bucket of cold water over Yan Shaozhe's excitement.

"Shaozhe, do not celebrate too soon." Mu En said solemnly, "There is a crucial detail in the message from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect—the Limit Douluo is not an independent cultivator, but belongs to an organization called Soul Hall."

"Soul Hall?" Xuan Zi and the others looked at one another, utterly bewildered.

"I have traveled the continent for decades, yet I have never heard this name before." Xuan Zi frowned slightly.

"That is precisely the most frightening part." Mu En tapped his fingers lightly against the table and said gravely, "A force with a Limit Douluo possessing an ultimate attribute, a force that acts with such tyranny, and yet we know absolutely nothing about it."

"However, we can be certain they are not from the Sun Moon Empire." Mu En stated firmly, "They rely on pills all year round, leaving their foundations unstable. It is absolutely impossible for them to produce a true Limit Douluo."

"Then they must be from one of the original three nations of the Douluo Continent," Xuan Zi said.

"Correct." Mu En nodded. "As long as they are not from the Sun Moon Empire, there is still room to form ties with them."

"Shaozhe." Mu En turned his gaze toward Yan Shaozhe. "I am assigning you to secretly investigate this Limit Douluo and this so-called Soul Hall. Do not offend them. It would be best if we can befriend them. After I am gone, the academy will be able to rest easy."

"Teacher! You..." Before Yan Shaozhe could finish, Mu En waved a hand and interrupted him.

"Enough. I know my own body. We must raise the younger generation as quickly as possible." Mu En sighed.

Mu En sighed inwardly. Sea God Pavilion meetings had not been convened this frequently in a very long time.

Yet he did not know that when Xuan Zi led two generations of the Shrek Seven Devils to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, they would likely have to gather in this pavilion once again.

The Sea God Pavilion was fervently discussing the Ice Empress, while Xiao Jinchen, who had descended upon the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect alongside her, was naturally ignored.

Meanwhile, in the principal's office of Zhengtian Academy.

"Who dares trespass into my Zhengtian Academy?!" The principal stared at Xiao Jinchen and the Ice Empress before him and shouted. Powerful Soul Power surged from his body.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—eight Spirit Rings rose into the air. Behind him, the phantom of a thunder eagle flickered with lightning.

"Bing'er." Xiao Jinchen smiled at the Ice Empress.

The Ice Empress nodded lightly and, understanding his intent, released her utterly heaven-defying Spirit Rings.

Black, black, black, black, red, red, red, red, jade green.

Nine Spirit Rings rose into the air. Yet the jade-green ninth Spirit Ring carried an indescribable sense of incompleteness.

The Ice Empress faintly had a feeling that this power had not been born for her alone. Only when it resonated with another force of ultimate ice and snow could it unleash its true might.

"A... a Titled Douluo!" The principal of Zhengtian Academy instantly withered, even subconsciously retracting his martial soul into his body.

"This junior is Losk, an eighty-first-rank agility-type Soul Douluo. May I ask what instructions you have for descending upon our academy, Senior?" Losk recovered his senses and immediately bowed deeply, lowering his stance to the utmost.

"Principal Losk, there is no need to be nervous. I am here to join your academy." Xiao Jinchen smiled faintly.

"J-join our academy?" Losk raised his head to look at Xiao Jinchen.

"Yes." Xiao Jinchen grinned. "Principal Losk, see how sincere I am? I even brought my sister here personally to apply for admission."

Losk was about to cry from fright. Who brought a Titled Douluo along to apply for admission?

Anyone unaware of the situation would think they were some gangster organization! No, wait, they really did seem to be a gangster organization.

"O-okay." Trembling, Losk pulled out a student information card from his desk and pushed it before Xiao Jinchen. "Just fill this out."