The sudden surge of energy shattered the silence of the night.
The Ice Empress, lying beside Xiao Jinchen, gave a slight start and turned her gaze toward the young man refining pills beside her.
Energy surged around him, growing ever denser until it rapidly took tangible form. It filled not only the room but transformed into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.
In the dead of night, this immense aura stood out starkly, instantly drawing the attention of powerful figures across the Star Luo Empire. Feeling the energy pillar, many stared up at the night sky in astonishment.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Several sharp whistles ripped through the air as figures streaked across the sky like shooting stars, gazing in astonishment toward the source of the pillar of light.
"Such terrifying energy... Could someone be trying to break through to Super Douluo here?" asked a disheveled old man. He still clutched a greasy chicken leg in his hand. He was Xuan Zi, the Holy Spirit Cult's Grand Elder and a Level 98 Super Douluo, titled Chicken Leg!
Not far away, the old woman leading several figures furrowed her brows. "I wonder what kind of eminent person is staying at my Star Emperor Grand Hotel to make such a commotion."
Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang, standing beside her, agreed in a low voice. "Judging by this commotion, it must be an unknown Titled Douluo."
Inside the room, Xiao Jinchen was well aware of the commotion outside. He chuckled, erased the Resurrection Pill's consciousness, and placed it in a jade bottle before storing it in his Storage Ring. Then he drew the Green Lotus Core Flame back into his body, and the phenomenon in the sky vanished with it.
"It's getting late. We should get some rest," Xiao Jinchen said with a smile to the Ice Empress.
The Ice Empress gazed out the window with her orange-gold eyes. "There are quite a few people outside. Shouldn't we do something?"
"There's no need to pay them any mind. They won't find us," Xiao Jinchen replied confidently. His Mental Field, powered by the spiritual force of a Level 99 Limit Douluo, enveloped the area. Not to mention those few Titled Douluos—even Xuan Zi, the strongest among them, couldn't detect a thing.
"Come on, it's past four in the morning. We should go to bed." With that, Xiao Jinchen bent down slightly and slipped his arms beneath the Ice Empress's knees and back. With a little effort, he lifted her into his arms.
"Ah Chen! You're doing it again!" The Ice Empress's cheeks instantly flushed a lovely red as she chided him coquettishly. But she didn't struggle. She merely buried her face against Xiao Jinchen's chest, her fair hands clutching the edge of his clothes.
"We're an old married couple already, Bing'er. How come you're still blushing?" Xiao Jinchen smiled tenderly, lowered his head, and kissed her soft lips.
Their lips and tongues entwined, their hot breaths mingling without restraint.
Xiao Jinchen's hands grew more and more restless, gliding along the Ice Empress's jade-white legs before slipping beneath her skirt.
"Mm~"
The Ice Empress couldn't help but let out a moan at Xiao Jinchen's touch, while the clothes in her way were stripped away completely.
At last, Xiao Jinchen waved his hand, plunging the room into darkness. But in that darkness, a battle silently began, and the warmth of spring quietly spread.
"Strange. Why has the aura disappeared?" Xuan Zi was taken aback. No matter how thoroughly he searched, he couldn't find the slightest trace.
"I felt it just now too. How could it vanish all of a sudden?" Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang asked in confusion.
After searching for another half hour, Xuan Zi and the Star Luo Empire's four Guardian Douluos eventually returned empty-handed.
The next morning, in Star Luo City.
The Shrek delegation had gathered early in the meeting room, but the atmosphere inside was rather unsettled.
"Where's Teacher Wang Yan? Didn't he go to settle the auction purchases yesterday? Why hasn't he come back yet?" Xu Sanshi asked anxiously.
Beibei furrowed his brows. "What if Teacher Wang was delayed by something unexpected?"
"But the competition is about to begin. What are we supposed to do without Teacher Wang analyzing our opponents?" He Caitou was also filled with worry.
Beibei sighed helplessly. "There's nothing we can do. Teacher Wang still hasn't returned, so we'll have to analyze the other academies ourselves for now."
Just then, a disheveled figure appeared in the meeting room without a sound.
"Elder Xuan!" The Shrek delegation lit up when they saw who it was.
Xuan Zi said gravely, "Wang Yan may already have been killed..."
"What!" Everyone was stunned.
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened. He hurried forward and asked, "How could Teacher Wang have been killed? Didn't he go to the auction with us yesterday?"
Xuan Zi shook his head. "Not long after you left, a fire broke out in the auction hall. Wang Yan happened to be there making a transaction. The blaze burned the hall to the ground, leaving no trace."
"How could this happen?" Huo Yuhao's heart suddenly sank. What about his Life Gold? Did that mean it was gone too?
In the Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux seemed to see through his thoughts and sighed softly. "Let it go, little fellow. Perhaps this Life Gold was never meant for us."
"The Star Luo Empire's authorities have determined that it was arson and are currently investigating," Xuan Zi added.
"Arson?" Beibei immediately voiced his suspicions. "Elder Xuan, could the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy be behind this? They've always been at odds with us."
"Probably not." Xuan Zi pulled a chicken leg from behind his back and took a bite, speaking indistinctly. "Although the two academies are at odds on the surface, they probably don't have the guts to directly murder one of our Shrek teachers."
Beibei still wasn't reassured. The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy couldn't be ruled out; they might well do something outrageous.
"Elder Xuan, what do we do now? Something happened to Teacher Wang, and now there's not even a body to bury." Ma Xiaotao asked angrily.
"Since the Star Luo authorities are already investigating, we'll hold back for now. Your task is to compete and protect Shrek's ten-thousand-year legacy. Don't let this shake your resolve."
Xuan Zi swallowed his mouthful of chicken and tossed the bones aside. Then he pulled another chicken leg from behind his back, swept his gaze over everyone, and said slowly, "Xiaotao, focus on recovering from your injuries. And you reserve-team youngsters, don't lose your composure. If Wang Yan knew he'd affected your performance, he wouldn't rest easy even in the afterlife."
In Xuan Zi's eyes, the life of a Level 50 Soul King like Wang Yan didn't amount to much. As long as Shrek's ten-thousand-year legacy was preserved, nothing else mattered.
"Just focus on preparing for the competition. Leave everything else alone." As Xuan Zi finished speaking, his figure turned into a blur and vanished.
Silence settled over the meeting room once more. Only the wind outside wailed as everyone stood frozen, the words "fire" and "burned to the ground" echoing again and again in their minds.
"Teacher Wang... is really gone just like that?" Xiao Xiao began to sob as she spoke.
Beibei stepped forward and gently patted Xiao Xiao on the shoulder. He said solemnly, "Xiao Xiao, if Elder Xuan says so, this matter probably isn't that simple. Let's keep our composure and make sure it doesn't affect the competition. After all, Shrek's ten-thousand-year legacy matters more than anything."
"Mm. We, Shrek, will win!" Xiao Xiao wiped the tears from her face and spoke with determination.
As she spoke, she held out her right hand. The others stepped forward, placing their ten right hands together.
Everyone from Shrek shouted in unison, "We, Shrek, will win!"