The Sorrow of Shrek

A sudden surge of energy shattered the tranquility of the night.

Ice Empress, lying beside Xiao Jinchen, stiffened slightly, her gaze shifting toward the youth who was refining pills beside her.

Energy fluctuations grew increasingly dense around him, rapidly solidifying into a tangible form that not only flooded the room but transformed into a pillar of light that shot straight into the clouds.

In the dead of night, this majestic aura was exceptionally abrupt, instantly drawing the attention of powerhouses across the Star Luo Empire. Many stared at the night sky in astonishment as they sensed the pillar of energy.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sounds of wind being torn apart rang out in succession, and a few figures streaked into mid-air like meteors, gazing at the source of the light pillar with shocked expressions.

"Such terrifying energy fluctuations... Could someone be attempting to break through to Super Douluo here?" an old man with disheveled hair spoke up. He was still clutching a glistening chicken leg in his hand; he was the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, the ninety-eighth-rank Super Douluo, Xuan Zi, titled—Chicken Leg!

Not far away, an old woman leading a group of figures frowned and said, "I wonder what kind of sacred being is staying at my Star Emperor Grand Hotel to cause such a commotion."

Beside her, Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang chimed in with a deep voice, "Judging by this disturbance, it should be an unknown Title Douluo."

Inside the room, Xiao Jinchen was well aware of the clamor outside. He chuckled, erased the spiritual intelligence from the Resurrection Pill, stored it in a jade bottle, and tucked it into his Storage Ring. He then retracted the Green Lotus Core Flame into his body, and the heaven-defying phenomenon dissipated accordingly.

"It's getting late, time to rest," Xiao Jinchen said to Ice Empress with a smile.

Ice Empress looked out the window with her orange-gold eyes and asked, "There are quite a few people outside. Are you not going to deal with them?"

"No need to pay them any mind; they won't find anything," Xiao Jinchen replied with a confident smile. With the Mental Field he activated using his ninety-ninth-rank Limit Douluo mental power covering the surroundings, let alone those few Title Douluos, even the strongest among them, Xuan Zi, couldn't spy on a single thing.

"Alright, alright, it's past four in the morning now; we should go to sleep." With that, Xiao Jinchen leaned over slightly, his arms sliding firmly under Ice Empress's knees and back. With a slight exertion, he scooped her up horizontally.

"A-Chen! You're doing it again!" A beautiful blush instantly bloomed on Ice Empress's cheeks, and she pouted coquettishly. However, she did not struggle, instead burying her face in Xiao Jinchen's chest, her fair, jade-like hands clutching his lapels tightly.

"We've been together for so long, Bing'er, why are you still shy?" Xiao Jinchen smiled gently, lowered his head, and kissed her soft lips.

Their lips and teeth intertwined, their scorching breaths blending without reservation.

Xiao Jinchen's palms became increasingly restless, sliding along Ice Empress's jade-like legs and quietly exploring beneath the hem of her skirt.

"Mmh~"

Following Xiao Jinchen's movements, Ice Empress couldn't help but moan, and the cumbersome clothing on her body was stripped away completely.

Finally, Xiao Jinchen waved his hand, plunging the room into total darkness. Yet, within that darkness, a battle had silently begun, and the atmosphere of spring quietly permeated the air.

"Strange, how did the aura just disappear?" Xuan Zi was stunned. No matter how he probed, he couldn't find a single trace.

"I felt it too just now. How could it vanish just like that?" Giant Strength Douluo Cheng Gang asked in confusion.

After searching for another half-hour, Xuan Zi and the four Imperial Protector Douluos of the Star Luo Empire returned empty-handed.

The next morning, Star Luo City.

The Shrek team gathered early in the conference room, but the atmosphere inside was somewhat chaotic.

"Where is Teacher Wang Yan? Didn't he go to settle the auction items yesterday? Why hasn't he returned yet?" Xu Sanshi asked anxiously.

Beibei frowned slightly and said, "Perhaps Teacher Wang was delayed by something urgent?"

"But the competition is about to start. Without Teacher Wang to analyze our opponents, what are we going to do?" He Caitou was also filled with anxiety.

Beibei sighed helplessly. "There's no other way. Since Teacher Wang hasn't returned, we'll have to analyze the opposing academy ourselves."

Just then, a disheveled figure appeared in the conference room without a sound.

"Elder Xuan!" The Shrek members were overjoyed to see who it was.

Xuan Zi said with a grave expression, "It is possible that Wang Yan has already been killed..."

"What!" Everyone was shocked upon hearing this.

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened. He hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "How could Teacher Wang be killed? Didn't he go to the auction with us yesterday?"

Xuan Zi shook his head and said, "Not long after you left, the auction's transaction hall suddenly caught fire. Wang Yan happened to be there conducting a transaction at the time. The fire burned the hall to the ground, leaving no traces behind."

"How could this happen?" Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat. What about his Life Gold? Was it gone too?

Within his mental sea, Electrolux seemed to see through his thoughts and sighed softly. "Forget it. Little one, perhaps this Life Gold was never meant for us."

"The Star Luo Empire officials have identified it as arson and are currently investigating," Xuan Zi added.

"Arson?" Beibei immediately suspected, "Elder Xuan, could it be the work of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy? They have always been at odds with us."

"That shouldn't be possible." Xuan Zi pulled a chicken leg from behind him, took a bite, and mumbled indistinctly, "Although the two academies are at odds on the surface, they likely don't have the guts to directly assassinate a teacher from our Shrek."

Beibei's doubts did not dissipate upon hearing this; it was hard to guarantee that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy wouldn't do something extreme.

"Elder Xuan, what should we do now? Teacher Wang has met with an accident, and now there isn't even a place to collect his remains," Ma Xiaotao asked angrily.

"Since the Star Luo officials have intervened, we shall remain still for now. Your current task is the competition, to uphold the ten-thousand-year glory of Shrek. Do not let this matter distract your minds."

Xuan Zi swallowed the chicken meat, tossed the bone aside, and pulled another chicken leg from behind him. His gaze swept over the group as he said slowly, "Xiaotao, hurry up and recover from your injuries. And you little ones in the reserve team, don't lose your composure. If Wang Yan knew that his absence affected your performance, he wouldn't be at peace even in the afterlife."

In Xuan Zi's view, the life of a fiftieth-rank Soul King like Wang Yan didn't amount to much. As long as Shrek could be preserved, its ten-thousand-year glory was more important than anything else.

"Just prepare well for the competition; don't worry about anything else." As Xuan Zi finished speaking, his figure vanished into a blur of shadows.

The conference room returned to a deathly silence, save for the wailing of the wind outside the window. Everyone stood frozen, the words "fire" and "burned to the ground" echoing repeatedly in their minds.

"Teacher Wang... is he really just gone?" Xiao Xiao sobbed as she spoke.

Beibei walked over, patted Xiao Xiao's shoulder gently, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Xiao, since Elder Xuan has said so, the matter is likely not that simple. Let's steady our mindset; the competition cannot be affected. After all, Shrek's ten-thousand-year glory is more important than anything."

"Mm. Shrek, victory!" Xiao Xiao wiped the tears from her face, her tone firm.

As she spoke, she extended her right hand. The others followed suit, and ten right hands stacked together.

Everyone from Shrek said in unison, "Shrek! Victory!"