Dust Settles

Lingyuan Douluo's body was smashed viciously toward the Galaxy Barrier below like a tattered sack. Her arms twisted at grotesque angles, and a large portion of her chest had caved in, death energy spilling from her body.

Yet she used that terrifying impact to slam herself hard against the Galaxy Barrier.

"Crack... Boom!"

The resilient Galaxy Barrier was forcibly smashed open by her desperate collision, leaving a breach in it.

Starlight shattered, falling like a rain of light.

Manyi gave a muffled groan. Clearly, the destruction of her soul skill had caused her some backlash as well.

"Pfft!"

Lingyuan Douluo spat out a mouthful of dark crimson blood saturated with dense death energy. Her injuries looked utterly horrifying.

But her undead traits took effect once more. Dense death energy wrapped around her wounds like living creatures, and her caved-in chest and twisted arms visibly squirmed as they rapidly recovered.

"Don't let her escape!"

The Bright Phoenix formed by Yan Shaozhe let out an enraged cry, opening his beak to fire an extremely condensed line of golden flame at Lingyuan Douluo's back like a laser.

Without looking back, Lingyuan Douluo waved one hand behind her, instantly forming a heavy shield condensed from death energy.

"Sizzle—!"

The golden flame easily pierced through the death-energy shield, but its trajectory shifted in the process. It grazed Lingyuan Douluo's shoulder, scorching nearly half her body black and even exposing gleaming white bone.

Yet she used that impact to increase her speed by another thirty percent. Like a crimson meteor, she streaked into the deeper, darker woods of the Star Dou Great Forest, trailing dense death energy and scattered droplets of dark red blood. In the blink of an eye, she vanished beyond everyone's senses.

Yan Shaozhe dismissed his Martial Soul Avatar and landed on the ground with a gloomy expression. He looked toward the direction Lingyuan Douluo had disappeared, then at the battlefield left in ruins as though ravaged by a natural disaster, remaining silent for a long while.

Nebula Douluo Manyi also came to his side, her aged face filled with gravity.

Even with two Title Douluo joining forces, they had still allowed that resurrected undead creature to escape.

Her immortal body was simply too difficult to deal with.

An ordinary Title Douluo would have died beyond all hope of recovery under that assault.

Only then did Xu Jiujiu, Yin Chen, and the others cautiously approach from afar. Looking at the devastation before them, every one of them was deeply shaken.

Yin Chen's heart churned even more violently. Having personally witnessed the might of Title Douluo, his desire for power became stronger than ever before.

As the dust settled, smoke and lingering waves of energy filled the air above the ravaged battlefield.

At Nebula Douluo Manyi's gesture, Yin Chen and Xu Jiujiu came to her side.

Xu Jiujiu adjusted her appearance, her face carrying the poised dignity expected of an imperial princess, along with a trace of respect for the strong. She stepped forward and gave Yan Shaozhe, whose expression remained solemn, a slight bow.

"Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire greets Dean Yan. The situation was urgent earlier, so I was unable to pay my respects in time. I hope Dean Yan will not take offense."

Yan Shaozhe withdrew his gaze from the direction Lingyuan Douluo had vanished and looked at Xu Jiujiu. The gravity on his face eased somewhat as he nodded, his tone calm.

"So it is Her Highness the Princess. There is no need for such formality. I must thank Nebula for lending her aid earlier."

As the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department and a level ninety-five Super Douluo, his status was extraordinary. Even so, he maintained basic respect toward members of the imperial families of the major empires, at least outwardly.

After all, the imperial families of today were far from what they had been ten thousand years ago. Their foundations ran deep, and guest elders and consecrated experts at the Title Douluo level were not uncommon.

However, that respect extended no further.

One of the foundations of Shrek Academy's existence was neutrality. Other than jointly resisting the Sun Moon Empire, it would never easily involve itself in disputes between empires.

Thus, he showed neither excessive warmth nor intimacy, striking precisely the right balance with his attitude.

Though Xu Jiujiu felt a faint trace of disappointment, she understood that this was only to be expected.

Being able to make Yan Shaozhe owe her a favor was already no small gain from this journey.

She did not say more, merely smiling. "Dean Yan is too polite. Resisting such evil was simply our duty."

After the pleasantries, Yan Shaozhe's gaze casually swept over Yin Chen, who stood beside Xu Jiujiu.

With his eyesight, he naturally saw through Yin Chen's bone age and his newly attained level-twelve Soul Power at a glance.

At such a young age, he was already a one-ring Soul Master, and his foundation was stable. Clearly, he was extraordinarily gifted.

Another little monster.

Yan Shaozhe mused to himself. Shrek Academy never lacked geniuses, so he merely looked a few more times without paying it excessive attention.

Moreover, this youth clearly had close ties to the Star Luo Imperial Family. Naturally, he would not do anything as inappropriate as poaching him in front of Nebula Douluo, who had just aided him.

Even if he truly had such intentions, it would be a matter for private evaluation and contact in the future. After all, whether this youth was worth Shrek Academy paying the corresponding price to recruit remained unknown.

Shrek's reputation was far more important than a genius who had yet to fully demonstrate his value.

"I still need to handle the aftermath and return to the academy as soon as possible, so I will not stay any longer."

Yan Shaozhe spoke to Manyi and Xu Jiujiu before turning to his student.

"Xiaotao, absorb that Lava Giant Lizard's Soul Ring. We must depart at once."

Ma Xiaotao answered and immediately walked toward the Lava Giant Lizard, which had long since been frightened limp by the pressure of the Title Douluo and then battered to the brink of death by the aftershocks of the battle. She cleanly ended its life and began drawing in the profound purple Soul Ring.

Xu Jiujiu was also tactful. Knowing that the other side had important matters to attend to, she took her leave accordingly.

"In that case, we shall not disturb you further. Dean Yan, we shall take our leave."

Yan Shaozhe gave a slight nod.

Nebula Douluo Manyi then led Xu Jiujiu and Yin Chen away. The three figures soon disappeared behind the cover of the dense trees.

Only after confirming that they had gone far away did Wu Ming, who had been suppressing her curiosity and shock all this time, finally speak.

"Dean Yan, what exactly was that... that monster just now?"

Although Zhang Lexuan did not ask, her calm eyes were also filled with inquiry.

Looking at these futures of the academy before him, Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and spoke gravely.

"I do not dare make any rash conclusions about what it was exactly, but I have some conjectures... This matter is no small one. It is no longer comparable to ordinary Evil Soul Master disturbances. You need not dwell on it too much. Your foremost task right now is to stabilize your cultivation and increase your strength."

His gaze swept over Zhang Lexuan and Wu Ming, and his tone softened somewhat.

"Especially you, Lexuan and Wu Ming. In a few months, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fight Tournament will begin. At that time, you will be the academy's main force. With your current Soul Saint cultivation, Lexuan, leading the team to defend its championship should be no difficulty. Do not let outside matters distract you."

Zhang Lexuan nodded solemnly. "Yes, Dean. Lexuan understands."