Devastating Blow, Calm Retreat!

Divine radiance first spread across Sea God Island, covering the entire inner court.

Several Soul Sages who had rushed into the inner court did not even have time to scream before their bodies rapidly dissolved in the golden glow. The resentment and bloody aura they had accumulated over many years were purified on the spot.

The evil soul masters farther away did not fare much better.

Their skin split open over large areas, their evil soul power spiraled out of control, and black mist poured from their seven orifices before being swiftly ground away by the golden divine radiance.

A Soul Douluo-level evil soul master turned and fled. He had only dashed a hundred meters when divine radiance covered his back. His Martial Soul True Body collapsed on the spot, and he fell from midair.

After landing, he did not even dare look back, dragging his broken body toward the outer city.

The Titled Douluo-level worshippers could barely resist it, but they had no desire to take it head-on.

Masked Douluo emerged from the gray mist. More than half his mask had cracked, and large scorched-black marks still covered his shoulders.

As he looked toward Sea God Island, the terror in his eyes was unlike anything he had ever felt in his life.

"Shrek actually hid something like this."

But Yan Shaozhe had been driven into a frenzy. How could he possibly let him leave? Phoenix flames swept through the long street, directly blocking Masked Douluo's retreat.

"You killed so many people from Shrek, and you still think you can leave?"

Masked Douluo sidestepped the flames, revealing half a pale, sinister face behind his shattered mask.

"Dean Yan, do you really think that with this thing protecting you, you've won today?"

He raised a hand and pointed around them. "Open your eyes and take a good look."

Yan Shaozhe's movements paused briefly as he instinctively looked around.

The entire Shrek Academy—no, it could be said the entire Shrek City—was littered with corpses, while collapsed buildings continued to burn.

More than half of the outer court's teachers and students had been killed or injured. The city defense army had been completely scattered, and civilians' cries could still be heard in the distance.

Even the inner court had been breached by evil soul masters.

No matter how one looked at this battle, Shrek had already lost.

In that brief pause, Masked Douluo's body sank back into the gray mist, rapidly retreating toward the outer city through the ruins.

Elsewhere, Bone Flute Douluo and Magnetic Force Douluo simultaneously broke free from Xuan Zi.

Xuan Zi wanted to pursue them, but violent tremors came from the direction of Sea God Pavilion.

He looked up to see golden divine radiance rising along the edge of Sea God Island, forming a semicircular barrier that enveloped the entire inner court.

Any evil soul master who came into contact with the barrier or remained within it would be directly purified.

Within the barrier, injured students and teachers were nourished by life energy, and their injuries temporarily stabilized.

Outside the barrier, however, blood and ruins still covered the ground.

"Bastards!"

Xuan Zi's eyes reddened as he smashed a nearby broken wall to pieces with one punch.

He wanted desperately to catch up and leave none of those evil soul masters alive.

But he could not. Elder Mu had already burned through the last of his life force, and now he had forcibly activated Sea God's Light. He could collapse at any moment.

Yan Shaozhe was injured as well, and the defenses of both the inner and outer courts had completely crumbled.

If he left again, who would guard Shrek?

High in the sky, Long Wushang watched the retreating cult members with cold eyes.

The Holy Spirit Cult's forces were in disarray. Some escaped through breaches in the city walls, some slipped into underground tunnels, while several Soul Douluos led the remaining cult members toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Shrek's teachers attempted to pursue them, but there were too many wounded in the city. They simply could not spare enough manpower.

Long Wushang extended his right hand, and the Original Sin Demon Puppet behind him unleashed its authority one final time.

The soldiers outside the city responsible for blocking the escape routes had only just regained their senses when greed and fear surged up from the depths of their hearts once more.

Gaps immediately appeared in their formation, and hundreds of Holy Spirit Cult members charged through them.

But the next moment, that golden divine radiance swept across the outer court as well.

The authority of Original Sin was completely dispersed, and many soul masters who had been fighting over supplies or even attacking their companions suddenly regained their senses.

They looked at the weapons in their hands, then at their companions lying at their feet, and the color rapidly drained from their faces.

Some threw down their weapons and knelt on the ground, clutching their heads.

Some turned to search for family and friends, only to see streets covered in blood.

Several students, after regaining consciousness, immediately rushed toward the ruins of the school buildings. They clawed through bricks with their bare hands, searching for survivors buried beneath them.

Crying and wailing filled the entire city.

Long Wushang had no interest in watching any longer. "Father, reinforcements from the three nations will arrive soon."

Long Xiaoyao glanced toward the western horizon. Several Titled Douluo auras were rapidly approaching, and their numbers were still increasing.

The support from the three nations had come late, but they had not remained completely inactive.

"Withdraw into the Star Dou Great Forest at once."

The Dark Sacred Dragon turned its enormous body, its wings sweeping up vast black clouds as it carried Long Wushang and Tang Ya toward the outskirts of the city.

Cradled in Long Wushang's arms, Tang Ya looked down at Shrek City as it gradually receded below her.

The Dark Sacred Dragon passed over the outer city, while the Holy Spirit Cult's remaining forces rapidly gathered beneath them.

They did not stop, instead plunging directly into the Star Dou Great Forest and dispersing through the complex terrain as they retreated.

In less than half a quarter-hour, the evil soul masters besieging Shrek had retreated completely.

Within Shrek City, there were no cheers. Everyone felt only the relief and lingering fear of having survived a disaster.

Yan Shaozhe dragged his injured body back to the outer court plaza and saw nothing but corpses spread across the ground.

Several surviving teachers were taking attendance. Before they had even finished half the list, the person keeping records stopped, his eyes red.

Too many people were missing. Many could not even be found as corpses.

"Dean, the western city wall has fallen. More than eighty percent of the city defense army has been killed or injured."

"Nine of the outer court's twelve school buildings have collapsed."

"Most inner court disciples are receiving treatment on Sea God Island. Fewer than half can currently be contacted."

Report after report arrived. Yan Shaozhe closed his eyes helplessly, and when he opened them again, only endless exhaustion remained on his face.

But he could not give up now. He was the dean of Shrek Academy, and at a critical moment like this, he had to step forward and take charge.

"Don't panic. Seal the city gates immediately and redeploy the defenses."

"All surviving disciples are to assist the medical teams and rescue people with everything they have."

"The city defense army is to maintain order. Anyone who dares loot supplies amid this chaos is to be apprehended on the spot."

He looked at the elders beside him, his voice hoarse. "Everyone, come with me to Sea God Pavilion."

Everyone understood what that meant. They passed through the golden barrier and hurried into the inner court.

Elder Zhuang was still treating Huo Yuhao. The roots of the Golden Ancient Tree wrapped around his limbs, chest, and abdomen, while pale golden life energy continuously repaired his wounds.

Yet there was not a trace of color in Huo Yuhao's face. His right hand remained twisted, and his gray-white eyes had yet to return to normal.

Yan Shaozhe took only one look before quickly heading toward the underground stone chamber.

The stone door was already open. Mu En sat before the stone pillar, his right hand still pressed against the golden crystal. The life aura around him had weakened to the extreme. His once-straight back had bent once more, and white hair hung over his chest.

"Teacher..."

Yan Shaozhe knelt at the entrance to the stone chamber.

Mu En slowly raised his head, looked at the elders following behind him, then past them at the devastated Sea God Island.

His right hand slipped from the golden crystal, and the trident mark within the stone chamber dimmed along with it.

"Do not concern yourselves with me. Immediately send all disciples and teachers out to rescue every surviving disciple. All elders are to come to Sea God Pavilion at once. I have something to announce..."