Vegetarian Yin-Yang Hotpot—A Must-Eat for Any Transmigrator!

A cave somewhere in the Star Dou Great Forest.

The remnants of the Holy Spirit Cult had gathered here in batches under the escort of several consecrated elders.

When they had joined the operation, the Holy Spirit Cult had mobilized nearly half of its mid- and high-ranking combat strength. Now, fewer than seventy percent of those who had left were still able to return on their feet.

The ordinary cultists had suffered the greatest losses, with more than half killed or injured.

Masked Douluo sat against the stone wall, with only half of his cracked mask remaining on his face.

"I told you, a place like Shrek Academy, with its ten-thousand-year legacy, could probably dig up two life-saving treasures from under the bed. Good thing I ran fast just now. That thing showed up the moment they said it would. Who the hell could've reacted in time..."

Bone Flute Douluo wiped the blood from his face and watched Jia Mian complain with an amused half-smile.

"That wasn't what you said before you went in."

"I hadn't seen divine power before I went in."

Masked Douluo removed the remaining half of his mask, revealing a pale face.

"Besides, Sea God Tang San ascended who knows how many years ago, yet he still left something behind in Shrek Academy. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Watch your words. The gods are watching from above. Be careful, or you'll invite heavenly punishment."

One of the consecrated elders warned him quietly.

Caught off guard by that remark, Masked Douluo instinctively looked upward. All he saw was the pitch-black ceiling of the cave, but he still curled his lip and ultimately said no more.

To evil soul masters, gods were distant things. They even remained doubtful as to whether gods existed at all.

Yet when that golden divine radiance descended, they finally understood that there was simply no room for a Titled Douluo to contend head-on with god-tier power.

Many of them had yet to recover from that terror.

Long Xiaoyao stood before the crowd, listening as an elder counted the losses.

"Two consecrated elders and three elders suffered grievous injuries and will be unable to act again for a short time. They need to return to the Holy Spirit Cult to recuperate. Dozens of Soul Saints and above were lost outright, while the number of severely injured is countless."

"Of the cultists who participated in the siege, six hundred and seventy-two have returned. More than three hundred remain unaccounted for."

"News has also come from the Sun Moon Empire. Three soul engineer legions have begun pulling back, and the border garrisons of the Heavenly Soul Empire and Star Luo Empire do not dare pursue them."

As each figure was reported, the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

The Holy Spirit Cult had suffered considerable losses this time, but the price Shrek had paid was far greater.

The outer academy had nearly been destroyed, the inner academy's defenses had been breached, and students had fallen in droves.

Even Mu En, the Ultimate Douluo whose name shook the continent, had been driven to the brink of death in this operation.

More importantly, they had forcibly drawn out Shrek's hidden trump card, which it had concealed for years. That was undoubtedly the most important outcome.

Now that the Sea God's Light had been exposed, it was hard to say what the various powers would think or how they would respond.

An academy that claimed not to interfere in continental politics still held power left behind by a god. That alone was enough to keep the three great empires pondering for a long time.

After hearing the report, Long Xiaoyao raised the Supreme Hierarch's Command Token and gave his orders.

"All consecrated elders and elders are to lead the cultists back to the Sun Moon Empire."

"The wounded are to be sent to the branch halls first. Those unable to move will be received by personnel from the Hall of Consecrated Elders."

"After returning, cooperate with the Hierarch's plans. From here on, our focus will be the Sun Moon Empire."

Everyone rose at once and bowed to accept the order.

They all understood that the battle against Shrek was only the beginning. Once Mu En died, the real show would begin.

To buy time for the Holy Spirit Cult, Xu Tianran had mobilized the already limited soul engineer legions of the Sun Moon Empire in advance and pressed them against the borders of the Heavenly Soul Empire and Star Luo Empire.

Neither nation dared gamble on whether the Sun Moon Empire would take the opportunity to start a war, so they could only keep a large number of powerful experts stationed at the border.

By the time the two nations realized Xu Tianran was merely bluffing, Shrek's outer academy had nearly been slaughtered through.

The coordination had been flawless, leaving the three empires and Shrek unable to attend to both ends.

Naturally, there was a price to pay. Someone within the Sun Moon Empire would inevitably notice the abnormal troop movements. Xu Tianran needed to deal with his political enemies quickly, then shift the responsibility for the deployment onto someone else.

He was very familiar with such matters. Using one blade to kill another, then burying the blade afterward—Xu Tianran had never been soft-hearted about it.

The Holy Spirit Cult members soon departed in batches.

Tang Ya stood beside Long Wushang, head lowered as she seemed to be lost in thought. She had not spoken since leaving Shrek Academy. What had happened at the outer academy was likely still weighing heavily on her mind.

The look Beibei had given her at the end left her emotions tangled, but she had no intention of returning.

Because she knew that academy could not save the Tang Sect, nor would it kill all the enemies of her past for her. If she returned, those people would only judge her as an enemy.

At least now, she had strength, as well as someone willing to place the choice before her.

The cost might have been ugly, but at least this was a road she had chosen for herself.

Only after the last group had left did Long Xiaoyao turn around.

"Wushang, are you planning to return to the Sun Moon Empire, or do you have other arrangements?"

According to the original plan, they should have returned to Mingdu as quickly as possible.

Xu Tianran could cooperate, but he was not worthy of trust.

That man could even use his own crippled body as part of his schemes. Wives, subordinates, allies—everything had a price in his eyes.

In the original timeline, even Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao's ending had been planned by Xu Tianran himself.

Long Wushang had originally intended to leave something on Xu Tianran after returning, perhaps one of the Original Sin Contracts.

However, considering Xu Tianran's extreme vigilance, he would also be wary of methods involving the mind and soul.

To control a man like that, he could not act too hastily. It would be best to let him taste enough benefits first, then make him realize that he could no longer turn the ledger back to its first page.

The idea was sound, but plans could not keep up with changes. The moment the Sea God's Light appeared, the Destruction Core that had lain dormant in his sea of consciousness for so long finally sent him a message.

There were no words, only a brief ripple of divine intent.

That divine intent came from the God of Destruction. Its target was not Shrek, but Tang San behind the Sea God's Light.

Tang San had used divine power to interfere with the lower realm. Even if he had merely drawn upon reserves left behind years ago, he could not evade the rules of the God Realm.

Since the God of Destruction had noticed, the other gods in the God Realm Committee would sooner or later take note as well.

For some time to come, Tang San would find it difficult to devote too much attention to Douluo Continent.

This was the true window of opportunity. Xu Tianran was not going anywhere.

But the things within the Icefire Yin Yang Well would be delivered into Shrek's hands as Huo Yuhao grew stronger. No one could guarantee that, after suffering such damage to his foundation this time, Huo Yuhao would not enter the Icefire Yin Yang Well early to harvest the immortal herbs.

And if he had to choose between immortal herbs and Xu Tianran, anyone with sense would choose the immortal herbs.

"We're not returning to Mingdu yet."

Long Wushang said, "We're going to the Heavenly Soul Empire."

Long Xiaoyao was puzzled. "The Heavenly Soul Empire? What are we going there for?"

"There's a treasure ground in Sunset Forest. It has not only a yin-yang hotpot, but all kinds of delicious vegetables to dip in it. We've finally got the chance—if we don't go taste it, wouldn't this trip have been for nothing?"

Long Xiaoyao glanced at his son, a strange look flashing through his eyes. Places called treasure grounds were mostly occupied by sects or high-level soul beasts. He had visited Sunset Forest several times himself—after all, he was from the Heavenly Soul Empire—yet he had never discovered any treasure ground there.

And what was this yin-yang hotpot, and what were these vegetables to dip in it? The words were utterly incomprehensible. Had there already become a generation gap between him and young people?