Identity Exposed? Xuan Zi's Reaction, and Another Trump Card?

Mingdou Mountains' core region.

Holy Spirit Cult Leader Zhongli Wu, Fourth Elder Netherworld Douluo, Fifth Elder Myriad Souls Douluo, Sixth Elder Abomination Douluo, Eighth Elder Nightmare Douluo!

Five Titled Douluo had arrived!

The pressure leaking from those five alone was enough to send every soul beast within a hundred li fleeing in panic.

At this moment, even Xuan Zi, who was usually so carefree, wore an exceedingly grave expression.

A fierce tiger could not withstand a pack of wolves.

Although Xuan Zi was a level ninety-eight Super Douluo with extraordinary strength, Zhongli Wu was no ordinary opponent either.

If he were alone, he was confident that the Holy Spirit Cult's five Titled Douluo would not be enough to bring him down.

But the fourteen behind him were Shrek's finest talents from the past ten years!

They were Shrek's future.

Even losing a single one would be an immense tragedy for Shrek Academy.

"Two generations of Shrek Seven Monsters suffered mishaps in my hands..."

"This time, even if this old man dies here, I absolutely cannot let a single little monster be harmed!!"

Xuan Zi's body shook, and an earthen-yellow soul power barrier surged from him, enveloping all fourteen people, including Ye Ming.

He raised his head to look at Zhongli Wu in the sky and slowly tied his wine gourd to his waist.

"Five Titled Douluo from the Holy Spirit Cult... You truly think highly of this old man!"

"The Gluttonous Douluo's reputation is world-shaking. If we did not bring a few more people, how could we display your magnificence?" Zhongli Wu gave a wicked smile. "I do not wish to fight the Gluttonous Douluo."

"What do you mean?" Hearing there might be room for negotiation, Xuan Zi did not rush to make a move.

He snorted. "You do not wish to fight? Could it be that the five of you came here to admire the scenery?"

Zhongli Wu ignored Xuan Zi's mockery and instead fixed his gaze on Ye Ming among the crowd below.

He examined him carefully, but inwardly, he began to wonder.

Judging by his aura alone, there is indeed no way to tell that this boy is a soul beast in human form.

But if he could fool Mu En and Xuan Zi, he is surely not some ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form!

Whether made into a puppet or stripped of his soul and bones, he would make excellent material!

Zhongli Wu pointed at Ye Ming. "Xuan Zi, as long as you hand that boy called Ye Ming over to me, the Holy Spirit Cult will never target Shrek Academy again."

"Today, everyone else may leave safely as well."

Ye Ming...

A surge of anger rose within Xuan Zi.

Mu Lao thought extremely highly of that boy Ye Ming!

Others might not know it, but he did. Mu Lao had been grooming this boy as a future successor!

Besides,

Let alone Ye Ming, he would not hand over any of these children!

But for now, he had to find a way through this crisis first.

Having witnessed the Shrek Seven Monsters suffer losses twice, Xuan Zi had become more steady.

He sighed. "Let me think about it."

"Fine!" Zhongli Wu replied readily.

If he could get Ye Ming without shedding blood, he would naturally be more than happy to do so.

Once a level ninety-eight Super Douluo erupted, the Holy Spirit Cult might lose one or two elders as well.

"Elder Xuan! You can't agree to them!"

Wang Dong was the first to speak. A trace of crimson had already appeared in his eyes. "Those evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Cult commit every atrocity. If Boss goes with them, he'll definitely die!"

"Elder Xuan, don't hand the class monitor over..." Xiao Xiao was already crying. Wiping away her tears, she choked out, "You can't trust those bad people!"

Di Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena said nothing. They merely stepped silently in front of Ye Ming, watching everyone present with wary expressions.

Ye Ming took in everyone's reactions as his thoughts raced.

Why had Zhongli Wu singled me out?

If he knew my identity, then Qiu'er and Gu Yuena should have been exposed as well.

If he wanted someone, he should have demanded all three of us.

Could it be that he wanted me to become the Holy Spirit Cult's holy son?

No, that wasn't right either...

My martial soul was the pure Gold and Silver Dragon Kings to begin with. It was naturally incompatible with evil soul masters.

Besides, mobilizing five Titled Douluo to fight Xuan Zi over a holy son would be far too costly!

If it was for revenge, that made even less sense.

It did not fit Zhongli Wu's personality of putting profit above all else.

The more Ye Ming thought about it, the more something felt wrong. He could only trace everything back to the beginning.

The first time I appeared before the Holy Spirit Cult was the night they invaded Shrek.

Before that, Jing Hongchen came to Shrek to probe its strength, then funded the fixed-installation soul cannon...

Jing Hongchen!!

A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through Ye Ming's mind.

An elementary school student once said that once every impossibility had been eliminated, no matter how unbelievable the truth was, it was still the absolute truth...

During that battle with the Hongchen siblings, Jing Hongchen had used some unknown method to discover his true identity.

But Jing Hongchen had kept it hidden and joined forces with the Holy Spirit Cult in an attempt to capture him.

That was why a Titled Douluo had acted to seize him when he had still been a Soul Elder.

After that failure, Jing Hongchen had revealed his identity to the Holy Spirit Cult... which led to Zhongli Wu's actions!

Zhongli Wu only wanted him because Gu Yuena and Di Ruiqiu had never displayed their strength before Jing Hongchen...

It all connected!

Ye Ming's heart sank. As long as Zhongli Wu exposed him, regardless of whether Xuan Zi believed it, they would no longer be able to remain at Shrek.

Shrek might even imprison them instead.

Soul beasts and soul masters were natural enemies.

A feud spanning countless millennia would not be changed by a little gratitude for being nurtured.

Once their identities were exposed, not only the Holy Spirit Cult, but the soul master factions of the entire continent would become their enemies.

After understanding everything, Ye Ming silently informed Gu Yuena through their spiritual link and told her to prepare.

He stepped forward, quietly shielding Di Ruiqiu and Gu Yuena behind him, and looked straight at Xuan Zi.

"Elder Xuan, if my life alone can save everyone... I'm willing!"

"Hand me over!"

If Xuan Zi truly believed them and intended to hand him over, then he would overturn the table.

The moment he finished speaking, the elderly Xuan Zi felt his heart tremble.

At last, he understood why Mu En valued Ye Ming so highly.

It was not merely his talent, but more importantly, this temperament!

"Boss, no! If we die, we die together!"

"Class Monitor, you can't!"

"Brother Ye, what nonsense are you saying? How could Elder Xuan just watch you die?"

"Enough!" Xuan Zi glared fiercely at Bei Bei and the others. "Is that the kind of person I am in your eyes?"

"Bei Bei, you brat, you still dare to needle me with your words!"

"With this old man here, none of you will die today!"

"I, Xuan Zi, cannot do something like trading my students' lives for my own!"

Bei Bei scratched his head and chuckled.

Xuan Zi looked at Ye Ming and secretly transmitted with soul power, "Kid, this incident is a trap laid by the academy."

"In a moment, this old man will make a move and hold back Zhongli Wu and the two strongest Titled Douluo."

"You will use your trinity martial soul fusion skill to hold off the remaining two Titled Douluo!"

"One incense stick's worth of time! So long as you hold them for one incense stick's worth of time, the Holy Spirit Cult will definitely pay the price!"

"Can you do it?"

There was another twist?

Listening to Xuan Zi's voice transmission in his mind, Ye Ming truly had not expected the academy to have another move prepared.

But since he did not need to overturn the table and could still strike at the Holy Spirit Cult, he was naturally more than willing!

Ye Ming did not answer. He merely nodded lightly.

Above them, Zhongli Wu watched the group inside the soul power barrier cry and laugh, and a trace of impatience flashed through his eyes.

"Old man, are you stalling for time?"

"Elders, attack!!"