Shrek's Fangs

The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King let out a low growl. He saw the woman standing beside that uninvited guest.

The woman merely raised her head and cast him a cold glance.

His enormous body gradually shrank. By the time he landed on the ground, he had already taken the form of a middle-aged man.

A lock of golden hair fell over his face as Di Tian dropped to one knee. "My Lord."

Tang Wulin had been leisurely sizing him up when Di Tian suddenly raised his head. Two golden beams shot forth, striking at Tang Wulin's sea of spirit.

Tang Wulin's pupils narrowed into slits. With a cold snort, the majesty of a higher dragon clan burst forth, and the two golden beams instantly shattered.

The next instant, Tang Wulin sent Di Tian flying with a single blow.

His solid body crashed through an entire stretch of forest before barely coming to a stop.

A trace of shock flashed across Di Tian's face.

Now, he had no choice but to admit that this man could truly be considered another Golden Dragon King.

If he possessed the origin of divine power and attained godhood, he would not be weaker than the Golden Dragon King at his peak!

Involuntarily, he looked toward Gu Yue standing beside the man. Gu Yue's pale silver eyes swept over him; they too were vertical pupils.

His Lord was angry. Di Tian's heart jolted, and he knelt once more.

Gu Yue took a step forward. A terrifying pressure descended directly upon Di Tian. He lowered his head even further, cold sweat seeping from his brow.

"Didn't I tell you not to pry?" Her voice was icy. It was not loud, yet it struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

Di Tian had grievances he could not voice.

"Didn't I tell you not to meddle in my affairs?" Gu Yue shouted. Di Tian spat out a mouthful of blood and prostrated himself on the ground.

Gu Yue sharply waved her hand. Di Tian had come in haste and left in haste, hurled directly out of the core region once more. Her furious voice carried into the distance—

"If there's a next time—I'll skin you all alive!"

Birds and beasts scattered in fright.

Gu Yue turned back to look at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin sighed softly. "Your family hates me now."

Gu Yue snorted. "They have no right to comment on my affairs."

Tang Wulin took her hand. "I should go."

Gu Yue nodded. "I'll go with you."

"Alright."

Shrek City.

Bright, warm radiance spilled down. A woman in a white dress floated in the air, feathered wings unfurling behind her one by one. An angel appeared at her back, embracing forward as though holding her in its arms.

Compassion filled the woman's face as she chanted softly. Battle armor covered her body, gleaming with pure white light. Ring after ring of healing halos washed away the panic and pain brought by the terrifying attack.

Warm motes of light gathered around her. With a gentle wave of her hand, they drifted into every home, soothing the unease and terror in people's hearts.

The motes fell upon Shrek Academy, seeping into the bodies of its teachers and students and restoring their strength.

The continent's foremost healing-type Soul Master once again displayed her supreme healing ability.

A figure appeared beside her and said softly, "Don't overexert yourself."

With a beat of her wings, the gentle power receded slightly. Yali smiled softly. "I'm fine, Brother Ming."

Dark clouds filled Yun Ming's brow. "I wonder when he'll return."

Yali said softly, "It shouldn't be too long."

As she spoke, a streak of golden light flashed past.

Yun Ming raised his brow. "Perfect timing. Be careful not to exhaust yourself. I'll go find him."

Yali nodded. After Yun Ming left, she continued releasing her domain and healing the land.

When Tang Wulin returned, he first observed Shrek City.

Although the Holy Spirit Cult's assault had been massive this time, under the protection of the defensive barrier, most areas of the city had not been directly affected.

Godslayer had not struck Shrek directly due to the Golden Ancient Tree's obstruction. However, its radiation still lingered above Shrek Academy, intertwined with the Golden Ancient Tree's remaining power.

Overall, the Holy Spirit Cult had suffered a severe blow this time, while Shrek City had been preserved. Next, it was time for Shrek to strike back.

After the Golden Ancient Tree burned, only half of a withered stump remained on the island, standing desolately at the heart of Sea God Island. Yet the vast network of roots beneath the ground still dutifully supported the island.

Tang Wulin stroked its dried trunk, his heart overflowing with sorrow and regret.

"Just in time." Yun Ming appeared beside him. "Let's hold a meeting."

Tang Wulin lowered his hand, took a step back, and gave the withered trunk a deep bow. Then he straightened. "Let's go."

The Sea God Pavilion had collapsed along with the burning of the Golden Ancient Tree.

Several elders of the Sea God Pavilion whose injuries were relatively light had moved to a courtyard somewhere on Sea God Island. They planned to hold the meeting there.

"Everyone is here." Yun Ming swept his gaze over those present and waved a hand. A thin barrier sealed off the inside from the outside.

His expression was icy. "Then let's properly discuss our plans for what comes next."

The political world had been turned upside down.

When the Holy Spirit Cult used two Godslayers to bombard Shrek, the chairman knew he was finished.

When Godslayer failed to destroy Shrek Academy, the military knew they would soon be finished too.

And Shrek did not disappoint them.

Yun Ming and Long Yeyue personally paid visits to the homes of the military's top brass, knocking on their doors one by one. They forced the members of the Upper House to remain silent about Shrek's upcoming actions.

Under pressure from the Tang Sect and Shrek, the Lower House dissolved and held new elections. Related news flooded the media.

The Upper House also resigned to take responsibility and underwent a reshuffle. In their minds, it was merely going through the motions. Once the uproar died down, they could return to their positions without a care.

Yet as the elections began, the hawks in the Upper House could no longer sit still—because Shrek broke from convention and directly intervened in the election, putting forward its own representatives for seats in parliament.

"This! Patriarch! Are we supposed to keep yielding at a time like this?!"

The man seated at the head lowered his eyes to the list of Shrek's candidates and let out a faint sigh. "The trend is already set. Preserve our own interests as much as possible. Don't make any unnecessary moves."

"...Yes."

Similar decisions were being made within other families as well.

Of course, the Upper House had deep roots and tangled interests built up over many years. Shrek was a newcomer, so things could not possibly go smoothly for it.

To successfully obtain a certain number of seats, Shrek ceded part of its autonomy and voluntarily disbanded its military forces, though it retained the right to military defense.

At the same time, Heaven Dou's governor, Mo Wu, displayed unprecedented firmness in supporting Shrek and the Tang Sect. He pushed the wavering factions among the doves to accept Shrek and the Tang Sect, providing them with a measure of campaign assistance.

Afterward, as the vast Lower House general election concluded, the Upper House would also be reconstituted.

With support from the doves, concessions from the hawks, and years of groundwork among the neutral faction, Shrek and the Tang Sect, after lying dormant for twenty thousand years, finally emerged from behind the political curtain. As an entirely new force, they entered the political arena.

The Federation News reported:

[We were extremely fortunate to interview Pavilion Master Yun Ming. When our reporter asked why the Sea God Pavilion had made a choice vastly different from the teachings of the previous generation of Shrek Academy.]

[Pavilion Master Yun Ming answered, "If gentleness cannot bring peace, then we do not mind showing our fangs."]

[Special Commentator (Anonymous): Shrek and the Tang Sect have always stood together. Now that both sides have seized this opportunity to enter the political arena and gain political influence, this is undoubtedly a challenge and blow to the Federation's existing political structure. Even the powerful hawks will have to reconsider their proposals and positions when facing the two behemoths that are Shrek and the Tang Sect.]

[As two forces that have never appeared in the Federation's political history, what changes will they bring? And where will the Federation's future lead? Perhaps a new turning point in history begins at this very moment.]