Life Tree

A month had passed since Shrek Academy suffered the terrorist attack.

Everything had temporarily come to an end.

The vast Sea God Lake was calm and serene.

The newborn morning sun hung at an angle, casting golden light across the water and making the surface shimmer.

A deep, solemn bell tolled. It was as though some force had been stirred in the sky; streams of light spiraled down from above and descended upon Sea God Lake.

An enormous flower emerged beneath Sea God Island, like a pedestal supporting the entire island. Its petals spread and extended, while smaller flowers bloomed across Sea God Lake, releasing a faint, delicate fragrance.

Soft chants surrounded Shrek Academy. Everyone who remained within the academy, regardless of status or strength, involuntarily sensed the sorrow contained within that singing.

They subconsciously raised their heads and gazed toward Sea God Island.

A voice rang throughout Shrek Academy. "Please proceed to Sea God Lake."

Those from the Outer Court and Inner Court, teachers and students alike, turned into streaks of light and flew over, landing along the lakeshore.

Gradually, more and more people gathered by the lake.

The previously gentle chant suddenly became vast and majestic. In an instant, the entire sky was dyed a brilliant gold. An angelic statue descended above Sea God Island, wings unfurling behind it one feather at a time, radiating a faint halo that obscured its face. It raised a hand and supported a breathtakingly beautiful woman. She gently waved her hand, and a rain of light fell from the sky, nourishing them. At that moment, whether their Spirit Seas had been shaken or their bodies wounded, all recovered rapidly beneath the full radiance of the Holy Spirit Douluo's domain.

Yun Ming's voice rang out once more. "Please step onto Sea God Lake."

They did as instructed and stepped onto the flowers.

"The Golden Ancient Tree, which protected Shrek Academy for twenty thousand years, has fallen," Yun Ming said, his tone heavy with grief.

Everyone's gaze focused on the island at the center of Sea God Lake.

The island remained as vast as ever, but unlike before, it had lost the canopy that once covered the sky and the branches that had hung down from it. Everything familiar to them had vanished. At the center of the island, only a massive trunk remained, charred and withered, faintly displaying the scale of its former splendor.

Yun Ming stood shoulder to shoulder with Ya Li. In a deep voice, he said, "Before it fell, it left behind a seed of rebirth for Shrek. We have summoned you here today to witness this moment! From this day onward, Shrek will embark upon rebirth. We will wash away our humiliation with blood!"

As his voice fell, the golden light in the sky quietly receded, replaced by flamboyant Green-Gold. Wild life force poured down like a cascading waterfall, charging recklessly toward the withered trunk.

Yun Ming raised a hand and let out a long howl. The power of a peak Ultimate Douluo of the present era erupted in full, and milky white radiance flowed into the life waterfall. The withered trunk seemed to show signs of lighting up.

Deep yet clear dragon roars sounded at the same time. The Dragon Kings of light and darkness circled beside the life waterfall, their powers intertwining and adding new strength to it.

Ya Li, standing beside Yun Ming, also spread her arms as though embracing something. The angel's pure power stirred the laws of heaven and earth, and the life waterfall grew increasingly solid.

One powerful aura after another poured into the life waterfall. The withered trunk gradually shed its scorched blackness, and flecks of golden light began to glow upon it.

"Teachers and students of Shrek Academy!" Yun Ming shouted. "Join us!"

At his command, streams of power poured into the waterfall as well.

Although their strength could not compare to that of the Sea God Pavilion's elders, every one of them gave their all.

As the life waterfall continued to flow in, the remaining branches of the Golden Ancient Tree grew increasingly bright, restoring their original color. In the end, they actually began to disintegrate within the power of life!

It was not only the trunk that disintegrated. The immense root system also melted away under the power of life. The entire Sea God Island shook violently. Having lost the support of the Golden Ancient Tree's branches and roots, Sea God Island was like a structure stripped of its foundation. It suddenly sank, and the waters of Sea God Lake instantly flooded its lowlands.

Fortunately, that flower supported it.

The enormous pink flower bloomed with dazzling light. Its seemingly soft petals forcibly bore the weight of the entire Sea God Island. If anyone had spared the attention to investigate the flow of heaven and earth spiritual energy, they would have discovered that part of the condensed power within the life waterfall had been borrowed by the huge flower to prevent Sea God Island from falling.

Specks of golden light rose into the air. The last remaining roots and trunk of the Golden Ancient Tree finally dissolved into the life waterfall.

Yet they did not disappear.

A power of an extraordinarily high level descended from the heavens, passing through the life waterfall and the specks of golden light created by the Golden Ancient Tree's disintegration, before crashing fiercely into the very center of Sea God Island.

As the intertwined Blue-Gold and Green-Gold power rose, an impassioned dragon roar echoed through the clouds. A Golden Dragon soared into the sky and roared toward the heavens.

Beneath its roar, the flower abruptly pushed upward. Supported by the flower, the previously sinking Sea God Island returned to its original position. The waters of Sea God Lake surged, and waves suddenly rose across the once-calm surface.

The petals swayed, leaving the people standing upon them slightly unsteady. The Golden Dragon gave a low roar, and the lake returned to calm in an instant.

Blue-Gold radiance gradually replaced the Green-Gold. A small tree sprouted and grew. Before long, it became larger and larger, its roots burrowing ever deeper as they gradually took over the Golden Ancient Tree's former position.

It grew quickly, and the life waterfall was depleted just as quickly. By the time a canopy of shade spread open, the life waterfall was already close to running dry.

The Golden Dragon shrank and transformed into human form, nodding toward Yun Ming.

Yun Ming pushed forward with both hands, and everyone's connection to the life waterfall was severed.

Looking at the Life Tree, which appeared far smaller than the Golden Ancient Tree, Yun Ming still smiled.

Tang Wulin raised a hand and clenched the air. All the golden light produced by the Golden Ancient Tree's disintegration was drawn into his hand, condensing into a crystal sphere.

Yun Ming descended onto Sea God Island and addressed everyone. "The Life Tree has successfully taken root. Thank you all for your efforts."

"The Holy Spirit Cult stole two Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Projectiles and bombarded Shrek City, intending to destroy us, but they failed!" Yun Ming declared loudly. "Our Shrek Academy is no soft target for others to bully! I, Yun Ming, the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion, hereby declare war on the Holy Spirit Cult—until one side is dead!"

Driven by Yun Ming's peak Spirit Domain Realm spiritual power, even the laws of heaven and earth were stirred. Heavenly thunder rumbled overhead. The teachers and students of Shrek had also been holding back their anger for the past month. They raised their hands alongside Yun Ming and shouted, "Until one side is dead!"

The elders of the Sea God Pavilion descended behind Yun Ming, Tang Wulin among them.

At that moment, the sunlight was perfect, and the blazing sun burned brightly.

Behind them, the new tree sprouted fresh branches from the old foundation.