Shangling City, Yuanen Family

At this point, the Star Dou Forest should have been called the Star Dou Fortress.

It resembled a military stronghold, with towering walls and comprehensive entertainment facilities inside.

"What is that..." Qian Renxue could not help asking as she looked at the high walls.

"That is the Spirit Pagoda's Star Dou Fortress." Seeing that this was Qian Renxue's first time encountering the Star Dou Fortress, Mu Hongchen explained directly. "Ever since the Ferocious Beasts of the Star Dou Forest's core region suffered a crushing defeat in a great battle three thousand years ago, the Spirit Pagoda took the opportunity to build this fortress and reached an agreement with the Ferocious Beasts. Humans would no longer continue cutting down the forest, while the Ferocious Beasts would live here.

If the Ferocious Beasts rashly attacked the human defensive line, humans had the right to kill them. If humans entered the forest, the Ferocious Beasts could kill them as well, unaffected by the agreement.

On the surface, the two sides seemed equal. But when the Star Dou Fortress was truly completed after centuries of construction, the core region of the Star Dou Forest became a genuine prison."

"The truth is, the leader of the soul beasts, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, was stupid. Humans do not keep their promises, let alone care about feelings." Yin Hongye spoke without restraint. "There is not even one hundred percent sincerity between humans. And you expected it between humans and beasts?"

Outside the Heavenly Screen, Di Tian looked at the scene, raised his right hand, and slapped himself across the face. The crisp sound echoed through the Star Dou Forest's core region.

Bi Ji beside him froze for a moment, unable to stop him in time.

Di Tian's face reddened, and a clear handprint appeared on it. Yet his eyes remained fixed on the Heavenly Screen, its high wall and prison reflected in his golden pupils—the agreement his future self had personally signed.

"I was actually this stupid in the future..."

Bi Ji reached out and pressed a hand gently against his shoulder, as lightly as a fallen leaf.

"Di Tian... Humans are simply too despicable."

"No, I fell for humanity's trick." Di Tian cut her off, his voice rising another notch. "I actually failed to see through humanity's scheme."

"Di Tian, enough. Since we know the future, humans cannot be trusted!" The Silver Dragon King spoke at last, the image of the high walls reflected in her dragon eyes.

"Yes, my lord." Di Tian answered respectfully.

Within the Heavenly Screen, Qian Renxue looked at the high walls and frowned slightly.

Had humanity's strength in this era already reached such an unimaginable level? In her time, the center of the Star Dou Forest had been almost untouchable.

"These Ferocious Beasts have been suppressed for three thousand years. Haven't they resisted?"

"They did, but they could not defeat humanity." Yin Hongye's voice was calm. "We also have Level Twelve Soul Tools. Their power is immense."

"Is it as powerful as the Blood Sea you unleashed in Shrek City two years ago?" Mu Hongchen could not help teasing him.

"Only half the city died." Yin Hongye was utterly unconcerned. "Didn't they all come back to life in the end?"

"If the Holy Spirit Douluo had not been there, those souls would have been torn apart by your Blood Sea and would never have had any chance of revival."

Mu Hongchen spoke bluntly. "In the end, even the Federation did not dare let you use your domains anymore. If it was not blood, it was fire, and otherwise, slaughter."

"Even without using my Battle Armor domain, innate domain, or spiritual domain, I am still invincible among those of the same rank." Yin Hongye's tone was confident.

He gave the high wall one last look. The metal walls were more than a foot thick, with energy defenses inside as well.

It looked rather fragile, but there were no Evil Soul Masters around. He was somewhat puzzled.

The twin swords born alongside his Martial Soul were sharp enough to cut through metal like tofu.

Hopefully, he would someday get a chance to fully unleash his domains. The range would not be that large—just half a city.

"Let's go. There is nothing worth seeing here."

Yin Hongye had no interest in this place. Di Tian himself was not resisting, after all.

If he ever truly fell out with the Spirit Pagoda, the only people left in it whom he could kill would be Limit Douluos.

Before long, they crossed a tall mountain. The area was surrounded by mountain ranges, lush with vegetation, and the environment had been well protected.

The moment they entered Shangling City, the air noticeably became much fresher, and even the sky seemed bluer.

Yin Hongye looked around and found that the karmic burden here was not particularly excessive. He directly asked Qian Renxue, "Is there an Evil God aura below?"

He knew that the Angel Martial Soul could judge whether a Martial Soul was good or evil. Of course, that ability was not particularly useful. Yue Zhengyu had directly called Yuanen Yehui an Evil Soul Master, yet she had never devoured a single person from beginning to end.

"Yes." Qian Renxue answered immediately, confusion in her eyes. She could sense dark auras even within Shrek Academy. There were more people here, so should the chances of encountering Soul Masters with dark attributes not be even higher?

"It's in that direction! A very dark aura." She pointed in one direction. It was not the bustling city center, but the western outskirts.

Mu Hongchen took out a Soul Tool and observed the distance. "That seems to be a village. Are there Evil Soul Masters inside?"

"I'm not sure. Let's take a look. I do not sense much karmic burden either. They probably merely awakened evil Martial Souls but have not cultivated through evil methods."

Yin Hongye explained, "There should be no danger. We are all at least Soul Sages, and with me here, there is no danger."

In truth, whether there was danger or not, Yin Hongye himself was the greatest danger.

Before long, their aircraft landed before the village. It was nestled between mountains and water, backed by vast stretches of dense forest. It had the air of an isolated paradise.

Soon, a tall, steady-looking man emerged. It was Yuanen Tiandang, before he had experienced his wife's death.

The young patriarch of the Yuanen Family.

When he saw the group arrive, he first asked where they had come from, then asked their purpose.

When he heard the name Yin Hongye, he froze.

"Red Lotus Douluo, Yin Hongye?"

"That's me." Yin Hongye nodded without denying it. "You must be the Yuanen Family's young patriarch, Yuanen Tiandang—the genius who became a Titled Douluo at twenty-four."

Outside the Heavenly Screen, a group of people blinked. This man had become a Titled Douluo at twenty-four, so why was Shrek Academy so weak that its students had not even become Soul Douluos by thirty?

Was it not the number one academy of the future? Was it misleading its students?

Every faction began to doubt Shrek Academy. Something about this felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment before cursing outright, "It must be because those people failed to properly inherit my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Otherwise, every one of them would be stronger than Yin Hongye."

The other members of the first generation of Shrek remained silent, already faintly sensing that something was wrong.

Yuanen Tiandang nodded. By this time, he was already a Super Douluo. He had heard of the Red Lotus Douluo, who had attacked the Spirit Pagoda headquarters as soon as he emerged.

Twin swords flashed forth, splitting wind and clouds, while boundless killing intent swallowed the Sun Moon.

Red lotuses bloomed beneath each step, and ten miles of city streets congealed into bloody tracks.

Where his sword edge reached, none survived; one drop of blood stained the soul beyond salvation.

With fluttering sleeves, he strode straight into the Spirit Pagoda, every floor dyed a lurid crimson.

His cold blade swept back and forth, shattering layer upon layer of halls; baleful aura shot into the heavens and shook the nine stars.

He crushed a thousand obstacles beneath his feet, an Asura clad in crimson and blue.

That was how some described the events of that day. His killing intent was immense, and his strength terrifying.

Killing star and madman were no longer enough to describe him.

"Why have you come?"

"Passing through and paying a visit. That is not too much, is it?"

Yuanen Tiandang nodded. "It is not. Are you leaving tomorrow?"

"We will not stay long. According to the itinerary, we will leave tomorrow." Yin Hongye nodded. If he had not encountered this place, then it would only have meant his luck was bad.

But his luck had always been good.

"Good. No problem. Come with me. I will arrange accommodations for you." Yuanen Tiandang let out a sigh of relief. Just one night—there would be no problem.