Return to Shrek Academy

In the sky, the Shrek group flew at top speed.

Within the group, Huo Yuhao felt a trace of unease. Madam Feng's sudden change in direction had been too abrupt, without any warning. She had not even had time to offer an explanation before leading the entire team into a sharp turn.

Though he trusted Madam Feng's judgment, the feeling of being kept in the dark made him ask, "Madam, why did we suddenly change direction? Did something happen? And where is Master now?"

At the front of the group, Feng Ling's long black hair streamed behind her in the gale of their high-speed flight. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, while her spiritual power continuously covered the area for miles around. Only upon hearing Huo Yuhao's question did she slightly turn her head toward him.

"Yuhao, someone intercepted us along the route we had to take." Her voice was cool and composed, but her tone was filled with gravity. "Their strength was at least Rank 98, and most likely Rank 99. Otherwise, your master, Yan Jingzhe, would not have told us to leave first."

"What? A Rank 99 Limit Douluo?" Ma Xiaotao cried out in alarm.

She was flying near the front of the group and had already been listening closely to the conversation behind her. Upon hearing the words "Limit Douluo," she nearly stumbled in midair.

Dai Yueheng's face also revealed shock.

"A Limit Douluo? Other than Shrek, are there other Limit Douluo on the continent?" Wang Dong was flying farther back, but he had heard every word clearly.

"Master won't be in danger, will he?" Huo Yuhao asked worriedly.

"Don't worry. Your master is also a Limit Douluo now." Feng Ling's steady voice soothed his unease. "And when opponents of the same rank fight, unless both sides are fighting to the death, if one wants to leave, the other cannot keep them behind. Besides, I don't think your master would lose."

Even so, no one in the group was fully at ease.

Their speed did not decrease, but the previously cheerful atmosphere vanished completely. Everyone flew in silence, occasionally turning back to glance in the direction they had come from, as though waiting for something.

About fifteen minutes later, a point of golden light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon behind them.

Even from so far away, it was clearly visible. The golden light moved with incredible speed, closing the distance in just a few breaths and growing from a tiny dot into a flowing mass of radiance.

Before the students could see who it was, Feng Ling had already let out a slight sigh of relief and slowed down, knowing that Yan Jingzhe had caught up.

The golden light stopped beside them, and Yan Jingzhe's figure emerged from within it.

His robes showed no signs of damage. His silver-white hair was somewhat disheveled from the wind, but he appeared perfectly calm, as if he had merely taken a stroll nearby.

Yan Jingzhe swept his gaze over the nervous faces in the group, smiled, and said, "Why are you all staring at me? Keep flying."

"Master, are you all right?" Huo Yuhao was the first to rush over. "Madam said someone intercepted us. Who was that person?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. The person just now was the Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao." Yan Jingzhe patted Huo Yuhao's head. "A Rank 99 Limit Douluo. His Martial Soul is the Dark Sacred Dragon, and he is a senior who became famous long ago."

"The Dragon Emperor Douluo?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes instantly widened. "Martial Uncle, is he the one said to be on equal footing with Elder Mu?"

"Yes, him." Yan Jingzhe nodded.

Dai Yueheng was silent for a while before finally asking, "Then was he targeting us?"

"Not us. More precisely, he was targeting me." Yan Jingzhe did not hide it. "Someone wanted to test me and sent him to probe my strength, so you don't need to worry."

Hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully.

"All right, don't think about it too much." Yan Jingzhe patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Let's return to the academy first. We'll talk after we get back."

The group readjusted its formation, with Yan Jingzhe and Feng Ling flying side by side at the very front.

They encountered no further obstacles along the way. After half a day of travel, the familiar gray walls of Shrek City appeared on the horizon, and only then did the atmosphere in the group truly relax.

Quite a few people stood at the city gates.

From afar, they could see the academy banners fluttering above the city walls. A group of students in academy uniforms, along with several teachers, waited outside the gates.

Standing at the very front were none other than Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department of Shrek Academy, and Xian Lin'er, Vice Dean of the Soul Guidance Department.

The two had come on behalf of the Sea God Pavilion to welcome the champions of this tournament.

When Yan Jingzhe led the group down from the sky, enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted from the crowd. Some held banners that read, "Welcome Home, Champions!" Others had somehow obtained firecrackers and set off a string of them, their crackling filling the air with the scent of smoke and the sound of laughter.

"Brother, Feng Ling, Xiaotao, and children, welcome home." Yan Shaozhe strode forward to greet them.

"Jingzhe, Ling'er, and children, congratulations," Xian Lin'er said from the side.

The two deans shook hands with the Shrek Seven Monsters in turn, then stepped aside with Yan Jingzhe and Feng Ling, giving the stage to Ma Xiaotao and the others.

In an instant, a crowd of Outer Court students rushed forward, filling the air with questions and excitement.

Ma Xiaotao, at the front of the group, was the first to be surrounded. Several lower-year students chattered around her, asking one question after another and looking at her with envy.

At first, Ma Xiaotao maintained the bearing of a champion team captain, but after being encircled by two layers of people, she could no longer keep it up. Laughing, she waved her hands and said, "Keep it low-key, keep it low-key."

Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochan, and the other Inner Court students were also surrounded by crowds, and the reserve team fared no differently.

Yan Jingzhe watched the young students being ushered toward the city, then turned to Xian Lin'er and the others. "Let's go. I need to convene a Sea God Pavilion meeting."

"What happened, Brother?" Yan Shaozhe asked, baffled. "Don't tell me someone really did intercept you on the road?"

"Yes, you guessed correctly. Someone did intercept us. It was the Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao." Yan Jingzhe paused. "After disappearing for so many years, he suddenly resurfaced. He did not come solely because of me. There must be someone behind him, and that faction will not simply send him out once and then stop. The Pavilion Elders need to be prepared."

"Long Xiaoyao? The one said to be on equal footing with Teacher?" Xian Lin'er asked in surprise.

"Yes, him. I'll explain everything in detail at the Sea God Pavilion meeting later," Yan Jingzhe said firmly.

Without further delay, he took the lead and flew toward the Sea God Pavilion, with the other three following close behind.

Upon arriving before the Sea God Pavilion's doors, Yan Jingzhe pushed them open. The main hall on the first floor was empty, but he could sense several familiar auras in the meeting room on the second floor.

They belonged to several Sea God Pavilion Elders, sitting there quietly as though waiting for something.

Yan Jingzhe glanced toward the staircase, stepped forward, and headed straight for the meeting room.