Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell

The piercing red alarm tore through the morning calm of Shrek Academy like an icy blade slicing through the air. The Eternal Tree unfurled a dazzling emerald-green curtain of light, as though the heavens had overturned, firmly shielding the entire academy at its center. The academy-protecting formation operated at full force, and the air was thick with killing intent and tension. The instructors activated Martial Soul Possession in full, Soul Rings circling them as they rushed to their assigned areas in combat formations. Under orderly direction, the students evacuated toward safe zones, their footsteps neat and uniform, though unable to conceal the anxiety and unease in their hearts.

The news that the Holy Spirit Cult intended to destroy Shrek hung over everyone like dark clouds, while Tang Wulin's mention of "Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells" made Yun Ming, an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, grim beyond measure.

They were forbidden weapons capable of slaying Titled Douluo and reducing an entire city to ash, devastating armaments expressly banned across the continent. If three Level-12 shells detonated at once, even with the Eternal Tree's protection, Shrek would inevitably be left strewn with corpses and shattered ruins.

Yun Ming's urgent gaze landed on Tang Wulin, his voice heavy as iron. "Young friend, since you know of this conspiracy, do you know where exactly the shells are hidden?"

Tang Wulin closed his eyes, and his heart suddenly clenched.

The earth-shattering explosion from his previous life detonated once more in the depths of his soul. Flames soared into the sky, teaching buildings crumbled, training grounds collapsed, familiar figures vanished into the sea of fire, and countless desperate cries pierced his bones. He would never forget those blackened ruins, never forget the years of blood and tears spent leading the survivors to rebuild Shrek brick by brick, never forget the regret and helplessness carved into his marrow through every sleepless night.

His nails dug deeply into his palms, and the pain dragged him back from those agonizing memories.

When he opened his eyes again, only absolute calm and determination remained in his golden pupils. There was not a trace of fear, only the resolve to protect them even at the cost of his life.

"Elder, the three Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells are hidden in the underground pipes beneath the Outer Academy training grounds, deep in the foundation of the main teaching building, and at a concealed energy node north of the Sea God Pavilion." Tang Wulin's voice was clear and steady, every word carrying undeniable certainty. "The underground pipes are narrow. The fuses have dual Soul Power and spiritual-power triggers, and there is also a backup self-destruction mechanism for evil soul masters. One wrong touch, and they will detonate instantly."

Yun Ming sucked in a cold breath, his expression growing even heavier. "Good. This old man will personally lead the team and remove them at once!"

"I'm going too."

A cool voice rang out as Gu Yue stepped forward and stood beside Tang Wulin. Her silver-gray hair fluttered softly in the wind, while six elements flowed soundlessly around her. Beneath her calm gaze lay killing intent sealed in ice. She did not care about the shells or the Holy Spirit Cult. She only cared that the boy beside her could not suffer the slightest harm.

At that moment, a clear yet panicked voice hurried over from afar.

"Brother! Sister Gu Yue!"

The girl's voice was clean and gentle, like thawing ice and snow in early spring, filled with undisguised worry.

Tang Wulin's heart stirred, and he immediately turned his head.

A petite white figure came running toward them. The girl had soft silver hair, fair skin, and crystal-clear eyes. It was Na'er. She had run in such a hurry that her little face was flushed, and the loose strands over her forehead were damp with sweat. The moment she saw Tang Wulin, her eyes lit up, only to quickly cloud with unease.

"Brother, the academy alarm went off. I was so worried about you." Na'er hurried to Tang Wulin's side and instinctively grabbed his sleeve, her small body leaning slightly against him in utter dependence. "I heard people say there was danger. Is it really scary?"

Tang Wulin's heart softened instantly.

In his previous life, Na'er had endured countless twists and turns and suffered the pain of separation, eventually merging with Gu Yuena and becoming a regret he could never let go of. But in this life, he swore that he would never let her suffer even the slightest grievance again, never let her disappear, and never let her be dragged into meaningless sacrifice.

He immediately softened his tone and gently patted Na'er's head, his voice so tender it seemed to drip with warmth. "Don't be afraid, Na'er. With Brother here, there's no danger at all."

"But..." Na'er raised her head and looked at the solemn Yun Ming, then at Gu Yue, whose aura was icy cold. Her little face was full of unease. "I don't want to be separated from Brother. I want to stay by Brother's side."

Gu Yue gave Na'er a faint glance. Rather than rejecting her, she nodded slightly.

She could sense the bloodline bond between the girl and Tang Wulin, and she could also see that Na'er was one of the softest vulnerabilities in the boy's heart.

Tang Wulin pondered for a moment.

The situation was perilous. The Level-12 shells could detonate at any time. Leaving Na'er in the safe zone would certainly be more secure, but separating from him would only frighten her more. Moreover, Na'er possessed exceptionally deep bloodline power herself. In a crisis, she might not be without the means to protect herself.

More importantly, in this life, he wanted Na'er to live forever in the sunlight, forever accompanied by family, rather than being pushed away and forgotten time and again.

"Alright." Tang Wulin gently took Na'er's little hand. "Na'er, stay by Brother's side. Don't run around, and hold on tight to me, understand?"

"Mm!" Na'er nodded vigorously. A relieved smile immediately appeared on her little face as her small hand tightly clasped Tang Wulin's, unwilling to let go for even a moment.

Watching this scene, Yun Ming's aged face softened slightly before gravity overtook it again. "There is no time to waste. We will first head to the underground pipes beneath the Outer Academy training grounds. That shell is closest to the student activity area. If anything happens, the consequences will be unimaginable."

As his words fell, vast Soul Power suddenly spread out, gently yet irresistibly enveloping Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Na'er.

Four figures turned into streaks of light, tearing across the sky as they flew straight toward the Outer Academy training grounds.

In only a few breaths, they had landed.

The training grounds, once bustling with voices and brimming with vitality, were now completely empty. The ground was flat and still, yet Tang Wulin could clearly sense that ten meters underground, a heart-palpitating aura of destruction lay coiled like a venomous snake, ready to rise and devour someone at any moment.

"It's down there." Tang Wulin crouched and lightly pressed his right hand against the ground. The Golden Dragon King's Bloodline Power seeped silently into the earth like fine threads, causing not the slightest disturbance while clearly projecting everything inside the underground pipe into his mind.

The black shell was firmly fixed in the center of the pipe, its surface covered in strange dark-red patterns. Four fuses as thin as hairs were tangled together like a spiderweb, respectively linked to a Soul Power trigger, a spiritual-power trigger, an evil soul master's self-destruction mechanism, and the shell's core detonation point.

One wrong step in the sequence would mean being blown to pieces.

In his previous life, it was precisely this shell that had caused the entire training ground to collapse. More than a hundred students doing morning exercises had died on the spot, leaving one of the most agonizing scars in his heart when he rebuilt Shrek.

Tang Wulin's fingertips trembled slightly. Pain flashed through his eyes, only to be replaced by an iron-like will.

"I'll go down and dismantle it." He stood, his tone calm but unwavering.

"No!" Na'er immediately tightened her grip on his hand, her little face turning pale in an instant. "Brother, it's too dangerous down there. It could explode! I don't want Brother to go down!"

The girl's voice carried a sob as her clear eyes reddened instantly, tears gathering in her sockets. She did not know what a Level-12 shell was, but she knew what "danger" and "explosion" meant. She only knew that she could not let her brother take such a risk.

Warmth filled Tang Wulin's heart. He bent down and gently wiped away the moisture at the corner of her eye, smiling with gentleness and reassurance. "Be good, Na'er. Brother is very strong. Nothing will happen. Brother has to dismantle the bad thing to protect Shrek, protect Na'er, and protect everyone. Right?"

"But..." Na'er bit her lip, still unwilling to let go.

Gu Yue stepped forward. Rare gentleness appeared in her silver-gray eyes as she looked at Na'er. "With me here, he won't die."

Five simple words, yet they were the Silver Dragon King's most overbearing promise.

Na'er looked at Gu Yue, and for some reason, a trace of trust arose in her heart. This cool elder sister possessed a power that made her feel safe, as though so long as she was here, Brother would definitely be unharmed.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath and no longer hesitated.

He restrained his Soul Power and Bloodline Power to the utmost limit, suppressing his aura until it was even weaker than an ordinary person's to avoid triggering the fuses. With a light flick of his fingertip, a faint golden gleam sliced through the ground, exposing an opening only large enough for one person to pass through. The dark underground pipe was bottomless, radiating a cold and dangerous aura.

"Na'er, wait here for Brother and be good."

"Mm..." Na'er nodded softly, but her little hand still clutched the hem of his clothes, reluctant to let go.

Tang Wulin gently patted the back of her hand, then turned and leaped into the underground pipe.

Outside the opening, Yun Ming fully activated his Soul Power to create an absolutely sealed barrier, cutting off all outside interference. Not even a flying insect could approach. Gu Yue stood at the very front of the opening, her silver-gray eyes fixed on the depths of the darkness. Six elements spiraled around her as she prepared to use divine power to withstand the explosion head-on at any moment. Even if she had to pay a price, she would protect Tang Wulin without fail.

Na'er pressed tightly against Gu Yue's side, her small hands clenched into fists and her little face full of tension. She murmured softly, "Brother, good luck. Brother, be safe..."

Inside the underground pipe, it was dim, narrow, and icy cold.

Tang Wulin slowly approached the black Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell, each step as light as a feather touching the ground. His spiritual power spread out completely, firmly locking onto the four fuses. His breathing was as steady as if he were asleep, while his heart beat steadily in his chest.

During the countless days and nights of rebuilding Shrek in his previous life, he had studied shell fragments over and over, engraving the detonation structure, dismantling sequence, and weaknesses of the mechanisms into his bones. This was his unique advantage, one no one else could replace.

The first fuse—Soul Power trigger.

The second fuse—spiritual-power trigger.

The third fuse—evil soul master's self-destruction mechanism.

The fourth fuse—core detonation point.

The order could not be wrong under any circumstances.

He slowly extended his right hand. His fingertips trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the pain of his previous life that he was suppressing. The Golden Dragon King's bloodline flowed as gently as water, wrapping around the first fuse and peeling it away from the mechanism bit by bit with the softest, most precise movements.

One second, two seconds, ten seconds...

Time seemed to stretch infinitely.

Outside the opening, Na'er held her breath so tensely that her small body trembled slightly. Gu Yue's fingers curled faintly, the elemental fluctuations around her minute to the extreme, yet she remained on maximum alert. Yun Ming did not blink, his Soul Power ready at all times to handle any accident.

Inside the pipe, fine beads of sweat covered Tang Wulin's forehead, sliding down his jaw and falling silently to the ground.

The first fuse was successfully removed.

The second was safely taken off.

The third, the evil soul master's self-destruction mechanism, was completely severed.

The instant he gently removed the final core fuse with his fingertips, the dark-red patterns on the shell went out at once, and that suffocating aura of destruction receded like the tide.

It was done.

Tang Wulin let out a long breath of stale air. His taut mind finally relaxed, and his back was already soaked with sweat. He looked up toward the opening, a relieved and gentle smile appearing in his golden eyes.

He had protected it.

He had protected the training grounds, protected this land that should never have been stained with blood, and protected the lives lost in his previous life.

"I'm fine."

His voice drifted softly out through the opening.

The next second, Na'er's eyes instantly lit up. All the tension on her little face vanished, replaced by a brilliant, relieved smile. She nearly jumped up. "Brother is fine! Brother is amazing!"

The tightly coiled elemental power around Gu Yue gradually settled. A faint warmth flickered through her silver-gray eyes, and the tension at the corner of her lips relaxed almost imperceptibly.

Yun Ming let out a long breath, genuine relief appearing on his aged face. "Good... wonderful!"

Tang Wulin picked up the completely disabled black shell and leaped out through the opening, landing steadily on the ground. Sunlight fell over him, gilding the boy's figure with a warm golden glow.

The moment he landed, Na'er rushed into his arms. She buried her little head against his chest, both delighted and terrified after the fact, her voice soft and sweet. "Brother, I was so worried about you... You're not allowed to go somewhere so dangerous again."

Tang Wulin smiled and held her, gently patting her back. "Alright, I'll listen to Na'er."

Gu Yue walked forward, her gaze falling on the discarded shell as she spoke coolly. "There are still two more."

Yun Ming nodded, his expression turning serious again. "Correct. Before the Holy Spirit Cult can make its move, we must remove every danger. Not one can remain!"

Tang Wulin securely picked up Na'er and let her sit in the crook of his arm, protecting her with one hand while naturally moving closer to Gu Yue with the other. The boy's aura was warm and steady, the girl's was cool and powerful, and the little girl between them smiled with curved eyes, dependent and at ease.

Of the three Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells, one had been dismantled.

The sea of flames and ruins from his previous life had been completely rewritten in this one.

Tang Wulin raised his head and looked toward Shrek Academy in the morning light, an undying flame burning in his golden eyes.

From this moment onward, the Holy Spirit Cult's conspiracy had already failed.

Shrek would not fall, its teachers and students would not die, Na'er would not disappear, and Gu Yue would not leave.

Every regret would be made whole.

All darkness would be crushed.

He lowered his head and looked at Na'er smiling peacefully in his arms, then at Gu Yue beside him, whose gaze had never left him. A gentle yet resolute curve rose at the corner of his lips.

"Let's go dismantle the rest."

"Mm!"

"Alright."

Three figures—one warm, one cool, one innocent—walked side by side through the morning light, racing toward the next danger.

Shrek's fate had already turned completely toward fulfillment and light from the moment they stood side by side.