Prelude to Shrek Academy's Destruction

Shrek Academy

"All right, Shaozhe, tell us about the current situation."

Song Lao's voice carried an exhaustion she could not hide. After all, with something like this happening, Shrek Academy had reached a critical moment of life and death. It would have been strange if she were not exhausted.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, several elders sat around together. An oppressive silence filled the air; after all, this was the first time they had fought a battle like this.

"The current situation is that the four great empires have simultaneously dispatched troops against us. The Sun Moon Empire, Star Luo Empire, Dou Ling Empire, and Heaven Dou Empire have assembled their forces, with Shrek City as their target. The good news is that Du Busi and the Body Sect will not be coming for the time being."

The intelligence Yan Shaozhe had produced had not been gathered by them. It had been delivered by the other side willingly, because before such terrifying armies, Shrek Academy could do nothing.

"That really is good news."

Xian Lin'er leaned back in her chair. She did not think much of the regular armies of the four great empires. In this world, high-level combat power was the key to determining victory or defeat.

But when it came to the number of peak experts, only the Sun Moon Empire could surpass Shrek. As for the other three empires, they were merely insignificant cannon fodder making up the numbers.

However, Yan Shaozhe's next words were like a bucket of ice water, pouring directly over the hope she had just begun to feel.

"The bad news is that Du Busi intends to come together with the four great empires."

"Pfft!" Xian Lin'er spat out a mouthful of tea. "Damn it! Yan Shaozhe, are you sick or something? How the hell is that good news?!"

She pointed at Yan Shaozhe's nose, trembling with rage. "You just said Du Busi wasn't coming, then immediately said he was coming with the four great empires? Are you messing with me? What was that good news supposed to be, a bad joke? In the end, isn't Du Busi still coming?!"

If the situation had not been so dire that they could not afford internal conflict, she would have rushed over and beaten up this bastard who spoke in such maddening pauses.

The more Xian Lin'er thought about it, the angrier she became. The surrounding pavilion elders exchanged looks, their faces full of helplessness. Yan Shaozhe's way of speaking really did make him deserve a beating.

"All right, this is not the time for arguing." Lin Lao tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention. Her gaze swept over the group before settling on Yan Shaozhe. "Say it plainly. How many people can we use?"

"The only ones who can be considered combat power are the inner court students."

As soon as those words were spoken, the entire Sea God Pavilion fell silent.

After hearing that, Lin Lao felt the world spin around her and nearly failed to brace herself against the table.

Even if all the inner court students were counted, there were fewer than a thousand of them. Yet the Sun Moon Empire's four great legions alone had roughly four hundred thousand soldiers.

And that was only the Sun Moon Empire. Add in the Star Luo Empire, the Dou Ling Empire, and the Heaven Dou Empire... Dear heavens, just thinking about that number made her want to run away.

"Is there any possibility that we don't fight?"

Qian Duoduo slumped in his chair, his face filled with despair. He had always been an optimistic man, but at this moment, he truly could not see any hope.

The gap in combat strength was simply too obvious. It was not something a few powerful experts could make up for. Besides, not everyone was Xu Feng, that madman who could lead eight hundred men and smash through the enemy ranks.

And this time, their opponent was Xu Feng—the Xu Feng who had once slaughtered enemies on the battlefield until they fled at the mere mention of his name, and who now stood against them.

"Impossible." Yan Shaozhe shook his head. He did not want to fight either, but it was impossible. "Xuan Zi died easily enough, leaving this entire mess for us."

He wanted nothing more than to rush into Star Luo City, dig up Xuan Zi's corpse, and whip it. You may have died easily, but did you know that by provoking the four great empires, you forced all of Shrek Academy onto a road to ruin?

And now, every force on the continent had their eyes on Shrek. Enemies surrounded them on all sides, with ambushes everywhere. How were they supposed to fight this battle?

"Let the children leave."

A weak voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence. Mu En had finally awakened from his coma.

His face was pale and his lips cracked, but his gaze was exceptionally firm. He struggled to sit up and looked around at everyone present.

"Shrek Academy was only ever an academy. Look at what it has become now. Openly provoking the four great empires—this is our fault. I should never have released that thing to harm others."

Mu En's voice was full of regret and self-reproach. He could no longer even regard Xuan Zi as a person. If he had known Xuan Zi would doom Shrek Academy in the future, he should have strangled him to death back then.

"But, Mu En!" Yan Shaozhe grew anxious and wanted to argue, but Mu En raised a hand to stop him.

"There is no but." Mu En coughed a few times. Though his voice was weak, he still finished everything he had to say.

"The purpose of Shrek Academy is to nurture talent, not send them to their deaths. These children are the hope of the future. We cannot let them die here for nothing. Let them leave—go as far as they can. At the very least... we must leave Shrek with a little Core Flame."

The Sea God Pavilion fell silent once again. Everyone knew Mu En was right, but emotionally, none of them could accept the reality. Shrek Academy, a legend that had stood on the continent for ten thousand years—was it truly going to end like this?

"What about us?"

"Us?"

Mu En smiled. There was some helplessness in that smile, but even more determination to sacrifice himself for righteousness.

"We old fellows will naturally stay behind and buy time for the children. Even if Shrek Academy falls, it must fall gloriously."

Yan Shaozhe clenched his fists. He knew there was no retreat in this battle.

Shrek Academy would either be reborn amid flames or perish in ashes. And they would use their flesh and blood to build the final line of defense for this ten-thousand-year legend.

Mu En slowly closed his eyes, but a faint smile appeared on his lips. He recalled the scene from many years ago, when he had first stepped into Shrek Academy.

At that time, he had merely been an ignorant youth, filled with hopes for the future. Now, he was already in his twilight years, yet he still had to shed his last drop of blood for this academy.

Within the Sun Moon Army

"Your Highness! The four great legions have all finished assembling!"

"Mm. I'll go check on the Body Sect first."

Xu Feng handed the inspection task to his imperial uncle. Since they had saved Long Aotian, and the people of the Body Sect valued loyalty and righteousness, they would agree to anything as long as it did not violate their bottom line.

Wang Xian'er was already growing irritated. This was her thirteenth examination. From Long Aotian's pulse and Soul Power fluctuations to the healing of his wounds and the recovery of his internal organs, she had checked every detail over and over again.

Yet even so, that old bastard Du Busi still came over every five minutes to call for her.

"Du Busi, this old woman has examined him countless times. If you don't trust me, go find someone else to examine him yourself!"

Wang Xian'er finally could not endure it any longer. Having lived for so many years, she had never encountered anyone who distrusted her so much. Besides, she was a dignified Titled Douluo. Could she really not assess an injury of this level?

An embarrassed expression rarely seen on Du Busi's normally arrogant face appeared. He coughed twice.

"I'm just preparing for the worst... That boy Aotian is this old man's only disciple. He nearly died there. If anything really happened to him, these old bones of mine would probably fall apart with him."

If the generals in the sect whom he had cursed bloody ever saw this scene, their jaws would likely drop. Du Busi, renowned for his arrogance and tyranny, actually had such a humble side.

Wang Xian'er ignored him and turned to look at Long Aotian again. At this moment, Long Aotian barely looked like someone who had once stood at death's door.

"All right. That was a healing ability capable of forcibly reviving even the dead. Even this old woman cannot do such a thing..."

At the time, Long Aotian had been covered in blood and barely clinging to life. She could not have healed him even if he had been entrusted to her, yet the moment Little Dragon Girl appeared, she pulled him back from the brink of death. Such terrifying healing ability was truly something she had rarely seen in her life.

"So, how do you intend to thank me, Sect Master Du?"

Xu Feng's gaze swept between Du Busi and Wang Xian'er before finally settling on Long Aotian atop the bed. His meaning was clear: he had come to collect his debt.

"You saved Aotian this time. Tell me what you want. Even if it's a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, I'll catch one for you."

As long as Xu Feng asked, he would climb mountains of blades and descend into seas of fire. Du Busi had roamed the continent for so many years and had never owed anyone a favor, but this time, he owed a life—the life of the person he cared about most.

So no matter what condition Xu Feng put forward, as long as it did not require him to betray the Heaven Dou Empire, he could agree to it.

"It's not that serious. I only have two conditions, and both are things you can do."

"Let's hear them."

"First, I want Qin Shubao to become my subordinate." Xu Feng had coveted him for a long time. That was Qin Shubao, a top-tier general he absolutely had to acquire.

Du Busi froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "No problem!" He waved his hand and agreed without hesitation.

Of course he knew Qin Shubao. He was the personal guard assigned by the Heaven Dou Empire to Princess Weina, but in the end, he was merely an outsider and not part of the Body Sect's direct line.

Moreover, Princess Weina would sooner or later marry Xu Feng. When the time came, this guard could follow her over, and the Heaven Dou Empire would have nothing to say about it. This condition was practically a gift.

"Second, I hope you can help me teach someone. After all, when it comes to a Body Martial Soul, your Body Sect is the most suitable."

Upon hearing this, Du Busi narrowed his eyes slightly, and the smile on his face faded somewhat. This condition was no ordinary matter. It was tantamount to revealing the Body Sect's secrets.

"You have a good eye, but this old man does not accept disciples casually. In my entire life, I have only accepted Aotian as a disciple, because I look down on mediocre fools. However... for this favor, even if the person is trash, I'll teach them for you. As long as they are willing to endure hardship, this old man can completely transform them."

Xu Feng turned and called toward the entrance of the tent, "Yutong, come in."

The tent flap was lifted again, and Huo Yutong entered from outside. Du Busi casually glanced at her. He had intended to give a perfunctory nod, but the instant he saw Huo Yutong clearly, the indifference on his face froze.

Almost instinctively, he released his Soul Power. An invisible pressure enveloped the entire tent. Wang Xian'er subconsciously stepped back, but Huo Yutong did not move in the slightest. She merely raised her head slightly and met Du Busi's gaze.

"Release your Martial Soul." Du Busi's voice carried excitement he could not conceal. He wanted to confirm something, something he had long since given up hoping for.

Huo Yutong released her Martial Soul, the Spirit Eye. At the same time, her Spirit Rings appeared. Her first Spirit Ring was golden, but beginning with her second, they were all at least a hundred thousand years old.

Du Busi stared at Huo Yutong's eyes, his lips trembling faintly. After a long while, he finally forced out a sentence. "Twelve years old... Rank forty... Starting from the second Spirit Ring, they're all hundred-thousand-year rings..." His voice grew softer and softer until it was nearly a murmur.

As the sect master of the Body Sect, he understood better than anyone what an eye Martial Soul represented. In the Body Martial Soul system, the more important the body part represented by one's Martial Soul, the higher a soul master's talent.

And the eyes were among the most crucial and delicate organs in the human body. They represented perception, insight, and the windows to the soul.

Furthermore, Huo Yutong's eye Martial Soul had mutated to gain a spiritual attribute. That meant her brain was likewise extraordinarily developed, giving her immense spiritual power and comprehension. This kind of talent was simply that of a peerless genius tailor-made for the Body Sect!

Moreover, this Martial Soul matched up as well. But now was not the time to confirm it. Only when they were alone could he ask that question.

Du Busi took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. He slowly walked up to Huo Yutong, crouched down, and met her gaze at eye level.

He extended his rough, broad hand and gently patted her shoulder. "Little girl, what is your name?"

"Huo Yutong."

Du Busi silently remembered it. Even the surname was the same. Next, he only needed to confirm her mother's name to determine whether she really was Yun'er's child.

When Du Busi stood again, he had already concealed every thought in his heart. He looked entirely like someone who had discovered a treasure.

"Good! Good! Good! This old man accepts this disciple! Forget one condition—even ten conditions, this old man would agree! Don't worry, I will devote everything I have learned in my life to nurturing her into the strongest Body Martial Soul soul master on the continent! If she is trash, then there are no geniuses in this world!"

"Then Yutong is in your care."

Xu Feng knew far too little about Body Martial Souls. All he could provide were powerful Spirit Rings, but for the cultivation of a Body Martial Soul, they still had to rely on the Body Sect.

But why did he keep feeling that Du Busi's concern for Yutong was somewhat strange? It looked as though he had found a treasure, yet Yutong was ultimately Xu Feng's person. Still, that certain manner of his was truly odd, as if they were somehow family.