A Mere Shrek Outer Courtyard Soul King

Lin Wan'er raised her left hand and ignored Bei Bei's bewildered, shocked gaze as she continued, "Have you never considered this question? Tang San's martial soul was never Blue Silver Grass at all, but the noble Blue Silver Emperor. Besides, he possessed Twin Martial Souls."

How could the martial souls of Tang Sect Leaders throughout the generations be compared with the noble Twin Martial Souls and the Blue Silver Emperor, which was enough to rival the Clear Sky Hammer? It was simply laughable.

"If you had learned from the neighboring Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School and accepted outsiders, using top-tier martial souls as the school's hallmark, then embraced the Soul Tools that marked the turning point of the age, the Tang Sect would never have declined to this extent."

With every sentence Lin Wan'er spoke, Tang Ya's expression grew a shade uglier. These were matters her sect had never considered before.

If Lin Wan'er had not voiced them today and prompted such deep reflection, she might have continued believing the words of the sect leaders before her and, when reviving the Tang Sect in the future, continued selecting those with Blue Silver Grass martial souls as heirs.

"How did you know all this, including my identity? Could it be that your Heaven Soul Sect has agents hidden within Shrek Academy, passing along information?"

Bei Bei did not dwell on the reasons behind the Tang Sect's decline. He urgently wanted to know how Lin Wan'er had learned that he was Mu En's great-grandson, and where she had obtained the Tang Sect's insider information.

"Don't overthink it. Though the Heaven Soul Sect belongs to the Heaven Dou Empire, our Soul Tools, pills, and even our soul spirit businesses span the entire continent, including the Sun Moon Empire. The students and teachers of your Shrek Inner Courtyard have spent no small amount of money in shops under our name."

Whether it was Whale Rubber consumed by soul masters, ingredients for medicinal baths, Mystic Water Pills, or similar items, nearly all were produced by subsidiary sects under the Heaven Soul Sect.

When the Tang Sect had risen to prominence, the Four Sects had not been able to produce these things that made soul masters across the continent so envious. This showed that the Tang Sect Leader of that era had focused entirely on Hidden Weapons, intending to recreate peerless Hidden Weapons such as Goddess of Mercy's Tears, capable of instantly killing Titled Douluo.

After considering the Heaven Soul Sect's businesses, Bei Bei found it a reasonable explanation that they had learned his information from people in the Inner Courtyard, so he said nothing further. Instead, he became concerned about Tang Ya's condition.

Tang Ya, who had forced herself to remain conscious, asked again, "Wasn't it you and the Sun Moon Empire working together from within and without that threw the continent into turmoil and caused Evil Soul Masters to emerge everywhere?"

"...Wasn't the root cause of Evil Soul Masters your founding sect leader?"

Lin Wan'er blinked and gave the people before her a proper explanation of why Evil Soul Masters appeared across the continent.

The existence of Evil Soul Masters dated back a long time.

As early as the era of Spirit Hall, there had been soul masters who practiced improper cultivation methods and became Evil Soul Masters as a result.

After Tang San destroyed the Spirit Hall Empire, he had not slaughtered every remaining soul master. Then there was also the City of Slaughter, a place where many evil soul masters gathered, a cage for them to wear one another down.

However, after Tang San destroyed the City of Slaughter with immortal herbs, quite a few of the evil soul masters inside should have survived. These soul masters were particularly bloodthirsty as well, and many of them became Evil Soul Masters because of it.

Lin Wan'er was an eloquent speaker, and her explanations were logical and well-supported, leaving Bei Bei and Tang Ya, as members of the Tang Sect, unable to refute her.

With her mind in complete turmoil, Tang Ya dropped to her knees. At last, she could no longer hold back her tears. Could it be that the true culprit behind her parents' deaths, the Tang Sect's decline, and the suffering of soul masters and ordinary people across the continent at the hands of Evil Soul Masters was actually the Tang Sect's first founder, Sea God Tang San? "Xiao Ya!"

Unable to bear the thought of Tang Ya never recovering from this blow, Bei Bei hurriedly comforted her, talking her through it until his girlfriend finally pulled herself together.

After wiping away her tears and rising from the ground, Tang Ya wanted to ask another question, but Lin Wan'er's gentle voice stopped her.

"When all is said and done, some of Shrek's teachers may also have enabled the Tang Sect to become what it is today."

"What did you say?" Fire flared in Bei Bei's eyes as he warned, "I will not allow you to insult Shrek."

Indeed, he was Mu En's great-grandson and had possessed an instinctive dependence on Shrek since childhood. He would not allow Lin Wan'er to slander Shrek in front of Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya.

"Bei Bei, let her speak. I can tell right from wrong."

Tang Ya looked at Bei Bei almost pleadingly, making the agitated Bei Bei forcibly suppress his fighting intent and wait for Lin Wan'er to continue explaining why the Tang Sect's decline was connected to Shrek.

Huo Yuhao, who was watching from the back, perked up his ears as well. Though he did not know much about the relationship between the Tang Sect and Shrek, Shrek was, after all, the sacred land in the hearts of soul masters across the continent, a place that had once produced seven gods.

What was more, his two older brothers in name had both received their education at Shrek Academy, becoming either members of the Shrek Seven Devils or disciples held in high regard.

Seeing everyone's gazes focused on her and no one interrupting her further, Lin Wan'er briefly explained that Tang San, the Tang Sect's founder, had theoretically been the most powerful god among the Seven Devils and had enjoyed an excellent relationship with them.

Moreover, he had once been a student of Flender, Shrek's founder. Thus, even if the Tang Sect and Shrek were not inseparable partners, their relationship could still be called one of shared prosperity and shared ruin.

But look at Shrek and the Tang Sect now. One had become the sacred land desired by soul masters across the continent, while the other had been reduced to a sect from old legends, long since fallen into decline.

The vast disparity in status and Shrek's complete lack of assistance had left Tang Ya, the current Tang Sect Leader, isolated and helpless.

At the same time, to worsen Tang Ya's impression of Shrek, Lin Wan'er even used Bei Bei as an example.

"Your boyfriend's elder is the former Master of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, the former leader of Shrek's Supervision Group, one of the three great Limit Douluo of the present age, the White Dragon of the 'Black White Twin Holy Dragon,' and the man hailed as Shrek Academy's strongest in a thousand years."

"If the old men and senior elders of Shrek's Inner Courtyard truly approved of your relationship, why would they allow the sect of the girlfriend of Mu En's great-grandson—Bei Bei, the great-grandson of a level ninety-nine Assault System Limit Douluo known as the 'Dragon God,' whose martial soul was the Light Holy Dragon—to be bullied at will?"

"Whether by reason or by personal ties, it makes no sense, does it? Besides, helping the Tang Sect overcome its current difficulties would only require a Soul Emperor or a Soul Douluo, wouldn't it?"

Lin Wan'er smiled. These bold words successfully rendered Bei Bei and Tang Ya speechless.

The two, who had always relied on powerful backing, had never considered the relationship between the Tang Sect and Shrek. Nor had they considered why the elders behind them had never stepped in to help Tang Ya, the Tang Sect Leader, instead allowing her to fend for herself.

Bei Bei opened his mouth several times, wanting to say something to Tang Ya, but whenever he recalled Lin Wan'er's words, he found himself unable to make a sound.

Even Tang Ya's heart began to turn incomparably cold. She did not notice the dark aura beginning to emanate from her body.

As she watched Tang Ya, the Blue Silver Holy Maiden, on the verge of prematurely transforming into a so-called Evil Soul Master, a mischievous glint surfaced in Lin Wan'er's eyes—one she did not even notice herself.

Having lived for so long, if she did not find some amusement and enjoy the interests that could only be experienced as a human, she might truly become a "god" devoid of sorrow or joy, consumed solely by power and status.

"What sharp teeth and a sharper tongue for such a young girl! To dare slander Shrek like this behind its back—you truly have no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth!"

The Outer Courtyard teacher who had been protecting Tang Ya and Bei Bei from the shadows since the beginning finally appeared. He was Nian Xunsi, a Soul King with soul power at level fifty-three.

Upon seeing the white-haired, stout Soul King Nian Xunsi, Bei Bei hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, why are you here?"

Nian Xunsi stroked the white beard on his chin, wearing a sanctimonious expression as he said, "How could I possibly rest easy knowing you two had left Shrek and gone to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain your third soul ring?"

After a pause, he continued, "I had not intended to reveal myself, but I never expected the holy maiden of the insignificant Heaven Soul Sect to dare slander the relationship between Shrek and the Tang Sect behind their backs. You truly do not know your place!"

If Bei Bei and Tang Ya had remained on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, then after observing them for a while, Nian Xunsi, as a Soul King, would not have stayed behind to secretly protect them. Instead, he would have gone elsewhere to see if he could find any promising talents suitable for Shrek and relax a little.

But he had happened to hear Lin Wan'er's sophistry. In particular, when he heard that the Heaven Soul Sect's holy maiden dared to bring up the late Dragon God Mu En, he could not help but step forward.

Looking at Huo Yuhao, whose aura strongly resembled that of the Duchess's attendants, he instinctively clutched the hem of Lin Wan'er's beautiful dress and whispered, "Should we apologize and leave? Sister Wan'er, don't argue with a Soul King."

Huo Yuhao thought he had spoken quietly enough that ordinary people would not be able to hear what he was saying at all.

But the man standing on the tree was, after all, Nian Xunsi, an Assault System Soul King and teacher from Shrek's Outer Courtyard. How could he possibly fail to hear the two youngsters whispering to each other?

Thus, before Lin Wan'er could speak, he impatiently said, "It's too late to apologize now! I ask that the Holy Maiden of the Heaven Soul Sect come with me to Shrek's Inner Courtyard and apologize to the elders!"

Standing before him was the Holy Maiden of the Heaven Dou Empire's Heaven Soul Sect, a talent seen only once in a hundred years. If he could successfully deliver her, neatly packaged, to the Inner Courtyard's deans, wouldn't he qualify to enter Sea God Pavilion and become an officially appointed elder?

After all, the Heaven Soul Sect would surely be willing to pay a hefty price to ransom their Holy Maiden. Otherwise, they would have nowhere to put their face. By then, Shrek's status would rise with the tide, once again becoming an unshakable mountain range! "A mere Soul King isn't qualified to invite me to Sea God Pavilion at all!"

Lin Wan'er was not intimidated by a Soul King's Soul Power. She swung her Scepter, and three jade-like Soul Rings appeared behind her.

They were Soul Rings jointly created by the Goddess of Life's divine power and the god-tier Soraka Martial Soul. Their true age had long since reached three Ten Thousand Years, nearing the threshold of a Hundred Thousand Year.

"Hmph! I showed you some respect only because you are the Holy Maiden of the Heaven Soul Sect. Since you refuse to accept my kindness, don't blame me for being merciless!"

As Nian Xunsi looked at the Heterochromatic Soul Rings behind Lin Wan'er, a trace of jealousy flashed through his aged eyes. Then, he revealed five Soul Rings.

Yellow, yellow, yellow, purple, purple.

A series of squeaks came from the Soul King. Black smoke rose from his entire body, his arms became furry, and sharp rat-like claws covered his hands, giving off an indescribably disgusting feeling.

Personally, I feel that Shrek's attitude toward the Tang Sect is rather hard to make sense of.

On top of that, Bei Bei's status was indeed quite high. According to the continent's usual conventions, when you beat the young one, the old one comes out. So I don't really understand why the original plot went in this direction.

Also, when the two of them went to Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Soul Rings, it felt unreasonable that no one accompanied them. Especially for two people with rather special identities, it would make more sense for them to have attendants by their side.

But considering that Huo might have had his issues discovered, that was probably why no one was arranged to accompany them. I just casually came up with an excuse.

I wonder if anyone caught Nian Xunsi's name—it sounds like "you seek death."