Under Currents Stirring, the Calculations of the Major Powers

On the eve of the Apprenticeship Ceremony, Shrek City was not quiet. Instead, undercurrents surged even more fiercely than during the day.

Zhang Lexuan had been taken back to the Inner Court by Cai Mei'er early on.

The little girl had spent the entire day learning etiquette.

How to walk, how to stand, when to kneel, when to raise her head—even where to direct her gaze, someone taught her over and over.

She studied with utmost seriousness, her small face drawn tight.

Even A-Huang seemed to sense something and lay obediently by the door, not daring to bark recklessly.

"Yes, just like that.

Tomorrow, your master will go up first, and you'll watch from below.

After Mu En gives the signal, someone will lead you onto the stage.

Remember, don't be afraid, and don't lower your head.

You are Xuan Zi's only personal disciple. From tomorrow onward, no one in this world will dare look down on you."

Cai Mei'er crouched halfway down and smoothed the hem of her moon-white dress, her tone gentle yet solemn.

Zhang Lexuan nodded. "I'm not afraid."

Cai Mei'er smiled. "Good. Go get some rest. I'll come pick you up early tomorrow morning."

Zhang Lexuan obediently returned to her room, and A-Huang wagged his tail hard as he followed her inside.

Cai Mei'er stood outside the door for a while before turning to leave.

She did not return to her own courtyard, instead heading toward the Sea God Pavilion's council chamber.

At that moment, the Sea God Pavilion's council chamber was brightly lit.

Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo were all waiting to one side. Even Elder Song and Elder Lin were present.

Chen Xuan sat at the head of the room, studying a city defense map in his hands.

When he saw Cai Mei'er enter, he lifted his eyelids slightly. "Has the girl gone to sleep?"

"She just fell asleep," Cai Mei'er said. "She trained all day without once complaining of being tired."

Chen Xuan nodded. "For tomorrow's ceremony, you all need to keep a close eye on things, especially those outsiders.

I don't care how many cannons they brought. Once they enter Shrek City, they follow Shrek's rules."

"Rest assured, Elder Xuan," Yan Shaozhe said.

"The city defenses have been arranged, and all Titled Douluo are already in position.

Tomorrow, the Sea God Pavilion will activate the Inner Court's defensive formation. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden from approaching."

Elder Xuan gave a grunt and said no more.

At the same time, several people sat around a brazier in an extremely secluded guildhall in the western part of the city.

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul had changed into plain clothes. Holding a cup of tea, he spoke quietly with the Prince Who Pacifies the South of the Dou Ling Empire.

The polite expressions they had worn during the day were gone from both their faces, leaving only gravity.

"Jing Hongchen really brought two Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells into the city."

The Prince Who Pacifies the South lowered his voice.

"My men saw it with their own eyes.

When he entered the city, there was an extremely unusual fluctuation around his Storage Soul Tool. It couldn't be mistaken."

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul frowned. "What is he trying to do? Does he really intend to perish together with Shrek?"

"Perish together? Impossible. He isn't stupid enough to detonate bombs in Shrek City.

No matter how powerful Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells are, they can't possibly harm His Excellency the Dragon God or Elder Xuan."

The Prince Who Pacifies the South gently shook his head.

Level-9 Soul Cannon Shells were terrifying, but compared to true ultimate powerhouses, they still fell far short.

Just as the Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul's expression was about to change, the Prince Who Pacifies the South directly poured cold water over him.

"But those two can at most protect themselves. Once those things go off, all of Shrek City will be blasted into the sky.

That is what Jing Hongchen wants. He wants everyone to know that the Sun Moon Empire has the ability to make a city pay the price anywhere."

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul fell silent for a moment. "Then what should we do? Are we still attending tomorrow's ceremony?"

"Of course we are," the Prince Who Pacifies the South said. "The more things are like this, the more we must go."

If the Sun Moon Empire dared to come, then they could not cower.

As for how to negotiate afterward, they would wait until the ceremony was over."

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul sighed. "I'm only afraid that Shrek may not be able to restrain Jing Hongchen either.

If a fight truly breaks out, none of us in the city will be able to escape."

"It won't," the Prince Who Pacifies the South said, shaking his head. "Shrek has endured for tens of thousands of years. Its foundation is absolutely not as simple as what you see.

Since Elder Xuan dared let Jing Hongchen enter, he must have a backup plan.

As long as we do not make any rash moves, we will be fine instead."

As he spoke, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Still, who would have expected this?

I only wanted to have a proper discussion with Elder Xuan about the Inquisitorial Legion, yet I got dragged into such a massive whirlpool.

Coming to Shrek really strips a layer of skin off you every time."

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul smiled bitterly as well. "Isn't that the truth?

Had I known this would happen, I never should have offended the Inquisitorial Legion so thoroughly."

As the two spoke, an attendant outside reported, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Prince, the Elder Prince of the Star Luo Empire has arrived."

The Prince Who Pacifies the South and the Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul rose at the same time.

The Elder Prince wore a dark gray cloak as he slowly entered.

He first swept his gaze over the two of them before sitting beside the brazier.

"Sit. The ceremony has not even begun, yet the disturbances outside are already coming wave after wave.

The three of our nations should at least compare notes first."

The three sat down as the lamplight flickered.

At the same time, in a quiet small courtyard in the southern part of the city, the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect sat facing the First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect held a cup of clear tea, his expression calm.

The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, however, could no longer sit still.

"Jing Hongchen even brought Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.

How is this attending as a guest? This is clearly a slap in the face to all of us.

Does the Sun Moon Empire think it can suppress the entire continent by itself?"

The First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect said blandly, "He can't. If he truly dares detonate them in Shrek City, the Sun Moon Empire will be finished as well.

Xu Tianhe is no fool. He will not send his own people to die."

"But those are Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, after all. What if..."

"There is no what if," the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect interrupted her.

"His Excellency the Dragon God is here, and Elder Xuan is here as well.

If Shrek cannot suppress even two dead objects, then it does not deserve to be called Shrek.

No matter how long your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has remained secluded, you should not have lost even this much composure."

The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect choked on her words. After a long while, she finally said, "I was too hasty."

The First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect set down his teacup. "We came on this trip to attend the ceremony, yes, but also to observe the direction of the wind.

After the ceremony, Shrek and the Sun Moon Empire will inevitably have a discussion.

As for sects like ours, it is best not to get involved if we can avoid it.

Watching tigers fight from the mountain is always better than being used as someone else's weapon."

Though he spoke calmly, inwardly he was shaking his head in regret.

Had I known things would turn out this way, I should have had the Great Sect Master come personally.

All these old bones of mine wanted was peace and quiet, yet I still got caught up in this kind of whirlpool.

One Apprenticeship Ceremony has drawn the Three Empires, the Sun Moon Empire, and all the major sects here. They even brought Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells into the city.

This is no ceremony. Half the continent's powder keg has been carried into Shrek City.

Yet regret was regret; he was not afraid.

He was not only a level ninety-seven Super Douluo, but also the wielder of the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one tool martial soul in the world.

Even ordinary level ninety-eight Super Douluo might not necessarily be his match.

If those two Ninth-level Fixed Soul Cannon Shells truly exploded in the city, he might be injured.

But if he devoted himself to escaping, absolutely no one could stop him.

It is only a pity for all the people in this city, he sighed inwardly again.

The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect said nothing more and merely nodded slowly.

At the same time, Du Busi of the Body Sect sat in his temporary residence, toying with an iron cup, a cold smile hanging from the corner of his mouth.