Abolishing Shrek's Inquisitorial Legion

The confidant bowed and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, should we continue holding the city, or should we take this chance to withdraw first?"

"Withdraw?" The old prince looked at the fool before him and laughed in anger.

"You idiot! Did a donkey kick your brain?

If you dare to pack up and leave now, then prepare to face Shrek's wrath.

Only fools would retreat first. We will stay here calmly and wait for them to reveal their cards before deciding our next move."

Inside the Sun Moon Empire's residence in Shrek City, Xu Taiwang and Jing Hongchen sat facing each other in casual conversation.

"Director Hongchen, is it really appropriate for us to remain here for so long?" Xu Taiwang asked.

Holding a teacup, Jing Hongchen gently brushed away the steam rising from it, his expression calm. "Leave? Shrek deliberately kept us here. They must have some major plan.

It would be a pity to leave hastily without first uncovering their hand."

Xu Taiwang nodded slightly. "That makes sense.

I also want to see with my own eyes just what kind of storm this Taotie Douluo can stir up.

The Shrek of today is already completely different from the one spoken of in the old tales."

"The more variables there are, the more we must wait and watch."

Jing Hongchen smiled faintly. "If we leave early, we will be surrendering all initiative.

Staying here and seeing through their moves and arrangements is the best course of action."

Xu Taiwang pondered for a moment before slowly making his decision. "Then we will remain for a few more days. Once Shrek reveals its hand, we will decide what to do."

"That is only proper," Jing Hongchen replied with a smile.

The encampments of large and small sects alike were equally restless, and no one was at ease.

Many sect representatives had come merely to witness the ceremony, only to find themselves caught in the whirlpool of events, unable to advance or retreat.

Inside a guest room, the leader of a second-rate sect paced back and forth, his face full of distress.

"Once you enter Shrek City, it becomes impossible to get away. This is truly strange!

Had I known things would end up like this, I never would have come to join this spectacle!"

The disciple beside him hurriedly tried to dissuade him in a low voice.

"Master, please watch your words! This is Shrek territory. Do not speak recklessly.

We only need to wait and see, keep our mouths shut, and refrain from casually taking a stance."

"For now, we can only endure it," the sect leader sighed heavily, filled with helplessness.

Meanwhile, the First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was speaking quietly with the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect.

"Brother Tang, Shrek has made such a grand display this time. They clearly intend to use this opportunity to consolidate the powers of the entire continent.

How should our two great sects position ourselves?"

The First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect looked solemn as he spoke slowly. "Do nothing for now and wait for developments.

If they merely intend to clean up the mess left by the Inquisitorial Legion, then it has nothing to do with us.

If they require the major sects to contribute, we can respond calmly when the time comes."

"That is all we can do." The First Elder of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sighed softly.

"What should have been an ordinary ceremony has forcibly turned every power across the continent into ants on a hot pan."

"This was never merely an ordinary ceremony." The First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect suddenly sighed.

"From the moment we stepped into Shrek City, we had already entered the game.

Trying to pull out now is as difficult as ascending to the heavens."

The two looked at each other, each seeing the heavy gravity in the other's eyes.

The following day, the Sea God Pavilion formally delivered invitations to every faction.

The invitations stated that a council meeting would be held in the main hall of the Sea God Pavilion three days later.

Top powers such as the Body Sect, Clear Sky Sect, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Illustrious Virtue Hall could bring several attendants into the hall.

All other small and medium-sized sects were limited to a single representative—the strongest member of their sect.

The moment the invitations were issued, every small and medium-sized sect erupted into panic, and complaints rose everywhere.

"Only one person may enter the hall? This is clearly a deliberate humiliation, forcing us to bow our heads and listen before the great powers!"

"But if we refuse to attend, the consequences will be even worse!

If Shrek and the four great empires establish new rules then, we will not even be qualified to know the details. We will be left completely passive!"

"Forget it. We will attend.

Even if we are unwilling, it is still better than being kept in the dark and manipulated by others."

Over the next three days, the undercurrents within Shrek City thoroughly surged to the surface.

The various factions met in private again and again. Some secretly formed alliances, some urgently sent messages back to their nations for instructions, while others investigated the Sea God Pavilion's plans from every angle.

The oppressive atmosphere throughout the city far surpassed that of the apprenticeship ceremony, with tension and killing intent everywhere.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the doors of the Sea God Pavilion's main hall swung open.

Representatives from every faction entered in order and took their seats, the atmosphere solemn.

Jing Hongchen and Xu Taiwang walked side by side at the forefront of all the faction representatives.

The instant he stepped into the Outer Court plaza of the Sea God Pavilion, Xu Taiwang's footsteps paused slightly.

He raised his eyes to gaze at the layers upon layers of ancient halls with soaring eaves.

Looking at the Sea God Pavilion stewards standing in disciplined ranks on both sides of the plaza, their auras as stern as iron, he sighed softly.

"So this is the Sea God Pavilion. Its ten-thousand-year foundation truly cannot be compared to an ordinary royal palace."

"A ten-thousand-year foundation is indeed impressive." Jing Hongchen's expression remained calm as he spoke lightly.

"But no matter how deep its foundation, what matters is whether it can truly be put to use."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold snort came from behind them.

"Whether that foundation can be used or not, your Sun Moon Empire is welcome to give it a try."

Du Busi strode forward, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Jing Hongchen, his tone openly provocative.

"I would like to see whether your Sun Moon cannon shells are tougher, or whether Shrek's ten-thousand-year foundation runs deeper."

Jing Hongchen's expression did not change, and a faint smile still rested on his lips. "The Body Douluo is joking. As a guest, how could I dare cause trouble without reason before my host's door?"

With that, he nodded slightly to Xu Taiwang and walked forward without another glance at Du Busi.

Du Busi snorted coldly, deeply displeased, but still flicked his sleeve and followed them inside.

Within the main hall, the seats had already been arranged in orderly rows.

Mu En sat upright in the central seat of honor, his bearing as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

Chen Xuan and Elder Song stood behind the seat of honor, one to the left and one to the right.

Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Qian Duoduo, and the other core elders stood behind them.

More than ten Outer Pavilion elders stood in rows along both sides of the hall. Their auras were restrained, and they stood in solemn silence without a single word.

The leaders of the various factions took their seats in turn. The entire hall was silent, and every gaze was fixed upon the seat of honor at the very front.

Mu En slowly swept his gaze across the hall. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly carried through the entire main hall, every word reaching every ear.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce one important matter."

"From this day onward, Shrek's Inquisitorial Legion is officially abolished."

The instant Mu En's words fell, the entire hall became so silent that it seemed frozen.

But that silence lasted only a few breaths.

"Abolish the Inquisitorial Legion?!"

The Southern Pacifying King of Douling was the first to cry out in shock.

The Dou Ling Empire had suffered the most, yet they had just received such disastrous news.

The Crown Prince of Heavenly Soul also abruptly raised his head, all color draining from his face.

Before coming here, he had considered countless possibilities. Shrek might impose conditions, demand resources, or force the three empires to cede military authority.

He had even prepared several sets of responses.

But he had never imagined that Shrek would not even negotiate. They had simply abolished the Inquisitorial Legion outright.