The Twin Moons Appear, and the Situation Worsens

But Yun Ming could only force himself to continue.

"Captain, why don't you tell me what happened? At least then I can prepare myself mentally."

Cao Dezhi was also giving Yun Ming some face.

He tilted his head slightly and glanced at the captain lying prone at his feet, his gaze carrying a cold signal.

The captain hurriedly crawled to Yun Ming's feet. His whole body trembled like a leaf, and his voice was filled with extreme terror and despair as he stammered out.

"Members of the Shrek Inspection Corps..."

"Greetings, Pavilion Master..."

After saying that, he could not utter another word. He could only lie on the ground with his face buried in the dirt.

Yun Ming froze briefly, then looked at Cao Dezhi with confusion and inquiry in his eyes.

Cao Dezhi said coldly.

"Cai Yue'er sent them to kill Little Xin."

He paused there, and the chill in his voice seemed capable of freezing the surrounding air.

"If I hadn't left a trump card on Little Xin..."

Cao Dezhi did not continue.

Yet the fury contained in those unfinished words already weighed upon everyone's hearts as though it were tangible.

But stormy waves surged in Yun Ming's heart.

Had Cai Yue'er gone mad?!

She dared lay a hand on even Cao Xin?!

This child was the lifeblood of his captain and Zang Xin!

More than anyone, he knew how dearly Cao Dezhi and Zang Xin treasured this child.

From the day Cao Xin was born, his two fathers had regarded him as a priceless treasure, pouring all their effort and resources into him.

Making a move against Cao Xin was no different from striking directly at the vital weakness of two sleeping beasts.

Was she tired of living?!

At that moment, Yun Ming also understood that this matter would not be easily settled.

Given Cao Dezhi's temperament, since he had torn through space and descended directly upon Sea God Island, it meant he had no intention of sparing anyone's dignity.

Still, he forced himself to say.

"But Cai Yue'er was already confined by me. How could she have left the academy and contacted members of the Shrek Inspection Corps?"

Cao Dezhi looked at Yun Ming.

"You mean I'm lying?"

Yun Ming hurriedly waved his hands.

"No."

"Absolutely not!"

"Captain, you know me. Of course I believe you."

At that moment, Yun Ming came to a realization.

Someone who could secretly let Cai Yue'er leave right under his nose without him noticing...

In all of Shrek Academy, there was only one person.

The Supreme Elder, Long Yeyue.

Throughout the entire academy, only Long Yeyue's status could evade his senses, secretly release Cai Yue'er, and help her erase every trace.

Yun Ming's heart collapsed even further.

Cai Yue'er was of his generation. That was still manageable; as Pavilion Master, he could punish whoever needed punishing and confine whoever needed confining, and no one would have much to say.

But the problem was that Long Yeyue was his elder.

Moreover, Long Yeyue's husband had been the previous master of the Sea God Pavilion—and Yun Ming's teacher.

That bond of lineage and kinship was like an invisible shackle, binding him tightly within an impossible dilemma.

What was he supposed to do?

Take Long Yeyue's side?

That would betray the decades of friendship between him and his captain.

Take Cao Dezhi's side?

That would betray the decades of guidance he had received from his teacher.

But if he helped neither side...

He would offend them both at once.

At that moment, Yun Ming was deeply conflicted.

What was he supposed to do?

Meanwhile, seeing Yun Ming like this, Cao Dezhi formed a guess as well.

He believed in his friendship with Yun Ming. Their decades of bond could not possibly be shaken by this matter, and Yun Ming could never have released Cai Yue'er to stir up trouble.

Someone must have intervened during this time.

And within all of Shrek, the one who could do that...

Could only be Long Yeyue.

But Long Yeyue was also his elder.

At that thought...

A sharp glint flashed through Cao Dezhi's eyes.

So be it.

If Old Long took a step back, he would let it go.

But if she refused...

Then for Little Xin's sake, he could only disrespect an elder!

At last, he looked at Yun Ming and sighed softly.

"Move aside."

"Don't interfere in this matter."

Cao Dezhi's voice calmed, yet it was even more chilling than his earlier roar.

"Since Zang Xin and I have come today..."

"This will not end so easily."

"Even if you are a Peak Quasi-God, before Zang Xin's and my Martial Soul Fusion Skill, you can only retreat."

Hearing this, Yun Ming fell silent.

If his captain and Zang Xin used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he truly had no way to deal with them.

Because more than anyone, he knew the power the two could unleash when fighting together.

His captain's cultivation had now reached Peak Quasi-God, while Zang Xin had also attained Quasi-God cultivation.

The Martial Soul Fusion Skill they could unleash, Emotion Moves Heaven, had already reached the power of the Divine Realm.

That had surpassed the scope of Quasi-Gods and entered the true domain of gods.

Unless he was flooded with an immense amount of immortal spirit energy and combined it with a godhood, taking a single step into the Divine Realm.

Otherwise, there was simply no way he could stop his captain.

Or rather, there were no true gods on the continent now.

Thus, his captain and Zang Xin, with their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, were the only beings on the continent who had stepped into the God Realm.

That power...

Was enough to crush all resistance below the Quasi-God level.

Thinking of this, Yun Ming let out a long sigh.

He could only step aside.

Cao Dezhi looked toward the Sea God Pavilion. Seeing that Cai Yue'er still had not appeared, he spoke coldly.

"My patience is limited."

"Cai Yue'er, even if you hide within the Golden Ancient Tree, it would not be difficult for me to drag you out."

As soon as he said this.

Quite a few observing elders frowned.

But none of them spoke.

Soon, the doors of the Sea God Pavilion were pushed open from within, and Cai Yue'er walked out.

Her steps still carried a hint of reserve, while her face wore a forced calm and composure.

The palm print on her face had faded somewhat.

But the lingering humiliation could still be seen between her brows.

She looked at Cao Dezhi, her tone serious and even carrying a condescending, lecturing air.

"I am an elder of Shrek. If you kill me, you will be betraying Shrek!"

"Cao Dezhi, do you intend to abandon the grace of the academy's teachings?!"

Her voice was sharp and certain, as though she held a protective talisman that could never lose its effect.

Cao Dezhi laughed.

There was icy mockery in that smile, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Looking at Cai Yue'er's face as she desperately maintained her composure, he slowly said.

"Cai Yue'er, have you gone mad?"

"You are from the same generation as me. What right do you have to say that?"

"And what if this old woman says it?"

A sharp voice rang out.

A figure slowly approached.

It was none other than the Supreme Elder, Long Yeyue.

She was also the highest-ranking elder in Shrek.

"Sister Yue."

"Old Long."

Yun Ming and Cai Yue'er both bowed.

Long Yeyue gave a slight nod. Her gaze swept over everyone present before finally settling on Cao Dezhi.

"Then does this old woman's word carry any weight?"