Tang San: Only One Herb! The Holy Spirit Cult's Ambush
The sound of footsteps crushed a withered branch beside the bluestone.
Tang San walked over from beside the spring, but before he even got close, a subtle fluctuation of Divine Soul pierced into the minds of Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe:
"In front of outsiders, you are not allowed to call them ancestors."
His voice was very low and tense. It was only because Gu Mingyuan had heard Xuan Zi and the other person address him that he dared to use "publicizing the descent of the Sea God" to strangle him.
With the native Dual Godhood master of the Divine Realm hovering overhead, if word gets out, this remnant soul from another world could be extracted and refined at any moment.
The same mistake must never be made again.
Xuan Zi's hand holding the wine gourd stiffened almost imperceptibly. He exchanged a glance with Yan Shaozhe, and the two of them lowered their heads at the same time, silently taking half a step back to the sides to make room for each other in the middle.
This sudden movement instantly attracted the attention of the three people opposite.
Xu Jiawei and Dai Hao's gazes passed over the two Shrek elders and landed on the blue-haired child who had just stepped forward.
Tang San stopped in front of Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, standing with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over the faces of the three members of the Star Luo Empire Group, and he spoke directly:
"One plant at most."
The innocent voices of children echoed through the valley, leaving no room for bargaining.
Xu Jiawei frowned slightly, and before he could reply, Cheng Gang, the Imperial Family attendant standing to his left and behind him, had already darkened his expression.
As Titled Douluo accompanying the group, Cheng Gang originally intended to seek out a Immortal Herb to help him reach a higher realm.
Before entering the valley, Xu Jiawei worried that Shrek wouldn't easily give in, and feared that making exorbitant demands would anger Xuan Zi, so he had him temporarily suppress the idea.
Having just stepped into the valley and seen with his own eyes the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, filled with extraordinary flowers and herbs brimming with spiritual energy, Cheng Gang's hope was rekindled.
As it turned out, before Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe could even express their opinions, a mere child who hadn't even grown up yet suddenly interrupted and cut down half of the two plants that had been agreed upon!
"Presumptuous!"
Cheng Gang took a step forward, unleashing the aura of Titled Douluo, which pressed down on Tang San.
"His Majesty is discussing important matters with Xuan Zi; how dare a junior like you interrupt!"
"You're the one who's being insolent!"
Xuan Zi's furious shout followed immediately.
Almost simultaneously, Yan Shaozhe flashed forward, taking a half-step to Tang San's side and front, his blazing phoenix Soul Power surging up.
The auras of Level 98 and Level 95 erupted simultaneously, pressing down on Cheng Gang's shoulders like two mountains.
The gravel beneath my feet cracked open with a soft snap.
Cheng Gang sank, his feet sinking half an inch into the mud, and his face instantly turned a deep liver color.
His shout was purely aimed at that arrogant blue-haired brat, and he even deliberately held back seven-tenths of his strength. Who would have thought that Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe would turn on him on the spot without even a word of warning!
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Dai Hao reacted extremely quickly, grabbing Xu Jiawei's arm with his right hand and pushing forward half a step with his left shoulder. The golden light of the White Tiger Body Barrier flashed across his body, blocking the aftershocks of the oncoming gust of wind for Xu Jiawei.
Xuan Zi, carrying a gourd of wine, stared intently at Cheng Gang:
"This belongs to my Shrek Academy..."
The words were about to come out when Tang San San's stern telepathic message flashed through his mind. Xuan Zi stiffened his neck, swallowing back the last two words, and instead said in a deep voice:
"Distinguished guest!"
"It's not your place to be rude!"
With the oppressive aura of two Hyper Douluo hovering above his head, Cheng Gang's chest heaved a few times, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he clenched and unclenched his fists, ultimately not daring to utter another word.
Xu Jiawei raised his right hand and gently patted Dai Hao's forearm, then gave Cheng Gang a look, signaling him to step back.
The oppressive aura within the valley subsided slightly, but Xu Jiawei no longer looked at Xuan Zi. Instead, he fixed his gaze firmly on the young man standing in front of the two elders.
Before coming to Heaven Dou City, Star Luo Empire's intelligence network had sent over an absurd secret report, which mentioned the unconfirmed "reappearance of the Sea God."
At the time, he dismissed it as mere speculation from his subordinates and simply let it go.
But right now--
He has the bone age of eight or nine years old and a head of blue hair.
The level Level 98 Taotie Douluo and the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe, not only willingly stood half a step behind him as his guards, but even allowed him to decide how many Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Immortal Herb to give him and how to give them.
Could it be that the utterly absurd rumors in that secret report are actually true?
Tang San immediately noticed Xu Jiawei's scrutinizing gaze. The fleeting look of surprise and inquiry in Xu's eyes made Tang San's heart tighten.
What is this Star Luo Emperor guessing?
Could it be that word has already leaked out of Heaven Dou City or outside?
Upon thinking of this, Tang San felt a surge of murderous intent. He raised his eyes, and his gaze, carrying the lingering power of a ten-thousand-year-old God King, pierced Xu Jiawei's eyes like two bolts of cold lightning.
As Xu Jiawei was pondering this, he was caught off guard by that gaze. He felt as if a steel needle had pierced his brain, and his neck involuntarily tilted half an inch to the side, instinctively avoiding those eyes.
But as soon as she looked away, a burning sensation rushed up her neck to her cheeks.
He is the ruler of the Star Luo Empire!
Today, I humbled myself and went into the mountains, bringing with me White Tiger Duke, and even using my younger sister Jiujiu's marriage as a bargaining chip. Yet now, I'm being stared at by an eight-year-old child of unknown origin who isn't even Soul Ancestor!
Xu Jiawei clenched his teeth, straightened his back, pushed aside Dai Hao's protective hand, and stepped half a body length over him.
He stopped testing the boy and instead met Xuan Zi's gaze directly:
"Two Immortal Herb —the conditions I have proposed for their exchange—have you all heard them clearly?"
After speaking, he lowered his eyes again, coldly glancing at Tang San, his voice completely devoid of warmth:
"Star Luo Empire has shown its sincerity; Shrek should also show some sincerity."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Hao and Cheng Gang took half a step forward at the same time, their auras merging together, giving them a sense of being of one mind.
Outside Bluestone Relay Station, in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
This abandoned post station is located on the only way for Shrek to reach Sunset Forest, surrounded by rolling Hills and deserted.
Feng Ling stood behind the dilapidated stone wall of the post station, her gaze sweeping over the slopes and dense forests on both sides.
Three Level 9 Soul Engineer from the Mingde Hall had taken their positions, and several heavy, Fixed-Installation Soul Cannon were hidden under withered branches and camouflage nets, their dark muzzles locking onto the area ahead.
Zhang Peng put away the Communication Soul Tool that had just been lit up and quickly walked to Feng Ling's side:
"Vice Cult Master, news from the front indicates that Ma Xiaotao will pass through here in at most two hours."
"However, the people escorting them are a bit of a problem."
"Who?"
"Xian Lin'er, Dean of the Soul Tool Department."
"Flying Valkyrie?" Feng Ling's eyes flickered slightly.
Zhang Peng nodded:
It was her.
"Her Azure Flame Dragon excels at frontal breakthroughs and is incredibly fast. If we let her lead the group and force her way out—"
"Then don't let her rush out." Feng Ling interrupted directly, her fingertips crushing a piece of weathered stone from the wall.
"The objective is to capture Ma Xiaotao alive."
"If Xian Lin'er insists on blocking our way, we'll just kill her too."