Tang San's Decision, Huo Yuhao as a Bargaining Chip

With a creak, the wooden door closed, shutting out the sound of the wind from outside.

Inside the room, Ma Xiaotao's crying paused for a moment.

She slowly lowered her hands from her face, tears still streaming down her face. She stared at the tightly closed, dilapidated wooden door, the strange words Gu Mingyuan had spoken when he left echoing in her ears.

"The new... Ma Xiaotao..."

Yan Shaozhe retreated to Tang San's side and in front, the Communication Soul Tool at his waist, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly lit up rapidly.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately sent a wisp of his Soul Power to connect.

From the other end of the Soul Tool, Xian Lin'er's weak voice, punctuated by panting, came through; it seemed someone was treating her nearby.

"Yan Shaozhe, Xiaotao has been kidnapped."

Yan Shaozhe's pupils shrank sharply, and his expression changed instantly:

"What did you say? When did this happen?!"

"It's been a while."

"It's Zhang Peng, and a female Evil Soul Master with the Evil Phoenix Martial Soul. Additionally, Mingde Hall has sent three High-Level Soul Engineer to block the road with Fixed-Installation Soul Cannon." Xian Lin'er took a heavy breath on the other end, suppressing her injuries.

"My Storage Soul Tool was destroyed by the bombardment of the level eight Fixed-Installation Soul Cannon, and I can't retrieve the spare communicator inside. I barely managed to get back to the academy and managed to contact you using Shrek's device."

"Where's Xiaotao? Where was she taken?" Yan Shaozhe asked through gritted teeth, looking at Zhongli Wu and Jing Hongchen opposite him.

"I was blocked by Soul Cannon from behind and couldn't catch up."

Communication was cut off, and the light dimmed.

Yan Shaozhe tightened his grip on the Soul Tool, the hard metal shell cracking under his fingers, clearly indicating it was broken.

Zhongli Wu, who was opposite him, met his gaze. Seeing Yan Shaozhe's almost out-of-control appearance, Zhongli Wu not only did not avoid it, but instead raised a smug smile on his lips.

No need to ask anymore, Zhang Peng and that female Evil Soul Master were clearly part of a premeditated ambush by the Holy Spirit Cult!

"Boom!"

A blazing Phoenix Flame erupted from Yan Shaozhe's shoulder, and he paused, about to charge forward.

"Don't act rashly!"

Xuan Zi grabbed his shoulder, his powerful Soul Power forcefully pressing Yan Shaozhe's forward momentum back to the ground. He stared at Zhongli Wu and Jing Hongchen ahead, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly having heard the message just now.

"Another one lost..."

Just as Shrek was about to lose his temper, Du Busi, who had just stepped into the valley and saw that no one was paying attention to him, raised his thick eyebrows and shouted again:

"Dai Hao!"

"I'm asking you, Xu Jiawei! My spies saw it clearly: you two went into the mountains together!"

Dai Hao froze on the spot, his lips trembling. He subconsciously turned his head, looking at Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe for help.

Du Busi took in all his little movements, sneered, and narrowed his eyes dangerously:

"What, where did the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire go? You, the White Tiger Duke, his personal bodyguard, can't even tell me?"

Xuan Zi's face grew increasingly grim, and cold sweat seeped from the palms of his hands resting on Yan Shaozhe's shoulder.

Holy Spirit Cult, Mingde Hall, and now another Body Sect!

The strongest figures from all three factions gathered in this tiny valley.

Although the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is a treasure trove, the Poison Miasma surrounding it and the plant -Soul Beast inside simply cannot withstand the onslaught of these few Hyper Douluo.

If a chaotic battle were to break out here, the Herb Garden, which he had just regarded as the foundation of Shrek for the next ten thousand years, would definitely not be saved. In the end, only the academy's foundation would be destroyed.

Standing behind the two, Tang San silently took half a step back, shielding Xuan Zi and the other man in front of him, secretly calculating in his mind:

"The situation is completely out of control. If these people join forces to attack us for the Immortal Herb, forget about getting the medicine; I might not even make it out of Sunset Forest alive with this hard-won Sea Dragon body."

"Combined Du Busi."

Tang San's Divine Sense message rang in Xuan Zi's mind.

Xuan Zi's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly replied telepathically:

Ancestor, you are unaware of this—

"I said, combined Du Busi!" Tang San shouted angrily, interrupting him.

"We can give him a single Immortal Herb, and Huo Yuhao can take it to the Body Sect as well."

Xuan Zi's eyes widened suddenly, and he almost couldn't help but turn to look at Tang San behind him:

"Yuhao?!"

"Ancestor, he possessed Twin Martial Souls and the Ultimate Ice —that's what the academy—"

"If he goes to cultivate at the Body Sect, can't he continue being a student of Shrek?"

"The Body Sect excels at cultivating Body Martial Soul, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes are a perfect fit. Let them teach him. What are you so reluctant to give up?"

Xuan Zi was speechless for a moment.

Tang San glanced sideways at Huo Yuhao by the mountain wall in the distance, his mind already making plans.

Huo Yuhao carries the immense fortune of this era, and will be of great use in the future struggle for godhood and in winning back Xiao Wu.

However, the resources required to cultivate a Twin Martial Souls with Ultimate Attribute are astronomical.

Since the Body Sect covets these Spirit Eyes, why not go with the flow and let them fill this bottomless pit, thus solving our current problem in the process?

"With this Herb Garden here, and with my personal guidance, surely Bei Bei and the others can succeed?" Tang San continued to whisper in encouragement.

Why should Shrek be so stubborn and place all their hopes on Huo Yuhao alone?

These words were undeniably harsh.

Xuan Zi's chest heaved a few times, and he remained silent for a couple of breaths before finally suppressing his resentment with the words "I personally guided you."

He slowly released his hand from Yan Shaozhe's shoulder, raised his head, and looked past Dai Hao, directly at Du Busi.

"Du Busi."

Xuan Zi spoke in a deep voice, which echoed throughout the valley.

"Today, our two families have joined forces. Upon success, the academy is willing to gift the Body Sect a rare Immortal Herb!"

He paused, then said resolutely, "Furthermore, Shrek agrees to let Huo Yuhao go to your Body Sect for exchange and study!"

Du Busi had been staring at Dai Hao, waiting for an explanation. He had been somewhat disdainful when he heard the first part of Xuan Zi's sentence, but when he heard the name "Huo Yuhao," he immediately turned his head.

"Who are you talking about?!"

"Huo Yuhao," Xuan Zi repeated expressionlessly.

Du Busi stared at Xuan Zi's face, and after confirming that the other party was not joking, he suddenly grinned, and the laughter grew louder and louder:

Are you really willing to do that?

"Xuan Zi, Xuan Zi, back then you were willing to abandon Gu Mingyuan to protect him at all costs..."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Xuan Zi interrupted Du Busi sharply, his face ashen.

"Enough with the nonsense! I said 'exchange and learning'!"

"His going to your Body Sect to cultivate doesn't change the fact that he's a student of the Shrek Academy!"

"I know, they're Shrek students, I understand."

Du Busi die easily, but the smile in his eyes grew deeper and deeper.

Once someone enters the Body Sect, Shrek no longer has the final say.

Once that kid has witnessed the true cultivation method of the Body Martial Soul, and seen firsthand the earth-shattering power of the Body Sect's Second Awakening, are you still afraid he'll be willing to leave?

Shrek Academy can keep the empty title of academy student if they want; what they want is Huo Yuhao Du Busi him!