Shrek Is Brutally Defeated; Tang Hao Appears; the Spirit Bone Is Stolen

"Exactly."

Even Zhao Wuji managed a conciliatory smile. The moment the backlash from the Martial Soul Fusion Skill had forced him back, he had known they'd botched this. For now, all he could do was back down.

"We were worried about our students' injuries and offended the two young ladies in our haste. We apologize to them."

Tang San said nothing. He merely took half a step back, shielding Xiao Wu behind him.

His mind raced.

Charging through is suicide. I need another way out.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward just then. His gray robe was old, but he wore it with an air of composure.

He met Shui Yunlian's gaze calmly and drew an ancient-looking token from his robes. Engraved on it was Spirit Hall's emblem: a long sword piercing an angel and a Clear Sky Hammer.

"I am an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall. I ask you all to stand down."

Yu Xiaogang did not raise his voice, but he spoke with unshakable confidence.

He had no choice but to reveal this trump card. When Bibi Dong had given him the token years ago, he had never imagined using it to get out of a predicament.

But if he kept it hidden now, these Skywater City soul masters would likely beat them senseless on the spot.

Shui Yunlian glanced at the token. Surprise flickered across her face before her lips slowly curled in mockery.

She knew Yu Xiaogang.

He was the famous Grandmaster, unmatched in theory and pitifully weak in combat.

Since when had he become an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall?

With strength as meager as his, why would Spirit Hall ever grant him that title?

"An Honorary Elder?"

Shui Yunlian gave a cold laugh, her contempt undisguised.

"I've never seen one so weak."

Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er had reached Shui Yunlian's side. The sisters held hands. Using their Martial Soul Fusion Skill had left them somewhat pale, but their eyes remained cool.

Shui Bing'er glanced at Yu Xiaogang, her ice-blue eyes unwavering.

Whatever his position, she would never act on behalf of someone with such rotten character.

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened completely. The hand holding the token trembled slightly.

Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged despairing looks. Even Grandmaster's Spirit Hall token was useless. They had truly picked a fight with the wrong people.

"Bibi Dong gave it to me herself. How could it be fake?"

Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, his tone grave and certain.

"If you dare attack me, Spirit Hall will never spare you."

Shui Yunlian's mocking smile deepened.

Bibi Dong gave it to him herself? With Yu Xiaogang's paltry strength, Her Holiness the Pope would personally give him an Honorary Elder's token? I don't believe a word of it.

"Teach those three teachers a lesson," Shui Yunlian said coldly, pointing at Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Xiaogang.

"They helped their students abduct two young women. People like that have no business teaching anyone."

Before she finished speaking, Skywater Academy's teachers surged forward like a wave.

Flender instinctively tried to summon his martial soul, but Shui Yunlian's Soul Douluo-level pressure crashed down on him. His movement faltered, and a small fist caught him square in the face.

Zhao Wuji relied on his tough body to weather several punches, but he could not fend off so many attackers. A group of female teachers soon pinned him to the ground and kicked him hard.

Yu Xiaogang had it worst. Weak to begin with, he was kicked down before he could even summon his martial soul. All he could do was curl up and cover his head.

Tang San clenched his teeth. A Soul Ring lit up beneath him as he moved to charge forward, but Yu Xiaogang raised his head between the flying fists and feet and barked:

"Stay back!"

Dean Shui still had some restraint. She was only beating the three older men, not the youngsters.

They had been in the wrong from the start.

When they could not persuade the sisters, they had blocked their path. When that failed, they had tried to seize them by force. If Shui Bing'er and her sister had not had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill to protect themselves, Shrek would have succeeded, and Skywater Academy would have been the one at a disadvantage now.

If this was their punishment, then they would accept it to the end.

Tang San balled his hands into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. Xiao Wu clutched his sleeve and buried her face behind his shoulder, unable to watch.

Dai Mubai stood silently to one side. Oscar huddled beside the carriage, hardly daring to breathe.

They could only watch as their three teachers cried out under the rain of fists and feet. Every blow felt like a slap to their own faces.

Shui Yunlian raised a hand. The teachers stopped at once and returned to their places.

Flender climbed to his feet, holding his face. His left eye was ringed with bruises.

Zhao Wuji's clothes were covered in footprints, and his lip was split. Yu Xiaogang's glasses sat crooked on his face, and his gray robe was caked with dirt. He looked utterly wretched.

"Fight us one-on-one if you've got the guts!" Tang San finally snapped.

Shui Yunlian looked as though she had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"One-on-one? When all of you surrounded my two students, why didn't you suggest that? Where was your dignity when you were bullying the young and outnumbering them?

"I've already shown you plenty of consideration by having only our teachers punish yours.

"You're awfully confident, young man. Think you can take on my Bing'er and Yue'er?"

Tang San could not muster a single word in reply.

He had seen the power of Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er's Martial Soul Fusion Skill with his own eyes. At his current strength, he might have stood a chance against either of them alone. Against both of them and their fusion skill, he had none.

"What are you waiting for? Get lost."

Seeing that they still had not moved, Shui Yunlian's sneer sharpened.

"Or spend a few nights in the Ice Prison and think about what you've done."

The soul masters watching took a step forward together, menace in their eyes.

Just then, terrifying pressure descended from the sky.

Vast as a mountain and fierce enough to sweep aside anything in its path, it shattered the aura of Shui Yunlian's level-eighty-six Soul Douluo power like paper. Her expression changed drastically. She staggered back five or six steps before barely regaining her footing.

Several soul masters at the front were knocked to the ground. Skywater Academy's teachers retreated as one, their formation falling apart in an instant.

A dark figure dropped from the sky and landed before the Shrek group. He was a burly middle-aged man in a tattered black robe. Unkempt hair hid half his face, but his one visible eye held a depth that seized the soul.

The aura radiating from him was unmistakably that of a Titled Douluo.

"Haha! Your Excellency, you finally stepped in!" Flender cried in delight. Forgetting his injuries, he pointed at Shui Bing'er.

"Take Shui Bing'er with us, and we'll—"

"Leave," Tang Hao said with a shake of his head.

Flender's smile froze. Zhao Wuji opened his mouth, but one look from Tang Hao silenced him.

If even His Excellency Clear Sky did not want to fight here, then Skywater City held more dangers than they had imagined. Or perhaps they were so clearly in the wrong that even Tang Hao refused to use force.

"Yes." Flender gritted his teeth and signaled everyone to withdraw.