When Disaster Strikes, Everyone Flees

The people of the Douluo Continent felt a chill run down their spines as they read the rows of glaring Bullet Comments and Long Wei's naked threat.

Those who had been confronting the Northern Underworld Empire were especially panicked. They feared the empire would rake them with Soul Cannon fire and blow them to pieces—or capture them alive and torture them to death.

Beside the waterfall, Tang Hao and Tang San stared at the words on Bei Mingxue's Sky Screen. Their hearts turned cold, and the strength nearly drained from their bodies.

Neither had imagined the other side would have such a violent temper. They had only wanted the Northern Underworld Empire's coordinates so they could steal its Soul Cannons. Who knew it would come charging at them in a full-throttle stampede?

"Father, why don't we run?"

Tang San looked at Tang Hao, panic and helplessness filling his voice. "If the Northern Underworld Empire invades this place, we won't survive. They'll torture us and make us wish we were dead!"

Smack!

A sharp slap rang out. Tang Hao looked at Tang San with the exasperation of a man watching iron refuse to become steel. "Run? Where do you think we can run?"

"Have you forgotten our family's blood feud? If we flee, who will take revenge on Spirit Hall? Huh?"

Tang San held his cheek, feeling deeply wronged. "Father, we can't just stay here and wait to die!"

"Hmph."

Tang Hao snorted. "I refuse to believe it. I'm the mighty Clear Sky Douluo. If I don't fear Spirit Hall, why should I fear some Northern Underworld Empire?"

"Little San, focus on your training. I'll keep watch over everything."

"Mm!"

At Shrek Academy, no one was more frightened than Yu Xiaogang. He had collapsed to the floor, tears and snot streaming down his face, and had nearly wet himself.

The moment he heard Bei Mingxue's words, he knew disaster was coming. He had been attacking the people of the Northern Underworld Empire all along. If they came to kill him, how could he possibly survive?

"It's over! It's all over!"

Yu Xiaogang was so panicked he could barely think straight. "I have to run. I have to get away! My peerless mind can't die here!"

He immediately began packing, planning to flee the empire and hide inland, far from the continent's coast.

Perhaps he could survive that way. Once he entered the Mountain Range, no one would ever find him.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Xiaogang, are you there?"

It's Liu Erlong!

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly set his luggage aside, wiped his face, and opened the door with a strained smile. "Erlong, what brings you here?"

"Xiaogang."

Worry filled Liu Erlong's eyes. "Is what Bo Saixi said true? Is the Northern Underworld Continent really coming to collide with us?"

Yu Xiaogang slowly sat down beside the bed, his expression darkening. "Yes. According to her, they'll reach the Douluo Continent in three days."

"What are we going to do?"

Once Yu Xiaogang confirmed it, Liu Erlong grew anxious. "There are too many students at the academy. Three days isn't nearly enough time to move them far."

"Xiaogang, what do you think I should do?"

"Erlong."

Yu Xiaogang's face suddenly turned solemn. "If we can't run, then we might as well stay and fight them to the bitter end!"

"Xiaogang, have you gone mad?"

Liu Erlong was startled. "That's the power of an entire continent. How could our academy possibly defeat them?"

"Besides, I don't want my students involved in this battle."

Liu Erlong sighed. "They're still children. They're too young to have to think about any of this."

"They have their whole lives ahead of them. I can't stand by and watch them march to their deaths," Liu Erlong said, lowering her eyes.

"But if we don't fight, what do you think will happen? Do you think they'll spare me?"

Anxiety surged through Yu Xiaogang. If Shrek's students didn't risk their lives, was he supposed to risk his own?

Only if fighting broke out would he have a chance to slip out of the Heaven Dou Empire, hide deep in the mountains, and escape disaster.

As for those students—sorry. For the sake of this Grandmaster's genius mind, they would have to be sacrificed.

"Once they reach the Douluo Continent, they'll burn, kill, and plunder. There'll be no evil they won't commit. We won't be able to escape then, either!"

Yu Xiaogang seized Liu Erlong's shoulders and glared at her fiercely. "Erlong, if they come and capture me, they'll torture me mercilessly. Can you really bear to watch me be tortured to death?"

"But..."

Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang uncertainly. "I don't think the Northern Underworld Empire is that extreme. The North Nether Great Emperor sounded fairly reasonable. He doesn't seem like that kind of person."

"Erlong! You can know someone's face without knowing their heart!"

Seeing her waver, Yu Xiaogang hastened to speak with earnest gravity. "The people of our two continents have never even met. How could you know what they're like?"

"Besides, they're about to attack us with an entire continent. Do you really think they're good people?"

Yu Xiaogang released Liu Erlong and stood up. "And we have the Heaven Dou Empire behind us. With its army of a million, defeating the mere Northern Underworld Empire should be as easy as turning over a hand!"

"And if the Douluo Continent is invaded, the Star Luo Empire won't sit idly by. I refuse to believe the Northern Underworld Empire can face two such behemoths at once and still win!"

"Well..."

Liu Erlong turned her head and noticed a half-packed bundle nearby.

"Xiaogang, is that..."

Seeing her attention settle on the bundle, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly put it away.

"That... I... I've been sorting through my book collection lately, so I packed away the things I don't need for now."

"I see."

Liu Erlong nodded, suspecting nothing.

Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief when she showed no suspicion. "Whatever happens, we mustn't give in. We have to fight them!"

"Let me think about it some more."

Liu Erlong stood, glanced at Yu Xiaogang, and turned to leave.

Watching her go, Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief. Then he turned back to his luggage and continued packing for his escape.

Outside the door, a pair of eyes had seen everything Yu Xiaogang had done.

Xiaogang, what exactly are you...

On Sea God Island, the islanders panicked when they saw on the Sky Screen that the Northern Underworld Empire was racing toward them at full speed.

"What's going on? Am I dreaming? Why is an entire continent sailing across the sea?"

"Sailing? It's practically flying! Didn't you hear the High Priest? It's hundreds of millions of li away, yet it'll reach the Douluo Continent in just three days!"

"Does that mean we're finished?"

"Lord Sea God! Lord Sea God, please save your people!"

The Soul Masters on the island dropped to their knees and called out Poseidon's name, hoping he would intervene and save Sea God Island.