Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda Join Forces to Apply Pressure!

Tang Wulin sat in the chair, his lower legs dangling in the air. He swung them a little, his expression as calm as if he were listening to a joke.

"Oh," he replied blandly. "Did he mention that his grandson attacked first and tried to kill me?"

General Li snorted. "That isn't important. What matters is that you crippled his grandson. War God Wang Shi said you are not to be released. No matter who comes for you."

Tang Wulin tilted his head, then suddenly smiled. "Fine, then. Let's wait."

He yawned and leaned back in his chair. "Uncle, do you have anything to eat here? I'm hungry."

General Li: "..."

At a time like this, he was still thinking about food?

He couldn't be bothered with Tang Wulin. He turned and left the interrogation room, ordered the soldiers to guard the door, then headed straight to his office.

He needed to report this to the Federation's higher-ups and let them know they had arrested an "important figure." He would leave out those supposed connections, though.

Tang Wulin was clearly spouting nonsense. How could anyone have such terrifying connections?

Heh.

Even if he really did have such terrifying connections, he could just release him later. What else could happen?

In the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.

Shrek City erupted.

Overnight, every Federation institution stationed in Shrek City received an expulsion order.

Shrek Academy issued a notice in the name of the Sea God Pavilion: all Federation personnel were to leave Shrek City within one day, or bear the consequences.

At the same time, Shrek Academy announced the suspension of all cooperative projects with the Federation, including but not limited to soul guidance technology research and development, rare metal supplies, and advanced soul master training.

The sudden news shook the entire Sun Moon Federation.

Countless citizens debated it heatedly.

"What's going on? Have Shrek Academy and the Federation fallen out? Are they going to war?"

"No way. If they really start fighting, what are ordinary people like us supposed to do?"

"I think Shrek Academy has gotten too full of itself. Support the Federation!"

Public opinion was divided, but in this age of technology and the internet, the arguments immediately reached a deafening pitch.

The Federation Parliament Building, the Chairman's office.

The Federation Chairman had been happily enjoying the first day of his vacation, but rushed back as soon as he received the news. His face turned livid as he read the intelligence in his hands. He slammed the documents onto the desk, beside himself with rage.

"What is Shrek Academy trying to do? Declare war?"

Shrek Academy's special standing within the Federation had taken shape ten thousand years ago. There were historical factors behind it, and its influence within all the major powers had also contributed to its independence.

But that independence and special status had long dissatisfied many people. Many within the Federation wanted to revoke Shrek Academy's independence.

Over the years, the Federation had grown increasingly tough toward Shrek Academy. Yet before the Federation had even moved against it, Shrek Academy had struck at the Federation first!

Outrageous!

"Mr. Chairman,"

a Parliament Member said gravely, "Shrek Academy's actions amount to openly defying the Federation. We must take firm measures and show them that the Sun Moon Federation isn't theirs to manipulate!"

"Exactly!" another Parliament Member agreed. "Shrek Academy may be powerful, but the Sun Moon Federation isn't some meek vegetarian either. We have the War God Temple and the Federation Army! Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect together still can't overturn the heavens!"

"Yes! We must make them apologize!"

"This is a perfect opportunity to strike at Shrek Academy!"

Indignation filled the meeting room. The Parliament Members voiced their positions one after another, determined to seize this opportunity to teach Shrek Academy a lesson. Listening to them, the Chairman slowly nodded.

"In that case, we'll..."

"Report!"

A messenger rushed in, panic-stricken and deathly pale. "Mr. Chairman! Urgent military intelligence!"

The Chairman frowned. "What has you so flustered?"

"The Spirit Pagoda... the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters just issued a notice!" the messenger panted. "Effective immediately, all Federation personnel who go to the Spirit Pagoda to acquire soul spirits will be charged triple the price!"

The meeting room fell silent in an instant.

What were soul spirits? Essential resources for a soul master's cultivation! Without soul spirits, soul masters could neither break through their bottlenecks nor obtain soul rings. The Spirit Pagoda monopolized the supply of soul spirits across the entire continent. This move was practically a deathblow to the Federation!

"Has the Spirit Pagoda gone mad?!" The Chairman slammed the table and rose to his feet. "Are they backing Shrek Academy? Haven't those two always been at odds?"

Wasn't the discord between Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda common knowledge?

Qiangu Dongfeng was even said to have a grudge against Yun Ming!

"Mr. Chairman," a Parliament Member said, his expression grim, "if the Spirit Pagoda joins forces with Shrek Academy, possibly with the Tang Sect backing them as well, the Federation really will be in danger."

The Chairman's face was so dark it looked ready to drip water. Just as he was about to speak, another messenger rushed in.

"Report! Mr. Chairman! Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua has suddenly issued a statement!"

"What statement?"

"Zhen Hua said... he said that from now on, he won't forge any more Four-Word battle armor for anyone from the Federation until his disciple is released!"

A deathly silence settled over the meeting room.

Four-Word battle armor. It was the finest equipment on the entire continent, and Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua was the only person capable of forging it.

Which of the Federation's Super Douluos and Limit Douluos didn't yearn for a set of Four-Word battle armor? With this move, Zhen Hua had seized the Federation's strongest combatants directly by the throat!

"Disciple? What disciple? What are all these people trying to do? Why is every one of them targeting the Federation?"

Even the Chairman's lips were trembling. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to discover he couldn't get a single word out.

Just then, a third messenger ran in, looking even more panicked than the first two. "Mr. Chairman! Someone has arrived outside Federation headquarters!"

"Who?"

"A man wearing a chef's uniform... he, he specifically came to challenge the Federation, and he named Lieutenant General Li Tian and War God Wang Shi as the men he wanted to fight. He said he could take them both at once!"

The Chairman: "..."

Everyone in the meeting room exchanged glances, seeing the same question in one another's eyes.

What the hell was going on?!

Shrek Academy had suddenly expelled Federation personnel, the Spirit Pagoda had tripled soul spirit prices, Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua had refused to forge Four-Word battle armor, and a man in a chef's uniform had shown up at Federation headquarters to issue a challenge.

With a lineup like this, anyone who didn't know better would think the Federation had stirred up some colossal hornet's nest.

The problem was, he still had no idea what had happened!

The air in the meeting room seemed to have congealed.

The Chairman leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk with dull thuds.

His gaze swept across the Parliament Members' faces, each as grim as the next. The silence lasted a long time before someone finally couldn't bear it any longer and spoke.

"Mr. Chairman... what exactly is going on?" an elderly Parliament Member asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Shrek Academy has expelled Federation personnel, the Spirit Pagoda has tripled soul spirit prices, Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua has refused to forge battle armor, and now a Titled Douluo has appeared at Federation headquarters to challenge us... are they joining forces against us?"

"Impossible!" Another Parliament Member shook his head sharply. "Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda have fought openly and schemed against each other for so many years. How could they suddenly join forces? And that Titled Douluo issuing challenges—I've never even heard of him. Who knows where he crawled out from?"

"But the facts are right before our eyes!" The elderly Parliament Member slapped the table.

"If this isn't coordinated action, how could they all launch their attacks overnight? Tell me, what exactly is going on!"