The deepest reaches of Shrek Academy's dungeon never saw daylight. Layer upon layer of god-level sealing arrays shrouded the place, and the surrounding air was cold and oppressive, as though even time had grown thick and sluggish here.
Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Lan Fozi walked side by side through the dim passage. Their footsteps echoed through the empty corridor with startling clarity. Lan Fozi walked slowly. Her once-radiant blue hair now looked somewhat dull, and her exquisite face was filled with tension and unease. From time to time, she turned toward Tang Wulin beside her, seemingly hoping to read something in his calm profile. But Tang Wulin kept his eyes ahead, betraying no emotion.
"We're here." Gu Yue stopped, her voice cool.
Before them stood an enormous stone door covered in golden runes. With a light tap of the Silver Dragon Spear in Gu Yue's hand, the door gave a deep rumble and slowly parted to either side.
The cell held none of the blood and darkness they might have imagined. Instead, a soft white light enveloped it. At its center sat a woman in black robes, her legs crossed. Although she wore a specially made soul power suppression suit and heavy black iron chains bound her hands and feet, the terrifying aura of a peak Quasi-God still faintly distorted the air around her.
It was the Demon Empress. The leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, the woman who had once plunged the entire continent into terror.
At the sound of the door opening, the Demon Empress slowly opened her eyes. When she saw the three visitors, her gaze settled first on Lan Fozi. An intensely complicated ripple passed through her eyes—anger, disappointment, but above all, an indescribable coldness.
"You still have the nerve to face me?" The Demon