Moral Blackmail!

Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang said to Tang San, "Tang San, you were the one who brought the beast tide here to save them, weren't you?"

Tang San knitted his brows and explained, "I only meant to lure over some younger soul beasts. I never expected to trigger such a massive beast tide. I'm sorry, but we have to leave immediately, or the consequences will be unthinkable."

After hesitating for two breaths, Tang San said helplessly, "You'll have to fend for yourselves! This isn't my fault."

With that, Tang San dragged Zhao Wuji and Dai Mubai along, while Oscar carried Ma Hongjun on his back, preparing to escape the beast tide's reach.

Dragon Duke glared at Tang San and threatened, "Tang San, you disturbed my granddaughter while she was absorbing her soul ring. This feud won't end until one of us is dead!"

Seeing this, Chen Xuanqing hurried forward and snapped, "Tang San, if you stay and help us hold off the beast tide, I can let bygones be bygones. Yiran has reached a critical stage in absorbing her soul ring. You're the one who brought the beast tide here. Shouldn't you take responsibility?"

Tang San glanced back at those words, then left without looking back again.

Seeing this, Chen Xuanqing turned to Dragon Duke and Snake Granny. "Senior Dragon Duke, Senior Snake Granny, please rest assured. I'll do everything I can to protect Yiran. Hold off the beast tide for now. I'll find a way to resolve this."

Dragon Duke and Snake Granny exchanged a glance and nodded. They knew this was no time to dwell on grudges; they had to join forces to stop the beast tide.

The two positioned themselves in front of Meng Yiran, ready to hold off the beast tide even at the cost of their lives.

"Second Soul Skill: Charm!"

A red gleam flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes. The surrounding soul beasts seemed drawn to her, and for a moment, many of them fell into a brief daze.

"Third Soul Skill: Teleportation!"

In an instant, Xiao Wu's figure flickered repeatedly. She knocked a soul beast unconscious with a single kick, sparing these soul beasts' lives.

"Second Soul Skill: Netherworld Hundred Claws!"

Zhu Zhuqing unleashed her soul skill, Netherworld Hundred Claws, with the speed of thunder striking before one could cover one's ears.

Her body spun rapidly, her sharp feline claws slashing through the air like lightning. Every strike was precise and deadly.

Under Zhu Zhuqing's relentless attacks, many younger soul beasts fell one after another.

Chen Xuanqing activated his Martial Soul Avatar. The Crocodile Ancestor's hundred-meter-long body was immense, barreling through the tide and sending countless soul beasts flying.

With a furious roar, Chen Xuanqing slammed down a claw, instantly knocking several soul beasts away, their fates unknown.

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Dragon-Snake Combined Strike!"

Not to be outdone, Dragon Duke and Snake Granny joined forces to unleash their soul skill, Dragon-Snake Combined Strike.

A massive dragon materialized out of thin air and crashed into the beast tide below, snuffing out nearly a hundred soul beasts' lives in an instant.

The five fighters' attacks swept through the beast tide like a raging storm, temporarily holding back its charge.

Yet they all knew this was only temporary. Too many soul beasts had been swept into the tide; their attacks could only keep it in check for a while.

Just then, Tang San and Oscar suddenly retreated back with the others from Shrek Academy. They stumbled and collapsed to the ground, their faces filled with terror.

Then Tang San and Oscar dropped to one knee before Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, their faces full of despair and pleading.

Tang San choked out, "Senior Dragon Duke, Senior Snake Granny, we... we truly have no other choice. I was wrong earlier. I'm lower than a beast for doing something so despicable. I'm willing to trade my life for another. Please save the others from Shrek Academy. We're willing to atone with our deaths!"

Oscar nodded repeatedly. "Yes, seniors, we really don't want to die here like this. Please help us. We'd be eternally grateful!"

Chen Xuanqing hadn't expected Tang San to have a knack for moral blackmail, too. Didn't those words instantly establish his noble persona?

Besides, even if they managed to hold off the beast tide, would Dragon Duke and Snake Granny still have the nerve to take his life? If they failed, everyone would be finished anyway, so there would be nothing more to discuss.

But the most pressing matter now was to find out what had happened.

Chen Xuanqing frowned deeply and asked, "Tang San, Oscar, what exactly did you encounter? Why did you come back?"

Oscar answered in a trembling voice, "We encountered an ape soul beast dozens of meters tall. It looked like it was at least a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and it's heading this way. It nearly trampled us to death. Luckily, we ran fast enough. But strangely, the beast tide also seems to be slowly retreating because of it."

Tang San nodded in agreement. "Yes, that ape soul beast is far too powerful. We're no match for it at all. Now we can only rely on your strength to protect us."

Yet after speaking, Tang San's heart was filled with shame. As a disciple of the Tang Sect, he had always taken pride in its guiding principles.

Now, however, he had no choice but to bow his head and beg others for help. Tang San found this unbearably humiliating.

At the same time, Tang San swore inwardly that, no matter what, he would exact revenge on everyone who had witnessed this scene today. Word of his disgraceful display absolutely could not spread. He was a perfect being.

He would follow the Tang Sect's principles as his code, killing them by any means necessary to achieve his goal.

A trace of gravity flashed through Dragon Duke's eyes when he heard Oscar's words.

He said solemnly, "An ape soul beast dozens of meters tall? That must be the Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape. Its appearance may well be the root cause of this beast tide."

Snake Granny nodded, agreeing with Dragon Duke.

Then Snake Granny turned her gaze toward Chen Xuanqing, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing nearby.

Her voice was gentle, yet carried an unquestionable resolve. "Xuanqing, and you two youngsters, this had nothing to do with you in the first place. You've already shown us every kindness by helping this far. Now leave this troubled place as quickly as you can. This isn't something you can intervene in."

Listening to Snake Granny, Oscar and Tang San felt a measure of resentment. Why had she told only those three to leave, rather than telling everyone to go?

With their lives under threat, Tang San and Oscar couldn't help looking expectantly at Chen Xuanqing, hoping he would speak up and take them all with him.

Chen Xuanqing, however, knitted his brows, a wave of disgust rising within him.

Chen Xuanqing turned toward Tang San, his tone cold. "Tang San, I think you'd better stay here and fulfill your promise. A life for a life-that was what you promised earlier. You don't need me to supervise you, do you?"

At those words, Tang San's face instantly turned livid. He glared furiously at Chen Xuanqing, rage blazing in his heart.

Yet Tang San knew this was no time to lash out. He could only force his anger down, while the hatred in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

At that moment, Tang San once again swore silently to himself, No matter what methods I have to use in the future, I'll tear this man before me into ten thousand pieces. Only then will the hatred in my heart be appeased.