In the floating palace atop the Spirit Pagoda, an iron cage gleamed with chilling soul-device runes. Long Yeyue's limbs were bound by restraining chains.
Her light and darkness Soul Power was suppressed beneath layer upon layer of seals, and her magnificent dragon scales had lost their luster. Blood kept seeping from the corner of her mouth. Her Quasi-God body was forcibly restrained, leaving her unable to muster even a trace of her origin power.
She raised her head to glare at Qian Gu Fenfeng looming above her, her eyes filled with unyielding fury. Just as she was about to denounce him, a surge of dragon energy inside her sent her blood and vital energy churning, forcing out a muffled groan.
Just then, a raging sea of clouds suddenly surged across the heavens, and a slender, upright figure strode through the air toward them.
Pale blue gales formed from Soul Power swirled around Yun Ming, the Sea God Pavilion Master. The pressure of a Level 99 Limit Douluo crashed down, making the space throughout the Spirit Pagoda tremble faintly.
His gaze fell on the bedraggled Long Yeyue inside the cage. His pupils abruptly contracted, and the chill radiating from him nearly froze the surrounding air.
"Qian Gu Fenfeng, you have some nerve."
With Shrek's reputation at stake, Yun Ming had no choice but to take a hard line.
Yun Ming's voice was quiet, yet it carried a coldness that pierced the clouds. His gaze remained fixed on Qian Gu Fenfeng. "You slaughtered the Sea God Family and put one established family after another to the sword. Now you've even imprisoned the deputy master of Shrek's Sea God Pavilion. Do you truly believe the Qian Gu Clan can cover the sky with one hand?"
Qian Gu Fenfeng stood with his hands behind his back. A coiling dragon phantom slowly rose and fell behind him, and Annihilation Dragon Breath flowed around his fingertips. His expression remained indifferent.
"Pavilion Master Yun Ming, you shouldn't make reckless accusations." His lips curved into a faint, indifferent smile, his tone carrying an unquestionable forcefulness. "The Sea God Family maintained private armies to carve out its own domain and colluded with rebels. Chen Xinjie committed treason and was executed. These are conclusions established under federal law. Long Yeyue trespassed into the Federal Parliament, openly challenged federal authority, and resisted trial. She ought to be detained pending trial in the first place, so how can you call this imprisonment?"
"The law?" Yun Ming gave a cold laugh. Soul Power surged in his palm, and the Sea God's Power stirred faintly. "You carry out dictatorial slaughter in the Federation's name. Those who obey you prosper; those who defy you perish. Is that what you call the law? Qian Gu Fenfeng, release Long Yeyue today, and this matter can still be discussed. Otherwise, it means all-out war between Shrek and the Qian Gu Clan."
At those words, a cold gleam flashed through Qian Gu Fenfeng's eyes. The phantom of the Coiling Dragon Staff abruptly formed in his palm, its golden radiance flickering in and out. The space around him warped and churned beneath the scorching Annihilation Law.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"War?" He chuckled. "Would you dare?"
He lifted his eyes to look straight at Yun Ming, his sharpness fully exposed. "Shrek should not interfere in the Federation's internal affairs. The destruction of the Sea God Clan and the reckoning brought upon every established family were simply the tide of events."
"If you insist on protecting Long Yeyue, then go ahead and fight without restraint. Let's see whether your Sea God Pavilion's deep foundations or my Qian Gu Clan's Coiling Dragon Bloodline proves superior."
Soul Power tightened at Yun Ming's fingertips, and blue winds howled around him. He knew better than anyone how terrifying Qian Gu Fenfeng's strength was.
Below God Level, he was invincible.
And without Ya Li's help, Yun Ming had not yet formed a Demigod Position.
For a time, above the floating palace, two supremely powerful auras confronted each other from a distance, and the air stood still.
"Sigh..."
In the end, Yun Ming yielded first. "Qian Gu Fenfeng, tell me your terms."
"From now on, Shrek Academy must pay taxes to the Federation. The tax rate will be sixty percent," Qian Gu Fenfeng said calmly.
"Impossible!" Yun Ming abruptly tightened his grip on the Heavenly Spear.
"Then please leave." Qian Gu Fenfeng turned and began to walk away.
Yun Ming stared at his retreating back and steeled himself. "Forty percent!"
"Seventy percent." Qian Gu Fenfeng chuckled.
"Why has the price gone up?!"
"Sixty percent was the price a moment ago, Pavilion Master Yun."
"You... Fenfeng, it's been a long time since we last sparred. Why don't we have a bout?"
"Are you sure?" Qian Gu Fenfeng raised an eyebrow. "We're the same age. I hadn't intended to crush you from a higher dimension!"
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