Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
Ever since Yun Ming had gone with Qian Gu Fenfeng to ambush and kill Tang Wulin and been brought back by Yali, he had remained unconscious inside the Golden Ancient Tree.
Several months later.
"Yali... Yali..."
"I hate this..."
Cai Yue'er, who had been half-asleep beside him, suddenly jolted awake. Seeing Yun Ming muttering to himself, she immediately shrieked:
"Brother Ming is awake! Brother Ming is awake!"
Hearing that piercing, grating voice, all the Sea God Pavilion elders frowned in unison, then hurried toward the place where Yun Ming was recovering.
Yun Ming's mind was a muddled haze. Dimly hearing a piercing screech, he could not help thinking, Why is there a special-grade cursed spirit here too!?
Within moments, the Sea God Pavilion elders had gathered around Yun Ming's bed, gazing at him with hopeful eyes.
They had been having a truly miserable time lately. After word of Yun Ming's coma spread like wildfire, Qiangu Qingfeng succeeded Qian Gu Fenfeng. At first, seeing that the kindest, most benevolent member of the Qiangu Family had taken over, the remaining great clans and sects grew somewhat brazen. However, Qiangu Qingfeng soon showed them exactly why he was Qian Gu Fenfeng's elder brother.
The two brothers' methods were cast from the same mold. Qiangu Qingfeng immediately seized this opportunity to bloodily suppress the forces harboring disloyalty toward the Qiangu Family. With that, the Pro-Shrek Faction lurking in the shadows was all but eradicated. These clans, which had clung to their last breaths during Qian Gu Fenfeng's era, were completely destroyed, and the Qiangu Family's power reached its peak.
"Huh? Why hasn't Yali come?"
"Ah, seeing Yun Ming so badly injured has left Yali unable to eat or sleep lately. She's become quite haggard. Perhaps she's still resting."
"Quite right, quite right. Heaven and earth can bear witness to Yali's feelings for the Pavilion Master!"
"Yes, I heard that Yali has been yearning for Pavilion Master Yun late into the night lately. Even the people next door to her bedchamber could hear her!"
"Oh, we mustn't speak of it, mustn't speak of it!"
It would have been fine had the elders said nothing, but once they spoke, their discussion reached Yun Ming as he hovered on the verge of waking.
"Pfft..."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Heaven means to destroy our Shrek!"
Yun Ming's face suddenly turned deathly pale, his blood surged backward, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Will you all shut up?!" Cai Yue'er shrieked again.
Then she hurriedly took a jar from inside her clothes, murmuring, "Brother Ming... these are golden leaves from the Golden Ancient Tree. Hold them in your mouth. You might feel a little better."
Watching from the side, Zhuo Shi suggested, "Why not have Pavilion Master Yun swallow them? Perhaps the effects would be better?"
"Hmm? An excellent idea! Have Yun Ming swallow the golden leaves!"
"Right, Lan Muzi, hurry and fetch Yali! Her Prayer Angel can help him recover from his injuries!"
"Yes! I'll go at once!"
With that, the elders began whispering among themselves again.
"Speaking of which, what exactly happened to Pavilion Master Yun? How did he get injured so badly?"
"Hmph! It must have been that Qiangu brat!"
Hearing this, Cai Yue'er immediately stuffed all the golden leaves in the jar into Yun Ming's mouth, looking so furious that her hair might have stood on end. "I'll go to the Spirit Pagoda right now and demand an explanation from Qian Gu Fenfeng! Elder Long has been unconscious ever since Brother Ming rescued her. We can settle the old scores and the new together!"
"Oh! Absolutely not!"
"For heaven's sake!"
"You brainless fool!"
As they spoke, Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu exchanged a glance and struck in unison, subduing Cai Yue'er with thunderous speed.
"Outrageous! Now that Brother Ming is unconscious, are you two going to overturn the heavens?!" As she spoke, Cai Yue'er actually began crying with grievance.
"Elders..." Lan Muzi returned, looking troubled.
"Oh? Muzi, where's Yali?"
"Her Excellency Yali... she fainted!"
"What?!"
"Truly, a tiger fallen onto the plains is bullied by dogs!"
"Who did it?!"
"Please calm down, elders... Her Excellency... she... she..."
"It's all right. Speak freely!"
"She masturbated herself unconscious!"
"What?"
Where the elders could not see, Yun Ming's heart shattered once more.
Federal Notice [No. 07]
To all federal jurisdictions across the continent, major sects, Soul Master Academies, soul technology research institutions, and civilian organizations:
To celebrate Federation Council Chair Qian Gu Fenfeng's imminent ascension to godhood, proclaim the arrival of a new era across the continent, and commemorate the epoch-making historical event of the birth of the first divine Councilor, the Federation, following deliberation by parliament and consultation with the Qiangu Family, has decided to hold a Godhood Investiture Ceremony. The relevant arrangements are hereby announced as follows:
The Godhood Investiture Ceremony will be held before the Parliament Building in Mingdu three years from now and broadcast live throughout the Federation. All forces must send representatives to attend in an orderly manner.
Inside the Federal Parliament, the councilors were abuzz with discussion. But with Qiangu Qingfeng presiding, they could do nothing about his issuing a federal decree directly, bypassing parliamentary procedure. Moreover, the Qiangu Family was now even more powerful than before, with Qian Gu Fenfeng on the verge of becoming a god as well (the outside world did not know that the protagonist had already broken through to god level).
Looking down at the councilors' varied expressions, Qiangu Qingfeng felt a complicated mix of emotions. He was deeply gratified that his third younger brother was now in seclusion and about to attain godhood.
Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
"What!?"
"Qian Gu Fenfeng is about to become a god!"
"What are we going to do..."
Having heard the Federation's news bulletin, the elders began whispering beside Yun Ming's bed again.
"Shrek has already made an enemy of the Qiangu Family. Once Qian Gu Fenfeng emerges from seclusion, he certainly won't spare us!"
Yun Ming lay peacefully on the bed. Dimly hearing these words, his blood surged backward once again, and he violently spat out a mouthful, splattering Cai Yue'er's face with blood.
"Brother Ming!"
"Pavilion Master!"
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