Xiao Wu Was Reduced to a Brush

Ma Hongjun was led into the main hall of Nalanda Temple, where solemn Buddha statues stood on every side.

Ma Hongjun knelt before the Buddha statue in the center, wailing to heaven and earth.

"No! I don't want my head shaved! I'm not joining your Nalanda Temple anymore!"

Ma Hongjun truly regretted it now.

When he arrived last night, they had merely tossed him two steamed buns and a bowl of water. He had thought nothing of it, eaten, and gone to sleep.

Who knew breakfast would be steamed buns again?

Only then did he learn that Buddhism had monastic rules and precepts.

No killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no drinking...

There were so many rules that a single glance gave Ma Hongjun a headache.

What kind of life had he led during his dozen-odd years on the Douluo Continent? Grass Chicken Phoenix meant exactly what it said.

Although the threat of Evil Fire was gone now, he still wanted to enjoy life.

"Hmph, monks do not lie. Do you think you can enter and leave Buddhism whenever you please?"

Abbot Kongxin restrained Ma Hongjun, shaved his head with a few deft strokes, then tossed him to the disciples behind him.

"His six senses remain impure. Lock him in the woodshed. Let him out when he has seen through the mortal world's illusions."

At Shrek Academy, Flender could no longer sit still at this sight.

"Hongjun!"

"Damn Buddhism! How could you treat Hongjun like this?"

"Buddhism actually has this many rules to follow?"

"With so many rules, Buddhism ought to be good, but why does this Nalanda Temple look a little wrong to me?"

Everyone at Shrek stared, dumbfounded.

Dai Mubai, in particular, silently mourned for Ma Hongjun.

The girls of the Primordial World were now beyond Ma Hongjun's reach.

"Flender, you're the reason Ma Hongjun can't endure the slightest hardship."

Yu Xiaogang turned his fire inward.

"I think these rules are excellent. They'll help reform Ma Hongjun and give you back a student who follows the rules."

"Besides, at least Ma Hongjun's life isn't in danger. Be grateful for that."

Taken in by Yu Xiaogang once again, Flender thought he had a point.

"Xiaogang, I understand now. You're absolutely right. Hongjun's temperament needs a good tempering. Maybe I'll even have to thank Buddhism, hahahaha."

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang felt relieved too.

Hadn't Flender decided to seek refuge with Buddhism in the future? How could he waver?

If you don't take Shrek to join Buddhism, where will I get backing once I reach the Primordial World?

Buddhism has such comprehensive rules. It's clearly a major power. I can't let Flender get away.

First I talked my disciple around, then my good brother. I've truly worried myself sick.

"No! Xiao Wu!"

Tang San suddenly cried out again.

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly looked at the screen, only to see the Nine Demon Cave already in chaos.

Black Bear Spirit personally led several hundred lesser demons in an assault on the Nine Demon Cave.

"Exalted Xiong Jun, our Nine Demon Cave has always been utterly loyal! Why have you suddenly turned against us?"

Even in mortal danger, Snake Maiden did not forget to hold Xiao Wu. Unable to spare a moment to wipe the blood from her lips, she demanded an answer from Xiong Jun.

"I'm afraid this action will alienate the other demons of Bai Ze Ridge."

Xiong Jun snorted coldly. "Enough nonsense."

"Your Nine Demon Cave failed to recognize heaven's decrees, causing the great deity to reduce the amount of Essence of the Moon and affecting the cultivation of countless members of the Demon Race."

"If ignorant fools like you aren't eliminated, sooner or later you'll bring disaster upon our Bai Ze Ridge."

At Xiong Jun's words, the surrounding members of the Demon Race all voiced their agreement.

"What?"

Snake Maiden still stared blankly, not understanding what he meant.

"Die!"

Xiong Jun brought his fist crashing down. Snake Maiden died on the spot, and Xiao Wu was flung from her arms.

"Hmph, you can die too."

Without even giving Xiao Wu a proper look, Xiong Jun swung his fist.

Xiao Wu wanted to cry but had no tears. She only felt that her life as a beast was far too miserable.

In just one short day, she had suffered every torment, and so much of her fur had been stroked away.

At that moment, she suddenly missed her mother. As for Brother San, she had pushed him to the back of her mind. After being favored by Snake Maiden all night, she had finally remembered that she was a Soul Beast, not a human.

After one blow after another, with death now looming, Xiao Wu had a flash of inspiration.

"You can't kill me! I worship Ancestor Jade Rabbit!"

The fist mere inches away abruptly stopped. Its howling wind sent Xiao Wu flying far away, leaving her half-dead from the fall.

"What did you say?"

Xiong Jun widened his bronze-bell eyes. He seemed to understand why the Nine Demon Cave had been punished.

Was Ancestor Jade Rabbit a name just anyone could invoke? What do you count for, you pink-furred rabbit?

"Ancestor Jade Rabbit... won't let you off."

Xiao Wu's voice came in broken gasps. This was the only lifesaving straw she could clutch now.

Xiong Jun withdrew his fist. Whether Xiao Wu was qualified or not, since she had mentioned Jade Rabbit, he could no longer kill her. Otherwise, wouldn't he be denying Jade Rabbit respect?

Yet Xiong Jun also knew that Jade Rabbit certainly did not acknowledge Xiao Wu. Otherwise, the Essence of the Moon would not merely have been reduced.

"This really puts a bear in a bind."

Killing her would deny Jade Rabbit respect, but wouldn't sparing her amount to acknowledging a junior on Jade Rabbit's behalf? What right did he, Black Bear, have to do that?

Suddenly, Black Bear's eyes lit up, and he scooped Xiao Wu up.

"You damned rabbit, you dare claim connections! I'm telling you, if you dare say Ancestor Jade Rabbit one more time, I'll leave you dead without a burial place!"

His killing intent frightened Xiao Wu into immobility.

"I won't say it! I won't say it anymore! Please don't kill me!"

"That's right. Remember this: you aren't worthy of calling him Ancestor Jade Rabbit. You're just a wild rabbit from the mortal world."

"Yes, yes, I'll remember."

"Mm."

Xiong Jun nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly noticed that the rabbit fur felt rather nice.

He took her and haphazardly wiped beneath his backside a couple of times.

"Urgh..."

It was a smell Xiao Wu had never experienced before. Some unknown, disgusting substance stained her pink fur.

The stench made all four of her rabbit legs twitch.

"Not bad!"

Xiong Jun gave his approval. He was so clever: he had spared Xiao Wu while also punishing her. Ancestor Jade Rabbit should be satisfied.

Then he casually tossed Xiao Wu to a lesser demon behind him.

"Whenever I relieve myself from now on, hand her over."

"Black Bear! You've already chosen the path to your own death!"

At Shrek Academy, both of Tang San's Martial Souls activated involuntarily. Even his Blue Silver Grass showed signs of turning black, exuding an ominous aura.

"How dare he use Xiao Wu for that! How dare he!"

Even he, Tang San, had never touched that fur.

"San, calm down!"

Tang Hao slapped Tang San across the face.

"Daddy, you..."

Tang San felt wronged.

"Don't let your emotions overwhelm your reason. Xiao Wu isn't dead, is she?"

Tang Hao counseled him earnestly. Had he known, he would have kept Xiao Wu penned up and never let her develop feelings with his son.

If Xiao Wu caused problems with Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, he would truly regret it to death.

"Daddy, I want to kill that black bear! I swear I'll kill that black bear!"

"All right, Daddy will teach you hammer techniques. Don't worry. That day will come."

"Daddy!"

"San!"

Father and son embraced tightly.

"The gods of the Primordial World are neglecting their duties! Xiao Wu is being bullied like this, yet the Earth God hasn't even appeared!"

Humiliated by his failed prediction, Yu Xiaogang roared in frustration.

"It seems things really are as I, the Master, predicted. That Great Heavenly Venerable has selfish interests too. These gods all rose through connections."

"This situation must change!"

Notebook in hand, Yu Xiaogang frantically refined his theories.

Everyone else on the Douluo Continent was dumbfounded too.

What Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu had suffered was simply too painful to watch.

Watching their livestreams provided little useful information, and worse, it was disgusting.

"I'd better see how things are going with Qian Renxue."

"I'll try this cultivation method. Qian Renxue has already succeeded, so that proves there's nothing wrong with the technique."

"I tried just now. It doesn't work. Maybe the spiritual energy on our Douluo Continent isn't dense enough, or maybe there's none at all."