Shrek Academy Cannot Lose the Spotlight

"Blessed by the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction, who bestowed divine revelation? Is that for real?"

"Kill to protect life; cut down evil, not people. I like that saying. Those Evil Soul Masters who wreak havoc everywhere truly deserve to die!"

"Damn, another one? Has the Body Sect really gone head-to-head with the Evil Soul Masters?"

"This is the third group this month, right? They've killed more Evil Soul Masters in one month than Shrek Academy has in years. They've gone completely mad! I heard the lord of Xijiang City had committed all kinds of evil locally and happened to run into people from the Body Sect. They beheaded him in public. That was seriously hardcore!"

"It's chaos, total chaos! The entire Heaven Dou Empire is in turmoil!"

Eight elders, eight squads, eight directions. As time passed, news of the Body Sect searching for and hunting down Evil Soul Masters spread continuously, shaking the entire Soul Master World.

"Your Majesty, the Body Sect's actions are a blatant disregard for imperial law! Your Majesty, you must seek justice for this old subject's Chen'er!"

At the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial court, several old ministers lodged accusations against the Body Sect's killing spree.

"So you few also knew that those wretches had been committing evil and terrorizing the local area?" Emperor of Heavenly Soul Empire Virgil swept his sharp gaze across the old fellows kneeling below, then slammed his hand against the armrest.

"Guards, take them away and investigate them thoroughly!"

Du Busi had long since sent his daughter, Princess Vina, back personally to explain the situation. Though she had not mentioned what exactly had happened, she had confirmed that the two gods truly existed and had descended upon the Body Sect.

His own daughter had even benefited from it.

She said that the Goddess of Life had bestowed the Light of Life, and after being illuminated by it, the healing effects of her Snow Lotus Martial Soul had increased considerably. He had examined her himself, and it was true.

Those were gods—two of them, at that. He could not afford to offend them. Especially that one called the God of Destruction; he did not sound like someone to be trifled with!

"Could the Body Sect truly have received the favor of two gods?" Seeing His Majesty take such a firm stance, the ministers below could not help but speculate.

"Now you know fear?" Virgil swept his gaze over the crowd, taking in every expression on the ministers' faces as he secretly reveled in it.

He had long known that certain nobles descended from old-era lineages relied on their former prestige to terrorize their regions, and he had long wanted to clean them up.

However, these people had inherited their positions for generations and had long formed blocs through marriage alliances. Their influence was deeply entrenched and even extended into the imperial court. As a result, every policy he tried to introduce to restrain them met with enormous obstruction, leaving him with a bellyful of anger.

This time, the Body Sect could use the name of the gods to clean out these parasites of the empire.

To that end, he had thoughtfully had his daughter deliver a list. Every name on it belonged to an utterly wicked villain, so there was no need to hold back!

As for wiping out Evil Soul Masters, that would also greatly benefit the empire's stability.

The Body Sect had not only helped the empire guard its natural border barrier, but was now helping it clear out Evil Soul Masters and parasites. This was what it meant to truly contribute to one's motherland.

Compared to them, Shrek Academy, which usually only shouted slogans without taking much real action, was far inferior.

If this could suppress Shrek's momentum a little, it might be a good thing for the empire as well... Though he thought so inwardly, his face remained cold and indifferent.

"If there's nothing else, dismiss the court!"

Sun Moon Empire, Holy Spirit Cult. The current cult leader, Zhongli Wu, wore a gloomy expression.

"Send word: all cult members carrying out missions in the Heaven Dou Empire are to withdraw. Keep a low profile for the time being!"

According to the information his mother and Long Xiaoyao had brought back after personally traveling to the Heaven Dou Empire, the eight Titled Douluo from the Body Sect who had taken part in the operation were all brimming with vitality. Compared to the last time they had been seen, every one of them had become at least ten years younger.

They all looked as though they had swallowed some miraculous tonic.

The Body Sect disciples accompanying them were much the same, each one bursting with Life Force far beyond others of the same rank.

Where could there possibly be so many miraculous medicines in this world?

But if the Goddess of Life mentioned by the Body Sect truly existed, then everything could be explained.

She had not chosen Shrek Academy, which had the backing of seven gods, but instead singled out the Body Sect. He strongly suspected that these two unfamiliar Deities wanted to spread their faith across this continent, and that the Holy Spirit Cult had simply been chosen as a stepping stone—the villains to be used to quickly build their reputation.

Kill to protect life; cut down evil, not people. Their slogan sounded awfully righteous.

He was deeply displeased, but there was nothing he could do. Gods were not something they could contend against. They could only avoid the spotlight for now.

"Yes!" The cult members below secretly breathed sighs of relief and bowed in response.

The name of the Twin Gods put immense pressure on them as well.

Meanwhile, Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

"Whether it's true or not, Shrek Academy cannot lose the spotlight and be surpassed by the Body Sect," Yan Shaozhe said righteously.

"This old man also thinks it's time for the academy to do something." Xuan Zi nodded. "Arrange for more Inner Court disciples to take on missions lately."

"I think that'll work!" Yan Shaozhe echoed.

God Realm, beneath the Ancient Tree of Life.

"Xiao Zi, do you think we were wrong?" The Goddess of Life, seated at the table, suddenly looked somewhat lost.

"Why do you say that?" the God of Destruction asked in confusion.

"Xiao Zi, the God Realm was formed from the gathered power of thought of countless living beings, and the gods came into being because of it. Our existence should have brought happiness to the living beings of the lower realms. But..." The Goddess of Life lightly bit her lip. "During this time, the Body Sect has done many things for the people in the lower realms, clearing out many who had committed evil and terrorized their regions. As a result, many people have begun believing in us. And I have heard their prayers."

"Xiao Zi, they have suffered so much oppression over the years. Their lives have truly been bitter."

"But because of the God Realm Rules, we never intervened."

"Xiao Zi, perhaps we should listen more to the thoughts of the living beings in the lower realms and do more for them. That may also benefit the development of the God Realm."

"I think you have felt it too. Because of the good deeds done by the Body Sect, our number of believers has grown rapidly, and the power of thought we have received has increased ten thousandfold."

"If all the gods could participate, the God Realm would surely gather even more power of thought."

"Perhaps the God Realm's slow development over these years is precisely because we have given too little back to the living beings of the lower realms. And as a result, they have lost their trust in the God Realm."

"Xiao Zi, we need not interfere in everything, but for those living beings who commit excessive evil, perhaps we can find a way to send down punishment and warn the world."

"That way, the living beings of the lower realms can truly feel that the gods are protecting them."

"When they feel grateful, the power of thought they produce will naturally increase."

"Besides, this would also be good for the gods."

"With things to do, they naturally would no longer feel bored. More faith could be gathered, which would also benefit their comprehension of their God Positions."

"But this could also cause the gods to fall into conflicts over faith, plunging the God Realm into internal strife." The God of Destruction looked solemn, then relaxed again.

"Still, this is indeed a proactive path that would benefit the God Realm's development. But to put it into practice, we must think it through carefully."

After pondering briefly, he continued, "Xiao Lu, how about this? During this period, I'll make time to carefully listen to the prayers of our believers and see whether I can draw some inspiration from them and come up with a general plan. Then we can convene the committee and discuss it with everyone."

"Alright." The Goddess of Life smiled and nodded.

"I'll join you. Let's think it over together."

"Alright." The God of Destruction nodded gently.

Not long afterward, elsewhere.

In a room within the Sea God Hall, Tang San, who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, opened his eyes and let out a soft breath. He immediately took out the God Realm Central Key, intending first to inspect the God Realm's condition, then see how his daughter had been living in the lower realm during the time he had been recuperating.

As his Divine Sense entered it, the God Realm's current state immediately appeared in his mind.

The next instant, his brows furrowed sharply.