One of Gu Xingyue's eyes turned a destructive purple, while the other shimmered with the green of life. The two colors fused completely.
At that moment, Zhou Yi knew he could no longer prevent Gu Xingyue's martial soul fusion skill from coming into being...
A trace of chaos flashed through Gu Xingyue's eyes. Purple and green intertwined and spun, finally forming a ring-Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill-Life-Death Wheel!
A chaotic hue beyond description carried a halo more dazzling than the sun straight through Zhou Yi's soul power defenses.
The Life-Death Wheel ignored soul power defenses, took effect without fail, and acted directly upon Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi's black soul ring flashed wildly, his dragon scales and flames growing ever deeper in color. He gritted his teeth and roared, "How could I possibly lose to you?!!!"
But Gu Xingyue's martial soul fusion skill-the Life-Death Wheel-ignored defenses and took effect without fail!
Nothing in this world, no living creature, could escape death and life-this was Gu Xingyue's soul path killing move!
Zhou Yi defended with all his might, only to glance down by chance and discover, to his horror, that his palms were already covered in obvious wrinkles-he was actually beginning to age!
Terrified, he could not help shouting, "Evil soul master! You're an evil soul master!"
"Hmph. What a joke. Die."
Gu Xingyue's face was as pale as paper-this Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill consumed far too much soul power.
But there was no need to worry. His martial soul was the Evergreen Life Vine. Never mind weakness from excessive soul power consumption-even if he were gravely wounded and dying, his martial soul's innate ability would keep him alive.
That was right. The Evergreen Life Vine could keep him from dying for a very long time. It was the equivalent of equipping a Famous Blade: Destiny with a duration measured in years!
The floor tiles that symbolized human civilization had been utterly destroyed. Zhou Yi lay sprawled atop the shattered rubble, gasping for breath.
He had no idea that what he had just risked his life to block was merely an attack Gu Xingyue could unleash offhand when his soul power was plentiful.
Within forty-one seconds, the two had completed a textbook one-sided beatdown.
That was right-in other words-Gu Xingyue had won.
Yet just then, Zhou Yi suddenly broke into a savage grin. "You think you've won? No! The winner will only ever be me!"
Before his words had faded, he abruptly pulled out a soul tool-a mobile hand cannon. Its muzzle instantly locked onto Gu Xingyue, and he fired without hesitation!
The watching students cried out in shock, "Despicable!"
Gu Xingyue merely smiled and remarked mildly, "You think an attack of this level can kill me?"
That beam did indeed blast Gu Xingyue's body black and charred.
"A mere fatal wound." The corner of his mouth curved upward, his eyes brimming with disdain.
Martial Soul Innate Ability-Withered Wood Reborn!
In a single instant, his severely injured body rapidly recovered under his martial soul's power. Even his lifespan grew a little longer as a result.
"But... that really hurt, bastard." Gu Xingyue raised his hand, and the Thunderclap Infernal Prison Vine stabbed into Zhou Yi's body like a venomous snake. Electricity exploded through him instantly.
"Ugh-ah! I... won't... ah... let... you... sss... off... aaargh!!!" Zhou Yi stammered and howled, his body convulsing violently.
At some point, a puddle of yellow liquid had spread beneath him, giving off a faint stink of urine.
Just then, a phoenix that blotted out the sun descended from the sky, its light element pure to the utmost!
Trailing brilliant tail feathers, the phoenix was magnificent beyond compare, like a god descending into the world.
As though he had caught sight of a lifesaving straw, Zhou Yi reached out with difficulty. His voice faltered as he shouted with almost every ounce of strength he had, "Dean Yan... save... me!!!"
He had thought he was finally saved.
Yet the words that followed sent him straight back into the abyss.
"Wretched evil soul master! How dare you disguise yourself as a teacher of our Shrek Academy!"
"You have been stripped of the right to share in Shrek's ten thousand years of glory-and you have already given us cause to put you to death!"
"Great Brightness Palm Seal!"
Yan Shaozhe struck downward with her palm, her soul power condensing into a gigantic hand that blotted out the sky.
The students looked up and saw that palm strike descending from the heavens.
Then Zhou Yi's body disintegrated in an instant, scattering into countless blood-red particles that vanished in the wind.
One palm fell, and dust filled the sky.
Golden particles of light slowly drifted through the air, like a silent snowfall.
Where Zhou Yi had been lying moments before, only a shallow, neatly shaped palm impression remained. Its edges were as smooth as if cut with a blade, as though no one had ever lain there.
The watching students gazed upward as the phoenix phantom that had descended from the sky slowly dimmed, their mouths open, unable to make a sound.
The training grounds remained quiet for quite some time.
Yan Shaozhe folded her wings and landed. The air currents lifted her long, golden-red hair slightly before letting it settle. Her expression was composed as she swept her gaze over everyone present, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority. "Zhou Yi concealed weapons of mass destruction and intended to harm Shrek Academy. Moreover, he colluded with evil soul masters in an attempt to poison our younger generation of Shrek. He is no longer a teacher of Shrek Academy. The academy will deliver its judgment on today's events. Students, disperse for now and await the academy's notice."
The crowd fell silent for a few breaths, then slowly began to move like a river thawing, dispersing toward the dormitories in twos and threes, looking back three times with every step.
Some quietly discussed that chaotic-colored halo from earlier. Others were still saying, "No wonder. One look at that Zhou Yi and I knew he was no good. Turns out he was an evil soul master. That makes perfect cents."
"Thank goodness that scourge is gone. Otherwise, who knows how many more people he would have hurt?"
More gazes, however, secretly fell upon the figure still standing in the grounds-Gu Xingyue, his face pale but his back still straight.
Just then, a gray-haired woman hurried over, crying in anguish, "No! My love!"
She turned to the dean and pleaded urgently, "Dean, believe me, he wasn't that sort of person. He..."
"Are you suggesting that our academy was wrong?" Yan Shaozhe cut her off coldly. She was clearly in an extremely foul mood and had no intention of getting entangled with her.
She paused, her tone easing slightly, though it still carried unquestionable authority. "Don't forget, Fan Yu, you still bear Shrek's glory. Although you've lost your lover, you can absolutely make Shrek Academy your lover!"
Fan Yu froze.
...But my lover is already dead.
Could Shrek... become my lover too?
She suddenly felt that her brain could not quite keep up.
Zhou Yi's death was certainly a pity, but the dead could not return to life. A dead man was clearly less important than the academy.
-and so she attained enlightenment.
Fan Yu drew a deep breath. The grief in her eyes receded like the tide, replaced by resolve.
She slowly straightened her back, as though she had laid down a thousand-pound burden, yet also as though she had taken up an even heavier mission.
"Dean, I understand." Her voice was quiet, yet exceptionally clear. "Shrek... is my lover. From this day forward, every beat of my heart will be for it alone."
Yan Shaozhe nodded in satisfaction and said, "Very good. Very spirited! Remember what you said today. Shrek never fails those who are loyal, nor will it ever tolerate betrayal."
She turned to leave, only to stop again and tilt her head, casting a sidelong glance at Fan Yu. "The academy will handle Zhou Yi's belongings on your behalf. You needn't concern yourself with them anymore. This is all part of the plan."
"Yes," Fan Yu said, lowering her head.
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