Shrek Academy was under the most pressure. Flender and Liu Erlong, two Soul Saint, roared and stood at the forefront, clashing head-on with several black-clad Soul Saint. The roar of their colliding Soul Skill was deafening.
The eleven Shrek students stood back to back on the carriage, forming a battle formation. They fought hard with the help of Hidden Weapon such as the Godly Zhuge Crossbow provided by Tang San, barely managing to stabilize their position. However, the situation was already precarious, with black-clad Soul Emperor constantly breaking through the outer defenses and rushing closer.
Just then, a suffocatingly powerful pressure suddenly locked onto the Shrek Devils from above! A figure shot down from an even higher point on the hillside, his aura chilling, and beneath his feet were eight Soul Ring: two yellow, two purple, and four black!
This Soul Douluo was clearly one of the commanders. Seeing his subordinates being hindered by Shrek's resistance and Hidden Weapon, he decided to take action himself and crush them with absolute power! He slammed down with his palm in mid-air, and his Soul Power transformed into a huge black palm print, carrying the power to destroy everything, and enveloped the core area of Shrek!
" Nuo'er Diala, is all you can do is bully a few juniors?!" A hoarse yet powerful roar rang out! Two figures shot out from the side and rear like meteors. They were Meng Yiran's grandparents, the Peerless Dragon Snake couple— Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang! Meng Shu's eight Soul Ring shone brightly, and his Dragon Staff transformed into a streak of azure light, colliding fiercely with the black palm print!
"Boom!!!"
With a deafening roar, shockwaves surged. Dragon Duke Meng Shu grunted and took a half-step back, but ultimately managed to block the fatal blow. He stood side by side with Snake Granny, between the Shrek Seven Devils and the black-clad Soul Douluo, their gazes grave. They had clearly been secretly protecting Meng Yiran, and now they had no choice but to intervene.
However, the Spirit Hall's trump cards clearly don't stop there.
" Lor Diarra, you're really getting worse with age. You can't even handle such a simple situation?" A soft yet cold voice suddenly rang out in the air.
In mid-air, golden chrysanthemum petals silently drifted down, and a figure clad in golden armor, with a delicate face but an incredibly terrifying aura, slowly emerged—Elder of the Spirit Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan!
Chrysanthemum Douluo's gaze locked onto the Shrek Seven Devils struggling below, especially the battle temporarily blocked by Dragon Duke and Snake Granny. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his hand. The pressure of Titled Douluo made everyone below the Soul Saint level tremble in their souls.
Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to make his move,
"Old chrysanthemum! Your opponent is me!"
A streak of dark green light, carrying a pungent, fishy smell, struck Chrysanthemum Douluo with overwhelming force! The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor raised its head and hissed, poisonous mist spreading! Poison Douluo Dugu Bo had finally appeared!
" Dugu Bo?! How dare you interfere in the affairs of the Spirit Hall!" Chrysanthemum Douluo was both shocked and furious. He didn't know why Dugu Bo's cultivation had increased so much recently. A few years ago, when the two had a duel, Chrysanthemum Douluo had suffered a great loss at Dugu Bo's hands because he underestimated his opponent.
At this moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo was forced to turn around and fight. The two Level 95 Titled Douluo instantly clashed, with emerald and golden light intertwining, poisonous mist colliding with flower petals, and terrifying Soul Power fluctuations causing the valley below to tremble.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was tightly entangled by Dugu Bo and had no time to spare for anything else.
A fleeting, Gui Mei black shadow appeared silently on the other side of the Shrek battlefield almost at the same moment Chrysanthemum Douluo was stopped. Its speed was extreme, heading straight for the Shrek team in the center of the formation! It was Ghost Douluo Gui Mei!
Ghost Douluo's sneak attack was silent yet deadly, leaving even the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny no time to react!
Just when everyone thought Shrek was doomed,
"Buzz!!"
A clear, resonant sword cry, like a dragon's roar, echoed through the valley! A dazzling silver sword light, seemingly capable of cleaving the heavens and earth, appeared out of nowhere between Ghost Douluo and the Shrek Devils! The sword light was condensed to the point of being tangible, and the sharp sword intent contained within it forced even Titled Douluo like Ghost Douluo to abruptly stop, his figure blurring as he avoided its sharp edge.
Clad in white as snow, with sword energy soaring to the heavens, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and guardian elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School, stood coldly before Ghost Douluo, wielding the Seven Kill Sword. Chen Xin had been secretly protecting Ning Rongrong from the shadows!
" Sword Dao Chen Xin!" A hint of apprehension appeared on Ghost Douluo Gui Mei face. He was skilled in speed and unpredictability, and it would be unwise for him to confront Sword Douluo, whose attack power was renowned throughout the world, head-on.
Thus, the attackers' two trump cards as Title Titled Douluo — Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo —were stopped by Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and Sword Douluo Chen Xin, respectively. Although the black-clad attackers below were numerous and powerful, their advantage was no longer obvious after losing the absolute suppression of high-level combat power, and after facing the desperate resistance of the Shrek Academy students, the addition of Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, and the support of other academy teachers who had recovered.
Chrysanthemum Douluo clashed with Dugu Bo, using the force of the blows to separate them. With a gloomy expression, he glanced at the stalemate below, then at Chen Xin, whose sword energy soared into the sky opposite him. He knew that things were beyond saving today. He exchanged a glance with Ghost Douluo.
"Withdraw!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's soft, resentful voice echoed through the valley.
Upon receiving the order, all the black-clad attackers, like a well-trained army, disengaged from the battle without hesitation. Using the terrain and their pre-prepared escape routes, they quickly disappeared into the rocks and forests, leaving behind only a mess.
The battle came suddenly and ended quickly, but the danger and shock it caused left all the survivors with lingering fear.
Flender, struggling with his battered body, adjusted his shattered glasses and glanced at the students, most of whom were still shaken but unharmed, before letting out a long sigh of relief. He leaped into the air and bowed deeply to Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood with his sword sheathed and whose aura remained sharp, and to Dugu Bo, who was slowly dissipating his poisonous mist. His voice was hoarse but filled with gratitude. "Thank you Sword Douluo, and Poison Douluo, for saving our lives. Shrek Academy will never forget this!"
Chen Xin nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Ning Rongrong. Seeing that she was only slightly frightened and otherwise unharmed, his cold expression softened.
Ning Rongrong hugged Sword Douluo and said sweetly, " Grandpa Sword, thank goodness you came in time, otherwise I would never have seen you again! Where's Daddy? Did he come?"
" Rongrong, be good. Your father has something very important to do. Don't worry, Grandpa Sword will always protect you." Sword Douluo patted Ning Rongrong's head and said kindly.
Dugu Bo waved his hand, appearing much more casual. He glanced at the crowd below, his gaze lingering briefly on Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar, before saying to Flender, "Dean Flender, there's no need for such formalities. I'm merely acting on someone's behalf."
Dugu Bo paused, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for many nearby to hear clearly, "I promised that Little Monster... uh, I promised that kid Tang Feng to look after his 'little girlfriend' Zhu Zhuqing, and that Food System kid Oscar. Since they're alright, I guess my trip wasn't in vain."
The words "little girlfriend" were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples among the Shrek Devils. Zhu Zhuqing's face, which had been slightly pale and still aloof due to the fierce battle, suddenly flushed with a distinct blush that spread all the way to her ears.
She instinctively lowered her head, her heart pounding like a drum. She wanted to retort, but didn't know how to speak. Her cheeks felt burning hot, and even the tension from the battle just now was temporarily relieved by this sudden blush. Ning Rongrong and the others around her also showed mischievous smiles. Oscar scratched his head and chuckled foolishly.
Dai Mubai's face instantly darkened to the point of being almost dripping with water, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but he could only suppress his anger deep inside.
People from other academies were also puzzled: Who was Tang Feng? How could he possibly mobilize Titled Douluo? And that Agility Attack System female Soul Master from Shrek was actually his girlfriend?
Flender was also taken aback for a moment, then solemnly cupped his hands again. "In any case, I will remember your great kindness! Please also convey my sincerest gratitude to my young friend Tang Feng!"
Chen Xin didn't say much, only nodding to Dugu Bo as a greeting. The two Titled Douluo clearly didn't intend to stay long, and soon they each transformed into streaks of light, disappearing back into the shadows. The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny also gestured to Flender, then glanced at Meng Yiran with concern before quietly retreating.
Having endured such a devastating attack, suffering heavy casualties, the team regrouped after about two hours of rest. In an even more somber and vigilant atmosphere, they continued their slow journey toward Spirit City, filled with deep unease about the unknown road ahead.
The name " Tang Feng," and his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing Dugu Bo, which was "officially confirmed" by Dugu Bo, quietly spread among the team during this thrilling rescue, becoming a topic of conversation among many.
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent with a slightly flushed face the entire way, her heart churning with complex emotions that even she herself could not comprehend.