Some at Shrek didn't understand Mu En's decision, but no one stood up to say anything at that moment.
Kong Deming then spoke up again, "Until Yan Shaozhe is found, I hope Shrek Academy can drop its arrogant attitude. You no longer deserve to be called the number one academy on the continent!"
These words stung the Shrek Academy members more than any tangible compensation, like an invisible slap striking their pride.
Before they could recover from this humiliating blow, Kong Deming's voice rang out again, this time carrying an undisguised, chilling killing intent. "Also, I hope you can act quickly. If I find Yan Shaozhe first..."
You won't even have the chance to see him one last time.
Before he finished speaking, Kong Deming's figure had already transformed into a streak of light, turning around without hesitation and flying away from Shrek Academy.
Du Busi was stunned by what he saw, clearly not expecting this grand interrogation to end in this way.
His brows furrowed slightly beneath his mask, but he ultimately transformed into a streak of green light and swiftly followed.
"You're leaving already?"
Du Busi caught up with Kong Deming, his tone filled with unfulfilled frustration. "All bark and no bite! I'm seething with anger, but I didn't even break a single tile. It's fucking unsatisfying!"
Kong Deming didn't turn his head, his voice coming through the mask. "What, are you confident you can handle Mu En's condition just now?"
Du Busi was momentarily speechless upon hearing this, and then fell into a resentful silence.
Of course, we can't win a fight.
He could only mutter, "Tsk, I didn't expect Shrek to have such a trump card. A foundation built over ten thousand years is indeed troublesome..."
"But just ending it like this feels like something's missing, it's not satisfying!"
Kong Deming glanced at him, knowing full well that he was simply disappointed that the fight hadn't happened.
" Yan Shaozhe isn't here, do you expect me to take my anger out on the ordinary students and teachers?"
He said calmly, "If that's the case, how am I any different from that scoundrel who colludes with Evil Soul Master?"
However, when the name " Yan Shaozhe " was mentioned again, Kong Deming's eyes, hidden behind his mask, instantly turned as cold as ice, and a thick, tangible killing intent almost overflowed.
What he said before he left was not just an empty threat, but his truest thoughts.
Months after leaving Shrek Academy, the Worship Hall mobilized its vast intelligence network, searching almost the entire continent, but Yan Shaozhe had truly vanished into thin air, leaving no trace for anyone to follow.
Kong Deming couldn't be sure whether Shrek's massive wanted notice was a swift and decisive purge of its own ranks, or a staged act of self-inflicted suffering for the world to see.
But in any case, the result is clear— Yan Shaozhe has disappeared.
There was absolutely no need for Kong Deming to stir things up behind the scenes; countless forces on the continent that had been suppressed by Shrek's arrogance had found an excellent outlet for their frustration.
The news that Yan Shaozhe was colluding with Evil Soul Master quickly spread throughout the continent.
Rumors, ridicule, and doubts, like countless poisoned arrows, shot at the Shrek Academy from all directions.
The once sacred land that countless young Soul Master yearned for is now seeing its credibility crumble at a visible rate.
Shrek's reputation, built up over millennia, plummeted like a cliff due to the "failure to return after capture" of Yan Shaozhe.
Time flies like an arrow; more than four years have passed since the last All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.
In six months, the new tournament will be held in the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu, a city renowned for its Soul Guidance Technology.
However, to Kong Xuan's slight surprise, even though the Holy Spirit Cult's stronghold had been bombed, the collusion between the Holy Spirit Cult and Crown Prince Xu Tianran had not been severed, but had instead become more secretive and solid.
Xu Tianran has officially issued an edict announcing that the next competition will be open to all sects on the mainland.
The story seems to have returned to the established trajectory of the original work.
But this had no effect on Kong Xuan whatsoever.
No matter how the competition format changes, or whether the opponents come from academies or sects, in his heart, the glory of the championship will surely belong to them.
This confidence stems from absolute strength.
He had already successfully broken through last year, becoming Soul Saint at the age of seventeen—unprecedented!
As the competition drew closer, Kong Xuan did not train or spar with his teammates. Instead, he returned to Rock Mountain Village with his younger sister Kong Ling.
Over the years, the brother and sister have returned several times.
Each time, it caused quite a stir in the village.
They are no longer the two orphans who needed the villagers' help, but have become the pride of the entire Rock Mountain Village, the legendary heroes who defeated Shrek in the tournament.
Under the innocent gaze of the children and the gratified look of the elders, a lively and friendly exchange of greetings is inevitable.
After the crowd gradually dispersed, the two were finally able to sit down in the familiar house of village chief Zhou Yan and enjoy a simple yet warm lunch.
On the table were just two steaming bowls of noodle soup, garnished with a few pieces of bright green vegetables, and two poached eggs.
Even though I had tasted all sorts of rare Soul Beast delicacies and imperial court dishes in Mingdu, the simple and comforting warmth of this bowl of noodles seemed to soothe my soul directly, offering a unique and irreplaceable flavor.
Zhou Yan sat opposite him, his face beaming with satisfaction, and asked with a smile, "Good, good! Seeing that you've all made something of yourself is the best thing ever. How many days are you planning to stay this time?"
Kong Xuan gently put down her chopsticks, her tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of solemnity. "Grandpa Zhou, besides visiting you and the villagers, there's actually another matter we came back for."
He paused, his gaze drifting through the window to the distant mountains and forests. "I need to go to Ming Mountain Valley."
" Ming Mountain Valley?"
Zhou Yan's smile froze instantly, replaced by a hint of astonishment and worry.
His wrinkled hand unconsciously rubbed against the edge of the table, and his voice lowered involuntarily. "Xuan boy, your status is not ordinary now, you won't be in danger, will you?"
Ming Mountain Valley is a secluded valley located not far from Rock Mountain Village.
Enveloped in mist year-round, with a hidden entrance, it is a forbidden place that the villagers of Rock Mountain Village have known for generations yet remain completely unfamiliar with.
That place is the secluded retreat chosen by the Qiangu Clan with a long and rich history.
Zhou Yan has lived in Rock Mountain Village for decades and has heard countless legends about the place.
He clearly remembered that when he was young, there was a proud and arrogant Soul Douluo powerhouse who, relying on his superior cultivation, forcibly broke into Ming Mountain Valley. In the end, however, he disappeared without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea, without even a ripple.
Seeing the deep worry on Zhou Yan's face, Kong Xuan smiled calmly, "Grandpa Zhou, don't worry, since we dare to go, we are confident we can save our lives."
"Besides, I was visiting a friend, not looking for trouble."
"Although the rules of the Qiangu Clan are strict, they are not unreasonable. At most, they will refuse me entry; they would never lay a hand on a visitor."
His words were reasonable and insightful. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and he nodded slowly.
Indeed, according to their ancestors, although that Qiangu Clan was mysterious and powerful, they acted according to their own rules and were not vicious people who indiscriminately killed innocent people.
"You're right, I was overthinking it." Zhou Yan sighed, then asked with concern, "So... when do you plan to go?"
Kong Xuan looked at his younger sister Kong Ling, who had finished the last drop of soup in her bowl and was wiping her mouth.
A hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, and he said calmly, "Go now."