Huo Yuhao strolled through Shrek City, then suddenly turned a corner and headed into a deep alley.
Black slime substance danced through the air and swiftly clung to Huo Yuhao's body, becoming a robe that enveloped him.
This place was secluded, and hardly anyone ever came here.
At the end of the alley, a battered wooden door stood alone. Its outer surface curled slightly and had flaked onto the ground; it looked quite old.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao lightly pressed his palm against the wooden door and pushed inward.
Creak!
The wooden door let out a hoarse cry, like a fierce horse howling in the grip of illness and pain.
As far as the eye could see, there was not a trace of light beyond the wooden door.
Huo Yuhao stepped inside, his figure disappearing little by little through the doorway.
Just after Huo Yuhao had stepped fully inside, the wall trembled with a rumble. Stone slabs on its inner side slowly shifted, actually covering the wooden door completely and merging seamlessly with the wall.
An antique Soul Guidance Lamp cast a dim yellow light over Huo Yuhao's profile. His short black hair lay casually tousled, and he held an exquisite glass goblet, leisurely swirling the vivid red wine inside.
Countless antique paintings hung on the surrounding walls, and a throne inlaid with numerous gemstones glittered ceaselessly.
"Lord Shadow!"
A black-robed woman slowly emerged from the darkness. She raised both hands and lowered her hood, letting slightly curled golden hair spill out like a waterfall. That orange gemstone still shone brightly.
Had anyone from Shrek stood here, they would have recognized her instantly: the outer court's greatest beauty, Jiang Nannan!
"How are Sadness's preparations coming along?"
Huo Yuhao sat upon the throne, looking down imperiously at the graceful figure below, his tone permitting no question.
Jiang Nannan took the envelope she had prepared from her clothes, stepped forward respectfully, and handed it to Huo Yuhao.
"Lord Shadow, this is the roster of those here who can fight. There are 154 in total, all members of our Garden with the most outstanding overall strength."
"Among the Seven Shadows, Nu, Sorrow, Joy, and I can all take part in the battle," Jiang Nannan added.
"One... 154 people...!" Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised, but quickly regained his composure.
"My deepest apologies. There are only twenty-five members of the Garden in the inner court. The other members can only be stationed throughout the outer court. We've already done everything we could," Jiang Nannan said shamefully.
"No... you've already done well enough. Have Sorrow lead the inner court members. Contact Nu and have her lead the outer court members onto Sea God Island. You'll lead Joy in the operation."
Huo Yuhao picked up the roster and scanned it. Soul Power flames surged from his hand, burning the paper to nothing in the blink of an eye.
Blushing, Jiang Nannan gazed at the man on the throne, her eyes brimming with admiration.
"Yes, Lord Shadow!"
Huo Yuhao lingered no longer. He rose and walked outside, with Jiang Nannan following silently behind.
Just as they were about to leave.
Jiang Nannan suddenly turned to look at the room's various furnishings and asked somewhat bashfully, "Lord Shadow, the things in this room... c-can I take them?"
Huo Yuhao stiffened, his footsteps stopping instantly!
"Lord Shadow?"
Puzzled, Jiang Nannan hurried in front of Huo Yuhao, her wide eyes filled with longing.
Huo Yuhao glanced sideways at her, his expression stern. "If you like them, take them..."
"Wow! Thank you, Lord Shadow! You're the best!"
Jiang Nannan instantly cheered and leaped for joy. She jumped straight into his arms, planted two firm kisses on Huo Yuhao's cheek, then turned and used her Soul Tool to put the items away one by one.
"An antique masterpiece, worth at least a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"Two antique Soul Guidance Lamps from the Heaven Dou Empire era. Priceless, and impossible to find for sale!"
"And this precious throne Lord Shadow sat on. I must treasure it!"
Jiang Nannan stroked the throne with an intoxicated expression, as though she had spotted a delicacy. The corners of her mouth trembled, and glistening saliva trickled from them...
"And the wineglass Lord Shadow used, and the red wine he didn't finish... this is simply heaven!"
Jiang Nannan's obsession with Huo Yuhao had practically reached a pathological degree. Afraid someone would snatch them away, she swiftly put them into her storage ring.
The corners of Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. With his back to her, he suddenly clutched his chest over his heart. "M-my collection of so many years!!!"
Enduring the pain of his bleeding heart, Huo Yuhao slowly walked toward the door.
"Lord Shadow, wait for me!..."
Jiang Nannan hurriedly put everything away and caught up with the departing Huo Yuhao.
The sky at dusk that day was especially blood-red, as though a demon god's blood had poured down and stained the entire sky.
Huo Yuhao stood atop the bell tower, watching the sun sink little by little. Four figures stood quietly behind him without a word.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The evening bells rang out. The last sliver of sun sank behind the western mountains, and the blood-red hue on the horizon quietly receded, replaced by a sky full of night!
Huo Yuhao took a small step forward, leaving one foot suspended in the air. Soul Power surged within him, and a faint smile quietly appeared.
His body slowly tilted forward, and he plunged off the bell tower with the momentum. A Golden Soul Ring abruptly appeared behind him.
"The game begins!"
Boom!
Huo Yuhao twisted his body bizarrely in midair. It was as though an invisible wall had appeared beneath his feet. His legs thrust out fiercely, and he shot up like a meteor, trailing dark purple flames as he hurtled toward Sea God Island.
Atop the bell tower, the four hooded figures vanished in the blink of an eye. Countless black shadows darted through Shrek City, and they had only one target.
Sea God Island!
Inside Shrek Academy, many students were strolling through Shrek, getting some exercise to help digest their dinner.
Wang Dong'er sat in her dorm room, looking up at the scattered stars outside the window and repeatedly peering outside the dormitory building, hoping Huo Yuhao would return soon.
Xiao Xiao gazed at the night scenery outside her window, counting the stars in boredom. Huo Yuhao's figure lingered in her mind, and she could not help revealing a sweet smile.
Suddenly, a purple shooting star streaked across the horizon. Xiao Xiao hurriedly interlaced her fingers and held them devoutly before her chest to make a wish.
Yuhao, you must be well. We must all be well in the future.
Xiao Xiao happily made her wish, then closed the window in satisfaction.
At that moment, Zhu Lu had brought Dai Huabin to sit on a bench beside Sea God Lake.
"It's all that teacher's fault! If that teacher hadn't interfered..."
Dai Huabin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of ferocity!
With worry in her eyes, Zhu Lu ventured, "Huabin, that Huo Yuhao poses no threat whatsoever to your position. We should stop here. The way he is, he no longer poses any threat to your position."
"No! You don't understand. Until Huo Yuhao dies, I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace."
"Although Father hasn't given him much help, he dotes on that wretched woman and has sent countless personal guards to protect her. Even Mother can't find an opportunity to act. In a few years, as long as Huo Yuhao achieves even a little, with that person's help as well, there's no telling who the dukedom will belong to!"
Dai Huabin roared like a madman, his eyes blood-red in his frenzy!
Terrified, Zhu Lu instinctively took a step back. "Huabin, y-you need to calm down."
Buzz! Buzz!
Sonic booms rang out above their heads!
Ripples appeared strangely in the center of Sea God Lake, then became towering waves that surged violently, their crests crashing against one another. None of its usual stillness remained.
A terrifying pressure descended with a crash. The vegetation along the shore was instantly destroyed, its broken limbs and shattered remains swept into the air by the gale and scattered wantonly!
Both gave muffled grunts. Without even the ability to resist, they were pressed flat by the pressure, their faces pinned firmly against the ground, unable to move.
The air compressed madly. Even the hard stone paving caved in, countless cracks spreading like spiderwebs.
Both stared fixedly at the sky above them.
A dark purple meteor crashed down onto the surface of Sea God Lake!
As the water collided with the strange flames on the meteor, vast clouds of steam abruptly rose, blocking everyone's sight.
"Enemy attack! All students, leave the Sea God Lake area immediately and prepare to defend!"
At once, alarm bells blared throughout Shrek Academy!