Teacher: Brilliant!

"But doesn't Shrek Academy call itself the world's number one academy, the leader of the righteous? With filthy things like this going on, doesn't the Inspection Corps intervene?" Lu Cheng put away the jade pendant and asked with interest.

"The Inspection Corps is busy exterminating evi... ahem, ahem. How would they have time to bother with us? Besides..."

The man in fine clothes wiped the sweat from his forehead and said mysteriously, "We have people above us."

"Someone at the elder level is protecting us."

"What's abducting a few women from respectable families? You should know, some of the big figures in this city are the ones whose power truly reaches the heavens."

"..."

Lu Cheng gave a soft chuckle at that.

The roots of the great tree that was Shrek Academy had indeed long since rotted. Even as its young disciples, their hearts full of hot blood, gave their lives exterminating Evil Soul Masters far and wide, they would never imagine that the darkest place lay in the shadow cast by that very tree.

How lamentable. How tragic.

In his youth, Mu En had awed the world, brimming with vigor, and kept Shrek Academy in perfect order.

But unfortunately... after his battle with Du Bisou back then had damaged his foundations and the Dragon Core had backlashed against him, he had never recovered. He retreated behind the scenes to recuperate, his edge blunted, with no heart left to address these matters. He focused solely on finding a successor to carry on Shrek Academy's glory.

And without his restraint, these demons and monsters had begun emerging to commit their misdeeds.

Now, Mu En was covering his head while leaving his backside exposed, worrying himself sick over a successor. Xuan Zi could not shoulder the responsibility, and Yan Shaozhe was too weak... only Zhang Lexuan was a barely qualified successor.

But that had nothing to do with him.

"Phew..."

Lu Cheng gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

He stood and stretched leisurely.

With a smile in his eyes, he looked outside. "It's been so long, and the Inspection Corps is still as slow as ever..."

The stage was already set, but the performers had only just arrived...

"Something's wrong! Protect the Holy Son!"

Though the black-robed figures were somewhat bewildered and had detected no enemy presence, their pupils contracted as they caught the information in Lu Cheng's words. They turned into streaks of black shadow and darted outside.

They wanted to seize the rooftop high ground to survey their surroundings.

But the next instant.

One black shadow was caught by a thick wooden vine that shot upward. In an instant, he was crushed into a mist of blood, without even enough time to scream.

At the same time.

Rumble!

Inside the building.

Countless thick, emerald-green vines burst from the ground, as though heaven and earth were overturning, crushing the entire luxurious little building into ruins.

"..."

Dust rose. His expression calm, Lu Cheng waved a hand lightly, dispersing the dust and smoke before him.

Within his field of vision, several members of the Shrek Inspection Corps, clad in dark green combat outfits with murderous intent in their eyes, stood staggered across the surrounding rooftops, forming an encirclement.

At their head, Ruomu looked down upon him from above, bone-chilling killing intent in her eyes. "Brat... you dared run wild in Shrek City again, and now I've caught you. Today, I'll grind your bones and scatter your ashes!"

"It's the lords of the Inspection Corps! My lords, save me! I own this place! These vicious Evil Soul Masters broke in during the night. Not only do they want to murder me and steal my treasures, they even want to abduct all the maids in my rear courtyard! Is there any justice left? Any law?!!"

Inside the building, the middle-aged man stood up. As though he had found someone to rely on, he began hopping about, wailing.

"My lords, kill them! Avenge my personal guards who died!"

"You even dared kill people..." Ruomu forced the words through her throat.

The black-robed figures gathered around Lu Cheng.

They surveyed their surroundings warily.

"Your Highness the Holy Son..."

"Split up."

Lu Cheng transmitted his voice.

With that, he casually glanced at the middle-aged man, who instantly froze in place like a duck with its bill clamped shut.

"No! Save him!" Ruomu roared.

This fellow was far too brazen. He actually dared kill someone right before her eyes.

Her hands formed a seal, and a pitch-black Soul Ring rose from beneath her feet.

Those thick vines took on a dark green sheen. Their speed and toughness increased significantly, and they came crashing down toward Lu Cheng like whips.

"Go!"

Lu Cheng gave a low shout.

A Level 7 Flying Soul Tool on his back instantly activated, sending him soaring into the sky and hurtling into the distance.

The black-robed figures also charged in every direction, attempting to break out.

"A fucking Level 7 Soul Tool!"

Ruomu looked furious. Her wooden vines had been a hair away from stopping him, but he was simply too nimble...

Meanwhile, blood gradually seeped from the facial orifices of the middle-aged man in fine clothes. Within a few breaths, he was lifeless, his stiff body toppling backward to the ground in a heap of mud.

A healing-type Soul Master landed beside him in a single leap, checked his breathing, then summoned their Martial Soul. A small emerald-green flower rose in their palm, bathing him in rich vitality. Looking slightly pale, the Soul Master raised their head and shook it at Ruomu.

"His soul has been sucked away. Even Elder Zhuang couldn't heal him."

"Fuck!!!"

Ruomu completely exploded. She gave the other Inspection Corps disciples a few instructions. "You deal with these remnants. I'll chase that fellow."

"Senior Sister Ruomu, I'll come too!" Zhang Lexuan hurriedly spoke up, her willow-leaf brows slightly knitted.

For some reason, although that fellow wore a ghost mask, his blood-colored eyes always revealed a familiar presence, as though she had seen him before.

"All right! Keep up!"

Ruomu nodded. A vine shot skyward from underground, and she grabbed Zhang Lexuan and stepped onto its tip, using its force to fly into the distance. Just as they were about to fall, another thick vine rose...

The other Inspection Corps disciples went to encircle and eliminate the remaining Holy Spirit Cult members fleeing in all directions.

Shrek Academy.

Sea God Island.

Atop the Golden Ancient Tree, Yan Shaozhe slowly emerged, pushing Mu En's wheelchair. They looked down toward the far western reaches of Shrek City in the distance, where dust and smoke seemed to be rising.

"Teacher, aren't you afraid he'll spirit Lexuan away?" Yan Shaozhe asked softly.

"No." Mu En shook his head.

"You're that certain?" Yan Shaozhe asked blankly.

"Because he loves Zhang Lexuan. That love is a shackle, just like Long Xiaoyao's feelings for Ye Xishui back then. Precisely because he loves her, even if he himself is mired in mud, he will do everything he can to hold up Zhang Lexuan on her lotus leaf, keeping her free of the slightest stain," Mu En said unhurriedly.

"You can rest easy in the future, too."

"Even after joining the Holy Spirit Cult, he will absolutely do everything he can to protect Zhang Lexuan as she grows..."

"That is also why I was willing to let him return to the Holy Spirit Cult."

"You mean..." Yan Shaozhe's pupils abruptly contracted, a flash of shock passing through his eyes.

Even if Lu Cheng became the leader of the Evil Soul Masters in the future, he would absolutely never attack Shrek Academy, because Zhang Lexuan was here.

Just like Long Xiaoyao's feelings for Ye Xishui, his love ran deep. No matter how savage and brutal Lu Cheng became in the future, he would also be another layer of protection for Shrek Academy.

Even if Lu Cheng broke free of Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui's restraints when the time came, he would not reveal the truth of what had happened back then. Instead, he would carry it to his grave, silently protecting Zhang Lexuan all his life.

Teacher really was in a class of his own.

Such methods... brilliant!

P.S. The first simulation has only just begun. Being exposed was merely one climax-the big climax is still to come~