Fall and pursuit

"Hah!"

With Du Busi's furious roar, his entire body abruptly swelled. His battered, broken body once again erupted with astonishing presence.

"You're insane!"

Clearly, even Long Xiaoyao had not anticipated this. After all, the Holy Spirit Cult's higher-ups had estimated that these powerhouses from the original continent would be beaten into scattered fragments and go their separate ways. The Holy Spirit Cult would establish its fearsome reputation, rest for a while, then gradually nibble away at the original continent like a frog being boiled in warm water.

Although they had invaded Shrek tonight, they had never intended to catch everyone in one net. They had merely meant to flex their muscles, suppress some, and bring others into the fold.

But who could have imagined... that old ghost Du Busi would actually self-destruct!

"Long Xiaoyao, die for me!"

Du Busi roared furiously and lunged toward Long Xiaoyao, locking his Martial Soul Avatar in a death grip.

"Get the fuck off me!"

Real fury appeared on Long Xiaoyao's previously unruffled face. He could not suppress the self-destruction of a Level 98 Super Douluo. If he took it head-on, he would lose half his life even if he survived, especially when it was an old monster like Du Busi.

A glint of killing intent surged in Long Xiaoyao's eyes. He swiped his dragon claws at Du Busi, adding fresh wounds to the enormous green giant's body. Yet the latter seemed impervious to pain, wrapping himself around him with a savage grin and locking his arms around the black dragon's abdomen.

BOOOOM!!!

The explosion shook heaven and earth.

Countless disciples abruptly looked up. A mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and powerful currents swept across all of Shrek City, completely tearing apart even the last faint barrier maintained by the Golden Ancient Tree.

Mu En watched with a complicated gaze. He had never expected this old monster, who had always been at odds with Shrek, to act like this at the critical moment...

What a broad vision.

But...

Ye Xishui wanted to escape?

A trace of melancholy flashed through Mu En's eyes. The Body Sect had died defending Shrek Academy. Xuan Zi could not die; he had to continue guarding Shrek Academy. Since that was the case...

He would stake this old life of his as well and eliminate future trouble for Shrek Academy.

"External Avatar!"

Mu En lightly tapped the long staff in his hand. Behind him, the Golden Ancient Tree once again blazed with brilliant golden light. The figure of a Radiant Holy Dragon at its peak slowly emerged, its roar resounding through the nine heavens. This was his final strike, unleashed by exhausting all his life force without the slightest reservation.

Mu En gently regarded Ye Xishui opposite him, whose expression had changed drastically.

"Today, let me bring all of this to an end."

"Damn it!"

Ye Xishui's expression darkened. A light shone behind her, and a Class 9 Flying Soul Tool slowly spread like a pair of wings. She turned into a black streak and fled toward the horizon at tremendous speed.

"You cannot escape..." Mu En's expression remained gentle.

At this moment, he completely severed himself from the Golden Ancient Tree's sustenance. Like a terminally ill old man experiencing a final rally, he struggled to pull out his ventilator and returned to his peak.

"Children, from this day onward, Lexuan will succeed me as the next Sea God Pavilion Master. The other elders must give her plenty of support. Do not bully a child like her..."

Before setting off in pursuit, Mu En gazed gently at them, his powerful voice carrying throughout Shrek Academy.

The many Shrek Inner Court disciples all knelt on one knee, their eyes brimming with tears, remaining silent.

"Mu En!"

At their head, eldest senior sister Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes also filled with tears. Naturally, she knew Mu En was leaving his final words. This old man had bent his back and exhausted himself for Shrek Academy, toiling his entire life. He naturally deserved their respect.

Meanwhile, Lu Cheng calmly watched the black streak and the Radiant Holy Dragon cross the sky one after the other. His coughing grew increasingly violent. Covering his mouth, he coughed up another mouthful of bloody phlegm.

"It's time..."

Breaking free of the attacks from Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and the others, he too became a meteor and chased into the distance.

Song Yunzhi cursed furiously, but Wu Ya, Zhang Peng, and the others blocked her. She could only watch helplessly as Lu Cheng left.

Elsewhere, Du Busi had died in his self-destruction, leaving not even a scrap behind. Long Xiaoyao fled with serious injuries, and Xuan Zi went after him.

The many Holy Spirit Cult disciples did not display the overwhelming dominance they had imagined. Instead, Shrek Academy and the forces of the original continent, having recovered their footing, clung tightly to them. They struggled to escape and suffered grievous casualties.

"I'll go after them!"

Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes were red. A silver moon behind her fired blood-red rays, driving back several Soul Douluo powerhouses of the Holy Spirit Cult. After informing Song Yunzhi, she rose into the air and pursued in the direction the others had left.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Dawn had only just broken when two figures streaked across the sky, fighting as they flew. Their aftershocks alone shook numerous Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts into prostrating themselves on the ground, not daring to raise their heads to look.

"Pfft... Xuan Zi, don't push me too far!"

Blood seeped from the corner of Long Xiaoyao's mouth. His hair disheveled, he stared coldly at Xuan Zi, who was pursuing him relentlessly.

"Senior Long, you must be joking. When you rampaged through our Shrek Academy last night, you never considered these consequences," Xuan Zi said, refusing to relent.

Whoosh!

Just as Long Xiaoyao reached the end of his rope and prepared to turn around and self-destruct against Xuan Zi, a fiery-red arrow shot from another stretch of sky. It burst into flames all over Xuan Zi, turning him into a burning figure.

It was so fast that dodging was difficult, especially when Xuan Zi himself was already a lamp with its oil exhausted.

"Elder Long, let's join forces and finish him off first!"

Lu Cheng's voice rang out.

"Good..."

At the sight, Long Xiaoyao's expression abruptly relaxed, a hint of joy appearing at the corners of his eyes.

"Aaaaah!!"

Even as a Level 98 Super Douluo, Xuan Zi could only perish in bitter regret under Long Xiaoyao and Lu Cheng's combined assault. He did not even get the chance to self-destruct as Du Busi had.

"Please hurry after the Supreme Elder. I'll return to the academy to provide support. Today, we must cut out the grass by its roots," Lu Cheng declared righteously.

"Good child..." Long Xiaoyao nodded slightly, his gaze gentle yet somewhat urgent. From Mu En's bearing, he truly intended to drag Xishui into death with him. He had to hurry...

Pfft~

But the next instant.

Long Xiaoyao abruptly stiffened. In disbelief, he slowly lowered his head. There, unmistakably, was the tip of a crimson arrow, stained with scarlet blood, which had pierced clean through his body.

"Wh-why..."

Long Xiaoyao turned his head with difficulty and looked at the young man behind him, who still held his shooting stance. His eyes held indescribable bewilderment and confusion, and even some stunned disbelief.

Wasn't this child a born seed of evil?

Ever since joining the Holy Spirit Cult, he had been like a fish in water. He and Xishui had given him almost everything, nurturing him until he became so powerful. But why...

"Elder Long, I love her."

The fiery bow in Lu Cheng's hand slowly dissipated. His gaze quietly met that of the already half-dead Long Xiaoyao as he spoke softly.

"You love her, you..."

The corner of Long Xiaoyao's mouth twitched. He pointed at Lu Cheng, but his eyes grew somewhat distant. Suddenly, he understood everything.

They had always been the same kind of people.

It was merely that he had never truly seen into the young man's heart.

Whether what lay in his eyes was guilt or anger, it all faded into acceptance.

"Remember to bury me together with Xishui."

"All right."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"Alas..."

Long Xiaoyao spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes gradually lost focus, and, no longer able to hold on, he fell toward the ground.