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"Junting… are you certain?"
On the journey back, Yan Shaozhe drifted closer to Chen Junting, lowering his voice so the other students wouldn't overhear.
"Eight or nine parts certainty," Chen Junting replied coolly, glancing toward Huo Yuhao—and the trio trailing him: Ji Juechen, Jing Ziyang, and Jing's companion. His tone was unnervingly calm. "The Sun Moon Empire has bitten off so much already, and the timing is perfect. I can't imagine they'd pass up a chance like this."
"But even if they want to strike… they won't risk it openly."
To ambush Shrek and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would invite the full wrath of both powers. And the Sun Moon Empire—still secretly preparing for war—wasn't ready for that.
So this ambush needed plausible deniability.
That way, even if the exchange students—and the two deans—were killed, Shrek and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect couldn't declare open war.
And as long as it stayed indirect, the Sun Moon Empire's sheer size would let it weather their fury.
"The Holy Spirit Cult," Yan Shaozhe murmured, his expression grave, almost conflicted. "I never imagined their High Priest and Elders were both Limit Douluos—and even acquaintances of Teacher. But what shocks me more is that Xu Tianran would choose to conspire with tigers."
"Dean Yan," Chen Junting said quietly, "you might want to reconsider who the tiger really is."
"Hm?" Yan Shaozhe blinked, startled.
In his view, the Holy Spirit Cult—with two Limit Douluos—already stood atop the continent. Given the chance, they could turn the Sun Moon Empire into a land of ghosts.
But Chen Junting's words suggested… hidden layers?
"I don't know any more than you," Chen Junting clarified, seeing the question in Yan Shaozhe's eyes. He shook his head. "I only see that Xu Tianran is a true warlord—a ruthless one. Such men never act without meticulous plans. I'm certain: it's the Holy Spirit Cult that's truly playing with fire. And…"
He met Yan Shaozhe's gaze directly.
"Dean Yan… you still underestimate soul guidance technology."
"I—"
Before Yan Shaozhe could respond, Xian Lin'er—who'd been listening nearby—cut in with a sharp scoff. "Yan Shaozhe, you're just dismissive! Mark my words—you'll end up dead by the very soul guidance weapons you scorn."
"Lin'er…"
"Don't call me that so familiarly!"
"Sigh…"
Seeing the two deans on the verge of another quarrel, Chen Junting wisely withdrew. He flew over to Gu Tianchen. "Old Gu—if a big fight breaks out, we won't be able to intervene. The moment chaos erupts, open your Void Gate and pull everyone inside. Keep them safe."
"Don't worry," Gu Tianchen nodded firmly, confidence radiating from him.
Even without his spatial powers, his defenses alone could withstand any Title Douluo below Level 95.
Half an hour later, they drew ever closer to Shrek Academy—now deep within Tianhun Empire territory.
The vast plain below lay utterly empty.
Xian Lin'er scanned the horizon, almost disappointed. "They're not coming? Then our whole plan's wasted?"
Yan Shaozhe nearly rolled his eyes. "Isn't that a good thing? Getting everyone back safely is what matters. Besides, with Teacher's health so frail, if he has to fight now…"
At that, both deans' faces darkened.
They knew all too well: Elder Mu was already on death's doorstep. Even without fighting, he likely had only two or three years left.
But if he did fight now…
Yan Shaozhe feared his teacher might perish on the spot.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting—flying beside Gu Tianchen—studied the barren plain, murmuring, "No people around… perfect place for a massacre."
"What did you say?"
Before Chen Junting could answer, Electrolux's urgent warning echoed in his spiritual sea. He whipped around instantly.
"They're here!"
In the next heartbeat, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er also sensed it.
The clear sky shattered.
A storm of black clouds surged toward them at terrifying speed—swelling, darkening, pressing down like a suffocating tide.
Sunlight vanished. Shadows swallowed the land.
"Everyone—inside, now!"
Gu Tianchen, remembering Chen Junting's warning, immediately activated his martial soul attachment. With a sweep of his arm, a spatial gate ripped open.
Before the Shrek students could react, the Void Gate—like a black hole—sucked in every teacher and student.
As for Gu Tianchen himself? No need to hide.
Against the incoming foes, his pocket dimension would be torn apart anyway. Better to stay outside and guard them.
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er, meanwhile, braced for battle!
Xian Lin'er let out a piercing cry, soaring skyward. Crimson-blue flames erupted from her body as she grew to five meters tall, armored in dragon-scale-like plating. She snatched an 8th-rank soul guidance spear from midair.
Yan Shaozhe unleashed a resounding phoenix cry. Wings of radiant light burst from his back, their glow surging outward—trying to burn away the encroaching clouds.
Yet despite their nine brilliant soul rings blazing with power, neither showed a trace of arrogance.
Only when they saw Gu Tianchen secure the students did they relax—slightly.
"Stay behind us," Yan Shaozhe ordered sternly. "What comes next… is beyond your reach."
But before the words faded—
BOOOOM—!
A thunderous voice split the air!
"Yan Shaozhe! Xian Lin'er! You can't protect them!"
"You not only fail to protect them—you'll die here yourselves!"
Then, a cold, female voice cut in:
"Especially you, Yan Shaozhe!"
The clouds parted.
Two figures stepped forth.
One: an elderly man in black, standing on roiling dark clouds. His skin was sallow, his brows uneven, and a stark black "王" mark glowed on his forehead.
The other: a woman in a flowing black robe, pale-skinned, with blood-red patterns trailing from her eyes to her temples—elegant, yet wickedly alluring.
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er recognized them instantly.
"Zhang Peng!" Xian Lin'er snarled, spear leveled.
Yan Shaozhe's expression twisted—grief, then resolve. "Ling… no—Feng Ling!"
"Hmph!" Xian Lin'er shot Yan Shaozhe a withering glare, then locked onto Zhang Peng. "You really think just the two of you can stop us?"
"Hah…"
Zhang Peng said nothing.
But Feng Ling smiled—a chilling, knowing smile.
"Just us?"
Above, the black clouds churned.
A rift tore open in the sky—and two more figures emerged.
Their mere presence pressed down on Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er like mountains on their backs.
The woman wore a deep crimson hood, her face veiled in mist, features unreadable.
The man, however, faced them openly: silver hair immaculately combed, skin smooth as a newborn's, long eyebrows draping his cheeks. Darkness radiated from him—so potent that any soul power nearby collapsed on contact.
Extreme danger.
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er tensed to their limits.
Here they are—The Holy Spirit Cult's two Limit Douluos!
The hooded woman's gaze snapped toward one spot.
No words. Only action.
Her blood-clawed hand lashed out—
And the heavens bled.
But then—
A dragon's roar, divine and majestic, shook creation. Light brighter than Yan Shaozhe's erupted—pure, overwhelming.
ROOOAAR—!
A golden dragon—hundreds of meters long—ripped through space itself. Its claw met the blood-red strike—
—and annihilated the evil aura on impact!
"MU EN!"
The woman shrieked in fury at the sight of the golden dragon—only for her companion to clamp a restraining hand on her shoulder.
Above, the dragon dissolved—revealing a withered, stooped old man.
It was none other than Dragon God Douluo—Mu En.
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