While Xu Tianxi continued his Spirit Soul experiments, a new Sea God Pavilion meeting was convened on Sea God Island at Shrek Academy.
Only four of the ten seats were occupied, making the room feel empty.
Old Song, still recovering from a serious illness, slowly made his way down the aisle and took the head seat. His face was pale, and his voice was filled with sorrow.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin. Today, we need to discuss how to demand our people back from Sun Moon."
"We received a reply two days ago from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Their stance is clear: most of our students can be exchanged for soul bones, and we can discuss the specific price later. However, three individuals are exceptions: Le Xuan, He Caitou, and Xiao Xiao."
"We also brought up Duo Duo and Hui Qun. They demand at least two Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones and four top-tier Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones per person, otherwise, they won't agree."
Upon hearing this, Old Zhuang, whose seat had automatically moved to the first on the left since the other Elders were gone, immediately flushed. He spoke, "The Sun Moon Empire's appetite is too big. This is outright robbery!"
*Bang!*
Old Dong, sitting opposite him, slammed the table and angrily said, "Exactly! They're taking advantage of our desperation to save our people. They're all making exorbitant demands."
"And they're unwilling to release Le Xuan and the others. Are they trying to keep all our students in their demonic lair?"
Xian Lin'er, who had finally recovered after a long period, was so enraged by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's reply that she felt like smoke was pouring from her orifices. She wished she could rush to Mingdu right then and turn the world upside down.
"Don't they fear us going to Mingdu to seize people too? Do they really think Shrek will let them bully us?!"
Yan Shaozhe was the calmest among the four. His lips moved slightly as he suppressed the urge to curse, then calmly analyzed, "Perhaps in their eyes, Shrek no longer poses much of a threat and can't contend with them. Our losses from the previous battle were too great."
"Going to Mingdu to seize people is just angry talk. Mingdu is teeming with Level 9 Soul Engineers. With our current strength, at most we could cause some damage, but we'd never return."
He was a staunch supporter of the Martial Soul Department, but Shrek's repeated failures forced him to admit that there were also talented individuals among the Sun Moon Empire's Level 9 Soul Engineers. The strengths of Jing Hongchen and the plain-clothed Silver Moon elder described by Xian Lin'er far surpassed his own.
Shi Yang and so many Titled Douluo and Soul Douluo had already died at their hands; there was no point in pretending otherwise.
Half their power had been annihilated. If they went to Mingdu as Xian Lin'er suggested, those Level 9 Soul Engineers would probably laugh themselves to death and resolve all of Shrek's high-end combat power in one battle.
Xian Lin'er's eyes seemed to spit fire as she stared at Yan Shaozhe. "Then, Yan Shaozhe, tell me, what should we do? Duo Duo and the others' lives hang in the balance, and those bastards refuse to release Le Xuan and He Caitou. How can we save them?"
"Are we supposed to meekly surrender the soul bones according to their terms? I won't swallow this!"
The combined price for Qian Duoduo and Lin Huiqun was four Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones and eight top-tier Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. Shrek could afford these resources, but it would cripple them.
Even more infuriating was that Zhang Lexuan and the other two weren't even part of the exchange. She didn't understand what Sun Moon was trying to do—was it to drive up the price, or were they simply unwilling to release them?
Yan Shaozhe's expression was grim. He heavily shook his head and said, "Shrek alone is no longer enough to negotiate with the Sun Moon Empire on equal terms. We need external help. I believe we can request aid from the Three Great Empires."
"Whether it's the Imperial Family or the sects and families our students came from, we need to unite as many forces as possible to pressure the Sun Moon Empire. Only then will they feel apprehensive."
As soon as he finished speaking, Old Dong's expression changed. "Uniting the Three Great Empires? Won't that expose our weakness? Shrek's independent status might..."
Yan Shaozhe looked up, interrupting him with a bitter smile. "Old Dong, how can we possibly maintain our former transcendent status now? Our teacher is gone, Old Xuan is gone, Old Shi, Old Lin, Duo Duo, Mei'er, they've all had accidents... What's the point of putting on a strong front at a time like this?"
"Xiao Tao is already gone. I don't want to see any more elite disciples from my Martial Soul Department fall, especially Le Xuan. She was designated by our teacher as the next-generation successor to the Sea God Pavilion..."
Yan Shaozhe let out a long sigh, as if he had aged several years. Losing Shrek's millennia of glory, his wife of many years, and his proudest disciple in such a short time had seemingly matured the Dean of the Martial Soul Department. He no longer spoke constantly of glory but had become much more pragmatic.
Old Song saw this and felt relieved, though he sighed inwardly. As the saying goes, "a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit." Yan Shaozhe had matured significantly, but the price of his maturity might have been too heavy.
And was it truly not too late for him to mature now? Old Song didn't know.
Old Dong was speechless, Old Zhuang was silent, and Xian Lin'er was silent. The situation was clear. Old Song called for a show of hands, and all five unanimously approved.
"Alright, we'll proceed according to today's discussion. Send messages to the Three Great Empires and those families and sects, explaining the situation. Be as polite as possible in your words, asking them to help rescue our people."
Old Song concluded, a hopeful expression on his face. "With the great threat of the Sun Moon Empire looming, I believe they will be able to distinguish between what's beneficial and what's harmful. As long as they're willing to help, I'm confident we can rescue the children, Duo Duo, and Hui Qun."
Xian Lin'er nodded glumly, then suddenly said, "Mom, something just occurred to me. Old Xuan hasn't been in the outer court recently, and I haven't seen him in the inner court either. Do you know where he went?"
"This... I don't know. I've been recovering here with Old Zhuang these past few days and have neglected academy affairs."
Old Song looked bewildered, shaking her head to indicate she didn't know.
Yan Shaozhe answered Xian Lin'er's question:
"Bei Bei told me about this. That girl Tang Ya left Shrek early to return to Heaven Dou City to prepare for the revitalization of the Tang Sect, and the kind-hearted Old Xuan went with her."
"Bei Bei tried to stop Old Xuan, but couldn't. He had no choice but to send a message to the Gladiator Arena, asking Old Gong to send someone to protect them. Old Gong was worried about Old Xuan and went personally. Nothing will happen to them."
"That's good." Xian Lin'er breathed a sigh of relief. Gong Changlong's cultivation was only a step away from Super Douluo. He was a Reserve Elder of the Sea God Pavilion, and once he broke through Level 95, he could formally enter the Sea God Pavilion. Even ordinary Super Douluo couldn't harm him.
After a moment of thought, Xian Lin'er couldn't help but frown. "But wasn't the Tang Sect already in decline? That girl Tang Ya is a bit too impatient. Once Bei Bei achieves success in cultivation, helping her revive it would be easy."
Yan Shaozhe sighed helplessly. "To my knowledge, she has a deep-seated hatred for the sect that took over the Tang Sect's foundation, so it's understandable she couldn't wait to go back. With Old Xuan and Old Gong there, nothing will go wrong anyway."
"Now is a time of crisis. Let's think about how to contact the sects that have good relations with Shrek. I think we can try to contact the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, where our teacher came from, and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School, where Ning Tian and Wu Feng came from, are also good options..."
"It's a pity our relationship with the Clear Sky Sect isn't good. Otherwise, what would we have to fear from the Sun Moon Empire? Alas..."
...
Several days later.
On the mountaintop of the Body Sect in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
"Hmph~ Ah!"
A clear, powerful roar echoed across the heavens and earth, a dark green energy pillar shooting skyward, revealing the figure of a green giant.
Seeing this, countless Body Sect experts rejoiced, knowing that their powerful Sect Master had emerged from seclusion.
Swish swish—
One after another, Body Sect experts soared into the air, creating streaks of light and air currents that parted the clouds, moving grandly and majestically towards the back mountain.
"Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Sect Master!" The Body Sect members, led by Golden Body Douluo and several other Super Douluo, uniformly cupped their hands and bowed, their voices in perfect unison.
The green giant, who had been radiating immense pressure in the sky, quickly shrank down, landing before the crowd, and casually waved a hand:
"Hm, no need for formalities. I'm fine now. You may all return to your duties."
"Sect Master, you fought Beast God Di Tian. Are your injuries fully healed now?" Jin Peng did not retreat, asking with a worried expression.
"Of course! Di Tian is indeed formidable, but he couldn't take my life! He couldn't kill me; he only made me stronger!"
Poison Undying waved his hand without hesitation, his voice excited. Yet, deep within his eyes, a flicker of loneliness, undetectable by others, passed by.
"The Sect Master is fortunate, and our Sect is fortunate!"
The Body Sect members cheered in unison. Most of the disciples dispersed, leaving only Jin Peng and a few other core figures.
Poison Undying knew these few had important matters to report, so he waved his hand and said:
"I heard you mention earlier that the fight in Star Luo City was quite lively, and you showed off our Sect's might. Very good."
Jin Peng nodded, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Sect Master, that 'might' came at a high cost. Our Sect lost three Soul Douluo in that battle. They were all elites of our Sect."
Poison Undying's expression turned serious. He waved his hand and loudly declared, "While these losses are indeed heavy, you must remember that eradicating Evil Soul Masters is something we must do, no matter the cost!"
"Didn't you say the Xuanming Sect also sent out all their experts to fight those Evil Soul Masters to the death? They lost people too. Does that mean our Body Sect members aren't allowed to die? That makes no sense."
"If I had been in Star Luo City then, I would have definitely fought those disgusting creatures several times, especially that old fool Long Xiaoyao, who actually got involved with that woman Ye Xishui! For an old flame, he threw away his reputation in his later years, letting people look down on him for nothing!"
"You fought well! I only regret not being able to join in. Heh, Old Xu really stole the show this time; I'll have to defer to him in future conversations. If you hadn't acted, I would have severely punished you instead."
Jin Peng said, "We will obey the Sect Master's teachings," then continued, "Sect Master, the Tianhun Imperial Family sent us a message saying that Shrek suffered heavy losses in the Star Luo City battle. Not only did many Titled Douluo and Soul Douluo perish, but also quite a few important figures were captured alive."
"They negotiated with the Sun Moon Empire, but the Sun Moon Empire made exorbitant demands that they couldn't bear. Now they're seeking aid from the Three Great Empires."
"Hmph~ The fearless Shrek seeking aid from the Three Great Empires? This is truly something new. I didn't see them stoop so low when they offended the top Hidden Sects of the Three Great Empires before. Have they been beaten into submission?"
Upon hearing that Shrek, for the first time ever, was bowing to the Three Great Empires, Poison Undying immediately felt like laughing heartily. From a strategic standpoint, Shrek and the Three Great Empires were allies, but emotionally, he couldn't stand the sight of Shrek!
Both Clear Sky Sect and Xuanming Sect had sent their core members to Shrek for training, only for things to repeatedly go wrong, causing the two great sects to turn against Shrek. An exasperated Xu Xiaoyun killed Mu En and crippled Xuan Zi. When he heard this news, Poison Undying only had one word: "Good."
Jin Peng nodded in agreement, furrowing his brows, and said, "Sect Master, the Imperial Family and His Majesty's intention is still to prioritize the greater good, and they also want us to help speak on their behalf. What should we do?"
"Well, let me think..."
Poison Undying rubbed his face, pondered for a moment, and his eyes gradually lit up. "We still have to speak up; we can't ignore the greater good. But this can't be done for free."
His perception spread outward, and Poison Undying smiled at Jin Peng. "Our people took those two little girls with Hair Martial Souls from Shrek amidst the chaos in Star Luo City, correct?"
"Yes," Jin Peng respectfully replied. "This subordinate examined the bone structure of those two disciples. They are excellent prospects. With good cultivation for a few decades, they have hopes of becoming Titled Douluo."
"I heard you say Shrek also has a genius like that boy Gu Tong, who possesses an Eye Martial Soul, and that Eye Martial Soul carries Spiritual Power, but he didn't even make it into Shrek's Reserve Team?"
"That's correct."
"Hahahaha, Shrek is quite adept at recruiting talent, but it's a pity they guard a treasure mountain without knowing how to use it. This is a promising candidate for Silver Grade Awakening!"
Poison Undying laughed heartily, waving his hand. "Since ancient times, work has always required payment. If they want our help, they must provide compensation. I want this person. Let's go, we'll pay Shrek a visit and bring our Sect's genius back!"
"The Clear Sky Sect went, the Xuanming Sect went, even Mingde Hall did it. Our Body Sect can't fall behind others, hahahaha..."
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