Shrek Academy, Inner Court.
The Star Luo Continent incident three years ago was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Shrek Academy and changing the fate trajectories of many people.
Fang Yang, Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, and Na'er left one after another, their whereabouts unknown, as if they had vanished from the world.
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi chose to withdraw from school and joined the War God Temple.
The legendary Zero Class team that had created countless miracles thus fell apart in a short time.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie couldn't accept such an ending and eventually chose to take a leave of absence.
They entered the Tang Sect to cultivate diligently, trying to numb the pain in their hearts through hard training.
Three years passed in a hurry—things remained but people changed.
In the process of determining the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils, there were considerable twists and turns.
The strength of Luo Guixing, Wu Siduo, Xu Yucheng, Yuanen Yehui, Le Zhengyu, and Ye Xinglan was obvious to all, and their selection was beyond dispute.
As for the final spot, it should have originally belonged to Yang Nianxia, who had performed excellently.
However, under the joint proposal of Shrek Outer Court Dean Cai Yue'er and Sea God Pavilion Vice Pavilion Master Long Yeyue, this spot ultimately fell to Xu Lizhi.
What surprised people was that Long Yeyue, who had never accepted disciples, actually made an exception and accepted Xu Lizhi as his direct disciple.
This decision caused considerable shock in the Sea God Pavilion at the time.
Facing questions, Long Yeyue responded indifferently: "What I value is Xu Lizhi's pure heart and unlimited potential."
Yun Ming ultimately remained silent, tacitly approving this decision.
Shrek City, an unknown hidden corner.
This spacious room was thirty meters high, with length and width both exceeding fifty meters.
The dome was arched, extending from above the dome to the surrounding walls. Large patches of blood-colored magic patterns covered almost the entire room.
In the center of the room, twelve evil soul masters at the Soul Douluo realm sat cross-legged, forming a circle.
They chanted ancient spells in low voices, their voices deep and strange.
Behind each person hovered their respective soul rings, various colored lights interweaving and flashing in the dim room, forming a heart-trembling scene.
On the ground, complex magic patterns formed a massive soul guide array.
In the grooves carved along the patterns, scarlet blood slowly flowed like streams, emitting a nauseating thick fishy smell.
Where the blood flowed, the magic patterns lit up with dim light in sequence, as if given life.
Around the periphery of the room, over a hundred people in black stood quietly, all wearing black robes and black hoods.
Their exposed left hands had neat cuts, and blood continuously flowed from them, converging into the grooves on the ground.
A thick bloody aura permeated the entire space, giving people a strong sense of fear.
Logically speaking, such dense blood energy fluctuations would inevitably attract outside attention, yet nothing abnormal could be sensed outside the room.
This strange isolating effect added a few more degrees of gloom and horror.
At the center of the circle formed by the twelve Soul Douluos was a purple hexagram pattern emitting dim light, from which a thick bloody smell continuously emanated.
There stood a three-meter-tall purple-black crystal covered with flashing magic patterns. The top was cone-shaped, extending downward into a wing-like strange structure.
It hungrily devoured the energy and blood surging from all around.
In the adjacent room, another identical array was operating. Only the crystal at the center presented a strange dark green color, with even more complex and varied magic patterns on its surface.
Whether the hundred people in the outer circle or the twelve Soul Douluo level powerhouses in the inner circle.
Their bodies were gradually becoming emaciated due to the loss of energy.
Yet in these two rooms, not the slightest sound was transmitted.
"Lord Ghost Emperor, everything is ready!" The Dark Hummingbird knelt on one knee, his voice carrying uncontrollable excitement.
In the shadows, a tall figure slowly turned, his scarlet robe moving without wind: "Excellent. The operation begins!"
"Yes, Lord Ghost Emperor."
Dark Hummingbird bowed deeply, a flash of fanatical light passing through his eyes.
...
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, top floor of the Heavenly Spirit Tower, eighty-first floor.
Liu Yang stood with hands behind his back before the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the brightly lit Shrek City below.
Tonight there was no moon, and heavy dark clouds obscured the starry sky. The entire city seemed to be shrouded in invisible shadows.
"A dark night with high winds—the perfect time to kill and set fires." He murmured softly, his eyes profound.
Ripples appeared in space, and a spatial crack quietly opened.
Su Tao's voice followed: "Zi, they have arrived."
Fang Yang was the first to step out from the spatial crack. Three years had left deep marks on him.
The once slightly green youth had shed his immaturity, his figure more upright. Between his brows were a few more degrees of steadiness and restraint, and those deep eyes were unfathomable.
Gu Yuena, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan followed closely behind.
The three women had different temperaments, yet all emitted auras that made people not dare to underestimate them.
"Uncle Tao, Senior Liu Yang, long time no see." Fang Yang spoke, his voice steady and powerful.
Su Tao revealed a gratified smile: "Yes, long time no see. It seems these three years have brought you considerable progress."
"You need not be polite; please sit." Liu Yang turned around, his gaze sweeping across the four people.
Fang Yang led the three women to sit down calmly.
Gu Yuena sat quietly at his side, her silver hair like a waterfall cascading over her shoulders, deep light flowing through her purple eyes.
Na'er and Xu Xiaoyan sat on either side respectively, their postures elegant.
Liu Yang's gaze fell upon Fang Yang, a flash of surprise passing through his eyes: "Three years apart, I can no longer see through your strength."
Fang Yang smiled slightly: "Senior has keen eyes like torches; this junior has indeed made some breakthroughs."
"Modesty is good, but excessive modesty is hypocrisy." Liu Yang looked at him meaningfully.
Fang Yang didn't say much more about this, only picking up the teacup before him and taking a light sip.
Liu Yang slowly walked back to the main seat: "I called you here this time to invite you to watch a good show."
"A good show?"
Fang Yang's expression was calm, "You mean Shrek Academy?"
"Oh, you know?"
Liu Yang raised an eyebrow slightly, revealing a playful smile, "I thought that given your connection with Shrek, you would lend a hand."
Fang Yang put down the teacup, his gaze calm: "What I need is a newborn Shrek Academy, not believers of the Sea God."
"Since someone is willing to do the work for me, why should I stop them?"
"So that's how it is..."
Liu Yang, hearing this, nodded thoughtfully, "Since that is the case, then let us wait and see. Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."
"Alright."
Fang Yang spoke indifferently, the ring on his finger inadvertently revealed.
"This is..." Liu Yang, seeing this, recognized the black ring on Fang Yang's hand, his pupils contracting slightly.
Su Tao also saw something, a flash of surprise passing through his eyes.
"So that's how it is..."
Liu Yang didn't know what he was thinking of in his heart, his gaze becoming profound.
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