After the auction, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao did not linger and left Shrek City directly, returning to Shrek Academy.
However, just as the two walked out of the North Gate of Shrek City, they saw a golden-red signal flare rise on the only road between the North Gate and the East Gate. Both their expressions instantly changed, filled with shock and deep confusion.
Who could it be that dared to trouble Shrek Academy students, especially Inner Courtyard Disciples, near Shrek City? Did they have a death wish?
Anger flared on Ma Xiaotao's face, and a pair of fiery red phoenix wings instantly spread behind her, tearing through the sky as she charged forward.
That golden-red signal flare was a distress signal owned only by Shrek Inner Courtyard Disciples, to be released only when they faced a life-or-death situation. Zhu Ziyang had only one evaluation for this signal flare: useless. Because when truly in danger in the wild, this signal flare wouldn't summon help, only enemies.
Ignoring the urge to complain, Zhu Ziyang immediately caught up with Ma Xiaotao and sped towards where the signal flare had risen.
The two ran into a pair of fleeing teenagers. A Spirit Elder teenager with blue wings carried a Spirit Grandmaster teenager whose eyes glowed. They rushed out from a forest-lined path, their faces tense and grave, flying towards Shrek City. Behind them were six masked men in black, their flashing spirit rings revealing five Spirit Kings and one Spirit Emperor.
When the two hunted teenagers saw Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao, their faces immediately showed the joy of escaping disaster, and they called out for help. The six black-clothed men chasing them, upon seeing Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao, immediately changed direction without hesitation and fled northeast.
"What kind of rats dare to cause trouble at Shrek Academy!" Ma Xiaotao didn't care where they fled. Her Fire Phoenix Spirit was fully unleashed, six spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, two black—shining in the dark night sky. Crimson flames enveloped her body, making her as majestic and fierce as a Valkyrie.
A scorching flame ray shot out from her mouth, the flame transforming into a phoenix with spread wings, instantly engulfing one of the black-clothed men. In an instant, the black-clothed man's body ignited, letting out a series of wails. He no longer cared about escaping, falling directly to the ground and rolling around, trying to extinguish the flames on him. But how could the ultimate flames of the Fire Phoenix be so easily put out?
"Everyone, isn't it a bit too arrogant to come to my Shrek Academy and kill people?"
The men in black no longer cared about their companion's life or death and fled northeast in a rush. However, their path was blocked. A handsome young man stood before them, holding a golden scythe. Behind him, six perfectly configured spirit rings, a sight of despair, shimmered. He wore a faint smile, yet he was like a death god heralding their demise.
It was Zhu Ziyang. After Ma Xiaotao made her move, he didn't hesitate either, directly using Spatial Transfer to block the black-clothed men's escape route.
The leading black-clothed Spirit Emperor did not attempt to beg for mercy and attacked without hesitation, pouncing towards Zhu Ziyang. The other four Spirit Kings, seeing this, also immediately attacked. They knew that if they didn't repel Zhu Ziyang, they would surely die.
Looking at the five black-clothed men pouncing on him, Zhu Ziyang's face was expressionless. He met them directly, charging forward. His fourth Spirit Ability was instantly released, and a clone appeared, replicating his movements. The Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe sliced across the head of one black-clothed Spirit King, instantly killing him, his head separating from his body and flying off.
At the same time, the clone of Starry Light and Shadow Transformation, controlling the clone of the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe, also sliced across another black-clothed Spirit King. That black-clothed Spirit King was very lucky, narrowly avoiding a fatal attack, only having an ear and half a shoulder cut off.
The attacks of the black-clothed Spirit Emperor and the last two black-clothed Spirit Kings missed. Witnessing the tragic death of a companion, their fighting Spirit instantly vanished. The black-clothed Spirit Emperor directly slapped the other two Spirit Kings, sending them towards Zhu Ziyang, while he instantly accelerated, using his companions' lives to buy himself escape time—a truly clever calculation.
Zhu Ziyang would not let him succeed, directly leaping over the two Spirit Kings and chasing after the Spirit Emperor. Ma Xiaotao had also caught up by this time. The two Spirit Kings, who had just felt relieved from escaping death because Zhu Ziyang ignored them, instantly fell into the terrifying might of the flame demon.
The Spirit Emperor's speed was very fast, but Zhu Ziyang's speed was even faster. His eyes shot out a sharp glint, and then a purple-gold vertical pupil appeared above his head. A beam of light shot from the vertical pupil, falling directly onto the back of the fleeing Spirit Emperor. The Spirit Emperor's body stiffened, then fell to the ground without warning.
Zhu Ziyang sneered, waved his hand, and slashed out a gray-white blade light, then directly turned and left. As Zhu Ziyang turned, the blade light flew dozens of meters, precisely hitting the Spirit Emperor, who instantly died, his finite vitality transforming into Zhu Ziyang's spirit ring lifespan.
The last three Spirit Kings, two were dealt with by Ma Xiaotao, and the last one was killed by Zhu Ziyang's Starry Shadow clone. Six black-clothed men were all slain by Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao in less than five minutes. Excluding the time spent traveling and chasing, the total combat time did not exceed two minutes.
This was the gap between Shrek Inner Courtyard Disciples and ordinary Spirit Masters; there was a chasm between them like a natural moat!
"Sister Xiaotao, let's go see those two disciples who were being chased and understand the inside story," Zhu Ziyang said to Ma Xiaotao as he walked beside her.
"Alright!" Ma Xiaotao nodded, a calm smile on her face, completely devoid of the wildness and madness she showed during the battle. She said, "Your strength is truly growing stronger and stronger. I didn't even see you take it seriously, and you already dealt with a Spirit Emperor, Ziyang. We must have a good match when we get a chance. I feel your strength has already surpassed mine."
"It's not as impressive as you say, Sister Xiaotao," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Mainly, that Spirit Emperor had no desire to fight, only to escape, so I just got lucky."
While exchanging combat experiences, the two arrived beside the two disciples who had been chased. At this time, there were four other people with them, also Shrek Academy disciples.
The ones being chased were Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong. Zhu Ziyang had known this earlier because Wang Dong's Spirit was too conspicuous, and he had just seen them at the Treasure Appraisal, so it wasn't hard to deduce. Who exactly were these black-clothed men after? Zhu Ziyang wondered to himself.
He leaned towards Huo Yuhao, after all, as the Son of Destiny, it was normal to be hated. There were always brain-dead people who wanted to kill the Son of Destiny, which was not strange.
The other four Shrek Academy students beside Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Xue Weiwei. The four of them had also come to attend the Treasure Appraisal and happened to encounter the distress signal, so they rushed over. They surrounded Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, their expressions very serious.
Upon seeing Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao, they visibly relaxed.
The Shrek City defense team also finally arrived. Seeing that there were no student casualties, they left, leaving only one team member to understand the course of events.
"Zhu Ziyang, so it was you! I was wondering why the combat aura just now felt so familiar!" Tang Ya was very happy to see Zhu Ziyang and exclaimed, "Thanks to you and this Senior Sister, otherwise Yu Hao and Wang Dong would have been in danger. Eh, where's Nannan? Why isn't she with you?"
"Hmm! We just happened to be here," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "Nannan went out for something. Are you all here for the Treasure Appraisal too?"
"That's right," Tang Ya nodded, then said to Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, "Yu Hao, Wang Dong, hurry up and thank Ziyang and this Senior for saving your lives."
"Thank you, Big Brother Ziyang!" Huo Yuhao was truly frightened, still feeling lingering fear, his face still showing tension, but his eyes towards Zhu Ziyang were filled with deep gratitude, thanking him from the bottom of his heart.
Wang Dong was the same.
"Are you Outer Courtyard Disciples? Where did that Inner Courtyard distress signal come from?" Ma Xiaotao ignored their thanks, frowning, her tone carrying a hint of questioning as she spoke.
"Uh~" Facing Ma Xiaotao's questioning, Huo Yuhao's face couldn't help but show a trace of fear. Although they hadn't seen Zhu Ziyang's combat posture just now, Ma Xiaotao's appearance during battle was deeply etched in the young boy's small heart—too terrifying! So, he was a bit speechless for a moment.
"Hey! What kind of tone is that? This signal flare was given to Yu Hao by Dean Qian, it's not like we stole it. If you're so capable, go find Dean Qian!" Wang Dong, however, was very displeased with Ma Xiaotao's tone. They were both little princesses, who was afraid of whom? He spoke impolitely, not caring that Ma Xiaotao had just saved them.
"Hmm?" Ma Xiaotao's face instantly darkened, and she was about to speak when Zhu Ziyang stopped her.
"Sister Xiaotao, Wang Dong is telling the truth," Zhu Ziyang said. "You go and record the events with that defense team Senior. I'll handle things here."
"Alright!" Ma Xiaotao was still very obedient to Zhu Ziyang and immediately left.
"You don't need to worry, Senior Xiao Tao just has this personality," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile to the others after Ma Xiaotao left.
Everyone present was familiar with each other, so the atmosphere naturally became lively. Xu Sanshi chuckled, "Ziyang, that Senior Xiao Tao's temper is a bit too fiery, just like her figure, hehehe! Ah~ I was wrong, Weiwei, let go!"
Xu Sanshi was twisting his ear by Xue Weiwei, showing a comical expression, which made everyone laugh.