"..."
Zang Xin's gaze turned vacant, glued to Eternal Heaven. As a Class Twelve fixed soul tool, leveling the Spirit Pagoda would be just one bang.
He stepped closer, cautious but eager.
"Hall Master, hurry! If caught, we're finished. Though Boundless Sea Douluo lured off many, plenty of strong defenders remain. If we get found…"
Zhao Song from the Power Hall urged.
"Fine!"
Zang Xin exhaled, carefully storing the huge Eternal Heaven in his ring. Mad glee filled his eyes.
Dezhi, I can finally avenge you.
Beeep beeep beeep—
Suddenly, alarms blared.
The Battle God Hall's bottom floor erupted in chaos. All the strong were rushing this way.
"Hall Master, retreat!"
Guo Xiaoxu, Power Soul Hall leader, called anxiously.
"Fight a bloody path out! Get the Hall Master out at all costs!"
Liang Xiaoyu from the Agility Hall cried, red-eyed and three-word Battle Armor activated—battling the defenders head-on.
"Go!!!"
"Ghost Emperor, can you do it?"
Spirit Pagoda's top floor.
Qiangu Dongfeng eyed the black-robed, chaotic figure ahead, frowning:
"I've managed to get both the Federation's top weapons out. If you can't nuke Shrek and Tang Sect with these, there's nothing more I can do."
"Relax!"
The shadowy figure could feel the monstrous energy in the twin Class Twelve cannon shells—an opportunity to resurrect!
The Demon Empress had vanished; most of the Holy Spirit Cult's top brass had disappeared too. Chaos reigned—they had no clue what those people were plotting.
But as long as he killed Shrek and the Tang Sect—tens of thousands of deaths to convert into an undead army—his power would return in full.
With the Demon Empress gone, he would rule the cult.
No more chains!
"Say... I heard those sprites are strong. Your new Tower plaything—aren't you going to share with old friends?"
He eyed Qiangu Dongfeng sinisterly.
"Ha! With evil like yours, you think any sprite would choose you? Gone are the days you could just slay a beast to force a ring or soul spirit!"
Qiangu Dongfeng mocked.
"Hmph, I don't need it!"
Ghost Emperor snorted. Cursing him under his breath, then began the work.
Class Twelve shells had complex failsafes and procedures—the Federation had doubled every security measure.
"Wait for my good news."
After a few minutes, Ghost Emperor left, storage ring in hand.
"..."
Qiangu Dongfeng's smile faded.
He muttered, "Old Ghost, you're lucky to be useful. Otherwise, someone would've snuffed you out already. If you really believe you escaped by your own strength—don't kid yourself. After today... you'll die too."
Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
Within the resplendent golden ancient wood, the elders were hotly debating.
"I say we should just bribe Qiangu Dongfeng—and get him to open Shrek's permission to access the sprite world. Without soul spirits or sprites, what are our disciples supposed to do—starve?"
One elder bristled.
"No matter the cost, we must do it. If we fall behind now, we'll just keep falling!"
"Nonsense! You ask me to grovel to that animal? Dream on! I've been burned by him in the last tournament—I'm not humiliating myself again. Go suck up if you want—don't drag me down!"
"Wouldn't that just admit defeat? Shrek has stood tall for twenty thousand years, with so many forebears weathering every storm. We have Ah Yin and the Master of the Plane to protect us—why bow to that scumbag?"
"Shrek's proud backbone has been ruined by you traitorous appeasers!"
"..."
Yun Ming, Pavilion Master, pinched his brow, speechless as he watched both camps nearly come to blows on the Pavilion floor.
"Gentlemen, a word, please."
Yun Ming drew a deep breath. As Pavilion Master, he had to step in.
"I suggest: wait and see."
"Though Qiangu Dongfeng is clearly against Shrek, he hasn't forbidden us entry into the sprite world. Eventually, we may have to pay dearly for access, but Shrek can afford it."
"That's true..."
Several elders nodded.
"But Pavilion Master—rumor is the Pavilion's treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, was snatched away by that bastard. Is it true?"
Yun Ming sighed softly and nodded.
"Yes."
"Backing down again and again will just make him think Shrek is an easy mark! Pavilion Master, you're losing it!"
Another elder glared, "If you keep this up, you're good as done—someone else should take over..."
Yun Ming: "..."
He'd long known many weren't happy with him.
But he didn't expect them to go this far.
Damn it, when facing that guy, none of you dared utter a peep. Now you all act tough, blaming me!
Are you even human?!!
Calming himself quickly, Yun Ming reminded himself of how much he'd worked for Shrek all these years—if not for his actions, Shrek would have been wiped out already.
Surely at least some elders recognized that.
So even if some grumbled, he let it slide.
But soon,
"Elder Chen has a point. When younger, Pavilion Master crushed all foes—he earned Shrek's glory. But now, you're old, weak, and you let our honor be trampled. You don't care for Shrek's name anymore."
"It's time to change Pavilion Master."
"Seconded!"
And so on.
The elders' eyes were cold—in their view, even if Yun Ming stepped down, he should live and die at Shrek. That was the rule—he must obey.
No "ousting" per se—just demoting him. The wise elder group would handle everything, just let him sit as a 'fighter' on the side...
"You...?"
Yun Ming was dumbfounded; he could hardly believe it.
"Yun Ming, you're truly old now..."
Feng Wuyu's voice rang like an open coup.
This was a long-signaled coup.
"And if I refuse to step aside?"
Yun Ming retorted coldly.
"Then we'll do it ourselves."
Feng Wuyu replied calmly, "Don't make us force you."
"You will doom Shrek."
Yun Ming snarled.
"No—with Ah Yin and Clear Sky around, Shrek will reach a new peak!"
Feng Wuyu's eyes were angry but confident.
They truly believed it was Yun Ming's failures that had doomed Shrek.
"Even Ah Yin..."
Yun Ming was dazed.
"Yes."
Another voice sounded, looking at Yun Ming with pity.
"You've been Pavilion Master long enough. Others deserve a chance."
"Heh..."
Yun Ming laughed sadly, collapsing—sapped of all strength.
He'd faced Su Wen, and knew the terror of his opponent.
To fight head on would be self-destruction.
Even with Clear Sky and Ah Yin, they could not win. The 'seniors' cared nothing for Shrek—just using it as a tool. Ten thousand years is enough to erase all feeling.
Even if Shrek was truly destroyed, those seniors would survive just fine.
But Shrek...?
"Alas." Yun Ming shook his head bitterly, scanning the elders—some glared, some looked away guiltily.
"Enough. In this life, I, Yun Ming, am without regret for Shrek. Even if I descend to the underworld, I can face our forebears."
"Don't act so superior!!"
Feng Wuyu screamed.
"Acting as if you're the saint and we're all villains."
"We are all for Shrek!"
"The worst kind is someone too stupid to realize it..."
Yun Ming chuckled lightly, shaking his head.
"You—!"
Feng Wuyu seethed.
"Enough!"
Ah Yin's voice rang out.
"However... Yun Ming, Elder Feng suggested sealing your cultivation for a time. Stay inside the Golden Ancient Wood and reflect on what you've done."
"..."
After a long while, Yun Ming closed his eyes and fell silent.
Ah Yin wordlessly sent golden light from the ancient wood, sealing all Yun Ming's power.
"Well then, let's move to the next item..."
Feng Wuyu took over, moving on.
"Ready—fire!"
"Ke ke ke! Shrek's brats, your Grandpa Ghost Emperor is back!!!"
High above Shrek Academy, a voice echoed suddenly.
A terrifying aura swept the sky.
People stuck their heads out in fear as the massive cannon shell dropped between Shrek Academy and Tang Sect.
"Old Ghost, what are you doing?!!"
Feng Wuyu shouted, angry and shocked—just made interim Pavilion Master, and now, a Class Twelve shell landed.
That's a twelve!!!
Enough to level most of Shrek.
Tang Sect was out stealing a PLUS version just now!
"Hehe, take this!"
Ghost Emperor sneered.
Boom!
A shockwave ripped the sky apart.
In an instant, the Class Twelve round detonated.
"Damn!"
Feng Wuyu went white, brain going blank. Run, and Shrek's dead—stay, and he'd be crushed.
"Pavilion Master, do something!"
An elder shouted.
"What should we do!"
"Yun Ming, where's Yun Ming?!!"
Feng Wuyu looked towards the ancient wood.
Boom!
The blast swept everything, devouring half of Shrek; even the golden ancient wood creaked once and fell flat.
The earth shook.
Everyone watched in horror.
"Let me out!!"
Yun Ming roared.
"Okay, okay...!"
Ah Yin fumbled to release him.
At that moment,
Ghost Emperor's voice rang out again.
"Ke ke ke! One shell not enough for you? Here's another!"
Boom!
Another earth-shattering explosion.
A golden light shot up from Shrek's base—Yun Ming, furious, his massive shadow protected the golden ancient wood for a moment, then summoned another shield.
With the delay, he could only save a handful—the rest, wiped out.
Yun Ming closed his eyes, letting the destruction wash over him.
His consciousness faded, last glance to Shrek, and then—vanished from the world.
"That's... a God Seat?!!"
Ghost Emperor's face darkened.
He'd hidden far away, watching.
With the God Realm gone, becoming a god was impossible. Yet in this era, Yun Ming had created his own God status?!
What a monster.
Fortunately, he was dead—otherwise, who knew what might happen.
Atop the Spirit Pagoda,
Qiangu Dongfeng watched mutely, admiring Yun Ming's power but puzzled—it shouldn't have taken Yun Ming so long to come out.
But even so...
...