"Well, those two shells ended a great threat. If we'd let him keep growing..." Qiangu Dongfeng shook his head, eyes full of relief.
If not forced today, who knows what else Yun Ming was hiding.
"To create your own God seat... not even in the worst crisis did he show such cards."
"How tragic..."
"He gave his life, but only saved a handful."
Qiangu Dongfeng murmured.
Orders quickly went out—his son Qiangu Lincheng busily organizing Spirit Pagoda's defenses. Luckily, the Tower was far enough from Shrek to only feel minor aftershocks.
But after today, there would be no more Shrek.
"Why! Why!!"
Feng Wuyu's eyes were bloodshot as he vomited blood, trembling upright, surveying the ruins.
He'd hidden behind Yun Ming and survived by luck, gravely wounded—a half-cripple.
The only other survivors, stuffed into a secret tunnel by Yun Ming, were Tang Wulin, Xu Xiaoyan, and the Shrek Seven's heirs.
A grand Shrek Academy, now only eight left.
"Was I wrong? Impossible!"
Feng Wuyu shouted, twisting,
"Yun Ming, you should've resisted the sealing—a little more struggle and Shrek would've survived!"
"It's your fault!"
"All your fault..."
He trembled.
In his mind, he saw the ghosts of Shrek elders accusing him—he couldn't deceive himself, even if he tried.
"You are Shrek Academy's sinner!!!"
He coughed blood and fainted.
Within miles, only a black, deep crater remained. None survived.
Tang Wulin and others were unconscious.
Destruction everywhere.
"Ke ke ke! The resentment is thick—though most are dust, these souls are enough for a dreadful undead army..."
Ghost Emperor hovered, delighted, like a rat in honey.
He waved, dark clouds covering the ground.
Souls rose from the earth.
"Stop!"
A fierce shout.
Qiangu Dongfeng stepped down, overlooking Ghost Emperor, Panlong Staff blasting aura, pinning him down.
"Qiangu Dongfeng! We had a deal—their souls go to me! Don't breach contract!!"
Ghost Emperor shrieked.
As Qiangu Dongfeng shattered his chance at an undead army, Ghost Emperor raged—but could do nothing, crippled as he was.
Panlong Staff crashed down.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Ghost Emperor cursed and howled, but was powerless, ultimately consumed by the dragon within the staff.
All went silent.
"It's over..."
Qiangu Dongfeng exhaled heavily, eyes wandering towards Shrek's ruins.
It was as if someone else was looking back...
"Hall Master, when do we make the announcement?"
Star Dou Forest.
A number of powerful figures dashed swiftly.
Only the news that they'd stolen Eternal Heaven would shake the Federation; then, Tang Sect would have negotiating power.
Tang Sect would be on top.
"Wait..."
Zang Xin smiled cruelly.
In the distance, Shrek City was just ahead—soon, he'd toss Eternal Heaven at the Spirit Pagoda and avenge Dezhi.
But at that moment—
A colossal boom erupted from Shrek City. As Yun Ming's shadow appeared, then was consumed by destruction.
All were stunned, watching in despair.
"H-Hall Master..."
A subordinate stammered, "That looks like... the Tang Sect and Shrek?"
None spoke.
"Animals! Those animals!!!"
Zang Xin's face flushed, assuming the Federation struck to prevent their theft; his rage burned—all of Tang Sect's core had just been destroyed.
"No, no..."
Many Tang Hall Masters knelt, eyes vacant, refusing to believe.
All was for Tang Sect.
Now—Tang Sect was gone.
What meaning was left?!
"Self-destruct!"
Zang Xin's face darkened, finally speaking.
"If you're not coming, I'll go alone—take Qiangu Dongfeng to hell!"
"We're with you!"
"To live and die for Tang Sect!!"
"..."
"Good! Let's go!"
Zang Xin led a frenzy towards Shrek City.
"Zang Xin?"
Qiangu Dongfeng smiled coldly.
Lucky sods—had they been at Shrek, they'd have died too.
Now, seeing them full of rage—he guessed they wanted to die with him.
"Qiangu Dongfeng, die!!!"
Zang Xin roared, appearing instantly.
"Such vicious means."
He glared at Qiangu Dongfeng, "Thousands of my Tang Sect brothers, all died because I went to steal Eternal Heaven?"
"Eternal Heaven?"
Qiangu Dongfeng raised a brow, eyes playful.
"Why did you steal it? Why don't I understand?"
"Don't you play dumb!"
Tang Sect's Power Hall chief raged,
"Tang Sect's only enemy is your Spirit Pagoda. Who else would do this?"
"Is there a misunderstanding..."
Leng Yaozhu appeared in a crimson dress, frowning,
"This was the work of the Holy Spirit Cult's Ghost Emperor. He somehow stole two class-twelve shells from the Federation..."
"Vice Tower Master, you would side with them?!"
Zang Xin glared, producing the terrifying Eternal Heaven.
Nearby mechs quaked.
"You—you really stole Eternal Heaven?!"
Leng Yaozhu was stunned.
Zang Xin stayed focused on Qiangu Dongfeng.
"Qiangu bastard—admit you gave those shells to Ghost Emperor!"
If he got Qiangu Dongfeng to confess on the live broadcast (he wore a micro-transmitter beaming to millions), Qiangu Dongfeng would be the eternal villain in Federation history.
"Not."
Qiangu Dongfeng smiled and shook his head.
"Still denying!"
Zang Xin shouted. "How else could he get them?"
"You stole Eternal Heaven—why couldn't Ghost Emperor steal two shells?"
Qiangu Dongfeng replied coolly.
"..."
Awkward silence.
Zang Xin's face darkened. "Don't play word games!"
"Answer!"
"Or I'll set this bomb off and die with your Tower!"
"Hehehe..."
Qiangu Dongfeng smiled,
"Regardless of whether Ghost Emperor got the shells from me, didn't you steal Eternal Heaven before any of this happened? What were you going to use it for?"
"Were you going to bomb the Spirit Pagoda?"
"..."
Leng Yaozhu's eyes shrank, watching Eternal Heaven with a darkening expression.
"If you only hate the Tower because your lover Cao Dezhi was executed, is that reason enough to wipe out tens of thousands?"
Zang Xin's face twitched.
He'd trapped himself. He snorted: "We only intended to use Eternal Heaven to pressure the Federation—not revenge."
"But what your Tower did is worse!"
His voice grew anxious.
Originally, he wanted to trap Qiangu Dongfeng into admitting guilt, then detonate Eternal Heaven for everyone to witness—as the ultimate revenge.
But now, he'd instead implicated Tang Sect.
Triggering without evidence just made it revenge for Cao Dezhi—
thus branding Tang Sect criminals for all history.
Cao Dezhi already had a bad reputation—now this would bring disgrace forever.
"Qiangu Dongfeng, clever!"
Zang Xin spat.
"Vice Hall Master, what is your point?"
Qiangu Dongfeng smiled sadly,
"Let it go—if you want revenge, take me or my clan—just don't take innocent lives..."
Zang Xin's hands shook.
The net comments in the live feed were now overwhelmingly supporting Qiangu Dongfeng, branding him and Cao Dezhi the real villains.
Boom!
Blinded by rage, Zang Xin slashed at Qiangu Dongfeng, who endured it, face going pale and clutching his chest.
"Back off!"
Qiangu Dongfeng barked at the Tower personnel.
"Father!!!"
Qiangu Lincheng's eyes welled.
"Stay back!"
Qiangu Dongfeng coughed hard, radiating righteous sacrifice,
"Brother Zang, kill me today, kill my clan—just don't involve the innocent..."
"You... Qiangu Dongfeng, you shameless fiend!"
Zang Xin shook with rage.
The ultimate reversal!
The real villain could still stand there, spouting lies!
Leng Yaozhu frowned,
"Please, Vice Hall Master—can't we talk this out?"
She had to defend the Tower, or countless innocents might die.
"Hahahahaha..."
Zang Xin laughed brokenly.
"You will pay, Qiangu Dongfeng—Spirit Pagoda, for Dezhi..."
"So it is for Cao Dezhi."
Qiangu Dongfeng replied.
"Who cares!"
Zang Xin's eyes went wild:
"He's dead—I won't live alone. If that's so, you Tower rats are dying with me!!!"
"Arghh!"
He pulled the trigger.
Pshew pshew pshew—
Panic erupted.
Even Leng Yaozhu paled—unable to stop him.
But then—
Eternal Heaven exploded—
Firing only glimmering fireworks into the sky...