Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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"It was Gu Yue who told me." Leng Yaozhu looked at Huo Yuhao, a hint of urgency flashing in those phoenix eyes. "With something like this happening, how could I not come?"
Shrek Academy's Sea God Island was naturally not a place anyone could just visit, let alone someone from the Spirit Pagoda.
But Leng Yaozhu was different after all; many people knew of her relationship with Yun Ming. Furthermore, the Elders of Shrek Academy who truly held authority were all inside the Sea God Pavilion right now, so naturally, no one dared to stop Leng Yaozhu.
Leng Yaozhu looked at Huo Yuhao, her expression turning serious as she asked, "What exactly is going on? Was the anomaly at Shrek Academy earlier related to you?"
The pillar of light that had soared from Shrek Academy was dazzling and brilliant, shooting straight into the clouds. It had been clearly visible from the entire Shrek City, so the Spirit Pagoda naturally paid close attention to it.
Leng Yaozhu hadn't expected that this anomaly was actually caused by her own Disciple, Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, just about to answer.
But at that moment, the door of the Sea God Pavilion let out a creak. The hinges turned, and the heavy wooden doors slowly parted to both sides, revealing the spacious and solemn hall inside.
The academy Elders sitting around the long table all focused their gazes on Leng Yaozhu at the door. In those pairs of aged eyes, different lights flickered as they looked at this uninvited woman.
Although Leng Yaozhu was also a Titled Douluo and used to facing storms, her heart couldn't help but tighten under the gaze of so many powerful figures.
Moreover, as she looked at the expressions of these Shrek Elders, a sense of foreboding welled up in her heart. She felt that something bad was about to happen.
Leng Yaozhu looked at Yun Ming, who was sitting across the long table. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his handsome face bore a solemn expression, suggesting that the previous discussion had not gone smoothly.
Before Yun Ming, the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, could speak, Long Yeyue spoke directly, "Leng Yaozhu arrived just in time; some things can be said directly."
Leng Yaozhu's heart skipped a beat at those words, and the bad feeling in her heart intensified.
What exactly was it?
Yun Ming sighed, "Yaozhu, you and Yuhao come in."
Leng Yaozhu walked into the Sea God Pavilion expressionlessly, her exquisite face showing no emotion.
Huo Yuhao followed closely behind, while sending a voice transmission: "Teacher, Shrek wants to keep me at the academy."
Hearing this, Leng Yaozhu's willow-shaped brows furrowed, and her gaze instantly became much sharper.
She looked at Yun Ming again, her gaze filled with both questioning and wariness.
Meeting Leng Yaozhu's gaze, a hint of helplessness flashed in Yun Ming's eyes.
Although she didn't know the specifics yet, Leng Yaozhu naturally wouldn't let Shrek have their way.
So she chose to strike first, saying directly, "The Spirit Pagoda has business; I've come this time to take Yuhao back."
An Elder on the right side spoke up, "Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, you've come at the wrong time. I'm afraid you won't be able to take him away today."
Leng Yaozhu glanced at this Elder, a hint of coldness flashing in her phoenix eyes.
She asked knowingly, "What is the meaning of this?"
This Elder was also a hardliner who supported keeping Huo Yuhao at the academy. He said directly, "Huo Yuhao resonated with our Shrek Academy's Golden Tree. Heavenly Phoenix, you should have seen the anomaly earlier. Until this matter is clarified, Huo Yuhao cannot leave Shrek!"
The Elder didn't explicitly say they would keep Huo Yuhao at Shrek forever, but when the matter would be "clarified" was entirely up to Shrek.
If it wasn't clear in a day, he couldn't leave for a day.
If it wasn't clear in a year, he couldn't leave for a year.
If it was never cleared up, then he could never leave for the rest of his life.
Leng Yaozhu's expression became even more solemn. She was naturally aware of Shrek Academy's Golden Tree; it was the academy's hidden reserve, and its importance was self-evident.
It was not only the academy's spiritual symbol but also its final defensive barrier; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the Foundation of Shrek Academy.
Putting herself in their shoes, she could understand Shrek Academy's actions. After all, it was not unusual for these great powers to do anything for the sake of their Legacy.
But Huo Yuhao was her Disciple, so she couldn't just ignore this!
Leng Yaozhu's cold gaze swept across their faces, her phoenix eyes filled with chill.
She said resolutely, "Yuhao is a member of my Spirit Pagoda. Even if he resonated with the Golden Tree, it's impossible for him to stay at Shrek!"
Long Yeyue stood up then and snorted, "Leng Yaozhu, this matter is not for you to decide!"
Leng Yaozhu clenched her fists; she knew that today's matter likely wouldn't end peacefully! A sense of determination welled up in her heart.
A powerful aura erupted from Leng Yaozhu, like a volcanic eruption or a tsunami, instantly filling the entire Sea God Pavilion. Phoenix Flames enveloped her body, crimson as blood and scorching as the sun, making her look like a god of fire.
She said coldly, "I am taking my Disciple away now. Do you intend to stop me?"
Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda were both top powers on the continent; neither feared the other.
Hearing Leng Yaozhu's words, several hardline Elders also erupted with their auras, powerful breaths surging from their bodies, colliding and intertwining in the air.
In an instant, it looked as though a battle with Spirit Body Enhancement was imminent; the atmosphere in the Sea God Pavilion was tense to the extreme.
Long Yeyue watched the seemingly maddened Leng Yaozhu coldly and said, "Leng Yaozhu, don't be reckless. Your strength is not weak, but if you fight, you definitely won't walk out of here!"
Leng Yaozhu knew she was right, but she had no choice now.
"What are you all doing?!" Yun Ming spoke then, his voice cold as a winter wind and clearly tinged with anger.
His brows were tightly knit, and a sharp light flickered in his deep eyes.
Simultaneously, an even more majestic aura suddenly descended. That aura was like a massive mountain falling from the sky, heavy and majestic, making it hard for everyone to breathe. It was the aura of the number one person on the continent, the pressure of a Quasi-God who had reached the Peak, a power only possessed by those at the very top.
Though they were all Titled Douluo, the gap in strength was sometimes even greater than that between a Spirit Douluo and a Titled Douluo.
As Yun Ming acted, everyone's auras in the Sea God Pavilion instantly retracted.
Yun Ming's cold gaze swept over everyone, filled with both dissatisfaction and disappointment. He was willing to compromise because he did not have an autocratic nature and was willing to respect the academy's Elders and seniors.
With his strength, even if he ruled by decree, what could they do? No one could stop him! But they seemed to have forgotten that.
Seeing this, the Elders lowered their heads, not daring to meet Yun Ming's eyes.
But one person was completely unafraid; Long Yeyue shouted, "Yun Ming, don't vent your anger on your own people."
Yun Ming glanced at Long Yeyue upon hearing her. A hint of complexity flashed in his deep eyes.
Even if he was dissatisfied, he didn't say anything; after all, she was his master's wife. He also knew that Long Yeyue was reminding him that Leng Yaozhu was an outsider and he shouldn't let personal feelings interfere with official matters.
Yun Ming took a deep breath and looked at Leng Yaozhu, his voice low and sincere. "Yaozhu, rest assured, I will resolve this matter properly. For now, let Yuhao stay at Shrek."
Leng Yaozhu looked at Yun Ming coldly, her voice as chilling as frost. "Is this your decision?"
A hint of complexity flashed in Yun Ming's eyes as he simply said, "Please trust me!"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.