White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Inside the study.
The Duchess received a special intelligence report from one of her subordinates.
It was intelligence related to Shrek Academy.
"The Shrek Inspection Group engaged the Death's Hand bandit group in the Mingdou Mountains. Despite being protected by a Gluttonous Douluo, four core team members were killed, two team members and one instructor were seriously injured, and one person went missing... The leader of Death's Hand escaped. His codename is Death's Emissary. Strength: Five-ring Soul King?!!"
The Duchess's expression twisted in disbelief, followed by seething rage.
She slammed the report into her subordinate's face and said coldly, "You think you can fool me with such ridiculous intelligence? Are you tired of living?"
The Duchess had been monitoring Shrek Academy for a long time, waiting for the right opportunity to strike back.
But she hadn't expected such an absurd report from her spies.
Couldn't they at least make up something believable?
Fake news!
Even Shrek Academy's enemies would find this story hard to swallow.
The Duchess sighed internally. Ever since Grand Chamberlain Gao was "harmed" by that vile Ci Hang demon, none of her subordinates had proven reliable.
The subordinate quickly gathered the fallen papers and whispered, "Madam, please allow me to explain."
"This intel was collected in Star Luo City. It appears someone is deliberately spreading the news. However, because the content is so outlandish, it hasn't gained much traction yet. Most believe it's a malicious slander campaign against Shrek Academy."
"But after I received it, I sensed something off and conducted my own investigation into Shrek Academy. I discovered their team only has two members above fifteen years old, and seven under fifteen. Among them, one older and one younger member are apparently seriously injured—exactly two individuals."
Given the White Tiger Duke's influence, it was easy to dig up information on Shrek Academy's team—after all, the students were staying at the Star Emperor Hotel.
The Duchess's anger began to ease. She sat up straight, tapping her fingers on the armrest thoughtfully.
"Go on," she said.
"Yes, Madam!" the subordinate replied with relief, inwardly celebrating. Thankfully, he had spoken quickly—any delay, and he might've been thrown out on the spot.
Submitting such outrageous intel carried huge risks. But if it turned out to be true, the rewards could be equally massive.
The subordinate continued, "According to my investigation, the team captain Ma Xiaotao and vice-captain Huo Yuhao arrived in Star Luo City ahead of the others. That means the rest of the team had only one member above fifteen and six below."
"If we include the eldest son who was once part of the core team…"
The Duchess's eyes lit up, interrupting, "Then exactly four core members and one reserve member are missing… Four dead, one missing… Four dead, one missing…"
She repeated the words over and over.
The subordinate wisely stayed silent, giving her space to think.
"So it's true!" the Duchess declared. She turned to him.
The subordinate quickly bowed and flattered, "Madam, your insight is unparalleled."
"Hahahaha…" The Duchess burst into delighted laughter, rising to her feet and waving her arms in excitement. "Wonderful! Shrek Academy, even you have fallen this low? At last, my son's spirit in the afterlife can be comforted!"
Her expression turned venomous, like a striking serpent. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Exactly how many people know about this intel?"
"Madam, because it seems unbelievable, it's only circulating at the lower levels, but likely several hundred people are aware of it."
"Do you know who started spreading it?"
"This… I do not, Madam."
"Hmph! Useless!" she snorted.
The subordinate bowed even lower in submission.
The Duchess sank back into her chair, speculating aloud, "Shrek Academy couldn't have released this info themselves. Which means the only person who both knew and had reason to leak it…"
"…is the escaped leader of Death's Hand—Death's Emissary!"
"What? Him?!" the subordinate exclaimed with feigned shock.
The Duchess smirked, satisfied with his clueless reaction—it made her feel like the master strategist.
The subordinate played along expertly.
Like writing a speech for your boss—you always leave in a few mistakes for them to catch and feel clever about.
Let the boss shine.
Learn and observe.
"Temporary success can blind a person to the true scale of the world," the Duchess said meaningfully. "He likely leaked the news to both take revenge on Shrek and to build his own reputation."
"In that case, give him an opportunity. Find him. Invite him to work for me," she said loftily.
To kill under a Super Douluo's protection and escape alive—even if only a Soul King—meant the man had real ability.
"But, Madam… he's an evil soul master!" the subordinate said in horror.
"So what? His identity is irrelevant. What matters is that he'll serve me loyally," the Duchess replied with a smile.
Harboring evil soul masters? Please. What noble family hasn't?
Even the Empire...
Pulling her thoughts together, she issued her next order: "Besides that, spread this information throughout Star Luo City. Make sure the whole world hears of Shrek Academy's 'great accomplishment'!"
The participating teams in Star Luo would carry this intel far and wide—even to the Sun-Moon Empire.
Once the news spread and people believed it, Shrek Academy's reputation would take a massive hit.
Bloodthirsty vultures might even begin to circle.
Dead people weren't the scary part. What was terrifying was that the killer was just a Soul King—who managed this right under the nose of a Title Douluo and lived to tell the tale.
The strongest Soul King, indeed.
"Yes, Madam!" the subordinate responded quickly.
Finally, the Duchess looked him over and said gently, "Go on. Complete these two tasks, and from now on, you'll serve by my side."
The subordinate was ecstatic.
This was the result he'd been waiting for!
Since Grand Chamberlain Gao's "disappearance," the Duchess had lacked a close confidant—someone had to fill the void.
A windfall of fortune had finally landed on his head!
Truly, as the saying goes: Take a gamble, and your soul tool laser might just turn into a soul tool cannon!
As he reveled in his dreams of promotion…
A guard from the mansion rushed up, knocking urgently at the Duchess's door.
"Madam! Urgent news!"
"Speak!" she said, frowning slightly.
"Instructor Zhou Yi from Shrek Academy was killed in broad daylight—the killer's martial soul seems to be… Heaven's Calamity, Earth's Withering Flower!"
"What?!" The Duchess jumped up in shock.
"Grand Chamberlain Gao isn't dead?!"
But then it hit her—that wasn't the issue right now.
"Shrek Academy's instructor was murdered in public… and the killer has a martial soul resembling Grand Chamberlain Gao's?!"
Even if she hated Shrek, she'd never be so blatant. But now someone had committed the act—using a martial soul that clearly linked back to her.
As the palace maid who had accompanied the Duchess from the royal court, Grand Chamberlain Gao's identity was no secret among the nobles.
"This is bad!" the Duchess growled. "Someone is trying to frame me!"
Without another word, she rushed out and gave her orders.
"Summon all top officials of the Duke's Mansion to the Hall of War! And send a letter to His Majesty in the palace!"
At the same time—
Huo Yuhao had already led the others from Shrek Academy to the city gates of Star Luo City.
If it weren't for the city's enormous size and the crowd density, they would've already broken through and made it out.
As it stood, they were just about to charge out and cause trouble for the Duke White Tiger's residence.
As for the rules of Star Luo City? Compared to Shrek Academy's matters, they were worthless.
If anyone had a problem, take it up with Shrek Academy.
However, a squad of city gate guards blocked their path.
"Members of Shrek Academy, please stop!"
The newly appointed city gate guard captain called out loudly.
The gates were shut.
Don't ask why it was a "new" captain. After the Dai Huabin incident, the previous captain and a group of soldiers had all been exiled to the borders.
They weren't dead, but they didn't fare well either.
After all, anyone assigned to guard the gates of the imperial capital surely had some degree of backing, and the families behind them must have earned the emperor's trust.
Would you dare to place traitors as your front-door guards?
The guards were at least loyal enough to protect their fellow soldiers, which left them no choice but to temporarily flee and lie low.
Seeing the gate closed and people obstructing them, Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered. He raised his right hand, and Ma Xiaotao and the others immediately halted.
"Why are you stopping us?" Huo Yuhao asked coldly.
The guard was momentarily speechless.
I didn't even question why you're trampling over the rules of Star Luo City, and you're already questioning my obstruction?
But remembering the orders from above, the guard respectfully replied,
"Please remain calm, members of Shrek Academy. There might be a misunderstanding. A representative from the Star Luo Empire will arrive shortly to assist you in resolving the issue."
In truth, the guard had no idea what had happened.
He was just relaying what he'd been ordered to say.
The incident in Star Luo City had first reached the ears of Emperor Xu Jiawei.
Upon hearing that Zhou Yi had been killed in broad daylight, Xu Jiawei broke out in a cold sweat. When he heard Huo Yuhao was leading an assault on the Duke White Tiger's estate, he nearly flipped his table.
No matter who ended up in trouble, the Star Luo Empire was going to get caught in the crossfire!
This matter needed to be handled carefully—or else the royal family would be implicated!
After all, the incident happened within Star Luo City itself. The royal family had to step up.
Thus, Xu Jiawei immediately used a long-distance soul communicator to issue orders, instructing the gate guards to block Huo Yuhao's group.
He also dispatched someone at once to try and resolve the situation.
Though the long-range communicator could transmit messages, its range was limited. From the palace to the gate was about its max range.
And crucially—this device wasn't even made by Star Luo Empire. It was imported from the Sun Moon Empire. The fact they had enough to equip all four imperial gates was already pushing their limits.
(Huo Yuhao and He Caitou would later use this type of soul tool in battles against the Sun Moon Empire.)
Ma Xiaotao and the others looked to Huo Yuhao.
Naturally, Ma Xiaotao and Wei Na followed his lead without question.
Ling Luochen, Jiang Nannan, and Xu Sanshi felt Huo Yuhao was being a bit reckless, but since Shrek Academy's dignity had been insulted, they wouldn't retreat.
Jin Qiu'er, meanwhile, looked eager for chaos, trailing behind with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, almost shouting, "Let the blood flow!"
Huo Yuhao stared at the guard and directly activated his soul rings. In a cold voice, he declared:
"I don't trust the Star Luo Empire. Move aside now, and I won't kill you."
A deadly killing intent emanated from Huo Yuhao, his icy expression making it clear he wasn't bluffing.
The atmosphere grew instantly tense.
After all, a member of Shrek Academy had died. If there was only anger without murderous intent, it wouldn't feel right.
Triggered by that killing intent, the guard suddenly felt cold to the bone, terrified.
"Why does this kid have such overwhelming killing intent?!"
Just as the guard stood frozen, unsure what to do, a mocking voice echoed from above.
"Oh? Kid, you really dare to kill? Go ahead and try!"
Everyone looked up.
An old man stood mid-air, unsupported, not even in martial soul state.
Ma Xiaotao's pupils constricted sharply, her voice solemn.
"A Titled Douluo!"
Everyone else was shocked.
Xu Sanshi shielded Jiang Nannan.
Jin Qiu'er's earlier bravado disappeared. She quickly moved to protect Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
Ling Luochen stepped forward to protect the younger students.
The old man in the sky wasn't tall—average, if anything. He was skinny but brimming with vigor, looking about sixty years old. He had short dark brown hair and piercing eyes, which were now focused directly on Huo Yuhao, his lips curled into a playful smirk.
An invisible pressure radiated from the old man, bearing down on everyone.
But Huo Yuhao immediately activated his Ice Jade Centipede Armor, spreading intense cold in all directions, enveloping the group and neutralizing the oppressive force with ease.
This caused the old man's expression to shift slightly.
"What an interesting boy!"
In the next second, Huo Yuhao suddenly launched a punch at the guard before him.
The unsuspecting guard felt a wave of deathly chill approaching. His heart cried out—
"I'm done for!"
The threat was real, and so was the chill.
What did I even do to deserve this?
I was just relaying a message—why am I about to die?!
Fortunately, although the guard failed to react, the old man in the sky did.
"How dare you!"
With a flash, he appeared between Huo Yuhao and the guard, slapping at Huo Yuhao to deflect the attack and send him flying.
But Huo Yuhao flapped his wings, lifting himself into the air and dodging the slap.
The old man was surprised again—he'd missed?
Now, Huo Yuhao hovered above, gazing down.
The guard, narrowly escaping death, immediately turned and fled. The rest of the soldiers ran with him.
Ma Xiaotao and the others all glared at the old man, ready to fight.
Even if he was a Titled Douluo… okay, they probably couldn't win.
But since Huo Yuhao didn't retreat, neither would they.
"You brat, trying to kill someone right in front of me?!" the old man shouted, livid.
Huo Yuhao looked down coldly and replied:
"I'm simply showing you—
There's no one Shrek doesn't dare to kill!"
"Whoever dares touch a member of Shrek Academy, is our enemy. They must be prepared for a fight to the death. Anyone who stands in our way—
Will face the consequences!"
The ice-cold dominance Huo Yuhao exuded made Ma Xiaotao and the others feel as if they were seeing him for the first time.
But they all understood—this was for the dignity of Shrek Academy.
They felt deeply moved by Huo Yuhao's unwavering loyalty.
Rather than distance themselves from him, they respected him even more.
The old man, furious, laughed in disbelief.
"So this is how domineering Shrek Academy is?!"
Huo Yuhao remained stone-faced. Then, he began to chant solemnly:
"Shrek's dignity shall never be defiled!"
"I am the disciple of Dragon God Douluo Mu En of Shrek Academy—
The junior of Taotie Douluo Xuanzi and Ming Phoenix Douluo Yan Shaozhe!"
The old man's expression changed dramatically.
Huo Yuhao continued:
"If you dare humiliate us today, you'll dare humiliate all of Shrek tomorrow!
If I retreat today, Shrek will retreat ten thousand steps in the future!"
"To fight for Shrek's glory—what fear is there in death?!"
"Come! Fight me!"
In an instant, Huo Yuhao's soul rings lit up.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Poisonous Tide!"
The old man shouted in a panic:
"Stop! Kid, stop! You're too extreme! We can talk this out!"
Where did I even insult you?!
But it was too late. The poisonous mist had already erupted.
A poisonous mist erupted instantly, engulfing a vast stretch of night sky. It spread rapidly over the city gates like a flood intending to devour everything in its path.
Below, soldiers were overwhelmed with terror.
Some, in panic, tried to disperse the mist with their soul skills.
But the attempt was futile — the mist corroded their soul techniques in the blink of an eye.
This poisonous fog could actually corrode soul power and soul skills!
Compared to when it was used against the beast tide in the Heavenly Soul Empire, Huo Yuhao's poison fog had become even more potent and lethal.
"We mustn't let the poison mist touch the ground!"
The old man knew things were bad. If the mist descended, he might be fine, but the soldiers at the gate would undoubtedly suffer massive casualties.
He acted swiftly.
As an Assault-type Strength-focused Titled Douluo, the elder lacked control-type soul skills. But with his immense soul power and physical strength, he could still hold the mist at bay.
A surge of soul power burst from him, rushing to meet the descending fog, enveloping it, even reversing its spread.
But the moment his soul power touched the mist, the elder sensed it—his energy was being corroded!
"Such terrifying poison!"
Left with no choice, he ramped up his soul power output.
With the elder and Huo Yuhao now clashing directly, others were spurred into action by Huo Yuhao's rousing words.
One by one, Ma Xiaotao and her allies activated their martial spirits and joined the fray.
Ma Xiaotao: "I am the disciple of Bright Phoenix Douluo Yan Shaozhe! Shrek's dignity shall not be insulted!"
Ling Luochen: "I am an Inner Court student of Shrek Academy! Shrek cannot be humiliated!"
Xu Sanshi: "I am the young master of the Xuanming Sect! I'd rather die standing than live kneeling!"
Wang Dong: "I am the young master of the Clear Sky Sect! I will protect Shrek's honor!"
More charged in.
But not all declared their affiliations.
Take Wei Na, for instance.
She didn't care about Shrek's glory — she followed simply because Huo Yuhao acted.
And announcing "I'm a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire" at this moment? That'd probably spark an international incident.
Even Jin Qiu'er could no longer stay hidden. She charged forward with her Golden Dragon Spear.
"Didn't expect that side of Huo Yuhao… But don't think I'll ever lose to you!"
Jin Qiu'er: "Let me poke a thousand holes in him!"
Meanwhile, others from Shrek Academy went straight for the elder's body, darkening his expression.
"The Shrek brats are too impudent!"
Boom!
The elder released his martial spirit.
For beast-type martial spirits, the stronger the user, the more their appearance aligned with their spirit when activated.
His skin turned dark and glossy, resembling a chitinous exoskeleton. His eyebrows elongated dramatically, curling upward like two antennae, each over twenty centimeters long.
Nine soul rings emerged instantly — two yellow, three purple, four black.
A match for the Serpent Spear Douluo of ten thousand years ago, also a Titled Douluo despite imperfect ring configuration.
Yet his power as a Titled Douluo was undeniable.
A surge of might forced Ma Xiaotao and the others to take a few steps back.
Then he finally spoke:
"I am the Guardian Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, Strength Douluo Cheng Gang! Shrek students — you've gone too far!"
Cheng Gang?
High in the sky, Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes, assessing Cheng Gang.
"Isn't this that idiot from the original story?"
The one who tried to steal a beast soul ring and bone, only to get pummelled by Xuanzi.
"I remember his martial spirit is the Ant Emperor, right?" Huo Yuhao had an idea, but sighed after a closer look. "I was overthinking."
Not every Ant Emperor was a Thousand-Juny Ant Emperor.
Cheng Gang's martial spirit was just a typical ant-type emperor — high-tier, sure, but nowhere near the gold-blooded top-tier kind.
There wasn't a trace of gold in his carapace. That said a lot.
Still, he was a legitimate Titled Douluo, albeit not one with much value right now.
"A pity it's not the right time to act," Huo Yuhao mused.
The commotion had drawn the attention of many. Huo Yuhao couldn't strike openly.
But the audience was in place. Time to push the plot to its climax.
Cheng Gang had no idea Huo Yuhao had already "appraised" him. He continued exuding the arrogance of a Titled Douluo, staring proudly at the Shrek students.
"Even with my back to the city gates and holding off the poison mist, I, Cheng Gang, am still far beyond what you brats can handle!"
"Strong?" Huo Yuhao paused his poison mist and spoke clearly, his voice echoing:
"Only the victorious are strong — not the self-proclaimed!"
Suddenly, a dragon's roar rang out from Huo Yuhao, releasing an aura of extreme cold.
"Xiaotao!"
"Uncle Yuhao!" Ma Xiaotao responded instantly, her Phoenix rising into the air.
A resonant phoenix cry split the sky, setting the heavens ablaze with crimson flames.
In the night sky above…
Ice and fire intertwined. Dragon and Phoenix sang in harmony.
"Seventh Soul Skill: True Form of the Fire Phoenix!"
A colossal flaming phoenix emerged in the sky.
A martial soul's true form transformed the user completely into their spirit, significantly amplifying their strength — all soul skills would become nearly twice as powerful.
But Ma Xiaotao wasn't casting soul skills — she was assisting Huo Yuhao.
He condensed the powers of his dragon bloodline and extreme ice into his fist.
The Phoenix's flames and power coiled toward him.
Dragon and Phoenix. Ice and Fire.
At this moment, they achieved perfect resonance. Red and blue lights wrapped around Huo Yuhao, making him appear radiant and striking.
But hidden in the beauty was immense danger.
"Martial soul fusion skill?!" Jin Qiu'er gasped below.
"No, it's a combo skill," corrected Wang Dong, now wiser after a year at school.
Combo skills didn't demand martial soul compatibility like fusion skills, but they were still rare — requiring deep mutual understanding.
As for Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao's synergy?
That was forged through countless nights of intimate cooperation.
Below, Cheng Gang's face changed — he felt a genuine threat from Huo Yuhao!
Yuhao was about to unleash a piece of his true strength.
This "combo skill" was just a cover for an actual high-level attack. Though Ma Xiaotao's power was fused in, it mainly shaped and amplified the strike.
In the next moment, Huo Yuhao threw his punch.
"Ice-Fire Combo Skill — Dragon-Phoenix Ascendant Strike!"
The phoenix, wrapped in ice and fire, launched itself straight at Cheng Gang — with fearless momentum and terrifying power.
Cheng Gang instinctively recoiled. He stepped back!
Then realized his cowardice, anger flushing his face — he prepared to counterattack.
But a layer of ultimate ice suddenly sealed his body.
Huo Yuhao's eyes glowed with frost.
"Zero-Degree Freeze!"
It only froze Cheng Gang for a second.
But a second was all he needed.
The ice-fire phoenix crashed into Cheng Gang before he could mount a defense.
BOOM—
The explosion from the ice-fire collision echoed through Star Luo City, shaking the ground. Those near the gates felt the full weight of its devastation.
"That strike had the power of a Titled Douluo!" someone exclaimed in the shadows.
The city walls trembled under the shockwave.
Fortunately, they held.
When the light of the blast faded, everyone saw Cheng Gang in a pit — his martial spirit deactivated, vomiting blood, one side of his body frozen, the other burned. He looked pathetic.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
Hovering mid-air, Huo Yuhao held the exhausted Ma Xiaotao in his arms, looking down coldly.
"This proves — you are not a strong one."
Countless people gasped in shock.
A Soul King and a Soul Sage… had just taken down a Titled Douluo?
In a single blow?!
One could only blame Cheng Gang's arrogance. His delay let Huo Yuhao land a clean hit — and even most Titled Douluo couldn't withstand that.
Had Cheng Gang not possessed a strong body, he might've ended up unconscious — or worse.
Jin Qiu'er suddenly wondered if she'd been too loud when speaking to Huo Yuhao recently…
On the ground, Cheng Gang looked up in fear at Huo Yuhao, wanting to speak — only to cough blood again.
"You opposed Shrek — so prepare for death."
Ice spears began forming rapidly around Huo Yuhao.
Just as they were about to descend—
A frantic voice rang out:
"Please, spare him!"
Huo Yuhao turned toward the direction of the voice.
The speaker was a young woman.
She looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a beauty that could rival Jiang Nannan. And since she was a few years older than Jiang Nannan, her figure was more developed. Dressed in a bright yellow court dress, her snow-white skin was highlighted beautifully, creating an impression of flawless elegance.
Notably, she exuded a strong draconic aura—clearly a member of the royal family, and of considerable status at that.
Behind the young woman stood an elderly matron.
The old woman looked to be at least eighty years old, with white hair and beard. She wore a deep red gown that contrasted sharply with her snow-white hair, giving off an impressive presence. However, her eyes were somewhat gloomy. Her piercing blue gaze radiated aggression, as if she were ready to strike at any moment. The aura of a Titled Douluo was fully on display.
Jin Qiu'er shivered again.
It appeared the girl and the old woman had just arrived at the city gates.
They had stumbled upon the moment when Cheng Gang was about to be executed.
The old woman's eyes turned grim.
However, the young woman clearly didn't intend to act rashly. Seeing that Huo Yuhao hadn't immediately struck the fatal blow, she sighed in quiet relief and quickly introduced herself: "I am Xu Jiujiu, Princess of the Imperial Family and younger sister to the Star Luo Emperor."
Then she added earnestly, "Everyone from Shrek Academy, there might be a misunderstanding here. Senior Cheng Gang meant no harm. If there was any offense, I offer my sincerest apologies on his behalf."
As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu bowed respectfully toward Huo Yuhao and the others.
The old woman behind her glanced at the group with dissatisfaction but said nothing.
Huo Yuhao gave Xu Jiujiu a look, then dispelled all the ice spears behind him, thereby sparing Cheng Gang.
An imperial princess—sister to the emperor himself—had bowed in apology. That was as much of a concession as anyone could expect. What more could they demand? That the emperor himself come to apologize?
Xu Jiujiu's status as a princess was significantly higher than Wei Na's.
"You old dog, you just crawled back from the gates of death," Huo Yuhao said coldly to Cheng Gang.
Cheng Gang was fuming, but he could only lie there powerlessly. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood in a row, his life force visibly dwindling.
Such humiliation… who could tell what psychological damage it would cause an eighty-something elder?
At Xu Jiujiu's signal, the accompanying soldiers finally mustered the courage to come forward and take Cheng Gang away.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had already stopped his soul skill, and the toxic mist had dispersed. Otherwise, once Cheng Gang collapsed, the area would've been left shrouded in freezing poison, turning into a death zone.
Huo Yuhao ignored everyone else. Landing on the ground, he picked up Ma Xiaotao and led the others toward the city gates.
Xu Jiujiu quickly moved to block their path with the old woman, speaking urgently, "His Majesty is already aware of the murder of a Shrek Academy instructor in broad daylight. Since this happened in Star Luo City, it is our Empire's responsibility to investigate. Please allow Star Luo Empire to handle this matter. We will give Shrek Academy a satisfactory explanation."
"Why should I believe you?" Huo Yuhao gave Xu Jiujiu no face at all.
"I am willing to vouch on the honor of both the Star Luo Empire and the royal family. We will absolutely find the murderer and severely punish all responsible," Xu Jiujiu said solemnly.
Huo Yuhao stared at her for a long moment, making her visibly nervous.
And who could blame her?
Just moments ago, Huo Yuhao had nearly executed a Titled Douluo on the spot.
If she hadn't brought a Titled Douluo of her own, Xu Jiujiu wouldn't have dared to stand this close to him.
At last, Huo Yuhao gave a faint nod.
"Fine. I'll place my trust in the Star Luo Empire this once. Don't let Shrek down."
Then, carrying Ma Xiaotao and followed by his group, he turned and headed back into Star Luo City.
Even before all of this had unfolded, Huo Yuhao had known that the Star Luo Empire would never truly allow them to come into direct conflict with the White Tiger Duke's estate.
But he had achieved his purpose.
Now, aside from them, there would be many people who'd be sweating and sleepless tonight.
Once Huo Yuhao and his group were out of sight, Xu Jiujiu's legs nearly gave out, but she exhaled in deep relief.
The old woman behind her, however, looked displeased. Squinting her eyes, she said, "Jiujiu, why didn't you let me capture them first? They're openly provoking the Empire's dignity!"
Whether Cheng Gang lived or died didn't matter—she'd never liked him anyway. But provoking the dignity of the Empire was a slap in the face to her as one of its Guardian Douluos!
The old woman's name was Man Yi, Title: Starcloud. She was stronger than Cheng Gang, who was only Rank 91.
As Xu Jiujiu's personal protector, she had close ties to the royal family.
Having a Titled Douluo as a personal guard spoke volumes about Xu Jiujiu's importance within the Star Luo Empire.
"Granny Man Yi, this is my brother's will," Xu Jiujiu said with a bitter smile. "A suspected member of the White Tiger Duke's household tried to assassinate a Shrek Academy teacher in broad daylight. If this isn't handled delicately, Shrek Academy will be even more unreasonable than Huo Yuhao. And then the entire Empire could be thrown into chaos."
"Shrek Academy not only has powerful individuals, but countless followers across the continent. Have you forgotten about the Shrek Assembly Decree?"
Man Yi's expression shifted subtly.
The Shrek Assembly Decree first appeared over 4,000 years ago—issued to rally forces against the Sun Moon Empire. It had summoned over sixty Titled Douluo from the original Douluo Three Kingdoms and succeeded in defeating the Sun Moon Empire.
Once might have been a fluke.
But over 2,000 years ago, to combat the newly emerged Body Sect, Shrek Academy issued another decree.
This time, not only Titled Douluo, but numerous top-tier powerhouses joined the campaign, forcing the Body Sect into hiding, never to stir again.
These two decrees made the three great empires realize: Shrek Academy didn't just have elite strength—they had overwhelming force, enough to annihilate any faction on the continent!
Perhaps the Body Sect was a shady organization. But who could guarantee that the next decree wouldn't be aimed at their own faction?
What powerful faction could sleep peacefully after that?
Afterward, the three empires began restricting Shrek Academy's student admissions. Princes and princesses were banned from enrolling, and many great clans stopped sending their disciples.
At the same time, the empires ramped up efforts to win over their own top experts.
When they embraced Shrek, it was for the benefits. When they distanced themselves, it was because Shrek had become a threat to those same benefits.
"So we're just letting them go?" Man Yi asked, still unwilling.
"Leave it to my brother," Xu Jiujiu replied. "Our task is to ensure that no further incidents involving Shrek Academy happen in Star Luo City."
Man Yi's gaze flickered slightly. She nodded lightly, then asked, "Jiujiu, what's our next move?"
"To the White Tiger Duke's residence," Xu Jiujiu said without hesitation.
"It was really the White Tiger Duke's doing?" Man Yi was shocked.
Xu Jiujiu countered with another question, "Granny Man Yi, have you heard of the Heaven-Scar Earth-Sunflower Martial Soul?"
"Heaven-Scar Earth-Sunflower?" Man Yi frowned. "It sounds familiar. I do know the Heaven-Fragrance Earth-Sunflower—it's the hereditary martial soul of the noble Gao family. A rather impressive high-grade soul."
"The Heaven-Scar Earth-Sunflower is a variant of the Heaven-Fragrance version," Xu Jiujiu explained. "There's only one known possessor alive today. They once served in the palace but later left."
"Tonight, the assassin who killed the Shrek teacher is suspected of wielding that very martial soul."
"Oh?" Man Yi narrowed her eyes. "Where is this person now?"
"She was sent as part of my sister's dowry when she married into the White Tiger Duke's estate."
"Jiujiu, you don't mean…"
"Yes," Xu Jiujiu said. "She's now the Duchess."
"Hisss…"
Man Yi hadn't expected the situation to be this explosive. She thought it was a setup, but this was turning out to be painfully real.
"Jiujiu, how do you plan to handle this?" Man Yi asked gravely.
The Duchess wasn't someone you could just deal with easily—she was a royal princess herself. Not to mention, this implicated the White Tiger Duke.
Her motives weren't the problem. What mattered was how they would handle this mess to give Shrek Academy an acceptable explanation.
"Let's find the assassin first," Xu Jiujiu said softly. "My brother's orders were: everything must be done with the Empire's interests in mind."
Man Yi said nothing more.
Xu Jiujiu sighed inwardly.
"Looks like it's going to be a sleepless night…"
"Shrek is truly overbearing!"
Inside the imperial palace's study, Xu Jiawei slammed the intelligence report onto the table. He had already reviewed everything that had happened at the city gates.
When he was young, he had deeply admired Shrek Academy, but ever since he took power and became personally tied to the empire's interests, his feelings towards Shrek were no longer so pure.
After calming his emotions, Xu Jiawei turned to the man beside him. "Elder Huang, how is the Mightyforce Douluo doing?"
The cold-faced elder standing beside Xu Jiawei responded, "Your Majesty, although Mightyforce is heavily injured, his vital foundation is unharmed. He's already been sent to the Shrine Hall, and with the presence of the Medical Immortal, his life is not in danger."
This elder was named Huang Jinxu, a Rank 92 Titled Douluo, with the spirit Heavenly Fiend Lone Star, title: Heavenly Fiend.
He was one of the Empire's Guardian Douluos and also served as the chief referee for this Soul Master Tournament.
Xu Jiawei had summoned him precisely as a precautionary measure—so that if something went wrong again, Huang Jinxu could intervene immediately.
"Good. As long as the Medical Immortal is there, I can rest easy." Xu Jiawei nodded.
The Medical Immortal Douluo, Wang Xian'er, had once been a legendary figure alongside Mu En, known as a healing-type Titled Douluo. Due to her old age and dwindling lifespan, she rarely went all out in recent years.
But even a casual treatment from her was enough to preserve Cheng Gang's life.
Xu Jiawei let out a long sigh and spoke apologetically, "Elder Huang, please go to the royal treasury and retrieve a five-thousand-year-old purple ginseng to deliver to the Mightyforce Douluo on my behalf. Apologize to him for me. Shrek is too powerful—this time, the royal family cannot openly support him. He'll have to bear the grievance."
"I understand," Huang Jinxu replied with a flicker in his eyes.
Cheng Gang had acted on Xu Jiawei's orders and ended up severely injured. Both emotionally and logically, Xu Jiawei needed to pacify him.
However, the emperor merely gave compensation and stated he couldn't stand up for Cheng Gang because of Shrek's overwhelming influence.
This was a clever transfer of resentment—and also a way to bind Cheng Gang even closer to the imperial family.
Even though Cheng Gang didn't have the optimal spirit ring configuration for a Titled Douluo, every single Titled Douluo was crucial to the three great empires.
Even though the Star Luo Empire was considered the strongest among the original three Douluo nations, when compared to Shrek Academy, it still lacked in the number of top-tier powerhouses.
"Your Majesty, how should we handle this situation? Should we disqualify Shrek Academy from the competition?" Huang Jinxu asked.
By all accounts, Shrek Academy had indeed overstepped their bounds this time, so disqualification wouldn't be unwarranted.
But Xu Jiawei shook his head.
"No. Shrek was the victim here—we can't revoke their qualification. In fact, we must send people to express our concern. Besides…"
"From what Huo Yuhao said, the Dragon God Douluo is still alive!"
A legendary figure from the same era as Wang Xian'er, still alive?
That person was a battle-type Soul Master. Who knew how strong he had become now?
After issuing a few more instructions to Huang Jinxu, Xu Jiawei dismissed him to his duties.
Then, the emperor sat back in his chair, falling into deep thought.
As dissatisfied as he might be with Shrek, Xu Jiawei did not act impulsively.
In fact, he saw an opportunity—an opportunity to weaken the White Tiger Duke's estate!
The Xu family had inherited the throne from the Dai family. But the Dai family still existed, and they held high-ranking positions within the Star Luo Empire, remaining influential.
How could the emperor ever truly feel at ease?
However, since the Dai family had voluntarily abdicated, they held the moral high ground, and Xu's family could not move against them without backlash.
Unless… the Dai family made a foolish mistake themselves.
And now, this incident might allow him to sow discord between the Dai family and Shrek, weakening the former.
Even if it meant sacrificing an imperial princess—his own elder sister.
Thinking of her, Xu Jiawei wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, then returned to composure.
Finally, he picked up the intelligence report again, flipping directly to the section on Huo Yuhao.
The more he read, the more shocked he became.
His eyes even began to flash with killing intent.
"This boy is terrifying. If I cannot make him serve me, then he must not be allowed to live!"
But he restrained himself.
There were things that needed doing, but not now, and certainly not inside Star Luo City.
The Huo Yuhao in the original work was still within human comprehension, so Xu Jiawei never worried.
But the Huo Yuhao before him now? Frightening.
If not for Huo Yuhao's formidable background, Xu Jiawei would ensure he never left Star Luo City alive.
Just then, Xu Jiawei noticed a special intelligence report.
"Wei Na? The princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire?"
Although Wei Na hadn't publicly revealed her identity, the Star Luo Empire's intelligence network had uncovered it and delivered the information to the emperor.
"What's going on with the Heavenly Soul Empire? Why would they send their own princess to study at Shrek Academy?"
Hadn't they all agreed to boycott Shrek together? And now you're defecting?
"No… the Heavenly Soul Emperor wouldn't be that foolish. Could it be…"
When strange things happen, there's usually a deeper reason.
If someone is shaking a jujube tree, even if no one sees fruit falling yet, it might still be worth joining in—especially when that person is an equal rival.
"Guards!"
Xu Jiawei summoned his secret guards.
"Investigate Princess Wei Na of the Heavenly Soul Empire—especially what happened after she enrolled in Shrek Academy!"
That night, Xu Jiawei couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about Huo Yuhao and the Heavenly Soul Empire.
He wasn't the only one losing sleep.
The Star Luo Empire's nobility was in an uproar.
The Gao family, Earls known for their Fragrant Earth and Skyflower martial soul, were trembling with fear, afraid of being implicated.
An investment they made decades ago had become a boomerang, striking back at the family.
Nobles and powerhouses close to the White Tiger Duke's estate called it slander.
Those aligned with Shrek Academy believed the White Tiger Duke was bringing doom upon himself.
Had the situation not begun to calm, both sides might have sent people to support their respective factions.
If Huo Yuhao had stormed the White Tiger Duke's estate, many powerhouses would have come to his aid.
One thing was certain: if this situation wasn't thoroughly investigated, conflict was inevitable.
Although no greater clash occurred that night, everyone could sense that a larger storm was forming.
And this storm would envelop:
The Star Luo Empire
The White Tiger Duke's estate
Shrek Academy
But Huo Yuhao's words had already spread among most of the nobles and powerhouses—and none denied his overwhelming presence.
Those close to Shrek Academy developed a great fondness for Huo Yuhao.
Many young noble ladies became instantly enamored with this extraordinary boy.
At a hotel…
Nan Qiuqiu kept repeating Huo Yuhao's words, trembling with excitement and rolling around on the bed.
"A man this domineering—he should be my hero!"
In another room…
Nan Shuishui remained calm but remarked, "A hero from among the youth. And his spirit seems to be dragon-type too. If we could match Qiuqiu with him…"
Without Huo Yuhao's influence, Nan Shuishui had no memory of Ming Wang. From the sect's perspective, she was already considering pairing Nan Qiuqiu with Huo Yuhao.
At the Xinghuang Grand Hotel, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy called an emergency meeting late at night.
"All of us? At this hour?" Xiao Hongchen yawned. "What's so urgent, Elder Ma?"
"Yeah, we've got a match early tomorrow." Meng Hongchen was groggy too.
Everyone turned to Elder Ma.
With a grim face, Elder Ma slammed a report onto the table and said sternly:
"Read this. It's everything that happened with Shrek Academy tonight!"
After reading, everyone was stunned.
Xiao Hongchen leapt to his feet.
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
Was he going crazy, or was the world?
No one felt sleepy anymore.
They all remembered one name: Huo Yuhao.
Meng Hongchen covered her mouth in shock.
"He's actually that strong?"
"No wonder I had my eyes on that handsome guy!"