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Jing Hongchen nearly fled the Third Laboratory. He feared that if he stayed another second, he would be unable to resist using the full might of Mingde Hall to take this madman down—with the caveat that he could somehow ensure those damned "Evil's Bane" devices wouldn't detonate.
The atmosphere inside the lab remained frozen.
Gu La acted as though he had merely performed a trivial task. He casually slipped the flickering "Evil's Bane" back inside his coat—actually transferring it into the Forest Sea demi-plane.
He turned to Xuan Ziwen, whose face was pale and still trembling from shock, his tone as light as if discussing the weather:
"Teacher Xuan, could you please clean up? Also, the lab door is broken—file a repair request. Charge it to my research budget."
Xuan Ziwen: "..."
He stared at the charred, split corpse on the floor, then at the massive hole melted through the alloy door. His lips twitched uncontrollably.
Budget? Was this about budget?! He now only wanted to submit his resignation and return home to farm!
Gu La paid him no further attention. His gaze settled on Huo Yuhao, whose expression was a storm of complexity.
"Yuhao, come here. I have something for you."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him, and walked over.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was screaming inside his Spiritual Sea: "Yuhao! Stay away from him! He's too dangerous! Bing Bing! Elder Electrolux! Say something!"
Ice Empress fell silent for a moment, then coldly replied: "…Strength commands respect. He has the right to be arrogant. As long as he doesn't become our enemy, it's fine."
Electrolux: "His temperament is decisive, his methods… ruthless. Yet he does not appear entirely irrational. Let's hear what he wants."
Gu La led Huo Yuhao to a corner of the lab and casually erected a soundproofing barrier of soul power. Then he handed over the failed prototype of the soul cannon he had modified the previous night, along with several hastily sketched blueprints of the core array.
"Here. A small idea of mine. I tried combining spiritual attacks with conventional soul guidance devices. Unfortunately, the core array design was far too crude—it couldn't withstand the influx of spiritual power. After two test shots, it was nearly destroyed."
"You're better at this. Your Spirit Eyes martial soul is exceptionally suited to soul guidance device research. See if you can optimize the array structure—make it more stable, improve spiritual transmission efficiency."
Huo Yuhao took the still slightly charred soul cannon and the blueprints. A single glance was enough for his eyes to flash with surprise.
The concepts on the blueprints were wildly imaginative, boldly and ingeniously attempting to fuse spiritual inscriptions with soul power circuits. Though many sections appeared crude or even fantastical, the core idea was profoundly inspiring.
Inside his Spiritual Sea, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm spun in circles: "Whoa! This idea… actually sounds interesting. But there are so many flaws!"
Electrolux: "Hmm… Guiding, shaping, and projecting spiritual power through an object, just like soul power? An intriguing direction. Yuhao, perhaps it's worth trying."
Ice Empress: "Hmph. If he's creating such dangerous devices, he must have a second martial soul of the spirit type. Otherwise, how would he even use them himself?"
Huo Yuhao listened to the internal discussion, then looked up at Gu La, puzzled: "Gu La… what is this…?"
"A simple experiment," Gu La waved dismissively, his tone casual. "If it succeeds, it might open a new branch of soul guidance device technology. If it fails, no harm done. Interested in collaborating? We'll share the results."
Huo Yuhao was intrigued. The concept was undeniably challenging and compelling—and with Electrolux, the Holy Necromancer, offering guidance in the realm of spiritual power, the odds of success were high.
After a brief hesitation, he nodded. "Alright, I'll try. But I can't guarantee success. It'll take time."
"No problem. Time is plentiful." Gu La smiled in satisfaction, clapping Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Then it's yours. If you need materials or run into theoretical problems, come find me—or ask Teacher Xuan."
With that, he dissolved the barrier. Without even glancing at Ju Zi, Ke Ke, or the others who remained frozen in silent terror, he strode directly toward the melted gap in the door and exited as casually as if stepping out for a stroll.
Only the lab's occupants remained—facing a corpse, a gaping hole, and an ocean of fear and silence.
Xuan Ziwen stared at the direction Gu La had vanished, then down at the "small idea" blueprint Huo Yuhao had handed him. His vision darkened.
Suddenly, he understood the sympathetic, understanding look in Dean Jing Hongchen's retreating back.
This life… was unbearable!
Inside Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm wailed: "Yuhao, have we boarded a pirate ship?! Is it really safe to cooperate with someone who blows up academies and researches dangerous devices like this?!"
Huo Yuhao looked down at the blueprint in his hands, but his gaze gradually sharpened, glowing with focus. "Tianmeng, please be quiet. This concept… is astonishing. Perhaps… this truly is a new path…"
…
Gu La left the Third Laboratory and walked slowly along the broad, cold corridors of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
He deliberately slowed his pace, his spiritual power spreading like an invisible web, sensing the surroundings.
Strangely, the anticipated heavy surveillance never materialized.
No hidden glances. No trailing presence. Even the academy's usual patrol teams deliberately avoided the area he passed through.
He walked unimpeded all the way to the academy gates. The guards on duty had clearly received orders—they only glanced at him nervously, then immediately lowered their heads, pretending not to see him, allowing him to leave effortlessly.
Standing outside the academy, Gu La paused, momentarily unsure where to go.
He waited long enough to confirm no one followed. At first puzzled, he soon grasped the reason.
"Hmph. So that's how it is," Gu La murmured softly.
The Sun Moon Academy's structure differed entirely from Shrek's.
Jing Hongchen, as the Dean and Hall Master of Mingde Hall, held immense status and authority. But his subordinates—teachers, guards, Mingde Hall researchers, and protectors—owed their primary loyalty to the Sun Moon Empire and the Emperor, not to Jing Hongchen personally.
Jing Hongchen could not, like Shrek's Sea God Pavilion, easily summon Titled Douluos to carry out personal surveillance missions.
Moreover, Gu La was now a "walking human catastrophe." Who would willingly take on this hot potato?
To surveil him? What if someone accidentally provoked him and triggered an "Evil's Bane" explosion? Who would bear the responsibility?
Even Jing Hongchen's own orders were likely being ignored behind his back. No one dared get close.
"Jing Hongchen must be racing to the imperial palace right now," Gu La mused, a faint smirk touching his lips. "But that's none of my concern."
He stepped into the bustling crowds of Mingdu.
The capital of the Sun Moon Empire was saturated with metal and soul engineering technology. Towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, and soul guidance device trains glided along aerial tracks, showcasing a technological landscape utterly distinct from Shrek City.
"I recall from the original timeline," Gu La mused, "that although Mingdu was the imperial capital, beneath its surface lay unrest. There were three major underground factions secretly controlling the smuggling and trade of rare metals."
"Fascinating."
And one of those factions reportedly harbored a wielder of the Angel martial soul—Ye Guyi.
Thinking of Ye Guyi, Gu La's thoughts stirred. His Angel spirit soul, nurtured by the Golden Tree and honed through soul skill development, had already evolved into a stronger Holy Angel. Yet a spirit soul was not a true martial soul; its manifestation and essence differed from a genuine Angel martial soul.
He was curious. What was the difference between the divine power granted by a true Angel martial soul after punishing evil, and the power his Holy Angel spirit soul provided?
Studying this might offer him new insights and inspiration for breaking through his seventy-level bottleneck and obtaining his seventh soul ring.
Of course, there was a deeper reason.
Ye Guyi herself was a potential threat. Others might not perceive the truth behind his martial soul—but as another top-tier wielder of sacred attributes, Ye Guyi would very likely sense that he was not using a true Angel martial soul.
This risk needed to be extinguished early.
He could go to the Legend of the Dragon King timeline and seek Yue Zhengyu—but Yue Zhengyu had a grandfather, Yue Zheng'en, a demi-god commanding the Southern Army. The risk was too great. Far simpler to handle this here.
The three major underground factions of Mingdu were:
- Duskwater Alliance, backed by Ye Xishui of the Holy Spirit Cult, a nest of evil soul masters.
- Common Alliance, predominantly female, backed by certain nobles, controlling food, beverage, and entertainment.
- Alto Chamber of Commerce, supported by remaining nobles and military factions.
Gu La pondered briefly, then made his choice: Common Alliance.
He casually entered a luxurious establishment named "Xingyao Hotel," clearly one of Common Alliance's properties.
His spiritual power subtly spread like liquid mercury, instantly engulfing the entire lobby.
The receptionist, the attending staff, even the hidden guards—all experienced a momentary blankness in their eyes before returning to normal. Yet they now ignored Gu La's presence entirely, as if he were air.
Gu La walked straight to the front desk manager, his eyes swirling like vortexes, his voice carrying irresistible authority: "Contact your superior. Tell Shangguan Wei'er I wish to speak with her. Also, inform her that you and your people have just been hypnotized."
The manager's eyes glazed over, like a puppet. He obediently picked up the communication soul guidance device, called his superior, and relayed Gu La's words exactly—down to the part about being hypnotized.
The superior on the other end immediately broke into a cold sweat.
This wasn't a request. It was a naked warning and display of power.
She didn't dare delay. The message was escalated rapidly, reaching Shangguan Wei'er, the leader of Common Alliance.
Shangguan Wei'er was handling internal affairs when she received the report. Her alluring peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly.
Was this the Crown Prince's people? Military? Imperial family? Or a new expert hired by Duskwater Alliance or Alto Chamber of Commerce?
Her mind rapidly filtered possibilities—but none matched this direct, arrogant, and bizarre style of operation.
"A dragon crossing the river?" she wondered, but her caution outweighed her curiosity.
The man had named her specifically and used this method. She couldn't refuse. Otherwise, word would spread, and her prestige—and that of Common Alliance—would suffer irreparable damage.
She immediately assembled a few trusted enforcers, including several Soul Saints, and proceeded to the Xingyao Hotel with caution and unease.
Along the way, seeing all staff and guests with blank, mechanical expressions—obviously functioning normally yet utterly ignoring her party—Shangguan Wei'er's heart sank lower with every step.
This mass hypnosis ability was unheard of. The man's opening move was devastatingly thorough.
Arriving at the designated private room on the second floor, Shangguan Wei'er opened the door—and saw an unusually young, strikingly handsome boy sitting casually on a sofa, sipping tea.
Her surprise deepened, yet her expression remained composed, projecting the calm of a leader. She spoke:
"Who are you? Why use such methods to find me, Shangguan Wei'er?"
She did not immediately order her people to act. Underground factions relied not on raw power, but on connections and influence. Their patrons did not wish for them to provoke unnecessary conflict. Negotiation was always preferable.
Gu La set down his teacup without any pretense. Compared to the Duskwater Alliance, entangled with the Holy Spirit Cult, or the corrupt royal family members, he bore no ill will toward other factions of the Sun Moon Empire.
He cut straight to the point:
"Madam Shangguan, my apologies for the disturbance. I'm here merely to find someone—a soul guidance device expert named Ye Guyi. She is, I believe, one of your people."
Shangguan Wei'er was stunned again. That's it? To find a soul guidance device expert, you hypnotized everyone in my entire hotel? Made such a spectacle?
She kept her smile, asking cautiously: "May I ask why you seek Guyi? As leader of this alliance, I cannot allow my subordinate to walk into unknown danger."
She didn't know Ye Guyi well. The girl had been brought in by a former high-ranking member who had since passed away. She was quiet, known only to wield a powerful light-based martial soul—but its exact nature remained unknown. She served as a soul guidance device expert within the alliance.
Gu La's tone remained flat: "Don't worry. I have no ill intent toward her—or toward Common Alliance."
He paused, as if recalling something, then casually pulled an dark red "Evil's Bane No. 6" from his coat and tossed it toward her.
"Oh, as an apology for the intrusion, here's a little gift."
One of the Soul Saints behind her moved swiftly, intercepting the device with soul power, examining it thoroughly, confirming no traps or hidden mechanisms, then nodded to Shangguan Wei'er.
Gu La offered a casual explanation: "Sixth-grade soul guidance device—'Evil's Bane No. 6.' Its explosive power? Roughly equivalent to an eighth-grade fixed-type soul projectile. I'm an exchange student from Shrek Academy. I never exaggerate. My word is my bond."
"Madam Shangguan, who controls the underworld of Mingdu, must have noticed the sudden surge in security and patrols around the imperial palace and Crown Prince's residence. That was because of me."
Shangguan Wei'er took the cold metal sphere in her hand—and for the first time, she felt a soul guidance device burn like a live coal!
A sixth-grade soul guidance device with the power of an eighth-grade fixed-type projectile?! And it had alarmed the imperial palace and Crown Prince's residence?!
Her beautiful eyes widened in shock. Her mind reeled: What exactly have you done?!
She forced herself to remain composed. Seeing Gu La's demeanor truly lacked hostility, she gritted her teeth: "…Very well. I'll send for Guyi immediately."
Gu La nodded, then pulled out another "Evil's Bane" and placed it on the table.
"You can show her this. Tell her to bring it when she comes."
Someone possessing the Holy Angel martial soul would surely sense the Ultimate Light energy contained within. She wouldn't refuse.
Shangguan Wei'er was puzzled, but now she was trapped. She signaled a trusted subordinate to take the soul guidance device and fetch Ye Guyi immediately.
During the thirty-minute wait, Shangguan Wei'er attempted to subtly probe Gu La's intentions, background, and past actions.
Gu La, with nothing else to do, recounted—casually—the events in the lab: how he had instantly slain a royal scion, threatened Jing Hongchen, and openly declared his intention to blow up the palace and Crown Prince's residence.
Shangguan Wei'er turned ashen, sweat drenching her back. Her composure and allure vanished. Sitting on the plush sofa, she felt as though she were seated on needles, each second an eternity.
How could anyone remain calm knowing a walking catastrophe sat beside them—one who could detonate himself and everything within kilometers, and had just threatened the empire's highest echelons?
Finally, a knock came at the door.
"Madam," came a clear, melodious voice.
Ye Guyi had arrived.
She entered, first bowing respectfully to Shangguan Wei'er—but her clear, piercing eyes locked instantly onto Gu La. Within them burned unmistakable excitement, exhilaration, and a deep, lingering suspicion.
In her hand, she gripped tightly the "Evil's Bane" Gu La had given her—the Ultimate Light energy within causing her Angel martial soul to resonate powerfully.
Yet she was puzzled. In her understanding, the Angel martial soul had been hunted to near-extinction by evil soul cultivators. Why did this man possess such pure, intense Ultimate Light?
Gu La turned to Shangguan Wei'er and said calmly: "Madam Shangguan, may I speak with her alone?"
"Of course. Take your time."
Shangguan Wei'er felt as if released from a prison. She rose instantly, forcing a weak smile at Ye Guyi:
"Guyi, don't worry. Master Gu La is from Shrek Academy. He… likely means you no harm."
Without another word, she nearly fled the room with her entourage, closing the door behind her with thoughtful care.
Inside the room, only Gu La and Ye Guyi remained.
In the air, two sacred energies—originating from the same source, yet subtly distinct—began to intertwine, silently colliding.
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