Pope Descends
"Boy, that is Pope Bibi Dong!"
Chen Xin hissed urgently from behind Lu Yuan, his hand still resting nervously on the hilt of his sword. His pupils shrank as he watched the violet-robed figure hover in midair, her aura like a mountain pressing on their hearts.
He could not guess why the Pope herself had brought such a terrifying lineup, but one thing was clear—Lu Yuan had already opened his mouth and provoked her.
Beautiful? Yes. But she was a poisonous flower—gorgeous, lethal, untouchable.
"Ohhhh, it's you!" Lu Yuan blinked, squinting at her as though trying to connect fragments of memory. He muttered drunkenly, "Wait, did that little fox send you my messages? Told you to meet me here? Then you finally came, eh?"
His words froze the crowd.
Little Fox?
Nana?
Even Bibi Dong's calm eyes flickered for half a heartbeat. Little fox? Na'er? Her scepter tilted fractionally as suspicion rippled through her heart. What was this brat talking about?
But she didn't waste more thought. She hadn't led Spirit Hall's army here to trade nonsense with Lu Yuan.
"This matter has nothing to do with you," Bibi Dong said coldly, her scepter lowering to point toward the academy. "Step aside. Those who value their lives should not interfere."
Every guest at the banquet exhaled at once. Relief, but also dread.
Not here for us… thank heavens.
Still, their brows knotted tightly. For what purpose then would the Pope herself come with such a terrifying host?
Misunderstandings
In the office window above, Yu Xiaogang stared out into the courtyard, cold sweat streaking his face.
"Is she… here for me?" Yu Xiaogang whispered. "Bibi Dong… has she come for me?"
His heart throbbed violently. Who else could it be? Spirit Hall wasn't after Ning Fengzhi, or the Blue Lightning Sect, or even Dugu Bo. No—who else had ties to Bibi Dong in this entire forsaken academy but… him.
Flander smacked his forehead, despair written all over his weary face. "It's over. Completely gone."
What kind of sickness had Xiaogang developed?
Brother, the Pope isn't crashing through the heavens with six Title Douluo just to see you. She hasn't thought of you in decades. Even if she did, it wouldn't be with this much firepower!
But Flander didn't dare say it aloud. Yu Xiaogang's confidence was fragile as glass—one wrong poke, and he'd shatter.
The Prince's Shame
Meanwhile, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Prince Avalanche stared northward at the black clouds swirling above Shrek. His entire body trembled, heart cold as ice.
It's my fault, he realized grimly.
Some days ago, his Uncle Prince Xue Xing had invited Dugu Bo for drinks. The old Poison Douluo had gotten drunk and muttered something he should not have: whispering about how he'd overheard Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi chatting in the Royal Academy. That there was among Shrek's new residents… a soul beast transformed into human form.
A hundred-thousand-year one.
Avalanche's eyes had widened at that. He may have been spoiled and useless, but he understood the treasure implied—blood, soul ring, soul bone. Even if he couldn't claim it, even if fate spat in his eye, just attempting to seize a hundred-thousand soul beast would bring legend to one's name.
His uncle dismissed him harshly, scolding him for being foolish. But Avalanche's pride burned. He had gone privately to investigate… and been beaten to pulp by Dai Mubai for daring to lurk outside Shrek.
Unable to swallow the humiliation, unwilling to tell his uncle he'd been flattened, Avalanche made the most foolish move of his short life: he tattled. Anonymously, he passed the "information" to Spirit Hall in Tian Dou City.
Never in his nightmares did he expect this.
The Pope herself. Six Title Douluo. Hundreds of Soul Masters. Martial Spirit Hall's full might crushing upon Shrek.
His hands shook until even his teeth rattled. I've doomed us all. Heaven forgive me…
The Secret Revealed
Bibi Dong's voice cracked down like thunder. "Step aside. Search the academy. Bring me the girl."
"Yes!" A hundred Spirit Masters leapt into motion, vaulting over Shrek's walls.
In each warrior's hand was held the same painted scroll portrait.
Faces around the courtyard leaned closer, whispering in alarm.
"…Isn't that Xiao Wu?"
"It really looks like her!"
"You're telling me Xiao Wu… is the hundred-thousand-year soul beast they hunt?!"
"She's a soul beast?!"
Gasps echoed endlessly.
Shrek's students stared wide-eyed. Many trembled in disbelief.
Even Yu Xiaogang, even Flander, even Zhao Wuji—they all stood petrified.
"Impossible…" Yu Xiaogang whispered hoarsely, his pallid face frozen. The students' gentle, soft-spoken Xiao Wu? The rabbit-eared girl who had lived, cried, and trained with them day after day? A hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast?
Their minds reeled. No one could comprehend it.
"It can't be," Zhao Wuji stammered. "We've eaten at the same table, sparred in the same rings… how could she be…"
Flander rubbed his temples, despair sinking deeper. This city's cursed. From Lu Yuan's banquet to Spirit Hall's descent to Xiao Wu being a hundred-thousand-year soul beast… Who in their right mind will ever enroll in Shrek after this?
In Hiding
Meanwhile, in a small, abandoned hut in the forest where Liu Erlong once lived, the subject at the heart of the storm shivered.
Xiao Wu pressed her hands against her chest, her body trembling.
How could this happen?
That scoundrel Lu Yuan had changed the full moon banquet location at the last minute—dragging the attention of half the continent here. Title Douluo everywhere, Spirit Hall descending from the skies in force, and she was trapped in the middle.
If she stayed hidden in the sect compound, she would be discovered. Martial Spirit Hall had portraits. They'd shake Shrek from root to leaf.
Her only option was flight.
But the skies were lined with sharp eyes, spirit power scanning every street. Slipping through Tian Dou without being caught? Impossible now.
Xiao Wu slumped back against the wooden wall, bile rising with terror.
And Lu Yuan.
When had he had a child? With Teacher Liu Erlong, no less?!
Her lips trembled. "This… this man is too much… Even Erlong was claimed…"
Her voice cracked between sob and laugh. At least Erlong seemed happy now. But Xiao Wu herself… her fate was now bound in a net far larger than she ever imagined.
Greed Among the Guests
Back in the courtyard, whispers had changed.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast…"
"A red spirit ring, and a soul bone guaranteed…"
"How could anyone resist?"
Envy and greed glimmered like fireflies in every gaze. Even the sect leaders, even minor nobles, couldn't keep their eyes still.
But they also knew the truth: when Martial Spirit Hall had already made its move, no crumbs would be left for anyone else.
Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, Yu Yuanzhen—all three Title Douluo exchanged grim glances.
To resist Spirit Hall now would mean death. But to step back would mean surrendering the child Xiao Wu. And no one could understate the gravity of that.
Crumbling Shrek
"Dean," Oscar whispered in the stifled dean's office. "Is it possible Xiao Wu already escaped?"
"Let's hope so," Flander muttered. "She's our friend—but the best thing for her is to be gone. Only then might she survive."
Yu Xiaogang's nails dug into his palms, blood trickling. Everything was slipping. His woman, his pride, his students. Reality tore his dreams apart again and again.
Zhao Wuji lowered his massive frame with resignation. "Dean… since arriving in Tiandou, has anything gone right? Lu Yuan brings storms, Spirit Hall brings blades… Next year, who'll dare enroll at Shrek Academy?"
No one answered.
Outside, firecrackers sputtered and fizzled, their dying noise mocking the joy that had once filled the courtyard.
Now, Shrek was a battlefield.
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