"Yue'er!!!"
Yun Ming's pupils shrank sharply. Instinctively, he turned toward Su Wen and Gu Yuena, who were just about to leave, and quickly called out to stop them.
He was the only one here who had faced Su Wen head-on.
And thus, he had the deepest understanding.
Regardless of whether Su Wen was human or not, to the entire Shrek Academy, he absolutely counted as a colossal threat—a being as mighty as a god.
In fact, aside from this Golden Behemoth, there likely were at least two or three more similar fierce beasts! At this point, it was no longer about whether Su Wen was of the same race; it wasn't about "different tribe, different heart" anymore. Now, it was about whether Shrek Academy could even survive if they truly provoked the person before them…
Yet, Cai Yue'er still acted forcefully, eyes sharp and fixed sternly on Su Wen.
On this whole continent, the core conflict was always between Douluo Star and the Abyssal Plane—in essence, humans and soul beasts.
But in recent years, the soul beast race had been on a constant decline; even the Beast God Di Tian was forced to flee around in hiding. Thus, the threat which once endangered the entire human race had long since become a bit of a joke.
But today…
The soul beasts that should have been corralled in the Star Dou Great Forest, slowly swallowed up by humans, flesh and bone alike, now seemed to have an element of unpredictability.
The Dragon God had appeared, and there was another existence recognized as "Lord" even by beings like the Mirror Soul, perhaps commanding even greater presence than Di Tian himself—the Golden Behemoth.
If these beings saw the current decline of the soul beast tribe, would they lead the resurgence of soul beasts, and once again become a threat to humanity?
No one could say for sure anymore…
Zang Xin's lips twitched, and he glanced at Cai Yue'er, brow deeply furrowed. His logic was right—but rushing into all-out war without really knowing the enemy's strength? Was she really serious?
Qiangu Dongfeng's gaze flickered with disdain as he glanced at Cai Yue'er. She had always been a big-chested airhead in her youth, and even old age hadn't made her wiser…
Leng Yaozhu also frowned subtly. No one wanted to be used as a pawn, let alone being forcibly dragged into a mess like this.
She had arrived a bit late, but just looking at that Golden Behemoth and Yun Ming's defeat told her plenty.
Su Wen started laughing.
No wonder… No wonder…
"Yue'er is absolutely right…"
Before he finished, an elderly woman dressed in rough hemp robes, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, slowly stepped forth from behind Shrek's elders.
"Sister Long?"
The elders exclaimed in surprise. Even Yun Ming felt a headache coming on. After all, the woman was the widow of the previous Sea God Pavilion Master, practically a mother and a big sister to him…
Her authority surpassed even Yun Ming within Shrek Academy.
"Long Yayue…"
A flash of coldness passed through Qiangu Dongfeng's eyes. He recalled how Long Yayue once stormed into the Spirit Pagoda and slapped the tower's master—his own father! That nearly sparked a war between two superpowers. Decades had passed, but the hatred of the Spirit Pagoda toward her had never faded.
Let alone the humiliation his own father suffered…
"But…"
Yun Ming tried to interject, but Long Yayue dismissed him calmly: "We've already made things this awkward. Might as well settle it completely now. Fortunately, this old woman is still alive to help out a bit. Yun Ming, rely on the Golden Tree's power and keep fighting…" Long Yayue spoke coldly.
She had always been hot-tempered.
If she could storm the Spirit Pagoda in her youth, she definitely wouldn't tolerate anyone coming to Shrek Academy's gate demanding someone.
And now, with Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda both present—so many top human forces and Limit Douluos—if they didn't take Su Wen down today…
"It was at my suggestion that Yue'er spoke up. Don't blame her." Long Yayue said flatly.
"Sigh…"
Yun Ming could only sigh, feeling helpless.
"Young master of the Qiangu Clan, there may have been grudges between our Spirit Pagoda and myself, but that was ages ago, and I already apologized then. Let's just let that incident rest. We have a greater enemy to face now. Let's pull together…" Long Yayue glanced at Qiangu Dongfeng meaningfully.
He put on a smile but didn't say anything hastily.
Forces like theirs had built up enmity for a long time.
And now that Yun Ming had lost and the situation was unstable—trying to drag him into the melee? As if the Qiangu family were idiots!
"Tsk. Even Qiangu Dieting was never so arrogant to me. Are you ignoring even basic etiquette, not even bothering to answer a senior's question?" Long Yayue snapped icily.
Qiangu Dongfeng cursed inwardly—"Damn lunatics…"—but he couldn't afford to offend such an old and powerful figure at this moment, since the overall situation was still unclear.
So, he forced a smile and replied: "You say there's endless enmity between humans and soul beasts, but right now, I just see a powerful human cultivator…"
As he spoke, he looked at Su Wen with a meaningful smile.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
He was giving Su Wen an out—since Su Wen had never revealed any soul beast aura, always presenting as human. With the statements of Xuan Ji and others, it could be said all soul beasts present today were under the control of a human master.
And it subtly told Su Wen: Spirit Pagoda isn't targeting you—Shrek is.
"I am indeed human."
Su Wen replied with a smile.
But before Qiangu Dongfeng could celebrate, Su Wen added, "But I am here for the soul beast race."
"..."
Silence swept the hall.
Everyone stared at Su Wen in shock.
Even Qiangu Dongfeng's smile froze, growing grim. He realized Long Yayue was right after all…
"What do you mean by that?" he tried to keep calm and asked.
"For me, as a human, the big picture is most important. Your concerns are valid—after all, this planet has always been in conflict between humans and soul beasts. If soul beasts rise, humans fall. If humans rise, soul beasts decline…"
"But your methods have gone too far…"
"Cracking bones to suck the marrow, stripping flesh and blood."
"You want to drive us to extinction," Su Wen shook his head.
"So, I am here to ask for justice for the soul beasts. Nothing more than justice, for instance…returning the territory humans have encroached from the Star Dou Great Forest."
Gu Yuena's eyes sparkled at his words, nodding eagerly.
"The Spirit Pagoda could convert to doing something else…"
"Of course, if you refuse, I know a bit of force as well."
Su Wen continued with an easy smile.
"..."
The atmosphere grew weirder still.
Even Qiangu Dongfeng moved slightly, edging to block the last open exit.
This guy was even more insane than Shrek's own people…
"Click~"
Su Wen smiled slightly.
"I think you've misunderstood something."
Then, under the increasingly frightened gazes of top powerhouses, more than a dozen terrifying auras suddenly erupted, the might of fierce beasts sweeping throughout Shrek City.
There appeared a dazzling, exquisite Ice Scorpion whose eye sockets were streaked with purple lines; an ethereal, immortal White Ape; a stunning Cyan Luan; and many more—all entered this world.
"Beasts like these, I still have over a dozen more…"