Shock.
At this moment, Dai Yueheng's entire mind was consumed by it.
He stood frozen in place as the biting cold wind lashed against his stiff face, yet it did nothing to pull him out of his daze.
How could this be?
He had never imagined the outcome would turn out like this.
That was the Shrek Inner Court—a holy land unreachable to countless Spirit Masters in their lifetime! A personal invitation from the Sea God's Pavilion! A supreme opportunity that could let any genius soar to the heavens in a single step!
Each condition he offered on its own was enough to drive any sect or family into a frenzy.
Yet now, bundled together and presented with full sincerity… it had been rejected.
Rejected so casually, as if what he offered wasn't a heaven-defying opportunity, but something as trivial as asking about the weather.
It made no sense. It completely defied logic.
Dai Yueheng's thoughts raced wildly, desperately trying to find a reasonable explanation.
Were the conditions not enough? Impossible—this was already the highest offer Shrek could give.
Was the other party pretending, trying to negotiate for more? That didn't seem right either. Liu Yuan's eyes had been calm and clear, without a trace of greed or calculation.
Could it be…
He misheard?
Yes! That had to be it!
Maybe the offer was too overwhelming, and he hadn't processed it properly—so he gave the wrong answer!
Clinging to this thought like a lifeline, Dai Yueheng stepped forward again. Forcing down the turmoil in his heart, he squeezed out a strained smile and spoke in a careful, almost coaxing tone:
"Brother… what did you just say? Did you perhaps not hear clearly? Or misspeak? What I said was—as long as you nod your head—"
"I heard you clearly."
Liu Yuan cut him off calmly.
His expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Thank you for your kindness. But I have no interest in joining Shrek Academy."
The second time.
If the first refusal was a thunderclap, then this one was a crushing judgment that shattered Dai Yueheng's last hope.
"Why?!"
This time, even the silent scout behind him couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out the question.
Both of them stared at Liu Yuan, faces filled with disbelief.
Why?
They truly couldn't understand.
What kind of reason could make someone reject such an offer? Was there some greater force backing him? Or did he harbor deep resentment toward Shrek?
"Can you at least tell us the reason?" Dai Yueheng asked hoarsely, unwilling to give up.
Even in failure, he wanted clarity.
Liu Yuan simply shook his head.
His gaze drifted toward the distant snow-covered mountains, as if this matter no longer deserved his attention.
"There is no reason."
His voice was calm and indifferent.
"I just don't want to go."
That answer…
Was like an invisible slap.
No reason?
Just didn't want to?
What kind of arrogance was this?!
A surge of anger and humiliation rushed to Dai Yueheng's head. He nearly stepped forward, ready to demand an explanation—or even force one out.
But at that exact moment—
Liu Yuan's patience ran out.
He cast them a final, indifferent glance.
Then—
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted from his body like a volcanic explosion!
It wasn't spirit power—yet it felt even purer, denser… ancient.
Emerald-green light enveloped his entire body. Golden patterns spread across his skin like living runes, forming a majestic, primordial totem.
Just sensing that aura alone made both Dai Yueheng and the scout tremble to their very souls.
Before they could even process it—
Liu Yuan moved.
He simply tapped the ground lightly.
Whoosh—!
A streak of green-gold light shot forward like lightning tearing through space, vanishing instantly!
Fast.
Unimaginably fast.
So fast that Dai Yueheng couldn't even track his movement.
In the blink of an eye, Liu Yuan had already become a distant speck… then disappeared entirely beyond the horizon.
The whole process didn't even last a second.
Silence.
Only the drifting snow and the cold wind remained.
"…" "…."
The two stood there, motionless.
Their expressions shifted from shock… to fear.
"What… what was that just now?" the scout muttered hoarsely. "Young Master Dai… is that… his true strength?"
Dai Yueheng's face was pale.
"Fast?"
He let out a bitter laugh.
"That's not just fast…"
"That's absolute suppression."
If Liu Yuan had attacked just now…
He probably wouldn't have even had time to release his Martial Soul before being killed.
"Should we… keep chasing?" the scout asked cautiously.
"Chase?" Dai Yueheng repeated with a self-deprecating smile.
"What would we do even if we caught up?"
"Do you think… the two of us could take him by force?"
The scout fell silent.
They both knew the answer.
Even if they chased him to the ends of the earth… they'd only be eating his dust.
Fight? Impossible.
Persuade? Already failed.
"…Let's go back," Dai Yueheng said finally, exhaling deeply. "The mission has failed. We can only report to Elder Xuan."
At the mention of that name, the scout shivered.
"Elder Xuan… he won't be pleased, will he?"
Dai Yueheng's lips twitched.
"Pleased?"
He gave a hollow laugh.
"With how much importance he placed on this… finding out we failed—and were rejected so completely…"
"He'll probably explode on the spot."
Just imagining Xuan Zi's furious expression, along with the terrifying pressure he exuded when enraged, made Dai Yueheng's scalp tingle.
And as the ones responsible for the mission…
They would undoubtedly bear the brunt of that anger.
"…There's no avo
iding it," Dai Yueheng sighed.
"Let's go back and accept the punishment."
He paused for a moment, then added helplessly:
"I just hope… Elder Xuan won't take too much of his anger out on us."