Ning Fengzhi did not obtain the commitment he desired from Ye Tian.
Instead, after a few words from Ye Tian, he left the imperial palace in disgrace.
Outside the palace gates, waiting for him was the Sword Douluo. Seeing Ning Fengzhi emerge, he stepped forward and asked, "Well, did the words of our Sect Master move His Majesty?"
"No," Ning Fengzhi replied stiffly, shaking his head with a light sigh. "Not only did I fail to persuade His Majesty and Ye Tian, but I was nearly persuaded by them instead."
He raised his head to gaze at the clear sky.
"Perhaps the rise of the Spirit Hall is truly ordained by fate."
The Sword Douluo was momentarily speechless. He took a step forward and said, "Sect Master, how can you entertain such thoughts?"
Ning Fengzhi, his face filled with melancholy, stared at the Sword Douluo and said,
"The current state of the continent is not because we have grown weaker, but because the Spirit Hall has become stronger."
"Because they have won the hearts of the people."
The Sword Douluo fell silent.
It seemed the Sect Master had suffered quite a blow.
Indeed.
Sometimes words cut deeper than swords.
Their assassination attempt against Ye Tian had merely involved blades.
But Ye Tian had defeated them in ideology.
In this battle, Ye Tian had emerged doubly victorious.
"It seems Ye Tian is not to be underestimated!"
Finally, the Sword Douluo sighed with emotion.
Ning Fengzhi glanced at him, his face clouded with worry. "We need to devise a new plan, one that accounts for the worst-case scenario."
At this point, Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. "From now on, I will be going into seclusion. Until I find a solution, I will not emerge!"
...
Shrek Academy.
"Sect Master Ning has gone into seclusion?" Upon hearing this news, Dean Flender's face showed surprise.
Two days ago.
Ning Fengzhi had been determined to unite various factions to resist the Spirit Hall.
Yet, just two days later.
With the high-level discussions among the factions only halfway through.
Ning Fengzhi had abruptly entered seclusion.
Without Ning Fengzhi to lead the effort, there was no doubt that the process of uniting the factions would slow significantly.
"According to the Sword Douluo, Ye Tian's words dealt a heavy blow to Ning Fengzhi," Liu Erlong said thoughtfully, arms crossed.
"To have affected Sect Master Ning so deeply, this Ye Tian truly has some tricks up his sleeve."
Grandmaster frowned deeply, standing by the doorframe as he spoke.
"What do we do now?" Flender pressed his hands against the table, looking up at Grandmaster.
Grandmaster walked over to the map on the office wall, studying the continent's situation intently. "The most urgent task is to find a leader."
"Only through unity can we stand against the Spirit Hall."
"Otherwise, the fate of the Clear Sky Clan will be ours."
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Liu Erlong lifted her chin.
Grandmaster traced the map with his hand, his finger finally landing on the Star Luo Imperial Capital. "At present, the only one capable of leading is the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Mubai's father."
Knock, knock.
At that moment.
The door was rapped.
"Enter."
Flender's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.
A muscular man over two meters tall, clad in a leather vest, pushed the door open.
In his hand was a red official document.
"Dean, the Heaven Dou Patrol Division has detained two students who claim to be from our Shrek Academy."
Hearing the man's words, Flender frowned. "Wuji, as the vice-dean and head instructor of Shrek Academy, there's no need to report such trivial matters to me."
The brawny man gave an awkward smile and pushed the red document toward Flender.
"Dean, this time, you really need to step in."
He leaned in and whispered, covering his mouth.
"These two students were caught at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion during the national mourning period."
Flender's lips twitched. He knew exactly what kind of place the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was.
It was filled with alluring beauties, and students visiting such a place was already scandalous.
Let alone during the national mourning period.
When all entertainment activities were prohibited.
This matter could be taken lightly or seriously.
If he, as the dean, didn't go to retrieve them, the two students might have to spend some time in jail.
After all, they were from Shrek Academy.
If word got out that the academy didn't bother to rescue them, it would reflect poorly on the institution.
Thinking this, Flender felt a wave of irritation. He waved his hand and said with a frown, "Fine, I'll go with you."
"Once we get those two brats back, toss them into solitary confinement for a month."
"Let them learn their lesson."
"Still so young, yet they've already learned to visit brothels."
This remark drew a chuckle from Grandmaster.
"Truly upholding Shrek Academy's fine traditions."
"What nonsense!" Liu Erlong glared fiercely at Grandmaster.
"Did I say something wrong?" Grandmaster looked genuinely innocent as he met Flender's gaze.
Flender wished he could vanish into the ground.
Grandmaster was clearly mocking him for taking students to such places in the past.
"That's enough, Grandmaster," Flender feigned composure, shooting Grandmaster a glare before turning to Zhao Wuji. "As the head instructor, it's your duty to enforce discipline in the academy."
"I don't want something like this happening again."
"Haha, understood, Dean," Zhao Wuji replied with a laugh, though inwardly he thought, *You've visited those places plenty yourself!*
The temporary detention cells of the Patrol Division were not far from Shrek Academy, both located in the outer ring of Heaven Dou City.
Flender and Zhao Wuji, being physically adept, arrived at the cells with ease.
Both were well-versed in social niceties. Upon meeting the jailer in charge, they immediately stepped forward and discreetly slipped a few gold spirit coins into his sleeve.
"You two spirit masters are too kind," the jailer said, weighing the coins in his sleeve and quickly counting seven.
This was a substantial sum, enough to cover half a year of his expenses.
The jailer narrowed his eyes, his tone noticeably more respectful. "What brings you here today?"
Zhao Wuji stepped forward. "We're here to bail someone out. Two of our students were caught at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion this morning."
"...Well, the higher-ups have been cracking down hard lately..." The jailer's tone dragged, his expression grave.
Flender opened one eye expressionlessly and produced another ten gold spirit coins.
The jailer's face lit up with delight. He snatched the coins and thumped his chest.
"But for me, it's no trouble at all. Just make sure they don't do it again."
"I'll give those brats a proper lesson when we get back," Zhao Wuji said, flexing his muscles.
"They're in Cell C-9. Follow me." The jailer flipped through the detention records and quickly found the two who claimed to be from Shrek Academy.
Flender and Zhao Wuji followed the jailer to Cell C-9.
Inside, they saw two "students" crouched in the corner.
One was quite plump, with fiery red hair.
The other was more handsome, though with a scar on his face.
It was one thing not to look, but seeing them was a shock.
Flender knew these two "students" all too well.
"Ma Hongjun? Oscar? What are you doing here?"
Flender hadn't expected the so-called Shrek students to be Ma Hongjun and Oscar, two members of the first generation of Shrek's Seven Devils, who had graduated five years ago.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar, who had been whispering to each other, turned their heads upon hearing Flender's voice, their faces filled with surprise.
Ma Hongjun scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Didn't expect you to come bail us out in person, Dean."
Flender's face darkened. He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Didn't we already resolve your evil fire condition? Why are you still visiting such places?"
"Uh, it's a long story. Not really the place to discuss it here."
Ma Hongjun looked embarrassed, scratching his head.
He quickly added, "Dean, even if you don't believe me, you should trust Oscar, right?"
He pointed at Oscar beside him.
Flender then turned his gaze to Oscar, his expression skeptical. "Oscar, what happened to your face?"
Oscar instinctively touched his scar and smiled nonchalantly. "Got scratched by a spirit beast. No big deal."
On the way out of the detention center.
Flender's face was stern as he scrutinized Ma Hongjun and Oscar.
"I gave you face back in the cell. Now, out with it."
"Better tell the truth, you brats!" Zhao Wuji flexed his muscles. "Even though it's been five years and you've grown stronger."
"This old man can still take you down!"
"If you don't come clean, prepare to face the iron fist of the Immovable King's justice!"
"Ha!" Ma Hongjun sighed, patting his chest. "Instructor Zhao, you know my character, don't you?"
Zhao Wuji snorted coldly. "Oh, I know. One isn't enough; you need two."
Ma Hongjun: "..."
He looked up at the sky and sighed dramatically. "They say a prodigal's return is worth more than gold..."
"Speak plainly," Flender said, hands behind his back.
"Fine, I admit I did call for two beautiful ladies."
"But we went to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion for a serious reason!"
Ma Hongjun raised his right hand solemnly, his expression earnest.
Then, his face turned serious. "We discovered traces of evil spirit masters."
"Hmm?" Flender's brow furrowed.
He had heard of evil spirit masters, but they had been lying low for a long time.
Oscar took over. "The evil spirit masters were gathering at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. We infiltrated and uncovered some intelligence—something about the inheritance of the God of Slaughter."
"The evil spirit masters are building a gate of inheritance for their king."
"God's inheritance?!" Flender's pupils contracted, his breathing growing heavier.
He immediately dragged Oscar and Ma Hongjun into a secluded alley and asked again, "Are you certain it was about a god's inheritance?"
"No doubt about it!" Ma Hongjun thumped his chest. "Xiao Ao and I may have called for ladies, but it was just a cover! We were eavesdropping on the evil spirit masters the whole time! No way we misheard!"
Oscar crossed his arms and looked up at the alley walls.
"Someone, though, seemed to have closed the room door and only came out when the authorities arrived."
"Brother, that's not fair," Ma Hongjun protested, his face reddening. "I was drawing their attention!"
Oscar grinned. "Hongjun isn't lying. The part about the evil spirit masters is true, and so is the part about drawing attention."
Flender ignored the latter half and mused, "A god's inheritance is a once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity."
"It seems the evil spirit masters have obtained concrete information."
"Without absolute certainty, they wouldn't risk operating openly near Heaven Dou City."
"Since we've intercepted this, it means Shrek has a share in this opportunity."
"Fortunately, Dai Mubai, Rongrong, and the others are all at the academy now. Let's return and discuss our next steps."
Hearing Rongrong's name, Oscar's cheerful expression dimmed instantly.
He subconsciously touched his scarred face. Would Ning Rongrong despise him for how he looked now?
...
No matter how much Oscar struggled internally.
The four of them eventually returned to Shrek Academy.
"Oscar, Ma Hongjun! Long time no see!"
At the Shrek Academy administration building.
They ran into Dai Mubai.
Though five years had passed.
The familiar faces held no trace of strangeness.
"Hongjun, you've changed quite a bit!" After giving them both a hearty hug, Dai Mubai looked Ma Hongjun up and down with a light laugh.
"Don't tease me, Boss Dai. This is the result of me trying hard to lose weight," Ma Hongjun said, waving his hand with a dry laugh.
"Not at all. I'm genuinely complimenting you," Dai Mubai said, patting Ma Hongjun's shoulder.
"Don't you remember how heavy you were five years ago?"
"Pfft, no need to twist the knife!" Ma Hongjun clutched his chest dramatically, pretending to be wounded.
"It really has been too long!" Dai Mubai turned to Oscar, his expression shifting slightly. "Oscar, what happened to your face?"
Oscar smiled bitterly. "Don't ask, Boss Dai. This scar isn't going away."
"But it adds to your masculinity," Dai Mubai said, sensing Oscar's insecurity about the scar.
"Don't worry about others' opinions. I'm sure Rongrong won't mind either."
"Rongrong... where is she?" Oscar blurted out, not daring to meet Dai Mubai's eyes.
"Why ask? I'll take you to her right now," Dai Mubai said, grabbing Oscar's hand to pull him along.
But Oscar froze in place.
"Rongrong... seeing me like this..."
"She won't care!" Dai Mubai's voice was firm.
"With me here, what are you afraid of?"
"Oscar, if you don't have the courage to face Ning Rongrong, that would hurt her the most!"
By now, Dai Mubai's tone was almost scolding.
Ma Hongjun stepped forward to console Oscar.
"No matter what, we, the Shrek Seven Devils, will always be brothers."
"Even if you can't be her husband, you'll always be her friend, right?"
"Hey, hey, who's being negative now?" Oscar shot Ma Hongjun a glare.
"Tch! You'd rather stay single like me, wouldn't that be better?"
"Don't think I didn't see what you were up to at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion... Mmmph! Why are you covering my mouth?"
Ma Hongjun forcibly pried Oscar's hand away and thumped his chest.
"A real man owns up to his actions!"
Then he chuckled and patted Oscar's shoulder. "Just kidding. Between us brothers, who's keeping score? I'd never spill."
"Spill what?" Suddenly, Xiao Wu, her hair in a scorpion-tail braid, appeared.
"Uh, secret," Ma Hongjun said, scratching his head.
"Tch~" Xiao Wu pouted. "You just reunited, and already keeping secrets from your friends."
She teased, "Don't think these rabbit ears are just for show."
"I heard everything."
"Xiao Wu, Sister Wu! I was wrong, I was wrong! Please don't tell anyone!" Ma Hongjun panicked, his hands flailing as he pleaded with Xiao Wu.
(End of Chapter)