"So, you're telling me… that humans are going to just give back the land they've occupied for thousands of years from the Star Dou Great Forest, free of charge?"
Di Tian's lips twitched fiercely as he stared at the agreement before him.
"Mm." Gu Yuena responded, her face expressionless, nodding calmly.
"And not only that—they'll even compensate soul beasts with some rare herbs and the like, and release all the soul spirits held by the Spirit Pagoda as an apology?" Di Tian looked even more confused, wishing he could slap himself awake—was he dreaming?
"Mhm~" Gu Yue, who stood beside Gu Yuena, also nodded calmly.
Smack! Gu Yuena, annoyed, lightly slapped the back of the young girl's head. "What are you mmhmm-ing for? I'm still cleaning up after you from ten thousand years ago. What has this glory got to do with you?"
"He's my dad! How can it have nothing to do with me?" Gu Yue's violet eyes widened as she touched the back of her head, disgruntled.
"When did he become your dad?!" Gu Yuena was borderline losing it.
"Na'er said so." Gu Yue's expression was indifferent.
"…"
Everyone turned to look at Na'er, who was curled up in Su Wen's arms, happily licking her candied hawthorn, looking innocent. Her big eyes blinked: "Hmm?"
"Forget it!"
Gu Yuena was speechless, covering her face with a dramatic slap.
"If he's dad, then so be it."
"So, you come out for a bit, and now you've got two extra daughters—how does that feel?" Gu Yuena asked Su Wen with obvious irritation.
"It's all you anyway, so it doesn't matter," Su Wen replied with a sunny smile.
"Uh…" Di Tian shrank his neck and awkwardly interrupted the harmonious scene, glancing toward Gu Yue, "My Lord—ah, no, Young Lady? Then… our plan to corrupt humanity…"
"Why ask me? Can't my dad hear right here?" Gu Yue snorted, settling on Su Wen's other side. Both of them were leaning on him, each hanging onto one of his arms, glaring at Di Tian.
"Tsk~"
Su Wen clicked his tongue. Just a moment ago, this little girl was sobbing from his scolding, but now she was calling him daddy so naturally? Truly worthy of being the Silver Dragon King.
Wait—don't tell me she likes getting scolded?
Tsk…
"…"
"I didn't come here to play favorites. The Star Dou Great Forest is close to Shrek City, and with the spectacle I made there, I'm sure you were lurking around and watching, weren't you…" Su Wen gave Di Tian a sidelong glance.
Di Tian's neck went rigid, and he hurriedly nodded obediently.
To be honest, he'd originally planned to intervene—after all, this was a golden chance to take out a chunk of humanity's upper echelon. But who could have expected…
He hadn't even made his move before more than a dozen ferocious beasts burst out roaring…
It was just too over the top.
Several among them even seemed far stronger than himself.
Left stunned, he'd hurriedly retreated to the Star Dou Great Forest.
And now, since this adult had pointed it out, he couldn't play dumb anymore.
Besides, strength aside, if even the "Lord" had recognized a human father, hiding or acting arrogantly was just asking for death now.
"A few days from now, in Shrek City, you'll negotiate a peace treaty. I've already secured the important terms for the soul beasts. For the rest, the details—you handle it."
"Y-Yes!" Di Tian quickly responded with respect.
"But…" Su Wen no longer paid him attention and instead turned to the splendid and bright hotel window, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"If you're here, why bother hiding?"
"Does the mighty Hall Master of the War God Temple, the Sea God Douluo, not even have the courage to face me head on?"
"Sea God Douluo?!" Di Tian's black-gold eyes narrowed sharply, his face instantly turning cold.
All around him, the intimidating aura of the Black-gold-eyed Dragon King surged, pressuring the figure in the shadows to reveal themselves.
Both were top experts, so their intent was clear.
"…Are you leaning toward soul beasts, or humanity? I can't tell,"—
The imposing figure gradually appeared. Chen Xinjie's expression was complicated. Draped in a blue-and-white cape, he carried no weapon in his hand; just being here, facing the relaxed, smiling Su Wen, made him feel that he could be crushed instantly.
Even the legendary Golden-eyed Black Dragon King—Beast God Di Tian—stood respectfully to the side. If this scene was captured on film and posted online, the alliance would be in uproar.
Those dozen or so beast shadows lingering earlier left many people with shattered nerves as well.
"…Long Yeyue is dead." Su Wen suddenly spoke, eyeing the cold-sweating Chen Xinjie with interest. "You're not here for revenge, are you?"
"Hmm?!"
Di Tian's dragon eyes narrowed instantly, his stare at Chen Xinjie gaining a touch of murderous intent.
The latter's throat bobbed, his face complicated.
"I did love her… once."
"But only once. I won't be so foolish as to provoke a being I cannot afford to offend—for her."
"Go." Su Wen spoke flatly.
"Huh?" Chen Xinjie looked dumbfounded.
"My Lord told you to leave. Are you deaf? Want me to fix your hearing?" Di Tian said coldly.
Chen Xinjie looked rather embarrassed as he stood there, dazed.
Yun Ming wasn't just spared—he even received approval from this being. Yet why was he—the second-strongest after Yun Ming—being chased off so roughly?
At the very least, he was nearly Yun Ming's equal.
"To come here over Long Yeyue… tsk, truly devoted…" Su Wen sneered. "Of all traits I despise, the one I hate second-most after ingratitude is being a simp."
Chen Xinjie opened his mouth, but no matter how he justified it, deep down, he knew—he really did come for love, and it was clear this being saw right through him.
Long Yeyue's death had left him with resentment indeed.
"You come preaching righteousness…" Su Wen raised an eyebrow and turned to Di Tian. "Is my temper too mild? Why do these people take me so lightly?"
"Probably," Di Tian nodded seriously.
Beads of cold sweat rolled down Chen Xinjie's brow.
Even though there was no overt threat, he could feel a cold, deadly intent wrapping around him—the feeling of imminent death he hadn't experienced in over a century was back—this time, twice as intense.
BOOM!
Spirit Pagoda.
Qiangu Dongfeng, sipping fine wine, and Ghost Emperor, standing hands folded at his side, both caught sight of a shockwave bursting from the top floor of the tallest hotel in Shrek City—Su Wen's residence.
A blue figure was blasted out, flying away chaotic and embarrassed, fleeing toward the far-off sky.
Trailing behind—a giant, black-scaled, golden-eyed dragon.
"That sorry figure…" Qiangu Dongfeng blinked.
"Sea God Douluo, Chen Xinjie?!"
"…Should we still go?" Qiangu Dongfeng asked with a playful look, "This person doesn't even save face for the War God Temple…"
"If he could kill Long Yeyue, then he clearly has little affection for Shrek Academy. If even Chen Xinjie could escape, why can't I?" Ghost Emperor replied arrogantly.
"Tsk…"
Qiangu Dongfeng sipped his wine and dropped the subject.
"Just don't say you know me."
—
"Teacher, do we really have to join Shrek Academy?" Tang Wulin asked timidly.
Wu Zhangkong remained silent.
"If you don't want to join, you can get out!" Another voice roared—it was Zhuo Shi, glaring coldly at Tang Wulin. His hatred was hard to hide.
Tang Wulin jumped and quickly lowered his head in fear.
He hadn't expected even whispering would get caught.
Wu Zhangkong was helpless—after all, with so many top powerhouses around, unless you used special voice techniques, nothing could escape their attention.
But… given his teacher's usual temper, he'd have punted Tang Wulin and maybe Wu Zhangkong right out of Shrek Academy, and blacklisted the boy forever—maybe even posted "Tang Wulin and dogs not allowed" at the gate.
Could it be his teacher saw something special in his talent?
"Tang Wulin, come with me…" Yun Ming took a deep breath, patted Tang Wulin's head, nodded at Wu Zhangkong, who immediately bowed and said no more.
After the two left, the rest of the old-timers looked displeased.
This incident had just exposed all of Shrek's vulnerabilities.
Let alone the fact that everyone was injured, humiliated, and defeated.
Elder Long was dead, Yue was killed.
External forces were watching hungrily, not to mention a certain "architect of chaos" still wandering the city.
Over Shrek Academy, a shadow of gloom hung heavily…
—
On the other side.
Inside the Golden Tree.
Tang Wulin glanced around, dumbfounded. The Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, the continent's top powerhouse in his fluttering white robes, had brought him here—and immediately left.
He hadn't even had a chance to ask anything.
"Child?" A gentle voice echoed from within the ancient golden tree, a rich aura of life and kindness wrapping Tang Wulin.
"You're finally here…"
—
"I'm going to cultivate for a bit…"
Hearing those words, even the wrinkles in Di Tian's brain seemed to smooth out. "Excuse me? Cultivate?"
Where can you possibly cultivate to now? A god?
"My third spirit is too weak," Su Wen shook his head, but his eyes glimmered with a faint smile. "Right now, my third spirit soul is only at level twelve. I just obtained a hundred-thousand-year Pokeball. The soul core is powerful, but honestly, I've been slacking lately…"
"Since Shrek City has been so quiet, I might as well use this downtime to train as hard as I can."
By now, so-called soul power no longer mattered to him.
At most, it was just a way to gain "experience points" for Pokeballs.
Even though his training was at lightning speed, he hardly felt much…
"I'm sensing a strange energy—it's pulling me toward it…" Gu Yuena spoke hesitantly.
"Oh?" Su Wen's eyes narrowed.
"What does it feel like?"
"It feels deeply connected to my bloodline—like another me, both familiar and mysterious," Gu Yuena mused.
"Where?"
"Southwest." Gu Yuena reported.
Di Tian quickly pulled out a continent map and placed it on the table.
"Around… here…"
Su Wen followed Di Tian's finger, a slow smile lifting his lips.
"Star Luo Continent!"
"Dragon Valley!"