Poison Undying loudly interrupted Xu Xiaoyun, slamming his palm onto a large rock behind him. The force of the blow shattered the rock and snapped a large tree in half.
Steam rose from his bald head, his thick, short eyebrows bristled like blades, and his face was grim as he roared:
"So what if what you're saying is true? The Heavenly Soul Empire has given the Body Sect the greatest respect. Why shouldn't we fight for them? The Upper Three Sects from ten thousand years ago all gave their all in the war against the Martial Soul Hall, and aren't they still prosperous and powerful now?!"
"Is that so? Ten thousand years ago, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family was utterly annihilated, with only a handful of members surviving. Do you want the Body Sect to suffer the same fate?!"
Xu Xiaoyun suddenly propped himself up, the Black Tortoise Token at his waist glinting coldly, and a dark light surged in his normally gentle and calm eyes.
"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School, a Nation Protecting Sect of the Heaven Dou Empire ten thousand years ago. Both of their Sect Protecting Douluo sacrificed themselves in that war, and their position in the Heaven Dou Empire was replaced by the rising Tang Sect!"
"The once second-strongest in the world, where are they now? If they were effective, would it still be up to you to fight for the Heavenly Soul Empire?!"
"The Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion before the war broke out, accumulating enough strength before launching a large-scale offensive. That's how they managed to turn the tide. Old Poison, do you still not know what to do?!"
*CRACK~!*
Poison Undying clenched his fists, veins bulging like dragons on his arms, and replied in a deep voice, "What happens to future generations is their business. I believe the Body Sect will have future generations who will create new glory!"
He paused, then Poison Undying stared at Xu Xiaoyun with red eyes and continued,
"Moreover, besides us, there's Shrek! Even though I don't like them, they do have the ability to unite the forces of all Three Great Empires. We won four thousand years ago, so why would we lose today?"
"Shrek? Hahahahaha—...Shrek! You mention them, and I just want to laugh! Hahahahaha—
I'd rather die than cooperate with Shrek! And I certainly won't die for them!"
Xu Xiaoyun threw his head back and laughed, but there was no warmth in his laughter, only bone-chilling mockery and resentment surging on his face.
Seeing this, Poison Undying was stunned. "Old Turtle, what's wrong with you? Does Shrek have some deep-seated grudge against your Xuanming Sect?"
What was going on? He had never heard of the Xuanming Sect having a deep hatred for Shrek. Could it be that the Old Turtle also had a brother who died at Shrek's hands?
Xu Xiaoyun didn't answer, only roared in anger. Xiao Changfeng, his face like frost, walked over, his voice low and cold:
"Many years ago, twelve students from Shrek's Inner Courtyard went into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts. They encountered an attack from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast.
Because their leading teacher was negligent and failed to rescue them, they struggled without support. Eight of the twelve students died, and four were left crippled."
"Among the dead was my master's youngest disciple, my junior sister. At that time, she already had Soul Douluo cultivation. This is a blood feud!"
"What? Which scumbag leading teacher from Shrek was that incompetent? Did a Soul Beast kick him in the head? Or did they encounter a powerful Ferocious Beast?"
Poison Undying was greatly alarmed. Shrek's Inner Courtyard disciples were exceptional individuals, future Titled Douluo. Eight dead and four crippled out of twelve—rounding up, that was ten future Titled Douluo wiped out?
Among them was the Old Turtle's youngest disciple, who would undoubtedly have become a Super Douluo in the future. The Body Sect's elite Titled Douluo were roughly that number.
Shrek was supposedly the number one academy in the world. The leading teachers couldn't be that incompetent, could they? Every time their Body Sect went to the Star Dou Great Forest for a group hunt, multiple Titled Douluo would be vigilant on all sides, and a large force would move out in full might.
"Heh heh, that leading teacher was Shrek's second strongest, the future Sea God Pavilion Master, the esteemed Gluttony Your Majesty, a level 98 Titled Douluo. I doubt there are many Ferocious Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest that could stop him, and the Star Dou Great Forest wouldn't dare intentionally set a trap to kill a large group of Shrek students."
Xiao Changfeng's frosty, sword-like eyebrows were ruffled by the mountain wind, and tiny ice crystals even fell from them, indicating his extreme anger, his Soul Power condensed into ice.
"That old bastard Xuan Zi? How could he be so utterly despicable as to throw away the lives of so many students for nothing?"
Upon hearing that Xuan Zi was the one leading the group, only one thought remained in Poison Undying's mind: That old bastard is guilty of a heinous crime!
With his powerful cultivation, those Inner Courtyard disciples couldn't possibly have shaken him off unless every single one of them was an agility-type Titled Douluo. The only possibility of being separated from the group was if that old bastard himself abandoned the academy group.
For a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast attack on students of that magnitude, he didn't even make it in time to rescue them. How far away from the group did that old bastard stray? Did he go to the Star Dou Great Forest to protect the students or to forage for wild game?
It couldn't be that he was delivering food to a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast, could it?
Poison Undying was speechless. Xiao Changfeng snorted coldly and continued, "And that's not all. Xu Sanshi, the most outstanding fifth-generation disciple of our Xuanming Sect, was also cultivating in Shrek's Outer Courtyard. While he was there, he was actually invited to join another sect. Such an act is irreconcilable!"
"The sect that invited him was the Tang Sect, founded by the Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago. Now, it's a Tang Sect with only a master and a disciple left. The so-called master and disciple are two students from Shrek's Outer Courtyard. The master is the Tang Sect Master, and that disciple is Mu En's great-grandson!"
"A few years ago, the Tang Sect's foundation was seized, and only a little girl remained in the entire sect. Mu En has not helped them to this day, yet he let his great-grandson join the Tang Sect and become companions with that girl. Then he invited a candidate for our Xuanming Sect's Young Sect Master to join...
Heh heh—is this not an attempt to wipe out a family, and is it not an attempt to plot against the Xuanming Sect's foundation? Poison Sect Master, you must know."
"What did you say?! How could that old bastard Mu En do such a thing?! This, this, this, this hatred is irreconcilable!!!"
Poison Undying was stunned, his shoulders trembling, his mind blank. He couldn't think of any more impactful words.
What kind of monstrous beings were these people at Shrek? If an elite Soul Douluo of his Body Sect, who had hopes of becoming a Super Douluo, were killed, and Long Aotian were tricked into joining some worthless, dilapidated Tang Sect to take orders from others, potentially becoming a puppet for Shrek to plot against the Body Sect's foundation in the future—he couldn't even bear to think about it! If he thought about it any more, he'd have to charge into Shrek and fight to the death!
Damn it, was the Old Turtle's temper really that good, that he could endure so much? If it were Poison Undying, he would risk his life to bring Mu En and Shrek City down with him!
"So, Old Poison, I haven't attacked Shrek yet because I've been considering the bigger picture and enduring repeatedly. Don't bring up cooperation with Shrek and the original Three Great Empires again! I never want to see my disciples and descendants get into trouble again!"
Xu Xiaoyun flicked his sleeve, turning his back to Poison Undying, and said coldly:
"What's more, ever since the Sea God Pavilion was established, Shrek City has effectively become a nation above the Three Great Empires, acting even more arrogantly and domineeringly than the Martial Soul Hall did ten thousand years ago. All Three Great Empires have to kowtow to them.
Yet, their contributions to the continent are far less than the Martial Soul Hall's. They wave a disgusting banner of neutrality, claiming not to interfere in continental affairs, but in reality, they've never let go of their interests."
"In recent years, Evil Soul Masters have become increasingly rampant, yet those high and mighty Elders of the Sea God Pavilion have never taken on the responsibility of being the number one Holy Land for Soul Masters, clearing out Evil Soul Masters as the Martial Soul Hall did back then. Instead, they trick a bunch of children into dying!"
"Heh heh, Titled Douluo and Super Douluo enjoy their lives at home, while a group of Inner Courtyard students whose cultivation doesn't exceed Soul Sage are sent to defend their pathetic honor. If they don't complete thirty missions, they're not allowed to graduate. It's utterly ridiculous! Utterly shameless!"
"If they're unwilling to do something as critical as preserving the Soul Master world, how can they be expected to fight to the death on a battlefield protecting their home and country?!"
"After Mu En's death, if things become irreversible, in Xuan Zi's eyes, what's more important: the continued existence of Shrek, or the original three empires?"
"This—" Poison Undying was speechless for a moment.
Xu Xiaoyun took a breath, his voice calming down. He waved his hand and said, "Considering our acquaintance, I've said all I can. Take care of yourself from now on."
"Brother Xu—"
Poison Undying opened his mouth, looking at Xu Xiaoyun's straight back, wanting to say something more, but the words caught in his throat.
Old Poison, throughout his life, had been arrogant and clear-cut about favors and grudges. Xu Xiaoyun had saved his life, and Shrek had brought the Xuanming Sect to this state. He simply couldn't bring himself to offer words of comfort.
After all, Poison Undying still had some dignity.
"Sigh... Brother Xu, take care."
After a few moments of silence, Poison Undying let out a long sigh, turned, and left, a streak of green light soaring into the sky.
Damn Shrek, why can't they act like decent human beings? First the Clear Sky Sect, now the Xuanming Sect—you're going to offend all the top sects in my original three empires!
These two major sects are both within the Heavenly Soul Empire. If they could truly unite and fight together, what's a mere Sun Moon Empire?
And if they can't unite, fine, but they specifically target the Young Sect Master... Are they afraid the enmity won't be deep enough?
Damn it, when I get back, I need to remind Long Aotian and the others to be careful when they're out and about. They absolutely must not associate with anyone from Shrek. Those people are all crazy; I'm saner than them...
After seeing Poison Undying off, Jing Hongchen appeared, exchanging glances with Xiao Changfeng, then looked at Xu Xiaoyun, who stood facing the wind.
Xu Xiaoyun sighed again and said, "Old Poison is too stubborn. He won't listen much to what I say. He'll definitely side with the Heavenly Soul Empire when he goes back."
"Mingde Hall has quite the reputation. You'll need to be careful of sneak attacks from now on."
Jing Hongchen acknowledged this, stating that Mingde Hall was located underground and its defenses were impenetrable, even if the entire Body Sect attacked.
Xiao Changfeng stepped forward to soothe Xu Xiaoyun, while at the same time taking out an Earth Dragon Golden Gourd from his Soul Guided Device. He said,
"Teacher, this is an immortal-grade tonic I chose for you. Please have a look."
Xu Xiaoyun focused his gaze, surprised. "An earth-attribute immortal-grade item, imbued with True Dragon energy?"
Xiao Changfeng nodded. "Yes, this immortal-grade item has the power of an Earth Dragon's flip, which can greatly enhance earth elemental power and strength. The Black Tortoise is a dual water and earth attribute Divine Beast, with a tortoise body and snake tail, so it's perfectly suited."
Xu Xiaoyun shook his head repeatedly. "I'm this old, what would I eat it for? Take it back, give it to your junior brother or Xu Sanshi, either is fine."
Xiao Changfeng said, "You, Venerable Elder, are the Sea Stabilizing Divine Needle of our Xuanming Sect. With your protection, we dare to strive for the future. Your current cultivation will still take a lot of time to catch up to those two, and time is of the essence now."
"Those immortal-grade items told me that this particular one is nearly a hundred thousand years old, a top-tier spiritual treasure."
"This..." Xu Xiaoyun's expression became hesitant.
Just then, a clear, cheerful voice, tinged with laughter, reached Xu Xiaoyun's ears.
"Grandmaster, please don't decline. If they need immortal-grade herbs in the future, I can just go to that place again."
The Soul Power light mist from Xu Tianxi's Deep Meditation dispersed as his voice rang out. He stood up tall and stepped forward, pushing the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd towards Xu Xiaoyun.
"Besides, this item has extraordinary energy. The Black Tortoise Martial Soul is primarily water, with earth as a secondary attribute. If they ate it, an unpredictable mutation might occur. It's better if you, Grandmaster, absorb it."
This was, of course, an excuse. Immortal-grade herbs were all top-tier treasures, and consuming them would only result in beneficial mutations, never malicious ones. But then again, Xu Tianxi was closest to Xu Xiaoyun.
Respecting the old and loving the young meant the elder took precedence.
Xu Xiaoyun's eyes narrowed when he heard this, and he playfully scolded, "Little rascal, you're quite the smooth talker, making trouble for my old bones."
"Alright, alright, I'll eat it, so you two will stop chattering."
Activating his Soul Power to refine the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd, Xu Xiaoyun embraced his mind and guarded his spirit. Pure, inky black soul light emanated from his body, and as time passed, a thick, mountain-like earthy yellow glow gradually appeared.
"Grandmaster expended a lot of Soul Power to remove the Black Dragon Soul Power for Poison Undying. Absorbing this now is when it will be most effective. I wonder what kind of changes will occur."
Xu Tianxi watched Xu Xiaoyun cultivate without blinking, a hazy glow in his moon-like eyes. His pupils seemed to reflect an ancient beast undergoing a transformation.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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