"Fang Yang."
A hoarse yet still clear voice rang out.
Fang Yang slowly turned around, only to see Wu Changkong and Shen Yi leading the remaining Shrek students out from within.
Wu Changkong was still clad in white, though it was now stained with dust and scorch marks.
His handsome face bore an unconcealable sorrow, and his ink-green eyes remained as sharp as swords.
Shen Yi's face was pale, her eyes a mix of grief, and her lips were tightly pursed, making her seem somewhat silent.
Most of the Shrek students had torn clothes and dirt on their faces.
"Teacher Wu."
Fang Yang looked at the teacher who had once taught him, his tone calm.
Wu Changkong's gaze swept over Fang Yang, then looked towards the sparkling new lake behind him and the refreshed land.
He finally just nodded lightly: "It's good that you're back."
"Teacher Wu."
Gu Yuena and Xu Xiaoyan also stepped forward, greeting him softly.
Wu Changkong's gaze turned to them, pausing slightly on Gu Yuena for an instant.
He nodded: "Mm, you're all back, that's good."
Subsequently, Wu Changkong and Shen Yi turned to Ya Li, who had been standing silently to the side, and respectfully saluted: "Holy Spirit Douluo (His Holiness/Her Holiness)."
Ya Li held the sky-supporting spear, and although her eyes were still slightly red, her voice had recovered its usual composure and authority: "Yun Ming had an early instruction, that if he were not here…."
"Na'er shall take over as the Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion, and Fang Yang as the Vice Pavilion Master, to jointly preside over the overall situation."
This appointment stunned everyone present.
Then they understood; as Yun Ming's Personal Disciple, Na'er was indeed the most suitable successor.
"We respectfully obey the command of Holy Spirit Douluo (His Holiness/Her Holiness)."
Wu Changkong and Shen Yi responded in unison, their voices filled with respect for Ya Li.
Wu Changkong was the first to turn to Na'er and Fang Yang, bowing slightly with the etiquette due to a Pavilion Master: "Greetings, Pavilion Master, Vice Pavilion Master."
Seeing this, the students behind him also respectfully saluted.
Na'er gently raised her hand, her voice steady: "No need for formalities. The immediate priority is to rebuild the academy."
"Yes, Pavilion Master."
Wu Changkong and Shen Yi responded solemnly, and the students behind them also nodded.
After the other students left to carry out their orders, only the group remained.
"Teacher Wu, how did you…?"
Xu Xiaoyan asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Wu Changkong took a deep breath, his voice low and hoarse: "We were hiding in a shelter deep beneath the academy."
"When the Evil Soul Masters attacked, the academy's defense array activated, but…"
His voice suddenly choked, "When that last God-Slaying Fixed Soul Guided Cannon Shell fell, the academy's teachers… at the cost of burning their lives, bought the students one minute of time."
Wu Changkong's ink-green eyes welled with tears: "The shelter's capacity was limited, and the protective shield required immense energy to sustain…"
"Teacher Shen and I intended to burn ourselves, but Elder Li pushed us into the shelter with a palm strike."
His voice trembled so much he could barely speak.
Shen Yi took over, her voice equally choked: "Elder Li's last words were… 'The children are still young, and if we old folks are gone, we truly can't rest easy.'"
"'Changkong, Shen Yi, you are still young. For us… take good care of the academy's future.'"
At this point, Wu Changkong's tears finally fell.
This usually stern man now showed a vulnerability he had never displayed before in front of everyone.
Shen Yi couldn't help but turn her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly, unable to utter another word.
Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.
A heavy sorrow permeated the air, with only the gentle breeze lightly brushing the surface of the new lake, creating subtle ripples.
Fang Yang said softly: "Teacher Wu, I killed Ghost Emperor, Blood Demon, and Hummingbird."
"Good."
Wu Changkong's eyes flashed with a complex light upon hearing this, "Bing'er…"
This was an eternal pain in his heart.
Shen Yi looked at Fang Yang in shock upon hearing this, only now realizing the terrifying extent of this young man's strength, enough to slay the three Peak Evil Soul Masters.
"Sister Yali, Teacher Wu, Teacher Shen."
Fang Yang's gaze swept over everyone, his tone calm, "I plan to make a trip to Devil Island."
"Devil Island? That place…"
Ya Li nodded slightly upon hearing this, "Okay, I understand."
Wu Changkong and Shen Yi nodded when they heard this.
They had heard of that place, the Seven Holy Abyss, which students who had been there called Devil Island.
"Fang Yang, if you go, be careful. That place not only tests strength but also Heart-Nature," Ya Li cautioned, her eyes showing concern.
Fang Yang solemnly agreed: "Sister Yali, don't worry, I understand."
"Brother, I want to go too."
Na'er said to Fang Yang, looking at him eagerly, her heterochromatic eyes full of anticipation.
Fang Yang pondered for a moment, looked at Na'er, and finally nodded: "Okay, we'll go together."
"You little girl, you just took over as Pavilion Master and you're already running off?" Ya Li looked at Na'er helplessly, her tone tinged with a bit of exasperation.
Na'er linked arms with Ya Li, gently pouting: "Godmother, aren't you still here to keep watch?!"
"You're much better at the initial planning for the academy's reconstruction than I am. I'll be back soon, it won't be long."
"Alright, alright, alright."
Ya Li sighed helplessly, but her eyes were full of doting affection.
"Xiao Yan."
Fang Yang's gaze turned to Xu Xiaoyan.
"I… won't be going."
Xu Xiaoyan's voice was soft, "Brother sent a message, saying that my parents are very worried since I haven't been in contact for three years, and asked me to go back for a visit."
Fang Yang gazed at her for a moment, then said gently: "If anything happens, remember to tell me."
"Mm, it's just family concerns, nothing else," Xu Xiaoyan showed a reassuring smile.
She stepped forward and gently hugged Fang Yang in front of everyone's gaze.
Fang Yang raised his hand, and three clusters of deep, pulsating black flames appeared in his palm, which he offered to Xu Xiaoyan: "Take these, just in case."
"These are?"
Xu Xiaoyan felt the immense power contained within them and couldn't help but ask.
"These three strange flames can protect you in critical moments," Fang Yang explained.
Xu Xiaoyan carefully put away the three clusters of black flames: "Okay, I understand."
"Sister Yali."
Fang Yang looked at Ya Li, "To be safe, I will leave a Clone to guard the academy."
A hint of relief flashed in Ya Li's eyes: "That's very good. You two go ahead, I have the academy covered."
"Mm, okay." Fang Yang nodded slightly.
The history of Devil Island can be traced back ten thousand years.
The Tang God King schemed against the two God Kings of Destruction and Life, leading to their eventual demise.
Their God Position cores transformed into seeds of destruction and life, falling into the hands of the Tang God King.
The divine force of the fallen God Kings of Destruction and Life descended upon the Douluo Continent. The relatively gentle divine force of Life dissipated throughout the world, nourishing all things.
The power of Destruction, however, was incomparably brutal, especially when two powerful divine forces converged. For the Douluo Plane, which had not yet ascended, it was a tremendous deterrent.
It landed on the sea, causing no large-scale human casualties. But it was then that the small island covered by the power of Destruction instantly became a forbidden land, which is Devil Island.
And when the first generation Shrek Seven Devils went to investigate that area, an accident occurred.
Unfortunately, they were affected by the power of Destruction, completely changing their temperament and transforming into the Seven Great Old Devils, forever remaining on Devil Island.
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