The night was pitch-black.
Insects continued to chirp outside the window.
Yet inside the room, the atmosphere had completely solidified.
Liu Yuan didn't hesitate for even a moment. He reached out and grabbed the shoulder of Xiao Hongchen, who was sleeping on the neighboring bed, and shook him hard.
"Wake up."
Xiao Hongchen had been sleeping deeply, but the violent shaking jolted him awake. His reaction was sharp—his eyes cleared instantly, and he lowered his voice.
"What happened, Brother Liu Yuan?"
"Is there trouble?"
Liu Yuan's expression was calm, but his tone carried a chilling edge.
"Evil Soul Masters."
Xiao Hongchen's pupils shrank violently. All traces of drowsiness vanished.
"Where?"
"At the village entrance. They're about to come in."
"Damn it!"
Xiao Hongchen cursed under his breath. His right hand brushed over his storage ring, and a finely crafted Level 5 energy-gathering soul tool cannon appeared in his grip.
Without another word, he stood up, ready to rush out.
"Don't act rashly."
Liu Yuan reached out and stopped him, his gaze steady, as if discussing something trivial.
"You go keep an eye on them. Don't let them disturb the villagers."
"I'll go inform the Headmaster."
Xiao Hongchen froze.
Find Grandpa?
With Brother Liu Yuan's strength, was it really necessary to involve Jing Hongchen for something like this?
As if reading his thoughts, Liu Yuan curled his lips and spoke matter-of-factly.
"When handling matters, stability comes first."
"When I traveled alone in the past, I had no choice but to deal with trouble myself."
"But now that we have the Headmaster—this massive pillar—leading the team, it would be foolish not to let him handle Evil Soul Masters when they show up."
Xiao Hongchen nodded in agreement.
"Alright. I'll keep watch."
His figure flickered, and like a ghost, he slipped out through the window, silently heading toward the village entrance.
Liu Yuan didn't delay either and turned to leave the room.
However—
He had taken only a few steps when a short, stocky, yet dignified figure appeared soundlessly in front of him.
It was Jing Hongchen.
His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked at Liu Yuan with blazing eyes. There wasn't the slightest hint of sleepiness—only undisguised admiration.
"Good lad."
"Looks like you didn't truly fall asleep at all tonight."
Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction.
As a Titled Douluo, his perception naturally enveloped the entire village. He had sensed the group of Evil Soul Masters the instant they revealed themselves.
But he hadn't acted immediately.
He wanted to see whether these so-called "greenhouse flowers" could detect the danger on their own.
The result left him both gratified and helpless.
What gratified him was Liu Yuan's terrifying vigilance—sharper even than seasoned mercenaries who lived with death at their heels.
What left him helpless was—
The rest of the team, including his own grandchildren, were sleeping like logs, without the slightest reaction.
"They still have a long way to go," Jing Hongchen sighed.
His expression turned serious.
"Little Yuan, wake them all up."
"Be quick."
"Yes."
Liu Yuan nodded. His figure flashed like lightning, vanishing instantly.
Moments later—
More than a dozen figures, concealed by soul tools, hovered silently several hundred meters above the village.
Ma Rulong, Meng Hongchen, and the others had all been woken, though many still looked groggy and confused.
"Grandpa, what's going on? In the middle of the night—"
Meng Hongchen rubbed her eyes, about to complain.
She was immediately silenced by Jing Hongchen's cold, stern gaze.
He pointed downward.
"All of you—watch carefully."
Everyone followed his gesture.
At the village entrance, over a dozen figures dressed in black robes were slipping in like ghosts.
Their spirit power was sinister and distorted, and crimson light flickered in their eyes, sending chills down one's spine.
Evil Soul Masters!
Everyone sobered up instantly. Cold sweat broke out along their backs.
If they hadn't been woken…
If these people had rushed straight into the village…
The consequences were unthinkable.
Jing Hongchen's voice rang in their ears like an alarm bell.
"This is the first lesson I'm teaching you on this journey."
"When you're outside, you must never lower your guard."
His cold gaze swept across the group.
"I'll ask you this."
"If I weren't here tonight—and if Little Yuan weren't here either."
"If it were only you."
"What would the outcome have been?"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Ma Rulong lowered his head, fists clenched so tightly they turned white.
Xiao Hongchen's expression was equally grim.
What outcome?
There was only one—being ambushed and slaughtered.
In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, no amount of talent mattered once you were dead.
"You still have much to learn," Jing Hongchen said, his tone easing slightly.
"Alright. Now, watch."
Before his words even fell—
The Evil Soul Masters below had already crept up to the first household, preparing to break in.
"Courting death!"
Jing Hongchen snorted coldly.
In the next instant, his figure vanished from where he stood.
When he reappeared, he was already standing before the group of Evil Soul Masters.
There were no flashy soul skills.
No large-scale soul tool bombardment—he avoided harming innocent villagers.
He relied solely on the terrifying speed of a Titled Douluo.
Like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several muffled explosions sounded.
The Evil Soul Masters at the front didn't even have time to scream before their heads burst apart like crushed melons!
"Enemy! An expert—run!"
The remaining Evil Soul Masters panicked and turned to flee.
At that moment—
A streak of black lightning tore across the night sky.
Liu Yuan!
"Extreme Speed!"
He moved at the absolute limit. The long blade in his hand traced a beautiful yet desolate arc beneath the moonlight.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Several more Evil Soul Masters collapsed, clutching their throats as blood sprayed outward.
It was a completely one-sided massacre.
However—
Just as the last of the Evil Soul Masters were about to be wiped out, Liu Yuan suddenly stopped.
He deliberately slowed his pace, allowing the final three survivors to flee in terror toward the forest beyond the village.
"Captain?!"
Lin Xi, who had already rushed down, looked confused.
"Why let them go? Shouldn't these beasts be killed to the last one?"
Liu Yuan watched the fleeing figures, his gaze colder than ice.
"Who said I'm letting them go?"
His voice was chilling.
"When cutting grass, you remove the roots."
"Evil Soul Masters are like rats in the sewers—they must be exterminated completely."
"If even one is left alive, who knows how many innocent people will die at their hands in the future."
"So we'll follow them, find their lair, and wipe it out entirely."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone felt their hearts tremble.
Aside from Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, this was the first time the others had seen such a ruthless side of Liu Yuan.
In their minds, he had always been a gentle, refined captain.
They never imagined his thinking could be so meticulous—or his methods so decisive.
Even Jing Hongchen nodded inwardly.
Careful-minded. Decisive in killing.
Liu Yuan was a born leader.
"Follow."
Jing Hongchen waved his hand.
Everyone immediately concealed their auras and silently pursued the fleeing Evil Soul Masters.
A few kilometers away—
In front of a hidden cave.
The three survivors finally staggered inside, shaking with lingering fear.
"Boss! Something's wrong! We're under attack!"
"Everyone's dead—dead!"
Before they could finish shouting—
High in the sky, Jing Hongchen looked down at the dark cave entrance, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
"Now that we've found the nest, there's no need to be polite."
He slowly raised his right hand.
A massive Level 8 fixed-load soul tool cannon appeared on his shoulder.
Terrifying energy gathered at the muzzle.
"Go to hell and repent."
BOOM—!!!
A thick beam of soul power tore through the night sky, slamming directly into the cave!
Rumble—!
The earth shook, the mountains quaked.
The entire cave collapsed in an instant, the violent explosion vaporizing every living thing inside.
Not even an ant survived.
Grass cut. Roots removed.
The group quickly returned to the village.
The villagers remained deep in sleep, utterly unaware that they had just brushed past the gates of death.
But for the members of the Sun Moon Team—
This night was destined to be unforgettable.
No one spoke. Their eyes carried a depth that hadn't been there before.
This lesson was more profound than any training session.
—
Meanwhile, far away—
As the Sun Moon Team continued advancing toward Star Luo City, the team from Shrek Academy had also departed Shrek City.
Their leader, Xuan Zi, just as in the original course of events, casually accepted a mission from the Shrek Supervisory Group.
Thus, he planned to head to the military camp to meet Marshal Dai Hao and learn the details.
At this moment—
At the border of the Star Luo Empire.
Outside a grim and imposing military camp.
Xuan Zi led Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and the rest of the students as they descended slowly from the sky.
They had finally arrived.