In a corner of Rising Sun City, the New Shrek Academy, Sea God's Pavilion.
Yan Shaozhe, who had lost the lower half of his body, lay on the ground without any regard for his image, his widened eyes revealing a look of despair.
Not far in front of him, Cai Mei'er's clothes were in tatters. Her pupils were similarly wide, and her lifeless, pretty face was frozen in a pleading expression.
On top of her, Gou Luanshi slowly got up, licked his bloodstained lips, and didn't forget to pull up his pants.
"Jiehahahaha! I've finally advanced to Titled Douluo... If I absorb all of Dean Yan's lifelong soul power, I can even officially step into the Super Douluo realm!"
As he laughed wildly, an astonishing aura erupted from his body. This was the characteristic of his Seven-Colored Hybrid Dog martial soul: he could directly increase his own strength by licking and devouring the soul power of others.
Before the destruction of Shrek Academy, because this ability was too much like an evil soul master's, Gou Luanshi had been quite restrained. That was until Shrek had to rely on him and the financial power behind him.
Gou Luanshi flipped his palm, and Cai Mei'er's martial soul, the Evil-Breaking Dragon Soul Lance, appeared in his hand. This was also one of his abilities: to be able to transform into the martial soul of a soul master he had devoured and possess half of its abilities.
"I am the number one prodigy of the continent! What crap Demon King Huo Yuhao? Three years have passed, and he's just a trash Soul Emperor!"
After speaking, his blood-red pupils turned to Yan Shaozhe on the side.
"Dean Yan, I'll be taking that top-tier Light Phoenix martial soul of yours as well!"
Hearing his words, only deep despair remained in Yan Shaozhe's pupils.
"I never thought you would have such a martial soul..."
Ever since he and Cai Mei'er had been rescued by the Healing Immortal Douluo at the request of Xu Sanshi and the others three years ago, they had been imprisoned by their suddenly-appeared teacher, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, and had their soul power sealed.
At first, he didn't understand why Mu En was doing this. That was until Mu En brought Gou Luanshi before Yan Shaozhe, brutally humiliated Cai Mei'er, and began to absorb her soul power.
That's right, Shrek never cultivated ordinary people, let alone wasted effort on a cripple like him. Cai Mei'er, as his wife, had merely become a sacrifice as a side effect.
Mu En saw the hope of Shrek in the special nature of Gou Luanshi's martial soul. From that moment on, Mu En had cultivated this young man with all his might, not only teaching him everything he knew but also gifting him his former disciple and his disciple's wife.
Gou Luanshi had devoured most of Cai Mei'er's lifelong soul power and converted it into his own cultivation. At less than sixteen years old, he was shockingly already a Titled Douluo-level existence.
This had never happened before in the history of the continent.
Now, having become a Titled Douluo, it would be much easier for Gou Luanshi to devour Yan Shaozhe's soul power.
At this moment, two huge figures appeared behind Gou Luanshi.
"You have just broken through to the Titled Douluo realm. Your foundation is not yet stable. Do not be in a hurry to devour Shaozhe's soul power."
The newcomer was precisely Yan Shaozhe's once most respected teacher, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En.
"Teacher's lesson is right. I will go into seclusion for these two days to properly settle my foundation." Gou Luanshi immediately changed his tune and replied respectfully.
Beside Mu En stood an extremely bloated woman. Just from the fleshy contours of her face, no one could guess that she was the former Supreme Hierophant of the Holy Spirit Cult, Zhongli Wu's mother, and the former beloved of both Mu En and Long Xiaoyao, Ye Xishui.
A little over a month ago, she and Long Xiaoyao, who were already old and decrepit, had been hit by the Evil Eye Tyrant Overlord's Light of Time and Space, causing their lifespans to be completely exhausted. Long Xiaoyao, desperate to protect his love, had disregarded everything and taken her to Mu En's location.
In the heart of that Dragon Emperor Douluo, only this old friend on the continent could help her.
However, what he didn't expect was that after seeing Mu En, this sworn friend was also still severely injured and couldn't help him and Ye Xishui at all.
In order to let Ye Xishui live, this Dragon Emperor Douluo, who had always felt guilty towards her, did not hesitate to strip away his own martial soul origin and lifespan to forcefully extend their lives.
Mu En consumed the Dragon Pill that was supposed to be given to Huo Yuhao in the original timeline, successfully condensed a third soul core, and his martial soul also transformed into the Light and Dark Holy Dragon. Yes, the top-tier Light and Dark Holy Dragon martial soul unique to Long Yueye in the Dragon King Legend era.
Long Xiaoyao poured his remaining lifespan and lifelong cultivation into the woman he loved most and his best friend, helping them both achieve the quasi-god level.
This time, this invincible Dragon Emperor Douluo, until his death, never learned the truth of that year from Ye Xishui. He left this world one step ahead, filled with guilt for his old friend and his beloved.
By the time Ye Xishui recovered, the man she had loved most in her life had already departed peacefully.
She went completely mad.
She swore to avenge Long Xiaoyao, to personally kill the Holy Son Huo Yuhao, who had designed all of this.
Thus, she formed an alliance with Mu En, and they unanimously directed their spearhead at Huo Yuhao.
She frantically ate the heavenly materials and earthly treasures that Mu En had collected to supplement her lifespan. However, there were no alchemists or life-extending pills on the continent. The excessive accumulation of chaotic medicinal powers caused her figure to change drastically, degenerating into her current ghostly appearance.
"Orororororo! This child is teachable!" Mu En did not spare his praise for this closed-door disciple, Gou Luanshi. To have such a gifted disciple in his twilight years was truly a blessing.
Ye Xishui noticed Yan Shaozhe in the corner. She knew that he was her and Long Xiaoyao's descendant. Deep in her memory, about a hundred years ago, she had even made a special trip to secretly visit the newly born Yan Shaozhe. At that time, Dean Yan was still babbling, constantly calling out "Mama, mama."
After Long Xiaoyao's death, Ye Xishui's mental state was clearly no longer normal. She suddenly opened her mouth wide and laughed out loud.
"Mamamama! Mu En, you've taken in a good disciple! This old woman is suddenly looking forward to the convention in three days!"
"You two can rest assured. Even if Huo Yuhao really has the strength of an Ultimate Douluo, I can make him die with regret on the spot!" Gou Luanshi chuckled strangely.
This time, in order to completely get rid of Huo Yuhao, he had spent a full half a year laying out his plans.
"Orororororo! You kid are full of cunning ideas, and you never disappoint!"
"Mamamama! I must make Huo Yuhao wish he were dead!"
"Jiehahahaha! You two elders, rest assured. At that time, even if an immortal comes, he won't be able to save Huo Yuhao..."
— [bruh, why did they sound like Caesar Clown, BIG MOM, and Blackbeard]
Of course, Huo Yuhao did not know about this. That night, the rebuilt Earth Dragon Gate held a grand banquet, and he was invited to be on the list.
His arrival had certainly brought disaster to the Earth Dragon Gate, but it had also helped Nan Shuishui expose the maggots within the sect, giving the Earth Dragon Gate a thorough cleansing.
Huo Yuhao, across the bonfire, frequently raised his cup and drank with the disciples of the Earth Dragon Gate. His casual and peaceful appearance greatly refreshed everyone's perception of this Demon King.
Perhaps this was his true appearance? Nan Shuishui rested her chin on her hand and sized up the young man before her. The firelight reflecting on Huo Yuhao's handsome and transcendent face made him look even more alluring.
Seeing Nan Shuishui staring straight at him, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but laugh. He raised his wine cup towards her, "Won't you have a drink with me?"
Nan Shuishui was stunned for a moment, then hastily picked up the wine cup beside her and clinked it with his.
"In the future, I'm afraid you'll have to work hard for a while, senior. The reconstruction of the sect should be quite taxing." Huo Yuhao looked at the Earth Dragon Gate disciples frolicking around the bonfire and couldn't help but smile.
"Are you really leaving tomorrow?" Nan Shuishui looked down at the wine cup in her hand and asked.
"Yes. Time waits for no one. If I miss something, I will regret it for a lifetime." Huo Yuhao's eyes stared intently into the distance as he said with emotion.
"Miss something, and regret it for a lifetime..." Nan Shuishui lowered her voice, her eyes fixed on the slightly young and inexperienced boy before her as she murmured to herself.