Gu La returned to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, heading straight to Leng Yaozhu's office.
Leng Yaozhu stood by the window, gazing toward the lingering smoke over Shrek City. Her brow furrowed with barely concealed anxiety.
Hearing footsteps, she turned. Seeing Gu La, she forced calm—refusing to burden her disciple with her turmoil. Her voice, however, betrayed urgency:
"You're back. Your 'friends' at Shrek Academy… can you still reach them? What's the situation?"
Gu La nodded, his tone placating. "Rest easy, Teacher. Bai Yuan and the others were evacuated early by Atlas Douluo. They're in a relatively safe place now—unharmed."
"And… Yun Ming?" Leng Yaozhu pressed, unable to mask her deepest concern.
During the explosion, she'd rushed to leave for Shrek Academy—only to be barred by Qian Gu Dongfeng under the pretense of "guarding the Pagoda's foundation against unknown threats."
Gu La offered a perfectly measured smile. "Worry not, Teacher. Atlas Douluo is the continent's strongest power. How could he fall so easily? He has his own contingencies."
Leng Yaozhu's tension eased slightly, yet shadows of doubt clouded her mind at the thought of those "God-Slaying" projectiles. Silently, she prayed for Yun Ming's safety.
After comforting his teacher, Gu La left the office. His consciousness shifted instantly, his senses merging with his Bai Yuan avatar.
***
Inside the underground shelter, dim light cast long shadows. The air hung thick with grief and despair.
Bai Yuan opened his eyes after meditating, stretching stiff limbs.
Beside him, Wu Siduo curled like a frightened kitten, tear tracks still fresh on her cheeks.
She'd met Bai Yuan in Shrek's inner court, falling for him after initially admiring Gu La's true self. But Gu La was either holed up at the Spirit Pagoda or vanishing for months at a time. Drawn to Bai Yuan's similar aura and constant presence, she'd become his nominal girlfriend.
'My charm truly knows no bounds,' Gu La mused inwardly before surveying the shelter.
Thanks to his unspoken "deal" with Yun Ming, the Atlas Douluo had preserved Shrek's core strength. Most key inner court students—including Tang Wulin—had survived.
Most trainees still slept. Even senior students at Soul King and Soul Emperor levels had been wounded by the explosion's shockwaves, their spirits or organs damaged.
Long Yeyue had perished in her sacrificial blast. The Sea God Pavilion's elders were nearly wiped out. Surprisingly, Feng Wuyu—doomed to die in the original timeline—lived, though missing an arm and radiating exhaustion, clearly combat-incapacitated.
Nearly four hundred survivors huddled here—over a hundred more than Gu La recalled from the original story. A silver lining in tragedy.
As time passed, most trainees awoke. Those gravely injured stabilized under the care of surviving healing-type soul masters.
Feng Wuyu's face was ashen. The pain in his severed arm paled against his heartache. He forced himself upright, addressing Wu Zhangkong:
"Zhangkong… take charge now. No matter what—Shrek Academy must not disband!"
Wu Zhangkong swallowed his grief over lost teachers and classmates. Shoulders squared, he addressed the gathered students:
"Shrek suffered an unprecedented attack. Our campus is gone. Our mentors have fallen. But Shrek's spirit lives! We will rebuild!"
"Yet that burden isn't yours to carry now. Your duty is to survive. To grow stronger. Find safety. Lie low. Become powerful."
Tang Wulin struggled upright, rage and guilt over failing to protect Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li burning in his eyes. His voice rasped: "Master Wu… what's happening outside?"
Wu Zhangkong shook his head, stern. "Don't look. Don't ask. Until any of you reach Titled Douluo level—forget about seeking truth. It will only bring meaningless sacrifice."
Tang Wulin's fists clenched until nails bit flesh. Helplessness crashed over him.
Parents missing. Academy destroyed. Beloved mentors gone… Each tragedy chained him tighter, stealing his breath.
Wu Zhangkong led the group toward another shelter's survivors.
Silence hung heavy as they walked, weighed by shared sorrow.
Then—in a derelict tunnel—they found them: the unconscious forms of Yun Ming and Ya Li.
"Pavilion Master! Your Majesty Holy Spirit!"
Feng Wuyu rushed forward, examining them. After a moment, his expression shifted. "The Pavilion Master is gravely wounded—his foundation damaged—but alive! If he recovers…" His voice thickened with hope. "Under his leadership, we will rebuild Shrek Academy!"
This news ignited renewed hope in every survivor's eyes.
Yet three days passed with no sign of Yun Ming or Ya Li waking. Their auras dimmed instead. Panic mounted, but no one knew how to help.
On the fourth day, Ya Li's lashes fluttered. She opened her eyes, gaze clouded. "Brother Ming…" she whispered. "Where is Brother Ming?"
"Your Majesty Holy Spirit is awake!" a caretaker cried.
Wu Zhangkong, Tang Wulin, and others hurried over.
Ignoring protests, Ya Li rose unsteadily and entered Yun Ming's room.
Feeling his life force flickering like a guttering candle, she smiled—a blend of tenderness and resolve.
Gently taking his hand, she whispered: "Brother Ming… this time, I'll save you."
Defying her own weakness, she re-established their life-sharing contract. She poured her dwindling life force and soul power into him without reservation.
Yun Ming's body accepted her energy seamlessly. The contract was sealed.
Exhausted, Ya Li collapsed before she could explain. Yet Yun Ming's condition stabilized, strengthening slowly—a lifeline for their hope.
The shelter couldn't sustain four hundred people indefinitely. Food and water dwindled daily.
Wu Zhangkong began sending students away in batches—some to their families, others to join armies or secure factions. High-profile students like Tang Wulin and Bai Yuan needed to hide their identities, avoiding the conspirators' reach.
Wu Zhangkong insisted core students stay last. He had final arrangements to make.
Bai Yuan, though famous, lacked nothing. Gu La's true self had supplied him with soul spirits, rare metals, and resources.
Privately, Bai Yuan suggested visiting the legendary Blood God Legion. There, he might feast on Abyss Plane life energy—a boon for his Abyss Devourer martial soul.
Ten days later, Ya Li awoke again—weak but her condition improved.
Yun Ming remained unconscious. Daily, she used recovered soul power to heal him carefully, never again draining herself. Their shared lifespan was too precious.
Half a month of tender care passed before Yun Ming's eyes finally opened.
Clarity returned swiftly. His first act was searching for Ya Li. His voice, hoarse yet tender: "Ya Li…"
"Brother Ming!"
Ya Li burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms.
Their embrace—survivors' joy and profound love—eased the heavy hearts around them.
Yun Ming stroked Ya Li's back, his gaze sweeping the hopeful, grieving faces before settling into solemn resolve.
"My failure…" he murmured. "I failed to protect the Academy." He turned to Feng Wuyu and Wu Zhangkong. "How many remain?"
Feng Wuyu remained silent, gaze downcast. His severed arm and burned-out foundation were incurable—even by Ya Li.
Wu Zhangkong answered: "Pavilion Master, I've sent many away. Fewer than a hundred remain—all inner court elites."
He couldn't help asking: "Your injuries…?"
Yun Ming's eyes narrowed as he reread the note Gu La's avatar had left Ya Li. Then he spoke plainly:
"To block the God-Slaying projectiles, I shattered half my divine position and detonated all my soul rings. I retain Limit Douluo-level soul power, but heavenly rules have sealed my cultivation. I can barely muster a Level 10 Soul Trainee's strength now." His voice hardened. "I am unworthy of the Sea God Pavilion's leadership. Effective immediately, I resign as Pavilion Master."
"Pavilion Master! This isn't your fault!" Wu Zhangkong implored. "Those projectiles could slay gods! Without your sacrifice, none of us would live!"
Others echoed his plea.
Yun Ming shook his head, resolute. "My decision stands. The next Pavilion Master will be the student who contributes most to Shrek's rebirth. As for me…" A shadow crossed his eyes. "…I'll live quietly and aid the rebuilding as much as I can."
Wu Zhangkong opened his mouth to argue but fell silent under Yun Ming's raised hand.
Tang Wulin then suggested: "Pavilion Master—could we go to the Spirit Pagoda? Buy some ten-thousand-year soul spirits to help you recover?"
"No!" Wu Zhangkong and Yun Ming spoke as one.
Yun Ming's gaze sharpened. "The Spirit Pagoda played a foul role in this. With Shrek's defenses, evil soul masters could never have smuggled in so many fixed-type soul projectiles—especially those two God-Slayers!"
Tang Wulin paled. He'd never imagined the Spirit Pagoda—one of the continent's soul master sanctums—might have conspired in Shrek's destruction.
Wu Zhangkong's eyes turned to the quietly observant Bai Yuan. A test. "Bai Yuan, can you contact Gu La? Ask him to send suitable ten-thousand-year soul spirits? Or… we could 'acquire' some from a small city?"
Bai Yuan shrugged, unruffled. "If Gu La moves many soul spirits now, it'll draw attention. Expose our location."
"I propose another path," he continued calmly. "Let's escape to the sea. Hunt ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the deep ocean. I'll craft them into soul spirits on-site. It's risky and tedious—but safe. No trails left behind."
Wu Zhangkong exchanged a glance with Yun Ming. After a silent moment, he nodded. This was their best option.
Yun Ming confirmed it. "Agreed. Prepare swiftly. We move soon—find passage to the sea."
Survivors sprang into organized action, readying for an uncertain voyage and the long road to rebuild Shrek.
Gu La's consciousness withdrew. His mind already plotted how to leverage this journey—perhaps Bai Yuan could find nourishment in the deep sea, perfect for his Abyss Devourer martial soul.
And Yun Ming and Ya Li… their love was vital to Alice's growth. Adolescent infatuation paled beside the profound devotion of souls who had faced death together. Their union held the key to mastering the Love Goddess's divine throne.
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