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The group began fragmenting into small units, dispersing to reduce risk.
During this period, fragmented reports filtered in from various channels—the situation was grim.
The Tang Sect headquarters had also suffered heavy casualties, with many elite disciples perishing.
Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua faced an assault by an unknown powerhouse. Fortunately, his disciple Mu Yi had been studying Heavenly Refinement at the Blacksmith Association that day.
At the critical moment, Mu Yi activated his Body martial soul's Platinum Awakening. His formidable physique and Ultimate Wood's tenacious life force held off the enemy, buying precious time for Mu Ye's arrival. Zhen Hua survived.
Tang Sect's enterprises faced systematic suppression. Xuan Shi Tang Men Company's branches across the Federation were repeatedly attacked. Military factions that had once cooperated closely abruptly severed all ties. The speed and ruthlessness of this cut-off clearly indicated premeditation.
And the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well—originally a potential source of hundred-thousand-year spirit souls for Tang Wulin—had long been emptied by Gu La.
Faced with this dire reality, Shrek's surviving core members unanimously decided to seek the vast oceans. There, they would hunt sea soul beasts to acquire the spirit souls needed to rebuild the academy and restore Yun Ming's strength.
At this moment, conservation laws and ecological balance were luxuries they couldn't afford. Survival and vengeance came first.
Bai Yuan had planned to depart early for the Blood God Legion to devour Abyss Plane energy. Yet he remained curious about what oceanic opportunities Tang Wulin—the "protagonist blessed by fate"—might encounter.
Moreover, as an inner court elite, he technically ranked among Shrek's Seven Monsters—a status that might let him "piggyback" on unexpected benefits.
So he postponed his Blood God Legion plans and joined the voyage.
***
Donghai City Port. Deep night.
Sea wind, salt-tanged and sharp, brushed solemn faces. In small groups, they boarded the Sea Snail—an aged, unremarkable cargo ship.
A Tang Sect secret asset. Its captain, a taciturn old soul master with a scarred face, bowed respectfully to Wu Zhangkong before silently directing the crew to cast off.
"Once at sea," Wu Zhangkong announced, "follow Captain Hai's—no, Mister Yun's—orders." He'd changed the address to protect Yun Ming's identity, glancing questioningly at the pale-faced man.
Yun Ming nodded. His gaze swept young yet resolute faces. "The ocean is fickle and perilous," he said softly, "but rich with opportunity. Rest while you can. Once we reach deep water, sleep will be a luxury."
The initial voyage was calm. Under Wu Zhangkong's watch and the still-intimidating presence of one-armed Feng Wuyu, no threats emerged.
Three days later, they entered deep-sea territory.
The ship sailed on ink-blue waters. Gazing outward, only endless sea met the horizon.
Yun Ming stood alone at the bow. Sea wind tousled his hair as he closed his eyes. Vast spiritual power rippled like invisible waves, probing the crushing depths.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open—a flash of insight. "Found it. Port side, three thousand meters down. A giant starfish colony. Their leader approaches ninety-thousand years."
The group gathered instantly.
"I'll draw it out!" A burly water-attribute Soul Saint named Haydel thumped his chest. His Two-Word Battle Armor, Fierce Tide, glowed faintly blue. "In the water, it can't catch me!"
"Beware its mental interference and devouring power," Yun Ming cautioned, his voice steady. "Strike once. Retreat immediately."
"Understood!" Haydel grinned, slipping into the water like a fish—leaving only ripples.
Tension thickened the deck. Tang Wulin gripped his Golden Dragon Spear. Bai Yuan leaned casually against the railing, eyes fixed on the sea.
After a stick of incense burned down, the waters churned violently—turning murky.
Then—BOOM!
A massive pink form burst from the depths, showering the deck!
A starfish over ten meters wide, its pink hide marked with eerie luminescent patterns. Dozens of thick tentacles thrashed wildly—the ninety-thousand-year Pink Devil Starfish!
Enraged, its central maw opened—unleashing a silent, soul-piercing shriek. Several weaker students stumbled, dizzy.
"Mental assault!"
Yun Ming's low voice cut through. Though his soul power was weak, his God-level spiritual force pressed down like a mountain!
The starfish froze. Its tentacles slowed.
"Strike!" Wu Zhangkong's command was icy. His Sky Frost Sword flashed, freezing several tentacles with glacial intent.
Tang Wulin became a golden streak. The Golden Dragon Spear pierced toward the beast's core.
Other students unleashed soul skills—light flaring as they bombarded the massive body.
The battle was fierce but brief. Under Yun Ming's mental suppression and their combined assault, the Pink Devil Starfish bled heavily, its aura fading.
"Bai Yuan—it's up to you now!" Wu Zhangkong called.
Bai Yuan stepped forward unhurriedly. Palm outstretched, a miniature black hole swirled in his hand. He pressed it gently against the dying starfish.
"What's he doing?" a student whispered.
"Seems to be extracting its soul… making a spirit soul?"
"Such bizarre methods… not like any Spirit Pagoda technique…"
Bai Yuan ignored them. He focused his spiritual power to guide the starfish's raging soul. His finger traced intricate silver runes in the air—ancient, profound sigils imprinting into the soul's core.
Soon, a soft pink orb formed in his palm. Within it, a miniature starfish phantom flickered.
"Done." Bai Yuan handed it to Yun Ming. "Decent quality. Should boost spiritual power and tentacle control."
Yun Ming took it, sensing its pure energy. He nodded to Bai Yuan, unusually formal: "My thanks."
He sat cross-legged, absorbing it. Energy surged through him. His weak body trembled, sweat beading on his brow—yet his aura steadily strengthened.
When he opened his eyes, four soul rings glowed beneath his feet. His soul power stabilized at Soul Ancestor level.
"Success!" Low cheers rose. Students' faces finally showed smiles—rare in recent days.
***
Over the next few days, they took an eighty-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Shark as Yun Ming's second spirit soul. His cultivation reached Spirit King level.
But their killing spree drew consequences.
One dawn, the lookout's alarm shattered the calm: "Massive soul beast convergence! We're surrounded!"
All around the ship, countless dorsal fins and monstrous heads surfaced. Fish, serpents, crustaceans—thousands of soul beasts surged. Among them were ten-thousand-year elites.
"Retribution!" Feng Wuyu's lone arm transformed into a dragon claw. His face grim. "We've slain too many of their kin."
"Prepare to fight!" Wu Zhangkong's voice turned glacial. Sky Frost Sword intent spread—freezing seawater around the hull.
Chaos erupted. Most formidable was a fifty-thousand-year Thunderbolt Eel—twenty meters long, its body crackling with violent lightning. Its surges wounded multiple students.
"Wulin! That eel!" Xie Xie shouted. "Its lightning is monstrous!"
Tang Wulin's eyes sparked gold. He sensed the faint dragon blood within it. "It's perfect for me!"
He charged. Golden Dragon Body flared, enduring the shocks. Dragon might radiated as he clashed with the eel.
Bai Yuan moved across the deck—wherever a soul beast fell, he appeared instantly to process its soul into spirit souls.
His movements grew fluid. The spirit souls he crafted clearly surpassed ordinary Spirit Pagoda quality.
"This guy…" Le Zhengyu muttered between cleansing soul beasts with Holy Light, "just how strong is he?"
The beast tide intensified.
Then—two terrifying presences rose from the abyss. The sea itself trembled.
One was a streamlined hundred-thousand-year Blue Thorn Golden Spearfish. Its head bore a horn like a knight's lance—blue, razor-sharp. Speed so great it left afterimages.
The other—a hundred-thousand-year Twin-Headed Dragon Turtle the size of a small island. One head sprayed high-pressure water cannons; the other manipulated rock barriers. Its defense was impregnable.
"At last—worthy prey." Yun Ming stood. His gaze locked onto the spearfish. "Its speed and aggression suit me."
"Pavilion Master, your soul power—" Tang Wulin worried.
"No matter." Yun Ming's voice was calm yet unshakable. "Zhangkong—distract the turtle with your team. Wulin, Wuyu—you're with me against this fish. Bai Yuan—prepare to collect the spirit soul."
Combat exploded. The Blue Thorn Golden Spearfish became a blue lightning bolt—repeatedly slamming the ship's defenses.
Though Yun Ming couldn't unleash powerful soul skills, his god-level combat instincts and spiritual foresight peaked. He predicted the spearfish's every move, directing Tang Wulin and Le Zhengyu.
"Port side, three meters! It'll lunge from one meter underwater in a heartbeat!"
"Wuyu—block its retreat!"
"Wulin—Golden Dragon Shock! Meet it head-on!"
Under Yun Ming's precise "command," their trio moved with uncanny synchronicity. Finally, Tang Wulin seized an opening. The Golden Dragon Spear—aided by Le Zhengyu's Holy Light—drove into the spearfish's weak gill section!
Yun Ming's full-force spiritual strike shattered its soul core.
The colossal Blue Thorn Golden Spearfish floated lifelessly to the surface.
Meanwhile, the Twin-Headed Dragon Turtle—assaulted by Wu Zhangkong, Yuanen Yehui, and others—was on its last legs.
It sensed Yun Ming's unfathomable spiritual pressure. And from Tang Wulin, it felt the dragon bloodline's dominance.
Its two heads exchanged glances. Then both emitted low, submissive whines—a soul wave begging Tang Wulin for mercy.
"It… it wants to become my spirit soul?" Tang Wulin's shock turned to delight.
Yun Ming nodded. "Its wisdom is high. It knows survival requires yielding. Take it—this is your chance."
Amid envious, hopeful gazes, Tang Wulin smoothly bonded with the hundred-thousand-year Twin-Headed Dragon Turtle.
***
A month later, the Sea Snail slipped back to port—laden with harvest and exhaustion.
On deck, Yun Ming—having absorbed the hundred-thousand-year Blue Thorn Golden Spearfish spirit soul—had recovered to Spirit Beast Douluo level. Distant from his peak, yet now capable of self-defense.
He gazed at the nearing coastline, eyes complex.
"Brother Ming." Ya Li joined him, gently taking his hand. "We will rebuild Shrek."
Yun Ming tightened his grip, nodding firmly.
Bai Yuan watched them, then glanced at Tang Wulin practicing with his new spirit soul on deck.
'Fate favors him indeed,' he mused. 'But the Blood God Legion… it's time I witnessed it myself.'
He turned toward the cabin, already planning his next move.
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