"Your Majesty…"
Wang Xian'er bent to examine Cheng Gang's condition, then helplessly shook her head and looked over at Xu Jiawei, who was waiting for an answer.
"All his bones are shattered, his meridians are critically damaged, even his heart was blasted into pulp. Though he looks intact on the outside, he actually passed a while ago."
With her strength and experience, it wasn't that there was absolutely no way—if they procured a fresh heart from a peak Soul Douluo or higher, plus dozens of rare herbs, there might be a chance.
But given the situation now, it's better that this guy is dead.
If they paid a huge price to save him, it would only bring trouble.
"I understand. Thank you for your efforts."
The Star Luo Emperor took a deep breath. A flicker of fear flashed in his eyes, but he forced it down.
Facing Xuan Zi, there are few on the entire continent who dare to say no—let alone when behind him stands Shrek Academy, one of the top powers on the continent. Judging by the other side's posture today, they came with ill intent…
Top forces across the continent rarely clash.
Especially experts above Super Douluo—during peaceful times they almost never act. Forcing such apex experts to move usually means full-scale continental war or a war between races. Recorded instances are exceedingly rare. As a result, existences above Title Douluo have spotty understanding of each other's true combat power.
The stronger someone is—like Xuan Zi—the less they strike. But he could clearly sense the gulf between his own might and that of ordinary Title Douluo, and he feared the terror of Limit Douluo.
As for Xu Jiawei… truthfully, this was his first time personally feeling the oppressive aura of a top-tier Douluo. Even the head of the Worship Hall was only barely at level 97; yet a mere one-level gap felt like a chasm.
Su Wen hopped down from the hotel roof with a relaxed smile and landed steadily at Xuan Zi's side.
Xu Jiawei smiled bitterly.
His back that had been straight moments ago suddenly bent a great deal.
"In the matter of Cheng Gang, the fault indeed lies with Star Luo. Since what's done can't be undone, I'm willing to bow and apologize to you all, to express the Star Luo Empire's remorse…"
For a sovereign to bend his back, and in public at that—this alone showed Xu Jiawei's resolve.
"Tch. You think a simple apology settles it?" Xuan Zi sneered.
"Not just you—your grandpa shows up and I'll still hoist him up and beat him. The Xu clan has no face with me."
"I…"
Xu Jiawei's cheek twitched.
This one had a reckless, unruly temperament; no wonder Shrek sent him. However… with his seasoned eye, he could also glimpse a clue about the relationship between Xuan Zi and Su Wen. Of the two, though Xuan Zi was stronger and older, the one truly in the lead—seemed to be this young man!
He had grossly underestimated what it meant to be the Sea God Pavilion's successor-apparent in alternate generations, and this youth's standing within Shrek…
He then said sincerely, "Of course it won't end with an apology. Star Luo has also prepared a generous gift for Shrek Academy. At the upcoming Royal Auction, please be sure to attend."
"…"
Xuan Zi instinctively looked at Su Wen.
Xu Jiawei's heart jolted. As expected!
This youth even faintly seemed to be directing Xuan Zi! Among Shrek's competing teams, he was the true core—no contest!
It seemed all his prior guesses about Su Wen needed to be scrapped and redone.
The "heir-apparent in alternation" to the Sea God Pavilion wasn't enough to grasp the boy's position in Shrek—after all, Xuan Zi was also a Pavilion successor…
Terrifying, decisive combat power paired with Su Wen's obvious smoothness and fox-like command—this "duo" from Shrek would be hard to handle.
"Very well, I accept Your Majesty's apology." Su Wen smiled.
"All I ask is that at the upcoming auction, you let me have one item for free."
"…" Xu Jiawei froze for a moment.
This wasn't the same as his "apology." By apology, he'd meant a hidden gift—put harshly, all the control rested with him, and Shrek had no right to choose.
But Su Wen's request flipped that.
The auction's finale item was the bait he'd prepared for Mingde Hall. If he gave it to Shrek… forget it, consider it forging ties with Shrek. Besides, before that, if the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone showed up, perhaps the opportunity would be spent early.
His mind raced.
Xu Jiawei gave a proper courtly smile.
"Brother Su Wen, it's a deal!"
"Deal."
Both smiled.
Su Wen sauntered off with Xuan Zi, leaving a mess for the Star Luo Empire to clean up. Shrek Academy's might etched itself even deeper into the minds of the competing teams.
…
Top-floor lounge.
"What? That happened?!" Ma Xiaotao's fiery temper flared instantly. If Ling Luochen hadn't held her back, she'd have gone to wipe out the Cheng clan.
"That beast and Cheng Gang are both dead—no need to flog corpses." Su Wen sipped juice, drawling. "As for the Cheng clan, without Cheng Gang's shelter and with the many enemies they provoked, they won't make it out of Star Luo's capital."
"You didn't even tell me!" Ma Xiaotao complained.
"Sister Xiaotao, with your current condition, never mind avenging me—I'm afraid if I look away you'd get grabbed again. That'd be awkward…" Su Wen said helplessly.
"How dare you look down on your Sister Xiaotao!"
Ma Xiaotao, flustered and annoyed, pinched Su Wen's ear. After it reddened, she blew on it carefully and rubbed it.
Su Wen: "…"
In any case, he stood to profit.
If the auction's final act was the Snow Empress, he'd save over a hundred million gold soul coins, and perhaps even avoid the Body Sect's ambush—Star Luo relied heavily on Shrek. Unless they were ready to embrace the Sun Moon Empire, they wouldn't provoke Shrek.
If it wasn't the Snow Empress, anything fit to be the finale wouldn't be cheap—unless Xu Jiawei got ugly and took Shrek for fools…
"I'm heading to the restaurant." Xuan Zi smacked his lips.
"Drink less," Su Wen reminded.
"…Mm." Xuan Zi hesitated, then nodded.
"Right, Xiao Wen, got any gold soul coins?" Xuan Zi scratched his head sheepishly at the door. "Before we set off, Elder Mu cleaned me out. Said if I'm short, ask you."
"Swipe as you like." Su Wen blinked, then tossed him a black-gold card, speaking casually.
"Righteous!" Xuan Zi grinned, thumbs-upped, and vanished from the hall.
"Elder Xuan's changed a lot…" Ling Luochen murmured.
"Yeah—but Elder Mu is going all-in too," Ma Xiaotao agreed. "Stripping him of the Deputy Captain of the Sea God Pavilion Inspection Team was no small show of anger."
Xuan Zi was Shrek's strongest open protector.
If he left, the loss to the Academy would be unimaginable. They'd only dared to grumble, not hoping to truly punish Elder Xuan. Yet Elder Mu was firm—demoted to the end. Xuan Zi's unreliability was real, but so was his loyalty.
If he were a worshiped national enshrinee elsewhere, he'd have left long ago. As one of the continent's strongest (openly), top forces would fight to recruit him.
Of course, they also underestimated Elder Mu's standing and prestige among the Elders.
Xuan Zi grew up under Elder Mu's eye—let alone the other elders. Their reverence wasn't a whim; it was bone-deep. Shrek's succession had been healthy—if Mu En hadn't been injured, he'd now be a peak level 99, with time to select and groom a successor (skipping Xuan Zi).
But fate is fickle…
A life-and-death duel between Limit Douluo—rarer than meteors falling—still happened.
"…"
Su Wen's room.
The door opened.
A silver figure glided in and sat on Su Wen's bed. Silver eyes quietly watched Su Wen cultivating in a cross-legged pose. He naturally sensed her; the golden soul power around him flowed into a golden core, the light fading as it sank into his body.
"Gu Yuena?" Su Wen said, surprised.
"I want to know… can humans and soul beasts coexist?" The girl's silver eyes held a trace of confusion.
"Since you know my identity, I won't hide it. I came to the human world to save the soul beasts—to realize coexistence. But everything I've experienced among humans has shattered my hope…"
"As the Silver Dragon King, I can faintly sense a thread of guidance from fate. The answer I seek—everything points to you. It seems you're the one who can resolve the conflict."
"Can you?"
Facing Gu Yuena up close, Su Wen fell into rare silence.
In the original story, the best outcome was humans finding the seventh planet, then relocating soul beasts to the Elf Star. Not a bad choice—but with current soul tool tech, that's tens of thousands of years away.
This problem is brutally intractable. Humans need to hunt soul beasts for soul rings to advance. Though it's just that one key point, that one point is enough to be maddening. Changing a law woven into heaven and earth? Easy?
Even Yuhao's Spirit Pagoda didn't change the base code—it exploited a loophole: souls attaching to humans. Still treating the symptom, not the root.
First, the soul spirit contract was flawed—an unequal pact meaning it could only follow the host's perspective for life. That's imprisonment.
Second, someone discovered soul spirits could devour each other to grow. Then, in the Ascension Platform, a fiercer self-slaughter began.
Yuhao's intention was good, but he wasn't there; the Spirit Pagoda went step by step astray, dragging soul beasts toward the abyss.
If it were him, what would he do?
"Poké Ball."
Su Wen uttered two words softly.
"What?" Gu Yuena was confused.
"Looks like there's a way." A gleam flashed in Su Wen's eyes.
But he soon sank back into thought.
A "Poké Ball" is a link to improve human–soul beast relations, but handled poorly, it could repeat the soul spirit's path—both are "parasite-on-human" modes.
However, the Poké Ball doesn't require abandoning the body, and doesn't keep the beast perpetually under someone's thumb—somewhat better than soul spirits.
As for such a contract circle…
Su Wen grinned.
"Elder Yi!"