Chapter 141 – The Sword That Cuts Through All
Although this battle resulted in the death of a Soul Saint, several Soul Emperors, and a promising genius on the verge of becoming a five-ring Soul King, the opponent had been a 700,000-year-old soul beast. It was a true life-and-death battle.
If such a terrifying soul beast appeared in the Star Dou Great Forest, not even Elder Mu would have been able to save those students. Strictly speaking, this couldn't be blamed on Xuan Lao.
With that thought in mind, Xuan Lao took a few sips of wine and let the matter drift from his mind. After all, it wasn't his fault. He had, at the very least, managed to save Huo Yuhao. That was already the best possible outcome.
And yet…
"Mu Lao, I'm sorry. I've offended Di Tian and the others. When I helped Yuhao hunt for soul rings this time…"
In the Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Lao reported everything that had happened to Moon En truthfully. After listening to the full account, Moon En felt his vision go black. If not for his level 99 cultivation, he might have dropped dead from Xuan Lao's words alone.
They had offended the Star Dou Great Forest and lost several of Shrek's elite students—those in their twenties with five or six soul rings. All of them were inner courtyard talents. One in particular had already reached the Soul Saint realm at just 25 years old. That student had been on track to become a Titled Douluo and possibly even a Super Douluo one day.
Now… he was dead.
But Moon En couldn't rebuke Xuan Lao. If he said even a harsh word, with Xuan Lao's personality, the man would probably slap his own backside and say, "Fine, expel me!"—and just like that, leave Shrek behind. And if that happened, Shrek really would be finished.
Moon En desperately wished his disciple, Yan Shaozhe, would mature faster. Because if Shrek's future rested entirely in Xuan Zi's hands… he couldn't even imagine what the academy would become.
Thinking about it, a few more strands of Moon's hair seemed to fall.
"I understand. Go now. Stay in Shrek for the time being, in case the soul beasts actually retaliate—we'll need your strength."
"Yes, Mu Lao."
After Xuan Lao left, Moon let out a deep sigh.
"If Shrek truly relies on Xuan Zi… we might be facing a true crisis of survival. But if I hand over power to Shaozhe…"
He thought it through but couldn't find peace with either outcome.
As long as he was alive, he could dictate the academy's direction. Before his death, he could declare that Yan Shaozhe would handle all administrative responsibilities, while Xuan Zi was tasked solely with combat and deterrence.
But he also knew one thing: once he died, Xuan Zi and his faction might initially follow that instruction… but within two years, Xuan Zi's voice would inevitably overpower Yan Shaozhe's. No doubt about it.
In the world of soul masters, strength always reigned supreme. Especially in Shrek Academy, a place whose foundation was built on force. The strongest always had the final say.
His authority stemmed not from seniority—it was supported by his overwhelming strength. Even in his crippled state, as long as he still drew breath, his level 99 power ensured absolute command.
"If only I could live longer…"
He calculated the time it would take for Yan Shaozhe, currently at level 95, to reach level 98. Even thinking about it made his heart sink.
With Shrek's resources, he might be able to extend his life by another year or two. But to last thirty or fifty more years? That would be impossible unless his injuries were somehow healed.
"Will Shrek truly fall… in the hands of my successor?"
Star Dou Great Forest – Lake of Life
"Di Tian, you have such a vast Lake of Life, and yet you've only raised a handful of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?"
After Di Tian and Snow Empress reunited, everyone returned to the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest—the Lake of Life. Upon seeing its scale, Snow Empress could hardly believe her eyes.
If she had a Lake of Life of this magnitude, she thought, she could've raised hundreds of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Di Tian, in her opinion, was clearly wasting its potential.
"I have my reasons," Di Tian replied calmly.
"Your reasons? What kind of excuse is that?" Snow Empress shot back, her voice sharp. "With such a vast resource pool, where did it all go? What kind of trash was it wasted on?"
Underneath the Lake of Life, the Silver Dragon King: "…"
She had intended to stay hidden, but the sting of Snow Empress's insult hit her harder than expected. Though Snow Empress had aimed her words at Di Tian, the Silver Dragon King—co-lord of the soul beasts—felt like she was the true target.
To think she would be scolded by her subordinate like this one day… if word got out, it would be akin to her calling her subordinate 'Mom' or 'Grandma.'
"I would never give these resources to a piece of trash," Di Tian quickly clarified, sensing the danger. But the moment the words left his mouth, he realized they didn't sound quite right. Snow Empress's scolding had clearly knocked him off balance.
"With a lake this vast, and even an Auspicious Beast by your side, yet you've only raised a pitiful number of high-level soul beasts? I'm really starting to wonder if you're even worthy of the title 'Beast God.'"
As she spoke, Snow Empress's Emperor Sword appeared in her hand, and her gaze toward Di Tian was filled with provocation.
"If you want to test whether I'm qualified to be called the Beast God, then so be it."
Di Tian rose into the air. The once-bright blue sky instantly turned dark. It was the oppressive aura of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, an 820,000-year-old soul beast.
The sky seemed to collapse, and the sun was blotted out. Even the Bear King and Ten Thousand Demon King—both top-tier soul beasts themselves—felt genuine fear. The sheer power Di Tian unleashed was beyond anything they could replicate.
But Snow Empress remained unmoved. Instead, she asked softly:
"Little brother, why do you swing your sword?"
"Eh? To… to grow stronger. Without strength, there's no safety in this world."
"So it's for survival?"
"Well… not just survival. If I had the power, there are things I want to do."
"Then, it's for your own desires?"
"Something like that… Wait, why are you asking this, Snow Empress? Come to think of it, why did you swing the sword in the beginning?"
"I too started swinging the sword for survival, for desire… but in time, those things lost meaning. They had nothing to do with the sword anymore."
As she spoke, the red glow in her eyes deepened, and a black mist coiled around her. Her entire presence shifted—it was the aura of the demonic Yin body. Her killing intent surged, easily rivaling Di Tian's.
"The sword is just the sword—an instrument to sever life and death," she declared. "It is so pure, it cannot be tainted by anything."
Step by step, she walked into the sky. Frost formed beneath her feet with every movement.
"Only by walking the path of wrath and flame, of greed and the sword, of ignorance and blood… only by cutting away all worldly ties—"
"Can you finally understand…"
"Why you swing your sword."
"I swing the sword to kill the enemy. Nothing more!"