Chapter 268: Mu En's Sacrifice

"Nooooo!"

Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe and the rest of Shrek members were frightened and horrified as they watched Shrek Academy's greatest pillar of strength, the Pavilion Master that garnered both respect and fear from many, the Dragon God Douluo who once roamed the continent undefeated, just died like that?!

However, thinking about it logically and from an bystander's perspective, it wasn't a surprise.

It wasn't because that the Death God had a higher cultivation, he was only rank 98, nor because he had the power of this so-called "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception".

It was more so because Mu En was incredibly crippled!

Because of his serious incurable injuries, Mu En's combat strength had dropped to around rank 96 or 97. Usually he can circumvent this issue by either relying on his Spirit Domain level spiritual power or by using the Golden Tree to temporarily amplify his attributes to beyond his prime—temporarily possessing the power of a Quasi-God!

However, Mu En had been overusing a bit of his spiritual power in order to deal with some important matters, and unlike spiritual-type soul masters like Huo Yuhao, his spiritual power recovery takes a long time. As for using the Golden Tree's strength, he couldn't!

Using the Golden Tree's energy and its abilities has a long cooldown, it has only been a little over a year since Du Busi and his goons attacked Shrek Academy, and the Golden Tree only recovered a little bit since then.

It could only offer enough energy to create a powerful shield to protect the innocents over the entire Shrek City, the outer courtyard, and some buildings in the inner courtyard for some time.

And so, with his withered body that could only exert the power of a Transcendent Douluo, Mu En chose to confront the Death God head-on, knowing full well it could cost him his life. Because he had to.

The sky above Shrek remained unnaturally split for a moment longer before the golden light completely vanished, and the clouds thickened again—now stained with red hues, as though the heavens themselves mourned the fallen dragon.

"With my last remaining lifeforce... this withered body.... all of my energies...."

"This is-?!" Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, the rest and even Death God was shocked.

Wasn't that Mu En's voice?!

Those from Shrek, especially those who closely knew Mu En, started tearing up and sobbing.

Mu En wasn't some super weapon who would act in the interest of the academy, but also a great person.

To the new generation, he was like a living legend and a kind grandfather. To the old generation, he was a teacher and a father-figure. To those who was around his generation, he was a friend.

"I offer.... my final spark in life!"

Suddenly, a blue dome expanded in front of Xuan Zi and the others that quickly enveloped the entire Shrek Academy and Shrek City.

The expanding dome pushed off the Death God and the other evil soul masters, like a tidal wave of the ocean!

A golden rune looking similar to a trident appeared above, forcing the dark clouds to momentarily dissipate, light breaking through as the sky briefly cleared over Shrek Academy and Shrek City.

This was one of the secret self-created abilities that only the Sea God Pavilion Master possesses.

It was created thousands of years ago by a Pavilion Master that specializes in defense. He took inspiration from the mysterious divine tool mentioned in Tang San's stories on his ascension to Godhood, which was called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

Initially it was thought to be a powerful concealing soul tool that not even a Transcendent Douluo could even see through, but it was later revealed to be a secret divine inheritance planted by the first Sea God, Poseidon! And this Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was actually his once mortal heart that was refined as a divine tool alongside his martial soul trident.

But how could a mortal easily replicate the power of a deity? Instead of concealing them, it offers absolute defense in proportion to the sacrifice that the soul master offers to the plane and used the power of faith!

It requires extreme requirements to even be used, one has to be at least rank 95 Transcendent Douluo. The Pavilion Master called it —

Vast Sea Absolute Defense!

Throughout the long history of Shrek Academy, this ability was rarely used so very few know about it. But it's known to them as an absolute barrier to fend against the attacks of Limit Douluos, as long as the price they paid was sufficient.

The sacrifice of Mu En might seem it wasn't sufficient enough that the barrier could hold against Transcendent Douluos, but the power of faith comes into play.

What was faith? It was the belief of others. Mu En didn't just sacrifice his everything, but he had also funneled the power of faith that people had towards him.

In Shrek Academy and Shrek City, besides the original Seven Shrek Monsters, the students and faculty members greatly admired the Pavilion Master.

They all could vividly remember the time when he chased off the Body Sect. At that time, soul masters had a great impression of him as someone closest to becoming a God!

To the common folk in Shrek City, they thought of him as an actual God!

Mu En understood clearly that the barriers he made with the Golden Tree was momentary, taking only a day to collapse on its own and a serious blow from a Limit Douluo would easily shatter. Considering how strong Death God was, it would've only taken him around half an hour before breaking them.

The Death God grunted, shielding his eyes as he was hurled back. Some of the weaker Evil Titled Douluos had their cloaks torn apart as they screamed in terror, but they quickly calmed down when the dome completely formed.

Death God narrowed his eyes, his Death God Demon Puppet flickered and appeared before the mystical blue dome. His ninth soul ring flickered once more, Death God's Execution, using one of his ultimate skills unhesitatingly with his martial soul, it swung its sickle horizontally, emitting a sound like a blade grinding against metal.

This attack would've easily killed several rank 97 Transcendent Douluos as if they were ants, yet the barrier held absolute, showing how durable the barrier was.

"So... this is the reason that uncle Long said that even killing the Dragon God Douluo wouldn't mean the end of Shrek itself. And judging by the energy fluctuations of this dome, it would last a few days even with a constant barrage of attacks. Tch," Death God clicked his tongue and shook his head. He lowered his Death God Scythe to the side, his eyes dimmed.

Of course something like the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception couldn't be casually used. Death God was down to only two uses of it. By his mastery of the eyes, he could only cut the "lines" of death four-five times before needing an entire month before he could reuse them.

"Whatever. I achieved one of my goals anyway. Ling'er, have the elders that infiltrated the academy captured the Holy Ladies yet?" He muttered under his breath and turned to his wife.

A little over a year ago, they, the Holy Ghost Church, obtained precious information about two ladies with potential to become the Holy Ladies of the church—which are students of Shrek Academy: Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao!

Of course there was also the rumors about a super powerful evil soul master that had caused chaos in Star Luo Capital City during the Continental Competition, but the information about them was sparse and almost non-existent so they were hit with a dead-end.

Ling'er replied a few seconds, after fidgeting with a long-range communication soul tool. "Not yet. It seems like Tang Ya hasn't appeared in Shrek Academy and the city for a year, while Ma Xiaotao is cultivating in a hidden cultivation room somewhere underneath the inner courtyard. Getting inside is proving to be difficult."

It seems that even though this "absolute" barrier can block the attack of an expert Transcendent Douluo like Death God, it couldn't block soul fluctuations of a communication-type soul tool.

It couldn't be helped, this technique was created thousands of years ago and even before the appearance of the Sun Moon Empire and its land merging with the Douluo Continent. Plus, it was rarely used so there was very few modifications made to it.

"But darling. Even if they managed to capture those two, how would they get out?" Feng Ling asked. She knew that the ones who were getting the Holy Ladies are three Transcendent Douluos, who are the worshipers under the Hallmaster of the Worship Hall. But she didn't particularly know about their abilities.

However, since they were the subordinates of the Hallmaster of the Worship Hall, who's well known to be the Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao, a Limit Douluo! Then she shouldn't be worried about their abilities.

But this situation really take an unexpected turn.

Actually, Death God was just supposed to distract the higher ups of Shrek Academy so the Worshipers could abduct the Holy Lady candidates, but he just couldn't contain his need for validation and showed off his heaven defying power!

And look at what happened, he killed the Dragon God Douluo! But in turn, he activated an extremely durable shield that he and his subordinates couldn't break through.

"Oh I'm sure they'll find a way. They're uncle Long's subordinates after all. It'd be strange if he hadn't thought that I'd mess this up so he likely sent me his subordinates that could go through or around that barrier. If not, hide long enough until it expires."

Death God, or Zhongli Wu the Sect Leader of the Holy Ghost Church, lightly smiled at his wife and turned towards his subordinates.

He spread his arms apart, and said.

"So, do not worry my brothers and sisters. Our mission to retrieve the Holy Ladies will succeed without any doubt! For you have already seen how Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, who was almost equal to the Supreme Leader, has been slain by my hands."

His subordinates, the Eight Honorary Elders of the Holy Ghost Church responded with wild cheers, their twisted laughter and chants echoing through the storm-riddled skies. Their masked faces were tilted up in reverence, some bowing, others raising their arms in fanatical salute.

"All hail Death God!"

"Long live Evil Soul Masters! Jahahaha!"

"Deserved! Fucking deserved! Bwahahahaha! Awesome, leader!"

Their celebration was loud, mad, and fanatic. Although these elders were here for their own selfish benefits, Zhongli Wu had managed to garner their respect and a bit of loyalty to the sect over the years.

He was proud! Now, who can claim to have slain a Limit Douluo and cause chaos over at Shrek Academy?! Hahahaha!

Zhongli Wu, still standing with arms outstretched, bask over his spotlight as he let their adoration wash over him.

Suddenly, space distorted behind Zhongli Wu and a space tunnel appeared and out stepped a tall man, with long black hair and a strand of golden hair. His bright golden dragon eyes narrowed, and a terrifying dragon pressure exuded from his body that completely stunned the evil soul masters.

Before they could react, Beast God snapped his fingers and casted a Spatial Lock around them.

"Shrek Academy...is allied with the Great Beasts of Star Dou Forest."

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

"A life....for a life! Offer your head to me!"

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

AN: A promise must be fulfilled...even if reluctant.