CHAPTER 80: True Faces Beneath the Mask

Chapter 80: True Faces Beneath the Mask

After Shrek agreed to compensate a large amount of resources, Jing Hongchen, wary of Shrek later denying the debt, immediately urged Xuan Lao to hand over the items.

Xuan Lao tried to stall for time, but the giant soul cannon more than a thousand meters away—still aimed directly at him—left him no room for delay. In the end, Xuan Lao had no choice but to swipe Shrek's gold card at the Xingluo Royal Auction House, exchanging it for the resources Jing Hongchen demanded. Only then was the matter officially settled.

"Wang Yan," Xuan Lao called out with a darkened face as soon as the transaction was completed.

"Xuan… Xuan Lao," Wang Yan bowed respectfully, speaking cautiously, afraid of further angering the already furious Xuan Lao.

"Return to Shrek Academy immediately. Bring Yan Shaozhe back here. Move fast—before I end up fighting Jing Hongchen myself."

Unlike the Sun Moon Empire, which could manufacture long-distance communication soul devices thanks to their superior soul tool technology, Shrek Academy's soul tools had far more limited ranges. Over long distances, they still had to rely on messengers to deliver information.

Thus, Xuan Lao chose Wang Yan—someone he considered useless to Shrek, and whose death he wouldn't even mourn—to deliver the message.

"Yes, Xuan Lao," Wang Yan answered, then quickly departed, traveling toward Shrek Academy at his fastest speed.

With Ningfeng Academy already defeated by Ma Rulong, it was now Shrek's turn to face their match.

After Wang Yan left, and after gathering information on their upcoming opponent, Xuan Lao turned his gaze toward Dai Yuheng. "Big brother of the Dai family, the Sun Moon Empire sent just one person for their first match. You will do the same. Show these lesser academies the true might of Shrek."

His tone sharpened. "Tianxing College, huh? A college from the Xingluo Empire. Teach them a lesson. If you dare to pretend you don't understand what I mean, don't blame my people for being ruthless."

Dai Yuheng opened his mouth but dared not argue. Bowing his head, he replied respectfully, "Yes, Xuan Lao."

Soon after, following Ma Rulong's display—defeating Ningfeng Academy in a single instant—Dai Yuheng also demonstrated overwhelming might. Unleashing his fourth soul skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower, he annihilated Tianxing College in a single breath. Unlike the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, however, Dai Yuheng showed no mercy: the students who faced Shrek either died on the spot or were permanently crippled.

Witnessing the brutal carnage unleashed by Dai Yuheng against the colleges of his own empire, the emperor of the Xingluo Empire, Xu Jiawei, frowned deeply.

"That kid Yuheng… this method is too extreme."

"It must have been Shrek's orders," said a court official. "After all, we didn't assist them earlier."

"But even so… He's a Shrek student, true, but also the eldest son of one of our dukes. In the end, the right to act is his alone. Given his current attitude, I can't help but wonder: if one day the Star Luo Empire clashes with Shrek, will he choose to stand with Shrek and destroy us?"

The National Protector Douluo, standing beside the emperor, remained silent for a long moment before replying, "Your Majesty, perhaps you are overthinking it."

"I hope so," Xu Jiawei said grimly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qiang sipped his milk tea, watching silently as Dai Yuheng dominated the field. His heart was full of confusion.

Which butterfly effect caused this? Dai Yuheng, who should have been severely injured—or even dead—was not only alive but seemingly unscathed.

"Sure enough, some things can never be predicted. The butterfly effect is truly unfathomable," Xiao Qiang thought, sighing inwardly.

Changing into different clothes and donning a human skin mask, Xiao Qiang used his simulation soul skill to quietly leave the hotel, intending to sample more local delicacies of the Xingluo Empire.

Originally, Xiao Qiang had planned to show off by using his 100,000-year soul skill to learn Huo Gua, but Xuan Lao's earlier interruption had ruined that plan. Still, his consolation prize wasn't bad. Although he only obtained a 50,000-year-old dragon scale fruit, two 10,000-year-old whale glues, and three 5,000-year-old green wood marrow hearts, the haul was acceptable.

"Boss, one roast chicken, please," Xiao Qiang ordered casually after leaving the hotel. With the Snow Empress secretly protecting him, he had no fear of being targeted.

Even if someone accused him of colluding with soul beasts, as long as no evidence was caught, he could easily deny it. The Snow Empress certainly had the power to ensure that no evidence would ever be captured.

Thus, Xiao Qiang leisurely roamed the bustling streets in his human skin mask, eating and shopping to his heart's content. Unknowingly, he wandered close to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

Curious, Xiao Qiang stopped and activated his mental detection.

In the original timeline, Duke Dai Hao often spoke of true love with Huo Yun'er. Yet after having "true love," he still fathered a son with another woman. How many more illegitimate children existed was uncertain.

Was it really true love?

With a sweep of his spiritual detection—a million-year-level soul skill—Xiao Qiang instantly scanned the entirety of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. Unsurprisingly, no one noticed.

"Such a big White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and not a single Titled Douluo around? Where did all those so-called White Tiger martial spirit descendants go?" Xiao Qiang scoffed inwardly.

Focusing, he zeroed in on a young woman who appeared around thirty years old—clearly the White Tiger Duchess, the same woman who had persecuted Huo Yuhao and his mother.

At this moment, the Duchess sat arrogantly on the main seat, while a maid approached her respectfully.

"Madam, should we summon someone today?" the maid asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't we? I want Dai Hao to see exactly what he's been sleeping with," the Duchess sneered.

At her command, the maid soon brought over another woman—a concubine of the White Tiger Duke.

Trembling slightly, the concubine obediently lay down at the Duchess's feet. Following the unspoken command, she carefully removed the Duchess's boots and black silk stockings, exposing her feet, slightly stained from the day's wear.

Then, with practiced skill, the concubine massaged and cleaned the Duchess's feet, ensuring they remained smooth and hydrated against the cold weather.

Feeling the warm touch against her toes, the Duchess leaned back, one foot resting on a slab of warm jade, and sneered coldly.

"Hmph. Dai Hao… I wonder if you'll be satisfied with the little gift I've prepared for you when you return."