CHAPTER 85: The Flames of Suppression and the Angel’s Dilemma

Chapter 85: The Flames of Suppression and the Angel's Dilemma

"What's wrong, Brother Tianmeng?" Xiao Qiang asked, noticing the sudden silence from Tianmeng within his spiritual sea.

"Nothing," Tianmeng replied, shaking his head. Although asking others to evolve the Soul Devouring Blade and work hard for his benefit felt a bit like selling someone out and making them count the money themselves, he convinced himself otherwise.

After all, it wasn't him being sold.

He was wise and noble—a million-year-old soul beast with a complete soul system. There was no way he could be deceived by Xiao Qiang and end up doing free labor. Thinking about this, Tianmeng dismissed the unease in his heart.

"I'm glad you're fine," Xiao Qiang smiled. "Then let's go. If I remember correctly, the academy with the Angel Spirit is…"

———

At the same time, the battlefield between Zhengtian Academy and Shrek Academy was unfolding.

Yu Mengdi, the proud wielder of the Angel Spirit, stood in combat against Bai Fan, a Soul King from Shrek. Originally defeated and forced to step down by Ma Xiaotao, Bai Fan had been recalled due to the heavy losses of Shrek's main team. Overjoyed at the second chance to prove himself, he had prepared to make a name for Shrek Academy.

Unfortunately, his opponent this time was Yu Mengdi.

Bai Fan's martial soul—the Withered Poisonous Iron Tree—was a rare spirit known for its toxic capabilities and exceptional defense. As a top-tier Soul King with attributes of both control and defense, he was a difficult opponent. Typically, his strategy would wear down enemies with poison while defending with his iron-bark durability. Even against a Soul Emperor, he could often emerge victorious.

But against an Angel Spirit?

Yu Mengdi's holy fire incinerated his toxins instantly, and the purifying aura of her martial soul erased his poison altogether. Bai Fan's greatest strength—his poison—was rendered completely useless. The only thing keeping him from instant defeat was his iron tree's formidable defense. Even then, it was only a matter of time.

Bai Fan was miserable. He was supposed to protect his teammate, the Soul Master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. But Yu Mengdi's relentless assault had him pinned down with no chance to fulfill his role.

Fortunately, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect had made considerable strides in soul tool technology. In earlier times, a support soul master would've already surrendered under such pressure. But soul tools had given them a chance to resist.

Even so, the tide of battle was heavily against them. Yu Mengdi and her teammate were dominating, and Shrek's loss seemed inevitable. Dai Yuheng could only secure a single guaranteed victory, and the rest of the battles had to rely on Soul Sects defeating someone like Ye Wuqing. That was almost a fantasy.

Bai Fan fought on desperately, but without the buffs from the Glazed Pagoda, he was at his limit.

"Time to end this."

As the Soul Master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda retreated from the arena, Yu Mengdi activated her soul skills. The first, third, and fifth soul rings lit up in sequence, their glow surrounding her in divine brilliance.

"Angel Art: Conferred God Slash!"

The power she gathered surged like heavenly judgment. Bai Fan, sensing death looming, braced for the inevitable loss.

Then—a voice cut through the battlefield like a blade of ice.

"You're quite bold, little angel. What? You plan to defeat Shrek Academy?"

Yu Mengdi's pupils shrank as she instinctively looked toward the source.

An old man gnawed calmly on a chicken leg from a distance, yet the aura around him made her blood run cold.

"The evil Angel Spirit wants to defeat Shrek Academy. Do you even understand what that means?" the old man sneered. "Go back and ask your elders what happens to angel spirit users who dare threaten Shrek. Oh, but I forgot—Shrek allows angel spirits to exist… as long as they never reach the seventh soul ring. As long as they never become enemies."

"Do you wish to become Shrek's enemy?"

Yu Mengdi's attack faltered.

She recognized that man—Elder Xuan of Shrek. One of the terrors that had once threatened the Xingluo Empire. Just his presence was enough to crush her concentration.

In that instant, her fifth skill failed. Not because of a defense or counterattack—she had simply missed. Any spectator could tell something had gone wrong.

Bai Fan, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. With a swift counterattack, he struck down Yu Mengdi. With her defeated, the remaining Soul Sect fell easily to Bai Fan's poisonous onslaught, despite his own battered condition.

As Yu Mengdi lay defeated, Xuan Lao's voice echoed in her ears once more.

"You lost this time, so I won't press the issue. But I don't like your soul ring configuration. When you reach your sixth ring, it better be a thousand-year soul ring. Anything else… and you'll regret it."

With that, he turned and left the battlefield.

Ye Wuqing, concerned, asked Yu Mengdi why her final strike had suddenly failed. But Yu Mengdi gave no explanation—only a quiet apology before she walked away.

If she told the truth, it wouldn't just be her problem—Zhengtian Academy would be annihilated alongside her.

———

Later, Yu Mengdi sat alone in a dim room. Her heart was heavy with defeat, not just in the battle—but in spirit.

A gentle hand ruffled her hair. She looked up to see a beautiful blonde woman—eerily similar to Qian Renxue.

"Aunt…" she murmured.

"Where did Grandpa, Father, Mother, and Second Aunt go?"

The woman, Mu Qingxue, remained silent.

That silence said everything.

"They're all dead, right? Shrek killed them?"

Mu Qingxue sighed deeply. "Mengdi, don't seek revenge. Shrek never allows angel spirit users—except for healing types—to reach the seventh ring. If an Angel Spirit reaches Soul Saint level, Titled Douluo will be dispatched to hunt them down without question."

"The Sea God Pavilion elders won't move even if the Sun Moon Empire invades. But the moment an angel spirit reaches the seventh ring, Shrek will mobilize every force they can muster to eliminate them. This was an order given by Tang Hao, the father of Tang San, and it has not changed in ten thousand years."

"Is that why… you're still at level 70? You've never gone for the seventh soul ring?"

Mu Qingxue nodded silently.

"Are we only allowed to have six soul rings for the rest of our lives?"

Her aunt said nothing, but the answer was obvious.

Mu Qingxue finally added, "Even His Majesty the Medical Immortal, who has helped many Titled Douluo of the Xingluo Empire, couldn't protect us. The Xingluo Empire won't risk war with Shrek just for us. We're already in conflict with the White Tiger Duke, and even that is only seen as useful to the emperor—no one truly backs us."

Yu Mengdi clenched her fists. Their path was blocked at every turn.

Just then, a voice echoed from the shadows.

"If you want revenge, why not come to the Sun Moon Empire?"

"Who's there?!" Mu Qingxue snapped, raising her guard. In an instant, her six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, two black—flared to life.

Xiao Qiang stepped into view, both hands raised in peace.

"I'm not here to fight. If you insist on it, I'll surrender."

"You're… from the Sun Moon Empire…" Mu Qingxue's eyes widened. The sight of Xiao Qiang's 100,000-year soul ring was unmistakable. Even if she wanted to deny it, his identity was impossible to ignore.

"You recognize me? That saves us time," Xiao Qiang smiled.

"The Soul Emperor with a hundred-thousand-year sixth soul ring—of course I recognize you," Mu Qingxue said grimly. "Tell me what you want."

"Nothing too difficult. I'm planning to establish a force soon, and I'm short on people. I'd like the two of you to join me. As for benefits—"

Xiao Qiang grinned.

"You'll both be made saints of my organization."