CHAPTER 111: The Price of Glory

Chapter 111 – The Price of Glory

Seeing Xiao Qiang crushing Shrek's pride beneath his feet, Yan Shaozhe clenched his fists tightly.

Originally, he had intended for this tournament to show the world how difficult it was for Shrek to confront the evil soul masters. But now, Xiao Qiang's scathing remark—calling Shrek incompetent—hit harder than any enemy attack.

Some truths were better left unsaid. After all, Shrek had always taken pride in suppressing evil and representing justice. Yet, between Jing Hongchen on one side and Beibei on the other, there was no way he could strike down Xiao Qiang in retaliation.

Now he was no longer just facing a bitter defeat. He had to reconcile with the undeniable fact: Shrek's team, made up of their most promising Seven Devils, had lost to a lone Soul King—one without even a single ten-thousand-year soul ring. There was no easy way to explain this humiliation to the world.

No matter how he framed it, the notion that the revered Shrek Seven Devils were unable to overcome a Soul King with just three yellow and two purple rings was simply unacceptable. But what excuse could they give the world? How could they paint this as anything other than a complete disaster?

Just then, Wang Yan approached.

"Dean Yan, Beibei and Xu Sanshi are temporarily stable," he reported. "Jiang Nannan and He Caitou have also been treated by a healing-type soul master. The toxins in their bodies are nearly cleared."

Yan Shaozhe turned to look at him. He could feel the man's more-than-fifty levels of soul power.

"Wang Yan," he said slowly, "Shrek has treated you well over the years, hasn't it?"

"Of course," Wang Yan replied without hesitation. "Shrek is more than that. It's my home."

"I'm glad you think so." Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes slightly. "I need to ask something of you."

"Dean, say the word. It's my honor to serve Shrek."

…

"So, you're saying this defeat was due to the team leader, Wang Yan's poor command, which led the Shrek Seven Devils to underestimate the evil soul masters?" The Emperor of the Star Luo Empire raised a skeptical eyebrow after hearing Yan Shaozhe's account.

"Yes," Yan Shaozhe answered, lying without so much as a change in his tone. "Wang Yan, who led the Shrek Academy delegation, was fully in charge of this generation of the Seven Devils from the moment they left the academy until the end of the tournament. His recklessness and hunger for merit directly resulted in this tragedy. Four of our core team members were injured, and Shrek ultimately lost the match."

He didn't even blink as he told this falsehood.

In truth, Elder Xuan had taken over tactical command early on, using his seniority and strength to override Wang Yan. But there was no way Elder Xuan could be held responsible. As the second strongest person in Shrek and the heir apparent to the Sea God Pavilion, any stain on his record would shake the very foundation of Shrek's leadership.

Wang Yan, on the other hand, was different.

He was merely a teacher. An excellent one, sure, but still just a Soul King-level instructor. His achievements in martial soul research were passable in the eyes of Shrek's upper echelon, but not worth shielding him from political fallout. Without his unwavering loyalty to Shrek, he wouldn't have been assigned as the team leader at all.

So naturally, he was the one to take the fall. Only by pinning the blame on him could Shrek protect its image.

"I understand," the Star Luo Emperor replied. "Then let it be announced as such. Is there anything else you wish to report, Dean Yan?"

"There is." Yan Shaozhe paused for a moment before continuing. "I propose that the Ice Jade Scorpion's soul bone be made one of the official prizes for the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competition. That soul bone shouldn't only serve to reward our Douluo Continent nations—it should also be a tool to destroy the talents of the Sun and Moon Empire."

The Star Luo Emperor remained silent for a long time.

…

Back in Shrek Academy's inner courtyard, inside the hallowed halls of the Sea God Pavilion.

"Elder Mu, how is Xiaotao now?" Elder Xuan asked urgently after bringing Ma Xiaotao back and handing her over to the light-attribute healer, Elder Moon.

Elder Moon, hunched and aged, glanced at the unconscious Ma Xiaotao and sighed.

"She's stable for now, but I've only managed to suppress the dark energy inside her," he said heavily. "The problem is that it's deeply entangled with her fire attribute. I can't purge both at once—if I did, it would destroy her completely."

Elder Xuan fell to the ground, guilt crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

"It's all my fault!" he cried. "I shouldn't have given those reckless orders! I should never have left Xiaotao and the others during our mission to hunt down the evil soul masters! If I'd been there, that Death Messenger's explosion wouldn't have killed all those children!"

His voice cracked as he listed their names—Yao Haoxuan, Xixi, Gong Yangmo, Chen Zifeng. "If they were still alive, Xiaotao wouldn't have had to shoulder that burden alone, wouldn't have had to burn herself out using the evil fire twice! I… I'm the sinner of Shrek!"

Elder Xuan pounded his chest, his face a mess of tears and age. He looked pitiful—at least on the surface.

Elder Moon stared at him, speechless. He remembered the past clearly.

Years ago, a Soul Douluo from Shrek needed to hunt a ninth soul ring. Zhang Lexuan, another top genius, also required her eighth. Thinking the situation safe, Elder Moon had sent Xuan to lead the mission. The result? Nearly all the geniuses were killed or crippled. Only Zhang Lexuan made it back, and she remained in Shrek even now.

And this time, it was Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng—Shrek's shining stars, one with blazing talent, the other with the backing of the White Tiger Duke. Once again, Elder Xuan had been sent in command, and once again, tragedy had followed.

Still, Elder Moon said nothing. He knew his time was nearing its end. The future of Shrek would fall to Elder Xuan whether he liked it or not.

"Xiaotao's condition isn't hopeless," he finally said. "She may be tainted by darkness for now, but that doesn't mean she can't recover. The unity and efforts of the team in this competition might be the key to reigniting her will."

"Really?" Elder Xuan's tear-filled eyes widened.

"Of course," Elder Moon replied. "What's done is done. Now, we must focus on the future. Shrek may have been shamed, but in the end, we still won. The glory of a thousand years remains intact—that's enough, isn't it?"

Elder Xuan nodded slowly, finally wiping his tears away and regaining some composure.

"You're right, Elder Mu. We can't just dwell on the past. The match should be over by now. I'll go meet Shaozhe and the children. Despite the odds, they defeated the Sun and Moon Empire and protected Shrek's honor. They are true heroes of our academy. I must go welcome them back."

He hesitated before adding, "Also… I hope we can receive them in the Sea God Pavilion. Only there, in the presence of the elders, can we truly show them the respect they deserve."

Elder Moon nodded solemnly. "Defeating the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy under such harsh conditions deserves no less."

With his request approved, Xuan waited for Yan Shaozhe's return. As soon as the group re-entered Shrek Academy's gates, he grabbed Yan Shaozhe by the arm and dragged him straight to the Sea God Pavilion.

"Shaozhe!" he shouted. "Hurry! Tell everyone about the glory we've earned in this competition!"