CHAPTER 284: The Collapse of Shrek’s Halo

Chapter 284: The Collapse of Shrek's Halo

After Xiao Qiang was swallowed by Taotie and Xue Di was blocked by Du Bu Si, the elite forces of Shrek Academy and the Body Sect launched a charge toward the Soul Palace.

"Be careful of their soul guides! Once we close the distance, we'll definitely have the upper hand!" a Shrek Super Douluo shouted.

Though their numbers were limited, Shrek's forces were comprised entirely of pure soul masters. In terms of large-scale destructive power, a Titled Douluo might be outclassed by a ninth-level soul engineer. But in close combat, they possessed a decisive advantage. Compared to the Soul Palace—which was only three years old—Shrek had a crushing edge in mid-to-high-level combat power, excluding the very top tier.

After all, aside from Mu Qingxue, the Soul Palace had no second Titled Douluo. Most of their ranks consisted of Soul Douluos. In contrast, within Shrek's forces, there was nearly one Titled Douluo for every three people. This disparity formed the basis of their confidence in annihilating the Soul Palace.

However, the battle did not go as smoothly as they had expected.

When Shrek's and the Body Sect's powerhouses entered a certain range, the Soul Palace's guardians and elders emerged to meet them in combat. Though these defenders were mostly Soul Saints and artificially-boosted Soul Douluos who couldn't truly match Shrek's elites, they weren't the main offensive force.

Their purpose was to delay and scatter the attackers. Once someone was isolated, a ghostly figure would emerge—its spear flashing like death itself. In the span of mere seconds, a lone Shrek Titled Douluo was impaled through the neck and vital organs—killed instantly.

"Old Han! You're courting death! Ninth Soul Skill—Violent Bear Tearing Sky Claw!"

Furious at the death of his longtime companion, Violent Bear Douluo charged at Nana. As she was one of Shrek's primary targets, he wasted no time and immediately activated his strongest ninth soul skill, determined to destroy her in one blow.

But just before the skill struck, Nana released her seventh soul skill—Martial Soul True Body—instantly transitioning into an ethereal, ghostly form. Using her third soul skill, Ghost Possession, she became immune to all physical attacks. Her body phased through Violent Bear Douluo, and with her soul bone skill—Netherworld Erosion—she delivered her counter.

A wave of overwhelming weakness struck him, and the once-mighty Douluo faltered. Nana's Eight Spider Lances pierced through his body, and he died just like his fellow Shrek warrior.

"You dare!"

Enraged by the rapid deaths of two Titled Douluo, Martial God Douluo Xian Lin'er charged toward Nana. But before she could strike, an ice prison formed around her.

"This temperature… Could it be Ultimate Ice?" A chill ran down Xian Lin'er's spine. But when she saw the caster, her fear turned into fury.

"Ling Luochen! Are you betraying Shrek?!"

"I was only a student at Shrek. That's hardly betrayal," Ling Luochen replied coldly.

"Ungrateful wretch! Do you think you deserve Shrek's support? How did Shrek raise such a disgraceful traitor?!"

Ling Luochen sneered. "Support me? I trained at home until I was twelve. I joined Shrek afterwards and never once defaulted on tuition. Have I ever failed Shrek?"

She continued, voice rising with anger. "And what about you? During the operation to eliminate the evil soul masters, I was nearly killed. If I hadn't used the invincible shield Dai Yueheng gave me, I would've died—right under the protection of a level 98 Titled Douluo. Killed by a five-ring Soul King. I almost remained a Soul King for life. And you want me to be grateful for that?"

Five years ago, when four of the Shrek Seven Devils died during the evil soul master encirclement, Ling Luochen had grieved deeply. At the time, she bore no grudge, chalking it up to battlefield risk. Later, after Moon compensated her, she still held concern for Shrek.

But things changed when she joined the Soul Palace and became its Saint. She saw firsthand how rapidly and safely the Soul Palace improved its soul masters' strength. Soul rings were better, training more efficient, and growth more stable. In contrast, Shrek's system of high-risk, high-loss "growth through elimination" seemed archaic and cruel.

At first, she merely questioned the quality of Shrek's teaching. But after speaking with Dai Yueheng and learning of Shrek's merger with the Body Sect, those doubts deepened. Did Shrek truly care about its students?

Even then, she couldn't bring herself to hate Shrek. She didn't want to see conflict between Shrek and the Soul Palace.

But all of that shattered during the continent-wide advanced soul master competition.

When the death rates of Shrek's soul masters were exposed, Ling Luochen couldn't sleep for days. In her dreams, she relived the nightmare of the evil soul master ambush.

She had nearly died. Her companions had died. Her senior—once a guiding figure—was killed because of Shrek's recklessness. And she learned that others, too, had lost friends and mentors in the same way.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo—both now Saints of the Soul Palace—had nearly died due to Shrek's schemes. With everything laid bare, Ling Luochen no longer doubted: Shrek would sacrifice two-thirds of its geniuses just to train the remaining third.

Realizing she had almost been one of the sacrificed herself, and seeing Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo similarly scarred, the three vowed that one day, they would eliminate Shrek—before it killed anyone else.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo had received no compensation for what happened. Overlooked and discarded by Shrek, they arrived on the battlefield not as students, but as avengers. Though only Soul Emperors, their second martial soul awakenings allowed them to unleash their martial soul fusion skill—sworn to bring justice to the school that had betrayed them.