Xia Yi!
During the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, Xia Yi's name had already resounded throughout the Douluo Continent.
A month later, his name once again stirred waves.
Twenty-eight elite members of the Tang Sect's Battle Soul Hall were killed.
The only disciple of Skyshroud Douluo from Shrek Academy was also killed.
This immediately caused a massive uproar.
To be selected for the Battle Soul Hall was already an achievement for the most exceptional talents, and those who qualified to enter the Dragon Valley Small World for training were the elites among these elites.
Then there was Na'er—she was the sole disciple of Skyshroud Douluo Yun Ming, the number one strongest human!
And yet, Xia Yi wiped them all out in one fell swoop.
The Tang Sect immediately issued a kill order against Xia Yi.
However, they only claimed that Xia Yi had killed their Battle Soul Hall members without explaining how it happened.
They had no way to explain how Xia Yi even appeared inside the Dragon Valley Small World.
Even so, in the eyes of the public, Xia Yi became a butcher.
Yet, just as the public began condemning Xia Yi and the Tang Sect had only just issued the kill order, Spirit Pagoda responded immediately.
The Pagoda Master, Qiangu Dongfeng, along with Vice Pagoda Masters Leng Yaozhu and Zhang Geyang, issued a joint statement clarifying the entire incident.
The details were revealed through a dream Xia Yi had intentionally sent to Leng Yaozhu using his Dream Immersion technique. He feared she would worry if she learned about it from others, so he took the initiative to inform her.
Qiangu Dongfeng had long harbored the intention of targeting Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect. Upon hearing the news from Leng Yaozhu, he wasted no time in responding.
Publicly, Spirit Pagoda declared that anyone who dared to act against Xia Yi would be treated as an enemy of Spirit Pagoda.
Since the Tang Sect had placed a kill order on Xia Yi, Qiangu Dongfeng made an immediate counter-declaration: from that moment onward, Spirit Pagoda's main tower and all its branch towers would no longer serve any disciples of the Tang Sect.
This restriction would remain in place until the Tang Sect revoked its kill order.
Not only that, but Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect were also required to provide an explanation regarding Na'er's attack on Xia Yi.
As soon as this announcement was made, many people across the Douluo Continent were shocked.
Spirit Pagoda held an almost absolute monopoly over soul spirits.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Spirit Pagoda chose to sanction any organization and maintained that sanction over time, that organization was destined for destruction.
Even thousand-year-old entities like the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy would not be exceptions.
Precisely because of this immense power, Spirit Pagoda did not issue sanctions lightly.
If they sanctioned others over trivial matters, it would inevitably provoke public outrage.
The last time, Leng Yaozhu had imposed a sanction on the Flying Bird Sect, and even that was met with immense pressure.
This time was different.
The target of the sanction was the Tang Sect—an organization with two Ultimate Douluo as its backbone and the largest weapons factory in the Douluo Plane.
They would not sit idly and wait for their demise like the Flying Bird Sect.
If the sanction took effect, they would only choose to fight to the bitter end.
The Sun-Moon Federation immediately prepared to send envoys to mediate between the Tang Sect and Spirit Pagoda, urging both sides to de-escalate.
The Sun-Moon Federation hoped for discord between Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and Spirit Pagoda, but they absolutely did not want to see them go to war.
All three organizations had deep ties within the Federation.
If they fought, the entire Federation would be thrown into chaos.
However, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect ignored both Spirit Pagoda's warning and the Federation's attempts at mediation.
Before the Federation's envoys even arrived, Amorous Douluo Zang Xin immediately traveled to the former Dragon Valley Small World entrance in the Star Luo Empire.
Accompanying him was Skyshroud Douluo Yun Ming—the man acknowledged as the strongest human.
Na'er was dead!
His only disciple was dead!
He had no children—Na'er was his only disciple.
It could be said that all of his emotions had been entrusted to her.
And yet, Na'er was gone just like that.
He had not even had time to react.
By the time he arrived at the entrance to Dragon Valley Small World, a crowd had already gathered.
Apart from the powerful figures from the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, even experts from the Star Luo Empire had arrived.
"Repeat the details once more," Yun Ming said coldly, his terrifying killing intent distorting the space around him.
"It was all my fault…" Tang Wulin lowered his head, his eyes bloodshot, as he recounted the events once again.
"Xia Yi!"
Upon fully understanding the situation, Yun Ming gritted his teeth and uttered Xia Yi's name.
He paid no further attention to Tang Wulin and instead turned to leave.
"Brother Yun!" Yali hurriedly followed, gritting her teeth. "I failed to protect Na'er—you can blame me however you want. But this isn't Xia Yi's fault! If Na'er hadn't gone out of her way to kill him just to pave the way for Tang Wulin, she wouldn't have met this end. And Xia Yi… he lost control of himself when he killed Na'er. We have no right to blame him! If anyone is at fault, it's us. We taught Na'er how to become stronger, but we never taught her how to be a good person."
Yali's eyes were swollen from crying. Even now, she was in a daze.
She deeply regretted it.
She had noticed that Na'er's personality was even more extreme than Long Yeyue's back when they were still at Shrek Academy.
She had believed that if she kept Na'er by her side, she could gradually guide her toward normalcy.
Yet, she had never imagined that Na'er wouldn't even give her the time—she had gotten herself killed first.
"Senior Leng was right," Yali looked at Yun Ming, "Shrek Academy is gravely ill. The current Shrek Academy has already strayed from the Sea God's original ideals. Na'er and Long Yeyue are just reflections of that. If this continues, Shrek Academy will be no different from the Holy Spirit Cult."
Yali's heart ached more than anyone.
She was in more pain than anyone.
But no matter what, she had to stop Yun Ming.
Throughout this entire ordeal, Xia Yi had been nothing more than a victim.
Logically, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect should have been compensating Xia Yi.
If Yun Ming sought revenge against Xia Yi over this, then he would be no different from Long Yeyue or Na'er.
If that happened, the last shred of Yun Ming's image in Yali's heart would crumble.
"The disciple I raised with my own hands cannot die in vain," Yun Ming said coldly. He couldn't comprehend how Yali could say such words.
Na'er had always called her "Master's Wife."
Regardless of whether Na'er was right or wrong…
Na'er was dead. Shouldn't she seek justice for her?
Yun Ming gazed into the sky, golden light flickering in his eyes.
He was trying to find the entrance to Dragon Valley Small World once again.
"Are you really willing to tear apart Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and Spirit Pagoda for this? Do you know what the consequences will be?" Yali's reddened eyes bore into him.
Just then—
Boom!
A terrifying bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
Yali looked up, and within the clouds, a nine-colored radiance shimmered, growing denser and denser.
"This is… the Nine-Colored Tribulation Lightning from when Xia Yi forged his divine weapon last time. He's appearing now?" Yali stood frozen, screaming internally.
She had hoped Yun Ming and the Tang Sect wouldn't find Xia Yi.
But she never imagined he would reveal himself so soon.
"You should have at least given me a little more time. That way, maybe I could have convinced Brother Ming." Yali closed her eyes in pain.
Deep down, she still believed in Yun Ming.
She believed that Yun Ming was only acting irrationally because he was overwhelmed by anger. If only she had more time, she was certain she could persuade him.
But now, what should she do?Yun Ming and Zang Xin had already locked their sights on Xia Yi.
Seeing the sharp and resolute gazes of Yun Ming and Zang Xin, Yali was suddenly struck by a possibility. "The Spirit Pagoda still hasn't sent anyone. Could it be that Qiangu Dongfeng is also wary of Xia Yi and Sister Yaozhu, and is deliberately allowing Zang Xin and Brother Ming to kill Xia Yi?"
(End of Chapter)