"Was Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect really just reaping what they sowed?"
Yali wandered aimlessly through the streets of Mingdu. Ever since she left Xia Yi, she had been in a daze.
"Your Holiness, Holy Spirit."
A voice suddenly rang out in front of her.
"Fang Jun!" Yali looked up to see a man in his late twenties or early thirties approaching her.
She remembered him—he was a former student of Shrek Academy's inner court who had graduated ten years ago. His cultivation level should now be around the Soul Douluo stage.
"Your Holiness, what happened to you?" Seeing Yali's hair turn white overnight, Fang Jun's eyes turned red as he quickly stepped forward. "Your Holiness, you must stay strong! You are the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion—we are all waiting for you to lead us in rebuilding Shrek Academy!"
"Rebuild Shrek Academy, huh?" Yali let out a bitter laugh. As if it were that easy.
The Sun Moon Federation had worked so hard to gain control over Shrek City—how could they possibly allow Shrek Academy to rise again?
"Your Holiness, this time Shrek City was attacked, and the Sun Moon Federation is undeniably responsible, yet they refuse to even give a statement. We have gathered some Shrek Academy graduates and are preparing to mobilize the people for protests and demonstrations to demand an explanation from the Sun Moon Federation." Fang Jun looked up at Yali and said, "We've been missing a leader... and by the Sea God's blessing, you have appeared."
Yali broke out in a cold sweat at his words. Xia Yi's harsh words still echoed in her ears—Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect were gone.
At a time like this, if Shrek Academy's graduates stood up to provoke the Sun Moon Federation government, weren't they just asking for death?
"I don't care what you plan to do. But if you still acknowledge me as the Holy Spirit Douluo, as the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, then you will disband immediately," Yali said, her face darkening.
"Why, Pavilion Master? So many people from Shrek Academy died tragically—are we just supposed to let it go? When did Shrek Academy become so afraid?" Fang Jun asked unwillingly.
"Are you all really so determined to wipe out the last sliver of hope for Shrek Academy?" Yali's anger erupted. "If Ming-ge wanted to escape, no force could have stopped him. He chose to confront the Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon head-on—he must have been buying time for Shrek Academy's last hope. I suspect that Ming-ge must have left behind a contingency plan. But what about you all? Do you have any idea whether your actions will expose that plan to the Sun Moon Federation? If you still consider yourselves students of Shrek Academy, then follow my orders—whatever you were planning, cancel it immediately."
Although Yali was the Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, she actually didn't know many of Shrek Academy's secrets. However, she understood Yun Ming. If he had fought to the death, he must have been buying time for something. She just didn't know what.
Right now, the entire Sun Moon Federation believed that the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy were completely finished.
Under such circumstances, Yun Ming's contingency plan had a better chance of remaining hidden.
When she first heard about what had happened to Shrek Academy, Yali had been ready to drop everything and return immediately. The only reason she was still in Mingdu was to deceive the Sun Moon Federation government—to make them lower their guard.
That way, whatever Yun Ming had left behind could escape Shrek City safely.
Otherwise, if she returned to Shrek City, Yun Ming's contingency plan would definitely seek her out. At that point, it could very well be exposed right under the Sun Moon Federation's nose.
"The Tang Sect, the Holy Spirit Cult, Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda—justice and evil... In the end, they all use any means necessary to achieve their goals. They're all the same. From the very beginning, none of them have ever truly cared about the lives of the common people. The so-called praise of justice is just a necessity for organizational growth."
Yali sighed in her heart.
Thinking about the catastrophe in the Cangshan District of Mingdu—the destruction of the Tang Sect, Shrek Academy, and three other locations—filled her with unbearable pain.
She wasn't even sure anymore whether protecting Yun Ming's contingency plan was the right thing to do.
If it really led to the rebuilding of Shrek Academy, then wouldn't the same tragedy just happen all over again?
But betraying Yun Ming and Shrek Academy... she simply couldn't bring herself to do it.
The weight of this internal struggle suffocated her.
She had wanted to find Xia Yi to confide in him, only to be scolded instead.
"Forget it, no point overthinking it. I'll take things one step at a time."
After dismissing Fang Jun, Yali returned to the hospitals surrounding the Cangshan District to continue treating the civilians injured in the explosion at the Tang Sect's underground weapon factory.
"Your Holiness, Holy Spirit, what are you doing here?"
As soon as Yali arrived, a doctor rushed up to her. The attacks on Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect had involved a Rank 12 Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon. He had assumed Yali would have prioritized healing the injured in Shrek City.
By now, Yali had already become famous in the area.
Although Leng Yulai occasionally came to help, she was nowhere near as well-known as Yali.
After all, Leng Yulai could only heal individuals, while Yali's soul skills could heal large groups.
If the number of wounded hadn't been so overwhelming, she might have already healed them all.
"The lives of Shrek Academy's people matter, but so do the lives of Mingdu's people. In my eyes, there is no difference."
Yali shook her head. Seeing the still-overcrowded hospital, she felt even more guilt-ridden.
"Your Holiness, you don't look well. Do you need some rest?"
The doctor's gaze fell on Yali's graying hair, and his expression turned solemn with respect.
She was already in this state, yet she was still insisting on coming to the hospital. She was truly worthy of the title "Holy Spirit."
"No need. I'm fine," Yali shook her head.
"Your Holiness, please follow me."
The doctor didn't say anything more and led Yali toward the patient rooms.
Though they were called "patient rooms," they were really just makeshift shelters set up around the hospital.
There was no other choice. The number of casualties from the explosion was far too high—the hospital's regular rooms were completely insufficient.
Even now, every day, they were still finding survivors among the collapsed ruins in the Cangshan District.
"Ding ding dang dang..."
At Phoenix Corporation, Xia Yi's soul communicator suddenly rang.
Seeing the familiar number, he didn't hesitate to press the answer button.
"Xia Yi!"
"Yes, it's me."
"Are you busy right now?"
"Not at all."
"Do you have any news about my master?"
"Not at the moment." Xia Yi let out a soft sigh.
"According to your list, the Blacksmith Association has already investigated—my master was taken to the Tang Sect headquarters by the Tang Sect spy Qi Yue. Do you think my master is already..."
Mu Xi's voice trembled with sobs.
When Zhen Hua went missing, Xia Yi had immediately provided the Tian Dou City government with a list of Tang Sect spies hidden within the Tian Dou City Blacksmith Association headquarters.
Using that list, Tian Dou City had successfully captured the other Tang Sect spies and even recovered some of the Blacksmith Association's high-ranking members.
But Zhen Hua had been taken to the Tang Sect headquarters in Shrek City.
The Sun Moon Federation couldn't do anything about that.
Mu Xi hadn't wanted to trouble Xia Yi, because Zhen Hua had always maintained good relations with the Tang Sect's upper echelons. Many of the Sun Moon Federation's Limit Douluos didn't even have four-word battle armor, while some of the Tang Sect's Super Douluos did—this fact alone proved everything.
Moreover, with Zhen Hua's abilities, even if he had fallen into the hands of the Holy Spirit Cult, they would have treated him well.
So Mu Xi had always assumed that Zhen Hua would be fine.
But she never expected the Tang Sect to be attacked by a Rank 12 Godslayer Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon.
Then what about Zhen Hua, who had been taken there?
She didn't even dare to think about it.
Because Zhen Hua had loved her mother Yuan Bao'er, he had never married and had treated Mu Xi like his own daughter.
Now that something had happened to him, how could she not worry?