Chapter 118: Moon's Arrival at the Sun Moon Empire
Outside the towering gates of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, an old man with a cane slowly approached. His name was Moon, once the mighty Dragon God Douluo. Despite the wrinkles that marked his face and the seemingly frail posture he maintained, he carried a strength that shook the world—a true Rank 99 powerhouse.
With such power came mastery. When Moon didn't want to be discovered, not even the most sensitive soul detection instruments or the most alert guards could sense his presence. Under his careful restraint, not even a wisp of wind stirred as he passed by. Security guards stood unaware, and passing students didn't even glance in his direction.
"Hmph. Not bad for a soul guide… but still too crude," Moon murmured as his gaze briefly swept over the soul detection device by the academy's gate. His expression remained calm, but a flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes.
He had lived for more than two centuries. A hundred years ago, he had already served as the head of the Sea God Pavilion. During all that time, soul guide research had never been a priority for Shrek Academy, despite its rising relevance. Like many traditional soul masters, he had once disdained these artificial constructs. It wasn't until the academy teetered on the edge of irrelevance that soul guide studies were reluctantly added to the agenda.
Even then, the disdain lingered.
If not for the unavoidable reality that soul guides had become the tide of the new era, he might have outright opposed their integration. The truth was harsh: without adapting, Shrek would have faded into obscurity.
Upon entering the Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy, Moon didn't immediately seek out Jing Hongchen or Xiao Qiang. Instead, he strolled around the academy grounds, observing its soul guide systems and development progress.
"The Sun Moon Empire has indeed advanced rapidly… Mingde Hall's devices and soul guide systems are more refined than I expected," he mused as he examined the equipment. Even he had to admit that the empire's advancements far surpassed his expectations. These were not tools he had considered during his prime years.
After surveying for a while, Moon sensed that Xiao Qiang was currently with Jing Hongchen. With no hurry in his steps, he began moving toward the office where they were located.
As he walked, he began calculating how many soul guides he could reasonably demand as 'travel expenses.'
"If I ask for too many, we might end up fighting. But if I ask for too few, it wouldn't be worth the trip," he muttered to himself, smirking lightly.
This wasn't Shrek Academy where he could act freely. If he went all out here, perhaps he could dominate for a short time—but once he returned to Shrek, he might be reduced to a breath away from death.
"Forget it. I'll decide based on the situation."
His goal was simple. Retrieve Xiao Qiang and Zhang Lexuan. The former would be taken as a hostage, the kind that wouldn't be coming back. The latter, a treasured student of Shrek, would be returned home.
Finally, Moon reached the door of Jing Hongchen's office. With a gentle touch of soul power, the security system was bypassed effortlessly. The door creaked open.
Everything had been going smoothly—until now.
The moment Moon stepped into the office, he was met with an unexpected surprise. Standing beside Jing Hongchen was an old man cloaked in formidable presence—Kong Deming.
Moon had concealed his presence perfectly. Jing Hongchen didn't even lift his head in reaction. But Kong Deming? The moment the door opened, he activated the Silver Moon God Light Shield in a flash, enclosing himself, Jing Hongchen, and Xiao Qiang in its protective barrier.
Moon froze mid-step.
This was… unexpected. The concealment technique he used was effective, but it came with limitations. While his presence was undetectable, it also meant that his perception was significantly dulled—he couldn't scan for powerful enemies over a wide area.
It was a calculated trade-off. Normally, the lack of full perception wasn't a problem, especially with Shrek's somewhat reliable intelligence. But today? Today had gone wrong.
He had planned to sneak in, surprise Jing Hongchen, flex his strength a little, take Zhang Lexuan and Xiao Qiang, then demand some soul guides for his trouble. Simple.
But Kong Deming's presence changed everything.
This third party brought with him a pressure that immediately unsettled Moon. The aura Kong emitted was so dense, so overwhelming, that Moon couldn't help but think—even at his peak, defeating this man might not be easy.
For a moment, Moon was speechless.
Then he chuckled awkwardly, brushing aside the tension with a smile.
"Don't be so tense. I didn't come to fight. Your Sun Moon Royal Soul Instructor Academy took one of my students. I'm just here to retrieve them," Moon said, trying to keep the peace—at least for now.
He knew he wouldn't be able to take Xiao Qiang's life today, not with Kong Deming here. But Zhang Lexuan—yes, she would have to return to Shrek. If not, this entire visit would be for nothing.
"Student? You mean Zhang Lexuan? Wait… are you the Dragon God Douluo, Moon?" Kong Deming asked, his eyes narrowing.
He had instantly sensed the danger in Moon's presence—a danger he had only ever felt from two individuals: Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. Not even Zhongli Wu, the leader of the Holy Spirit Sect, had radiated such pressure.
Given that, it wasn't difficult for him to deduce the old man's identity.
Moon blinked. "You know me? And you are…?"
"Kong Deming."
Moon's expression changed as he reached into his memories. After a moment, recognition flashed in his eyes. "So it's you. I didn't expect you'd still be alive."
Kong Deming scoffed. "You're still alive. Why wouldn't I be?"
The two men—whose combined age neared 400—locked eyes, and it was obvious there was unresolved history between them.
"Hmph. Zhang Lexuan's Moon Spirit proves she's a direct descendant of my Sun Moon Empire. If you think you're taking her back, keep dreaming!" Kong Deming snapped, his aura flaring with power.
As the most revered figure in the Sun Moon Empire, Kong had long awaited a successor who could carry the nation's legacy. Zhang Lexuan—a Soul Douluo at just 25 years old with a 100,000-year soul ring—was a rare talent. Even if she wasn't proficient in soul tools yet, that could be taught. What mattered was her potential.
A soul master destined to become a Super Douluo. Neither Kong's family nor the empire would let her go so easily.
"She promised to protect Shrek. That was our agreement," Moon replied coldly.
"Protect Shrek? That's nonsense! Do you really not know why she agreed to that?" Kong Deming's voice grew louder, his rage erupting. "How did my granddaughter die? Why didn't she even get a chance to escape? And how did Shrek's soul tool systems develop so fast? How can your soul guides rival the Three Kingdoms when you've only recently begun to study them?"
His accusations were sharp and laced with grief.
"The powerful soul masters suppress soul tools—yet even so, your weapons rival ours. Don't pretend you don't know why. Shrek exists to serve the interests of the nobles. The same nobles who annihilated Zhang Lexuan's family, only to spare her. You want me to believe that's coincidence?"
Kong Deming's words hit like thunder. He wasn't just angry—he was grieving, suspicious, and determined to protect his legacy.
Moon remained silent for a moment.
Just then, Xiao Qiang stepped forward and raised a hand. "Master, please calm down. Dragon God Douluo Moon, is it? Before anything else—please show us your ticket."