"Bu... but..."
Xu Jiujiu's beautiful eyes dimmed as she said reluctantly, "But the Evil Soul Masters are poisoning the continent, wantonly slaughtering innocent lives. If they are not eradicated, the consequences will be disastrous."
"Young Master Su Yu, I know the Ice God Palace has always remained secluded and refuses to form alliances with other forces, but given the dire situation now, can't you make an exception just this once?"
"No."
Su Yu's response was firm, decisive, and unwavering.
Yan Shaozhe chuckled inwardly, almost laughing out loud.
This little girl—so sharp-tongued and quick-witted—what good does it do? Su Yu isn't going to reason with her.
Having dealt with Su Yu many times before, Yan Shaozhe knew well how difficult this person could be.
To be honest, even though he came here with the goal of forming an alliance, he had no confidence in succeeding.
No matter how eloquent his words were, Su Yu likely wouldn't buy into them.
And as it turned out, he had guessed correctly.
Xu Jiujiu spoke with great righteousness as if her victory was assured, but for Su Yu, it was all meaningless.
Little girl, you're still too young.
Xu Jiujiu's expression turned despondent, her gaze filled with grievance so intense it almost overflowed.
She stared at Su Yu with her melancholy eyes, her lips pouting slightly, looking utterly pitiful.
Anyone unaware of the situation might think Su Yu had wronged her and failed to take responsibility.
It had to be said, that Xu Jiujiu was incredibly beautiful. Putting on such a sorrowful and aggrieved expression, she could melt the hearts of most men.
But Su Yu was not like most men. He was watching her with keen interest, as if curious to see how much more she could perform.
Xu Jiujiu's eye twitched slightly, and she felt even more resentful in her heart.
Was this Su Yu's heart made of iron?
Or... was she just not beautiful enough?
Su Yu was making Xu Jiujiu question her charm.
"Young Master Su Yu~"
Xu Jiujiu's eyes filled with sorrow, her voice soft and pitiful, as if she'd been bullied.
Yan Shaozhe curled his lips in disdain. A princess of a kingdom resorting to seduction? How low.
Su Yu adjusted his posture, resting his chin on his left hand while lightly tapping the armrest of his throne with his right. His tone was indifferent as he said, "Rules are rules. If they can be changed at will, they aren't rules at all."
"The Ice God Palace has never had the habit of forming alliances. In my eyes, there are no allies."
"However..."
Su Yu paused slightly, sweeping his gaze across the room. "However, when it comes to dealing with the Evil Soul Masters, we won't lag behind anyone."
"I can give you some information: the Evil Soul Masters have now established a fully mature organization called the Holy Spirit Cult."
"The Holy Spirit Cult is currently operating within the Sun-Moon Empire and has intricate connections with the imperial family of the Sun-Moon Empire."
"Princess Jiujiu, if you think relying on national power can eradicate the Holy Spirit Cult, I must say, that's quite unrealistic."
"Unless the Star Luo Empire can invade the Sun-Moon Empire's territory and even capture Radiant City, but it seems the Star Luo Empire doesn't have that kind of capability at the moment."
Xu Jiujiu was startled, and Yan Shaozhe's expression also changed.
Could it be that the Holy Spirit Cult had already colluded with the Sun-Moon Empire?
Xu Jiujiu asked anxiously, "Young Master Su Yu, is that true?"
Su Yu looked at her and replied calmly, "I spent so much time in the Sun-Moon Empire. Do you think I was wasting my time?"
Xu Jiujiu's heart sank. If Su Yu said so, how could it not be true?
Yan Shaozhe's expression shifted as countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Could it be that Su Yu's trip to the Sun-Moon Empire was actually to investigate the activities of the Evil Soul Masters?
It made sense. The Ice God Palace, which had remained hidden for so long, wouldn't suddenly appear in the Sun-Moon Empire without reason.
The more Yan Shaozhe thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and his mind gradually spiraled into conjecture.
Seeing the shifting expressions on their faces, Su Yu continued, "The Holy Spirit Cult has many members and often uses coercion and manipulation to recruit followers in secret."
"The number of Evil Soul Masters under their command might be far greater than you'd imagine."
"Moreover, the Holy Spirit Cult's top-tier combat power is exceptionally strong."
"The Holy Spirit Cult has two Ultimate Douluo: one is their Supreme Elder, Death God Douluo Ye Xishui. Not only is Ye Xishui an Ultimate Douluo, but she is also a Level 10 Soul Engineer."
"The other is their Grand Elder, Dragon Emperor Douluo. His martial soul is the Darkness Holy Dragon, and his strength surpasses Ye Xishui's."
"I'm sure these two Ultimate Douluo are not unfamiliar to you, Pavilion Master Yan."
Yan Shaozhe let out a bitter smile without saying a word.
Unfamiliar? How could he not know them? They were his teacher's old friends.
Seeing Yan Shaozhe's expression, Su Yu smiled faintly.
Oh, they weren't just old friends of Mu En—they were your grandparents.
Su Yu's eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. He wondered how Yan Shaozhe would react when he eventually found out.
With a playful glint in his eyes, Su Yu continued, "In addition to these two Ultimate Douluo, the Holy Spirit Cult also has two sect leaders."
"Chief Sect Leader Zhongli Wu, the son of Death God Douluo. He is a Rank 98 Super Douluo, whose strength rivals that of the infamous Du Busi of the Body Sect."
"The Vice Sect Leader is Feng Ling, a Rank 97 Super Douluo with the martial soul Evil Phoenix. She is also Zhongli Wu's wife."
"Pavilion Master Yan, do you happen to recall Feng Ling?"
Yan Shaozhe froze, his expression turning complicated. Feng Ling...
Su Yu's lips curled into a sly smile. "I must say, Pavilion Master Yan, you are quite lucky."
Yan Shaozhe's face flushed with embarrassment. How did Su Yu know all this?
Under Su Yu's teasing gaze, Yan Shaozhe felt as if he had been stripped bare.
He couldn't help but feel as though Su Yu had seen right through him.
Curious, Xu Jiujiu asked, "Pavilion Master Yan, quite lucky? Could it be that you and this Vice Sect Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult have some history?"
Su Yu chuckled and said, "Why not ask our dear Pavilion Master? In his youth, he was quite the dashing romantic."
Xu Jiujiu's expression turned odd. There was a story?
She hadn't expected it—this seemingly decent Dean Yan had a wild side.
Yan Shaozhe's face turned green and pale, consumed by embarrassment.
Having an ex-girlfriend who became the Vice Sect Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, and now being found out—what was he supposed to do?
Suppressing his awkwardness, Yan Shaozhe coughed lightly and said, "That's all in the past. If we meet again, I won't let her go."
Su Yu smiled faintly.
Fearing Su Yu might say something even more shocking, Yan Shaozhe quickly changed the subject, "Young Master Su Yu, how many Super Douluo does the Holy Spirit Cult have in total?"
Su Yu lazily lowered his gaze and said casually, "Counting Zhongli Wu and Feng Ling, there are at least ten."
"What?!"
Yan Shaozhe's eyes widened in shock. Ten?!
Ten Super Douluo?!
Xu Jiujiu's face went pale from the sheer horror.
How... how could there be so many?
The Star Luo Empire's Worship Hall only had two Super Douluo, but the Holy Spirit Cult had ten?!
This terrifying number made Xu Jiujiu's heart tremble.
Too terrifying.
The Holy Spirit Cult was too terrifying.
Such strength—what force could withstand it?
Wait...
There was one.
Xu Jiujiu turned to Su Yu, her gaze burning with intensity.
Though the Holy Spirit Cult was powerful, the Ice God Palace could surely stop them.
The Ice Emperor and that Grand Guardian—their strength alone could suppress the Holy Spirit Cult's leaders.
Then there was that burly man and the beautiful woman beside Su Yu. Even Grandma Manyi couldn't gauge their strength, only finding it overwhelmingly terrifying.
They must also be veteran Super Douluo, no weaker than the Vice Sect Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult.
As for the number of Super Douluo, Xu Jiujiu firmly believed the Ice God Palace wouldn't fall short of the Holy Spirit Cult.
In the end, they still had to rely on the Ice God Palace.
Su Yu explicitly stated that he would not ally with any faction, which left Xu Jiujiu feeling somewhat helpless.
"Young Master Su Yu, I think we can't just let the Holy Spirit Cult continue unchecked," Yan Shaozhe said seriously. The strength of the Holy Spirit Cult was terrifying, and just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
"So, is the Shrek Academy planning to take the lead in this fight?" Su Yu asked nonchalantly, crossing his hands.
"If that's the case, I have no objections," he added.
Yan Shaozhe's expression froze. Take the lead? Take the lead in what? If the Holy Spirit Cult retaliated, the current Shrek Academy would be completely crushed. Ten Super Douluos—how could they possibly stand a chance against that?
"Young Master Su Yu, while we at Shrek Academy do have such intentions, unfortunately, we lack the strength. We'd have to rely on the Ice God Palace to take action," Yan Shaozhe said.
Su Yu neither agreed nor disagreed. With a serious expression, he said, "I understand your concerns, Dean Yan, but now is not the time."
"Fighting against the evil soul masters is our duty, but the timing is not right," Su Yu continued. He had no intention of rushing into a confrontation. While the Ice God Palace was currently stronger than the Holy Spirit Cult, it was not an overwhelming advantage. If a war were to break out, victory was certain, but the cost would be high.
It was better to wait a few more years. By the time he became a Soul Douluo or even a Titled Douluo, eliminating the evil soul masters would be as effortless as lifting a finger. At that point, even if he had to face the entire Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire alone, he wouldn't be afraid.
It hadn't been easy for him to build up his current power, and he didn't want to suffer unnecessary losses.
Yan Shaozhe asked again, "Young Master Su Yu, may I ask when the right time will be?"
Su Yu smiled faintly and said, "When the time comes, you will know."
"The reason I'm telling you about the strength and lineup of the Holy Spirit Cult today is so you can be prepared," Su Yu continued. "I don't want you to be caught off guard when the time comes. Other than that, there's nothing more to say."
"Princess Jiujiu..." Su Yu turned to Xu Jiujiu and said, "Let's not bring up the matter of forming alliances again. As for dealing with the evil soul masters, I already have a plan. You should focus your energy on preparing to face the Sun Moon Empire instead."
"The Sun Moon Empire won't be easy to deal with," Su Yu warned.
"But isn't Young Master Su Yu on good terms with Illustrious Virtue Hall?" Yan Shaozhe asked softly.
Su Yu replied indifferently, "Illustrious Virtue Hall is Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Ice God Palace is the Ice God Palace, and the Sun Moon Empire is the Sun Moon Empire. I'm just a student, not someone who's sold himself."
"Dean Yan, you'd better worry about how to deal with the evil soul masters. After all, it won't just be us from the Ice God Palace facing them in the future," Su Yu said.
Yan Shaozhe fell into thought, and Xu Jiujiu frowned slightly, evidently digesting Su Yu's words.
Su Yu was in no rush. He sat on his throne, his gaze calm as he looked at the people below.
After a while, Su Yu asked, "Do the two of you have any other matters to discuss?"
"If not, then let's end it here. I'll have someone take you to rest for now," Su Yu added.
Yan Shaozhe seemed to awaken from a dream and quickly said, "Young Master Su Yu, there's one more matter. It concerns Lexuan."
Yan Shaozhe took the initiative to mention Zhang Lexuan.
Su Yu raised an eyebrow and looked into the distance at Zhang Le Xuan. A hint of softness appeared in his eyes. Zhang Lexuan seemed to sense something and responded with a gentle smile.
A faint smile appeared on Su Yu's lips, so subtle it was almost imperceptible, and it quickly disappeared.
Looking back at Yan Shaozhe, Su Yu said calmly, "Dean Yan, please go ahead."
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and said, "Lexuan is now close to reaching level 89 as a Soul Douluo and is not far from breaking through to Titled Douluo. We at Shrek Academy are planning to help her hunt a ferocious beast for her ninth soul ring."
"Hunt a ferocious beast?" Su Yu frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, his expression relaxed. "You're planning to head out to sea?"
The ferocious beasts suitable for Zhang Le Xuan would only be found in the Star Dou Forest on the continent. However, the Star Dou Forest was guarded by Di Tian and powerful beings like the Bear Lord. Hunting a ferocious beast there? Unless Yan Shaozhe was tired of living.
What's more, if Yan Shaozhe even entertained the idea, Su Yu would find a chance to kill him.
The Star Dou Forest was Su Yu's true domain, unlike other soul beast forests. The soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest were the most devout believers in and worshippers of the Dragon God. Other soul beast forests had long since forgotten about the Dragon God.
The Extreme North revered the Ice God, and the Demonic Forest in the Sun Moon Empire was the playground of the Evil Emperor.
In short, the Dragon God held little to no influence over these other regions.
Currently, Su Yu was the reincarnation of the Dragon God, and the Star Dou Forest could be considered his direct followers. Hunting ordinary soul beasts there was one thing; hunting ferocious beasts? Su Yu would not tolerate it.
Outside of the Star Dou Forest, the only other place to find suitable soul beasts for Zhang Lexuan was the vast ocean.
Sea soul beasts were almost all water-attributed, while Zhang Lexuan's martial soul was the Moon, with attributes leaning toward cold and shadow. These attributes didn't conflict with sea soul beasts. Additionally, there were sea soul beasts that were cultivated using the power of moonlight, making them a good match for her.
From this perspective, sea soul beasts were a reasonable choice for Zhang Lexuan.
If it was a sea soul beast, Su Yu had no objections.
Everyone knew that sea soul beasts were essentially the loyal dogs of the Sea God. In their eyes, Su Yu's identity as the reincarnation of the Dragon God probably wasn't worth as much as a fart from the Sea God.
As such, Su Yu didn't consider sea soul beasts his own. Killing them was no big deal. If the Sea God gave the order, these creatures would probably rush forward to attack Su Yu without hesitation.
Given this situation, expecting Su Yu to show any mercy toward sea soul beasts was impossible.
"Young Master Su Yu's foresight truly stretches ten thousand miles," Yan Shaozhe said, surprised that Su Yu had immediately guessed their intentions. Even Yan Shaozhe couldn't help feeling a bit astonished.