r18novel Chapter 217 Shrek's Dissatisfaction and Cleanup Plan
Chapter 217 Shrek's Dissatisfaction and Cleanup Plan
Chapter 217 Shrek's Dissatisfaction and Cleanup Plan
"Enough, retreat." Long Xiaoyao's voice returned to its previous calmness, but carried an unquestionable command.
His deep gaze swept over the four Super Douluo and two Title Douluo who were eyeing him menacingly, and he said indifferently, "With all the powerful figures on the other side gathered, if the battle continues, I may not be able to protect you."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Peng snapped out of his rage. Looking at the overwhelmingly powerful and despair-inducing lineup opposite him, all his resentment turned to cold sweat. He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Yes!"
Long Xiaoyao said no more. Darkness surged around him, enveloping Zhang Peng. The two of them transformed into a dark stream of light and disappeared into the horizon in an instant.
Xuanzi and the others did not pursue. Everyone understood that forcing Long Xiaoyao to retreat and killing him were two completely different things, and the latter would come at a price no one could bear.
Being able to repel this powerful evil spirit master's reinforcements and protect Huo Yuhao was already the best possible outcome.
Everyone landed on the ground. Huo Yuhao immediately stepped forward and gave a detailed account of how he had been controlled by the strange ghost and how Ling Ya had appeared and offered his help on the condition of the ring.
Xuanzi, Yan Shaozhe, and the others had complicated expressions upon hearing this.
They were both terrified that the evil spirit master had such a sinister trick up his sleeve and relieved that Huo Yuhao and Xian Lin'er were unharmed. However, they were also quite displeased with Ling Ya's behavior of taking advantage of their misfortune to demand a huge reward.
Yan Shaozhe stepped forward and said to Ling Ya in a deep voice, "Shrek will remember Your Majesty Bingkong's help. However, that starlight sapphire ring belongs to a disciple of our academy, and the matter is of great importance. We request Your Majesty to return it, and Shrek will surely reward you handsomely."
Before Ling Ya could answer, Du Busi's gruff voice rang out, filled with undisguised mockery, "Hmph! Shrek's skin is thicker than the bark of a 100,000-year-old tree in the Star Dou Great Forest! If Ling Ya hadn't intervened, your precious disciple would have been kidnapped and chopped to pieces long ago, and it's hard to say whether Xian Lin'er would have survived! Money for goods, that's only fair. The deal's done, and now you want to go back on your word? Is this what you Shrek call 'keeping it in mind'? This truly opens my eyes!"
Poison Undying's copper bell-like eyes glared at Xuanzi and the others. He had previously promised Lingya that as long as the information he provided was accurate, he would help him obtain this storage soul tool.
As it turned out, his intelligence was correct. If the evil soul master hadn't suddenly appeared, he would have snatched Huo Yuhao long before Xuanzi arrived. But how could Ling Ya have known that the evil soul master would suddenly arrive?
Poison Undying understands that Ling Ya is not to blame.
He was a man of his word, never going back on his promise. Now that Ling Ya had obtained it, how could he let someone take it back? He was determined to handle this today! With him backing Ling Ya up, would Shrek Academy dare to openly steal it?
Poison cannot kill. His words were resounding and perfectly reasonable.
Xuanzi and Yan Shaozhe were speechless. The Poison Undying Sect was incredibly powerful, and the Body Sect was even more formidable; starting a war now would be extremely unwise.
Moreover, Ling Ya did indeed fulfill his promise and saved Xian Lin'er and Huo Yuhao. It would be unreasonable and illogical for him to go back on his word and demand his reward back. If this were to spread, Shrek Academy's long-standing reputation would be tarnished.
Xuanzi's face turned ashen, and he finally let out a heavy snort, suppressing his anger. He took a deep look at the ring in Lingya's hand, then glanced at the defiant Poison Undying, knowing that things were hopeless today.
"Let's go!" Xuanzi waved his hand, said no more, and led the Shrek Seven Devils into the air, transforming into several streaks of light and quickly disappearing. But they wouldn't let that ring go so easily.
Actually, they had another question: how did Ling Ya and Du Busi know they would be here today? Their intelligence was too good. However, they didn't ask any further questions because they knew the other party wouldn't tell them.
The intelligence sources of each faction can be considered their biggest secret. Intelligence is a weapon, and this is not just a saying.
Seeing the Shrek Academy members leave, Poison Undying also withdrew his imposing aura. He looked at Ling Ya, nodded, and thus fulfilled his promise.
He was quite frustrated that the operation had failed to capture Huo Yuhao. The battle with Long Xiaoyao had taken a toll on him, while Xuanzi was well-rested and ready. Continuing the fight would be pointless. Even though his poison was stronger than Xuanzi's, he couldn't say he could defeat him when his soul power was greatly depleted.
As for activating the Golden Awakening and risking everything, that would require sacrificing one's lifespan. He didn't want to shorten his lifespan for Huo Yuhao's sake, since he couldn't be poisoned to death.
"Kid, it's good that you got the stuff. See you later!" Du Busi said to Ling Ya, and then he and Jin Peng turned into two dark green streaks of light and disappeared into the horizon.
On the vast wilderness, only Ling Ya remained in the blink of an eye. A cold wind blew, stirring up dust, as if the earth-shattering multi-party battle that had just taken place had never happened.
He glanced down at the ring in his hand, a flash of light appeared, and he put it away, his figure disappearing silently into the cold wind.
In the deep forest, dappled sunlight filtered through the trees. Ling Ya met up with Dai Youheng and Nana, who were already waiting there, and immediately handed the spoils to Dai Youheng.
"Well done, Lingya." Dai Youheng's face showed a hint of approval.
Without the slightest hesitation, he tossed the starlight sapphire and storage ring back to Ling Ya, while handing over another storage soul tool with an antique design and obviously larger capacity.
"Now, immediately examine the contents of this ring." Dai Youheng's command was clear and decisive. "Transfer all the top-tier soul-guiding materials related to core technology, especially those rare metals and core magic arrays that we cannot produce ourselves or are extremely difficult to obtain, into our own soul-guiding devices. There should be another big thing inside that starlight sapphire," a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, "a complex structure, incredibly powerful, resembling a humanoid mecha. If it exists, study it carefully, Ling Ya. If you can master its technology, the day you personally take revenge on the Xuanming Sect will not be far off."
In fact, Dai Youheng didn't know if it was true or not. After all, the Body Sect didn't attack Mingde Hall, so Huo Yuhao might not have obtained that humanoid soul tool. It all depended on whether Huo Yuhao's protagonist halo had been activated. If not, it didn't matter; the other gains were already quite substantial.
Ling Ya took the soul tool, and upon hearing Dai Youheng's words, a hint of confusion appeared on his resolute face. "Young Master, do you mean—we need to sort out the contents inside?"
He vaguely sensed that Dai Youheng didn't seem to intend to possess the entire ring, but rather to make some choices.
"That's right." Dai Youheng smiled slightly, a smile full of calculation and composure. "The contents of this ring are crucial to Shrek Academy; they are the cornerstone of their Soul Guidance Department's future development. They will never give up easily. And you, Ling Ya, are, on the surface, a guest elder of the Star Luo Empire's Princess's Mansion."
He took a step back and continued his analysis, "Shrek will inevitably put pressure on the Star Luo Empire to force Xu Jiawei to return the ring. However, this suits my purposes perfectly."
He looked at Ling Ya, his eyes gleaming with a calculated light. "I need you to act out a play for me. A play of repaying a debt of gratitude," ultimately forcing him to share the spoils of war with the Star Luo royal family.
Dai Youheng lowered his voice and quickly and clearly explained his follow-up plan to Ling Ya and Nana.
How to exploit information asymmetry, how to guide public opinion, how to make Shrek suffer in silence and unable to complain—every step was calculated perfectly.
A look of realization and admiration appeared in Ling Ya's eyes. He nodded emphatically, "Your subordinate understands. I will certainly live up to your expectations, young master!"
With the plan finalized, the three of them didn't delay any longer and immediately set off back. On the way, within Dai Youheng's spiritual sea, the Snow Emperor's clear voice, tinged with a hint of doubt, echoed, "Youheng, now that we've obtained the goods, this 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits' plan has been successfully completed. This should meet the test of the Sloth God—'reaping the benefits without sowing,' right? Why hasn't the Sloth God's divine test shown any reaction yet?"
Dai Youheng responded in his mind, his tone calm, "What we obtained is indeed precious, enough to make any force envious. But Xue Di, you must know that while these soul guidance technologies and materials can greatly enhance our power and help Ling Ya take revenge, for me personally, they are more like tools and external forces, and cannot be directly converted into a breakthrough in my own cultivation or realm. Therefore, the divine test has not determined that I have truly completed it."
He abruptly changed the subject, a confident smile playing on his lips. "But it's alright, this is just an appetizer. Soon, there will be an even bigger opportunity, and Huo Yuhao, the chosen one, will personally bring it to us. If we use it well, his immense fortune will be enough to help us leverage even more. That will be the moment we truly win without lifting a finger."
His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of dense forest, looking towards the unknown distance, where his next carefully crafted stage awaited.
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