"Everyone, we ought to have a discussion about how to divide the spoils. Otherwise, if we keep fighting amongst ourselves and end up letting those soul beasts escape, it won't be worth it," Xuanzi said in a deep voice, glancing over at the Body Sect Master, Du Busi.
A trace of relief flashed in his eyes.
There were many strong people present.
But notably absent was the Clear Sky Sect. Perhaps they were still recovering from the surprise attack by the Sun-Moon Empire, having suffered heavy losses and focusing on rebuilding. They had missed this wave of opportunity.
Otherwise, even Shrek Academy might have had to give up the lion's share…
"Fine. Give the Titan Snow Demon King and that Ice Jade Scorpion to the Body Sect. The rest, you all can take," Du Busi said calmly.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!"
Xuanzi widened his eyes in disbelief. "You old poison freak! You think the Body Sect is still in its prime? Have your injuries even healed? Those seven Titled Douluo you brought are probably all you've got left!"
The Body Sect had already taken a hit in the defense of Mingdu, suffering grave casualties from an earlier assault by the Sun-Moon Legion.
"Hmph. Now that Emperor Tian has imposed a ban on ten-thousand-year soul beasts and no more hunting is allowed in the Star Dou Forest, the only place left with beasts of this level that we can actually target… is here in the Extreme North. These three are all we've got left. I came determined to take them. Anyone trying to compete with me better weigh their own worth."
Big brother is laughing at second brother.
Yes, we're in rough shape, but is your Shrek Academy really any better?
Moon died, five of the Elders died too, all buried in Mingdu. If the Clear Sky Sect were here, I might give way. But you're the only one left holding up Shrek… Just you, Xuanzi. Ha.
Du Busi sneered.
As he finished speaking, the seven Body Sect Titled Douluo behind him released their terrifying pressure—though weakened, their body spirits still packed the power of "evil soul masters."
"You're just throwing us an ice bear? Not enough."
Xuanzi hesitated.
He didn't want to force a deadly confrontation, but what Du Busi offered was pitifully little.
Beibei needed a ten-thousand-year soul beast to break through to Limit Douluo. That ice bear, although it had cultivated for two hundred thousand years, lacked a powerful bloodline. What he truly valued was the Titan Snow Demon King.
"Give us the Titan Snow Demon King. You can have the other two ten-thousand-year soul beasts!"Xuanzi gritted his teeth.
"At most, we'll also give you five more ten-thousand-year soul beasts!"
Other surrounding factions, seeing how these two major forces were dividing the entire cake between themselves, looked increasingly upset. They realized they probably wouldn't even get the scraps and left dejectedly. A few, still unwilling to give up, hid in the shadows, hoping to snatch up whatever leftovers remained.
In the past, Shrek could afford to act noble and play the role of the continent's moral compass.
But now they were practically starving. Why fake it?
Only what you can actually consume matters—everything else is just for show.
"…Fine."Du Busi hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly.
Though he was quite greedy for the Titan Snow Demon King's top-tier soul ring and the potential soul bone it might yield, the other two ten-thousand-year soul beasts combined could help the Body Sect cultivate two new top-tier powerhouses.
Definitely a good deal.
And besides, Xuanzi was right—right now, unity was still the priority.
"小白, 阿泰," the Ice Jade Scorpion clan leader said in a low voice, "I'll have the entire Ice Jade Scorpion clan self-destruct. You two use the chance to break through and escape northward. Across the frozen ocean lives the Sea Princess Clan—rulers of the ocean. They're kindhearted and will surely take you in…"
"Once there, secretly contact the Snow Empress and Ice Empress. When the time comes, return in force—and avenge us!"
The clan leader's massive body trembled slightly. On closer inspection, it looked like a sculpture carved from jade, an absolute work of art. But now, dense green light gathered around its body, dyeing half the sky in a jade hue.
"Go!!!"
It roared in fury.
The Titan Snow Demon King and Xiaobai exchanged glances.
The former pounded his chest and crouched, launching himself like a cannonball. At the same time, the earth trembled and the snow surged outward like a tide.
"Ice Bear Blizzard!"
Xiaobai howled toward the heavens, summoning a storm around her. The skies and earth changed colors, sweeping even many humans into the blizzard…
Meanwhile, Shrek and the Body Sect naturally sensed the disturbance.
Xuanzi and Du Busi exchanged a glance and saw the same amused expression in each other's eyes.
Clearly, their opponents weren't just NPCs. They weren't going to obediently surrender soul rings and bones.
"Trying to self-destruct? Heh. A soul beast that just broke through to a hundred-thousand-year rank wants to self-destruct in front of me? And you think you can cover the escape of the other two? Dream on!"
Du Busi snorted coldly.
A terrifying aura—just below the Limit Douluo level at Rank 98—erupted across the battlefield.
A thick stream of dark green energy surged from his body, forming a colossal green phantom behind him. His two hands slowly pressed together, as if compressing something in between. The hundred-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion was caught between the phantom's palms.
Its self-destruction aura was forcibly suppressed—pushed back into its own body.
"Pfft!"
The scorpion vomited blood.
The white snow beneath it was instantly stained with a splash of crimson.
"Rumble!"
With the trembling of the earth, the Titan Snow Demon King crashed down as well—battered and disoriented. His eyes locked onto a massive bull-shaped figure in the sky.
He wasn't a match for that man.
That human powerhouse's strength was comparable to a five-hundred-thousand-year ferocious beast!
Xiaobai also stumbled back, covered in dirt and snow: "That human woman with the eagle martial soul—I can't beat her…"
"Damn it!"The Ice Jade Scorpion clan leader's expression turned ugly.
As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, this was the first time it had felt such despair.
Even its self-destruction—was out of its control.
"Be good and come with us. Maybe you'll suffer less."Du Busi snorted again.
As the humans resealed the encirclement—tightly, giving no gaps—the soul beasts' hearts sank further.
"Ah-Tai… to be honest, I envy you. Maybe even a little jealous…"Xiaobai, while keeping a wary eye on the humans, suddenly sighed.
"You're jealous of me?"The Titan Snow Demon King had been brooding, but hearing that, his expression cracked a little.
"I was adopted by our mother, but her attitude toward you and me… couldn't have been more different. She had high hopes for you, appointed you one of the Three Kings of the Extreme North. But me, even with the same level of strength, I remained unknown and forgotten…"Xiaobai sighed.
At the same time, Ice Empress was dumbfounded.
"What are these two doing?"She gave a sideways glance at the expressionless Xue Ling'er, realizing she wasn't in control of her main body. Ice Empress's face darkened with irritation.
"It's life or death for the Extreme North—and they're busy chatting?!"
(End of Chapter)