Chapter 168: Lockdown and Deception
After fully mastering the movement area through Huo Yuhao's spiritual perception, Xiao Qiang expanded the scope of his spiritual detection. With precise data in hand, he used his Spiritual Detection Sharing to transmit the location of the Body Sect directly to Jing Hongchen, enabling him to strike with precision.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qiang turned his focus to Huo Yuhao and his companions. This was the perfect opportunity to catch them red-handed—both the "thieves" and their "stolen goods." The blueprints for various soul tool technologies stored in their soul guide devices, as well as the prototype mecha that Huo Yuhao had just acquired, made this the ideal moment to secure both the culprits and the evidence.
Xiao Qiang moved swiftly to find Ma Rulong's father. Thanks to the victory in the last All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, Ma Lao hadn't been pushed out of Mingde Hall's inner circle as he was in the original timeline. On the contrary, as the former leader of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's team, his status within both the empire and Mingde Hall had risen significantly.
Now, with Jing Hongchen having led away most of the core combat forces to attack the Body Sect, the remaining armed forces of Mingde Hall were under Ma Lao's jurisdiction.
This was precisely why Xiao Qiang approached him now.
"Master Xiao," Elder Ma greeted him with utmost respect upon seeing him. Though Xiao Qiang was technically a junior and subordinate to Jing Hongchen, his performance during the All-Continent Tournament had proven that his potential was extraordinary. Elder Ma believed that Xiao Qiang might ascend from a junior realm into the ranks of true powerhouses in just a few years. With that in mind, he treated him with due reverence.
"Elder Ma," Xiao Qiang said coldly, "mobilize everyone you can. Seal off the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. No one is to leave the campus under any circumstances."
"Once they're assembled, search every single person—regardless of their status or position. We cannot allow any academy property to be stolen and used as a dagger against Mingde Hall in the future."
"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it immediately. But Master Xiao…" Elder Ma hesitated slightly. "Our own academy students are one thing, but those from Shrek Academy…"
"The Shrek exchange students especially need to be thoroughly investigated," Xiao Qiang interrupted sharply. "They are the most likely to exploit this chaos. Follow through, and if any issue arises, I'll take full responsibility."
"They came here as exchange students, not as lords. They hold no special authority, and since they've stepped into the Sun Moon Empire, they must abide by our rules. If they refuse, then let them leave. The exchange program can end here and now!"
Elder Ma hesitated again, visibly uneasy. "But the exchange program…"
He was well aware that the arrangement had been established personally by the hall master. And as a senior figure within the Sun Moon Empire, Elder Ma understood the symbolic weight Shrek Academy held. Despite Shrek's recent defeat, its long-standing reputation still commanded respect. Even Jing Hongchen had sent his own grandson to Shrek as an exchange student—it wasn't something that could be dismissed lightly.
Seeing the hesitation in Ma Lao's expression, Xiao Qiang didn't bother wasting more words. He pulled out a token engraved with the symbol of Kong Deming.
"This token gives me full authority. Do it now—seal the area and allow no time for them to hide anything."
"Yes, sir!" Elder Ma's tone became resolute the moment he saw the token. He wasn't sure how Xiao Qiang had obtained it, but one thing was clear: with this level of backing, Xiao Qiang could shoulder the responsibility. Without delay, Ma Lao mobilized all remaining armed forces of the academy and activated the soul defense barrier to lock down the entire campus.
Meanwhile, on the Shrek Side
Back on the Shrek Academy side, Fan Yu, the teacher in charge of the exchange students, was livid.
Unlike the original timeline, Huo Yuhao's soul skill wasn't merely spiritual detection—it had evolved into perspective vision, making the process of gathering blueprints significantly more difficult and dangerous.
After more than half a year of meticulous effort, Fan Yu had finally gathered enough valuable blueprints to consider extraction worthwhile.
Then came the unexpected attack from the Body Sect—now boldly claiming the name of the Haotian Sect—on Mingde Hall.
At first, this attack seemed like a blessing in disguise. It created the perfect diversion for them to smuggle out the blueprints. However, they had made no preparations beforehand. Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, who had been tasked with the transport, were unfortunately far from the academy gate when the attack began.
Using soul tool thrusters could have helped them flee quickly, but the academy grounds were a strict no-fly zone. Attempting flight under such high alert could easily have resulted in them being mistaken as enemies and executed on the spot—even by the Body Sect itself.
Ground escape was no better. Running through the academy under suspicion would draw attention, and in the worst-case scenario, be seen as an act of betrayal. Moreover, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy had responded with incredible speed. By the time He Caitou approached the gates, they had already been sealed and the academy-wide soul tool shield activated.
Attempting to force their way out now would be suicide. The academy would have full justification to strike them down.
Left with no choice, the Shrek group complied with the academy's order to gather in designated zones and await inspection.
Fan Yu, however, was deeply aware of the stakes. Their mission was no longer a secret retrieval—it had become a full-blown crisis. With the drawings still hidden on them, this so-called "inspection" would undoubtedly become a seizure.
As the line of students awaiting inspection grew shorter and their turn approached, Fan Yu's anxiety spiked. He was sweating, tense, ready for disaster.
Then, at the critical moment, a calm voice entered his ear.
It was Huo Yuhao.
"Teacher," Yuhao whispered so only Fan Yu could hear, "don't worry. Have Brother He and Elder Brother move closer to me. My third soul skill doesn't just simulate through soul power—it can operate with pure mental energy even if my soul power is sealed. I'll make sure they can't detect a thing."
Fan Yu's eyes lit up.
In that instant, it felt as if the storm clouds had parted, the rain had stopped, and hope had returned.
Shrek might still survive this.
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