It wasn't until now that Zhang Lexuan finally snapped out of the shock. Just moments ago, she truly thought she was going to die.
"You're... Xiao Lin."
Zhang Lexuan recognized Ji Lin. Even though it had been three years since they last met, he hadn't changed all that much — just a bit taller.
Three years ago, Ji Lin had left a deep impression on her — not just because of his extreme fire attribute, but also for his relentless "sister this, sister that" — sweet to the point of being dangerous.
"Yes, it's me, Sister Lexuan. Come with me quickly. Leave this to Teacher Chiyuan."
Grabbing Zhang Lexuan's hand, Ji Lin hurriedly led her away from the scene. A battlefield between a hundred-thousand-year soul beast and a Title Douluo was not somewhere a mere Rank 30 "small fry" like him could linger. While Zhang Lexuan wasn't severely injured, her soul power was nearly depleted — she too wouldn't survive another clash in that terrifying confrontation.
After Ji Lin and Zhang Lexuan left, the dust on the battlefield began to settle. Chiyuan stood locked in a standoff with the Silvermoon Flood Emperor. The beast, driven mad with bloodlust, clearly had no intention of retreating. Chiyuan, likewise, showed no intent to let go of this rare chance — a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone were temptations she couldn't ignore. The battle was on the brink of reigniting.
Chiyuan, in her Martial Soul Possession form, was adorned in blazing red feathers, soaring high with wings that trailed waves of scorching fire. She looked as though reborn in flames — a phoenix rising from its ashes. Her eyes gleamed with searing intensity, as if able to pierce through all illusion and falsehood.
The Silvermoon Flood Emperor exuded elegance and mystery. Its silver scales shimmered with cold brilliance under the moonlight, and every motion it made caused the surrounding air to tremble, leaving silver ripples in its wake.
Each clash between them came with thunderous roars and blinding flashes of light. Chiyuan's flames tangled with the moonlight of the Silvermoon Flood Emperor, weaving together breathtaking natural spectacles.
Yet it was clear — the Silvermoon Flood Emperor was at a disadvantage. It was no match for Chiyuan. She hadn't even used any soul skills yet, only hand-to-hand combat.
That was, until her eighth soul ring began to glow.
"Eighth Soul Skill: Vermilion Bird Steps Through Clouds!"
In a flash, Chiyuan appeared high above the Flood Emperor. Her right leg, wreathed in flame, came crashing down in a fiery kick. The blaze spiraled around her, taking the form of a crimson vermilion bird descending from the heavens.
Boom!
Wuuuaaaaghhh!
The kick landed squarely on the Flood Emperor. With a mournful cry, the beast plummeted from the sky, engulfed in flames, and smashed into the ground.
The impact carved a massive crater dozens of meters wide.
Lying at the bottom, the Silvermoon Flood Emperor was covered in charred wounds. Its breath was shallow and uneven — clearly on the brink of death.
And Chiyuan had only used one soul skill from start to finish. If she hadn't been aiming to end the fight quickly, she wouldn't have even needed that much.
At that moment, a yellow light streaked across the sky and rapidly approached. Chiyuan merely glanced at it before relaxing her guard.
The newcomer was the belated Gluttonous Douluo, Xuanzi.
Landing with a heavy thud, Xuanzi gazed at the devastation before him — the scorched earth, scattered limbs, and the battered figures of Chiyuan and the fallen Silvermoon Flood Emperor beneath her.
He stood frozen, stunned by the carnage.
"Wh-what happened here? What... what in the world happened?"
Zhang Lexuan and Ji Lin emerged, supporting the three critically wounded inner court students, and approached Xuanzi.
Zhang Lexuan's expression was a complex mix of grief and pain.
"Elder Xuan... you're finally here."
Her voice was heavy — tinged with sorrow, slight reproach, and a deep sense of guilt.
She knew of Elder Xuan's martial soul defect. Though she blamed him, she also couldn't place the entire burden on his shoulders. No one could have expected to encounter a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in the mixed zone. As the senior and team leader, she had failed to protect her juniors. That was her fault.
She felt immense remorse and grief, and while she was angry that Elder Xuan had faltered at a critical moment, she knew... luck had simply turned against them.
"Lexuan, child... what happened? Why are there only a few of you left? Where are the others?"
Xuanzi's voice trembled as he asked. His face was blank, eyes filled with dread. He didn't dare connect the severed limbs on the battlefield to those inner court students.
Zhang Lexuan bit down on her lower lip, so hard that blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, revealing a fragile side never seen before.
"After we got separated from you... we encountered a hundred-thousand-year Silvermoon Flood Emperor. The other juniors... they're all gone. If not for Xiao Lin and Chiyuan Douluo arriving in time, I... I would've..."
Boom!
"How... how could this happen?! What the hell was I doing?!"
Xuanzi fell to his knees. His body swayed, overtaken by guilt, agony, and sorrow — all crashing down at once.
This was a blow like no other.
They were just children.
They were the pride of Shrek Academy, inner court students — the most outstanding young talents in all of the continent. They had dazzling futures ahead of them.
And because of his mistake... eight bright souls were lost forever.
"How am I supposed to face their families? How am I supposed to face Elder Mu? How can I face the Academy?!"
Xuanzi held his head in his hands, whispering in anguish.
"Elder Xuan, the most urgent task now is to get the three wounded seniors and the others' remains back to Shrek Academy. Their injuries won't hold for much longer."
Ji Lin's words snapped the group out of their grief.
"You're right — yes, you're right! I need to take them back. I need to—"
Snapped out of his daze, Xuanzi staggered to his feet. His eyes welled with pain as he looked around at the battlefield.
He quickly took out a storage soul tool, gently retrieving the remains and relics of the eight fallen students, placing them inside one by one. Then, he took the three critically injured students from Ji Lin, and when his gaze fell upon Zhang Lexuan, he couldn't meet her eyes.
"Lexuan, child... you..."
Before he could finish, Ji Lin cut him off.
"Sister Lexuan came to Star Dou Forest to obtain her eighth soul ring. That Silvermoon Flood Emperor is nearly dead. I can't absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring yet, and Teacher Chiyuan doesn't need it. Rather than waste it, Lexuan-jie should take it. Its attribute matches hers perfectly."
"Xiao Lin... it's too valuable. I can't—"
Zhang Lexuan began to refuse, but Ji Lin silenced her with one sentence.
"Sister Lexuan, if you absorb its soul ring... it's like you're avenging those seniors."
"But can she even absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring? It'll tear her apart!"
Xuanzi asked worriedly. He was clearly rattled and unable to make decisions anymore.
"Don't worry, Elder Xuan. I have a way to help Lexuan-jie safely absorb the soul ring. You should focus on getting the wounded back now. If we delay too long, they could suffer permanent damage."
"All right... I trust you. I'll leave Lexuan in your care."
Hearing this, Xuanzi nodded, guilt flashing in his eyes as he looked one last time at Zhang Lexuan. Then, carrying the three unconscious students, he turned into a streak of yellow light and shot off toward Shrek City.