DD Black White [157-159] (Patreon)

Chapter 157: Punishment and Reward

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island, Sea God Pavilion.

Towering ancient trees and lush vegetation surrounded countless wooden cabins. Atop a golden tree that reached the clouds stood an exquisite three-story house, its atmosphere now somber and oppressive.

Yan Shaozhe's expression was grim and stern. His gaze swept across Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, and Xixi as he spoke in a deep voice, "Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Xixi, as official team members, your negligence and impulsiveness this time resulted in severe losses for the main team. The Academy has decided to give each of you a major demerit. I hope you remember this painful lesson!"

Hearing Yan Shaozhe's rebuke, Ling Luochen and the others bowed their heads in shame. Even Ma Xiaotao accepted her punishment without protest.

They knew that although Xuan Zi had abandoned his post, the core problem was their own arrogance and underestimation of the evil soul master Soul King, which led to tragedy.

Yao Haoxuan had died, Gongyang Mo and Chen Zifeng were left disabled—they all bore responsibility.

Huo Yuhao and the others stood nervously to the side; they understood the seriousness of this failure but dared not plead for the punished, only standing there in silence.

Yan Shaozhe sighed slightly, his gaze turning to the wheelchair-bound Gongyang Mo and the one-armed Chen Zifeng, his tone softening with a hint of regret: "Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, the Academy will do its utmost to craft replacement soul tools for you."

For soul masters, losing a limb was nearly a death sentence for advancing to Title Douluo.

Gongyang Mo's martial soul was already defective, so his situation was slightly better. Chen Zifeng, however, was truly gifted, making his fate all the more regrettable.

Even with the Academy's vast resources, turning him into a Title Douluo would be costly and inefficient, with uncertain results.

Frankly, neither Chen Zifeng nor Gongyang Mo had talent enough for the Academy to invest the immense resources needed for limb regeneration.

If their talents matched Huo Yuhao's, perhaps Shrek would unhesitatingly use the Golden Tree's invaluable life essence to regrow their limbs. But reality was cruel—this simply wasn't possible.

Even Dragon God Douluo Mu En only used the Golden Tree's life essence for Huo Yuhao after a Sea God Pavilion meeting and majority approval. Huo Yuhao's exceptional talent made this worthwhile.

Compared to him, Chen Zifeng and Gongyang Mo fell far short—certainly not enough for the Academy to risk the Golden Tree's life essence.

The Golden Tree was Shrek Academy's foundation and lifeblood. Unless absolutely necessary, its life force would never be touched.

Gongyang Mo and Chen Zifeng understood this logic. Still, hearing Yan Shaozhe's words crushed their last hope. They nodded in dejection, hearts full of bitterness.

Even if artificial soul tool limbs could restore some function, how could they compare to their own bodies? As inner court disciples, they had once cultivated under the Golden Tree's nurturing energy, always hoping the Academy would use it to heal them. Now, reality struck hard.

"All right, everyone's worked hard. Go rest. Remember, what was discussed here today must not leave this room," Yan Shaozhe waved, dismissing them.

"Yes!" Ma Xiaotao and the others replied softly, then left the Sea God Pavilion one by one.

Not only had they failed to bring glory or rewards from the tournament, but they were now severely punished. Everyone's mood was heavy.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao and the reserve members grew even more anxious, afraid to make a sound. The atmosphere grew more oppressive.

Noticing this, Yan Shaozhe suddenly smiled warmly, breaking the suffocating silence: "Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi—you seven stepped in at a critical moment and fought valiantly, even though you didn't win the championship. The Academy recognizes your efforts and will reward you."

Huo Yuhao and the others breathed a long sigh of relief, as did their teacher, Wang Yan.

The earlier punishment scene had frightened Wang Yan; he worried the Academy would discourage the reserves, impacting their sense of belonging.

Yan Shaozhe then announced their rewards: not just precious soul bones, but other rich resources as well. Wang Yan, for his leadership, also received a reward.

As the group was still basking in excitement, an aged voice drifted in: "Shaozhe, leave Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao to study with me. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi will learn from Xuan Zi; Jiang Nannan from Cai Mei'er; and He Caitou from Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo."

The sudden voice startled everyone. Yan Shaozhe respectfully answered, "Yes, teacher!"

Xuan Zi, Cai Mei'er, and Xian Lin'er appeared and led away Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou.

Soon, only Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao remained.

"Come with me," Yan Shaozhe smiled, beckoning them to follow as he led them to the Pavilion's top floor.

"It's you?" Entering the top floor, the three gasped in surprise at the elderly man reclining on a chair—the seemingly ordinary doorman at the freshman dorm! They never expected the kind, familiar old man to be not only Yan Shaozhe's teacher but the true master of the Sea God Pavilion—Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

"Sigh, I'm old now. I just enjoy seeing young people full of spirit," Mu En opened his eyes, his gentle gaze fixed on the three, a faint smile on his face.

He then focused on Huo Yuhao, speaking seriously: "Huo Yuhao, your talent is obvious to all. I don't care how many secrets you hide; I only hope your heart belongs to Shrek Academy. Will you take me as your master? If you agree, I'll do my utmost to heal your injuries."

Mu En's words thundered in Huo Yuhao's ears like a bolt from the blue.

He never imagined the Pavilion Master himself would offer to take him as a disciple, promising to heal his injuries. Even inner court elites like Gongyang Mo and Chen Zifeng hadn't received such a promise, yet he, Huo Yuhao, was given this rare chance.

"Yuhao!" "Class rep!"

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao urged him not to miss this opportunity.

"Teacher!" Huo Yuhao snapped back to reality, eyes brimming with emotion. Without hesitation, he knelt and kowtowed three times, formally acknowledging Mu En as his master.

How could he refuse? Mu En's strength was unfathomable as Yan Shaozhe's teacher, and he could also heal Yuhao's injuries—a blessing not to be missed.

After learning there was no hope for Gongyang Mo and Chen Zifeng to regrow their limbs, Huo Yuhao had briefly felt despair, since he too was disabled, having lost what was most important to a man. But the Academy had not let him down—now, gratitude and joy filled his heart.

"Good!" Mu En smiled with satisfaction. He had long noticed Huo Yuhao's hidden secrets but didn't mind. As long as Yuhao was loyal to Shrek, that was enough. Making him a disciple and healing his injuries would give him a greater sense of belonging—ensuring Shrek's future even if Mu En died and Xuan Zi couldn't hold on.

Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly, inwardly disapproving of Mu En's decision due to Huo Yuhao's many secrets, but Mu En's authority was absolute; he could only accept it.

With Huo Yuhao now his disciple, Mu En had achieved his goal and felt content.

He smiled at Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao next—both rare talents with twin martial souls. Given time and training, they'd surely become pillars of Shrek Academy.

Suddenly, Mu En's brow furrowed, his gaze fixed far away.

"Xuan Zi, get out here!"

A mighty voice boomed like thunder across Shrek Academy, ringing in every student and teacher's ears, revealing the speaker's unfathomable power.

At the same time, a terrifying pressure swept over the entire Academy, suffocating weaker students with fear. Fortunately, the experienced teachers quickly calmed everyone, averting chaos.

"What a strong aura! Teacher, I'll go check!" Yan Shaozhe's face grew solemn and he flashed away in a streak of golden light toward the source.

"Sigh, troubled times," Mu En murmured, already knowing who had arrived. He sensed more than a dozen strong auras behind the main one.

"Old Freak Du? You! What are you doing here?" Xuan Zi's voice echoed from afar.

A dazzling yellow light shot up, forming a protective barrier over the Academy, blocking the immense pressure.

Chapter 158: Xuan Zi's Rage

In a flash, Xuan Zi appeared high in the sky. Soul power surged as dozens of powerful auras soared upward, overwhelming and awe-inspiring.

"What a show of force from Shrek Academy! Are you trying to win by numbers?" a voice sneered outside the Academy.

A ghostly green flame blazed into the sky, and over a dozen powerful auras revealed themselves, their oppressive power distorting the air as they faced off against Shrek—both sides on edge.

Xuan Zi stood coldly in midair, wine gourd in hand, taking a swig before speaking icily, "Old Freak Du, what's with all this fanfare? Are you declaring war on Shrek Academy?"

A burly, imposing man stepped out from the green flames, his body radiating powerful soul power. The ghostly flames painted the sky an eerie green. This was the Body Sect's mighty leader, Body Douluo Du Busi.

Du Busi's green eyes glinted coldly as he stared hungrily at Xuan Zi. Behind him, beams of light shot skyward, each containing a shadowy figure—all elite Body Sect members, the weakest at Soul Douluo rank.

He'd come prepared, bringing plenty of powerhouses.

On Shrek's side, more than thirty top experts—Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, and others—stood with Xuan Zi, not to be outdone.

Most students watched in awe, excited by the prospect of a clash between so many powerhouses—a rare sight.

Compared to Body Sect's dozen-plus experts, Shrek had sent out over thirty, all at least eight-ring Soul Douluos or stronger, able to fly and hover at length. Nearly fifty such powerhouses in the air was an incredible lineup, no wonder the students' blood boiled.

They felt no fear—Shrek was the continent's top Academy, with a history of birthing seven deities. Here, they believed, they were safe.

Xuan Zi, confident, demanded, "Old Freak Du, why have you barged into Shrek Academy with such force?"

The name "Body Sect" caused a stir among the assembled Shrek experts. The Body Sect had once clashed head-on with Shrek and even had the upper hand, prompting Shrek to create the Sea God Pavilion to consolidate strength.

"Hmph, Xuan Zi, you injured my Body Sect men and now act innocent?" Du Busi said coldly.

Previously, Body Sect elders tried to seize Huo Yuhao for his body martial soul, but Xuan Zi stopped and punished them. Du Busi had come to take Yuhao and settle accounts.

"Haha, so it's about teaching your blind lackeys a lesson? They dared try to snatch a Shrek student right before me. I showed mercy by not killing them on the spot," Xuan Zi laughed disdainfully.

"Well, well! You beat my men and act righteous. Today, I'll see what gives you such confidence!"

Du Busi's aura surged, turning half the sky a sinister green. His muscles swelled, body growing into a hundred-meter giant—a primordial demon god. Nine soul rings appeared: two yellow, two purple, two black, three red—all radiating awe-inspiring power, especially the three ten-thousand-year red rings.

Soul power waves rippled outward, shredding the air.

Xuan Zi's gaze grew grave. He howled, unleashing yellow light to rival the green sky. But compared to Du Busi, his rings—two yellow, two purple, four black, one red—were clearly inferior, lacking two red rings and the soul bones they represented. Though both were level-98 Super Douluos, Xuan Zi was at a disadvantage.

With a dull boom, Xuan Zi was knocked back, his Godly Taotie Bull form revealed, exuding powerful energy but clearly outmatched.

The shockwaves distorted space; both sides' powerhouses retreated from the range of the two Super Douluos' battle.

Yan Shaozhe and the others watched anxiously, seeing Xuan Zi suppressed.

"Haha, Xuan Zi, you really haven't recovered from your old injury! That Snow Moon Douluo's sword intent still lingers. Terrifying!" Du Busi laughed, his voice rolling across Shrek Academy.

Those who knew the story were awed—the mighty Xuan Zi still bore wounds from Snow Moon Douluo.

In the inner court, Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming exchanged complicated looks—they had witnessed Xuan Zi's near-fatal wound by Jingliu first-hand, never expecting the sword intent to linger so many years.

Xuan Zi's face darkened at this public taunt. The sword intent had weakened over time but stubbornly persisted, especially after a reinjury during Huo Yuhao's assassination attempt. Now, publicly exposed, Xuan Zi was enraged.

Yellow light gathered, the Taotie Bull let out a strange roar, charging Du Busi for a desperate fight.

"Haha, bring it on!" Du Busi shouted, eager for battle.

Chapter 159: Mu En's Unease

Du Busi swung his mountain-sized fists with terrifying power at the massive Taotie Bull.

The two giants collided like planets, unleashing earth-shattering energy.

Booms rocked the sky, yellow and green lights interweaving in a fierce spectacle. Shockwaves swept for miles. If not for Shrek's experts raising barriers, much of the Academy would have been destroyed.

The green giant strode across the sky, each step shaking the world. His fists hammered the yellow bull.

Thunderous crashes echoed. The force drove all onlookers from the sky to safety. Neither side intervened—full war would be disastrous.

Though Du Busi suppressed Xuan Zi, he hadn't used his ten-thousand-year soul skills—he didn't want to force an irreparable conflict. Xuan Zi, despite his anger, restrained his power to avoid harming the Academy below.

In the Pavilion, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao watched in awe. The terrifying energy left them pale with shock and reverence. Even through layers of soul power shields, the destructive force was tangible.

At their current level, approaching the battle would mean instant death with no chance to resist.

Mu En narrowed his eyes, also watching the sky. He felt that letting the students witness such a battle would deepen their understanding of true power and spur their training.

But for some reason, Mu En felt a growing unease. Try as he might, he couldn't pinpoint the source. He knew Du Busi was strong, but even half-crippled, Mu En could still suppress him with ease. What truly worried him was an indefinable intuition, a sense that something momentous was coming—something that would affect both Shrek Academy and himself.

Thus, he chose to wait and watch.

In the sky, the battle reached its peak. The two unleashed a massive mushroom cloud, coloring the sky with rainbows. Space was torn apart, a storm of energy ravaged the world.

The green vortex devoured everything, the yellow meteor shower sliced space itself. The green giant grabbed the bull's horns, the two locked in a contest of strength.

With a ripping sound, black cracks appeared in the void, emitting terrifying suction as if to swallow all.

Distant starlight could be glimpsed through the fissures, adding to the scene's dread.

"Du Busi, you madman!" Xuan Zi shouted in anger and frustration.

"Haha, I don't want to die with you, let go!" Du Busi laughed wildly, hurling the Taotie Bull away and retreating from the dangerous zone.

Black rays shot out from the cracks, slicing through everything. A distant mountain was cut in half as if it were tofu, collapsing with a roar and shaking the earth.

As the black light faded, the space began to heal under the world's laws, as if nothing had happened.

Du Busi and Xuan Zi returned to human form, a kilometer apart.

Du Busi laughed mockingly, "Xuan Zi, you're getting weaker with age!"

Xuan Zi snapped, "Old freak, when are you going to die?"

"Bullshit, I'm only twenty years older than you! If you're not dead, how could I be?"

Xuan Zi's eyes lit up—he'd found a sore spot. He taunted, "If you have the guts, live a thousand years, old turtle! Matches your color."

"You're asking for it!" Du Busi, most sensitive about his age, was furious.

He raised his hands, green arcs crackling as a massive green orb formed above his head.

Xuan Zi tensed, transforming again into the Taotie Bull. His horns shone with white light, gathering power.

Du Busi slammed the orb down like a meteor. The thirty-meter green sphere radiated deadly poison, corroding space as it fell.

Xuan Zi unleashed a bolt of white lightning from his horns to meet it.

Boom!

The explosion created massive shockwaves, shaking the sky for kilometers. Du Busi manipulated the green light to trap Xuan Zi, black cracks forming around him with terrifying suction.

Xuan Zi desperately used yellow light to patch the cracks, knowing that falling into the void meant certain death.

Seizing the moment, Du Busi formed another green orb, this time a hundred meters across, turning the sky an eerie green.

Xuan Zi knew this attack was extraordinary. All nine of his soul rings flared, yellow light gathering into a giant weapon—a chicken leg, of all things, his favorite food, now a hundred meters long.

The green sun descended, the chicken leg swept up to meet it.

Boom!

The collision tore space into a massive black hole, its suction pulling in everything nearby—even clouds vanished.

"Not good!" Yan Shaozhe and the others turned pale—the black hole threatened the Academy itself.

"Sigh!" A deep, old sigh sounded.

A dragon's roar split the sky. A golden light soared upward, spreading gentle ripples that isolated the black hole's suction. The golden light repaired the cracks, neutralizing the destruction until the sky was calm once more.

"What…?" Du Busi was wide-eyed with shock. He and Xuan Zi knew they couldn't repair such damage, only wait for the world's laws to heal it. Yet someone had restored it instantly.

"Ultimate Douluo!" Du Busi exclaimed, shaken. He never imagined Shrek hid another peak-level expert besides Xuan Zi!