Chapter 272: Shrek's Reputation Keeps Falling!
"Stop!"
Yun Ming's tone was calm, but the force behind the word froze Cai Yue'er in her tracks.
If he allowed her to leave now, who knew what chaos she might cause this time? She had already bathed the continent in blood once before.
But Cai Yue'er didn't intend to stop. The next instant, the pressure of a near‑divine being spread through the entire Sea God Pavilion.
Suddenly, no one dared move.
They still remembered that day—when Yun Ming, in fury, had struck down elders within this very hall. Even now, most of them shuddered at the memory.
Yun Ming's gaze turned cold as his voice carried like thunder through still air.
"You don't listen to me anymore, is that it?"
"I…"
Cai Yue'er bit her lip. Meeting his eyes, all her rage faltered into confusion. She stood trembling, unsure of what to do.
"Come back. Sit."
Four simple words that hit harder than a fist.
Her body shook as if on reflex, a flash of memory washing over her—back when Shrek had dragged her home in disgrace.
Though she hated it, Cai Yue'er eventually turned and sat back down.
Because this was Yun Ming.
He was the one person she couldn't defy.
Even the other elders straightened, frightened of the icy undertone in Yun Ming's voice. None dared speak—or even shift in their seats.
Nobody wanted to be the next one he beat half to death.
He pondered quietly. Whatever her intentions, letting her out now wasn't an option. The last thing Shrek needed was more trouble under its name.
"You wish to leave Shrek Academy?" Yun Ming asked slowly. "Then find a man first—someone who can continue your martial soul."
Her martial soul, the Silver Moon, was one of the academy's hereditary spirits—like the Evilfire Phoenix or the Bright Holy Dragon.
Despite generations of change, these soul lines remained carefully guarded within the academy's core—never to spread beyond Shrek.
Except, of course, when some bloodlines simply died out, such as the ancient devourer dharma, the Taotie, ten millennia ago.
Hearing him casually suggest that she "find a man," Cai Yue'er's eyes went wide. Anger and heartbreak collided inside her chest.
He knows. He must know how I feel about him.
And still, he dared say this?
To tell her to just find someone else—
Was that mockery? Or cruelty?
If not for his crushing spiritual pressure, she would have stormed right out again. Her gaze burned into him like a blade.
You bastard… how can you speak such nonsense?
But Yun Ming remained unmoved. Over the years, he had grown used to admiration, affection, obsession—even worship. It was nothing new.
And yet… he still sighed quietly.
If A Li—his A Li—had ever looked at him the way Cai Yue'er did, maybe he wouldn't have had to deceive her back then.
"Enough," Yun Ming said softly. "The dead are gone. What matters now is how we deal with what comes next."
"This tragedy doesn't just involve Shrek's students," he continued. "Several of the victims were from Monster Academy—students newly integrated into our ranks. It's impossible to conceal this anymore."
Everyone's expressions sank.
"How do we handle public opinion—and the fury of the families?"
No one had anticipated such devastation. Who could have imagined that an Evil Soul Master's technique could bypass even a Super Douluo's reaction?
Something like this hadn't happened since the time of the Holy Spirit Cult's "Grand Elder" ten thousand years ago—a scandal so shameful that its details had been erased from history.
And now… it had happened again.
The Star Luo Federation might shield them from the immediate fallout, but Yun Ming knew well that protection had a limit.
Shrek had offered little in return lately, yet constantly demanded support. Eventually, that imbalance would turn to resentment.
He closed his eyes briefly, then spoke. "From this day onward, every Shrek student will be equipped with a defensive soul tool."
"All of them?" Feng Wuyu asked, startled.
Such tools weren't cheap. Active defensive soul equipment—especially ones capable of withstanding serious attacks—cost immense sums. And Shrek, rebuilt from ruin, was far from wealthy.
If the devices were meant to withstand even Titled Douluo‑level strikes… the cost would be astronomical.
Even with Tang Sect's help—if Tang Sect still had influence—that would be difficult. And now, Shrek didn't even have a full soul‑engineering division.
An awkward silence followed. Then someone suggested weakly, "What about single‑use shields?"
Those at least were affordable.
In the old days of the Divine Tang Sect Era, legendary devices known as Invincible Shields had been capable of completely blocking deadly blows, even from greater opponents.
They used condensed energy from rare "golden crystals," relics of the Sun and Moon Empire's obsolete technology.
Once infused with soul power, the energy would ignite, releasing a brief but flawless barrier.
Even the weakest, fifth‑rank Invincible Shield could hold off up to a Soul King's full strike. A sixth‑rank version could withstand an attack from a Titled Douluo—if only for three seconds.
Higher grades offered even greater protection.
But such tools had long been deemed wasteful with the rise of personal battle armor, which provided permanent defensive boosts two levels above its wearer's strength.
Still, some craftsmen continued producing leftover one‑time devices from spare parts. They were rare—but cheap.
Yun Ming knew this would strain their finances severely. Every inch of the academy's reconstruction already demanded money, materials, and effort.
But he clenched his jaw.
"Even if we're poor," he said, "we won't let our children suffer. One‑time shields are acceptable—but they must be strong enough to withstand a Super Douluo's blow."
"If we'd just had two more seconds of defense back then… this wouldn't have happened."
Feng Wuyu exhaled. "That's… something, at least."
It would empty their coffers—but it was better than burying more students.
"As for the Star Luo Federation," Yun Ming added, turning toward an elderly figure, "Elder Li… you'll go in person."
Elder Li froze. He was the very one who, before the mission, had stopped Yun Ming from accompanying the students—insisting they needed a trial experience.
Now, the consequence of that choice weighed on him heavily.
"Yes," he said quietly, bowing his head. "I'll go myself."
He could only hope the Federation would be understanding.
Accidents like this… no one could truly prevent.
(END CHAPTER)
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