Chapter 273: Is Shrek Academy Just Useless?
Star Luo Federation, Star Luo Imperial Capital.
In recent days, Emperor Dai Tianling had actually been in a decent mood. For once, there had been no disasters—only good news.
Yes, the plan to revive Tang Sect had failed, and a hefty ransom had been paid to bring the Star Luo exchange delegation home from Douluo—but that was minor.
Money could always be earned back. Lives, however, were priceless.
He leaned back and rubbed his temples, pushing the stack of memorials away.
It was time for a short break.
A little rest wouldn't hurt.
"Despite some setbacks, my Star Luo still thrives," he murmured in satisfaction.
Just then, the doors burst open. A pale court official stumbled in, panic written all over his face.
"Your Majesty! Terrible news—Evil Soul Masters have attacked!"
"What!?"
Dai Tianling jolted upright, the pleasant calm on his face shattering instantly.
The very name "Evil Soul Masters" carried dread—wherever they appeared, blood and ruin followed.
"What happened?"
"Your Majesty," the official stammered, "the Shrek Academy delegation returning from Douluo University was ambushed by Evil Soul Masters! And when Shrek sent students for rescue… more than half were killed—including nearly all of Monster Academy's students!"
Monster Academy—his pride.
It had been absorbed into Shrek as a gesture of goodwill, a sign of the Federation's full support and trust in the so‑called "number one academy."
Now they were telling him—
Disaster.
People… dead?
Shrek students dead?
The future of the Star Luo Federation dead!?
They weren't merely Shrek's disciples—they were his investment, the future power of his empire, nurtured with resources, faith, and expectation!
And now—half gone?
Dai Tianling's vision swam. The mountain of paperwork before him seemed to mock his earlier optimism.
He froze for what felt like a lifetime—then slammed his palm onto the table.
Bang!
The imperial desk quaked, priceless inks and brushes tumbling to the floor.
"Half dead!? Monster Academy annihilated!?"
His voice came out a hiss, trembling with shock and rage.
"What is Shrek Academy doing—are they useless!?"
He seized the trembling messenger by the collar, his eyes bloodshot.
"Explain! Which Evil Soul Master? Where were Shrek's teachers—their protectors, their 'illustrious elders'? Were they all worthless!? And why were Monster Academy's students out there in danger!?"
The terrified official stammered through fragments of his report.
"R‑reporting to Your Majesty… on the way back from Douluo… they fell into an ambush… the assailants used a terrifying technique called Corpse Explosion. Even Shrek's Super Douluo escort couldn't react in time. Casualties were catastrophic. The Monster Academy students… newly transferred… lacked experience… under that assault, v‑very few survived…"
"Bastards!!" Dai Tianling hurled him aside. The man crashed to the floor, shaking.
"Shrek—again! Always Shrek!"
He had once believed drawing the continent's greatest academy into alliance would strengthen Star Luo—an academy that had bred gods.
After all, the Dai family itself had produced two gods in ancient history.
He had thought merging their prestige would make Star Luo unstoppable.
But the reality?
Barely a few years—and disaster upon disaster.
Money poured into rebuilding their campus. Monster Academy handed over to them entirely.
And now this—dead students, wasted resources, humiliation.
First they made Dragon Valley vanish—the empire's most sacred land. Then came the failed Tang Sect scheme, costing more treasure to ransom back his envoys. And now an even greater calamity—his children, the elite he'd entrusted to them, slaughtered!
Could there be traitors within Shrek's upper ranks!?
Dai Tianling's composure broke entirely.
Was he expected to clean up their mess again?
His chest heaved like that of an enraged lion.
"I trusted them! I gave them my future! We sent those students for training, not to die!"
He paced furiously across the study, every step shaking the marble floor.
Even the ransom money—what a cruel joke now. That humiliation was nothing compared to this.
Gold could be earned.
But these young talents—the finest Monster Academy had ever raised—were Star Luo's future, its lifeblood, its hope.
Even after merging with Shrek, Dai Tianling had believed that when they graduated, their hearts would still belong to Star Luo.
So what if they'd been attacked by Evil Soul Masters!?
Where was Shrek's vaunted Sea God Pavilion?
Where were all their mighty Titled Douluo?
Were they all just there to look pretty?
He roared inwardly, fury boiling hot and cold at once.
This wasn't just tragedy—it was a national wound.
Even under the Federation system, Star Luo still carried the weight of the Dai dynasty's bloodline. The emperor remained the highest authority, unchallenged in all but name.
And yet many had long whispered of change, of abandoning monarchy entirely—making Star Luo a true republic like the Douluo Federation.
The Dai family could not allow that.
They'd already survived one near‑loss of the throne. They'd learned the rule: only what stays in your own hands is truly yours.
And it had been his own hand that welcomed Shrek here.
Now each scandal struck his face anew.
Shrek had contributed nothing—only consumed. They devoured Star Luo's wealth, resources, faith—and now, its youth.
This was more than a political disaster—it was a direct strike at his imperial power.
No doubt, enemies in court would already be sharpening their knives.
"The worst of it," Dai Tianling muttered, eyes narrowing to slits, "is Monster Academy…"
Those weren't just students—they were heirs, each backed by powerful families across the Federation.
And now—dead, all of them.
"Shrek Academy…" His voice dropped to a growl, sharp as steel.
"So this is the 'number‑one academy under heaven'? Scandal after scandal, reputation in ruins—and now you dare bring catastrophe to my Star Luo as well!"
"Your incompetence will not be paid for with Star Luo blood!"
This time, Dai Tianling's fury truly exploded, echoing through the Imperial Palace.
(END CHAPTER)
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