A mere token—light and unassuming—should never have been enough to make a Soul Sage lose all composure.
But if that token came from a true Inner Court student of Shrek Academy, and that student held the moral high ground?
Then it was a different matter entirely.
Now, the pressure had shifted to the Star Luo Imperial Academy.
Everyone's faces turned pale. Their hearts pounded wildly. None dared imagine what would happen if Xu Tianxi truly marched into Star Luo City and presented this incident to His Majesty the Emperor.
Would death even be considered a mercy at that point?
No one doubted Xu Tianxi's identity. A person who *crushed a peak Soul Ancestor with just his fists and feet—without even invoking his Martial Soul—*could only be described as a monster among monsters.
And that Inner Court badge from Shrek? No one had ever forged one.
No one could. No one dared.
Besides, who else but a true Shrek disciple would dare openly humiliate the Star Luo Imperial Academy's students and teachers in a military-controlled town? Brazen didn't even begin to describe it.
Outside of Shrek's terrifying Inner Court enforcers—those continent-roving powerhouses—what other faction had such audacity?
They hadn't just kicked an iron wall—they'd slammed headfirst into a slab of alloy used to forge Tier Nine Soul Tools.
No one in the tavern dared speak. All eyes were fixed on this young man—a Shrek disciple who seemed poised to burn down the heavens.
Nor could anyone ignore the oppressive threat of the two Soul Sages at his side.
That old man's soul ring configuration might have seemed ordinary, but the array of high-grade Soul Tool weaponry he wielded was unlike anything most of them had ever seen.
So this was the terror of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department.
As for the other man, cold and expressionless like the god of death, it was almost a given he had also come from Shrek.
After all, what kind of monster hadn't come out of Shrek at this point?
And then, the storm's eye—Xu Tianxi himself—spoke again.
This time, his gaze passed over the crowd and locked onto Xu Jiujing, voice low and brimming with disdain.
"Oh, I see now. I didn't recognize Her Highness the Crown Princess of the Star Luo Empire earlier. Forgive my poor manners. With the Crown Princess present, I suppose that instructor's words weren't just bluster after all!"
"Excellent. Excellent. Truly, what a fine Star Luo Empire. What an illustrious Imperial Academy! I won't bother going to Star Luo City after all. I'll return straight to Shrek!"
"I will personally deliver your instructor's exact words to Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan, and to Headmaster Yan Shaozhe. I'll let them render judgment!"
The moment those words fell, Xu Jiujing felt like she had been struck by thunder from the heavens.
This was a disaster—no, a cataclysm in the making!
Given her sensitive status, if this incident wasn't resolved properly, it could become the biggest diplomatic crisis the Star Luo Empire had faced in thousands of years.
No matter how much her brother loved her, if necessary, he would sacrifice her to appease Shrek's fury—for the good of the Empire.
If she couldn't stop this man now, even if she survived, even if she continued cultivating, she would never again have a place in the spotlight. Her dreams would shatter like glass.
A thousand silent screams echoed through her mind.
Her snow-white cheeks flushed with panic as she raised her hands, waving anxiously and pleading:
"Please, you're misunderstanding! Our Star Luo Imperial Academy has never sought to oppose Shrek Academy!"
"Our royal family, my... my brother, and the other imperial princes and princesses—they all revere and admire Shrek deeply! We would welcome Shrek into the Star Luo Empire with open arms. How could we ever harbor thoughts of hostility?"
Xu Tianxi sneered.
"Welcome Shrek into your empire? Hah! Sounds to me like your Empire wants to swallow Shrek whole!"
"You think we don't know about all the little tricks you've been playing behind the scenes these years? You truly think we're blind?"
"No, no! Absolutely not! The Star Luo Empire would never be discontent with Shrek! You've misunderstood—please believe me!"
Xu Jiujing shook her hands faster than a windmill, spewing out words she herself didn't believe. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
But Xu Tianxi pressed on coldly.
"Let me tell you this: the reason our Academy ignored your petty provocations isn't because we failed to notice—but because a true dragon doesn't concern itself with the opinions of ants. That is Headmaster Yan's teaching!"
"Our ten thousand years of Shrek's glory is not something your mere four-thousand-year-old royal clan can even begin to comprehend!"
He mimicked Headmaster Yan Shaozhe's tone and demeanor with uncanny accuracy, his Mirror Moon Mirage soul skill creating a vivid, lifelike illusion.
Every word stabbed at the heart of the Star Luo imperial pride. His disdain was ferocious and unrelenting.
If there were Oscars on the Douluo Continent, Xu Tianxi was already the clear winner for Best Actor.
Today, he would push his performance to its limits—and ensure that even the composed Xu Jiujing would carry a deep, bitter hatred for Shrek.
So be it.
Let the alliance between the Three Empires and Shrek end today. I'll act your entire empire off the stage!
Lifting his chin high, Xu Tianxi's features radiated fervor and scorn as he proclaimed:
"Shrek Academy's history stretches back ten thousand years—ten thousand years, do you understand?!"
"Under the leadership of our ancestor Tang San, we shattered the tyranny of the evil Spirit Hall! From that day forward, Shrek has reigned supreme above all others! No power on the continent dares surpass us!"
He raised his arms high, face full of sanctity and righteous fire. Then, his expression turned mocking as he looked down upon them all.
"We have no interest in meddling with royal succession because we possess nobler ideals. We have long outgrown your petty power plays and grotesque ambitions."
"A true soul master should have the courage to look down upon the world—not get caught up in childish games."
"Do you believe that, one day, even if the Star Luo Empire no longer exists, Shrek will still stand tall over this continent? Do you?!"
"Empires may crumble and names may fade—but our river flows eternal! Shrek's status and glory will endure forever. We are and always will be the number one academy on the Douluo Continent!"
"We nurture the best talents. But we will never sully ourselves with your dirty little squabbles—unless you bring death upon yourselves."
Xu Jiujing could not respond. Her lips trembled, her mind blank.
These words cut too deep.
He hadn't merely stepped on the dignity of the Star Luo Empire—he had stomped it into the ground and ground it beneath his heel.
And the worst part?
From a soul master's perspective, he wasn't wrong.
They had always known this. Shrek had the power to topple any empire. The only reason they hadn't done so?
They didn't care.
They saw themselves as divine dragons soaring above the clouds, far above the petty kingdoms of men. And with their independent taxation rights, foreign diplomacy, overwhelming martial might, and the Sea God Pavilion controlling internal affairs...
Shrek City was already a nation unto itself.
A self-proclaimed neutral state that stole their best talents, devoured their economic and cultivation resources, and yet held itself aloof—above blame, above reproach.
And Shrek would survive even if the Star Luo Empire fell to ashes.
Could they stand by and watch the Empire burn, unmoved?
Absolutely.
They took all the benefits, all the acclaim, and none of the responsibility—worse than Spirit Hall had ever been!
Back then, at least there weren't so many rampaging evil soul masters!
In that moment, Xu Jiujing made a silent vow.
If she survived this—if she made it back to Star Luo City alive—she would convince Xu Jiawei to begin the long, arduous process of dismantling Shrek Academy.
If not one generation, then two.
If not two, then a hundred.
No matter how many generations it took, they would eradicate this blight from their world.
She didn't know how many in Shrek shared Xu Tianxi's views—but she was sure it wasn't just him.
Especially with how Shrek's Inner Court disciples behaved out in the world...
And he kept referring to Yan Shaozhe so intimately. That, combined with his terrifying strength, made it all too likely that this man was a direct disciple of Shrek's Headmaster himself.
That same Yan Shaozhe had once made an emperor from the Dou Ling Empire—who'd failed to graduate from Shrek's Outer Court—bow and pay respects without complaint!
There was no other option. For the dignity of her Empire, and to avenge today's disgrace...
Shrek must be destroyed.
But first—she had to survive. And more importantly—make sure he didn't go back to Shrek to report what happened.
Her teeth pierced her lip. Blood welled up. Fingernails dug into her palms.
Then, she did something that shocked everyone in the tavern.
She cast aside all royal dignity and pride.
Lifting the hem of her imperial gown, Xu Jiujing dropped to her knees.
"To your Excellency, I—Xu Jiujing—acknowledge that this misunderstanding has spiraled beyond repair. I dare not ask for your forgiveness. I dare not ask that you believe me."
"But I beg you, for the sake of my title as the Crown Princess of the Star Luo Empire, please spare the lives of my companions."
"Do not trouble Headmaster Yan over this matter. If atonement is needed... I shall offer my own life."
Her golden hair fell over her face, hiding the turbulent emotions beneath.
She was gambling—gambling that this madman, so arrogant and disdainful of all beneath him, would not deign to strike her down.
Betting on his pride.
Shrek... I, Xu Jiujing, will never forget this day's humiliation. The shame you inflict today... I will return a hundredfold.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin