Douluo Continent: We agreed on a simulation, but they've come to life?

Lu Cheng gently embraced Meng Hongchen, his eyes calm.

"Waaah... Grandpa, Grandpa was taken away by the royal family. He was imprisoned early this morning, and our house was ransacked. All the valuables were taken away, nothing was left. I heard that this matter may also affect my brother..." Meng Hongchen sobbed softly.

She was terrified; she never expected the Sun Moon Empire to react so violently.

Her grandfather was imprisoned, and if she hadn't pulled some strings, she wouldn't have been able to get out of the interrogation room so quickly.

"..."

Lu Cheng was slightly taken aback, his eyes twitching. As expected of the old emperor of the Sun Moon Empire... This cold-blooded method of discarding someone after they've served their purpose seems quite normal now.

He originally thought that the Sun Moon Empire would gradually put Jing Hongchen in shackles and deal with him slowly and coldly. After all, Jing Hongchen was a high-ranking official who had made great contributions to the empire. Even his grandson had been sent to Shrek Academy as a hostage. But he never expected that the Sun Moon Emperor would be so ruthless and decisive, putting him in prison as soon as he said he would.

Not to mention ransacking their homes... they left them absolutely no way out.

Xu Jiangliu, the head of the Royal Soul Guidance Corps of the Sun Moon Empire, has been actively recruiting researchers from the Mingde Hall.

It clearly states that the royal family wants Mingdetang, and no other force is allowed to touch it. If they want to swallow Mingdetang, it means that Mingdetang may cease to exist in the future and be gradually divided up by various forces.

In the future, forces like Mingdetang will no longer exist. Instead, they will be replaced by... legions that combine combat, scientific research, and medicine.

In a way, this could be considered a "small" internal struggle within the Sun Moon Empire.

After all, the royal family's power is mainly concentrated in the army, and they can't get involved in the academic factions. Mingde Hall was managed by Kong Deming and later became an impenetrable block by Jing Hongchen, so they couldn't even do business like trading rare metals.

Now, many legions backed by princes of the Sun and Moon royal family have surged in like sharks that have smelled blood.

However, Xu Jiangliu was the fattest, his mouth dripping with oil.

But ultimately...

This is a good thing.

Only in this way can Jing Hongchen be completely disillusioned and see clearly just how cold-blooded and ruthless the Xu family he serves truly is. Once they lose their usefulness, they will be cruelly abandoned without a trace of warmth.

However, we'll have to wait a little longer.

When Jing Hongchen could no longer bear it.

A prison break.

That's right. Under his command is the Body Sect, a rebellious and treacherous bandit group. Now, their blades are gleaming. The reason they sent everyone away earlier was merely to deceive the Sun Moon Empire. When they return to break into the prison, the old emperor of the Sun Moon Empire will be completely dumbfounded.

He was quite looking forward to the day when he could step on the old emperor of the Sun and Moon and announce the resurgence of the Body Sect.

"Don't worry, Ah Xiao... cough cough, I've already sent someone to Shrek Academy. As for Master Jing, the old emperor won't touch him, at least not now. His master, Kong Deming, is a pillar of the empire and still holds considerable authority."

Lu Cheng reassured him, but there were still some things he didn't say.

Kong Deming is indeed very strong and has extremely high authority, but the problem is that this teacher is very... indecisive, and even somewhat submissive in his eyes.

For the sake of the Sun Moon Empire, he was willing to give up many things and make constant concessions and retreats. The old emperor was too good at manipulating people's hearts. Even if the old emperor took the opportunity to kill Jing Hongchen, Kong Deming would only be angry for a moment, and that was it. He did not want the Sun Moon Empire to be disturbed, not even in the slightest.

Well, today a message was sent by carrier pigeon that Du Busi and his gang had brazenly abducted Xiao Hongchen from Shrek Academy. His deadly poison had caused Mu En's hair to turn even whiter, leaving him no choice but to watch helplessly as Xiao Hongchen laughed and left in a carefree manner.

After leaving their mark on the mainland, they gave the illusion that the Body Sect of the Sun Moon Empire had returned to the Heavenly Soul Empire. They also arranged for the placement of valuable rare metals and countless soul tools they had plundered. Furthermore, they brought along the six titled elders of the Body Sect, as well as many second-generation disciples of the Body Sect.

Currently, at least thirty people, all of whom are at least Soul Douluo-level experts from the Body Sect, are heading towards the core of the Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu.

This is a battle that will almost exhaust all resources. Not only will they have to demonstrate the ferocity of the Body Sect, but they will also have to step on the Sun Moon Empire, become famous throughout the continent, and launch a recruitment campaign.

"Really?" Meng Hongchen's eyes were blurry with tears, filled with entanglement and complexity.

She caused her grandfather to be imprisoned and put in danger. If her grandfather dies because of her, she will not live on alone.

"Um……"

Lu Cheng nodded earnestly.

"Don't feel guilty. Given the environment in which Master Jing is, it's cold and cruel to discard someone after they've served their purpose. Isn't it a good thing that he left?"

P.S.: There will be another chapter at 1 AM.

Chapter 192 A Glimpse into the Lives of Shrek Academy: Regret? Annoyance? If only Lu Cheng hadn't been expelled back then...

Shrek Academy.

Sea God Pavilion.

Outside, the surface of Lake Poseidon rippled, and inside, the atmosphere was just as turbulent and surging. All the elders were present, with not a single one absent. Even many unfamiliar faces who had already laid down their responsibilities at Shrek Academy and had been traveling outside for years were all summoned back by Moon.

"Shao Zhe, tell me about it."

Moon sat at the head of the table. Compared to his former hunched and withered appearance, his body was now more robust, no longer a withered ancient tree. The spiritual power in his meridians flowed like a trickle, and the flaws in his body were roughly plugged, so that his life force no longer flowed away as before. With Shrek Academy's foundation, it was naturally impossible to achieve this. The only thing they could do was...

But half of his hair was dyed white overnight, giving him an aged and desolate look that saddened many of the elders.

"The Body Sect launched a surprise attack on our academy yesterday, forcibly taking away the exchange student disciples from the Sun Moon Empire... Xiao Hongchen." Yan Shaozhe's expression was equally solemn, lacking his usual warm and gentle demeanor, and instead filled with anger and hatred.

"The Body Sect, it's the Body Sect again!"

Xuanzi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, crushing the chicken bone in his hand into dust. He roared in a loud voice, "It must have been that little beast's idea. Otherwise, given how well I know that old monster, he certainly wouldn't have acted so decisively."

“That little bastard left our Shrek Academy and knows the layout of the city…”

"Shut up," Mu En said softly. "You're all wrong. Let Shao Zhe finish."

“Yes…” Xuanzi sat down awkwardly, scratched his head, and took another swig of gourd wine. He felt a little depressed. He happened to be away when the Body Sect launched a surprise attack yesterday. When he rushed back, the other side had already made a clean retreat. It is said that when they left, they saw two female students from the outer courtyard whose martial souls were hair, and they even snatched them away.

Lin Huiqun and Song Yunzhi had no time to tease Xuanzi at this moment, but instead kept their eyes fixed on Yan Shaozhe.

The latter sighed softly: "Elders, the pressure that Shrek Academy is facing at this Sea God Pavilion meeting is unprecedented."

"Because according to my teacher's and my deductions, the scene we least wanted to see has happened. That little beast... has already distributed all the immortal herbs to the top experts of the Body Sect. Judging from the strength of those Body Sect experts who recklessly broke into Shrek Academy... at least most of the immortal herbs in the Immortal Herb Garden have been absorbed by them." Yan Shaozhe looked around and said with grief and indignation.

"What?!" Song Yunzhi, who always had a fiery temper, glared angrily. "He actually gave all the immortal herbs to the Body Sect? What an ingrate! The academy gave him a lot of benefits back then. Shao Zhe also said that the early stage was to train him, and after he officially joined Shrek Academy, how could he not receive benefits? It's really... a case of good intentions being taken for granted."

"..."

The elders were all indignant, cursing Lu Cheng for being ungrateful and forgetting who had nurtured him and brought him to the competition.

As for the sensitive issue of Zhang Lexuan, it was simply ignored. After all, everyone knew that this was done by Elder Mu, but Shrek Academy was the number one academy on the continent, a place of righteousness and integrity. Wasn't this all for the sake of the continent...?

"In short, Poison Failure has already advanced to the Limit Douluo level," Mu En continued, picking up where Yan Shaozhe left off.

"..."

The scene suddenly fell silent.

The combat power of a Limit Douluo is devastating on the entire continent, let alone the fact that the Body Sect possesses such power, and this Immortal Herb Garden should rightfully belong to them...

I got even angrier.

That was clearly a treasure left to them by Tang San's ancestors, yet it was usurped by others. It's truly despicable and a terrible waste.

"I thought that little beast was raised on stone and had no heart, but he's all over the Body Sect members, acting like he'd give them his heart and soul." Lin Huiqun mocked in a sinister tone.

You must understand, those immortal herbs brought them far more than just a slight boost to their combat power. They were treasures that could enhance their talent and aptitude, defy fate, and even offer the hope of reaching Elder Mu's realm and extending their lives by over a hundred years!

Who wouldn't be angry in this situation?

Even Yan Shaozhe had a gloomy face. He suddenly thought that if he hadn't been so perfunctory and targeted towards Lu Cheng back then, and had been more patient and sincere, would things have turned out this way?

But soon, he shook his head, shaking off all distracting thoughts.

He forced a smile: "However, the reason I summoned you all here is not to be so melancholic. Things haven't gotten that serious yet. It's just that I'm worried about the Body Sect invading again, so I've called you elders back to the academy to take on the responsibility of protecting it."

"Gentlemen, don't forget, we still have..."

As he spoke, he pointed to the sky with a rather mysterious air.

"As for Xiao Hongchen's abduction, let's keep it a secret from the Sun Moon Empire for now. Otherwise, if they really investigate, Bei Bei and the others will probably suffer as well," Yan Shaozhe concluded.

……

"teacher."

Top floor of the Sea God Pavilion.

The wind is surging.

After seeing off the many elders, Yan Shaozhe returned here. He suppressed his smile and looked at the old man who had left behind only a weathered back. Even though he had been healed by the golden ancient wood for a long time and the leak of his life force had been temporarily filled, he was still like a candle in the wind.

"Shao Zhe, do you think... I did something wrong?"

Moon's tone was somewhat forlorn.

“Teacher is right.” Yan Shaozhe said with a firm look in his eyes, “What is wrong is this world. Shrek Academy guards the border of the Star Dou Great Forest, protecting the people of the continent from the invasion of soul beasts for generations. Located at the core of the three kingdoms, we restrain them from fighting each other. At the same time, we also shoulder the responsibility of resisting the covetous Sun Moon Empire. We did the right thing. Shrek Academy cannot fall.”

"Even if it comes at a price..."

Moon sighed softly and changed the subject, saying, "About... God, do you believe in Him?"

"What does the teacher mean?" Yan Shaozhe's pupils dilated, and he looked around.

"Speak." Moon slowly closed his eyes, his tone calm and composed.

"I believe it, but it's difficult..."

Yan Shaozhe said bitterly.

It's fine to boost morale and inspire people on a regular basis, but you can't keep fooling yourself until you start deceiving yourself too.

The so-called gods of the upper realm spoke eloquently, painting a rosy picture, but what did they actually do? Their only help to Shrek Academy was bestowing upon them a "promising" son, whose talent was actually inferior to some of the top inner court geniuses, especially those like Lu Cheng who had previously left. They also used ancient golden wood to help their teacher replenish some of his physical deficiencies, allowing him to barely no longer rely on a wheelchair. But…

To be honest, it looks like a miracle on the surface, but what is it really like?

Having only taken one hit from the Poison Undying, Mu En was already like a candle flickering in the wind, half of his hair turning white.

It should be noted that when Mu En was young, his combat power was absolutely at the peak of his age group on the continent. His dominance was so strong that no one except Long Xiaoyao could match him. Logically speaking, in his normal state as a Limit Douluo, he could at least fight to a draw, if not completely crush Poison Undying.

However, the help that the so-called ancestors of Tang San can provide them now is almost non-existent.

Is the divine realm really that optimistic?

not necessarily.

Especially now that Shrek Academy is facing a generational gap, with the older generation nearing their end and the younger generation indeed being the strongest in Shrek for a century, or even a millennium, but they have all been fooled away by that little beast.

But now, even if I regret it, I can only swallow my pride and bear it.

Chapter 193 The Snow Empress Awakens, I Am the Only Mommy; (5k)

Royal Academy of the Sun and Moon Empire