Chapter 289 – The Price of Old Bonds
"Xuan Zi, you are going too far." Long Xiaoyao frowned as he spoke, his voice heavy with disapproval.
But as his words fell, Xuan Zi's tears began to fall. Injured, aged, and weary, he looked pitiable in that moment. "Old Long, it's not that I want to go too far—it's that I must. Today, Shrek is already on the verge of collapse. Even if Old Poison and I make it back alive, the academy will be completely gone in less than two years. By then, everything Old Mu worked for will be wasted. I won't have the face to meet him in the afterlife!"
"You… sigh…" Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao's expression darkened, a deep conflict reflected in his eyes.
Xiao Qiang had already shown mercy by sparing Xuan Zi and Du Bu Si. That alone was a significant concession, considering the current balance of power. Long Xiaoyao clearly understood their situation—had he not appeared, the two elders of Shrek would surely have perished.
Yet, Xuan Zi wasn't wrong either. Shrek's reputation had been shattered, and with the loss of so many Title Douluo, the academy was fated to fall. It was only a matter of time.
Still, the demand was excessive. Without Long Xiaoyao's intervention, escape would have been impossible. If he chose to help now, it would simply be exploiting the situation—an act of bullying someone far weaker.
"Old Long! For the sake of Old Mu, I beg you—please help Shrek!" Xuan Zi suddenly dropped to his knees, his old frame trembling.
"You… why must you do this!" Long Xiaoyao muttered bitterly.
He was caught in a terrible dilemma—between the dying wish of an old friend and his own pride. On one side was Mu En's moral obligation, and on the other, the disgrace of overpowering a twenty-year-old youth already drained from battle.
If it had been anyone else, perhaps the decision would be easier. But Long Xiaoyao had known Mu En far too long. He owed him, and Mu En had always known how to push emotional buttons better than anyone.
If not for Shrek's public disgrace and its collapse into a den of deceit, even Ling Luochen wouldn't have dared to strike at the academy. But now, even someone like her didn't hesitate.
Xuan Zi had spent decades at Shrek. Long Xiaoyao, meanwhile, couldn't ignore his debt to Mu En—no matter how he tried to.
"Old Long! Please decide soon! I'm afraid Du Bu Si can't hold out any longer! I don't mind dying, but I don't want Old Mu to die with regrets!" Xuan Zi cried out.
Long Xiaoyao turned to glance at Du Bu Si, recalled the promise made to Mu En, and finally sighed.
"My young friend, I'm sorry. Shrek was the last request made to me by a dear friend before he passed. Would you be willing to share your soul skills with me?"
His words were calm, but the meaning behind them was clear.
"What if I say no?" Xiao Qiang asked coolly.
"I really don't want to bully the weak…" Long Xiaoyao said with visible hesitation.
But even as he spoke, darkness surged around him and condensed into a massive hand that lunged toward Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang's expression changed slightly. His body retreated swiftly as he calculated whether he still had enough strength to unleash another soul explosion. He weighed the risk—should he detonate the Ice Emperor's ring?
But the dark hand moved faster than expected. In his prime, Xiao Qiang could've countered or dodged with ease. But after battling Xuan Zi with soul-exploding power, he was already at his limit.
"Little one, your strength is impressive—truly. If I were twenty and crossed paths with you, I wouldn't last a round. But you're still young… and too injured now."
Long Xiaoyao sighed and stepped into the air, his presence overwhelming. He reached out to seal Xiao Qiang's soul power, intending to pass it to Xuan Zi.
At that critical moment—just as his palm was about to land—suddenly a brilliant holy sword, radiant with divine energy, slashed through the air and severed the dark palm. The holy aura dispersed the encroaching darkness in an instant.
More holy swords materialized—some hovered protectively around Xiao Qiang, while others shot toward Long Xiaoyao, forcing even the mighty Dragon Emperor Douluo to step back.
Startled, Long Xiaoyao looked toward the source of the divine power.
A blonde woman descended slowly, dressed in a white gown edged in gold. Her divine presence was impossible to ignore. With six black and three red soul rings and the powerful aura of a Level 99 Limit Douluo, she was clearly an Angel Martial Soul wielder.
The air froze as she appeared. With divine energy rolling off her, she landed beside Xiao Qiang.
"I'm sorry I came late," she said softly.
"No, you're right on time," Xiao Qiang replied, a faint smile touching his lips.
Without delay, he launched a mental interference attack—but not toward Long Xiaoyao or Xuan Zi. His target was Du Bu Si.
Already burning his cultivation and hanging on by a thread, the psychic strike broke Du Bu Si's final concentration. A moment of distraction—that was all it took.
The Snow Emperor, seizing the opportunity, brought down her Emperor Sword and beheaded Du Bu Si in a single slash.
For most soul masters, this wouldn't be fatal. But Du Bu Si's martial soul was his body—and it had been cleaved by the Snow Emperor's extreme cold. Ice spread through his body and soul instantly, destroying both.
In less than a second, Du Bu Si was dead.
The Snow Emperor stood in silence.
"Well then, Long Xiaoyao…" Xiao Qiang's gaze was icy. "What were you saying earlier? About me sharing?"
Long Xiaoyao: "…"