Not far from the road.
Three black shadows hid in the jungle, faintly visible.
"Get ready to strike!"
The leader wore a black veil mask, his eyes coldly fixed on Su Wen approaching from a hundred meters away.
"Big Brother, are you sure that's the kid Elder Wu Yun mentioned? If we kill the wrong one, it'll be trouble." Zhongli Ren whispered.
"No problem. I just grabbed a Treasure Pavilion maid and asked. He's with a boy named Wang Dong, heading back together. Hair color, eye color, and face all match." The late-arriving Zhongli Di spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Heh heh heh, in that case, we can't let that kid escape!" Zhongli Ren rubbed his head, grinning ferociously.
Their three martial souls were special; when united in mind, they could even suppress ordinary Titled Douluo.
Stronger Titled Douluo didn't come because they'd easily attract Shrek Academy's powerhouses... Their auras were too distinctive; once exposed, they'd be detected before even fighting.
That's why the higher-ups sent them.
...
Elsewhere.
Dozens hid in the bushes, eyes on the approaching Su Wen and Wang Dong, alert but not moving.
"Big Brother, they're Shrek Academy students."
"Shut up! Don't alert them. The young master's task is that little bastard Huo Yuhao. We must not disturb other Shrek talents... There he is!"
The leading middle-aged man spoke gravely.
Behind Su Wen and Wang Dong.
A slender figure appeared.
Heading this way.
"Get ready! Remember, just scare off those two kids, don't hurt them by mistake, or if Shrek investigates, none of us will escape!" The lead black-clothed man repeated.
"Yes!"
Everyone nodded.
...
"Your senses are quite sharp." Electrolux chuckled in surprise.
"Not bad, there are two groups of soul masters ambushing ahead, seemingly targeting you and the boy behind."
"Two groups?!!"
Su Wen was stunned.
He finally knew where that feeling came from.
"Elder Yi, can you identify them?" Su Wen thought inwardly.
"Very familiar." Electrolux pondered. "Though I've never seen them, it's similar to the group that hunted you and the auspicious beast in Star Dou Forest last time—a bunch of misguided fools."
"Holy Spirit Cult..."
Su Wen's face darkened.
After his last display of strength.
This time, those hunting him couldn't be ordinary Soul Kings or Emperors, but likely not Super Douluo or above—with their strength and the cult's lawless audacity, he'd probably have been beheaded the moment he left Shrek City.
Of course, due to the balance among powerhouses, there were strong ones in Shrek City too; they wouldn't be helpless against a direct assault.
So this group was highly likely top Soul Saints, even Soul Douluo.
"Damn."
Su Wen's expression was blank.
He exhaled turbid air.
Even clay figures have some temper; these beasts were really pushing it. Once he got stronger and joined Shrek's monitoring team, he'd show these Holy Spirit Cult guys what a real damn evil soul master was!
"Wang Dong."
Su Wen suddenly grabbed the girl's hand.
His tone calm.
"Mm?" Wang Dong tilted her head, eyes curious.
They cultivated together every night; hand contact was normal, long accustomed.
"I'll count to three, then turn and run."
Su Wen's tone was steady.
He could signal now and hide in the Poké Ball.
But with them at his door, being a coward was too embarrassing. He'd make the Holy Spirit Cult taste failure, chopping off their extended claws one by one.
"Hm?" Wang Dong paused, then pretended to yawn and nodded.
Su Wen could feel the girl's accelerating heartbeat.
He grinned.
"One!"
Grabbing Wang Dong's arm, he pulled her into his embrace, swung onto a branch, and dashed back through the dense jungle.
"Ah?" Wang Dong looked stunned.
"They've already spotted us." Su Wen explained.
Sure enough, the next second.
Three figures leaped from the jungle, whistling toward them.
"As expected!"
A chill flashed in Su Wen's eyes.
From Elder Yi's description, he roughly guessed their identities.
The Zhongli brothers.
The most troublesome below Titled Douluo.
In the original, they were mentally linked, all at Soul Douluo peak, but defeated by Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu'er with protagonist aura.
"Still using yourself as bait?" Electrolux smiled.
"Yes!"
Su Wen tightened his arm around Wang Dong.
With the Poké Ball, Wang Dong would be safe, but dragging her in made him feel apologetic...
"Aren't you supposed to follow orders?!!"
"What the hell are those three idiots? In a rush to die?!"
On the other side.
The Duke's Mansion leader stood, no longer caring about exposure, pointing at the flying Zhongli brothers and cursing.
Huo Yuhao was still a distance away; this wasn't the best ambush spot.
"Boss, those three don't seem to be ours." A subordinate whispered.
"Look..."
He pointed ahead.
The three figures no longer hid, auras fully erupting.
Three peak Soul Douluo!
The leading middle-aged man was stunned, seeing one glance his way. His throat bobbed, face paling.
"No way! More experts?!!"
He'd thought ambushing outside Shrek was bold enough, but... more experts!
"And to ambush two students, needing this level? What grudge?" The subordinate sighed.
Slap~
The boss smacked the back of his head. "What are you standing there for? Chase that Huo Yuhao! Hurry, don't let him escape!"
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
...
Several figures in flying soul tools shot up, heading straight for Huo Yuhao.
The boy was excitedly watching the drama when another group burst from the bushes, charging at him.
"Run!"
Skydream cried out.
"Martial soul fusion!"
Su Wen hugged Wang Dong's body.
As the words fell.
The girl tacitly circulated her soul power.
But against the pursuing Zhongli brothers, it was still a drop in the bucket.
Whoosh!
With a signal flare shooting up.
Su Wen felt more at ease.
"You go into the Poké Ball; it's too dangerous outside." Su Wen leaned down.
"No! Let's try the martial soul fusion ultimate!"
Wang Dong'er wasn't scared; instead, she seemed eager.
"We haven't tried it yet..."