Chapter 113 Lip Gun Tongue Sword_2

"Have you ever considered where the students of Shrek Academy come from? Where are their family homes? As long as we don't wish to destroy Shrek, would they lay a hand on us, the people of their homelands?"

After hearing the words of the Heavenly Soul Empire's envoy, the messengers from the Dou Spirit and Xingluo Empires found them highly reasonable.

They too firmed their conviction and were no longer swayed by the temptation of Shrek's treasury.

Punishing Xuan Zi was undoubtedly the correct choice.

"President Yan, I admit the treasury of Shrek Academy is indeed very tempting to me,

but we three are principled individuals, carrying the wishes of countless people, and our sole purpose in coming here is to punish Xuan Zi, to let this evil Soul Master who has killed many and is filled with sin receive his just deserts.

To grant justice to the souls who died at his hands!"

Ultimately, the envoy from the Heavenly Soul Empire said this with finality.

Yan Shao Zhe shuddered upon hearing this.

This fellow is stubborn as a rock in a latrine, both smelly and hard. They won't take the hint even when offered a way out!

"Do you really think Shrek Academy is without capable people?"

As the voice of Yan Shao Zhe fell, several figures suddenly flew from within Shrek City and landed atop the city walls.

Without a doubt, they were the Elders of Shrek Academy and other Titled Douluo powerhouses.

Elder Zhuang, Elder Song, Elder Lin... they were all there.

Observing the formidable array of powerhouses on top of Shrek City's walls, the envoy from the Xingluo Empire asked with a frown, "May I ask, what does this mean, strong ones from Shrek Academy?"

"Heh, what does it mean? Can't you see? If soft measures don't work, they'll have to use hard ones, forcing us to bow down."

The envoy from the Heavenly Soul Empire smirked coldly.

In fact, at the sight of this, his heart was nearly bursting with glee.

Wasn't Shrek Academy's this action pushing the other two great Empires to the opposite side?

This was a good thing!

He wished he could say something provocative right then to urge the Shrek powerhouses to strike out, which would make the conflict even more irreconcilable.

However,

just as this thought emerged, a strong figure from Shrek made a similar move.

"Fine, so you really think Shrek Academy has no capable people, right? The three great Empires actually have the gall to block the gate of our Shrek Academy; our academy will remember this."

Elder Lin said with icy eyes.

"You really think I'm all bark and no bite?"

The envoy from the Heavenly Soul Empire glared defiantly, an idea springing to mind, "If you dare, then don't wait for later; show what you've got right now, I'll take it on!"

These words rallied the envoys from the Xingluo Empire and the Dou Spirit Empire.

The two of them firmly stood by the envoy of the Heavenly Soul Empire.

"Well done, brother!"

"We support you! The three great Empires share in glory and in loss, with no single person or entity as a threat to us!"

"Don't go too far, you really think I wouldn't dare to make a move, do you?" Elder Lin was getting aggravated. The Soul Power inside him roared and surged like a wild river.

However, just as he was about to act, he was stopped by Yan Shao Zhe.

"Elder Lin, hold back!"

Elder Lin, seething with anger, said, "Shao Zhe, I know you're looking at the big picture, but constant concessions serve no purpose. These guys are used to getting their way through brazen behavior; we cannot condone it."

Truth be told, he was feeling very stifled.

He had been an Elder of the Sea God's Pavilion for decades, weathering countless storms, and Shrek had faced down many powerful enemies before too; but that wasn't shame, it was glory.

However, today was different.

Shrek Academy was being blockaded by three weaker parties.

This was humiliation, a colossal humiliation!

"Elder Lin, I haven't finished speaking yet, and I ask that the other Elders trust that I can handle this situation,"

Yan Shaozhe suddenly straightened his chest, and his expression turned solemn.

"Elder Lin is not wrong," he stated, "blind concession is not the right choice."

He had exhausted his gentleness; now it was time for firmness.

"Making mistakes indeed warrants punishment, but Xuan Zi is an elder of Sea God's Pavilion. What punishment he should receive is not for you all to question."

"Oh? And what does President Yan mean by that?"

"If you come as guests, then please enter Shrek City, and we shall treat you warmly. However..."

At this point, Yan Shaozhe paused and suddenly a killing intent burst forth from him, then he continued, "if you come to accuse and judge, then you may leave now. I announce that Shrek Academy will not provide answers to anyone... Also, I hope you do not deceive yourselves and directly consider the consequences of not having Shrek Academy's assistance."

"Haha, Headmaster Yan truly speaks with confidence befitting a leader of a top power," came the reply.

"Civility before force; I can understand that as doing justice," another voice remarked approvingly.

"Indeed, indeed, Shrek Academy has not disappointed me, truly valuing loyalty and honor. For the sake of an evil Soul Master who has killed countless, you are willing to take great risks, to stand against the three great empires and countless people. But, I also want to ask Shrek Academy, have you really thought this through?"

The emissaries of the three great empires, surprisingly, were not frightened in the slightest.

Instead, they threw a question back at Yan Shaozhe.

Before Yan Shaozhe could respond, Elder Song coldly said, "What do we have to consider? Stop with these mysterious insinuations."

"Hehe, since it's like this, then I must ask," said the envoy from the Heavenly Soul Empire, laughing rather than getting angry, he spoke unhurriedly, "If Shrek Academy were without the support of resources from the three great empires, I wonder, how long could it remain powerful?"

"Without money, without supplies, without a replenishment of talents...

Even unable to carry out normal trade with the three great empires, can Shrek Academy become stronger?"

Upon hearing the words of the Heavenly Soul Empire's envoy, both Yan Shaozhe and the elders on the city walls changed their expressions drastically.

Without manpower, financial, and material support, what would they have left to develop?

Rely on the resources within Shrek Academy itself?

Don't be ridiculous, one can only continue to develop by constantly replenishing what is consumed. Empty coffers will not last long!

"That's a threat!" Elder Song almost gnashed his teeth as he spoke.

The envoy of the Heavenly Soul Empire shrugged with an easy-going expression, "Ladies and gentlemen, you can ingest medicine carelessly, but words should not be spoken carelessly. I am not making a threat, but stating a fact.

The three great empires willingly support Shrek because we provide various supplies and resources to Shrek Academy for free, out of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship.

You train powerhouses, and we provide resources. There's nothing wrong with this. If one day someone wants to break this balance, it won't only be the three great empires that suffer. This is something that not only we need to consider, but you should also think carefully about. Oh, and let me add, none of us owes anything to the other."

His words indeed made everyone tense.

To some degree, this was the truth.

But it was not the whole truth, as the real relationship was much more complex than could be explained in a few words.

However, one thing the envoy of the Heavenly Soul Empire had said was accurate—no one owed anyone else anything...

For a moment, the determination of the elders, who had just been resolute about using a hard stance, wavered.

They were forced to consider the implications for development after breaking off relations with the three great empires.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Suddenly, a round of applause resounded; Elder Zhuang, who had been silent and had not spoken, started clapping.

"Well, well, well, who would have thought that the emissaries sent by the three great empires this time would be so eloquent and sharp-tongued," he exclaimed.

"But I only have one question: do you really think the powerhouses of Shrek Academy are vegetarians?"

"Surely no one believes that if caught in an invisible cage, we will become trapped beasts?"

"Without any reservation, let me say that there is no cage in this world capable of containing Shrek. If Shrek Academy were to establish a nation, how would the three great empires respond?"

Upon Elder Zhuang's words, everyone's eyes lit up.

That's right, Shrek Academy is filled with numerous powerful individuals; how could they be confined simply by someone's say-so? If they say they won't provide resources, can't we just take them?!