Chapter 1723
At the very least, the students of Shrek Academy had all survived, but Eternal Heaven would most likely be able to destroy the entire Spirit Pagoda headquarters along with everything up to a kilometer underground; there would definitely be no survivors!
"Don't you dare, Zang Xin! Don't forget that Tang Wulin and the others are still at our mercy. Give Eternal Heaven to my son, and I'll release them.
"Even the cunning and wily Qiangu Dongfeng was becoming blind with rage!
He had painstakingly developed this plan, only for everything to be ruined by such a massive twist; he was completely unable to accept this outcome!
Zang Xin sighed,
"Do you still not know what's happening, Brother Qiangu? Chen Xinjie has already told us Eternal Heaven's location and helped us secure it; do you think he'd allow you to do anything to Wulin and the others on his territory? From the very beginning, your plan was destined to fail. We're not asking for much; just get your son to transfer some money to our Tang Sect.
"
Right at this moment, a beam of light descended from the heavens and landed at the direct center of the 18th level. A figure then appeared within the light. This was an elderly man with a head of impeccably combed silver hair, wearing a set of antiquated robes that belonged to a distant era.
He had his hands clasped behind his back, and there was a complex look in his eyes.
Qiangu Dieting immediately flared up with rage at the sight of this man.
"Chen Xinjie!
"
That's right, the man who had just arrived was none other than Boundless Ocean Douluo Chen Xinjie!
Chen Xinjie sighed,
"My apologies, Brother Dieting; I didn't want to have to do this, but I've lived my entire life for my clan, for glory, for the Battle God Hall, and in the process, I've become indebted to many people, especially her. I've already handed in my resignation to the federal parliament, and from this moment forth, I have nothing to do with the military and the Battle God Hall; I'm just a normal Soul Master. After this, I'm going to Shrek Academy, to her side. From the moment I told her the truth in secret, the past Chen Xinjie was already dead.
"All that remains is an old man who's going to dedicate the rest of his life to the woman he loves, regardless of how she treats me. My sincerest apologies, once again.
"
Chen Xinjie extended a deep bow toward Qiangu Dieting with an apologetic look in his eyes as he spoke.
"How could you do this, Chen Xinjie? You've betrayed the entire federation; you're a treasonous criminal!
" Qiangu Dongfeng exclaimed.
Chen Xinjie replied,
"That's nothing compared to the crimes I've committed against her. I already told you that the past Chen Xinjie is already dead; the federation can pass down any judgment upon me, and if anyone from the Battle God Hall wishes to punish me, then they can go ahead. However, I'm going to retaliate for her sake. I must return to her side and use the rest of my life to repay her, even if I can only make up a tiny fraction of the debt that I owe her.
"
"He's gone insane!
" Qiangu Dieting roared with fury.
"Chen Xinjie, at the very least, you have to keep out of this matter from now on.
"
This was his only hope to turn the tables; he had to capture everyone from the Shrek Academy camp at all costs.
"Do you still not understand that your plan has already failed?
"Another voice rang out, and Guan Yue descended beside Chen Xinjie.
"Guan Yue, even you...
" Qiangu Dieting's eyes widened with astonishment.
Even the perpetually warm and hospitable Guan Yue was exuding a frosty aura.
"If I didn't have to consider the stability of the continent, I would make sure that this is your final resting place! I'm sure you're unaware that I was once a student of Shrek Academy and a candidate to become one of Shrek's Seven Monsters. I left the academy to join the Battle God Hall as I owed Xinjie a great debt, but I will always be a member of Shrek Academy. The Atlas Douluo that you plotted against in collusion with the Holy Spirit Cult was none other than my senior disciple brother! If we had concrete evidence of your collusion with the Holy Spirit Cult, then we'd make sure to keep you here forever!
"
One Battle God after another descended from the heavens, landing behind the two hall masters, and Qiangu Dongfeng felt as if he were about to go insane.
Never did he imagine that all of his painstaking planning would lead to this outcome.
"You, you Battle Gods are being paid a salary by the federation and enjoying the federation's resources; are you going to help these two traitors as well?
" Qiangu Dongfeng was beginning to grasp at straws now.
As the first Battle God, Ao Rui made his way over to Guan Yue, and declared,
"The hall master is my teacher; everything that I have was given to me by my teacher, so his decision is mine.
"
He paused here as a derisive look appeared in his eyes, then continued,
"Besides, are we really betraying the federation here? You two are far too ambitious for your own good, even going as far as to nurture a private army; are we really the traitors here? Perhaps it's best for Eternal Heaven to be held by the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, and the military should undergo an overhaul; the federal parliament shouldn't be under the control of dangerously ambitious people like you.
"
At this point, Qiangu Dongfeng and his father knew the game was up. Only now did they realize that they were the prey instead of the hunters.
Chen Xinjie's eyes were still full of mixed emotions as he turned to Tang Wulin.
"Let them go, Sect Master Tang. I'm indebted to them for going back on my word, and this is my final wish. After this, I'll return to Shrek Academy with you; what do you think?
"
"Alright, we'll do as you say, Senior,
" Tang Wulin replied in a respectful manner.
It could be said that the one who had played the truly instrumental role in this victory wasn't Tang Wulin, nor was it the Amorous Douluo or the Heartless Douluo. Instead, it was Long Yeyue.
That day, Chen Xinjie had agreed to the Spirit Pagoda that he would tell Long Yeyue that Eternal Heaven was situated on the 18th level of the Battle God Hall. The Spirit Pagoda had promised the Battle God Hall irresistible compensation, and on top of that, Chen Xinjie was also somewhat intrinsically motivated to agree to this plan. Long Yeyue's rejection had evoked a sense of indignation within his heart, and he really did want to instigate this war.
However, when Long Yeyue had told him that she had only married someone else as she was bearing his child at the time, Chen Xinjie felt as if a sword had been driven through his heart.
The reality was that she had once had his child, and the child was stillborn, which was why she resented him so intensely. Furthermore, even though she had married someone else, she had never betrayed him, and throughout her life, he remained the only man that she had had physical relations with.
At the time, Chen Xinjie had been struck by a sense of crushing pain and despair.
All of Long Yeyue's resentment and coldness toward him suddenly became justified, and she didn't even need to explain herself any further beyond that.
Only then did Chen Xinjie realize just how heavily indebted he was toward her. In contrast with Long Yeyue, he had married someone and produced a long line of descendants while also rising to dizzying heights in his military career.
However, Long Yeyue had nothing. She had remained in Shrek Academy her entire life, and she didn't even have any next of kin to look after her.
It was only after realizing this that he came to understand just how much he owed her, and there was naturally no way he could continue to cooperate with the Spirit Pagoda after that.
In reality, the plan that Tang Wulin was carrying out hadn't been devised by the two Limit Douluos of the Tang Sect, Elder Long, Yali, or even himself. Instead, the mastermind was none other than Chen Xinjie.