After returning to the Spirit Pagoda, these members naturally faced a reprimand from the team captain responsible for managing them...
"You guys, where the hell did you go? How dare you leave your post without permission? Do you know the consequences if the Pagoda Master or any of the Council Members find out?"
"Not to mention the current situation is so tense. If the federation does something behind the scenes, can you afford the responsibility?"
Knowing they were in the wrong, they chose not to talk back, but rather bowed their heads and silently endured...
After a good ten minutes or more of scolding, the leading captain finally calmed down...
Taking a deep breath, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, I won't pursue your trouble this time, but if there is a next time, don't blame me for reporting you to the Pagoda Master!"
"However, you still have to clarify exactly where you went!"
After all, if they didn't explain the reasons, it would be easy to arouse suspicion!!
The Spirit Pagoda members hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth...
"Captain...to tell the truth, we don't know what happened. We were on patrol when we suddenly fell unconscious. When we woke up, we found ourselves inside Shrek Academy!"
"Yes, that's right. The reason we were delayed for so long is that we were being questioned by the Sea God Pavilion Master and the Elders!"
"Although we really want to answer your question, captain, we honestly can't remember what happened before!"
Combining what they said, the captain picked up a few clues and stroked his chin, "You mean to say that you suddenly fell unconscious and woke up at Shrek Academy?"
The members nodded without hesitation in affirmation...
"That's right, just like what you said, Captain!"
"It's possible that the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion knocked us out and took us to Shrek Academy!"
However, as soon as these words came out, they were met with the captain's furious scolding...
"Fools!!"
"Those Elders of the Sea God Pavilion hold such esteemed identities, how could they possibly attack you lowly soldiers? It's more likely that they happened by, saw you in danger, and brought you back to Shrek Academy!"
He could even already construct a complete narrative in his mind...
The members swallowed hard, also feeling that their previous assumptions were absurd...
How could the prestigious Sea God Pavilion Elders personally attack them, the lower members of the Spirit Pagoda?
If they really wanted to extract some information, they would definitely seek out those from the higher echelons!
"Then captain, do we need to report this incident to the Pagoda Master?"
The man crossed his arms, responding irritably, "If you want to die, go ahead and report it!"
Better to let some things slide than to make an issue of them!
Immediately understanding, the members ceased to dwell on the issue...
"Alright, get back to your posts, all of you. Don't gather around here; you'll draw attention!"
...
Meanwhile, members of the federation who were hiding nearby and had been tailing the Spirit Pagoda...
Watching the scene unfold, their expressions grew grave...
"We didn't see that wrong, did we? These Spirit Pagoda Members seem to have come out of Shrek Academy before returning to the Spirit Pagoda!"
"Impossible to have seen wrong, no one here is blind. Those guys definitely came out of the Spirit Pagoda!"
"This is strange. Why would the Spirit Pagoda send people to Shrek Academy these past few days? Could it be that there's something they needed to discuss secretly?"
"That's unlikely. If there was anything urgent, how could it be so easily exposed to our eyes?"
"That makes sense. Perhaps it was just a simple delivery of a message. After all, the Spirit Pagoda's master was once a Shrek student. If it weren't for his voluntary departure, he might have been one of the Shrek Seven Monsters!"
After a brief discussion, they reached a consensus...
That was, there was no need to report this matter back to the federation...
Just then, a chilling voice came from behind them...
"You guys have been lurking around here for quite some time, haven't you? Don't you know this is within the territory of the Spirit Pagoda?"
Without a doubt, it was Di Tian, who was handling the affairs of the Spirit Pagoda in place of Gu Yuena!!
He had intended merely to perform a routine patrol today, but instead, he stumbled upon several people sneaking around!!
The leader's pupils suddenly constricted, "Not good, it's that Di Tian, run!!"
The others too were wide-eyed, not having the time to express surprise, and immediately released their Martial Souls to retreat backwards...
However, Di Tian did not actively pursue them but disdainfully said, "Hmph, a bunch of trash!"
If he wanted, he could make them disappear from this world at any moment!!
But to avoid causing trouble and being punished by his superior, that's why he decided to let them off!
"However... they seemed to be talking just now about those Spirit Pagoda members who just came back, they seem to be from Shrek Academy!"
"This matter warrants a thorough interrogation. If they were not dispatched by my Lord in secret, then they may well be spies!!"
And spies, naturally, could not be spared mercy!!
With this thought, a fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes...
...
Outside the interrogation room!
Bi Ji frowned as she listened to the screams nearby...
She immediately turned to Di Tian and asked, "Di Tian, I heard you've caught a few members of the Spirit Pagoda and are interrogating them?"
Di Tian was noncommittal, "Hmm, I suspect they are spies that Shrek Academy has planted in the Spirit Pagoda!"
Bi Ji was taken aback for a moment before saying again, "Spies that Shrek Academy has planted in the Spirit Pagoda? Are you sure you're not talking about the federation??"
There was absolutely no need for Shrek Academy to plant spies in the Spirit Pagoda!
Because a large part of Shrek students had joined the Spirit Pagoda!
Di Tian pursed his lips, "Hmm... it's the Shrek Academy indeed, and here's what happened!"
He then told her what had transpired...
After listening, Bi Ji pondered and said, "Could these people's return from Shrek Academy to the Spirit Pagoda be a covert sign from our Lord?"
Di Tian did not deny the possibility, "That possibility cannot be excluded. Whether it is or not, the results will soon be out!"
Those people definitely could not withstand such severe interrogation and it shouldn't take long for them to spill everything they know!!
Bi Ji's tone became grave, "Di Tian, your actions might incur our Lord's displeasure..."
You should have sought our Lord's instruction before the interrogation!
Di Tian, however, showed no change in his demeanor, replying offhandedly, "They're just some underlings, the Lord will not care about such trivial matters!!"
Even if he executed those people, the Lord would likely turn a blind eye upon finding out...
After all, it would be a foolish choice to let such matters affect internal unity!!
This is something the Lord is most certainly aware of!
...
...