Shrek's counterattack ultimately failed, and the two great empires grew wary.

Inside the meeting hall of Shrek Academy, Flender slammed a letter onto the table. On the letter was a joint invitation from the Two Great Empires: to jointly crusade against Su Chen and rebuild the "order" of the Douluo Continent.

"Everyone, although Xiao Ling is crippled, the foundation of Shrek still remains! Su Chen established the Nishen Hall, clearly intending to make an enemy of the entire Douluo Continent. If we join forces with the Two Great Empires, we will definitely be able to grind him to dust!" Flender's voice carried a hint of hysteria. These past few days, Shrek Academy had suffered endless ridicule because of Xiao Ling's affair, and he desperately needed a victory to restore his reputation.

Liu Erlong and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance, hesitation flashing in their eyes. Liu Erlong said in a deep voice, "Flender, we have all witnessed Su Chen's strength, and the fifteen Heroines of the Nishen Camp are each skilled in unique arts. If we join forces with the Two Great Empires, can we really win?"

"Whether we win or not, we must try!" Flender stood up abruptly. "If we do not resist, Shrek Academy will sooner or later be swallowed by Su Chen!"

In the end, everyone at Shrek decided to accept the invitation from the Two Great Empires. Flender would personally go to Heaven Dou City to discuss the details of the crusade with Emperor Xue Ye.

Xiao Ling, who was locked in the woodshed, felt a glimmer of light reignite in his eyes upon hearing this news. He used all his strength to crawl to the door of the woodshed and shouted at the guard, "Tell Dean Flender to bring me along! I know Su Chen's weaknesses; I can help you defeat him!"

The guard just glanced at him coldly and ignored him. In everyone's eyes, Xiao Ling was now just a cripple with no value.

Meanwhile, at the preparation site of the Nishen Hall in the Star Dou Great Forest, the figure of Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows, holding a secret letter in her hand: "Su Chen, the Shadow Pavilion intercepted communication between Flender and Emperor Xue Ye. They intend to unite with the Spirit Hall in three days to besiege the Star Dou Great Forest from the east, south, and north."

Su Chen took the secret letter, glanced at it, and threw it onto the table, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Overestimating their capabilities. Do they think that by joining forces, they can shake the Nishen Camp? They are too naive."

Zi Yan's dragon phoenix wings unfolded abruptly, and purple flames burned in her palms: "Su Chen, let me go meet them! It's just the right time to test the Dragon Phoenix power I just cultivated!"

"No rush." Su Chen waved his hand. "We don't need to take the initiative to attack; we just need to set up a formation on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest so that they can enter but never return."

He immediately began to deploy: Zhu Zhuqing led the Shadow Pavilion to set up a Shadow Maze on the outskirts of the forest to disorient the enemy troops; Xiao Yi Xian buried the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart-Devouring Formation within the maze to corrode the enemy's spirit power; Yun Yun and Xiao Xun Er led the Wind Blade Legion and the Exotic Fire Legion respectively, lying in ambush on both sides of the maze, waiting for the opportunity to strike; Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was responsible for providing buffs to everyone, while Ah Yin mobilized the Spirit Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest to form a natural barrier.

The fifteen Heroines each performed their duties, and in just one day, an inescapable net was cast around the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Qian Renxue stood beside Su Chen, watching his methodical deployment, and the sense of belonging in her heart grew stronger: "Su Chen, I am willing to lead the Angel Legion to guard the east side of the forest."

Su Chen looked at her, a flash of approval in his eyes: "Good. With you there, the east side will be absolutely secure."

Three days later, the 100,000-strong army of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, along with the remnants of Shrek, led by Flender, marched majestically toward the Star Dou Great Forest. Qian Daoliu of the Spirit Hall also arrived at the south side of the forest with 5,000 Angel Spirit Masters, but they remained still—Bibi Dong's order was to "sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight," waiting for both sides to suffer heavy losses before making a move.

When the 100,000-strong army stepped into the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhu Zhuqing's Shadow Maze instantly activated. Thick black mist shrouded the land, and the soldiers instantly lost their way, only able to charge blindly in the mist. Xiao Yi Xian's Ten Thousand Poisons Heart-Devouring Formation followed closely, and light purple Poison Mist spread out. After inhaling the Poison Mist, the soldiers fell to the ground convulsing one after another, with screams rising one after another.

"Not good! It's a formation! Retreat quickly!" Flender shouted, wanting to lead the army to retreat, but found that the mist was like a solid substance and could not be penetrated at all.

Just then, Yun Yun's Wind Blade Legion charged out from the mist, and countless sharp Wind Blades fell like raindrops, reaping the lives of the soldiers; Xiao Xun Er's Exotic Fire Legion followed closely, and the raging fire ignited the mist, forming a sea of flames. Under the pincer attack of the formation and the legions, the 100,000-strong army instantly collapsed, with more than half dead or injured.

Qian Daoliu looked at the tragic situation on the south side, his face livid, and immediately ordered a retreat—he knew that if they made a move now, the Angel Spirit Masters of the Spirit Hall would suffer the same fate.

Flender was slashed on the arm by a Wind Blade in the chaos of the army, and watching the soldiers beside him fall one by one, his heart was filled with despair. He finally understood that Su Chen's Nishen Camp was absolutely not something he could contend with. In the end, he fled the Star Dou Great Forest in a sorry state, taking the remaining few thousand remnants.

This counterattack ended in a crushing defeat for Shrek and the Two Great Empires. After learning the news, Emperor Xue Ye and Dai Tianheng completely abandoned the idea of being enemies with Su Chen and hurriedly sent envoys to the Star Dou Great Forest to present generous gifts, expressing their intention for "reconciliation." Shrek Academy, after this battle, completely degenerated into a third-rate faction and dared not oppose the Nishen Camp ever again.

Xiao Ling, in the woodshed, fell into a complete frenzy after learning the news of the failed counterattack. He smashed everything in the woodshed, only to be severely beaten by the guards, and was finally locked in a corner, left only to roar at the wall. There was no longer any light in his eyes, only endless resentment and despair—he knew that in this lifetime, he would never be able to turn things around again.