Heir to the Sea God Pavilion Master!

After Du Busi caused an uproar at Shrek, Xuan Zi was left covered in injuries, but everything else at Shrek was largely unaffected.

Everyone carried on eating and drinking as usual.

Still, after Du Busi left, even though Mu En knew why he had provoked them, he immediately called a Sea God Pavilion Meeting to give everyone else an "account."

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, each elder sat in their assigned seat.

A gentle glow of life radiated from Elder Zhuang, and vitality flowed toward Xuan Zi.

In an instant, Xuan Zi, who had been bruised and bloodied from head to toe, looked human again.

"I'm going to kill him!!! I swear I'll kill Du Busi!!!"

The moment Xuan Zi opened his eyes, his Soul Power pressed down on everyone around him without restraint.

"Shut up!"

Mu En's voice rang out calmly. With those two words alone, the furious Xuan Zi fell silent as if someone had seized him by the throat.

"Xuan Zi, you've disappointed me deeply," Mu En said mildly.

Those lightly spoken words made Xuan Zi's old face burn red with shame.

They were both Level 98 Super Douluo, yet Du Busi had given him a terrible beating. Even he found it humiliating.

"Martial uncle, I've brought shame to Shrek..."

Tears glimmered in Xuan Zi's cloudy eyes. "The Body Sect trampled Shrek's dignity underfoot. I'm a sinner of Shrek!!!"

Yan Shaozhe, who had always played the peacemaker, hurriedly spoke up. "Ah, there's no need to say that, Xuan Zi. In the end, Teacher stepped in. Du Busi fled with his tail between his legs. Your acceptance of his challenge did nothing to harm Shrek's glory, so there's no need to blame yourself."

It had done nothing to harm Shrek's glory, but Xuan Zi himself had lost every shred of face.

"If you know you've disgraced yourself, then cultivate properly!" Mu En had no intention of comforting Xuan Zi. He had to make Xuan Zi feel the pain, so that shame would spur him to courage!

"Shrek's glory..."

Mu En's voice was leisurely. "If I were no longer here and Du Busi came knocking, what would you use to defend Shrek's glory?"

"Shrek's glory has never been some empty reputation. It rests on our fists! As long as I remain at Shrek, who would dare look down on it?"

Given Mu En's usual temperament, he should not have said such things.

Originally, he had only sought stability. He had wanted Shrek to pass smoothly into the hands of the next generation.

But in an age of great contention, how could things be made stable simply because one wished it?

The elders of the Sea God Pavilion looked thoughtful. They had a vague sense of the deeper meaning behind Mu En's words.

But...

How could a Titled Douluo's Soul Power Level be so easily raised?

Mu En looked at Yan Shaozhe, then swept his gaze over Xian Lin'er. "I know you each have your own difficulties."

Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and the other "second-generation" members of Shrek looked ashamed and lowered their heads in silence.

Elder Lin, Elder Zhuang, Elder Song, and the other "first-generation" members also wore worried expressions.

The "second generation" truly could not be entrusted with great responsibilities.

In their generation, not only was Xuan Zi formidable, but Elder Lin and Elder Song were both Super Douluo as well.

As for Yan Shaozhe's generation, without some great opportunity, they would probably remain stuck at Level 95 for the rest of their lives!

"I propose nominating Shen Yichen as heir to the Sea God Pavilion Master and Zhang Lexuan as a candidate for the position. What... do you think?"

"Shen Yichen?"

There were only a handful of elders in the Sea God Pavilion, and they had only so many children and descendants.

Who among them didn't know the others' children?

But knowing him was one thing.

Hadn't the little fellow's Martial Soul awakened only a few days ago? Was it really all right to name him the heir so soon?

Besides, this heir was not one who would inherit after an intervening generation.

To put it in outrageously disrespectful terms, if Mu En passed away, the little fellow would have to take office on the spot and become the Sea God Pavilion Master.

Could he... shoulder the responsibility?

Just as everyone was hesitating, Xuan Zi heard that familiar name and immediately stood up.

"I agree!"

Zhang Lexuan, standing beside Mu En, wore a strange expression. If the little fellow learned that Xuan Zi, whom he had schemed to have Du Busi beat up, was the first to stand up in support of him, would he feel ashamed?

(Shen Yichen: Ashamed? Not one bit! One thing is one thing, and another is another!)

First Mu En proposed it, then Xuan Zi seconded him. The two strongest fighters in the Sea God Pavilion held the same view, and the little fellow was Elder Lin's own grandson. That made the others shrink back from voicing any objections.

What was a Shrek celestial dragon? This was a Shrek celestial dragon!

Fortunately, Elder Lin spoke up. "Mu En, Yichen is still young. Isn't he a little short of what it takes to shoulder such a burden right now?"

If Shen Yichen had been Zhang Lexuan's age, Elder Lin would have dared to show anyone who objected what it meant for her to hold sole control over Shrek's finances!

But Shen Yichen was only six...

"Don't worry. When all is said and done, the child is only the heir. Though my body is weak, holding on for another ten years or so is no problem."

"Ten years from now, whether Xuan Zi will still be a match for that child is anyone's guess."

Although Mu En had used him as an example, Xuan Zi did not argue.

A genius who could send him flying with a single blow of a staff just after his Martial Soul awakened—given ten years, Xuan Zi really might not be able to do anything to him.

Hearing Mu En say this, the other elders grew curious about Shen Yichen's talent.

All they knew was that the child's Martial Soul had awakened not long ago, and that he had innate full Soul Power.

But from the sound of it, was there more?

Could it be... another ultimate Martial Soul?!

In that case, letting him be the heir to the Sea God Pavilion Master wasn't out of the question, was it?

Besides... judging by Mu En's tone, he was determined to put Shen Yichen in that position.

Xuan Zi supported it too, and Elder Lin's objection had been merely symbolic.

Mu En's disciples, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er, could not possibly defy him either.

So it was perfectly clear how this would unfold.

"Then I'll vote in favor too," Elder Lin said, dropping her objection. She had no wish to hold back her grandson's future over some bullshit about avoiding favoritism when recommending the worthy.

Once Elder Lin had spoken, Elder Zhuang and Elder Song simply voted in favor as well.

One could say the elders of the Sea God Pavilion were nothing like teachers who educated and nurtured students, but they were certainly like shrewd, deft "nobles."

Since they could not defy him, they might as well go with the current and earn some goodwill.

After all, if Shen Yichen took the position, he would be the youngest Sea God Pavilion Master in history and, quite possibly, the one with the longest tenure.

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

Before long, the proposal passed unanimously at the Sea God Pavilion Meeting!

Huh?

Before Zhang Lexuan had recovered her senses, the little fellow had become heir to the Sea God Pavilion Master, and she had become the backup?

After all, she was able to stand here in the Sea God Pavilion and attend the meeting not because she was qualified to take part. She was merely a "nobody" Mu En had brought along to listen.

"Let that child take part in future Sea God Pavilion Meetings as well. While I can still get around, I'll teach him more."

Mu En made no attempt to conceal how highly he valued Shen Yichen.

I am paving the way for that child. Whatever you should do, whatever you want to do, weigh it all carefully...