At the Sea God Pavilion Conference

Zhang Lexuan came to the side of the barely breathing Silver Moon Flood Dragon Emperor. Her expression was complicated, and hatred, killing intent, and sorrow flashed through her eyes.

Looking at the silver flood dragon that still appeared mysterious and elegant even at death's door, she could not stop herself from thinking of the junior brothers and sisters it had cruelly killed.

She could no longer hold herself back. Silver light flashed in her hand, and the Silver Moon Flood Dragon Emperor's head fell from its body. A red soul ring slowly emerged.

She gave the Silver Moon Flood Dragon Emperor a quick death. She did not torture it to vent her hatred; she had no taste for tormenting enemies.

Looking at the red soul ring before her, Zhang Lexuan turned to glance at Ji Lin before sitting cross-legged. She slowly drew the soul ring toward herself with Soul Power and began absorbing it.

As Zhang Lexuan absorbed the soul ring.

Xuan Zi, carrying the three Inner Court disciples, had already reached Shrek City. A Rank 98 Super Douluo traveling at full speed had finally made it back to the academy before the injuries of the three severely wounded disciples could worsen. After handing them over to healing-type Soul Masters, Xuan Zi heaved a sigh of relief and sat listlessly on the steps.

Several hours later.

Elder Xuan sat on the steps with disheveled hair, pouring wine into his mouth. Footsteps sounded behind him, and an old man dressed in white approached.

"How are things?"

The white-robed elder stood respectfully behind Elder Xuan. "Their conditions have stabilized. You brought them back in time, and their lives are no longer in danger."

Elder Xuan exhaled a breath reeking of wine and sighed. "That's good."

Just then, someone entered from outside the courtyard. It was none other than Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department.

"Elder Xuan, the Sea God Pavilion Conference you proposed has been arranged. You..."

When Xuan Zi handed the three Inner Court disciples over to the healing-type Soul Masters, he had also used Mental Power to transmit a message to Yan Shaozhe, telling him to notify the other Sea God Pavilion members and convene the Sea God Pavilion Conference.

"Let's go." Elder Xuan stood and headed outside, his figure visibly desolate.

Yan Shaozhe followed behind Elder Xuan and sighed inwardly. This accident had clearly dealt Elder Xuan a tremendous blow, but he did not know how to comfort him. After all, his own heart ached as well. They had lost eight Inner Court disciples—eight of Shrek Academy's future pillars.

"Elder Xuan, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on you. Don't be too hard on yourself," Yan Shaozhe could only advise in a low voice.

Elder Xuan said nothing, merely shaking his head dejectedly.

Sea God Pavilion.

It was no different from an ordinary Sea God Pavilion Conference, but the atmosphere was far more solemn. Mu En still lay in the reclining chair at the head of the room, his appearance obscured.

Elder Lin and Elder Xuan sat below him on opposite sides. The four deans and vice deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department still occupied the lowest seats.

Mu En's gentle voice sounded. "Speak, Xuan Zi. Why did you call this Sea God Pavilion Conference?"

Elder Xuan nodded and slowly rose to his feet. In a deep voice, he said, "Everyone already knows what happened this time. Of the twelve Inner Court disciples, eight died, three were severely injured and unconscious, and only little Lexuan escaped unharmed. If Chi Yuan Douluo of the Star Luo Empire's imperial Worship Hall had not happened to bring her disciple to the Mixed Area of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for soul rings, and if she had not happened to encounter them and rescue little Lexuan in time, then even she..."

Elder Xuan paused before continuing, "As the team leader, I cannot evade responsibility. Therefore, I have decided to resign as deputy commander of the Shrek Inspection Corps and withdraw from Sea God Pavilion, remaining only as an idle man of the academy."

The moment Elder Xuan said this, everyone was shocked. His status within the academy was second only to Mu En, who lay in the reclining chair. He was one of the academy's absolute senior figures, and his cultivation was nearly on par with Mu En's. If Mu En passed on, he would be the first in line to inherit the position of Sea God Pavilion Master, followed only by Elder Lin across from him. Mu En was the commander of the Shrek Inspection Corps, and there was only one deputy commander: Elder Xuan. For nearly fifty years, every finest Inner Court disciple representing the academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament had been trained by Elder Xuan. How could the Sea God Pavilion Conference not be shocked when he suddenly proposed resigning from all his posts?

Yan Shaozhe's face changed drastically. "Elder Xuan, how can you do that? No one can guarantee they will never make a mistake, and the responsibility for this matter does not rest entirely on you. No one expected Lexuan and the others to encounter a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in the Mixed Area. If it had been anything other than a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, then with Lexuan and the others' strength, they could have retreated unscathed. Elder Xuan, you are one of the academy's central pillars. The academy cannot do without you!"

Elder Xuan sighed. "Shaozhe, say no more. If I had stayed by their side the entire time, how could this have happened? My martial soul makes me unsuitable for the post of deputy commander of the Shrek Inspection Corps. I have made up my mind. The deaths of eight Inner Court disciples truly pain me. I must give an explanation to the deceased disciples, to their families, and to the academy. I alone must bear this responsibility."

Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department, also spoke. "Elder Xuan, please stay. Though your Godly Taotie Bull martial soul requires you to eat for long periods, it does not affect your abilities! Everyone has seen the contributions you have made to the academy over the years. We are all grieved by the deaths and injuries of the Inner Court disciples, but we cannot throw away the whole meal because of a choking incident. If you leave, that would be the academy's greatest loss."

Elder Xuan gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "If luck had not been on our side this time, little Lexuan would likely have died at the hands of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast as well. At the time, she was already in a hopeless situation. If Chi Yuan Douluo had not acted in time to save little Lexuan, then even the academy's candidate for the next Sea God Pavilion Master would have been lost because of me. After such a grave mistake, how could I still have the face to remain in Sea God Pavilion? None of you need to persuade me. My mind is made up. The families of the eight Inner Court disciples are all quite influential. I still need to visit each of them and do my best to ease their grief. Everyone, farewell."

With that, he stood, turned, and walked toward the exit.

"Come back." A calm voice carrying invisible authority rang out. The two words were spoken evenly, yet Elder Xuan, who had already started walking, came to an abrupt halt.

"Mu En. I truly have no face left to remain." Elder Xuan stood with his back to everyone, his body trembling faintly. Only he himself knew how much pain he bore in his heart.

"I told you to come back. Did you not hear me?" Mu En's tone grew several degrees harsher.

Elder Xuan's body trembled slightly. How many years had it been since he had heard emotion in Mu En's voice? Eighty years, or a hundred?

Though he was utterly unwilling, he ultimately turned around and returned to his seat. Even the others, sensing the anger in Mu En's tone, unconsciously straightened their backs. They sat silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound.

Among the Elder Scholars present, Elder Xuan and Elder Lin held the highest seniority. Yet even they were a generation junior to Mu En. Mu En was Elder Xuan's grandmaster's last disciple, as well as his youngest disciple. In other words, Mu En was actually Elder Xuan's junior grand-uncle. By age, Mu En was only a little over ten years older than Elder Xuan. Yet in terms of his contributions to the academy and his strength, he was Shrek Academy's true number one.