Sea God Pavilion Conference, Part Two

Mu En, who had been half-reclining in his lounge chair, slowly sat upright. At last, everyone could clearly see his face.

Mu En looked utterly ordinary, and he was not particularly tall or imposing. He even seemed frail with age, as though nearing the end of his life.

Yes, he was Mu En—the Dragon God Douluo, once renowned across the continent. He was now over two hundred and fifty years old. His title was Dragon God, and he had become famous throughout the continent two centuries ago. Two hundred years later, perhaps the outside world had long forgotten him. Many believed that Shrek Academy's strongest was Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi. Yet in truth, Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, was the indisputable strongest.

Who could have imagined that such an ordinary-looking old man was actually Shrek Academy's true number one?

A rare chill appeared in Mu En's gentle gaze as he said gravely, "You are already over two hundred years old. Why are you still so rash? If everyone who made a mistake ran away like a deserter, then there would be no point in keeping Shrek Academy open."

Xuan Zi immediately grew anxious. "Elder Mu, please let me go. I truly feel terrible. I don't even know how to face those children's families."

Mu En said calmly, "You can leave if you want. Find a woman to marry, pass your Taotie Divine Bull Martial Soul down through your bloodline, and then I'll let you go. Otherwise, forget it. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll discipline you on behalf of our late senior brother."

"I..."

When Mu En said this, strange expressions appeared on the faces of the other Elder Scholars attending the Sea God Pavilion Conference. Elder Lin, seated opposite him, burst out laughing.

Xuan Zi snapped in embarrassment, "Lin Huiqun, what are you laughing at?"

Elder Lin was not intimidated in the slightest. Smiling, he said, "I'm laughing at whether you still have the function needed to pass on your bloodline."

"HAHAHAHA..." The Elder Scholars immediately erupted into laughter. Even the four deans could not hold back their amusement. Xian Lin'er even covered her face with her hand.

Xuan Zi's aged face instantly flushed bright red. Slamming the table in anger and embarrassment, he roared, "No laughing! Stop laughing!"

His shout only made the Elder Scholars laugh even harder. Even a faint smile appeared on Mu En's face.

"Enough." Mu En lightly tapped the table with his finger, and only then did the Elder Scholars quiet down. Still, the odd looks they gave Xuan Zi did not change.

Mu En said calmly, "I, too, am deeply saddened by the deaths of the eight Inner Court disciples. But the dead are gone. What you should be thinking about now is not how to run away, but how to learn from this lesson and prevent such a tragedy from happening again. After that, think about how to compensate the families of the deceased disciples, and how to earn the forgiveness of the three severely injured disciples and Lexuan. So until Lexuan returns and the other three awaken, this matter ends here."

"But..."

"Enough. Don't say another word. We will discuss everything after Lexuan returns."

Xuan Zi wanted to say more, but Mu En waved him off.

Xuan Zi could only nod dejectedly and fall silent.

"By the way, you said Chi Yuan Douluo had taken her disciple to the Mixed Area of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a soul ring, and only happened to encounter Lexuan and the others there. Was that the child with the Ultimate Fire martial soul you mentioned three years ago?"

Mu En suddenly asked.

"Yes, Elder Mu. It was that child from three years ago."

Xuan Zi nodded.

"I heard that child wants to study at Shrek Academy. When the time comes, take good care of him. Fulfill any requests he has as much as possible. After all, this time we owe that child and the Chi Yuan Douluo behind him an enormous debt of gratitude."

"Shaozhe, pay attention when the time comes. Don't let this child suffer any grievance at Shrek Academy."

Mu En turned his gaze toward Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe stepped forward and nodded. "Rest assured, Teacher. Leaving aside his life-saving grace toward Lexuan and the others, with his ultimate martial soul, I will do everything in my power to nurture him. Though this child's background means he is destined not to join Shrek Academy in the future, the growth of an ultimate soul master close to Shrek Academy would bring tremendous benefits to both the current Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy."

Yan Shaozhe usually had a rather narrow outlook. He often suppressed the Soul Tool Department, lacked magnanimity, and only had room in his heart for Shrek Academy. Still, this answer satisfied Mu En.

At least he was not thinking of poaching someone from the Star Luo imperial family. Instead, he had chosen to win them over.

Mu En did not know that Yan Shaozhe truly had considered poaching him.

Ever since first hearing about Ji Lin from Ma Xiaotao, Yan Shaozhe had planned to use certain methods to make Ji Lin join Shrek Academy outright when he came to study there. He had even thought it through: Ji Lin would inherit Elder Mu's legacy and eventually succeed him as Sea God Pavilion Master. He refused to believe that would not be enough to keep Ji Lin.

The Sun Moon Empire was growing increasingly powerful, while Shrek Academy was suffering from a lack of successors.

Since Mu En's battle with Du Bisi of the Body Sect, his body had grown weaker and weaker. He likely did not have many years left to live. Xuan Zi's martial soul had flaws, and now he had caused such a massive blunder. It was truly difficult to put anyone at ease. As for Yan Shaozhe himself, he knew his own limits. His outlook was not broad enough, his heart was narrow, and he cared only for Shrek Academy. In this life, he had no hope of becoming a Limit Douluo.

Zhang Lexuan was highly gifted, but no one could say whether she could break through to become a Limit Douluo. His disciple Ma Xiaotao was even more talented than Zhang Lexuan, but unfortunately, she was burdened by her evil fire, leaving her future bleak.

Ji Lin, however, was different. Once an ultimate-attribute soul master crossed the threshold of Rank 70, their cultivation speed in the later stages would become extremely fast, and there would be hardly any bottlenecks. They had an excellent chance of reaching Rank 99 and becoming a Limit Douluo.

With Shrek Academy's resources, there was no need to worry about the slow cultivation of ultimate-attribute soul masters from Rank 30 to Rank 70. Yan Shaozhe was confident he could ensure Ji Lin's cultivation speed would not lose out to geniuses of the same age.

And once Ji Lin broke through to Rank 99, he would become an Ultimate Fire Limit Douluo. His strength could be called the greatest under heaven, and he would surely extend Shrek Academy's glory for at least another three hundred years.

After all, the records of Shrek Academy's three ultimate-attribute Sea God Pavilion Masters were simply too dazzling—especially the Ultimate Fire Sea God Pavilion Master who had led the former Three Douluo Kingdoms to defeat the Sun Moon Empire, forcing the Sun Moon Empire to cede territory and pay reparations, even making it rename the Sun Moon Continent as the Douluo Continent.

Ji Lin happened to possess Ultimate Fire as well. How could Yan Shaozhe not be tempted?

But the situation was different now. A worship Douluo of the Star Luo imperial family had saved Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion Master candidate, along with several Inner Court disciples.

Shrek Academy owed them a favor. Trying to poach their person now would be far too immoral.

Shrek Academy did not know that although Chi Yuan had joined the Star Luo Empire Royal Worship Hall and become a worship Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, she did not actually obey the Star Luo Empire's orders. The only person who could command Chi Yuan was Ji Lin.

Of course, Yan Shaozhe had not completely given up. In consideration of this favor, he decided not to use any underhanded methods.

He would win Ji Lin over openly and honestly. If Ji Lin ultimately chose to join Shrek Academy of his own accord, then the Star Luo Empire would have nothing to say.

Just like Mu En, who had been born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan but had ultimately joined Shrek Academy and become the Sea God Pavilion Master.