Be Responsible for Your Words

"Teacher, this man is from the Taiyue Empire. Why is he allowed to enter the Sea God Pavilion and attend the meeting?!"

Yan Shaozhe frowned deeply as he questioned him.

Elder Song's face was full of concern:

"Yes, Mu En. Shaozhe is right. Sea God Pavilion meetings have always been internal meetings for Shrek. It is not suitable for outsiders to participate."

"This old man believes..." The other pavilion elders also voiced their opinions.

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo said nothing, but their rejection of Elder Zu was written all over their faces.

Seeing the arguing grow louder and louder, a trace of displeasure flashed through Mu En's eyes.

"Silence!"

Everyone, including Yan Shaozhe, felt as though they had been struck by a silencing spell. The words reached their lips, yet an invisible force lodged in their throats and kept them from speaking.

"None of you can control your emotions before hearing this old man's explanation. You are all Title Douluo, especially you, Shaozhe!"

"Teacher, I..."

Knowing Mu En well, Yan Shaozhe felt that his teacher now possessed the same imposing dominance he had displayed in his youth as the Dragon God Douluo.

"You have remained at Rank 95 for far too long. As the dean of the Spirit Master Department, you let your emotions control you every day. For the sake of the authority in your hands, you suppress the Soul Device Department at every turn and withhold their resources."

Yan Shaozhe lowered his head somewhat awkwardly.

"You have never been able to advance beyond the Super Douluo realm. Your teacher bears some responsibility for that as well.

Shrek is about to welcome a new beginning. Focus on your cultivation. Do not come out until you break through to Rank 96."

Hearing the unquestionable tone in Mu En's voice, Yan Shaozhe looked dejected. He did not dare imagine what path the Spirit Master Department would be led down by the Soul Device Department without him there.

Seeing the uncontrollable delight on his old rival Qian Duoduo's face, he hated Soul Tools even more. Mu En must have wanted to develop soul devices and had chosen him, the loudest voice of opposition, as an example.

Ignoring the dispirited Yan Shaozhe, Mu En began introducing Zu Chongzhi.

"This is Elder Zu, a Level 10 Soul Tool Master and the person the Taiyue Empire has assigned to our academy."

When everyone heard Sun Moon Empire, their hearts sank. Shrek's former glory might be gone forever.

Only Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er were somewhat excited. Their Soul Tool Department was desperately short of people. They had never expected Mu En to bring in a Level 10 Spirit Craftsman!

After all, their academy's highest-ranked Soul Tool Master was only Rank 8, Fan Yu, the vice dean of the Soul Device Department.

"Elder Zu will serve as the dean of the Soul Tool Department. Xian Lin'er and Duoduo, you are to assist him well. The Soul Device Department's Extreme Single Soldier Plan is terminated as of today!"

However, before Qian Duoduo could start gloating and fantasizing about showing off before Yan Shaozhe in the future, he heard the dreadful news that the Extreme Single Soldier Plan had been terminated.

He seemed to turn to stone.

The Extreme Single Soldier Plan was an important plan Shrek Academy had formulated to counter the threat of the Sun Moon Empire, but before Elder Zu, it was nothing more than a joke.

Xu Xiao had mentioned this plan to Mu En through Elder Zu's video Soul Tool, and Mu En had been shocked by Xu Xiao's intelligence network.

"Mu En, since Shrek now belongs to the Taiyue Empire, there is no need to continue this plan. I have more important arrangements for the Soul Device Department."

Remembering Xu Xiao's earlier demand, Mu En had no choice. After all, he could not defeat the powerful experts under Xu Xiao's command.

"The Soul Device Department's future research direction will shift from military applications to civilian and everyday uses. Elder Zu will help you."

Xian Lin'er said angrily, "Mu En, then what about military matters? The Extreme Single Soldier Plan that the Soul Device Department has researched for so many years is being canceled just like that? Please give me a reason."

"All military research and the distribution of Rare Metals must receive this old man's approval. As for the Extreme Single Soldier..." Elder Zu chuckled calmly.

"With this old man, the strongest Soul Tool Master on the entire continent, here, there is no need for the Extreme Single Soldier Plan to exist."

A strange glint flashed in Xian Lin'er's eyes. The strongest Soul Engineer on the continent? Could It Be that even a Limit Douluo was no match for him?

"Besides, your Extreme Single Soldier Plan itself has fatal flaws. Changing the battlefield alone, carrying out decapitation strikes, gathering intelligence."

"What you are cultivating is merely a war machine dangerous to ordinary Spirit Masters and soldiers on the battlefield."

"In the eyes of true experts, it is nothing but a needless joke."

As he spoke, Elder Zu no longer concealed his Rank 97 cultivation. Other than Mu En, every pavilion elder wore an incredulous expression.

As far as they knew, the Taiyue Empire had no Super Douluo expert above Rank 95. Yet the man before them had reached the terrifying Rank 97!

A Level 10 Soul Tool Master might not have shocked them, since most of them were traditional Spirit Masters who ultimately still believed in the power of Spirit Masters themselves.

Because Elder Zu had the highest rank aside from Xuan Zi, all voices of doubt disappeared. He had the qualifications!

Yan Shaozhe walked out of the Sea God Pavilion in a daze. He did not dare imagine how many geniuses would be talked into joining the Soul Device Department by Elder Zu during his absence.

Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er alone would have been manageable, but now there was Elder Zu, someone powerful both as a Spirit Master and a Soul Tool Master. Anyone with even the slightest interest in soul devices would probably go give it a try.

"It seems the path of traditional Spirit Masters can only be upheld by me!"

Yan Shaozhe composed himself. He planned to challenge Elder Zu after cultivating to Rank 97!

As long as he defeated the continent's number one Soul Engineer before all the academy's teachers and students, he would have sufficient reason to persuade everyone to remain in the Spirit Master Department and cultivate properly!

Just as he was about to leave,

Elder Zu blocked his path, with Mu En standing beside Zu Chongzhi.

The disciple Mu En had been reluctant to discipline in his youth now had to be taught a lesson by someone else in his old age. He had no choice but to come along, lest Elder Zu strike too hard.

Hopefully, Shaozhe will improve his view of Soul Tools after this. Mu En sighed inwardly.

Seeing Mu En and Elder Zu blocking his way, Yan Shaozhe looked at his teacher questioningly.

"Shaozhe, I know you are unconvinced. Furthermore, before this old man, the Demigod, and all of Shrek's teachers and students, you made grand declarations about your theory that soul devices are useless."

Elder Zu took over:

"People must be responsible for the words they say. Since you dared claim soul devices are weak and belittled every Soul Tool Master as worthless, then today, before everyone, this old man will properly seek your guidance!"

While they spoke,

The students and teachers of Shrek's inner and outer academies had all gathered there.

Everyone was curious who would win this sparring match.

When Xian Lin'er arrived with the others, Yan Shaozhe pointed at her painfully. "Lin'er, you!!"

"Shut up! Who allowed you to call me that? I'm not your wife!"

Qian Duoduo was grinning from ear to ear beside them, as if he were already the victor. He cast Yan Shaozhe a provocative glance, thinking, You old fool should worry about how not to embarrass yourself before Elder Zu in a moment.

Once everyone had arrived, Mu En casually set up a barrier to protect the spectators.

Knowing he could not avoid this, Yan Shaozhe could only steel himself and cast aside his pride.

"You are a mighty Rank 97 Super Douluo, while I am only Rank 95. How could I possibly be your opponent?"

Naturally, no one was fooled by his clumsy attempt at provocation,