A Sea God Pavilion Meeting

Sea God Pavilion.

This was the most important place in Shrek Academy. Whenever something major happened at Shrek, a meeting would be held here. The deans and vice deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department, along with the elders of the Enshrinement Hall, would gather here and make the final decision through a vote.

At that moment, ten people sat around an oval table in the Sea God Pavilion conference hall. At the head of the table sat the current Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion, the Level 99 Limit Douluo, Mu En.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin. Qian Duoduo, since you called this meeting, you may speak first."

"Yes, Pavilion Master." Qian Duoduo, the vice dean of the Soul Tool Department, stood and bowed. Then he glanced at the elderly woman seated at the foremost seat on the right—the very woman Wang Nan had seen at the Gathering Treasures Pavilion.

"Elders, I apologize for disturbing you all today, but it concerns the development of our academy's Soul Tool Department." Qian Duoduo gave the elders a slight bow before continuing, "The Martial Soul Department divides students according to their martial souls and talents into Assault Type, Control Type, Agility Attack Type, Support Type, Defense Type, and Food Type. Yet ever since our academy established the Soul Tool Department, all students have been taught together."

After a brief pause, Qian Duoduo drew everyone's attention before continuing, "In truth, Soul Engineers also possess different talents when it comes to crafting soul tools. Perhaps we can divide them more specifically based on their talents and interests—for example, into attack, defense, support, daily-life types, and so on."

At this point, Qian Duoduo turned his gaze toward Yan Shaozhe. "Furthermore, I propose that Martial Soul Department students also receive instruction in soul tools."

"Vice Dean Qian, even if Shrek's students are all exceptionally talented, that talent should not be wasted on meaningless things. Their future achievements will be no lower than Soul Emperor. By then, how much use could soul tools possibly have?"

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo had always been at odds. Hearing this suggestion, Yan Shaozhe immediately spoke in rebuttal.

"Yan Shaozhe, why don't you make yourself clear? What do you mean by 'meaningless things'?" Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Tool Department, could no longer remain seated after hearing that. Pointing at Yan Shaozhe's nose, she snapped.

"Enough, Lin'er. Let Qian Duoduo finish." The elderly woman seated at the foremost seat on the right spoke up. Though she seemed to be calming Xian Lin'er, she was actually handing the floor back to Qian Duoduo.

"Pavilion Master, elders." Qian Duoduo cast her a grateful look. "Perhaps we high-level Soul Masters have not noticed it, but among lower-level Soul Masters, soul tools are becoming increasingly widespread. In the future, everyone across the Douluo Continent will be changed by soul tools."

"I know that, to all of you present, soul tools are ultimately external objects. However, for lower-level Soul Masters, a defensive soul tool can prevent much unnecessary injury and may even save a life."

"On the other hand, soul tools have developed at an astonishing pace over the past few decades. Four thousand years ago, the Continental War ended with the Sun Moon Empire's defeat. But what about now? What about in ten years, twenty years, or a hundred years? Dean Yan, can you guarantee that no soul tool capable of threatening high-level Soul Masters will ever emerge?"

"Therefore, teaching students to use soul tools cannot be delayed. First, it can protect their safety and help them grow. Second, it will give them ways to respond when facing an enemy's soul tools in the future."

Just as Yan Shaozhe was about to retort, an elderly man seated on the left spoke before him. "Qian Duoduo, you do not mean for Martial Soul Department students to learn how to make soul tools, but merely how to use them?"

"That's right. As you elders heard in my first proposal, if it passes, the Soul Tool Department will be divided more finely in the future. We plan to specifically offer courses on using and countering soul tools."

As Qian Duoduo spoke, he glanced at Yan Shaozhe. "Martial Soul Department students can choose one or several of those courses according to their own circumstances. With this foundation, they will benefit whether they use soul tools themselves or face enemies who use them in the future."

As soon as Qian Duoduo finished speaking, the entire Sea God Pavilion fell silent. The elders were all deep in thought.

"Qian Duoduo, tell us about your ideas for dividing the Soul Tool Department," one elder said.

"Certainly. My initial idea is to divide the Soul Tool Department into three parts: combat, daily life, and warfare. Daily life will mainly handle the development and production of everyday soul tools, such as Storage Soul Tools. Warfare will include Fixed Soul Tools and other large-scale, area-destruction soul tools."

"Combat will then be divided into close-range, mid-range, long-range, defense, and support, to make up for the Soul Master's own shortcomings. The curriculum for first- and second-year students will remain unchanged, focusing primarily on understanding various ores and initially inscribing soul tool formations. Students in their third year and above will receive separate instruction based on their different classifications."

No sooner had Qian Duoduo finished than Xian Lin'er, beside him, stood again and dropped another bombshell.

"Pavilion Master, elders, I believe Soul Masters and Soul Engineers should not stand in opposition. From now on, the Soul Tool Department's teaching direction will no longer be limited to simply training Soul Engineers. We will also attempt to cultivate a combination of Soul Masters and Soul Engineers, researching soul tools suited to each individual Soul Master in order to unleash the greatest power of soul tools and compensate for a Soul Master's weaknesses."

The elders began discussing in low voices. Despite having only ten people, the conference room became somewhat noisy for a time.

Only after the voices gradually died down did Mu En slowly speak. "All right. Everyone, raise your hands to vote."

Of the ten people around the table, everyone except Yan Shaozhe raised a hand.

"Then it is decided." Mu En made the final call. "Qian Duoduo, you and Xian Lin'er will draw up a detailed plan for the Soul Tool Department's reorganization, as well as the construction of classrooms, dormitories, and testing grounds, along with future course and teacher arrangements. Once Sea God Pavilion approves it, implementation will begin."

"Also, the Martial Soul Department courses will not be elective. Starting this year, all Martial Soul Department students must add a course on understanding and using common soul tools. The instructors will be selected from the Soul Tool Department."

"That is all. Meeting adjourned."

The elders departed one after another. Before long, only Mu En and the Pavilion Master of the Gathering Treasures Pavilion remained in the conference hall.

"There will always be young people, and there will always be new ideas. Good, very good." Mu En nodded. "When new things emerge, the thinking of old fellows like us can no longer quite keep up."

"Indeed. I was quite shocked the first time I heard that child's words. I never expected young people nowadays to have such ideas."

Neither of them said it outright, but both knew that this young man was Wang Nan. This Sea God Pavilion Meeting had been initiated by Qian Duoduo at the suggestion of the Pavilion Master of the Gathering Treasures Pavilion. Before the meeting began, Mu En had already received word and learned the full story.

"Young people, after all—they do not have prejudices like ours, and they can quickly accept new things." Mu En half-closed his eyes and sighed softly.

"Oh, right. His martial soul seems to be the Coiling Dragon Staff. The genuine Coiling Dragon Staff."

"Is that so?" Mu En revealed a deeply meaningful smile.