Mu En

Yan Shaozhe chuckled and explained to Zhou Sichen, "This is one of Shrek Academy's most central places. It was carved with the power of the Golden Tree. Even I do not have the authority to enter it at will."

Those words alone were enough to prove how highly the academy valued Zhou Sichen.

On just his second day after enrollment, he had been brought directly to the Sea God Pavilion. It was clear how much importance the academy placed on Zhou Sichen.

However, Zhou Sichen had been mentally prepared for this. His Elder Sister had become Mu En's final disciple a year ago, and his grandfather and Yan Shaozhe had been childhood friends. Those two points alone were enough to draw the attention of Shrek Academy's upper ranks.

Then there had been his month of interaction with Beibei, which had allowed him to understand Zhou Sichen's character and temperament. This great-grandson of the Dragon God Douluo had personally recommended him, and coupled with his exceptional talent, as well as the strength he had displayed last night and today—

With all these reasons combined, it was hardly surprising that Shrek Academy valued him so greatly.

And that was precisely Zhou Sichen's goal. As the number one academy on the continent, Shrek Academy had endured for ten thousand years. Its foundations needed no further explanation.

Although Zhou Sichen had the Zhou Family behind him and Tianyuan City supplying him, the resources available to him in recent years had already begun to fall somewhat short.

Yet Zhou Sichen had no desire to slow down. All things considered, Shrek Academy was an excellent choice.

Mu En was in his twilight years, with little lifespan remaining. Xuan Zi's Martial Soul had flaws, Yan Shaozhe's personality had flaws, and Ma Xiaotao, the exceptionally talented member of the next generation, also had flaws in her Martial Soul.

To put it bluntly, Shrek Academy could already be said to have no suitable successor.

Though Elder Sister's arrival had allowed Mu En to see hope, she was one of his people, and the talent Zhou Sichen had displayed was even greater than hers...

Moreover, his identity was rather deeply connected to Shrek Academy. He was originally from the Douluo Continent, and even his grandfather, Zhou Zhenxuan, still held Shrek in his heart...

In summary, the current Zhou Sichen was the best candidate to nurture, and the best opportunity for Shrek Academy's fourth great revival.

Zhou Sichen had chosen Shrek Academy for the same reason—because he had clearly seen all this. Otherwise, he could have cultivated his Body Martial Soul and gone directly to the Body Sect.

In other words, no matter which Martial Soul Zhou Sichen cultivated first, he had a path of retreat.

If Shrek did not work out, he could go to the Body Sect. If going to the Body Sect first did not work out, he could still return to Shrek...

Of course, these were only Zhou Sichen's own predictions. What would actually happen depended on how things developed from here, and whether Zhou Sichen could seize the opportunity.

Xuan Zi and the others bowed. "Elder Mu—Teacher—we have brought Zhou Sichen."

"Come in." A dignified voice, impossible to place in age, rang out from within the Sea God Pavilion. Hearing it gave one the sensation of having one's soul cleansed.

Led by Xuan Zi, the four deans and Zhou Sichen entered the Sea God Pavilion. Inside, everything was suffused with golden light. The dense aura of light made even Zhou Sichen feel refreshed and invigorated.

Upon entering the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, everything appeared ancient and simple. At the center of the spacious hall stood a long table. Three elderly figures with varying expressions sat on each side of it—two women and one man.

At the foremost seat at the innermost end, someone seemed to be half-reclining there. Due to his angle, Zhou Sichen could not make out that person's appearance.

Xuan Zi and the others took their assigned seats, leaving Zhou Sichen standing quietly by the entrance like a student waiting to submit a self-criticism.

Once Xuan Zi and the others had taken their seats, Zhou Sichen gave a slight bow. "This student, Zhou Sichen, greets all the elders."

Not seniors, but elders.

That was the art of language. With that simple sentence, Zhou Sichen had narrowed the distance between himself and the powerful figures seated in the hall.

From the moment Zhou Sichen entered the hall, the three seated pavilion elders, including the figure reclining in the foremost chair, had been observing him.

At their level, it was easy for them to discern Zhou Sichen's current cultivation.

Yet it differed somewhat from what Beibei had said.

Judging from the foundations of his Spiritual Power and Soul Power, Zhou Sichen did not look like someone who was only Level 38.

Perhaps that was why, at such a level, he had been able to make three Contracted Soul Beasts reach the 9999 Year level?

Beyond that, the boy carried an innate confidence, as though he had been born with it. Even in the presence of nine Titled Douluo, he showed no fear whatsoever and could even be said to be perfectly at ease.

Everyone present knew the Zhou Family of Tianyuan City very well. Given Zhou Zhenxuan's talent, he was perhaps still stuck at the Soul Douluo level even now.

That meant this was Zhou Sichen's first time facing so many powerful experts, yet he could remain perfectly composed beneath all their gazes.

That display alone was enough for them to regard Zhou Sichen more highly.

After Zhou Sichen bent down to bow, a faint ripple of Soul Power came from the elderly man on the reclining chair, gently lifting him upright.

That gentle voice, like a spring breeze and capable of cleansing the soul, sounded once more. "Child, there is no need for such formality."

Feeling the force that had lifted him, Zhou Sichen could not help but let his gaze linger on the reclining chair for an instant before looking straight ahead again.

There was no need to elaborate on this person's identity. He was the highest authority in all of Shrek Academy—the Sea God Pavilion Master, one of the Black and White Twin Holy Dragons, a Level 99 Peerless Expert, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En...

Any one of the old man's countless titles was enough to make him unrivaled across the continent.

Xuan Zi sat in the foremost seat to Mu En's left and quietly said something to him.

Zhou Sichen only noticed from the corner of his eye that Mu En gave a slight nod after listening to Xuan Zi.

Then Mu En's voice rang out again. "Child, sit."

Zhou Sichen nodded and sat in the final seat opposite Mu En's foremost position.

Though this was the rearmost seat in the Sea God Pavilion's hall, anyone who could ordinarily sit here was at least someone of crucial importance to the academy.

For Zhou Sichen, who was only Level 38, to be qualified to take a seat there, the implication spoke for itself.

The pavilion elders' gazes naturally settled upon Zhou Sichen.

Mu En's voice sounded faintly. "Child, although you have only just arrived at Shrek Academy, we have already learned something of your deeds through various channels."

"Your talent, strength, temperament, and every other condition are all things countless people could only look up to. Even I, at your age, was ashamed to compare myself to you."

A warm smile appeared on Zhou Sichen's face. "You flatter me. The achievements I have today are due not only to my talent, but also to my family's wholehearted cultivation and guidance, as well as the effort I've put in over the years."

"I know that in your eyes, I may be rather gifted, but the effort I've invested is equally impossible to overlook."

Zhou Sichen's answer was humble and official. At the very least, all the elders present, including Mu En, were quite satisfied.

"Do you know what it means that we summoned you here today?"

Zhou Sichen pondered briefly. "Because of my talent—and it should also be a test for me."

Mu En smiled, his expression exceptionally hearty. "Child, you're very smart. Since you understand that, can you tell me what you think of Shrek Academy?"

Zhou Sichen had anticipated that this group of elders would test him, so he had long rehearsed for such a situation. When it came to acting, Zhou Sichen was Oscar-worthy.

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