Xu Tianxi: Shrek Was Still an Academy? Even Cult Fanatics Were No Different (Seeking Collection and Recommendation)

Seeing that Xu Tianxi did not exchange greetings with Zhang Lexuan but instead questioned him, Yan Shaozhe was slightly surprised. He immediately nodded and answered in as gentle a tone as possible:

"That's right. I'm Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department. I once guided your mother's cultivation. I deeply regret what happened to your mother. I'm sorry."

Kong Xiyue had been Shrek's Senior Sister of the Inner Courtyard before Zhang Lexuan. Although she had been unable to remain at Shrek and continue making her mark, marrying the sect master of the Xuanming Sect and strengthening the relationship between Shrek and the Xuanming Sect had also been an excellent choice.

Shrek was indeed the world's foremost sacred land for soul masters, but it had always placed great importance on maintaining relationships with the top nobles and Hidden Sects of the Three Douluo Kingdoms. Examples included the White Tiger Duke's Mansion of the Star Luo Empire and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Xuanming Sect's relationship with Shrek was not as close as those of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but it was still quite important. No one would think that a Hidden Sect capable of mass-producing Mystic Water Pills, whose inherited Martial Soul could rival the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was weak.

Moreover, Kong Xiyue had been sent to Shrek by the Xuanming Old Ancestor beside him. They had never held out much hope that she would enter the sacred Sea God Pavilion. It was already good enough if she could provide Shrek with strength from within the Xuanming Sect.

Now that something had happened to Kong Xiyue, he was somewhat displeased that servants of the Xuanming Sect had been spreading reckless rumors, but he was not petty enough to quarrel with a child.

Xu Tianxi had no idea what Yan Shaozhe was thinking. Seeing that he had acknowledged his identity, he organized his thoughts, bit the corner of his lip, and continued asking in a grief-stricken tone:

"Dean Yan, may I ask why my mother met with an accident in the Star Dou Great Forest? Where were you at the time? Why didn't you protect my mother and the others?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp glint flashed through the Xuanming Old Ancestor's aged, murky eyes. He stared intently at Yan Shaozhe, as though he wanted to discern something from his face.

Zhang Lexuan also stopped sobbing and tightened her grip on Xu Tianxi's hand.

"This..."

Yan Shaozhe was momentarily speechless. He could hardly say that Xuan Zi had gotten separated from the Inner Courtyard disciples because he had been greedy for food, only for those disciples to coincidentally encounter a murderous Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, causing a great battle to erupt.

By the time Xuan Zi had eaten his fill and gone looking for the Inner Courtyard disciples, he had discovered in shock that the twelve-person team had been reduced to four people barely clinging to life. All he could do was gather the fragments and return to the academy, right?

If he said that out loud, wouldn't it damage Shrek's image and validate the servant's wild ravings? After all, Xuan Zi hadn't done it on purpose...

Yan Shaozhe quickly organized his thoughts and soon came up with an answer. Meeting Xu Tianxi's gaze, he said:

"The situation at the time was very complicated. The experts of Shrek Academy were held up by other matters and could not go protect your mother and the others immediately. That was how the accident happened."

"But I can tell you this: your mother and the others dying in battle in the Star Dou Great Forest was an unparalleled honor. Their sacrifice was not meaningless, nor did it betray their identity and glory as disciples of Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard."

At those words, the corner of Zhang Lexuan's eye twitched. A trace of anger welled up on her fair cheek, but she suppressed it at once, not wanting Xu Tianxi to see.

What... could I do? The negligent academy expert was Xuan Zi, after all—the peerless expert destined to inherit the position of Sea God Pavilion Master.

Even though she had watched so many companions die horribly, watched Xiyue fall while protecting her and the others despite being able to survive, and hated Xuan Zi's inaction, what could she do?

No matter how great her talent was, she had yet to mature. Her value to the academy was far inferior to that of Xuan Zi, who was already the second strongest expert on the continent.

She had even, under the orders of Dean Yan... even under the orders of Mu En, been forced to step forward and beg Xuan Zi not to abandon his responsibility and leave...

If she did not step forward, she herself might have been safe, but what about the other companions...

There was no other way. She would bury this pain in her heart forever, never allowing anyone else to know.

After Yan Shaozhe finished speaking, the Xuanming Old Ancestor waved his hand. Chen Wu and Yue Lao were instantly enveloped in a mass of black light and vanished from the room.

Yan Shaozhe and Zhang Lexuan were both powerful, and immediately sensed that the two had been teleported a hundred meters away. Their expressions changed.

The Xuanming Old Ancestor, Xu Xiaoyun, smiled at Yan Shaozhe's surprised expression and said:

"This matter is of great importance. The few of us knowing is enough. It also saves them from losing their tempers and saying something unpleasant... Don't be surprised. It's merely a small Soul Skill of this Old Man."

Most of the unpleasantness vanished from Yan Shaozhe's face. In its place appeared a solemn expression. He smiled and said:

"Senior Xu, you jest. I came here precisely to apologize to you on behalf of my teacher. Regarding this matter, Shrek truly wronged your sect and Senior Xu."

No wonder his teacher had warned him not to underestimate the Xuanming Sect on his way here and to treat the Xuanming Old Ancestor with courtesy. To send someone away with a Soul Skill without him noticing in the slightest—this man's strength was truly extraordinary. He was probably no weaker than Old Song, who was at Level Ninety-Seven.

Xu Xiaoyun snorted twice without replying. No one could tell what he was feeling. He merely sat down on the peachwood chair beside Xu Tianxi, reached out, took two round pills as dark as ink, and flicked them into Xu Tianxi and Zhang Lexuan's mouths.

"These are Black Tortoise Divine Pills refined personally by this Old Man. You two weak little brats should take one to replenish yourselves."

"Little Tianxi, say whatever you want. Your grandmaster is here."

At the same time Xu Tianxi swallowed the pill, an encouraging telepathic voice drifted past his ear. His eyes lit up. He raised his head and stared straight into Yan Shaozhe's eyes, asking word by word:

"Dean Yan, I heard that the experts of Shrek Academy are all the continent's strongest experts, and that Titled Douluo from other forces are no match for them. Did that senior encounter several Titled Douluo enemies in the Star Dou Great Forest, or was he attacked by a powerful Soul Beast?"

"Also, I want to know why you can call dying horribly at the hands of a Soul Beast 'honor.' My mother died to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast because she received no support, and so many others died too. What kind of honor is that!?"

Yan Shaozhe's expression changed. He had never expected Xu Tianxi to ask such a question.

Shrek Academy had a history of more than ten thousand years. Over the past ten thousand years, countless students had died while hunting Soul Beasts. Fighting to the death without retreating was naturally a kind of honor. What was more, their deaths had created Zhang Lexuan's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—the eighth ring—which, in his eyes, had absolutely been worth it.

But how could a child understand this kind of honor?

Xu Tianxi's unexpected yet entirely understandable outburst startled Zhang Lexuan for a moment. She tightened her grip on his hand and hurriedly said:

"Tianxi, things are very complicated. You're still young. It's not time for you to know about them yet..."

Yan Shaozhe was very satisfied with Zhang Lexuan's timely intervention. A trace of the majesty of "Shrek's holiness cannot be violated" immediately appeared on his embarrassed face. He clasped his hands behind his back and said solemnly:

"Little fellow, I won't lecture you at length right now. I can tell you frankly that the experts of Shrek Academy were indeed negligent in this matter. But that senior has deeply regretted it and even proposed withdrawing from Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion. It was only because the academy's students could not bear to see him leave that he reluctantly agreed to stay...

"At your age, you may not yet understand what kind of existence the Sea God Pavilion is. If you grow up and inherit your mother's talent to enter Shrek Academy, you will then understand how deeply that senior regretted his actions and how great a punishment he voluntarily accepted."

"Your mother was once one of the finest students in Shrek Academy. If you can be like her and enter Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard, I believe her spirit in heaven will be comforted."

Each time Yan Shaozhe's voice fell, Zhang Lexuan's shoulders trembled. Her tear-streaked face had almost lost all trace of its original appearance.

In the end, she seemed to have reached the limit of what she could bear. She merely opened her arms, hugged Xu Tianxi, and sobbed soundlessly, unable to utter a single word, as though only this could offer her the slightest comfort.

Let it be. There was nothing she could do...

Xu Tianxi struggled to part Zhang Lexuan's dark, graceful hair, revealing a pair of bright eyes like black agate. He stared fixedly at Yan Shaozhe.

"So what you're saying is that the Shrek Academy senior who killed my mother, as well as many of my mother's junior brothers and sisters, actually received no punishment at all, right?"

At that, Yan Shaozhe impatiently waved his hand. He put on some of the authority of the Dean of Shrek and shouted with a glare:

"I told you, you have no idea what a great existence the Sea God Pavilion is! When you grow up, you will naturally understand how sacred the Sea God Pavilion is and how great a resolve that senior made!"

"The glory of Shrek is not something a child like you can understand. But I can tell you this: this glory was achieved and defended through the blood and lives of countless Inner Courtyard disciples over Shrek's ten-thousand-year history!

"Before every Inner Courtyard disciple enters Shrek's Inner Courtyard, the first thing they do is sign a Life and Death Contract. Entering the Inner Courtyard means facing the most brutal trials. Inner Courtyard disciples die every year, but the glory they defend will live forever!

"You are questioning Shrek's glory now, which also means you are questioning your mother's efforts when she was alive!"

Xu Tianxi sucked in a breath of cold air. His eyes widened further and further, his face filled with astonishment.

I really learned something today. No matter how many webnovels I read, nothing compares to experiencing this firsthand. Shrek wasn't an academy at all. Even cult fanatics were no different.

Xu Tianxi glanced at his cheap grandmaster, whose face was as dark as water, then turned back to Yan Shaozhe and shouted as he met his gaze:

"I don't know how important the Sea God Pavilion is to you, but in my heart, no one is more important than my mother's life! Your Shrek Academy killed someone and still talks about damn glory. Don't you think that's shameless?"

"Enough!"

Yan Shaozhe flew into a rage. He glared furiously at Xu Tianxi, who dared question Shrek in front of him, and shouted:

"Boy, I didn't want to put it this way, but since you insist on digging into the matter, then this Dean will tell you how responsibility should be assigned!"

"As an Inner Courtyard disciple, your mother failed to protect her teammates while leading the team in hunting Soul Beasts, causing the team to suffer devastating losses. That was already a grave offense!"

Xu Tianxi could hardly believe his ears. He rounded his eyes and stared fixedly at Yan Shaozhe, trying to see how a person could be shameless enough to say such a thing.

Yan Shaozhe's expression darkened as he said:

"Don't look at this Dean with that unconvinced expression. I will tell you this: as the primary Control Type Battle Soul Master of the Soul Beast-hunting team, your mother had to provide sufficient control for the team!

"Yet she failed to discover the whereabouts of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in time and warn the entire team to retreat. As a result, the team was attacked, causing Shrek to suffer its greatest loss in several hundred years!

"Judging from the situation at the time, the team's losses were caused by her underestimating the enemy and her carelessness. The teacher leading the team was certainly at fault for failing to provide timely support, but she, as the main control-type Soul Master, was also at fault—and seriously so!"

"She later protected her companions with her life. That can be considered offsetting her merits and faults. We did not wish to pursue her responsibility any further."

"If you are dissatisfied that the senior remained unharmed, then enter Shrek Academy. If one day you become a Titled Douluo who makes enormous contributions to Shrek Academy and gain entry to the Sea God Pavilion, perhaps you will have a chance to challenge that senior."

"But right now, you have no right to criticize that Elder who made countless contributions to Shrek and the safety of the continent! He is one of the strongest experts in Shrek Academy. Even this Dean must show him the courtesy due to a junior!"

This boy is truly stubborn. Once he enters Shrek, it seems I will have to find someone to temper his temperament properly, lest he fail to recognize the immensity of heaven and earth and offend Xuan Zi.

Yan Shaozhe's attitude frightened Zhang Lexuan. She hurriedly turned her pale, bloodless face toward him, raised her brows, and shouted:

"Dean, he's still a child—a child who just lost his mother! Don't frighten him!"

"The circumstances back then were extremely unusual. The team member Xiyue sent to scout the situation was the first to meet with misfortune. Those of us who survived all owe Senior Sister Xiyue our lives!

"Tian Xi calls me Aunt too. Now that Xiyue is gone, I will never let anyone hurt Xiyue's only child again! Even if it costs me my life!"

Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe's expression instantly softened. He said gently:

"Lexuan, don't be nervous. I was a little agitated just now. I had no intention of making things difficult for a child. Once he enters Shrek, we will certainly nurture him properly."

Zhang Lexuan had become a Soul Douluo in her early twenties and possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. She was the greatest talent Shrek Academy had seen in three thousand years and was destined to enter the Sea God Pavilion in the future. Yan Shaozhe could not afford to take her lightly.

After calming Zhang Lexuan, Yan Shaozhe had not even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when several cold, aged laughs reached his ears, making him shudder.

"Hehehehe... What a Shrek, what an Elder of the Sea God Pavilion. As expected of the world's foremost sacred land for soul masters. Throwing your weight around is truly impressive."

Two crimson flashes of fury shot from Xu Xiaoyun's cloudy eyes. He slowly rose from the peachwood chair. The armrest let out a cracking sound and shattered into dust.

A powerful pressure burst from his body. Thick black ripples seemed to surge beneath his feet, spreading across the entire room.

"From what you said just now, you only respect reason when backed by strength. My little disciple's descendant is weak and insignificant, so he has no right to question your Shrek. Then what about this Old Man? I wonder whether I have that right?"

Within the thick black Soul Power, a Dark Gold shield bearing a coiled blood-red giant serpent appeared in the Xuanming Old Ancestor's palm. His face was as cold as frost as he roared one furious sentence after another, the thunderous sound resounding beside Yan Shaozhe's ears.