My Master Is Mu En

Lin Qingxuan went to bring Lin Yi inside, but he took longer than expected.

Knowing that Lin Qingxuan was not the type to deliberately delay, Mu En understood that something must have held him up. Given the circumstances, it was probably that student named Wu Ming.

Seeing that Lin Qingxuan would not be back anytime soon, Mu En said, "It seems something has come up. Good. Think about what words and what terms you can use to persuade this disciple of mine."

Everyone acknowledged this, but judging by the relaxed expressions on Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi's faces, they clearly did not think persuading a six-year-old child would take much effort.

Mu En's gaze darkened, but no one noticed in the dim light within the room.

Ouyang Xi wanted to say something, but she was the youngest and weakest person in the room, and her husband was not by her side. In the end, she remained silent.

Half an hour later, Lin Qingxuan brought Lin Yi to the Sea God Pavilion Meeting Room.

The moment he entered, Lin Qingxuan began apologizing. "I'm truly sorry, Elders. When I went out earlier, I discovered that the junior student had actually broken through to rank fifty. Xiao Yi was assisting her, so I couldn't very well interrupt them. That's why I arrived late. My sincerest apologies."

Mu En smiled. "It's nothing. You handled it well. Where is that student?"

"After breaking through, she was in a much better mood. I told her to return and consolidate her Soul Power."

Mu En nodded lightly.

Seeing this, Lin Qingxuan returned to stand at the end of the group beside his wife, pulling his son along with him.

"Xiao Yi, we called you here because there is something we want to ask your opinion on."

"My opinion?" Lin Yi was somewhat surprised. Wasn't the Sea God Pavilion Shrek Academy's highest authority? What could they possibly need his opinion on? Did they value him that highly? Were they already letting him take part in decisions of power?

"What is it?"

"Didn't you decide to enter the Soul Tool Department? But Dean Yan believes you are better suited to the Martial Soul Department, so he wants to hear your own opinion."

"Master?"

Lin Yi was a little dissatisfied. Hadn't they agreed that he would study Soul Tools? How could they suddenly go back on their word?

Mu En's voice was calm. "What I promised you naturally still stands. It is simply that they believe you are more suited to the Martial Soul Department and wish to see whether they can persuade you. You need not concern yourself with anything else. Just make your choice. With your master here, no one can force you to do anything."

There was a trace of dominance in his aged voice.

Mu En's meaning was clear: there was no need to fear offending anyone. He only needed to choose.

"I choose the Soul Tool Department."

Lin Yi's voice was firm.

Yan Shaozhe said with a warm smile, "Little junior brother, don't rush to make your choice. You've only just arrived, so let me first introduce these Elders to you."

Lin Yi could only nod. Looking at the roomful of old men and women, the Otherworld's teachings about respecting one's elders still had some influence on him.

First was the man at the head of the left side. "This is Xuan Zi, Elder Xuan, a rank ninety-eight Super Douluo. Beneath Teacher, he is the strongest person in the Sea God Pavilion. His Title is Taotie."

Seeing the old man's slovenly appearance—a chicken leg in his left hand and a wine gourd in his right, taking a bite of meat followed by a swig of wine as carefree as could be—Lin Yi found it hard to maintain his expression. But in the Otherworld, people like this were always big shots and could not be offended lightly, so he respectfully bowed. "Greetings, Elder Xuan."

After that, he greeted Elder Song, Elder Lin, and Elder Zhuang in turn. Elder Zhuang in particular had apparently valued Lin Qingxuan the most during his time in the Inner Court. However, Elder Zhuang had humbly claimed he was not qualified to teach Lin Qingxuan and thus had not taken him as a disciple. Yet he had imparted all his skills without reservation. Though they had no master-disciple title, they had the reality of such a relationship.

When Lin Qingxuan had been gravely injured, Elder Zhuang had tried every possible method, but unfortunately none had succeeded. Later, Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi had remained in Shrek City only because Elder Zhuang had persuaded them to stay. Otherwise, the couple would have long since found a small town and lived in seclusion.

It could be said that without Elder Zhuang's efforts to keep them back then, none of what happened after Lin Yi's Martial Soul Awakening would have occurred. Lin Yi instinctively felt goodwill toward this old man who radiated a dense aura of life.

After that came the Dean and Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er, followed by the Dean and Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo.

Lin Yi greeted each of them, but his dislike for Dean Yan deepened further. How was this any different from being dragged around during New Year in the Otherworld to pay respects to a bunch of elders he did not know?

Once the introductions were over, Yan Shaozhe got to the point. "Little junior brother, with your talent, entering the Soul Tool Department would be too great a waste. You should join our Martial Soul Department instead. Shrek Academy's ten thousand years of accumulation and research will all become your support."

Yan Shaozhe looked utterly sincere, his face saying that he was doing this for Lin Yi's sake. Lin Yi glanced at him. "The Support System has no combat power."

Lin Yi's indifference caught Yan Shaozhe somewhat off guard. In his imagination, the moment he spoke, Lin Yi should have been immediately tempted and bowed his head in submission.

This was not how the script was supposed to go.

But it was fine. Yan Shaozhe had led the Martial Soul Department for so many years. How could he be refuted by a single sentence from a child?

"Little junior brother, the Support System indeed has no combat power, but the methods you displayed earlier are already sufficient for self-defense. Your Martial Soul is uniquely blessed by heaven. If you can devote all your energy to increasing your Soul Power, you will almost certainly become a Limit Douluo. Furthermore, Shrek Academy values team combat. Even the First Generation Shrek's Seven Devils who became gods ten thousand years ago were one complete team. The Support System is equally crucial within a team."

After saying this, Yan Shaozhe looked expectantly at Lin Yi. Lin Yi nodded, indicating his agreement.

Yan Shaozhe was secretly delighted. Then...

"The Support System has no combat power."

Still that one sentence. Yan Shaozhe grew a little anxious. "Little junior brother, you possess the dual Extreme Attributes of Extreme Light and Extreme Life. The Soul Tool Department simply does not know how to guide you in developing them. Only the Martial Soul Department has research into Extreme Attributes and can avoid wasting your talent."

Lin Yi gave the Dean of the Martial Soul Department a strange look. "My master is the Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion."

The implication was that all those things belonged to Shrek Academy, and his master controlled Shrek Academy. What information would he lack?

Lin Yi's look irritated Yan Shaozhe, but he could not argue with a child, especially not his own little junior brother.

"Little junior brother, the Soul Tool Department truly does not suit you. Come to our Martial Soul Department. If you come, the Martial Soul Department will definitely do everything in its power to improve your physical condition, allowing you to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring as early as your Seventh Soul Ring. At the same time, I will personally lead a team to hunt suitable Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts for you! Three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones—this is my promise!"

Hearing this, the Elders were secretly shocked. Yan Shaozhe was truly paying a tremendous price.

Yet Lin Yi's expression became even stranger. "My master is a Limit Douluo."

The implication was that his master was the strongest in the world. Why would he need Yan Shaozhe to act?

Yan Shaozhe choked. How was he supposed to counter that? Your master is my teacher too! Why did this little brat only know that one line? Say something else if you can!

"Little junior brother, wouldn't it be improper to trouble Teacher so often?"

Lin Yi looked somewhat surprised. "If a disciple has trouble, isn't he supposed to ask his master for help?" Then he looked toward Mu En, appearing slightly aggrieved. "Master, when I need Soul Rings later, you won't refuse to help me, will you?"

Mu En laughed. "Help you? Of course I'll help you. Isn't that what a master is for?"

"Mm, thank you, Master. Master is the best."

Yan Shaozhe was nearly numb. Why was this unlucky little thing impossible to persuade?

"Little junior brother, the teachers of the Soul Tool Department will only teach you Soul Tool knowledge. They have no way to help with the cultivation of your own Martial Soul. The teachers of our Martial Soul Department have far more experience. No matter what cultivation problems you encounter, they can answer them for you."

Lin Yi began to suspect that Dean Yan had truly risen to his position solely through Mu En's connections. Did he not think at all before speaking or offering terms?

"My master is Mu En."

Lin Yi had already learned that the four Deans of the Martial Soul and Soul Tool Departments were all Mu En's disciples: three Super Douluos and one Title Douluo. Did the Martial Soul Department's teachers really possess the ability to instruct him?

"Pfft..."

A laugh someone had clearly failed to hold back rang out. Everyone turned toward the sound and discovered it was Elder Zhuang.

Seeing everyone's gazes gather on him, Elder Zhuang waved his hand. "My apologies. I just thought of something pleasant that happened recently. Please continue, don't mind me."

Elder Zhuang had failed to hold back his laughter, and the other Elders also wore amused expressions.

Yan Shaozhe had always been known for his eloquence in the Sea God Pavilion, yet today, a child had driven him into such a state.

Yan Shaozhe knew he had no chance of persuading this little fellow. But seeing Qian Duoduo's smug expression, he felt inexplicably displeased and could not help himself.

"Shrek's Martial Soul Department is the Number One Academy of the Continent. The Soul Tool Department is not."

The moment those words came out, Mu En, seated in the place of honor, narrowed his eyes.

"Shaozhe!" Cai Mei'er hurriedly grabbed Yan Shaozhe. Those words sounded like an attempt to sow discord.

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, the Dean and Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, also looked grim.

Lin Yi had now completely confirmed that the Dean of the Martial Soul Department had risen through nepotism. But the place he would be going to in the future could not be insulted like this!

"If you know it isn't first, then hurry up and develop it! Is Shrek really the Number One Academy of the Continent or not?"

"Xiao Yi!" Lin Qingxuan grabbed one of Lin Yi's hands while Ouyang Xi covered his mouth, both wearing apologetic expressions.

Yan Shaozhe's words merely carried the suspicion of sowing discord, but Lin Yi's words were openly insulting.

"Children speak without malice, children speak without malice."

"Enough, Xiao Yi. We all know your choice now. Go outside first. Take a walk and familiarize yourself with the surroundings."

"Oh. Then I'm leaving, Master. Goodbye, Elders."

After saying his farewells, Lin Yi left on his own.

As an unbearable silence descended, the atmosphere within the Sea God Pavilion gradually grew heavy.