Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi's Past

Seeing Xiao Linyi's Crystal Ball bloom with the light of Innate Level 15 Soul Power, everyone present exclaimed at once, finally diverting Mu En's attention.

Mu En murmured, "Innate Level 15 Soul Power, a Demigod-level Martial Soul, dual Extreme Attributes... Aside from the Six-winged Angel from ten thousand years ago, there was actually another Martial Soul this terrifying, with talent this monstrous."

Xiao Linyi looked at the Crystal Ball that had not exploded and smiled happily. But when he heard the words "Level 15 Soul Power," he felt somewhat confused.

"Mu En, the books say that Soul Masters can only display a new level of Soul Power after obtaining a Soul Ring every ten levels. Why am I showing Level 15 when I haven't even obtained my First Soul Ring?"

"What you said is indeed correct, but there is another special circumstance: Innate Soul Power that surpasses an Innate Full Soul Power Martial Soul. Such Martial Souls are exceedingly rare. Since records began, only Spirit Hall's God-tier Inherited Martial Soul, the Six-winged Angel, possessed such power ten thousand years ago—Innate Level 20 Soul Power."

"But Spirit Hall launched a war ten thousand years ago, and after its defeat, the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul vanished as well. Ten thousand years later, records of it likely remain only in Shrek Academy's Library Pavilion. It is understandable that you have not read about it."

Only after hearing Mu En's explanation did Xiao Linyi finally understand.

Mu En continued, "Little one, your talent is rare even across the last ten thousand years. Looking across the continent's major powers, Shrek Academy is likely the only place capable of teaching you. Are you willing to join Shrek Academy?"

The couple, who had been lowering their heads, were immediately shaken upon hearing this. Having come from Shrek themselves, they naturally held feelings for the academy. Though they had left because of an accident, once they learned just how astonishing their child's talent was, they still wanted him to study at Shrek Academy.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Linyi did not answer. Instead, he looked at Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi. "I want to know what happened to Father and Mother at Shrek Academy."

Mu En froze, then looked at the couple as well. "You never told him?"

Lin Qingxuan shook his head. "It is all in the past. There is nothing worth talking about."

Mu En's mood sank somewhat. With a sigh, he said, "The academy failed you."

Then he turned to Xiao Linyi. "Since they have not told you, this old man will speak out of turn and tell you about your parents' past. After you hear it, whether you wish to join, refuse, or postpone your decision will all be up to you."

Meeting Xiao Linyi's curious gaze, Mu En seemed to sink into his memories as he slowly said, "Your father and mother were among the academy's finest talents of their generation. Even this old man was still slightly inferior to them at their age."

"Your father and mother were both commoner orphans. Because of Martial Soul Mutation, they awakened Top-tier Martial Souls. Your father's was the Life Wutong, while your mother's was the Bright Phoenix. Your Golden Tree Spirit likely mutated from that."

"At the time, your father and mother had no City Lord Recommendation Letter. They came alone to Shrek Academy and forced their way into the academy through sheer talent. Together, they became Outer Court Core Disciples, later tested into the Inner Court, and then became members of that generation's Shrek's Seven Devils Team. They competed in the continent-wide Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition and won the championship for the academy."

"Though your father was in the Support System, he relied on his exceptional mind and command ability to become the first Support System Captain in the academy's history. Your mother, meanwhile, became the Vice-Captain through absolute strength."

"Furthermore, your father and mother confirmed their relationship back then. The name Phoenix Perching on Wutong Tree was known not only in the Inner Court; across the entire continent, this Divine Couple was quite famous as well."

"Later, however, while carrying out an Inner Court mission, a lapse in the academy's intelligence caused your father and mother, with the Cultivation Level of Soul Saints, to face an Evil Soul Master at the Soul Douluo level. Although they gave everything they had to kill that Evil Soul Master, his Near-death Strike severely injured your father, leaving his Soul Power forever unable to advance."

"Later, unwilling to burden the academy, your father and mother chose to leave. Your father also chose to study Soul Engineering, and by today, his Soul Engineer rank has already caught up with his Soul Power..."

Xiao Linyi quietly listened to the story of his parents' past, but the more he heard, the more familiar it felt. This formula, this progression...

Born orphans, blessed with outstanding talent, entering the Number One Academy of the Continent to study, then rising to prominence, competing in tournaments, winning championships, becoming a Divine Couple admired by all—and even his parents' names... Wasn't this the treatment those brilliant protagonists in the Otherworld received?

So the protagonist of this world wasn't me, but my parents? No matter how I looked at it, they seemed more like protagonists than I did...

Xiao Linyi only found it strange.

When he finally heard that his father had suffered such severe injuries, Xiao Linyi could not help crying out.

No wonder his father's complexion had always been somewhat pale since he was little, and he had always looked sickly. He had thought his father was simply born that way, and had even wondered how his mother could like that sort of thing. He had never expected his father's heavy injuries had never healed.

For the first time in his life, Xiao Linyi harbored malicious thoughts toward a group of strangers. It was because of those Evil Soul Masters that his father was Afflicted by Illness, his Soul Power forever unable to advance.

When he later heard that his parents had chosen to leave rather than burden the academy because of the injuries, Xiao Linyi also understood how deeply his parents cared for Shrek Academy.

After hearing Mu En's words, Lin Qingxuan saw the apology on Mu En's face and comforted him. "Mu En, Evil Soul Masters are cunning. How can the academy's intelligence be blamed? Besides, although we left the academy, we are still in Shrek City. If we truly wanted to meet, it would only take a few steps."

"Over the years, Lexuan has often come to chat with Axi. Many Inner Court juniors, seniors, and even teachers have come to Axi to commission clothes. The Soul Tool Department has also asked me to make Soul Tools. Otherwise, my Soul Tool rank would not have risen so quickly. We both know the academy has certainly been helping us in secret. The academy has truly already done so much for us."

Mu En felt somewhat better upon hearing that. "You two are both good children. These are things the academy should do. You are the ones who have truly persevered."

Suddenly, Mu En's mood sank again. "In the end, the academy still failed you. Duoduo told me that if not for your injuries limiting your Soul Power, then with your talent and ability, Level 8 Soul Engineer would never have stopped you. You might even have become the first Level 9 Soul Engineer in the Douluo Continent's Original Three Kingdoms."

"Mu En, it is nothing."

Lin Qingxuan merely smiled. "I am very satisfied with my life now. I have Axi by my side, and now I have Xiao Yi as well. As long as our family can be together, that is enough. I truly do not care about anything else."

Ouyang Xi's eyes grew moist. She buried her head in her beloved's embrace, unable to conceal the sorrow in her heart.

Mu En had not mentioned it just now, but she still remembered that the reason her husband's Soul Power could not advance after his severe injury was because he had taken that fatal blow for her. Otherwise, she would have died during that mission. How could she have the happy life she had now?

After hearing Mu En's account, Xiao Linyi had already made his decision.

Looking at Mu En, Xiao Linyi's still-childish voice carried solemn resolve. "Mu En, I am willing to join Shrek Academy!"