Decision

Hearing Xiao Linyi's blunt words, Mu En fell into deep thought.

Even though her husband was a Soul Engineer, as an outstanding graduate of Shrek Academy's Inner Court, Ouyang Xi still instinctively resisted Soul Tools.

"Sweetheart, Soul Tools are external things, after all. It is more meaningful for Soul Masters to rely on their own strength. As things stand, Soul Tools are still nothing more than toys to powerful Soul Masters."

Xiao Linyi did not refute his mother. He merely nodded, indicating that she was right.

But how could Ouyang Xi not understand her own son? This reaction did not mean he truly agreed with what she had said. He simply could not be bothered to argue.

Xiao Linyi had once said something as a child that Ouyang Xi remembered very clearly.

'Don't try to reason with fools. Not only is it exhausting, but they won't understand anyway.'

At the time, Ouyang Xi had merely been surprised that her precious child could see things so clearly at such a young age, but now...

Did this brat just lump me in with those fools who can't be reasoned with?!

She grabbed Xiao Linyi and pulled him into her arms, putting on a vicious expression. "Speak! If you don't, Mommy will spank you."

A helpless look appeared on the little boy's face, but she was his mother. There was nothing he could do.

Sighing like a little adult, Xiao Linyi slowly began to speak. Ouyang Xi turned serious, wanting to hear what reasoning her clever son could offer. Mu En, who had been deep in thought, also looked at Xiao Linyi after hearing Ouyang Xi's question, curious about his answer.

"Soul Masters have existed for tens of thousands of years. There is no denying that over those tens of thousands of years, Soul Masters have improved significantly, whether in the number of powerhouses or their rate of growth. But what about Soul Tools? How long have Soul Tools existed?"

Without waiting for the three adults to answer, Xiao Linyi gave the answer himself. "Over four thousand years! It was only after Sun Moon Continent collided with Douluo Continent more than four thousand years ago that Soul Tools truly began to develop and become widespread. Before that, there were only a few rare Storage Soul Tools."

"But what about now? Are Storage Soul Tools still as precious as they were ten thousand years ago?"

"I don't know how powerful the strongest Soul Tools are now, but at the very least, I know that Soul Tools can already threaten Soul Douluo and even Titled Douluo. If Soul Tools develop for a few hundred more years, will they cease to merely threaten Titled Douluo and instead become lethal to them? What about a few thousand years? Tens of thousands of years?"

"Could someone even use Soul Tools to become a god, like those godlike figures from ten thousand years ago?"

"That's impossible!" Ouyang Xi immediately denied it upon hearing his final point.

"Mom, how do you know it's impossible?"

Facing her son's curious gaze, Ouyang Xi did not know how to answer. It was as if she had once again recalled those dark days when the young Lin Yi had bombarded her with question after question until she had no answers. Embarrassed and angered, Ouyang Xi was about to strike, but Xiao Linyi easily dodged.

Xiao Linyi's words once again left Mu En silent. Lin Qingxuan stopped the mother and son from fooling around and gently shook his head.

The family of three looked at the old man who had devoted his entire life to Shrek Academy. Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi's eyes were filled with reverence, while Xiao Linyi's gaze was much simpler—pure curiosity. My master seems pretty strong. A few words were enough to silence him?

They continued on their way, but each of them had fallen silent.

After a long while, Mu En suddenly asked, "Xiao Yi, if it were you, what would you do?"

"Huh? Do what?"

Caught off guard by Mu En's sudden question, Xiao Linyi asked in confusion.

"If Shrek Academy were under your command, what would you do?"

"Develop Soul Tools, I guess." Xiao Linyi answered casually.

"That's all?"

"What else would I need to do?"

"You don't have any more detailed ideas?"

"No." Xiao Linyi answered honestly.

Lin Qingxuan could see that Mu En was serious, and lightly reprimanded him. "Xiao Yi, Elder Mu is asking you a question. Answer him properly."

"Oh." Xiao Linyi responded somewhat aggrievedly before continuing, "You said the mainstream view at Shrek Academy looks down on Soul Tools and considers them external power. Then just develop Soul Tools until they become your own power."

"How could that possibly be done!" Ouyang Xi instinctively retorted.

"Can anyone guarantee one hundred percent that it can't be done?" Xiao Linyi shot back.

Seeing that the adults had all been stumped, Xiao Linyi continued, "At its core, the emergence of Soul Tools is a matter of the times progressing. Problems of development can only be solved through development; there is no such thing as abandoning them. If you abandon the times, then the times can only abandon you."

"Besides, where did this idea that Soul Tools are external power even come from?"

"Soul Tools are external power." As usual, the one who instinctively argued back was Xiao Linyi's mother, Ouyang Xi.

"But Soul Masters themselves rely on external power to cultivate. What's wrong with adding one more Soul Tool?"

Seeing his mother open her mouth to argue again, Xiao Linyi cut in first. "Soul Masters break through by relying on Soul Rings, and Soul Rings come from Soul Beasts. Surely no one would say Soul Beasts were their own power to begin with."

"If such a person existed, then when Soul Masters first appeared tens of thousands of years ago, they would have already died because they refused to use the power of Soul Beasts."

Ouyang Xi had no rebuttal and could only shut her mouth resentfully.

After a long silence, Mu En finally spoke. "Child, may Master ask you for something?"

"Please, Master."

"Master hopes that you will still go study at Shrek Academy. If you want to learn about Soul Tools, that is no problem. Shrek Academy also has a Soul Tool Department. This old man will devote the strength of the entire department to helping you learn Soul Tools!"

"But Master also hopes that once you grow strong enough, you can change the academy's current mindset of rejecting Soul Tools."

After saying this, Mu En looked earnestly at Xiao Linyi, with even a trace of pleading in his eyes.

"Alright, Master. I promise you."

A smile immediately appeared on Mu En's face. "Good child..."

"But, Master, there's something I don't quite understand."

"What is it?"

"Why should I be the one to change things? Can't you do it yourself?"

"Hehe, Master is already old. These matters should be left to you young people."

Xiao Linyi's face showed disagreement. "Master, I don't think so. Do you know when the best time to plant a tree is?"

Not knowing what his youngest disciple was getting at, Mu En cooperatively replied, "I don't know."

"Ten years ago."

Mu En's body immediately trembled at those words.

"Then do you know when the second-best time is?"

Mu En was somewhat stunned. Hearing Xiao Linyi's question, he gently shook his head.

"Right now."

Mu En's expression instantly froze, then rapidly shifted through a series of emotions. Xiao Linyi had never seen so many expressions flash across someone's face so quickly.

"Truly thought-provoking." Lin Qingxuan rubbed his son's head. "Xiao Yi, where did you read that?"

Clearly, Lin Qingxuan did not believe a six-year-old child could have come up with those words.

In truth, Xiao Linyi had not thought of them himself. They came from memories of the Otherworld.

"In a book."

"Looks like making you read back then really was the right decision." Lin Qingxuan sighed.

Seeing everyone react so strongly, Xiao Linyi was a little surprised. Were the inspirational sayings from the Otherworld really that effective?

After a long while, Mu En finally came back to his senses and gave a bitter smile. "I really am old. I can't even see things as clearly as a child like you."

Mu En said nothing more, but it seemed he had made some decision in his heart.

With a smile, he asked, "Since you've decided to follow the path of the Support System, have you chosen your First Soul Ring?"

"Yes, I have."