Supreme Elder: What? There's Work?

Shrek Academy, Sea God's Pavilion.

Numerous Titled Douluo sat in two rows, with the files of twelve students laid out before them.

Those twelve were the cream of Shrek's students. The youngest were only twenty-four or twenty-five, while the oldest was barely over forty. Yet their Soul Power was no lower than rank seventy. As for the oldest Soul Master, his Soul Power had reached the terrifying rank ninety. He was only one Soul Ring away from becoming a Titled Douluo, and he had even begun thinking of his title.

"Tell me, who would be best suited to lead Shrek's twelve most outstanding young monster students in hunting Soul Rings?" The elderly man seated at the head slowly spoke, and the others began discussing it.

Before long, Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, stood up. "Teacher, these twelve are the future of Shrek's younger generation. Moreover, the Soul Rings they require are at least Seventh Soul Rings. As everyone knows, so long as a Seventh Soul Ring does not conflict with one's Martial Soul, the only thing that matters is its age. Therefore, for the sake of these students' futures, we need to hunt twelve Soul Rings that are each more than sixty thousand years old."

Mu En nodded. During the Dou Yi era, a Soul Master's first Soul Ring was over four hundred years, the second over seven hundred, and the third over seventeen hundred. The fourth Soul Ring was five thousand years. The absorption limit for the fifth Soul Ring was twelve thousand years, while the sixth Soul Ring's limit was twenty thousand years. Only the seventh Soul Ring could absorb Soul Rings between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years old. It was only by the eighth soul ring that one could possibly absorb a Soul Beast Soul Ring over fifty thousand years old—but this was Dou Er.

In Dou Er, the limits for Soul Ring absorption had long ceased following Dou Yi's standards. Even an ordinary inner-court student of Shrek could absorb a Soul Ring over thirty thousand years old as their Sixth Soul Ring. Thus, by the seventh Soul Ring, Shrek's elite students all required Soul Rings above sixty thousand years old, since their Martial Soul Avatars only cared about age.

"Twelve Soul Rings over sixty thousand years old, especially considering that there are Soul Masters at rank eighty and rank ninety among them. The Soul Rings they need must all be over eighty thousand years old. This time, a single Titled Douluo can no longer handle leading the team. Therefore, I suggest that Vice President Cai Meier of the Martial Soul Department, dean Xian Lin'er of the Soul Tool Department, and I act together to ensure these students' safety."

As soon as Yan Shaozhe finished speaking, before Mu En could react, Qian Duoduo, the green-haired turtle who served as Vice President of the Soul Tool Department, had already bristled.

"Old Yan! What are you trying to do, taking my wife away without bringing me along?!"

In response to Qian Duoduo's outburst, Yan Shaozhe looked utterly righteous. "Old Qian, these are the new generation of Titled Douluo seeds for Shrek. You need to put the bigger picture first. Don't be so petty."

Qian Duoduo slapped the table. "What do you mean, don't be petty?! Damn it, Yan Shaozhe! Between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department, there are four deans and vice presidents in total. Three of you are going, yet you're leaving me behind. What the hell do you mean by that?!"

Yan Shaozhe did not pay much attention to Qian Duoduo's fury. "You said it yourself. There are only four deans and vice presidents between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department. Someone has to stay behind to oversee things."

"Then why isn't it you?!"

Yan Shaozhe spread his hands. "Old Qian, whether it's the Soul Tool Department or the Martial Soul Department, aside from me, who has reached the level of a rank ninety-five Super Douluo? Without a rank ninety-five Super Douluo, if we encounter a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with a powerful bloodline, even retreating safely would not be easy."

"But you can't let Lin'er go either! What if..."

Qian Duoduo trailed off halfway through, glanced at his wife, and did not dare continue.

He had worked incredibly hard to win Xian Lin'er over. Even after winning her over, he had never touched her. At most, Xian Lin'er let him carry her foot-washing water; apart from that, the two had practically never even held hands.

Yet even so, Qian Duoduo did not dare show the slightest dissatisfaction toward Xian Lin'er. He did not even dare suspect that anything remained between Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe. If Xian Lin'er got angry because of something he said, he would lose even the qualification to carry her foot-washing water.

Thus, he did not dare ask whether the old feelings that had supposedly died out might accidentally rekindle when Sister Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe were alone without him. He truly feared losing Xian Lin'er.

Seeing Qian Duoduo stop halfway through his words, Xian Lin'er, who knew exactly what he would say if he continued, shot him a glare. Yan Shaozhe then shook his head.

"Old Qian, don't worry. We're just hunting Soul Rings normally. Don't overthink it. Nothing will happen."

Qian Duoduo pursed his lips, looking utterly aggrieved, as if saying, Yeah right, like I'd believe that.

Seeing his pitiful appearance, Yan Shaozhe felt helpless as well. "Old Qian, I'm not lying."

Yan Shaozhe truly was not lying. He had liked Xian Lin'er in his youth because she had been young and beautiful then, but now they were both already over eighty. Soul Masters aged well, but no matter how well they maintained themselves, they had still grown old. Yan Shaozhe had long lost the passion he once felt for Xian Lin'er. Only Qian Duoduo still treasured her like a jewel.

"Sit down."

Qian Duoduo still wanted to say something, but Xian Lin'er had already given the order. He did not dare disobey his wife, so he could only sit down reluctantly, wearing an aggrieved expression.

Seeing her son-in-law reduced to such a miserable state, Elder Song, Xian Lin'er's mother and an elder of Sea God's Pavilion, could no longer bear watching. Yet she could not exactly criticize her own daughter, so with no other option, she spoke up herself.

"Shaozhe, your idea is not bad, but these are, after all, Shrek's new generation of Titled Douluo seeds. With the strength of just the three of you, you are still somewhat lacking. It would be unrealistic to ensure absolute safety. As it happens, this old woman has not gone out to stretch her limbs for decades. Let this old woman lead the team in helping Shrek's new generation of Titled Douluo seeds hunt Soul Rings. You can all attend to your own duties."

At those words, Qian Duoduo looked at Elder Song gratefully. It had to be said that his mother-in-law treated him quite well. At crucial moments, she could always be counted on to stand by his side.

After Elder Song spoke, Yan Shaozhe did not dare oppose her wishes. He silently closed his mouth and waited for his teacher's instructions.

As everyone waited, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, seated at the head, lightly tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly deep in thought.

After a long while, Dragon God Douluo Mu En finally spoke slowly.

"Little Song is right. Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and even Tang Tong, who lacks a ninth ring—these are all Shrek's most core seeds and must not come to harm. Since that is the case, Shaozhe."

Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly. "Teacher, I am here."

"Go. Call Xuan Zi."