Profound Elder! I Was Wrong! You Weren't Wrong! I Kneel to You!

"Huh? I..."

Accused by a furious Mu En of being a spy sent by the Holy Spirit Cult, Profound Elder's expression stiffened before he let out a wry smile and shook his head.

"I've been at Shrek Academy since I was a child. Shrek Academy is like my home. I never imagined I'd be suspected of not being one of Shrek's people one day. It's true, though. How could any normal Level 98 Titled Douluo lose track of students while accompanying them?"

"If I weren't a spy sent by the Holy Spirit Cult, how could I have caused the loss of Shrek's twelve most elite direct disciples, geniuses among geniuses, all at once? While I'm not a spy for the Holy Spirit Cult, everything I've done might be something even the Holy Spirit Cult couldn't achieve by planting just one spy. Enough. Elder Mu, I request to leave the Sea God's Pavilion to atone for my transgression."

"Let me spend the rest of my life in regret, ending my days."

As Profound Elder spoke, he turned to leave the Sea God's Pavilion, his eyes filled with resolve.

"Wait! Xuan Zi!" Seeing Profound Elder about to bolt, Mu En was instantly alarmed.

Shrek's younger generation was already dead. Now, if an elder-level top expert had another problem, once he left, Shrek, relying solely on the Level 97 Elder Song, wouldn't be able to maintain its standing.

A Level 98 combat power didn't exist openly in the former three great empires. However, there was a Level 97 Titled Douluo in the Dou Ling Empire. If Shrek's high-level combat strength was only on par with the Body Sect, fine. But if it was on par with the three great empires, how could Shrek rule over the three kingdoms and represent the entire Douluo Continent?

Therefore, Profound Elder absolutely could not leave, especially now when Shrek's younger generation had suffered such heavy losses.

If he left, Shrek's losses would be completely maximized. In this era where Shrek was already in turmoil, Mu En absolutely could not agree to Xuan Zi's departure.

Under Mu En's voice, Profound Elder slowly turned around. "Is there anything else, Elder Mu?"

Mu En suppressed the various emotions in his heart, doing his best to make his voice sound gentle. "I've thought about it carefully. This matter doesn't seem to be entirely your fault. You can't be blamed for everything."

Hearing this, Profound Elder was stunned. A Level 98 teacher leading a team to hunt for Soul Rings, and then accidentally losing them, with no sign of them returning for so long, implying they were likely all dead. This couldn't be blamed on him? If not him, then who?

"Elder Mu, please don't make excuses for me. A Level 98 teacher leading students and losing them. If this isn't my fault, then whose is it? Are we going to blame the students?" Profound Elder shook his head and chuckled wryly.

Hearing this, Elder Mu nodded. "Yes, this is indeed the students' fault. Twelve people, twelve students! For them to be elites of Shrek and yet get separated from their accompanying teacher, such a major mistake is enough to warrant a severe reprimand for them!"

Mu En said righteously, shifting the blame for the incident involving the twelve students entirely onto those twelve students.

If they had returned, Mu En would have made them kneel and apologize to Xuan Zi!

"This..." Profound Elder felt something was amiss, but his brain, unused for so long, couldn't pinpoint what it was.

However, for him, sensing that something was wrong was enough. "No, I cannot escape responsibility for this matter. Elder Mu, you don't need to say more. Such a major incident requires someone to bear responsibility. Clearly, this is my responsibility!"

After speaking, Profound Elder prepared to leave the Sea God's Pavilion again. But as he was about to leave, Mu En quickly gave Yan Shaozhe, who was beside him, a look.

Understanding his teacher's intention, Yan Shaozhe's face darkened, but he also knew this was the best choice for Shrek. Seeing Profound Elder about to turn and leave, Yan Shaozhe, with no other option, knelt down before Profound Elder.

"Profound Elder! You are not wrong! This matter is my fault!" Yan Shaozhe said with tears streaming down his face. To keep Profound Elder there, he also kowtowed to Profound Elder several times at Mu En's signal.

Seeing Yan Shaozhe suddenly kneel and then kowtow several times begging for forgiveness, Profound Elder was completely bewildered by his actions. "Huh? You're wrong? What did you do wrong?"

"I..." What did I do wrong? Where the hell would I know what I did wrong? Does this have anything to do with me?

He thought this in his heart but couldn't say it aloud. Profound Elder was determined to resign from his position as Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion.

Thus, Yan Shaozhe's mind raced, and he finally managed to come up with a way to somewhat absolve Profound Elder of responsibility in a short amount of time.

"Profound Elder, this matter is my fault. If I had insisted back then, or chosen to secretly follow those students, they wouldn't have gotten separated from you."

"I was the one who didn't persevere, I was careless, and those students were also negligent. How can you take all the blame? This is not your fault."

Hearing this, Profound Elder's steps paused, but he remained in a state of indecision between leaving Shrek and staying.

Seeing that Xuan Zi still had the intention of leaving Shrek, Mu En had to find him a reason to stay.

"Alright, Xuan Zi, let's put this matter to rest. The students got separated from their accompanying teacher. You cannot be blamed for this. Moreover, Shrek still needs your strength. Please stay."

"Elder Mu..."

Under Yan Shaozhe's kneeling and kowtowing, and Mu En's careful persuasion, the twelve elite Shrek students were finally defined as having gotten separated from their mentor.

Xuan Zi prepared to return to his life of eating and sleeping, and sleeping and eating. However, before he left, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Elder Mu, do you think I can truly do anything for Shrek? Is someone like me really useful to Shrek?"

Mu En nodded. "Xuan Zi, don't belittle yourself. Your contribution to Shrek is even greater than mine. It was just an accidental separation of students, which is unavoidable. How about this: go to the Outer Court first, help Shrek select some promising seedlings, and also calm your mind. For the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament a year from now, the accompanying teacher will still depend on you."

Mu En said slowly. It wasn't that the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament had to be led by Profound Elder, but he needed to give Profound Elder a reason not to overthink things.

Hearing this, Profound Elder looked into the distance. "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament a year from now? Alright, then I'll lead the team for this session. Elder Mu, don't worry, I will definitely ensure the students embark on their journey safely."