At the same time.
Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy.
"All Sea God Pavilion members, prepare for a meeting."
After parting with Azure Luan Douluo, Mu En immediately convened an emergency meeting of the Sea God Pavilion.
Xuan Zi, the four deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department, and the elders all arrived at the Sea God Pavilion at once.
The Sea God Pavilion was located beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.
A small wooden plaque hung in front of the treehouse, with the words "Sea God Pavilion" written on it.
The wooden house was neither as ornate as one might imagine nor filled with anything especially strange.
What met the eye was a living room, brightly lit. The walls, ceiling, and even the floor glowed with a faint golden light, bathing everything inside in gold.
A long table and more than ten chairs stood in the center of the living room.
This was the Sea God Pavilion, the highest decision-making body of Shrek Academy. Its members were all extraordinary talents of the continent, each at least a level 95 Super Douluo.
And this was only part of Shrek Academy's strength. Many Titled Douluos weren't even qualified to attend this meeting.
For example, Beast King Douluo Gong Changlong, who managed Shrek Academy's Soul Beast Arena, was only a reserve elder of the Sea God Pavilion.
Reserve elders had to undergo a longer period of evaluation and meet a host of strict requirements before they could be promoted to full elders and officially join the Sea God Pavilion's core decision-making body.
Of course, the deans and vice deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department were exceptions.
Whenever something major happened at Shrek Academy, a meeting would be held in the Sea God Pavilion. These were the highest-level meetings at the academy.
Only the deans and vice deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department, along with the elders of the Hall of Enshrinement, were qualified to attend.
Important decisions were made by a show of hands.
At that moment, the Sea God Pavilion was completely silent. Ten people sat around the long table.
At the head of the table stood a recliner.
A figure sat in it.
He was none other than the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion, Dragon God Douluo Mu En.
The deans of the Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, sat at the far end on the right, while the deans of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er, sat at the far end on the left.
Besides the four of them, six elders sat farther up the table.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin."
Mu En's gentle voice rang in their ears.
At his words, everyone's expression turned solemn.
They knew that the choice they were about to make would determine Shrek Academy's future.
"Everyone must have seen the Sky Curtain that appeared out of nowhere recently. Do we know whether the information it showed is true?"
Mu En paused, then said, "Even I can't be certain."
"But—"
"Just now, that old fellow Ye Yu came to see me!"
At this, Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and the others were all taken aback.
Xuan Zi, Elder Song, and those around Mu En's age were surprised.
But the younger generation, like Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and Cai Mei'er, were confused. Clearly, they had no idea who he was.
"That fellow's title is Azure Luan Douluo. He's the head of the Hall of Enshrinement in the Star Luo Empire."
As if he'd noticed Yan Shaozhe and the others' confusion, Xuan Zi curled his lip and explained.
"According to the information Ye Yu provided, the person in the Sky Curtain really does exist. He's currently in the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire."
Mu En didn't respond to them. He continued calmly, "And just as the Sky Curtain said, he truly has peerless talent."
"Now Shrek Academy faces a choice. Do we work with the Star Luo Empire to protect him, or do we sit back and watch the conflict unfold?"
Everyone present fell into a long silence.
"Elder Mu, I think Shrek should sit back and watch."
After a while, Xuan Zi spoke first.
"Xuan Zi, tell us your reasons."
Mu En glanced at Xuan Zi and asked calmly.
"Elder Mu, Shrek Academy has always remained independent of the nations and avoided getting involved in their internal conflicts."
Xuan Zi rose to his feet and explained his view. "If the Sky Curtain is real, then aside from being the Master of our Sea God Pavilion, he's also the Star Luo Emperor and the Lord of Soul Beasts..."
Everyone exchanged glances, then instinctively looked toward Mu En.
"Anyone else?" Mu En's expression didn't change. He remained as calm as still water.
"Teacher, I also think we should sit back and watch."
Yan Shaozhe pondered for a moment before speaking.
"For the same reason as Xuan Zi?" Mu En asked.
"I understand Elder Xuan's reasoning, but that's only part of it."
To everyone's surprise, Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "Don't forget, our ancestors—the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils—all became gods!"
At those words, everyone's expressions shifted again.
They weren't fools. They understood what Yan Shaozhe meant.
Mu En closed his eyes and thought for a moment. When he opened them again, a determined look had entered them.
He had already made his decision. There was no point in hesitating now.
"Shaozhe, Shrek is Shrek, and the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils are the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils."
"Besides, I don't believe the gods can interfere much with the continent."
"If they really could, I imagine he'd already be nothing but a corpse by now!"
"Whatever happens, I hope you always remember one thing: we are human."
His tone remained gentle, but his words were so sharp that beads of sweat as large as beans ran down Yan Shaozhe's forehead.
He knew his teacher had made up his mind.
The others' expressions changed as well.
There was nothing they could do. Elder Mu might look kind and amiable, like an ordinary old man, but with the authority he had built up in the Sea God Pavilion over the years, not to mention his strength, no one dared underestimate him.
"In the Sky Curtain, he isn't just the Star Luo Emperor and the Lord of Soul Beasts. He's also the future Master of the Sea God Pavilion and the one who will lead the Human Race to rise."
Mu En didn't spell it out, but his meaning was clear.
Still, he had left some room for discussion.
"Elder Mu, do you mean..." Elder Lin looked at Mu En, her eyes full of surprise.
"I've already agreed to form an alliance with the Star Luo Empire, as Ye Yu proposed," Mu En said slowly.
"I also support Elder Mu's decision."
Elder Song, who had remained silent until then, spoke up.
Seeing that both Mu En and Elder Song supported an alliance with the Star Luo Empire, the others exchanged silent glances. Even those Sea God Pavilion members who opposed the decision had nothing to say.
There was no need to mention Mu En. He was the undisputed authority at Shrek.
As for Elder Song, she was the third-strongest member of the Sea God Pavilion, behind only Mu En and Xuan Zi. Her cultivation had reached level 97, and she possessed the Azure Shadow Divine Eagle Martial Soul. She was the strongest Agility Attack System Titled Douluo on the entire continent.
With their support, the decision was essentially settled.
The only person with enough influence to stand up and oppose them was Xuan Zi, Shrek Academy's second-strongest member and the next Master of the Sea God Pavilion.
But faced with his uncle Master Mu, who had raised him, Xuan Zi couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh.
Before you continue