To be honest, none of those present really cared about falling out with the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils, led by Sea God Tang San.
Even Yan Shaozhe, who stood in opposition, was merely afraid Tang San would strike from the shadows and inflict irreparable losses on Shrek.
After all, Shrek turning a blind eye could at most be considered inaction.
But allying with the Star Luo Empire was tantamount to taking Gu Tian's side. Those were two completely different things.
The reason for this was simple.
In the early days of Shrek Academy's development, the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils, led by Sea God Tang San, had indeed made Shrek Academy what it was.
But after a millennium of development, Shrek Academy and the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils had become mutually renowned, each complementing the other.
Since the first Master of the Sea God Pavilion had founded the Sea God Pavilion, ten thousand years had passed, and Shrek Academy's fame and prestige today...
owed far more to its own achievements than to the Seven Gods led by Tang San.
How should one put it?
Their symbolic significance outweighed their practical significance. They were simply among Shrek Academy's many past honors.
Otherwise, when the Tang Sect, founded by Sea God Tang San, gradually declined until it was on the verge of extinction, Shrek Academy would not have chosen to do nothing.
The reason it had stood by was simple: the Tang Sect could bring Shrek Academy no benefits. It was even fair to call it a burden.
As for Mu En tacitly allowing his great-grandson Bei Bei to join the Tang Sect, much of that was out of guilt.
Of course, it was only guilt.
As the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion, he had to take responsibility for all of Shrek Academy.
To every member of the Sea God Pavilion, Shrek was more than just an academy. It was a faith.
For that, they were willing to give everything.
In a sense, the Shrek Academy of today was no different from the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago.
If not for the Sun Moon Empire as a common enemy, the Star Luo, Sky Soul, and Dou Ling Empires would never have lived in such harmony with Shrek Academy.
And the balance of power on the Douluo Continent might have become just like it had been ten thousand years ago.
The only difference was that, although Shrek Academy was powerful, the other nations still had the strength to resist even if they set aside their sects. Those Titled Douluo who protected their countries were no pushovers.
Ten thousand years ago, Titled Douluo had been concentrated in the various sects and Spirit Hall. The Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires had only a handful of their own.
History was a cycle, no matter which world one lived in.
"Shrek Academy has been passed down for ten thousand years. Now, its future rests in your hands."
Looking at Xuan Zi, who was clearly dissatisfied with the decision, Yan Shaozhe, and the other elders, each with their own thoughts, Mu En sighed softly. "I'm already in my twilight years, and I don't have much time left. But seeing you like this... Sigh!"
"Teacher!"
"Elder Mu!"
Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi's voices trembled slightly, while the other elders, as well as Xian Lin'er and the others, also changed expression.
"Xuan Zi, you're stubborn and lack composure. In all seriousness, the best choice would be for you to stay and guard Shrek Academy."
At this, Mu En sighed again. "But... forget it. From now on, you must stay calm when trouble arises. Put the academy first, and don't act rashly!"
Mu En had lived long enough to meet all sorts of people. How could he not know that Xuan Zi was simply unsuited to be Master of the Sea God Pavilion?
But, frustratingly, Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei and the other members of the younger generation had yet to grow enough to shoulder such a responsibility.
After his death, Xuan Zi was the only one in all of Shrek Academy who could take on the burden.
Of course, he could shoulder it only in terms of strength.
That might not have been much of a problem in peaceful times.
But the continent was about to undergo upheaval on a scale unseen in ten thousand years. The Sun Moon Empire was ambitious, the Holy Spirit Cult, made up of Evil Soul Masters, was watching hungrily, and the other three empires each had their own designs.
And the Sky Curtain that had suddenly appeared overhead had brought all of this into the open.
At a time like this, even Mu En himself couldn't guarantee that every decision he made would be right.
He certainly couldn't expect that of Xuan Zi, his nephew-disciple, who had once caused a catastrophe through carelessness.
Mu En simply couldn't bring himself to entrust Shrek Academy to Xuan Zi at such a critical time.
But how much longer can this body of mine hold out?
I hope I can last until then!
Feeling his body grow weaker by the day, Mu En sighed inwardly.
"And you, Shaozhe—you're clever enough, but that also means you rarely consider the bigger picture!"
Mu En turned to Yan Shaozhe. "You focus only on the gains and losses right in front of you. Remember to consider things from every angle."
"Teacher!"
Seeing the disappointment in Mu En's eyes, Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, then finally lowered his head.
"Don't worry. This old man won't be dying just yet. I'll be able to leave in peace once one of you is truly ready to shoulder the burden."
Mu En looked around at those present, and his resolve only strengthened.
Just as Wang Xian'er had surmised, Mu En had only a few years left. But with Shrek in its current state, how could he leave in peace?
It had been the same in the Original Work. Mu En should have died long ago, but for Shrek Academy's sake, he had clung to life.
Only Huo Yuhao's arrival had allowed him to see hope.
But that was the original timeline. Things were entirely different now.
Mu En had found new hope—a hope that could take Shrek Academy further.
The prerequisite for all of this was to risk everything on one gamble.
If he won, Shrek would see a future even more glorious than the one in the Sky Curtain.
If he lost, Shrek would surely face a calamity, perhaps even suffer the complete end of its legacy.
If Mu En had been at the peak of his strength as the Dragon God Douluo, he might not have joined this gamble.
But now, he had no choice!
As he had said before, the Douluo Continent was on the brink of unprecedented upheaval.
In his current, utterly spent condition, Mu En couldn't protect Shrek Academy amid the chaos, let alone keep it out of harm's way.
"The Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult will definitely move against that person soon. War could break out at any moment. I hope you can all put the bigger picture first and not let your emotions dictate your actions!"
With that, Mu En waved a hand, signaling that the meeting was over and they could leave.
After everyone had left, Mu En gazed toward the direction of the Star Luo Empire's capital and murmured, "I've staked everything on this. I hope you won't disappoint me! Otherwise..."
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