Mu En: Follow Me to the Star Dou Great Forest to Demand an Explanation

Meanwhile, in Shrek City ten thousand years later, night had quietly descended upon the land.

Outside the outer court dormitory area of Shrek Academy, moonlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

An ancient, simple rattan chair sat quietly there. On it reclined an elderly man with a wizened face. His hair and beard were snow-white, and his face was covered in deep wrinkles, like old tree bark etched with the marks of time. The plain, long gown he wore only accentuated his thin frame.

This was the stabilizing force of Shrek Academy, the Limit Douluo Mu En.

At this moment, Mu En's eyes were slightly closed, his breathing long and steady. He appeared to be asleep, yet a faint, almost imperceptible pressure emanated from him—the ultimate power refined by the passage of time, causing the very air around him to seem to solidify.

"Elder Mu."

A deep voice echoed from outside the courtyard, shattering the tranquility. Yan Shaozhe, clad in a white robe, walked in slowly. His posture was upright, his features handsome, but his face now bore an unconcealable solemnity. He approached the rattan chair, bowed slightly, and his voice, though kept very low, carried a heart-wrenching weight.

Mu En's eyelids flickered. He didn't open his eyes immediately, merely letting out a soft hum from his throat as a response.

Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and spoke with difficulty, each word seeming to be squeezed from between his teeth. "Something has happened in the Star Dou Great Forest... Tang Ya has... fallen. Beibei... is missing, as if he never existed in this world."

"Swish!"

Before he could finish, Mu En, who had been on the rattan chair, snapped his eyes open!

His once cloudy eyes were now astonishingly bright, like two sharp swords drawn from their scabbards. A cold light shot directly at Yan Shaozhe, the shock and rage churning within them almost palpable.

His hunched body sprang up from the rattan chair. Though still bent over, he exuded a terrifying aura. His previously calm face was contorted with anger, his wrinkles piling up, making him look even more ferocious.

"What did you say?!"

Mu En's voice was as hoarse as a broken gong, trembling with disbelief. Tang Ya was Beibei's lover, a child he had watched grow up. And Beibei... he was his only remaining kin in this world, his only great-grandson!

And now, what was he hearing? Tang Ya fallen, Beibei missing?

"Tang Ya's body... was found? Where is Beibei?" Mu En stared intently at Yan Shaozhe, his hands tightly gripping the armrests of the rattan chair, his knuckles turning white from the force. The sturdy red wood armrest bore several deep finger marks under his grip.

Yan Shaozhe lowered his gaze, his voice thick with bitterness. "Not long ago, we noticed their time in the Star Dou Great Forest far exceeded expectations. Something was wrong, so we immediately sent people to search. The result... we only found Tang Ya's remains at the edge of the core area, as if... as if her soul was instantly annihilated. As for Beibei, we searched that entire area, but there was no trace of him, as if... as if he had vanished into thin air."

Mu En staggered, and if he hadn't steadied himself on the rattan chair, he would have collapsed on the spot. His chest heaved violently, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot, like engorged rubies.

He knew Beibei's personality best. The boy appeared gentle, but was terrifyingly stubborn, especially when it came to Tang Ya; he protected her fiercely. If they encountered danger, given Beibei's nature, he would undoubtedly shield Tang Ya. Even if they were to die, it should have been Beibei who met his end first. But now... Tang Ya fallen, Beibei missing?

This could only mean one thing—Beibei was likely already beyond saving, with no body left behind!

A bone-chilling coldness rose from the depths of Mu En's heart, quickly spreading to every limb. He had lived for over a century, witnessed countless partings and deaths, and had long since developed a heart of stone. Yet, Beibei was the softest spot in his heart, his deepest concern. Now, was this concern about to be severed in such a tragic manner?

"Who did it?!"

Mu En's voice was as low as if from the deepest abyss, hoarse and laced with chilling murderous intent. The air seemed to freeze under this rage, even the moonlight taking on a cold hue.

Yan Shaozhe shook his head, his expression grave. "We don't know yet. However... Beibei is the wielder of the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul. Although not yet consolidated, he is exceptionally talented and was the undisputed candidate for the next Dragon God Douluo. His future achievements are immeasurable. The ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest have always been protective of their own. Could it be... they felt Beibei threatened them and thus struck him down?"

The ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest, especially those ancient monsters that had lived for tens of thousands of years, were all powerful and had always harbored hostility towards human Soul Masters. Beibei's talent could indeed cause them apprehension; this was not impossible.

Mu En suddenly turned his head, looking towards the dark distance outside the academy—that was the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest. A flash of almost frenzied ferocity crossed his eyes, as if he intended to tear that darkness apart.

"Star Dou Great Forest..."

He uttered the words through gritted teeth, his Soul Power surging uncontrollably. The ground around them began to tremble faintly. "Good, very good! Anyone who dares to touch someone of Mu En will pay the price, even if it's a ferocious beast!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. His voice regained a semblance of cold calmness, but with an unquestionable command. "Go, issue an order. Have all the Elder Council members of the academy gather here immediately!"

"Yes!" Yan Shaozhe dared not delay. He turned and quickly departed, his white figure disappearing into the night.

Silence fell upon the courtyard once more, with only Mu En's heavy breaths remaining. He stood with his back to the dormitory area, still gazing in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest. His hunched back cast a long shadow under the moonlight, like an ancient sword about to be drawn, filled with astonishing power.

In less than the time it takes for half a cup of tea to brew, several figures appeared in the courtyard like phantoms.

Leading them was an elder in a black, close-fitting outfit. His face was resolute, his eyes sharp—it was Xuan Zi. Following closely behind were an old woman with white hair, a beautiful woman, and several men and women with steady auras. Without exception, they all exuded the powerful aura of Title Douluo level. These were the Elder Council members of Shrek Academy.

These top powerhouses, rarely seen on normal days, now wore solemn expressions, clearly having already received some information from Yan Shaozhe.

Xuan Zi stepped forward, his gaze falling on Mu En, and asked in a deep voice, "Elder Mu, what has happened? Why summon all of us?"

Mu En did not turn around, still looking into the distance. Yan Shaozhe explained in a low voice, "Beibei and Tang Ya met with misfortune in the Star Dou Great Forest. Tang Ya has fallen, and Beibei is missing, likely... in grave danger. I suspect it was the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"What?!"

Xuan Zi and the others' expressions changed drastically, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

They all knew what Beibei meant to Mu En. Elder Mu had lived a lonely life; Beibei was his only bloodline successor, his most important connection to life. Now that Beibei was in trouble, it was no wonder Elder Mu was so enraged that he would summon all the Elder Council members—this meant he was serious!

A female Elder in a green robe couldn't help but speak, "The ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest are too audacious! Knowing Beibei is Elder Mu's great-grandson, they dared to strike him down?"

"No matter who it is, anyone who dares to touch someone from our Shrek must pay the price!" another elder snorted, his body erupting with fiery Soul Power fluctuations.

Xuan Zi took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and looked at Mu En's back, saying solemnly, "Elder Mu, what do we do next?"

Mu En slowly turned around. His aged face was devoid of any emotion now, only a frozen coldness. His gaze swept over each Elder present, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"What do we do?"

"Take your weapons, and follow me to the Star Dou Great Forest—"

"To demand an explanation!"

The last few words exploded like thunder in the courtyard, carrying a resolute killing intent that soared into the heavens.

Under the moonlight, Mu En's hunched form seemed to straighten instantly. In his blood-red eyes, the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest was reflected, as was a brewing storm of immense proportions.

The Elder Council members of Shrek Academy exchanged glances, seeing the same determination in each other's eyes. Without further words, they moved, following closely behind Mu En, speeding towards the outside of the academy.

Powerful auras sliced through the night sky, converging towards the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.

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