The Old Mu En Is Dead, Now Comes the New Mu En!

The two stood no more than three meters apart.

One was an old man on the verge of death, looking as if he might breathe his last at any moment. The other was a youth radiating brilliant golden light, standing with his hands behind his back as if ready to ascend to the God Realm at any second.

Beibei stood to the side, his heart in his throat. He worried that this Radiant Mu En would be just like the Righteous Xuan Zi, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Mu En was already at the end of his rope; he would absolutely be no match for the guy in front of him.

Especially since Beibei already knew the rules: among the three, the one who appeared first possessed the most terrifying strength.

Beibei had personally felt the aura that Mu Xuan had just unleashed, and what about this Radiant Mu En, who had appeared before Mu Xuan?

The strength of this Radiant Mu En was definitely above that of Mu Xuan! He was even closer to the God Realm than Mu En himself!

"What... is your name?"

Mu En finally spoke. His voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear.

Radiant Mu En slowly opened his eyes. Golden light swirled within his pupils. Even though his gaze did not land on Beibei, an urge to bow down and worship rose instinctively within Beibei's heart.

"Mu En."

The same name.

Mu En let out a laugh and nodded.

"Are you willing to join Shrek Academy?"

Radiant Mu En did not speak. He simply watched Mu En quietly, as if waiting for him to provide a reason.

"The current Douluo Continent is not peaceful. The Sun Moon Empire is eyeing us covetously, and the development of Soul Tools is changing with each passing day. The three original nations of the Douluo Continent have fallen too far behind in technology. War could break out at any moment."

"And it is not just war."

A trace of deep worry flashed through Mu En's eyes.

"There are also those Evil Soul Masters hiding in the dark corners. They are pervasive and commit all kinds of evil. You saw that Mu Xuan who just fled; if he were to lead them, the entire Douluo Continent would suffer an unimaginable catastrophe."

At this point, Mu En coughed violently, and a trace of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Beibei hurriedly tried to step forward, but was stopped by a wave of Mu En's hand.

"I don't have much time left."

Mu En looked straight into Radiant Mu En's golden pupils, his tone carrying a hint of pleading. For the proud Dragon God Douluo, who had been proud his entire life, this was almost unimaginable.

"Shrek Academy is the monitor of the continent and the cornerstone for maintaining peace. If Shrek falls, this world will completely descend into chaos and darkness."

"After I die, Xuan Zi..." Mu En paused, not looking back at the cripple, and simply sighed. "Xuan Zi is impulsive by nature, and now that his legs are ruined, he is unfit for the heavy responsibility. Although Beibei is intelligent, he is still young after all, and his strength is still shallow."

"This world needs a powerhouse."

"It needs a powerhouse like you—someone who possesses absolute strength and the ability to suppress all evil."

"Join Shrek Academy."

Mu En voiced his final request.

"As the Sea God Pavilion Master, I invite you to become the Pillar of the Sea for Shrek Academy."

Radiant Mu En's expression remained unchanged after hearing Mu En's words.

He did not even show a shred of interest in the prospect of saving the world.

After a long silence, he spoke indifferently.

"When I awakened my Martial Soul at the age of six, it was the god-tier Blazing Heaven Divine Dragon, with Innate Soul Power at level twenty."

Beibei's pupils constricted sharply upon hearing this.

Innate level twenty?!

"I don't need to cultivate; my soul power grows automatically. I don't even need to hunt Soul Beasts. Whenever I reach a bottleneck, the laws of heaven and earth naturally condense the most perfect soul ring for me."

"At twelve, I was a Soul Emperor."

"At sixteen, I became a Titled Douluo, with the title 'Radiant'."

"At twenty, I broke through to level ninety-nine, becoming a Limit Douluo, invincible under the heavens."

Beibei: "..."

Xuan Zi: "..."

Mu En: "..."

Is this even humanly possible?!

Beibei felt his worldview shattering into pieces. A Titled Douluo at sixteen? A Limit Douluo at twenty? Are others even supposed to live?

One had to consider how many years it took his great-grandfather and Long Xiaoyao, known as the Shrek Twins, to reach the level of Limit Douluo.

This was a life lived with cheat codes!

A slight curve tugged at the corner of Radiant Mu En's mouth—a smile of extreme confidence, one that could even be called extremely arrogant:

"To me, the power, status, wars, and even the so-called struggle between good and evil in this world are utterly meaningless. Those are things only ants would care about."

"I have only one goal."

Radiant Mu En raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the firmament to look toward that unknowable dimension.

"To become a god."

"I am only one final step away from shattering the void and ascending to the God Realm."

Hearing this, Beibei felt his heart sink halfway.

It was over.

Someone like him wouldn't even look twice at the petty troubles of Shrek Academy.

It made sense; a twenty-year-old Limit Douluo was thinking about how to ascend to the heavens. Who would care about a mud fight happening on the ground?

Mu En's eyes also dimmed, and that final breath of his seemed as if it were about to dissipate along with this disappointment.

However.

Just when everyone thought there was no hope, Radiant Mu En changed the subject.

"However..."

These two words instantly made Beibei's heart leap back into his throat.

Radiant Mu En lowered his head to look at his own dying self, the golden light in his eyes flickering slightly.

"Since I am also Mu En, and since I was once a member of Shrek Academy... I will accept this karma."

"I can join Shrek Academy."

Radiant Mu En said indifferently.

"Really?!"

Beibei was so pleasantly surprised he nearly jumped up. Even Xuan Zi, who was slumped on the ground, widened his eyes abruptly, a flash of wild joy crossing them.

"But, I have conditions."

Radiant Mu En held up a finger, his expression indifferent.

"I am only responsible for intervening when Shrek Academy faces a catastrophic disaster. As for daily teaching, management, or the petty schemes and trivial matters on the continent, do not bother me."

That was fine!

That was more than fine!

Beibei nodded frantically in his heart.

How was this unreliable? This was incredibly reliable!

Radiant Mu En might have been arrogant, and he might have been hands-off, but he possessed immense strength! He knew exactly where he stood!

This was the ultimate deterrent!

It was equivalent to Shrek Academy enshrining a living deity within its walls! As long as he lived, who would dare touch Shrek?

As for being hands-off?

Was Shrek Academy currently lacking management talent? What it lacked was peerless combat power capable of holding down the fort!

"Good... good..."

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Mu En's face.

With this twenty-year-old Limit Douluo sitting in command, Shrek Academy would be able to continue its glory for at least another hundred years.

As for that Mu Xuan...

Mu En believed that righteousness would always prevail over evil. As long as Radiant Mu En was there, that monster wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.

"Beibei..."

Mu En turned his head with great effort, looking at his most beloved great-great-grandson.

"Great-grandfather! I'm here!"

Beibei hurriedly knelt before the wheelchair and tightly gripped Mu En's withered, stick-like hand. Seemingly sensing what was to come, he could no longer control his tears, which streamed down his face.

"From now on... Shrek... will be left to you all..."

Mu En's voice grew weaker and weaker, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Rest assured, Great-grandfather..."

Beibei sobbed uncontrollably, nodding desperately.

Mu En looked at Beibei with gratification, then glanced once more at the golden, radiant young version of himself standing to the side.

It was truly wonderful.

Being young was truly wonderful.

If he hadn't been injured back then, if he could have been like him...

Forget it, none of that mattered anymore.

Shrek was safe.

Mu En slowly closed his eyes.

The hand that had been holding Beibei fell limply away.

The generation-defining Dragon God Douluo, Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy, Mu En.

Passed away.

"Great-grandfather---!!!"

"Elder Mu---!!!"

Both of them were overcome with grief at Mu En's departure.

Only Radiant Mu En remained standing with his hands behind his back, watching the scene with an expressionless face.