Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
On either side of the long table, several elders sat ramrod straight, but every one of their faces was utterly remarkable.
Some were shocked, some bewildered, and some had twitching mouths, as if they had just heard a tale straight out of the Arabian Nights.
Just moments ago, Yan Shaozhe had recounted everything that had happened on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest—more accurately, he had recounted it more or less as it happened... with a certain amount of artistic embellishment.
Xuan Zi had ordered Xixi and the others to jump into the river. Then Lin Feng had appeared, produced four enhanced versions of Xixi and her companions, and asked Xuan Zi to identify them. As long as he answered correctly, everything would have been fine. But Xuan Zi had choked on a chicken leg and given the wrong answer, leaving four elite Shrek Academy disciples' lives hanging in the balance.
At that moment, not a sound could be heard inside Sea God Pavilion.
The elders exchanged looks, staring at one another, but no one spoke first.
This was too absurd.
It was so absurd that absurdity itself had opened the door and welcomed it home!
The Inspection Corps of the mighty Shrek Academy, elite disciples of the Inner Court—none had died at the hands of Evil Soul Masters or in the jaws of powerful Soul Beasts.
Instead, they had nearly died because... a Super Douluo couldn't tell whether the four students or the chicken leg in his hand mattered more?
If word got out, what would be left of Shrek Academy's thousand-year reputation?
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"
One hot-tempered elder slammed his hand on the table, his beard trembling with rage.
"That Old Thing Xuan Zi is usually a little slovenly and greedy, and we let that slide. But at a critical moment like this, when lives are at stake, he still... still..."
The elder was so angry he could barely get the words out.
The other elders said nothing, but their eyes were filled with reproach and helplessness.
Unreliable.
Utterly unreliable!
They had known for a long time that Xuan Zi had flaws in his character. He was impulsive and acted without considering the consequences, but none of them had imagined he could be this unreliable.
Those were four lives!
And they were future Pillar Talents of the academy!
Gone, all because of a chicken leg?
Even with the Scarlet King's arrival, given the situation at the time, a correct answer would have been more than enough to get everyone away safely.
Besides, as long as the River God was there, even the Scarlet King would never dare act recklessly. They knew that Lin Feng was the reason Xuan Zi had lost his legs.
The Scarlet King was nothing by comparison.
Qian Duoduo furrowed his brows and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He looked at Yan Shaozhe, then drew a deep breath and asked the one question everyone had overlooked.
"Since you brought those three children, including Ma Xiaotao, back... where's Elder Xuan?"
At those words, everyone suddenly came to their senses.
Right!
They had been so busy listening to that absurd story and getting angry that they had nearly forgotten the person at its center.
Where was Xuan Zi?
As the teacher in charge, he had been involved in such a major incident. Why hadn't he come back?
At the question, Yan Shaozhe let a trace of grief and solemnity appear on his face.
This was the moment to put his acting skills to the test.
He lowered his head, his voice growing low and hoarse.
"Elder Xuan... was overcome with guilt."
Yan Shaozhe paused, as if struggling to suppress his inner "grief."
"When the Scarlet King suddenly appeared, Elder Xuan knew he had made a terrible mistake and caused four students to come to harm. He had no face to return to the academy, nor to face Elder Mu."
"So..."
"To cover our retreat and protect the three remaining seedlings, Elder Xuan chose to stay behind alone and hold off the Scarlet King."
"He told me... I had to bring the children back safely."
His words were delivered with such emotion and heartfelt sincerity that they moved the room.
Sea God Pavilion fell silent once more.
But this time, the silence held less anger and more complicated feelings.
Xuan Zi, who was usually so unreliable, only ever drinking and eating meat, always letting everyone down at the critical moment...
Had he finally managed to come through for them, just once?
With his crippled body, he had stayed behind alone to face the 300,000 Year Ferocious Beast, the Scarlet King.
That courage, that sense of responsibility—he had truly lived up to his status as a Shrek elder.
"Alas..."
An elderly elder let out a long sigh.
"If Xuan Zi really did... then at least he died for a worthy cause."
"That's right."
Another elder nodded, his tone much gentler.
"Whatever else happened, he showed some responsibility at the very end. If Elder Mu knew, even from beyond the grave, it would probably bring him some comfort."
The events leading up to it were ridiculous, but the ending... if Xuan Zi really had died fighting for the future of Shrek Academy, then he could be called a hero.
As for that little "incident" involving the chicken leg...
The elders' eyes met. Though none of them said it aloud, they understood exactly what the others meant.
Keep it quiet.
They had to keep it quiet!
A Shrek Academy elder could be a hero who died in battle, but he could never be a fool who got his students killed because he was too greedy.
That was the bottom line.
For the sake of Shrek Academy's thousand-year reputation.
The only acceptable explanation for Xuan Zi's death was that he had encountered a powerful enemy and fallen after fighting valiantly.
As for the stains on his record... they could rot away in the Star Dou Great Forest along with his body.
"That settles it."
Elder Lin, seated at the head of the table, spoke slowly and brought the matter to a close.
"Tell the outside world that Elder Xuan encountered a Beast Tide in the Star Dou Great Forest and sacrificed himself while protecting the students' retreat. The four students also died honorably in the line of duty."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Just then,
Qian Duoduo spoke again. This time, his voice was even more grave than before, and carried a note of unmistakable concern.
"Let's set Elder Xuan's situation aside for now."
Qian Duoduo rose to his feet, sweeping his gaze across the room before fixing it on Yan Shaozhe.
"Have any of you considered one thing?"
"What would happen if the Soul Beasts got their hands on that river? It can even replicate Elder Mu as he is now. If the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest discover how to use that river... they could mass-produce Ferocious Beasts. For humanity, that would be a catastrophe!"
The moment he said this, every elder present paled.
They had been so caught up discussing whether Xuan Zi was alive or dead that they had overlooked the most critical problem!
Di Tian, Myriad Demon King, Bi Ji, the Scarlet King...
For the Soul Master World, that would be a catastrophe!
An unprecedented calamity!
Everyone realized just how serious the problem was.
"No!"
Elder Lin shot to his feet and struck his cane heavily against the floor.
"This matter is too important. It's beyond our authority to decide."
"As long as we don't anger That One in the River, we have to secure ownership of that river!"
This wasn't just for Shrek. It was for all of humanity.
Every person present understood what was at stake.
The river represented immeasurable benefits.
Whoever controlled that river would control an assembly line for mass-producing superpowered experts.
Why had Shrek Academy stood for a thousand years without falling? Wasn't it because it had the strongest fist?
If they could control the right to use that river...
At that moment, greed overcame fear.
Yan Shaozhe furrowed his brows and thought for a moment.
"But... it's on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, after all, and the Scarlet King is already there. If we go now, I'm afraid..."
They would have to face the core combat power of the Star Dou Great Forest. Elder Mu had passed away, and Xuan Zi's fate was unknown. The academy's strongest fighter was Elder Song, a Level 97 Super Douluo, but... she still fell short of Xuan Zi and Elder Mu.
If the several great powers inside the Star Dou Great Forest found out, their group wouldn't stand a chance against Di Tian and the other Ferocious Beasts.
"We must consult Elder Mu about this."
Elder Song, who had been silent until now, sighed.
"Only if Elder Mu is willing to act can we secure that river."
At present, Radiant Mu En was Shrek Academy's strongest high-level combat power. If he agreed to act, they would surely be able to claim it!
"I'll go ask Elder Mu."
Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath and stood up.
That small river would determine the future balance of power on the Douluo Continent. So... it could only belong to Shrek Academy!
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