Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
Yan Shaozhe stood before the wooden door, his body trembling slightly despite himself.
As the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department and a Level 95 Super Douluo, he had long stood at the Top of the Pyramid in the Soul Master World. But now, knowing who he was about to meet, Yan Shaozhe still felt extremely nervous.
"Phew..."
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind. He adjusted his stiff facial expression, doing his best to look respectful and composed.
No matter what, he had to take this step for the future of the academy.
He bent forward and bowed deeply toward the tightly shut door, his voice humble.
"Mu En... Shao Zhe has an important matter to discuss with you."
There was no response.
Only the Golden Radiance spilling through the crack in the door seemed to grow even more dazzling.
Time passed second by second, each one an ordeal for Yan Shaozhe. After a long while, a voice finally came from inside.
"Come in."
Yan Shaozhe shuddered, not daring to delay. He hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.
The Secret Chamber was furnished very simply, but every object was now suffused with dazzling golden light.
At the center of that radiance sat a young man dressed in white, his legs crossed. His whole being radiated an otherworldly air of supremacy over heaven and earth.
Radiant Mu En slowly opened his eyes. His golden gaze held not the slightest trace of emotion.
"You'd better pray that the matter you want to discuss really is important."
His voice was soft, yet it sent a bone-deep chill through Yan Shaozhe.
"If you've interrupted my meditation over some trivial matter...even if you're Old Mu En's disciple, I won't let you off lightly."
Yan Shaozhe's heart clenched. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet Mu En's gaze, and hurriedly said,
"Mu En, I wouldn't dare disturb your meditation unless it were absolutely necessary. But this matter...truly concerns the safety of the entire continent, and directly affects whether Shrek Academy's Ten Thousand Year Foundation can endure!"
Radiant Mu En's expression shifted ever so slightly, but that was all. He continued to watch Yan Shaozhe coldly, waiting for him to go on.
Yan Shaozhe swallowed and gathered his thoughts. He reported in detail everything that had happened over the past two days beside That River outside Shrek City.
He spoke quickly, but his account was clear and well organized.
At the end, he turned to the greatest threat—
"Beast God Di Tian, in the Core Circle of Star Dou Great Forest, is acknowledged as the leader of the Ten Great Fierce Beasts. His cultivation is at the level of an eight-hundred-and-ninety-thousand-year Soul Beast."
"Di Tian has always regarded humanity as a thorn in his side and constantly sought to revive the Soul Beast Clan. If he learns of That River and manages to Transform into Three..."
At this point, Yan Shaozhe's voice began to tremble.
"If three Di Tians descend on Shrek City at once, Shrek Academy will be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Humanity could even become food for Soul Beasts!"
"Mu En, we must seize control of That River before the Soul Beasts do! Otherwise, humanity will be annihilated!"
Yan Shaozhe had laid everything bare, explaining the implications in painstaking detail.
Yet Radiant Mu En didn't slam his hand on the table as Yan Shaozhe had expected, nor did he show the slightest concern.
After a long silence, he gave a soft chuckle.
"Are you finished?"
Yan Shaozhe froze, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.
"Mu, Mu En...what do you mean...?"
"Yan Shaozhe, your memory seems rather poor."
Radiant Mu En slowly rose to his feet.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze settling on Yan Shaozhe as he spoke indifferently.
"I distinctly remember telling you that I had only one condition: I would act only when Shrek Academy faced 'utter destruction.'"
He looked away, then gazed down at Yan Shaozhe.
"Now, tell me: does Shrek Academy still exist? Have all the students outside been killed?"
"This..."
Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, his face pale.
"The academy is still standing, of course, but..."
"Since it's still standing, since everything's fine, why did you come to me?"
Radiant Mu En interrupted impatiently, his voice tinged with lofty disdain.
"The so-called threat, the so-called predictions—they're nothing but groundless worries born of your own incompetence."
"But Mu En!"
Yan Shaozhe grew frantic and stepped forward.
"There's a very high chance this disaster will happen! If we wait until three Di Tians come knocking, it'll be too late! By then, lives will be lost everywhere, and regret will do us no good!"
"Too late?"
Radiant Mu En seemed to have heard something truly amusing. The mocking curve of his lips widened, becoming an utterly arrogant and supremely confident smile.
He turned sharply, and an aura of unrivaled dominance burst forth. Yan Shaozhe's blood and qi surged violently, forcing him to stagger back several paces before he could steady himself.
"If that so-called Beast God Di Tian really does Transform into Three, and truly gains the so-called God's Power..."
A spark of absolute confidence and interest flashed in Radiant Mu En's eyes.
"Then it might actually be rather amusing."
"I attained the rank of Limit Douluo at twenty, and from that day on, I was invincible in this world. All the powerful beings in this world are nothing but dirt dogs and clay chickens before me—not worth a single blow."
"If a few people ever did appear who could give me a challenge, I'd really like to...have a good fight with them."
Yan Shaozhe was completely stunned.
A madman...
He was a complete and utter madman!
He actually looked forward to his enemies growing stronger? He treated the safety of the academy and even all of humanity as a joke?
Yan Shaozhe slowly lowered his head, his fists clenched tight inside his sleeves. His nails dug deep into his palms, but he didn't notice the blood welling up.
His heart was filled with disappointment, anger, and resentment.
If it were my teacher...if it were the real Mu En, the old man who had poured out every last drop of his strength for the academy, he would never say something so outrageous!
This guy is a bastard, a coward!
In the next instant, a flash of golden light streaked past. A hand clamped around his neck like an iron pincer.
Yan Shaozhe was lifted into the air, his feet leaving the ground as the hand held him fast.
Radiant Mu En held Yan Shaozhe up with one hand, bringing his handsome face close—so close that Yan Shaozhe could clearly see his own wretched reflection in Mu En's eyes.
"I...don't like people cursing me in their minds."
Radiant Mu En spoke softly, as though he had heard every thought in Yan Shaozhe's heart.
Mind reading?!
How was that possible?!
"You called me a bastard and a coward?"
Radiant Mu En tightened his grip slightly.
"Cough...cough, cough...Mu...Mu En...spare...spare me..."
Yan Shaozhe struggled to beg for mercy.
"Hmph."
Radiant Mu En snorted and casually flung him aside.
"Thud!"
Yan Shaozhe slammed hard into the solid wall with a muffled crash.
He slid to the floor, clutching his neck as he coughed violently. He gulped down air, and tears and snot streamed uncontrollably down his face. He was utterly wretched.
"Cough, cough, cough—haah—haah—"
Yan Shaozhe was drenched in cold sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Too strong...he was far too strong...Yan Shaozhe had been completely powerless to resist that force!
"If you do that again, I'll kill you."
Radiant Mu En didn't even glance at Yan Shaozhe on the floor.
"Get out."
Yan Shaozhe shuddered. He scrambled to his feet and hurried away, not daring to linger for even a moment, much less harbor another complaint in his mind.
He fled in a sorry state.
If things continued like this, what would become of Shrek Academy?
Would Shrek Academy...really be destroyed in his hands?
Before you continue