The girl stared at Xia Linyuan in astonishment, while the young man was practically left speechless.
The young man stammered, "S-Senior, weren't you here to apply for a place in Shrek Academy's Inner Court?"
Xia Linyuan shrugged. "I don't think I ever said I was here to apply for a place in Shrek Academy's Inner Court, did I?"
"B-But you..."
"Come on, little brother. I've been trying to tell you all along that I'm here to apply for a teaching position at Shrek Academy. But you kept confidently assuring me that you knew why I'd come here. Then, when I tried to explain my actual purpose, you got so caught up in the glorious history of the Inner Court senior you admire that you even led me astray."
From their conversation, the girl finally realized that it had all been a huge misunderstanding.
"Nyarlathotep" had come to apply for a teaching position at Shrek Academy, while the young man had assumed he was applying to join the Inner Court.
Thinking back over everything that had happened on the way, she realized Xia Linyuan was right. The young man's face turned red, then pale with embarrassment. He'd made a fool of himself in front of the Inner Court senior he admired most. At that moment, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"I-I'm sorry, Senior! It was my mistake! I'm sorry for bothering you!" the young man hurriedly apologized.
The girl shook her head. "It's fine. We don't get many people applying to the Inner Court this year, either."
Seeing that his senior was as gentle as ever, the young man's heart melted. In his eyes, her figure seemed to grow even taller.
"So..." Xia Linyuan interjected at the worst possible moment, making a helpless gesture. "Could you tell me where to go to apply for a teaching position at your academy?"
The young man wanted to make up for his mistake and win back some favor in front of his senior. "I'll take you there. I won't get it wrong this time."
Xia Linyuan turned to the girl. "Do I have a choice?"
The girl blinked.
Then Xia Linyuan continued, "Could I get someone a little more professional?"
The girl could only smile wryly and turn to the young man. "I'll take him to the Academic Affairs Office to see Director Du Weilun. You can head back, junior."
"Okay." The young man left the New Student Reception Area, crestfallen.
After they left the New Student Reception Area, the girl said, "Nyarlathotep, you..."
"Don't you know it's rude not to introduce yourself before asking someone else to?"
"Sorry, I was rude. My name is Zhang Lexuan. I'm an Inner Court disciple, and I'm in charge of this year's Inner Court admissions."
Zhang Lexuan?
Xia Linyuan's brow lifted almost imperceptibly.
He should have thought of it sooner. Among the dozens of Inner Court disciples, who else could already be involved in Shrek Academy's affairs besides Zhang Lexuan?
"Just call me Naiya."
"N-Naiya, are you really here to apply for a teaching position at Shrek Academy?"
Xia Linyuan glanced at Zhang Lexuan. "Do I not look like it? Do I have the words 'I'm here to cause trouble at Shrek Academy' written in big black letters across my face?"
Zhang Lexuan: "..." He hadn't looked like it before, but after he said that, she suddenly felt he did.
"No, it's just that I've been at Shrek Academy for so long, and this is the first time I've seen an outsider apply for a teaching position. Usually, academy students stay on to teach after graduating."
"With the way your Shrek Academy is run, who else would apply besides me?"
Zhang Lexuan had been lost in thought, but Xia Linyuan's words snapped her back to her senses. "What did you say?"
"Heh, nothing."
Zhang Lexuan said, "No one has applied for a teaching position in all these years, so you'll have to speak with Dean Yan. Only he can make the decision."
"All right. Sorry for the trouble—please lead the way."
As Zhang Lexuan led Xia Linyuan past the student dormitories, Mu En, who had been rocking gently in his recliner, opened his eyes. Though they were clouded with the weight of many years, they still gleamed brightly.
Watching the two walk side by side, Mu En felt that Xia Linyuan's aura was as deep as the sea, like a bottomless whirlpool that kept drawing in his mind and spirit.
Even his every gesture carried the terrifying majesty of a king long accustomed to command, a presence that inspired awe without anger. Mu En had seen the world's splendor and decline, and his heart had long since been unshaken by anything, yet now it trembled violently.
Xia Linyuan had concealed this aura so well that it was almost as if he had returned to the natural state. If Mu En hadn't forged such a close connection with the Golden Tree during his years as Sea God Pavilion Master, giving him a keener sense of life than most Limit Douluos, he might have taken Xia Linyuan for an ordinary Spirit Master.
Mu En gathered all his spiritual power and focused it on Xia Linyuan, trying to gauge his strength.
But the moment his spiritual power touched Xia Linyuan, it was crushed by an indescribably terrifying aura. Cold, sinister, savage, despairing... A multitude of terrifying auras burst forth all at once.
The Martial Soul hidden deep within Mu En's body let out a mournful wail! Even his soul quivered with fear from the depths of his being! His hunched body jolted violently.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Xia Linyuan seemed to sense that he was being watched. He turned and smiled at Mu En.
His smile was gentle, like that of a refined gentleman, yet Mu En felt a chill run down his spine behind that seemingly warm expression.
Cold crept up from his back, and he felt as if he had fallen into an icy pit. The chill spread through every corner of his body. Even his legs, robbed of sensation by poison, could clearly feel the cold creeping along inch by inch.
After a long while, Mu En finally recovered. Still shaken, he murmured, "I've been out of the world for so long, yet a powerhouse like this has appeared on Douluo Continent without my even knowing. Even I, a Level 99 Limit Douluo, feel a chill of fear."
"Could he have reached the same level as our legendary ancestor Tang San? But if he had reached that level, shouldn't he have gone to that legendary place? I wonder why he's come to Shrek Academy. Is he a blessing or a disaster? I can only hope it's not the latter..."
Zhang Lexuan led Xia Linyuan through the Outer Court's buildings and to the shore of Sea God Lake. They then soared over the vast lake and arrived at Sea God Island.
The offices of both Yan Shaozhe, the Outer Court's Martial Soul Department dean, and Qian Duoduo, the Outer Court's vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, were on Sea God Island.
Outsiders did everything they could to catch a glimpse of Sea God Island, but never succeeded. Yet Xia Linyuan had come to apply for a teaching position at Shrek Academy on a whim and, by a twist of fate, set foot on the island. It was a case of good things coming from unintended efforts. One wondered whether those who wanted to infiltrate Shrek Academy would be furious if they found out.
Before you continue