Although the dean's office was on Sea God Island, that didn't mean it was inside Sea God Pavilion.
The moment he set foot on Sea God Island, his divine sense had already silently enveloped the entire island.
There were ninety-nine people on the island in total. Judging by their clothes, sixty were Inner Court students, while the remaining thirty-nine were probably Inner Court teachers or Sea God Pavilion Elders.
Among the thirty-nine Inner Court teachers and Sea God Pavilion Elders, three had Soul Power fluctuations at the Super Douluo level, and nine were ordinary Titled Douluo. The remaining seventeen ranged from Soul Saints to Soul Douluo, while even the weakest of the sixty students was a Soul King, and the strongest had the strength of a Soul Douluo.
Such strength was already among the very best on Douluo Continent. But no matter how strong they were, they'd be reduced to scraps in front of a Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Missile.
When the interstellar age arrived, even the so-called "gods" they had fervently worshipped for all these years wouldn't be able to withstand a single main-gun blast from an interstellar battleship.
Did Douluo Continent really need gods?
As they walked, Zhang Lexuan said, "Nai... Naiya, since there's never been a precedent in Shrek Academy's history for an outsider to apply for a teaching position, I can't offer you any practical advice. All I can do is wish you the best of luck."
"I'll take your good wishes."
When they reached a room, just as Zhang Lexuan was about to knock, Xia Linyuan suddenly asked, "May I ask you something rather personal?"
Zhang Lexuan paused. "Of course."
"How old are you this year?"
Xia Linyuan's sudden question left Zhang Lexuan stunned.
In the span of a single second, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She considered many possibilities, but not once did she think it had anything to do with men and women.
"I should be twenty-four this year, right?" Zhang Lexuan answered, somewhat unsure.
The higher a Spirit Master's cultivation, the longer they lived compared to ordinary people. She was already an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo, and becoming a Titled Douluo was only a matter of time, so she didn't pay much attention to her age. When Xia Linyuan asked, she'd been caught off guard and had to stop and think about how old she was.
"Twenty-four?" Xia Linyuan rested his right index finger against his chin, looking thoughtful. He murmured to himself, "Then I'll be twenty-five."
"Huh?" Zhang Lexuan slowly formed the equivalent of a question mark over her head.
What did he mean, "Then I'll be twenty-five"? What was that supposed to mean?
Xia Linyuan shrugged nonchalantly. "I've lived too long to remember exactly how old I am. But I imagine Shrek Academy wouldn't hire some old fossil as a teacher, would it?"
"You really are a funny person." Zhang Lexuan couldn't help laughing helplessly. "You look only a year or two older than me. If you're an old fossil, wouldn't that make me an old hag?"
Xia Linyuan smiled faintly and shook his head without saying anything.
Did no one believe the truth anymore these days? What had happened to trust between people?
Zhang Lexuan raised her hand and knocked on the door three times. "Dean Yan, it's Zhang Lexuan."
Although Zhang Lexuan and Yan Shaozhe had both studied under Mu En, they never addressed each other as senior brother or junior sister.
"Come in," a gentle voice called from inside the office.
After receiving permission, Zhang Lexuan pushed open the door and entered with Xia Linyuan.
Seeing Xia Linyuan, Yan Shaozhe looked surprised. "Lexuan, who is this?"
Zhang Lexuan introduced him. "Dean Yan, this is Nyarlathotep. He's applying for a teaching position at Shrek Academy. Since the academy has never hired a teacher from outside before, I could only come to you."
"Applying for a position?" Yan Shaozhe was even more surprised.
Just as Zhang Lexuan had said, in the hundred-plus years he'd been alive, he'd never seen anyone apply for a teaching position at Shrek Academy.
Xia Linyuan wore a seemingly harmless smile. "Hello, Dean Yan. My name is Nyarlathotep, and I'm applying for a teaching position at your academy."
Yan Shaozhe set aside what he was doing and asked, "So, Naiya, uh... what was your name again?"
"Just call me Naiya."
"Fine, Naiya. Are you applying to teach in the Martial Soul Department or the Soul Guidance Department?"
Xia Linyuan smiled. "I don't know much about Soul Tools, so I'd prefer the Martial Soul Department."
"Naiya, since no one has ever applied for a teaching position at Shrek Academy before, we won't lower our standards just because you're the first. Getting hired here won't be easy."
"The first mandatory requirement is that your Soul Power must reach the Soul Saint level, and your Soul Ring Configuration must be at least two yellow, two purple, and three black rings. For a teaching position in the Martial Soul Department, meeting the cultivation requirements isn't enough. You also need the appropriate knowledge and the mindset to cultivate students who dare to cause trouble rather than cowards who avoid it..." Yan Shaozhe continued at length.
Xia Linyuan: "..."
Seeing that something seemed off, Zhang Lexuan hurriedly said, "Dean Yan, I still have to handle Inner Court admissions. I'll leave Naiya in your hands and head back first." With that, she hurried out of Yan Shaozhe's office without looking back.
After Zhang Lexuan left, Xia Linyuan watched Yan Shaozhe continue droning on about Shrek Academy's school motto and rules—ones that ran entirely counter to Xia Linyuan's own values and beliefs. He sighed, then muttered, thoroughly bored, "You really are both long-winded and dull."
"What?" Hearing his mutter, Yan Shaozhe finally stopped talking and looked at him in confusion.
The next moment, Yan Shaozhe felt the sky suddenly darken. A large hand appeared out of nowhere, and his pupils contracted sharply.
Xia Linyuan curled his right hand like an eagle's claw around Yan Shaozhe's head and pinned him to his chair. In that instant, he seemed to become the venomous serpent from the Bible, the one that had tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. In an utterly bewitching tone, he chanted:
O hoarse, deluded, bewildered soul,
My most devoted believer.
I am Nyarlathotep,
I am the Crawling Chaos.
In the name of the Black Pharaoh,
I bestow upon you the Black Pharaoh's instructions.
As Xia Linyuan chanted, Yan Shaozhe's contracted pupils slowly returned to their normal size. The shock and astonishment in his eyes gave way to emptiness and blankness. He sat there, dazed and vacant, like a puppet for anyone to manipulate.
"Nyarlathotep, twenty-five years old, Eight-Ring Soul Douluo. Passed the teacher assessment. Assign him to Freshman Class One..." Yan Shaozhe said blankly.
Seeing this, Xia Linyuan finally smiled with satisfaction. "Good. I trust you'll arrange everything for me." With that, he let go and headed for the door.
A full hour passed before the emptiness in Yan Shaozhe's eyes finally gave way to a clear, alert gaze.
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