Voice of the Black Pharaoh

Although the dean's office was on Sea God Island, it did not mean it was inside the Sea God Pavilion.

The moment he stepped onto Sea God Island, his divine sense had already silently enveloped the entire island.

There were currently ninety-nine people on the island. Judging by their attire, sixty were inner court students, and the remaining thirty-nine were likely inner court teachers or Sea God Pavilion elders.

Among the thirty-nine inner court teachers and Sea God Pavilion elders, three had spirit power fluctuations at the Super Douluo level, nine were ordinary Title Douluo, and the remaining seventeen were between the Spirit Douluo and Spirit Saint levels. As for the sixty students, the weakest were at least Spirit King level, while the strongest possessed the strength of a Spirit Douluo.

This level of strength was already at the very pinnacle on Douluo Continent. However, strong as they were, they would only be reduced to dust in the face of a Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Missile.

When the interstellar era arrived, even those so-called "gods" they had fanatically worshipped for so many years would not be able to withstand a single main cannon shot from an interstellar warship.

Did Douluo Continent really need gods?

Zhang Lexuan said as they walked, "Nya... Nyar, because there has never been a precedent in the history of Shrek Academy for an outsider to apply for a teaching position, I cannot give you any viable advice. I can only wish you success."

"I'll take your word for it."

Arriving before a room, just as Zhang Lexuan was about to knock, Xia Linyuan suddenly asked, "May I take the liberty of asking you a question?"

Zhang Lexuan was stunned. "Go ahead."

"How old are you this year?"

Zhang Lexuan was taken aback by this sudden question from Xia Linyuan.

In the span of a single second, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She thought of many things, but the one thing she did not consider was anything related to romance.

"I should be twenty-four this year, right?" Zhang Lexuan answered with some uncertainty.

Because the higher a Spirit Master's cultivation, the longer their lifespan compared to ordinary people, and she was already an eight-ring Spirit Douluo—with promotion to Title Douluo only a matter of time—she did not pay much attention to her own age. When Xia Linyuan asked her this, she was a bit bewildered and began to ponder how old she actually was.

"Twenty-four, is it?" Xia Linyuan rested his chin on his right index finger, looking thoughtful, and muttered to himself, "Then I'll be twenty-five."

"Eh?" Zhang Lexuan slowly displayed a look of confusion.

What did he mean by "then I'll be twenty-five"? What did "just be twenty-five" even mean?

Xia Linyuan shrugged his shoulders and said indifferently, "I've lived too long; I completely forgot how old I am. But I imagine Shrek Academy wouldn't hire an old fossil as a teacher, would they?"

"You really are humorous." Zhang Lexuan was left between laughter and tears, saying helplessly, "You only look a year or two older than me. If even you are an old fossil, wouldn't that make me an old hag?"

Xia Linyuan smiled slightly and shook his head without speaking.

In this day and age, does no one believe the truth anymore? Where has the trust between people gone?

Zhang Lexuan raised her hand and knocked on the door three times. "Dean Yan, it's Zhang Lexuan."

Although both were disciples of Mu En, Zhang Lexuan and Yan Shaozhe never addressed each other as junior or senior siblings.

"Please, come in." A gentle voice came from inside the office.

Receiving permission, Zhang Lexuan pushed the door open and entered with Xia Linyuan.

Seeing Xia Linyuan, Yan Shaozhe was somewhat surprised. "Lexuan, who is this?"

Zhang Lexuan introduced him: "Dean Yan, this is Nyarlathotep. He is here to apply for a teaching position at our Shrek Academy. Since there has never been a precedent for hiring teachers from outside in the academy's history, I could only bring him to you."

"Applying for a position?" Yan Shaozhe was even more surprised.

Just as Zhang Lexuan had said, he had lived for over a hundred years and had never seen anyone come to Shrek Academy to apply for a teaching job.

A seemingly harmless smile appeared on Xia Linyuan's face. "Hello, Dean Yan. My name is Nyarlathotep, and I am here to apply for a teaching position at your esteemed academy."

Yan Shaozhe set aside his work and asked, "Then, Nya... what was your name again?"

"Just call me Nya."

"Very well, Nya. Are you applying to be a teacher in the Martial Soul Department or the Soul Guidance Department?"

Xia Linyuan smiled and said, "I don't know much about Soul Guidance Devices, so let's go with the Martial Soul Department."

"Nya, because Shrek Academy has never had a precedent for someone applying for a teaching position, we will not lower our standards just because you are a first. Getting into Shrek Academy as a teacher is not that easy."

"The first hard requirement is that your spirit power must reach the Spirit Saint level, and your spirit ring configuration cannot be less than two yellow, two purple, and three black. If you want to be a teacher in the Martial Soul Department, meeting the cultivation requirements isn't enough; we also look at whether you have the corresponding knowledge reserves and whether you have the mindset to cultivate students who dare to be mediocre but dare not cause trouble..." Yan Shaozhe spoke eloquently.

Xia Linyuan: "..."

Seeing that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, Zhang Lexuan hurriedly said, "Dean Yan, I still have to be responsible for inner court admissions. I'll leave Nya to you; I'll be heading back now." With that, she turned and hurried out of Yan Shaozhe's office without looking back.

After Zhang Lexuan left, watching Yan Shaozhe continue to ramble on about Shrek Academy's school motto and rules—which were completely contrary to his own values and philosophy—Xia Linyuan sighed helplessly and muttered in boredom, "Truly both long-winded and dull."

"What was that?" Hearing his mutterings, Yan Shaozhe finally stopped his endless talking and looked at him in confusion.

The next moment, Yan Shaozhe felt the light suddenly dim, and a sudden, massive hand caused his pupils to shrink.

Xia Linyuan grabbed his head with his right hand like an eagle's claw, pinning Yan Shaozhe to his chair. In that instant, he seemed to transform into the serpent from the Bible that tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, chanting in an extremely bewitching tone:

Dumb, foolish, and lost soul, My most sincere believer.

I am Nyarlathotep, I am the Crawling Chaos.

In the name of the Black Pharaoh, I bestow upon you the instructions from the Black Pharaoh.

Amidst Xia Linyuan's chanting, Yan Shaozhe's constricted pupils slowly returned to their original size. His expression shifted from initial shock and bewilderment to a hollow, vacant, and dull state, as if he were a puppet that could be manipulated at will.

"Nyarlathotep, twenty-five years old, eight-ring Spirit Douluo, successfully passed the teacher assessment, assigned to Freshman Class One..." Yan Shaozhe said blankly.

Seeing this, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Xia Linyuan's face. "Very good. I believe you will arrange all of this for me." Having said that, he released his grip and walked toward the door.

A full hour passed before Yan Shaozhe's hollow, vacant eyes finally regained their luster.