Cut the grass but don't remove the roots, and it will grow again with the spring breeze.

"Xuan Zi, this responsibility falls on you. Tell me, how should I deal with you?" Mu En spoke calmly.

Xuan Zi trembled all over, and the others didn't even dare to breathe. Everyone understood that Mu En was truly furious this time.

Four years ago, Xuan Zi had led twelve outstanding inner courtyard students into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts. With his cultivation at rank ninety-eight, he was unmatched across the entire continent.

But because of his own negligence, they were ambushed by an Evil Soul Master, resulting in the deaths of eleven inner courtyard students besides Zhang Yuexuan. This incident was hailed as the greatest shame in Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history.

Although the scythe-wielding Evil Soul Master later paid with his life, the losses inflicted on Shrek Academy were nearly irreparable.

Everyone remained silent, and for a time, the vast Sea God Pavilion was dead quiet.

Xuan Zi's aged face streamed with tears, his hands clenched tightly. He spoke in a low voice: "I request to resign from my position as Deputy Head of the Shrek Supervision Group. I willingly withdraw from the Sea God Pavilion, becoming an idle man from now on, self-exiled."

"Elder Xuan, don't be like this. The Academy cannot do without you." Yan Shaozhe spoke first, trying desperately to persuade him to stay.

"Yes, the enemy's methods this time caught us off guard. That Evil Soul Master could actually control skeletons, and each skeleton had the cultivation of a Soul Ancestor. Just imagine how many innocent lives he must have slaughtered. It was our failure to investigate beforehand that put the children in danger. How can this be blamed on you?"

Everyone chimed in one after another, quickly absolving Xuan Zi of all guilt.

"Say no more. My mind is made up."

With that, Xuan Zi turned and walked away with heavy steps.

"Come back!" Mu En spoke, his tone grim.

"Elder Mu, after causing such a great disaster, I have no face left to see anyone, let alone face their parents." Elder Xuan let out a long sigh. This had become an obstacle in his heart.

He had a premonition that if he didn't kill that Evil Soul Master, he would never be able to break through to rank ninety-nine for the rest of his life.

The scenes of the students' tragic deaths played out in his mind one after another, haunting him for life, until his own death.

"You can leave if you want, unless you give birth to a child with the Godly Taotie Bull martial soul. Then I won't care where you go." Mu En said.

Elder Lin spoke up at the right moment: "I'm afraid someone might have already lost their ability to have children, who knows."

The originally tense atmosphere eased somewhat. Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, Xian Lin'er, and others had faint smiles on their faces.

"Ku ku ku ku..."

It was so hard to hold back.

The many senior elders weren't so restrained; they burst into loud laughter.

"Lin Huiqun, you old sly fox!" Elder Xuan's eyes were bloodshot, his neck thick with anger.

"Stop laughing! Stop laughing! Who dares to laugh!" Elder Xuan slapped the table with both hands, but the laughter only grew louder.

Seeing this, Mu En waved his hand, and the laughter abruptly stopped.

"From the moment the Shrek Supervision Group was established, everyone who joined it was prepared to sacrifice at any time. You and I are no exception. Four years ago, I thought you had learned your lesson, but now this incident has happened. You cannot escape blame."

Xuan Zi listened, his spirits sinking as he lowered his head.

Then Mu En continued: "That Evil Soul Master must be eradicated. Anyone who kills our students has become the mortal enemy of Shrek Academy. Furthermore, the fact that he can control skeletons for his own use proves that each of those skeletons was once a living life. The cultivation of Evil Soul Masters is often accompanied by bloodshed and storms. I think you all understand very well the irreparable damage a Title Douluo-level Evil Soul Master can cause to Douluo Continent."

"I will discuss this matter with the three empires to restart the operation to hunt down Evil Soul Masters, to completely eradicate them before they fully grow."

"Additionally, Teacher Wang Yan's death was unexpected. This is not the fault of Xiao Tao and the others; that Evil Soul Master was too cunning."

"Xuan Zi, I will give you a chance to atone for your crimes."

Elder Xuan suddenly looked up, his eyes brightening, and asked: "Elder Mu, please speak."

"Since the leading teacher Wang Yan died unexpectedly in battle, leaving this position vacant, here's what I'll do: take that girl Zhou Yi with you, and have her replace Wang Yan's position. Then you return to Star Luo City. This time, no matter what, I don't want anyone to die. If anything happens to the children this time, even if they lose a single hair, I will not let you off."

This was a warning, and also Xuan Zi's redemption.

"Elder Mu, rest assured. I, Xuan Zi, swear here that if anything happens to the children, or if they are killed, no matter where that person is, at the ends of the earth, I will capture them and bring them back to the Academy for judgment."

With that, Xuan Zi turned and left.

"Teacher, the Hall Master of the Soul Hall just sent someone to inquire about the procedures for this Evil Soul Master cleanup operation." Yan Shaozhe spoke.

"This time, we were negligent. We didn't notify the Soul Hall in time, otherwise the children wouldn't have suffered this undeserved calamity."

Elder Mu let out a light sigh: "Issue an order: from now on, whenever matters involve Evil Soul Masters, the Academy must coordinate with the Soul Hall. Not just for the children's sake, but also to build a good relationship with the Soul Hall. That Soul Hall Master's strength is unfathomable; I'm afraid even Xuan Zi would have a hard time against her."

Shrek Academy had lost four more outstanding inner courtyard disciples, dealing another heavy blow to its vitality.

Mu En believed that with these two lessons learned, the children would surely return safely this time when they went to Star Luo City to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition.

The quinquennial Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition was set to begin tomorrow. Star Luo City was already bustling with activity. Travelers from all corners of the land had already snapped up all the rooms in the city's hotels. As a grand event held every five years across the continent, the Star Luo Empire's government placed great importance on it.

Star Emperor Hotel.

This was the accommodation provided by the Star Luo Empire's government for the participating academy teams. It was already packed to capacity, with all the academy teams having arrived.

Inside one exquisitely decorated room.

"What?! You're telling me you went and killed four inner courtyard students from Shrek Academy!" Qian Renxue was shocked when she heard this news.

Qin Chuan smiled slightly: "This time, Shrek Academy's main team has seven members: two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings. I killed four Soul Kings, and the remaining three were injured to varying degrees. I could have killed them all, but I decided to give them some time to grow. Killing them all now would be a losing deal."

Qian Renxue was stunned for a full two seconds before she let out a sigh of relief: "As long as you're safe. Don't take such risks in the future. This place is not the Martial Soul Hall after all; it can't provide you with any support."

"Don't worry. Don't you know my abilities? If there's any danger, I can instantly return to your Parallel Time and Space. No matter how great their powers are, can they chase me across dimensions?"

"You..." Qian Renxue shook her head with a smile.

"You know, I'm really, truly happy," Qian Renxue suddenly said.

"Huh?" Qin Chuan tilted his head, looking at her with great curiosity.

"I'm a soul master too, and I want to compete on the same stage as my peers. It's just because of my special identity—you know your big sister used to be undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, so I could never participate in such a large tournament. Now, even though I'm in a world ten thousand years later, being able to take part in person is an immense honor for me." Qian Renxue smiled warmly at Qin Chuan.

"As long as you're happy, that's what matters. Once we face Shrek Academy in this tournament, I'll be able to go on a killing spree again." Qin Chuan rubbed his hands together, feeling an itch for battle.

"Aren't you afraid that Shrek Academy will send people to seek revenge on you later? That they might not even let you leave Star Luo Empire alive?"

"Being timid and afraid of trouble won't accomplish great things. When you do something, either don't do it at all, or do it thoroughly enough to uproot the weeds."

As the sole survivor of Martial Soul Hall in this world ten thousand years later, having fused with the Rakshasa Demon Scythe and the Angel Holy Sword, Qin Chuan was destined to walk a path of defiance against Shrek Academy, and even against the God King Tang above them.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

"Big sister, Xiao Chuan, Elder Ma is calling everyone to a meeting." Meng Hongchen's voice came from outside.

Qin Chuan and Qian Renxue exchanged nods, stood up, opened the door, and walked out.

"What secrets were you two whispering about in the room?" Meng Hongchen asked, puzzled.

"We were picking an auspicious day."

"An auspicious day?"

"Once your little brother grows up a bit, your wedding will need to be held, so naturally we have to choose a good date." Qian Renxue teased with a smile.

Meng Hongchen's pretty face visibly reddened, and without a word, she hurried away.

Compared to the lighthearted joking of Qin Chuan, Qian Renxue, and Meng Hongchen, the Shrek Academy members in another meeting room had already fallen into a dead silence.

With Teacher Wang Yan's death in battle, and before the academy could send a replacement leading teacher, it was decided that the current strongest member, Ma Xiaotao, would take over.

"Can't anyone say something?" Ma Xiaotao spoke impatiently, then swept her gaze over the silent crowd.

"..."

Everyone looked at each other. After the battle to eradicate the Evil Soul Masters in the Mingdou Mountains, their spirits had sunk to rock bottom. A crushing sense of defeat washed over them, and their will to fight couldn't be roused, let alone their desire to speak.

Now, without Wang Yan, it was as if they had lost their backbone—the team had lost its soul.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with force.

Along with it came a sharp, resounding voice.

"Look at yourselves, all of you, like you've lost your souls! Are you still students of Shrek Academy?"

Everyone turned to look. The newcomer had an aged face, with graying hair combed neatly and coiled at the back of her head. Her wrinkled face was full of authority and solemnity.

"Teacher Zhou?!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed in surprise at the sudden arrival of Zhou Yi. "Teacher Zhou, how did you come all the way from Shrek Academy to us?"

"From today onward, I am your leading teacher." Zhou Yi's face was cold as she scanned the listless crowd, then barked in a low voice, "All of you, stand up!"

Everyone stood up expressionlessly. Aside from Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, whom she had taught, inner courtyard students like Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochen looked down on Zhou Yi from the bottom of their hearts.