"Xuan Zi, this time, the responsibility lies with you. Tell me, how should I deal with you?" Mu En asked calmly.
Xuan Zi trembled all over. Everyone else was too afraid to even breathe. They all knew Mu En was truly furious this time.
Four years ago, Xuan Zi had led twelve outstanding Inner Court Students into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts. With his Soul Power at level ninety-eight, there was no one on the entire continent who could match him.
Because of his own negligence, they were ambushed by Evil Soul Masters. All eleven Inner Court Students except Zhang Yuexuan died in battle. The incident was hailed as the greatest disgrace in the ten thousand years since Shrek Academy was founded.
Although the scythe-wielding Evil Soul Master had paid with his life afterward, the loss to Shrek Academy was almost impossible to make up for.
Everyone fell silent. The vast Sea God Pavilion was utterly quiet.
Tears streamed down Xuan Zi's face. He clenched his fists tightly and spoke in a low voice. "I request to resign as deputy head of the Shrek Supervision Group, leave the Sea God Pavilion, and spend the rest of my life as an idle man in self-imposed exile."
"Elder Xuan, please don't do this. The Academy can't do without you," Yan Shaozhe said first, doing his best to dissuade him.
"That's right. This time, the enemy's methods were beyond anything we expected. That Evil Soul Master could control skeletons, each one possessing the strength of a Soul Ancestor. You can imagine how many innocent lives he slaughtered. We failed to investigate properly beforehand and let the children walk into danger. How can you be blamed for that?"
Everyone chimed in, soon absolving Xuan Zi of all responsibility.
"You don't need to say any more. I've made up my mind."
With that, Xuan Zi turned and walked away, his steps heavy.
"Come back!" Mu En said, his voice chilling.
"Elder Mu, I caused such a terrible disaster. I have no face to show anyone, let alone their parents." Elder Xuan sighed. This had become a knot in his heart.
He had a premonition that unless he killed that Evil Soul Master, he might never break through to level ninety-nine.
The images of the students' deaths played over and over in his mind. They would haunt him for the rest of his life, until the day he died.
"You can leave, but only if you father 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 just the right moment. "It's entirely possible that someone has already lost the ability to father children."
The tense atmosphere eased somewhat. Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and Xian Lin'er all wore faint smiles.
"Heh heh heh..."
It was so hard to hold it in.
The other elders were less restrained and burst out laughing.
"Lin Huiqun, you old schemer!" Elder Xuan's eyes reddened, and his neck flushed with anger.
"Don't laugh! Don't laugh! Let me see who dares!" Elder Xuan slapped the table with both hands, but the laughter only grew louder.
Seeing this, Mu En waved his hand, and the laughter stopped at once.
"From the moment the Shrek Supervision Group was founded, everyone who joined knew they might have to sacrifice themselves at any time. You and I are no exception. Four years ago, I thought you had learned your lesson. But now this has happened, and you can't escape blame."
Xuan Zi lowered his head, his spirits sinking.
Then Mu En continued, "That Evil Soul Master must be eliminated. Anyone who kills our students is an enemy of Shrek Academy. And the fact that he can control skeletons means every one of them was once a living person. Evil Soul Masters often leave a trail of bloodshed in their wake. I'm sure you all understand the irreparable damage a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master could inflict on the Douluo Continent."
"I'll discuss this with the three great empires and restart the campaign to hunt down Evil Soul Masters. We'll eliminate him before he can grow any stronger."
"Also, I never expected Teacher Wang Yan to die. Xiaotao and the others aren't to blame. That Evil Soul Master was simply too cunning."
"Xuan Zi, I'll give you a chance to atone for your mistakes."
Elder Xuan raised his head sharply, his eyes lighting up. "Please, Elder Mu. What is it?"
"Since Teacher Wang Yan, who was leading the team, died unexpectedly, his position is vacant. Take that girl Zhou Yi with you and have her replace him. Then return to Star Luo City as well. This time, I don't want anyone to die, no matter what. If anything happens to the children again—even if they lose a single hair—I won't let you off."
It was a warning, but also Xuan Zi's chance at redemption.
"Rest assured, Elder Mu. I, Xuan Zi, swear that if anything happens to the children, or if anyone kills them, I'll capture the culprit and bring them back to the Academy for punishment, no matter where they are."
With that, Xuan Zi turned and left.
"Teacher, the Soul Hall Master just sent someone to ask about the procedures for this Evil Soul Master purge," Yan Shaozhe said.
"This time, we were careless and failed to notify the Soul Hall right away. Otherwise, the children wouldn't have suffered this calamity."
Elder Mu sighed. "Pass down the order: from now on, whenever a matter involves Evil Soul Masters, the Academy must coordinate with the Soul Hall. It's not only for the children's sake, but also to build a good relationship with the Soul Hall. That Soul Hall Master's strength is unfathomable. Even Xuan Zi would be in for a rough time against her."
Shrek Academy had once again lost four outstanding Inner Court disciples, dealing another severe blow to its strength.
Mu En believed that, after these two lessons, the children would surely return safely from Star Luo City, where they were going to compete in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.
The once-every-five-years All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament would begin tomorrow. Star Luo City was already bustling with activity. Travelers from every corner of the continent had filled the city's hotels, and the Star Luo Empire's officials attached great importance to this grand event, held across the continent every five years.
Star Emperor Hotel.
It was the accommodation provided by the Star Luo Empire for the participating academy teams. It was already packed, and every academy team had arrived.
Inside one of the elegantly decorated rooms.
"What?! You're saying you went and killed four of Shrek Academy's Inner Court students?" Qian Renxue was shocked when she heard the news.
Qin Chuan smiled faintly. "Shrek Academy has seven main team members this time: two Soul Emperors and five Soul Kings. I killed four of the Soul Kings, and the other three were injured to varying degrees. I could have killed them all, but I decided to give them time to grow. Killing them all now would have been a bad deal."
Qian Renxue stared blankly for a full two seconds before finally letting out a breath of relief. "As long as you're all right. Don't ever take such a risk again. This isn't Spirit Hall, after all, and no one here can come to your aid."
"Don't worry. You know what I can do. If I run into danger, I can return at light speed to the Parallel Time and Space where you are. Even if they have tremendous powers, can they really cross worlds to hunt me down?"
"You..." Qian Renxue shook her head with a smile.
"Do you know? I'm really happy," Qian Renxue said suddenly.
"Hmm?" Qin Chuan tilted his head, watching her with curiosity.
"I'm a Soul Master too, and I've always wanted to compete alongside people my age. But because of my special identity—you know, your big sister used to be undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace—I could never take part in a major tournament like this. Even though I'm in a world ten thousand years in the future, I'm incredibly honored to be able to participate in person." Qian Renxue smiled at Qin Chuan.
"As long as you're happy. If we face Shrek Academy in this tournament, I'll get to go on another killing spree." Qin Chuan rubbed his hands together, itching for a fight.
"Aren't you worried someone from Shrek Academy will come after you? Maybe they'll even make sure you never leave the Star Luo Empire alive?"
"If you're timid and afraid of trouble, you'll never achieve anything. Either don't do it at all, or do it so thoroughly that you leave no survivors."
As the only survivor of Spirit Hall in this future era, Qin Chuan had fused with the Rakshasa Demon Scythe and the Angel Holy Sword. He was destined to walk a path against heaven itself, one that would set him against Shrek Academy—and even God King Tang above.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Sister, Xiao Chuan, Elder Ma has called everyone to a meeting." Meng Hongchen's voice came from outside.
Qin Chuan and Qian Renxue exchanged a nod, then got up, opened the door, and went out.
"What were you two whispering about in the room?" Meng Hongchen asked, puzzled.
"We were picking an auspicious day."
"An auspicious day?"
"For when your little brother grows up a bit, you'll have to hold your wedding. Of course we need to pick a good day," Qian Renxue teased with a smile.
Meng Hongchen's pretty face visibly flushed red. Without saying a word, she hurried away.
While Qin Chuan, Qian Renxue, and Meng Hongchen were in a cheerful mood, everyone from Shrek Academy in another meeting room was sunk in utter silence.
After Teacher Wang Yan's death, and with the Academy yet to send a replacement team leader, they decided that Ma Xiaotao, the strongest among them, would take over.
"Doesn't anyone have anything to say?" Ma Xiaotao asked impatiently, then looked around at the silent group.
"..."
They looked at one another. After the battle to wipe out the Evil Soul Masters in the Mingdou Mountains, everyone's spirits had sunk to rock bottom. They were overwhelmed by a crushing sense of defeat, and had no fighting spirit left—let alone anything to say.
Without Wang Yan, they had lost their anchor. A team without its soul was no team at all.
Suddenly, the door was kicked open.
A sharp, booming voice rang out along with it.
"Look at you, sitting there like you've lost your souls! Are you really students of Shrek Academy?"
Everyone turned toward the voice. The newcomer had an aged face, and her white hair was neatly combed and pinned behind her head. Her deeply lined face was full of authority and solemnity.
"Teacher Zhou?!" Huo Yuhao looked at Zhou Yi in surprise. "Teacher Zhou, how did you get here all the way from Shrek Academy?"
"From today onward, I'll be your team leader." Zhou Yi's expression was cold as she surveyed the listless group and snapped, "All of you, stand up!"
The group stood up expressionlessly. Aside from Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, whom she had taught, Inner Court Students like Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Ling Luochеn looked down on Zhou Yi from the bottom of their hearts.
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