Why Don't You Go to Sea God Island and Uproot Our Golden Tree Instead?

Mu En looked at the tightly shut door, his emotions a tangled mess. Then he turned, his gaze falling on Long Yeyue.

Though the old woman's hair was completely silver, her back was ramrod straight, and she radiated an aura that kept strangers at bay. That earth-shattering slap from earlier still echoed in Mu En's mind.

To ease the awkward atmosphere somewhat, Mu En cupped his hands slightly and asked politely:

"Thank you for showing mercy earlier. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Yet as Long Yeyue passed by Mu En, she did not even spare him a second glance. She ignored him outright, giving him no face at all as she left.

At the sight of this, Elder Lin, standing behind Mu En, immediately furrowed her brow, her face turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.

How rude!

This was simply going too far!

Beating Xuan Zi was one thing—after all, Xuan Zi had mouthed off first. But now Mu En had personally asked for her name. What greater courtesy could there be? What higher respect could he show?

And that old woman had actually walked away without even looking back?

Where did that leave the dignity of the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy?

"This..."

"Enough. We were the ones at fault first."

Just as Elder Lin was about to lose her temper, Mu En spoke first to stop her. There was not much displeasure on his face.

After all, they were in no position to argue, and besides... from beginning to end, it had been their academy that was in the wrong.

Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and Qian Duoduo had taken the initiative to provoke them. That was their first mistake.

Then Xuan Zi had openly declared that he wanted to seize their secret technique right in front of them. That only compounded the offense.

The fact that they had not crippled Xuan Zi on the spot already counted as mercy.

And under such circumstances, they still expected the other party to greet them with a smile? That was nothing but wishful thinking.

After collecting himself, Mu En turned his attention to Bei Xin, who had been standing nearby with a smile on his face.

"Brother Bei Xin."

"What exactly are the compensation terms proposed by Dean Lin Feng of your academy?"

"Could you explain them in detail? At least let me know what to expect."

"Of course."

Bei Xin nodded but did not explain verbally.

With a flick of his wrist, a rectangular black object resembling a thin crystal slab appeared in his hand.

"This is..."

Mu En, Elder Lin, and Bei Bei all widened their eyes at the same time, curiously studying this object they had never seen before.

There was no Soul Power fluctuation.

It looked like nothing more than an extremely smooth, polished brick.

It should have been some kind of new Soul Tool.

Amid the puzzled looks of the three, Bei Xin extended a finger and lightly tapped the black slab.

"Beep."

The slab, which had been pitch-black a moment ago, suddenly lit up!

"This is our academy's tablet computer."

"Everything we're asking for is written on it."

"Take a look yourselves."

As he spoke, Bei Xin handed the tablet computer to Mu En.

Mu En carefully accepted the so-called tablet computer. It felt cool and smooth in his hands, unbelievably thin and light.

Mu En steadied himself and focused on the words displayed on the screen.

Elder Lin and Bei Bei hurriedly leaned in as well, their three heads crowded together as they stared fixedly at the list.

The first line read:

[Compensation Clause One: Emotional distress, lost work time, facility repair costs, fright compensation, and other expenses—total: 100 million Gold Soul Coins.]

"Gasp—!!!"

Seeing that long string of zeros after the one, Elder Lin's vision went black, and she nearly fainted.

Her expression changed instantly. She jerked her head up to stare at Bei Xin in disbelief, her voice cracking:

"O... one hundred million?!"

"Isn't that a little too outrageous?!"

Elder Lin's chest rose and fell violently. Clearly, the number had infuriated her.

"One hundred million Gold Soul Coins! Why don't you just rob us?!"

"Do you know that even Shrek City, which controls the most prosperous commercial center on the continent, only earns a few hundred million Gold Soul Coins a year in total?!"

"And that still has to cover all kinds of maintenance costs, teacher salaries, student benefits... there's barely any net profit left after all that!"

"You're demanding more than our entire annual net profit the moment you open your mouths?!"

Elder Lin was truly panicking.

If they paid that money, Shrek Academy would probably have to tighten its belt for the entire next year.

Bei Bei, standing nearby, was completely stunned as well. He had never seen that much money in his life.

"Is it a lot?"

Facing Elder Lin's furious outburst, Bei Xin remained calm and turned his gaze toward Mu En.

"Pavilion Master Mu, do you think it's a lot?"

Mu En stared fixedly at the number on the screen.

His hand was trembling slightly too.

It hurt.

It truly hurt.

But... compared to Yan Shaozhe and the others, it was worth it.

Mu En took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

"No."

"It isn't much."

"What?!"

Hearing Mu En's words, Elder Lin was utterly dumbfounded.

"Mu En! Have you lost your mind?!"

"That's one hundred million Gold Soul Coins! Not one million, not ten million—one hundred million!"

Mu En shook his head and looked at Elder Lin, his tone heavy.

"Hui Qun, money can be earned again once it's gone."

"Compared with Shao Zhe and the others, this money is nothing."

"They are all vital pillars of Shrek Academy. If they were lost here, then no amount of money—not even one billion Gold Soul Coins—could make up for Shrek Academy's losses."

"This money..."

Mu En clenched his teeth.

"We have to pay it!"

Hearing that, Elder Lin opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but she did not know what to say.

Though it pained her to part with the money, she knew Mu En was right.

Title Douluo, especially Super Douluo, were strategic resources. They were not something money could buy.

"...Sigh."

Elder Lin let out a heavy sigh and could only swallow her anger without saying anything further.

Since Mu En had made the decision, she could only accept it.

"Keep reading."

[Compensation Clause Two: Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast Spirit Bones—10 pieces.]

"..."

This time, Elder Lin did not roar.

She was too stunned to say anything.

Her eyes widened as she stared at that "10," feeling as if her heart were convulsing.

Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast Spirit Bones!

They were hard currency in the world of soul masters! Priceless treasures that could not be bought even with money!

Even a colossal institution like Shrek Academy, with its ten-thousand-year legacy, only had a limited number of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones in storage. They were hardly cabbages growing by the roadside!

Every Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone had been brought back from Star Dou Forest at the risk of countless teachers' and students' lives. They were reserved as rewards for the most outstanding disciples.

And now, the other side was demanding ten of them right off the bat?

This was practically carving flesh from Shrek Academy's body!

"Isn't... isn't this a bit too much?"

Elder Lin's voice trembled. She looked at Mu En, her eyes full of pleading, hoping he would reject this absurd condition.

However.

Mu En merely fell silent for a moment before nodding again.

"Fine."

Mu En's heart was bleeding too.

But he knew very well that Xuan Zi, that idiot, had just shouted about stealing their secret technique, offending them beyond repair. If they did not offer some genuine, valuable compensation, the other party would never let the matter rest.

"Give it to them."

Mu En forced the words out through clenched teeth.

Elder Lin swayed and nearly lost her footing.

He had agreed even to such a condition?

It seemed Mu En had truly resolved to bleed heavily this time.

She could only endure the searing pain in her heart and continue reading.

Hopefully, there would not be any more outrageous demands further down...

However, the moment her gaze landed on the third clause, she exploded.

[Compensation Clause Three: Various rare herbs, healing medicines, top-grade pills... one-quarter of your academy's current inventory must be provided.]

Bang!

Elder Lin could no longer hold herself back.

"Outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"

"You're simply robbing us!"

"One-quarter of our medicinal inventory?!"

"Do you even know how much that is?"

"That is the accumulation of Shrek Academy over ten thousand years! It was gathered by countless predecessors who traveled across the continent and ventured deep into dangerous lands to pick them!"

"Some of those herbs have long since gone extinct on the continent! They are irreplaceable treasures—every one used means one less remains!"

"And you're demanding one-quarter of them the moment you open your mouths?!"

Elder Lin trembled all over in rage, even her finger shaking as she pointed.

"Why don't you just go to Sea God Island, uproot our Golden Tree, and take the whole thing while you're at it?!"