Meeting About "Group Favorite"

Sea God Pavilion.

Seven figures sat around a circular conference table.

Yun Ming sat at the head of the table, with Ya Li at his side.

The four elders—Long Yeyue, Cai Yue'er, Feng Wuyu, and Zhuo Shi—sat on either side.

The atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

This was because Feng Wuyu had just proposed a suggestion—

To have Yun Jingheng enter the Shrek Genius Class.

"I will state my reasons once more."

Feng Wuyu's voice echoed through the hall, "You have all seen that child's martial soul, the Lunar Phase Flow, shifting through the four realms. To leave such potential unattended is a waste of heaven's gifts."

"The Genius Class has the best resources, the most systematic training, and the most suitable opponents; he belongs there."

"Absurd."

Zhuo Shi interrupted him directly, his voice as deep as a bell, "The child is only six years old. Entering the Genius Class at six? Are you trying to pull up the seedlings to help them grow, or are you looking for a joke?"

"What does his age matter?"

Feng Wuyu did not yield an inch, "Which of the children currently in the Genius Class isn't a genius? Is Jingheng inferior to them?"

"It is not a matter of being inferior or not."

Zhuo Shi said in a low voice, "You know the rules of the Shrek Genius Class better than I do: enrollment means live combat, and live combat means elimination."

"Do you have any idea how many children come out crying every year, or how many are left with psychological trauma?"

Feng Wuyu opened his mouth but did not refute.

Because what Zhuo Shi said was the truth.

The training intensity of the Genius Class was indeed something no ordinary six-year-old could withstand.

"Furthermore—"

Zhuo Shi glanced at Yun Ming, "He is the Pavilion Master's son. If he is sent to the Genius Class, how is anyone supposed to teach him?"

"If they train him to death and he gets hurt, what then? If they go easy on him, is that fair to the other children?"

This statement hit the nail on the head.

Yun Ming's expression remained unchanged, but his fingertips tapped lightly against the tabletop.

Cai Yue'er spoke up at this moment: "I think Zhuo Shi makes sense. We have all seen that Jingheng's martial soul is special."

"But precisely because it is special, we must be even more cautious."

She looked at Yun Ming and Ya Li: "That child's martial soul has its own consciousness. If he encounters any stimulus in the Genius Class, who will bear the consequences?"

Long Yeyue nodded in agreement: "Yue'er is right. Even the Pavilion Master was refused when he tried to probe that moon during the martial soul awakening; that shows just how strong its autonomy is."

"A martial soul like this requires a stable growth environment, not high-pressure competition."

"Besides, various forces on the continent are already trying to probe Jingheng's situation in roundabout ways. Is this really a good thing?"

Feng Wuyu frowned: "Are you suggesting we keep him in a greenhouse? That would be a waste of talent!"

"It is not about keeping him in a greenhouse."

Cai Yue'er shook her head, "It is about us teaching him personally. Which one of us here is not a top-tier expert? Is there anything Jingheng wants to learn that we cannot teach?"

She paused and smiled slightly: "I can teach him the application of moon-attributed martial souls, Elder Long can teach him movement techniques, you two can teach him soul power control and close-quarters combat, and the Pavilion Master and Ya Li can oversee his progress—is this lineup not better than the Genius Class?"

Feng Wuyu was left speechless.

Because this lineup was indeed too luxurious.

So luxurious that no one would believe it if they heard it.

"I am not denying your strength."

Feng Wuyu struggled, "But the Genius Class has his peers."

"Jingheng needs to spar with his peers and learn how to coordinate with them; these are things we cannot provide."

"Then wait until he is a few years older."

Zhuo Shi delivered the final verdict, "Eight, nine, or even twelve—it will not be too late. Going now is too early."

Feng Wuyu looked at Yun Ming: "Pavilion Master, give us your stance."

Everyone's gaze fell upon Yun Ming.

Yun Ming was silent for a moment before speaking: "What does Jingheng say himself?"

Ya Li shook her head gently: "I haven't asked him. For the past two days, he has been pondering his soul skills at the training ground, and he falls asleep the moment he returns."

Yun Ming nodded, his gaze sweeping over those present: "Yue'er is right; we can teach him. Zhuo Shi is also right; it is too early."

He paused.

"But Elder Feng also makes a valid point. He needs the stimulation of his peers and real combat, not just us feeding him moves."

"So?"

Feng Wuyu pressed.

Long Yeyue interjected, "Let the child choose for himself."

The only conclusion of the meeting.

Let Yun Jingheng choose for himself.

Feng Wuyu and Elder Zhuoshi stared at each other, both left speechless.

Yun Ming stood up, said a calm "Dismissed," and left with Ya Li.

As they walked out of the Sea God Pavilion, Ya Li asked softly, "Are you really letting him choose? He's only six."

"His own will... is actually very important."

Ya Li followed his gaze.

On the training ground, Yun Jingheng was sitting on the edge, head bowed, watching ants crawl everywhere.

The sunlight fell upon him, refracting a faint silver glow off the crescent moon mark between his brows.

Who knows what he was thinking.

After dinner, Yun Ming called Yun Jingheng into the study.

Yun Jingheng stood before the desk, looking up at his father, his eyes carrying a hint of "what is it this time" composure.

Yun Ming looked at him and suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

This child, clearly in a six-year-old's body, yet his eyes always seemed to hold so much.

"The Sea God Pavilion held a meeting today to discuss your training methods."

Yun Ming got straight to the point.

Yun Jingheng blinked: "Oh."

"Elder Feng suggested you join the genius class and train with your peers. Elder Zhuoshi opposed it, saying it was too early and that we should teach you personally. The others had their own opinions."

Yun Ming paused.

"In the end, your Grandma Long said to let you choose."

Yun Jingheng was stunned for a moment: "I choose for myself?"

"Mm."

Yun Ming looked at him: "The genius class, or us teaching you. What do you think?"

Yun Jingheng was silent for a while.

What was he thinking?

Thinking of his past life, twenty-seven years old, a postdoctoral fellow, spending his days immersed in laboratories, dealing with instruments and data.

Thinking of his current life, six years old, possessing a sword that could turn into a moon, and a fox sleeping in his spiritual sea.

The genius class?

Peers?

He suddenly recalled the web novels he had read in his past life, where the protagonist enters an academy, plays the pig to eat the tiger, slaps the faces of various geniuses, collects lackeys and beauties, and reaches the pinnacle of life.

Then he glanced at the person in front of him—his father, Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, Limit Douluo, the pinnacle of the current era.

Standing behind him was another—his mother, also a Limit Douluo, an elder of the Sea God Pavilion.

And there were Feng Wuyu, Elder Zhuoshi, Long Yeyue, Cai Yue'er... every single one of them was a figure who could make the entire continent tremble.

If he wanted to play the pig to eat the tiger, he didn't need to go to an academy at all.

He only needed to lie at home, and these tigers would line up to feed him.

But Feng Wuyu was right about one thing—

He needed to spar with his peers.

Not to play the pig to eat the tiger, not to slap faces or show off.

But to... truly feel what a child of this age should be like.

He had lived two lives; his soul age added up to over thirty.

But he needed to know how much of a gap existed between his "normal" and everyone else's "normal."

And even more, he needed to know—

How that moon would treat him in a real battle.

"I'm not going to the genius class."

He spoke.

Yun Ming looked at him without saying a word.

"I want to enroll normally at twelve."

Yun Ming looked at him without saying a word.

The study was silent for a few seconds.

Yun Jingheng thought he hadn't heard clearly, so he added, "Twelve years old, pass the entrance exam normally, no special treatment."

Yun Ming still didn't speak.

But the way he looked at Yun Jingheng became somewhat... complicated.

What was in that gaze?

Surprise?

Gratification?

Or some sort of indescribable sentiment?

Yun Jingheng couldn't tell.

"Why?"

Yun Ming finally spoke, his voice very calm.

Yun Jingheng thought for a moment and answered earnestly, "Because you just said that Elder Feng thinks I need the stimulation of my peers and real combat."

"Mm."

"Elder Zhuoshi thinks it's too early right now, and that high-pressure competition won't do me any good."

"Mm."

"Aunt Cai and Grandma Long think my Martial Soul is special and easily targeted by various factions, so I need protection."

"Mm."

"And you think they all make sense."

Yun Ming nodded: "So?"

Yun Jingheng tilted his head back, looking at this convenient father of his.

"So I think they are all right."

Yun Ming was slightly taken aback.

"Then what should we do? A compromise?"

"A compromise?"

"Yes."

Yun Jingheng nodded, "Enroll at twelve. By then, I'll be old enough to handle the intensity."

"With six years, you, Mom, and the other elders can lay a solid foundation for me."

"After six years, I'll have a clear idea of what my Martial Soul is like and to what extent I can control it."

He looked at Yun Ming, his eyes as serious as a little adult.

"It won't be too late to go and fight my peers then."

Yun Ming was silent for a long time.

He looked at the child before him—six years old, tiny, standing in front of the desk, head tilted back, earnestly stating his reasons.

He was right.

Every point was correct.

"Did you think of all this yourself?"

Yun Ming asked.

Yun Jingheng blinked: "Otherwise? Who else could have helped me think of it?"

Yun Ming didn't speak.

Seeing that his expression was off, Yun Jingheng quickly added, "Of course, it's also because I want to laze around at home for a few more years."

"The genius class is so tiring. It's much better at home with you and Mom spoiling me and the elders teaching me."

After saying that, he even grinned at Yun Ming.

That smile was truly the smile of a six-year-old child.

Looking at that smile, Yun Ming suddenly laughed as well.

"Fine."

He said, "Then twelve it is."

Yun Jingheng's eyes lit up: "You agree?"

"Mm."

"No going back on your word?"

"No going back."

"Then can I go back to sleep now?"

Yun Ming chuckled and waved him away.

Yun Jingheng turned and bolted, only to stop at the doorway and look back at him.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"Thank you for letting me choose for myself."

With that, he slipped away in a flash.

Yun Ming stood in the study, watching the swinging door for a long time before shaking his head gently.

"This child..."

He murmured, his tone laced with a smile.