"Splash, splash..."
The sound of running water gradually faded. The bathroom door opened with a gentle push.
Lu Ran stepped out, rubbing his damp, long hair with a towel as he walked. He let out a long, deep breath.
A refreshing comfort he hadn't felt in ages—
A comfort he hadn't experienced since crossing over.
He almost wanted to soak in the bath for the rest of his life.
On a chair outside the bathroom lay a complete set of clean clothes, from undergarments to outerwear, even shoes included. The thoughtful gesture was plain to see.
Lu Ran picked up the white shirt. The moment his fingertips touched it, he felt its silky softness, far beyond anything rough homespun cloth could offer.
It fit him surprisingly well.
A fragrance mixed with the scent of medicinal herbs wafted into his nose.
Following the scent into the living room, he found a bowl of porridge on the table, still at just the right temperature. He stirred it with a spoon and could just make out ginseng and other nourishing medicinal ingredients.
It had clearly been prepared especially for him.
Lu Ran sat down and took a slow spoonful. The smooth texture and herbal aroma melted together in his mouth, reminding him of last night's boiled elm seeds and old bamboo shoots... They'd been delightfully chewy.
A breeze swept in from the Lima Plain, making the gauzy curtains sway.
It was cool and pleasant.
Lu Ran swallowed a mouthful of porridge.
Late spring.
Summer would be here soon.
Sea God Pavilion,
the main conference hall.
More than a dozen people sat around an oval table, including the heads of the various departments and academies, as well as Shrek elders. The most conspicuous among them was an old man with unkempt hair, holding a chicken leg and a wine gourd tied to his waist.
At the head of the table sat a centenarian with a kindly, benevolent face. He looked the oldest, and held the highest position.
If Lu Ran had been there, he would have recognized about half of them.
Mu En sat in the central seat, with Xuan Zi on one side and the head of the Treasure Pavilion, a man surnamed Lin, on the other.
Aside from the unfamiliar faces,
the rest were Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and others.
"...That's how Lu Ran's Martial Soul works, Elder Mu, fellow elders."
After finishing his introduction, Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly to both sides. But when he looked toward Mu En, his gaze held a trace of grievance.
They could have waited until Lu Ran had settled in before sharing the good news with the elders and department heads. Lu Ran would certainly have joined the Martial Soul Department by then, and the academy wouldn't have lost out.
Who could have guessed that once Mu En found out, Xian Lin'er would hear about it too?
She'd rushed over to poach him, forcing them to hold a Sea God Pavilion Meeting.
That was simply too much!
Of course, he meant Xian Lin'er.
After hearing the news, the others remained silent on the surface, but inwardly, a storm had already begun to rage!
His Martial Soul was a boundless space, where Soul Beasts could form contracts and grow alongside him. Didn't that mean he could summon nine Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts to fight at any time?!
Nine Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!
With his Innate Full Soul Power on top of that, he could at the very least reach Super Douluo... perhaps even Limit Douluo, a Limit Douluo accompanied by nine Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts...
Everyone present had lived for decades, some even over a century, yet none had ever heard of such an absurdly powerful Martial Soul!
As they reeled in shock,
an irritated snort cut through their thoughts.
"Oh, so that's how it is..."
Xian Lin'er, her hair tied in a high ponytail and dressed in practical attire, snorted. "No wonder Dean Yan wanted to keep it under wraps. What a huge surprise..."
She'd been furious when she heard the news. Such an incredible opportunity had actually fallen into the hands of that old fossil Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe hurriedly defended himself. "Lin'er, I wasn't hiding anything. I'd only just met Lu Ran myself."
"You were!"
Xian Lin'er wouldn't listen to his excuses. "Then why was it Elder Mu who told me?"
Normally, Yan Shaozhe should have told Mu En, who would then tell the department heads and elders. But instead, Mu En had been the one to inform her.
There was only one reason for that.
Yan Shaozhe hadn't dared to keep it from them for long, but he could have deliberately waited a day, or even a few hours. That would have been enough time to make himself look good to Lu Ran, and then—
trick him into joining his side!
Since he'd already gotten a head start, she couldn't afford to fall further behind. So she came right out with it:
"Anyway, I have to be involved when he goes to obtain his Soul Ring!"
Yan Shaozhe was, of course, unwilling. He said in a low voice, "Lin'er, this is no time for a tantrum!"
At that,
Xian Lin'er flew into a rage. She slammed the table, making everyone jump. "What do you mean, a tantrum?! What tantrum?! You bullied us when you were young, Yan Shaozhe, and now you're still bullying us? You really think no one in the Soul Guidance Department can stand up to you?"
"Don't make wild accusations. When have I ever—"
The two began arguing.
Everything they said hinted that Lu Ran joining their side would be better for Shrek.
In the vast conference hall, not one of the dozen-plus powerful department heads and elders stepped in to stop them.
Even Elder Song, who usually reined in his daughter, only held his teacup and sat there with his eyes lowered, making no move at all.
There were two reasons.
First, Lu Ran's talent was so terrifying that they'd never even dreamed a child with such abilities would join Shrek. He was far too important for a simple discussion to settle the matter.
Second, once Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er finished arguing, it would be their turn, the old-timers. They couldn't jump in first and give the other old fossils something to use against them. After all,
they all wanted Lu Ran to join their side.
"Enough."
Just as the two were arguing without end, Xuan Zi suddenly spoke, his hoarse voice cutting them off. "What kind of spectacle is this, bickering back and forth?"
To everyone's surprise, no one had expected him to speak up at a time like this.
Xuan Zi looked around and cleared his throat. Then he ventured, "How about I take him?"
In an instant, the vast conference hall fell silent. Not a soul spoke.
Everyone stared blankly at Xuan Zi.
Under their astonished gazes, Xuan Zi spoke with a hint of earnestness and sincerity. "I really can do it. This time, nothing will go wrong!"
"Elder Mu, give me a chance to make amends. I'll take that little—little fellow with me."
"I promise I'll help the academy cultivate a peerless powerhouse!"
This trip was only to obtain his First Soul Ring, and had nothing to do with cultivating a peerless powerhouse. But everyone understood what Xuan Zi meant:
he wanted to take Lu Ran as his disciple.
Ever since he had led a team into the Star Dou Great Forest and encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, leaving only four of the thirteen students alive, with Zhang Lexuan gravely injured,
he had blamed himself ever since.
It was all my fault. I caused all of this...
He'd even considered resigning as the Sea God Pavilion's deputy master and going to the Star Dou Great Forest to get revenge on the Soul Beasts. But slaughtering them recklessly would only trigger a beast tide, with even more disastrous consequences.
So he had to give up.
Lu Ran's sudden appearance made him realize: wasn't this heaven's gift, a chance to make things right? Shouldn't he seize it, show that he'd repented, and make it up to the academy through his actions?
He'd already made up his mind.
If Lu Ran became his disciple, he would teach him with everything he had.
Whatever Lu Ran wanted, he'd agree to it. He'd give him the very best. If he didn't have it, he'd go and take it. In any case, he'd help the academy cultivate a peerless powerhouse.
Yan Shaozhe's eyebrows jumped in alarm. The others, too, hadn't expected Xuan Zi to say this, and all turned to look at Mu En.
When Mu En didn't respond,
Yan Shaozhe panicked, despite knowing Mu En would never agree.
Xuan Zi had nearly gotten every one of Shrek's most talented younger generation killed. Yan Shaozhe couldn't even imagine how terrible it would be if Lu Ran became his disciple.
Yan Shaozhe quickly stood up. "Elder Xuan, Lu Ran just got here. We should take our time and discuss everything carefully. Right now, we're only deciding who will lead him to obtain his First Soul Ring... Besides, Lu Ran is indeed a better fit for the Martial Soul Department. He'll have more room to develop there..."
"Yan Shaozhe, I knew you were up to no good!..."
Xian Lin'er scolded him again, and the two started arguing once more.
Mu En sat in the central seat, his eyes shifting slightly.
Shrek was now in a period of decline, beset by troubles within and without. His body wouldn't last more than a few years. Xuan Zi, his successor, was not up to the task. Yan Shaozhe was a department head, yet he didn't consider the academy's interests or the bigger picture. His disposition ran counter to his Martial Soul, and he'd stalled at Super Douluo. Zhang Lexuan lacked the experience to command everyone's respect.
After Mu En died, the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire would be even more brazen, especially those... old acquaintances.
"Everyone, sit down..."
Mu En spoke slowly. His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority that made Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er return to their seats.
"Which academy he chooses is up to him. We still have three or four years. What's the rush..."
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er looked at each other, then turned away as if in a huff.
Though Mu En hadn't explicitly said he would let them compete for Lu Ran, he hadn't forbidden it either. His meaning was clear: they would each have to win Lu Ran's favor on their own merits.
Mu En made the final decision:
"For this mission, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and Zhang Lexuan will lead the team."
Xuan Zi lowered his head in disappointment.
But he clearly hadn't given up. He quietly began figuring out how to attract Lu Ran.
On the other two sides, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er were doing the same, plotting in their hearts.
Before you continue