Just as Junk Warrior performed the splits in midair above You Jie's head, Junk Converter's phantom flickered into view in front of him. A moment later, Junk Synchron appeared before You Jie again.
"Mystic Ancestor, Sister Lexuan, now comes the moment you've been waiting for!
"I'll tune Junk Synchron together with Junk Warrior!
"Gathered prayers will become a newborn shining star.
"Become the path that shines with light!
"Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
As Junk Synchron once again transformed into three rings of light and encircled Stardust Dragon, which was gradually turning into light, another beam of light shot up from the ground.
Then a giant dragon with a light blue torso, silver-white wings, and long, slender limbs spread its wings and flew out of the beam. It circled above the training grounds before finally coming to a stop beside the Full Moon.
As the gust stirred up by Stardust Dragon swept past, countless specks of starlight filled the air, trailing in its wake. Above the training grounds, the stars clustered around the moon in a breathtaking sight.
Even though it was daytime, the radiance of that star-crowned moon was hardly diminished.
"A Soul Douluo-level Bright Dragon, just as you said..."
Zhang Lexuan gazed up at Stardust Dragon, too stunned to do anything but stare.
You Jie had actually done exactly what he'd promised. Not only had he summoned a Soul Douluo-level Bright Dragon, he'd also given her such a beautiful sight.
The aura the dragon gave off seemed weaker than Zhang Lexuan's, but it was still genuinely at Soul Douluo strength—a level that even the Shrek Academy Inner Court would recognize.
The Light power it possessed was also remarkably pure. If not for its distinctly different form and coloring from the Radiant Holy Dragon, Zhang Lexuan would have wondered whether this was You Jie's Martial Soul in its true form.
The Radiant Holy Dragon Martial Soul passed down through Mu En and Bei Bei's bloodline was not so easily lost.
Whether in appearance or strength, You Jie had already brought Zhang Lexuan and Mu En one surprise after another.
Just then, several more figures appeared around the training grounds. They were all Sea God Pavilion Elders, and the moment they noticed Stardust Dragon, they rushed over.
Even Xuan Zi, who was always reliable in his ability to disappoint people, put away the chicken leg and wine gourd he almost never let out of his hands and stood obediently beside Mu En.
Mu En merely shot his troublesome junior nephew a glance, then turned his attention back to You Jie.
"Mm, it's indeed a Soul Douluo-level dragon with Light power.
"You Jie, order it to attack me at once. Let me test its offensive power."
Though Mu En's words sounded alarming, nobody around him thought it strange, much less worried about his safety.
Even You Jie only grumbled inwardly, If I force out a Shooting Star Dragon and activate its effect, wouldn't you explode, Mystic Ancestor?
"All right! Stardust Dragon, attack with Sonic Buster!"
You Jie immediately turned and gave Stardust Dragon the order.
A blue breath attack flecked with countless points of starlight burst from Stardust Dragon's mouth and shot toward Mu En on his recliner.
But just as the attack was about to hit, a thin golden barrier appeared in front of Mu En. It was only slightly wider than the breath attack, and blocked it with pinpoint precision, without causing the slightest collateral damage.
After exhaling the attack, You Jie's legs went weak. He nearly stumbled to the ground.
The next moment, Mu En gently raised a hand, and You Jie's figure was pulled over beside him.
"Mm, that was indeed a Soul Douluo-level attack. Even though it only had the force of a single strike, it was the genuine article.
"And your... Stardust Dragon should have other abilities too, right?"
Mu En rested a hand on You Jie's wrist. After confirming his condition, he continued asking questions.
"Yes. It has an ability called Sacrifice Sanctuary. It can disable one of an enemy's abilities for a set amount of time, or shield me from one powerful attack.
"But my Soul Power isn't enough right now. Whether I use it to attack or defend, or activate an effect, it drains all my Soul Power."
You Jie had guessed that summoning an eight-star monster would come at a price. But this was his first time experiencing the sensation of having every last drop of Soul Power wrung out of him.
Still, even as a half-baked duelist, he wasn't afraid of being in this state.
After all, for a duelist, the words "your life is a candle flickering in the wind" were the strongest positive buff of all.
"Sacrifice Sanctuary... Good, very good! The Sea God Pavilion's future is in good hands! Hahaha..."
After hearing You Jie's explanation, Mu En couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter. The sound startled the Sea God Pavilion Elders, especially Xuan Zi, who stood on Mu En's other side.
How many years had it been since they'd heard Mu En laugh so heartily, with such joy from the depths of his heart? Even when Yan Shaozhe had become the Martial Soul Department's dean with his unique secret technique, Mu En hadn't laughed like this.
Could You Jie, who hadn't followed the usual custom of inheriting Mu En's family name, surpass Bei Bei, the owner of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and become Shrek Academy's new hope?
"The Sea God Pavilion's future? No way in hell. I wouldn't do that even for a dog.
"This ten-thousand-year-old living corpse should hurry up and die so all things can flourish. A healthy world has no need for such a sick existence.
"Unless Shrek Academy can truly practice what it preaches and become a pure Soul Master Academy again..."
Hearing Mu En's laughter, You Jie couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
The Douluo Continent during the Dragon King Legend era was truly "immortals lined up like hemp stalks," and there were hardly any powers led by normal people anywhere on the continent. But in this period, things were hardly any better.
Becoming the Sea God Pavilion's "successor" at a time like this would most likely come with the added responsibility of reviving the Tang Sect. Just look at how Prisoner Huo worked himself like a dog in the original story. This was damn well more miserable than working around the clock.
You Jie would rather duel Yugi Muto in endless Shadow Games than toil away here.
Of course, if Shrek Academy were to become a pure Soul Master Academy again, stop being a de facto alternative papal state towering over the three kingdoms of the Douluo Continent, and take down Tang San, who kept trying to turn the continent into his own private garden and plaything, then You Jie would be more than happy to do it.
"All right, You Jie. For now, stay in the Sea God Pavilion and focus on your cultivation. If there's anything you want, just ask.
"Lexuan, take You Jie and make sure he gets some rest."
After laughing, Mu En gave a few instructions, then vanished from everyone's sight.
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