Hey, Old Man, Get a Room!

The instinct of her Martial Soul craving evolution drove Ma Xiaotao to subconsciously take a step toward Long Yaochen.

"Xiaotao, what is your intention?"

While the other elders were still immersed in the shock brought about by Long Yaochen's Martial Soul, only Mu En keenly noticed Ma Xiaotao's anomaly.

His voice was very soft, yet it caused Ma Xiaotao to freeze in place instantly.

As she regained her senses, an imperceptible blush crept up her neck.

The subtle changes in Ma Xiaotao naturally could not escape the notice of Mu En, an Ultimate Douluo, and he nodded inwardly.

As the highest authority of Shrek, he naturally had the power to make unilateral decisions, not to mention that this was not the first time he had done such a thing.

But facts proved that a forced melon... is not sweet.

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging distractions in her heart.

She had been able to enter the Inner Court and become the disciple of the Dean not by being indecisive.

Whether for the sake of the academy or for her own life, she had no reason to refuse.

What's more...

Ma Xiaotao bit her red lips slightly, casting a complex glance at Long Yaochen with her beautiful eyes.

Although he was a bit young, this kid's appearance... was truly impeccable.

Long Yaochen's inherent sacred aura was now intertwined with a trace of evil, the fusion of the two temperaments making it difficult for her to look away for a moment.

"I am willing."

As her red lips parted, those three words caused the expressions of everyone present to relax.

A hint of a smile flashed in the depths of Mu En's eyes.

Even a hero fears the persistence of a determined woman; as long as Ma Xiaotao had the heart...

He looked around at the elders, all of whom appeared aged and decrepit, and his smile faded significantly as he spoke slowly: "Since that is the case, I agree to Ma Xiaotao's marriage. However..."

"Hmm?"

Hearing that the other party dared to set conditions, Long Xiaoyao's expression turned cold, and the phantom of a black dragon slowly circled around him.

"Don't be impatient, old friend, let me finish."

Mu En waved his hand, ignoring Long Xiaoyao's attitude entirely, and continued on his own: "Regarding the issues with both of your Martial Souls, you and I should both know that unless it reaches that final step of true fusion, the preceding ninety-nine steps are all in vain."

"And this kid is not even twelve years old yet; even if you take Ma Xiaotao away, what can you do?" Mu En's eyes shone with a sharp light; the Dragon God Douluo who once looked down upon the world seemed to have returned.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Long Xiaoyao frowned slightly, having already roughly guessed Mu En's intentions.

"How about this."

Mu En finally revealed his true colors, slowly stating his real objective: "Let him stay at Shrek as an exchange student. Not only can Xiaotao help him resolve his Martial Soul issues at any time, but while cultivating their relationship, he can also spar with the top peers of the entire continent."

"Xiaoyao, you and I both know that if such a genius follows you into hiding, he will only be working behind closed doors and will ultimately fall behind."

"And here at Shrek, I have the best resources on the entire continent to serve as his stepping stone."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding elders, who had previously felt a degree of humiliation, were stunned for a moment before their eyes instantly lit up with terrifying intensity!

Brilliant!

Truly brilliant!

Using a beauty trap combined with a few pleasantries to bind a god-level Martial Soul to Shrek... truly worthy of Elder Mu!

As for the defects in the Martial Soul?

Even with defects, it was still a god-level Martial Soul!

As long as this kid stayed in the Sea God Pavilion, with Shrek's brainwashing—ahem, educational capabilities—in time, wouldn't he become the leader of Shrek's resurgence?!

Moreover, with this kid staying here, by rounding up, it was equivalent to the Dragon Emperor Douluo staying here as well.

It was a total victory!

The elders exchanged frantic glances, their breathing becoming rapid.

However, Long Yaochen frowned.

To survive, he could barely accept being forced to marry Ma Xiaotao.

But to make him join Shrek...

Long Yaochen expressed ten thousand points of unwillingness; Shrek's actions in his past life made him feel nauseated, let alone experiencing them firsthand now.

"Teacher, I..." Long Yaochen just started to refuse.

"You old immortal, you really were plotting against my beloved disciple." Long Xiaoyao suddenly sighed, forcibly interrupting Long Yaochen's words.

Long Yaochen subconsciously looked at Long Xiaoyao, only to see him glancing at him with a half-smile, and his heart skipped a beat.

Oh no!

The moment their gazes met, Long Xiaoyao looked away.

Mu En's words had struck directly at his weak point.

His original plan had been to toss Long Yaochen into the Sun Moon Imperial Academy once his martial soul issues were resolved.

However, Mu En's words had provided him with a new perspective.

Compared to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, Shrek was indeed a much better fit for this kid.

As the Chief Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, he knew better than anyone the true nature of the relationship between the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult.

If he really threw this kid into a nest of evil soul masters, the scene would be...

Long Xiaoyao shook his head inwardly. To prevent his lover's life's work from being ruined, he would just have to let his beloved disciple suffer a little.

"Chen'er."

Long Xiaoyao patted Long Yaochen's shoulder heavily, forcing a look of earnest gravity onto his face. "You're grown up now, and your master is old. I've taught you everything I can, and these old bones of mine... can no longer afford to support you."

The hell you can't afford to support me!

You're a Limit Douluo, and you can't afford to support me?

Long Yaochen looked at him with an expression that screamed, "Are you kidding me?" Seeing that the old man didn't back down from his shameless "the child is grown and can't be kept" act, he nearly ground his back teeth to dust.

"You will stay here and properly resolve your martial soul issues."

Long Xiaoyao ignored his disciple's murderous glare, his voice suddenly rising as he infused it with rolling soul power that echoed across the entire grounds. "Remember! Don't hold back, use their resources to your heart's content! It would be best if you could bleed this old, immortal Sea God Pavilion dry!"

I knew it!

You wicked old man!

His plan to "whitewash the Holy Spirit Cult and unify the entire continent" had been completely shattered...

"Since Master has spoken, this disciple... shall obey!" Long Yaochen took a deep breath, gritting his teeth as he spat out the words.

"Hahaha! Good!"

Seeing Long Yaochen agree, Long Xiaoyao threw his head back and laughed heartily.

This kid's martial soul problem had always been a thorn in his side; now that it could finally be resolved, he wouldn't have to hover around the boy every single day.

It was a double blessing!

He could finally go find Xishui and enjoy their life together.

Speaking of Xishui, Long Xiaoyao cast his gaze toward Mu En's hunched figure, momentarily stunned, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

Old friend, let this kid's marriage contract serve as compensation for what happened back then...

Regaining his composure, Long Xiaoyao's tone turned into nothing but a naked threat:

"I leave my beloved disciple in your hands. If he loses even a single hair, I will make the entire Shrek bury him. ...Mu En, don't disappoint me again."

Before the words had even faded.

BOOM--!

Long Xiaoyao didn't even wait for the others to react; he transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the sky, rushing away with such frantic haste that he vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Watching his "revered master" move several times faster than when he arrived, Long Yaochen clenched his fists.

"Light... and darkness, are they truly that important?"

Mu En's eyes went vacant, muttering in a voice only he could hear.

He then turned to face Long Yaochen, the corners of his mouth twitching into a kind, amiable smile: "Little Chen, since your teacher has entrusted you to Shrek, treat this place as your own home from now on..."

"Treat it as my own home, is that right?"

Long Yaochen turned around slowly.

He swept his gaze over the complex expression on Ma Xiaotao, then over the group of Shrek elders who were staring at him with burning eyes as if they had just struck gold, and finally landed on the Golden Tree, which radiated immense life force.

The youthful spirit that had been suppressed by his divinity was now completely unleashed.

You two old geezers, don't you dare regret this.

He lifted his chin and gestured toward Ma Xiaotao not far away, then bared his teeth in a brilliant, dazzling smile.

"Oi, old man. Hurry up and find a room for me and Xiaotao!

I want to get a closer look and test whether this evil fire is pure or not!"

Yan Shaozhe, who had just managed to catch his breath, felt his vision go black and promptly fainted once again.