The instinctive craving of her Martial Soul for evolution drove Ma Xiaotao to unconsciously take a step toward Long Yaochen.
"Xiaotao, what do you think?"
While the other elders were immersed in the shock brought by Long Yaochen's Martial Soul, only Mu En keenly noticed Ma Xiaotao's abnormality.
His voice was soft, yet it made Ma Xiaotao freeze where she stood.
When she came back to her senses, an imperceptible flush spread across her neck.
Ma Xiaotao's subtle changes naturally could not escape Mu En's eyes as a Limit Douluo. He secretly nodded to himself.
As Shrek's highest authority, he naturally had the power to make unilateral decisions. Besides, it was not as though he had never done such things before.
But the facts had proven that forcibly twisted melons... were not sweet.
Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the turbulent thoughts in her heart.
She had entered the Inner Court and become the dean's disciple not by being indecisive.
Whether for the academy or for the threat to her own life... she had no reason to refuse.
Besides...
Ma Xiaotao lightly bit her red lips and cast a complicated glance at Long Yaochen.
He was a little young, but this kid's looks... truly left nothing to be desired.
Long Yaochen's inherent sacred aura was now mixed with a trace of evilness. The intertwining of those two temperaments made it difficult for her to look away.
"I'm willing."
The three words from her red lips made everyone present visibly relax.
A hint of a smile also flashed through Mu En's eyes.
Even a hero feared being pursued by a fierce woman. As long as Ma Xiaotao was willing...
He looked around at the elders. Seeing their aged, decrepit appearances, his smile faded considerably as he slowly said, "Since that is the case, this old man agrees to Ma Xiaotao's marriage. However..."
"Hm?"
Hearing that the other party still dared to make demands, Long Xiaoyao's expression turned cold, and the phantom of a black dragon slowly coiled around him.
"Don't rush, old friend. Let me finish."
Mu En waved a hand, completely ignoring Long Xiaoyao's attitude as he continued, "You and I both understand the problem with their Martial Souls. Unless they reach the final stage of true fusion, the preceding ninety-nine steps will all be futile."
"And this kid is not even twelve yet. Even if you take Ma Xiaotao away, what can you do?" Mu En's eyes gleamed. The Dragon God Douluo who had once looked down upon the world seemed to have returned.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Long Xiaoyao frowned slightly. He had already roughly guessed Mu En's intentions.
"How about this?"
Mu En finally revealed his fox tail and slowly stated his true purpose. "Let him remain at Shrek as an exchange student. Xiaotao can help him resolve his Martial Soul problem at any time, and while they cultivate their relationship, he can spar with the most outstanding peers on the continent.
"Xiaoyao, you and I both know that if a genius like this follows you around, hiding from place to place, he can only work behind closed doors and will ultimately fall short.
"And Shrek has the best resources on the continent to serve as his stepping stones."
As soon as those words were spoken, the elders around them, whose faces had carried varying degrees of humiliation, first froze. Then their eyes lit up terrifyingly bright!
Brilliant!
Truly brilliant!
Using a honey trap along with a few pleasant courtesies, he had tied a God-tier Martial Soul to Shrek... worthy of Elder Mu indeed!
As for the Martial Soul having flaws?
Even flawed, it was still a God-tier Martial Soul!
As long as this kid remained in the Sea God Pavilion, with Shrek's brainwashing... ahem, educational abilities, given enough time, would he not become the one to restore Shrek to prosperity?!
Besides, if this kid stayed here, then by rounding things up, Dragon Emperor Douluo would essentially be staying here too.
They had simply won everything!
The elders exchanged frantic looks, their breathing growing rapid.
However, Long Yaochen frowned.
For the sake of surviving, he could barely accept being forced to marry Ma Xiaotao.
But making him join Shrek...
Long Yaochen was a million times unwilling. Shrek's conduct had disgusted him even in his previous life, much less now that he had to experience it personally.
"Teacher, I..." Long Yaochen had just wanted to refuse.
"You old bastard, so you really had your eyes on my beloved disciple." Long Xiaoyao suddenly sighed, forcibly interrupting Long Yaochen.
Long Yaochen instinctively looked toward Long Xiaoyao, only to see him glance over with a faintly amused look. Long Yaochen's heart abruptly sank.
This was bad!
Their gazes met for only an instant before Long Xiaoyao looked away.
Mu En's words had struck directly at his weak point.
In his original plan, after resolving Long Yaochen's Martial Soul problem, he had intended to toss him into Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
But Mu En's words had given him a new idea.
Compared with Sun Moon Imperial Academy, Shrek was indeed more suitable for this kid.
As the Holy Spirit Cult's chief consecrator,
Long Xiaoyao knew the relationship between the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult better than anyone else.
If he really threw this kid into a den of Evil Soul Masters, that scene...
Long Xiaoyao shook his head inwardly. To keep his beloved's cause from being ruined, his beloved disciple would just have to suffer a little.
"Yaochen."
Long Xiaoyao heavily patted Long Yaochen's shoulder and forcibly squeezed out an earnest expression. "You've grown up, and your teacher has grown old. I've taught you everything I should. These old bones of mine... can't afford to raise you anymore."
What the hell do you mean, you can't afford to raise me?!
A Limit Douluo like you can't afford to raise me?
Long Yaochen looked at him as if he were joking. Seeing that the shameless expression of my child has grown up and can no longer be kept at home did not fade in the slightest, he nearly crushed his back teeth.
"You'll stay here and properly resolve your Martial Soul problem."
Long Xiaoyao ignored his disciple's murderous gaze. His voice suddenly rose, rolling Soul Power carrying it throughout the area. "Remember! Don't wrong yourself. Use this place's resources as freely as you like! Best if you eat this old bastard's Sea God Pavilion into poverty!"
I knew it!
This damn old man is rotten to the core!
The plan in his heart to cleanse the Holy Spirit Cult's name and unify the entire continent had completely fallen apart...
"Since Teacher has spoken, this disciple... will naturally obey!" Long Yaochen took a deep breath and ground out the words through clenched teeth.
"Hahaha! Good!"
Seeing Long Yaochen agree, Long Xiaoyao threw back his head and laughed loudly.
This kid's Martial Soul problem had always been a burden on his mind. Now it could finally be resolved, and he would not have to circle around this kid every day.
It was simply a double blessing!
He could finally go find Xishui and enjoy their world for two.
At the thought of Xishui, Long Xiaoyao turned his gaze toward Mu En's hunched figure. He was briefly lost in thought, and a touch of complexity rose in his eyes.
Old friend, consider this kid's marriage agreement compensation for what happened back then...
Coming back to his senses, only naked threat remained in Long Xiaoyao's tone.
"I'm leaving my beloved disciple in your care. If he loses even a single hair, I'll make all of Shrek accompany him to the grave.
"...Mu En, don't disappoint me again."
Before his words had even faded.
Boom—!
Before anyone could react, Long Xiaoyao transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the sky. He rushed toward the horizon in frantic haste, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Watching his "revered teacher" flee several times faster than when he had arrived, Long Yaochen clenched his fists.
"Light... darkness... are they truly that important?"
Mu En's eyes were unfocused as he murmured in a voice only he could hear.
Then he turned toward Long Yaochen beside him, tugged at the corners of his mouth, and revealed a kind smile. "Little Yaochen, since your teacher has entrusted you to Shrek, treat this place as your own home from now on..."
"Treat it as my own home, right?"
Long Yaochen slowly turned around.
His gaze swept past the complicated expression on Ma Xiaotao's face, then over the Shrek elders, who seemed to have picked up an enormous bargain and were staring at him with burning eyes. Finally, it settled on the Golden Tree radiating immense life force.
The youthful spirit that had originally been suppressed by divinity was completely released at that moment.
You two old geezers had better not regret this.
He lifted his chin toward Ma Xiaotao in the distance, then grinned, revealing an exceptionally brilliant smile.
"Oi, old geezer. Hurry up and get Xiaotao and me a room!
"I need to inspect up close whether this Evil Fire of hers is pure or not!"
Yan Shaozhe, who had only just managed to steady his breathing, heard those words. His vision went black, and he passed out again with remarkable decisiveness.
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