Xuanzi Resigns, Le Xuan Kneels for a Long Time!

"Xuan Zi led a team to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for souls... something terrible has happened!"

Elder Song's face was ghastly, her voice trembling:

"Zhang Lexuan and the others encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! Of the twelve core inner court disciples, eight were killed in action!

Lexuan... in order to survive, Lexuan forcibly absorbed the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. She has suffered a severe backlash and is currently unconscious, hanging by a thread!

Elder Zhuang has already rushed over to provide emergency treatment!"

"What?!"

Yan Shaozhe felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His mind went blank; he could hardly believe his ears.

"Pfft—!"

Hearing this tragic news, Mu En's cloudy eyes widened abruptly as he lay on the recliner. Overcome by a surge of rage and grief, he spat out a large mouthful of blood!

"Mu En!"

"Teacher!"

Yan Shaozhe and Elder Song turned pale with shock, crying out as they lunged toward the swaying Mu En.

Song Yunzhi immediately began channeling her pure soul power into Mu En's body, bit by bit, to stabilize his heart and breath.

A moment later, she withdrew her hands, her forehead covered in a dense layer of sweat.

Even with her level 97 soul power, running back and forth in such a short time while helping Mu En regulate his internal energy had left her utterly exhausted.

"Cough, cough..." Mu En coughed laboriously, nodded toward Song Yunzhi, and said weakly, "Thank you for your hard work, Elder Song."

Pushing aside Yan Shaozhe, who was supporting him, Mu En slowly leaned back into his recliner and closed his eyes in despair.

He had exhausted his old life to recruit one seedling with the potential of a celestial being, yet Xuan Zi had just sent eight inner court disciples to their deaths.

Although inner court disciples could not compare to a genius like Long Yaochen, every one of them had been carefully selected. They were talented and loyal to Shrek.

There was even Zhang Lexuan, in whom he had placed such high hopes, and now her life hung in the balance...

Xuan Zi! Oh, Xuan Zi! Are you trying to be the death of me?

At this thought, his grip tightened subconsciously.

The rattan chair, specially crafted from the Golden Tree, could not withstand his strength and began to crack.

"Teacher, please calm down!"

Yan Shaozhe noticed the anomaly immediately. Suppressing all his own emotions, he hurriedly spoke to persuade him.

The eight inner court disciples were certainly important, but what was done was done.

If Mu En, the pillar of Shrek, were to suffer any complications because of this, that would truly be...

He dared not even continue that line of thought.

"Tell... Xuan Zi to return and see me immediately. I'll have to trouble you to make another trip, Elder Song." After a long silence, Mu En finally spoke.

Song Yunzhi, who was meditating nearby, opened her eyes and nodded.

She then vanished from the spot.

As evening approached, the weather was exceptionally fine, and the sunset glow bathed the entire Shrek Academy.

Ma Xiaotao returned to the academy with Long Yaochen, dusty and travel-worn. Fortunately, they had only visited the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest, so it hadn't taken much time.

"Tonight is my last night in the inner court..." Ma Xiaotao murmured, looking at the sunset over Sea God Lake.

"Don't worry, I'll come back to the inner court to visit my little bride whenever I'm free." Long Yaochen clasped his hands behind his head. It was indeed the first time he had seen such a beautiful sight.

"You? Grow taller than me before you say things like that, lit-tle, boy!" Ma Xiaotao teased, acting as if she couldn't be bothered to argue with a brat.

Yet, her cheeks were flushed, though she didn't know when the sunset had painted them that way.

Long Yaochen: "..."

Over the past few days, as their relationship progressed by leaps and bounds—especially after he obtained Electrolux—this girl's attitude had become increasingly brazen.

It was true that a woman couldn't be left undisciplined.

Long Yaochen thought to himself while raising his arm.

Smack—!

"What are you doing!"

Ma Xiaotao gasped, her eyes filled with disbelief.

This brat... actually dared to spank her!

She was about to fly into a rage, but she realized Long Yaochen had already bolted. Instantly, she transformed into a streak of red light and charged after his retreating figure.

"Hey! You're a sore loser, woman!"

In the blink of an eye, Long Yaochen was hoisted into the air by his collar.

A Soul Emperor bullying a Soul Elder—where was the martial virtue in that!

"Wait, look at that. What is that?" Long Yaochen's sharp eyes caught a group of people landing in the direction of the Golden Tree.

"You trying to trick me again, kid?" Ma Xiaotao said with disdain, though she cast a sidelong glance in that direction.

Sure enough, there was a crowd of people descending toward the Sea God Pavilion.

Could it be that the Senior Sister and the others had returned?

Just as Ma Xiaotao was pondering this, Long Yaochen spoke up: "Let's go! Let's head to the Sea God Pavilion and take a look! It just so happens I have something to discuss with Mu En!"

Since he had stabilized his divinity, there shouldn't be any major issues with him visiting the Sea God Pavilion.

"Go to the Sea God Pavilion to take a look? You think it's your local vegetable market..." Ma Xiaotao was about to mock him, but her words came to an abrupt halt.

The reckless cultivation over the past few days had made her almost forget this kid's background...

First floor of the Sea God Pavilion, main hall.

The once tranquil pavilion was now permeated by a suffocating, deathly silence, the air thick with the pungent stench of alcohol.

Xuan Zi hung his head, his eyes rimmed with red, his graying hair a tangled mess.

He stood in the center of the hall, his body trembling slightly. His aged face was etched with pain and remorse as he spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Mu En, I am resigning from my position as Vice Commander of the Shrek Inspection Team and all my duties within the Sea God Pavilion.

I failed to protect those children... I truly have no face left to remain in the Sea God Pavilion.

I will bear the full responsibility for this incident alone."

On the recliner, Mu En kept his eyes closed, saying nothing.

Only his fingers, gripping the armrests tightly, betrayed the turmoil within his heart.

His already aged face looked even more withered, every wrinkle seemingly filled with disappointment.

Yan Shaozhe was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward, his face full of urgency as he tried to dissuade him:

"Xuan Zi, how can you do this!

No one can guarantee they won't make mistakes; that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was too cunning, and the incident happened too suddenly. The responsibility doesn't lie solely with you!

Even if you resign in disgrace, it won't bring the children back.

Besides, Shrek is currently in a time of need; the academy cannot afford to lose a pillar like you!"

Although everyone present was deeply disappointed by Xuan Zi's actions this time, what Yan Shaozhe said was not wrong.

In the current era where Shrek was struggling to bridge the gap between generations, Xuan Zi, a rank 98 Super Douluo, was indispensable.

Therefore, even though Mu En's face was livid, for a moment, even this Limit Douluo who had lived for hundreds of years didn't know what to say.

"Shaozhe, say no more."

Xuan Zi closed his eyes in pain and let out a long sigh. "If I had stayed by their side the whole time, how could such a tragedy have occurred? My Martial Soul dictates that I am fundamentally unsuited for leading teams. I have already made up my mind; there is no need to persuade me further..."

As he spoke, Xuan Zi turned around, dragging his heavy footsteps, looking tragic and resolute as he prepared to walk out.

Just then, the side door of the hall beside him was pushed open.

Zhang Lexuan, her face deathly pale and her body still wrapped in blood-stained bandages, walked in weakly with the support of Elder Zhuang.

She had just regained consciousness from her coma and had insisted that Elder Zhuang bring her to the hall.

She happened to see Xuan Zi preparing to leave. She struggled to push Elder Zhuang away, and then, with a "thud," she knelt straight down in front of Xuan Zi.

"Lexuan! Your wounds haven't healed yet, what are you doing!" Yan Shaozhe exclaimed in shock.

This scene instantly made the already deathly silent hall even more hushed.