"Lexuan! Your severe injuries haven't healed yet. What are you doing?!"
Zhang Lexuan ignored Yan Shaozhe. Her reddened eyes forced down those once-lively faces, one by one.
Having been adopted by Shrek since childhood, her mind had long been etched with the belief that Shrek's greater good was more important than life itself.
In a weak, trembling voice, she slowly said:
"Elder Xuan... Dean Shaozhe is right. You can't leave.
"The junior brothers and sisters have already sacrificed themselves. If you leave because of this as well,
"and the academy loses its pillar because of it, their spirits in heaven will not rest in peace.
"Lexuan begs you, please stay..."
Looking at Zhang Lexuan, who remained kneeling before him, Xuan Zi's departing foot froze in midair before slowly lowering.
He raised his head, and a tear silently slid from the corner of his eye.
Then Xuan Zi let out a heavy sigh and slowly helped Zhang Lexuan to her feet.
Perhaps he did not want to disappoint the Inner Court children's hopes, or perhaps he did not want to disappoint everyone in Sea God Pavilion who had begged him to stay.
His voice was full of helplessness.
"Lexuan, child... if you have something to say, just say it. Why kneel?
"I'll agree to stay. Let this broken old body atone for my sins!"
At once, the atmosphere within Sea God Pavilion eased. The previous deathly silence became a celebratory mood, praising Xuan Zi for sacrificing himself for the academy's greater good.
It was as though the deaths of those students no longer mattered, so long as Xuan Zi remained here...
Clap! Clap! Clap!
At that half-reluctant, half-willingly touching moment, a particularly jarring burst of crisp applause suddenly sounded from outside the door.
It instantly shattered the atmosphere that had only just warmed up, and everyone turned back in astonishment.
The doors opened. Long Yaochen walked in at a leisurely pace, applauding as he led the stunned Ma Xiaotao inside.
He knew Shrek would not disappoint him.
Sure enough, this nauseating display of self-indulgent emotion before him was truly more than Long Yaochen could bear.
Granted, considering Shrek's current lack of rising talent, even if Xuan Zi had committed a grave mistake, everyone would still try to keep him.
But... what the hell did that have to do with him?
He was not from Shrek. He had no interest whatsoever in Shrek's rise or fall, nor in its greater good.
The story of laying down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot did not work on him!
The confused looks on everyone's faces drew an undisguised sneer to Long Yaochen's lips.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful." Long Yaochen's mocking voice echoed through Sea God Pavilion. "He got eight Inner Court geniuses killed, shed a few tears, and tried to quit, only to have the victims beg him on their knees to stay."
"You people at Shrek are truly unbeatable. You can still entrust such an extraordinary figure with heavy responsibilities.
"What? Aren't you afraid that the next time he leads a team, he'll send your entire Shrek packing in one go?"
As he spoke, Long Yaochen walked to Xuan Zi's side and said with a half-smile:
"Elder Xuan, I think it's a waste for someone as talented as you to remain at Shrek.
"Have you heard of the Holy Spirit Cult?
"I have connections. I could recommend you to become their Grand Elder!"
"You... brat!" Xuan Zi's entire disheveled face flushed red.
Having been away from the academy these past few days, he naturally did not know who this person was. Yet this boy, whose feathers had barely grown in, dared to insult him like this.
It was utterly outrageous!
The pressure of a rank ninety-eight Super Douluo instantly erupted from him, causing everyone present to catch their breath.
Elder Xuan was getting serious!
But this person truly could not be touched!
Yet when that fearsome pressure fell upon Long Yaochen, it vanished like a mud dragon entering the sea.
The instant it landed on him, the gray light sphere in his Sea of Spirit flickered slightly. Together with the Divinity of the Eternal Blazing Sun, it effortlessly dissolved all of it.
Long Yaochen was not afraid of him in the slightest, and the mockery in his voice became even more obvious. "What? When leading a team against Soul Beasts, you were timid and indecisive, but when bullying me, an exchange student, in Sea God Pavilion, you're throwing heavy punches?"
His voice rose higher and higher, until countless words condensed into a single sentence: "Try touching me!"
"Enough!"
Mu En, who had remained silent all this time, saw that the situation was about to slip beyond his control and hurriedly spoke.
But how could Xuan Zi, whose entire body had turned red, possibly listen to him now?
He continued releasing Soul Power, and the phantom of the Godly Taotie Bull had already appeared behind him.
He wanted to slap this ignorant brat to death!
"I said, enough! Xuan Zi, can't you hear me?"
Roar—!
A dragon's roar rang through the entirety of Sea God Pavilion. Golden Soul Power transformed into a dragon claw in midair and slammed the enraged Xuan Zi onto the ground with a single strike.
Even the floor formed from the Golden Tree itself was smashed into a web of cracks.
Everyone stared at the scene before them in horror, and the same thought arose in their hearts: this kid's mouth was even fiercer than a rank-nine Soul Tool!
Long Yaochen looked down at Xuan Zi, who was pinned to the ground, and the mocking curve of his lips deepened.
Mu En had tied the lives of everyone in Shrek to him. If anything truly happened to him, even Mu En would have to kneel and beg him not to die.
"Teacher, please calm down... Elder Xuan doesn't know the full story."
"Elder Xuan, you're a Super Douluo. Why are you arguing with a child?"
"Oh, little ancestor, I'm begging you. Say a little less! Xuan Zi is old! Don't hold it against him."
The people present instantly divided into three groups and began trying to persuade the three of them separately.
What did they mean, don't hold it against him?
Pinned to the ground, Xuan Zi could scarcely believe his ears.
He discovered that no one was comforting him this time. Instead, they were all comforting that brat.
For a moment, he began questioning life itself.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao stood there with a blank look on her face, while Zhang Lexuan, forcing herself to remain standing, stared at Long Yaochen in shock.
This child... who exactly was he?
He dared to curse Elder Xuan like that, and they still had to coax him not to get angry?
Was there no justice left in the world?
A sudden sense of powerlessness rose in Zhang Lexuan's heart. Her mind went blank, leaving only those lively faces of her junior brothers and sisters to emerge before her once more.
This was all her compromise and humiliation had earned her?
How laughable...
Zhang Lexuan gave a bitter smile, and her body involuntarily tilted backward.
"Lexuan!"
"Senior Sister!"
Fortunately, Elder Zhuang reacted swiftly and caught her in his arms.
He hurriedly examined her and discovered that her old injuries had flared up again, causing her to faint. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Hearing the cries of alarm, everyone stopped trying to persuade one another and turned their gazes toward her.
"Ah..." Mu En let out a long sigh and waved toward Elder Zhuang. "Elder Zhuang, take Lexuan down to rest first."
After Elder Zhuang left the hall with Zhang Lexuan,
Mu En looked at the utter mess in the hall, rubbed his aching head, and slowly spoke in a weary voice:
"Xuan Zi... you are over a hundred years old and only one step away from becoming a Limit Douluo, yet you are still so reckless! You have deeply disappointed me!
"You are stripped of all duties. Elder Song will act in your place.
"Get back to your room and enter seclusion. Without my order...
"You are not to take a single step out of Sea God Pavilion!"
Mu En's decision regarding Xuan Zi was final.
Xuan Zi slowly climbed to his feet. Though unwilling, he recognized that he had lost control just now.
Coupled with the matter of leading his team to total annihilation, he had even less face to remain here. He patted his greasy sleeve, then turned and went upstairs.
Only after seeing that Xuan Zi was no longer causing trouble did Mu En breathe a sigh of relief inwardly. Then he waved at the others.
"You should leave as well. Let me have some peace and quiet."
"Oh, right... Xiaochen, you stay."
Before you continue