Sea God Pavilion.
The ancient three-story pavilion was brightly lit tonight.
In the main hall, a long table ran through the center, with the Elders of Sea God Pavilion seated on both sides.
At the head of the table, Mu En sat in the seat of honor.
His silver-white hair draped behind his shoulders, his expression solemn as his deep gaze slowly swept across every face present.
On the left, Xuan Zi sat with his head lowered. His clothes were still tattered, and he looked dispirited.
Beside him sat Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, dressed in a dark gold robe. His expression was as usual, betraying neither joy nor anger.
Cai Mei'er sat behind him, quietly holding a teacup.
Further over was the Soul Guidance Department.
Xian Lin'er sat upright and proper, Elder Song rested with her eyes closed, while Qian Duoduo wore a face full of curiosity.
On the right sat the neutral members, independent of both factions: Zhuang Yusen and Lin Huiqun.
Everyone took their seats, each wearing a different expression.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the main hall, like a storm about to break.
It had been many years since Sea God Pavilion had held a full assembly.
The last time Mu En had struck that bell was decades ago, after that battle with Du Bisi.
Tonight, the bell rang once more.
"Everyone is here." Mu En set down his cane and folded his hands on the tabletop. His voice was not loud, yet it entered every ear in the room with perfect clarity. "I called you here tonight for two matters."
The hall fell utterly silent.
"The first matter." Mu En turned his head and glanced at Xuan Zi, his gaze calm. "Xuan Zi, tell us what you did today."
Xuan Zi's body stiffened slightly. He slowly rose to his feet, lowering his head until it nearly sank into his chest.
"Today, I led the academy's students to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a third soul ring. During the trip, I abandoned my post without authorization, allowing the students to be taken by soul beasts into the Great Fierce Land, nearly causing a grave disaster." Xuan Zi's voice was hoarse and heavy. "I neglected my duty and am willing to accept any punishment."
A faint stir rose in the hall.
Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly, Xian Lin'er set down her teacup, and Elder Song opened her eyes.
Mu En did not respond. Instead, he shifted his gaze from Xuan Zi to the wall at the end of the long table.
A piece of calligraphy hung there, bearing only one character—"Sincerity."
"The second matter." Mu En's voice rang out again, this time noticeably heavier. "I am naming an heir."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.
The Elders all reacted differently, but their burning gazes turned toward Mu En.
The successor of Sea God Pavilion.
Was this position finally going to be settled once and for all?
Everyone present understood the situation.
In terms of seniority, strength, and prestige, only two people were truly qualified:
The first was Xuan Zi, a Rank 98 Super Douluo and the current vice master of Sea God Pavilion.
The second was Yan Shaozhe, a Rank 95 Super Douluo, dean of the Martial Soul Department, possessor of the Bright Phoenix martial soul, a man of boundless potential—and Mu En's disciple.
Everyone silently weighed their options, their gazes shifting back and forth between Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe's expression did not change. The corners of his lips even curved into a faint, barely perceptible smile.
As one of the few who knew everything, he already knew exactly whom Mu En intended to name as his successor.
"Shaozhe, you know Tianyi's talent." Mu En had sat in his grand chair then, his tone calm. "That child will at least become a Limit Douluo in the future. He may even be able to reach that realm."
Yan Shaozhe nodded, agreeing with Mu En's assessment.
The other Elders exchanged looks, unable to understand what the two were talking about.
In truth, very few people knew Mu Tianyi.
Other than Mu En, only Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe knew of him. The Elders of Sea God Pavilion knew nothing at all.
First, before his martial soul awakening, Mu Tianyi had barely had any contact with Sea God Pavilion.
Second, Mu En had deliberately concealed him for the sake of protection.
Besides, as Elders of Sea God Pavilion, they normally stood high above the rest. They might not even have known that an extra little courtyard had long since appeared on Sea God Island.
As dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe had seen countless geniuses, but Mu Tianyi was truly one of a kind.
What was more, he was his teacher's great-grandson. Whether by sentiment or reason, public duty or personal ties, Yan Shaozhe had no reason to object.
"Teacher, I agree."
Mu En took a deep breath, his voice steady and forceful. "I announce that the successor of Sea God Pavilion shall be my great-grandson—"
He paused.
"Mu Tianyi."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Then came an eerie stillness.
Zhuang Yusen opened his mouth but failed to say anything. Qian Duoduo's brows knitted into a deep furrow.
Lin Huiqun's gaze rested on Mu En's face for several seconds, as though she were confirming whether the old man was joking.
Elder Song narrowed her eyes slightly but did not state her position.
Xian Lin'er lifted her teacup, then set it down again with a soft clink.
For most people present, their first reaction was not doubt, but—who?
Mu Tianyi?
Which Mu Tianyi?
Someone surnamed Mu... was he Mu En's family?
But hadn't all of Mu En's descendants already passed away? Wasn't Bei Bei the only one left?
Bei Bei was only four or five years old at present.
As far as Mu En was concerned, with elders like them around to bear the burden if the sky fell, he had not placed much expectation on Bei Bei.
He had long since examined Bei Bei's innate foundation. Compared to Mu Tianyi, it was far inferior. Not to mention Twin Sacred Dragons, even a single Bright Sacred Dragon was likely impossible.
Under such circumstances, and with Bei Bei taking his mother's surname rather than his original family name, Mu En hoped more that the child could simply live as a wealthy, carefree man, without needing to worry over such major affairs.
Thus, Bei Bei often moved about Sea God Pavilion. Most of the Elders present had met him and offered him guidance.
As for Mu Tianyi...
Most people had only vaguely heard that Mu En had another great-grandson living in the Inner Court. They knew nothing of what he looked like, what talent he possessed, or what martial souls he had.
"Pavilion Master," Zhuang Yusen was the first to speak, carefully choosing his words, "most of those present are unfamiliar with the name Mu Tianyi."
"Could you... introduce him in greater detail?"
Mu En said nothing.
He merely rose slowly to his feet.
At that instant, the entire Sea God Pavilion trembled.
An aura as vast as the sea poured from Mu En's body.
The pressure of the Dragon God Douluo erupted without restraint. The bearing of a Rank 99 Limit Douluo crashed down like collapsing mountains, forcing everyone present to instinctively tense their bodies.
Xuan Zi raised his head, a complicated glint flashing through his eyes.
Yan Shaozhe put down his teacup, and his expression finally changed.
Elder Song remained seated, but the fingers resting on her armrest tightened slightly.
Mu En's gaze swept across every face in the hall. There was no expression on his aged face, yet his voice carried the weight of a thousand jun.
"Tianyi is my, Mu En's, great-grandson. He is nine years old this year, over Rank 30, and possesses Twin Martial Souls: the Bright Sacred Dragon and the Dark Sacred Dragon."
"His first and second soul rings are both thousand-year rings, while his third soul ring has already reached the ten-thousand-year level!"
He paused.
"This child will stand above me in the future."
"I have decided to place Shrek's future in his hands."
The hall was dead silent.
No one spoke again.
Because before such power and such facts, no one could utter even half a word of objection.
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