Sea God Pavilion's Successor Across Generations

"Nine years old, rank thirty?"

At the long table in Sea God Pavilion, Song Yunzhi, who had been sitting silently all along, finally spoke.

She was the third most important figure in Sea God Pavilion. Her seniority was second only to Mu En's, and her strength was unfathomable. Usually, she was the most composed and taciturn of them all.

Yet her voice now carried a rare trace of stiffness, as though even someone like her, who had seen countless storms, had been shaken by that number.

"Mu En, are you sure you aren't joking with us?"

Nine years old, rank thirty.

Such a cultivation speed had never been recorded in Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history.

Even the Sea God ancestor who had ascended to godhood and placed Shrek at the pinnacle of the continent had been nowhere near such a level at the age of nine.

Mu En did not answer immediately.

He merely turned his head to glance at Song Yunzhi. His gaze was calm, and the corners of his mouth did not even move.

"Little Song." The old man spoke softly, but his tone carried an unquestionable weight. "Do you think I have any reason to joke with you?"

Song Yunzhi fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, there was no reason.

Mu En had watched her grow up. She had followed him for decades and had never seen him joke about serious matters.

Especially not something as significant as establishing Sea God Pavilion's successor.

Mu En withdrew his gaze, folded his hands on the tabletop, and slowly swept his eyes across every face on either side of the long table.

"I have determined that after I depart, the one who can hold Shrek up must be this child."

His voice was not loud, yet every word weighed a thousand pounds.

"Therefore... I am now exercising the authority of the Sea God Pavilion Master to appoint Mu Tianyi as Sea God Pavilion's successor across generations."

The hall was so quiet that the flickering of the candles could be heard.

No one spoke.

It was not because they had nothing to say, but because under Mu En's utterly unrestrained pressure, no one dared speak at this moment.

The pressure of a rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo was like an invisible mountain bearing down upon everyone's shoulders.

It was not a threat, but a declaration.

I have already decided this matter. You need only know it.

Song Yunzhi took a deep breath and slowly rose to her feet.

She turned to face Mu En, and an unusual solemnity appeared on her aged face.

"If Mu En believes this child can lead Shrek toward a new future," she said steadily and firmly, "then throughout his growth, we old folks will certainly give everything we have."

She paused.

"Even if it costs us our lives, we will see that he grows to his full potential."

Mu En glanced at her, and a hint of gratification flashed through his eyes.

Mu En had roamed Douluo Continent for over a hundred years and seen countless geniuses.

Mu Tianyi was the first person to make him personally say, "This child surpasses me."

And for these old folks gathered here, to personally nurture, before their deaths, a genius who could make even Mu En sigh in admiration—

That would truly leave them with no regrets in this life.

Nine years old, rank thirty, Twin Martial Souls, Bright Sacred Dragon and Dark Sacred Dragon, with a ten-thousand-year third soul ring already.

With talent like that, Limit Douluo would only be the starting point.

What Mu En did today was not merely to pave the way for his great-grandson.

It was also to leave Shrek, battered by wind and rain, a pillar capable of stabilizing the seas after he was gone.

"I second the motion."

Xuan Zi was the first to speak, his voice hoarse but resolute.

He had made a mistake today, and none of the punishment he deserved would be spared.

But regarding Mu Tianyi, he had no objections whatsoever.

That child deserved this position.

"I second the motion." Yan Shaozhe followed at once, his tone calm and decisive.

"I second the motion." Song Yunzhi sat back down and lightly tapped the tabletop with an aged finger.

"I second the motion." "I second the motion." "I second the motion."

One voice after another, without hesitation or doubt.

The Sea God Pavilion elders present declared their stances one after another.

At this point, there were no more objections.

Mu En slowly settled back into his grand chair, resting his hands on its armrests. At last, a faint smile appeared on his aged face.

The successor across generations had been decided.

Next came Xuan Zi's punishment.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already deep into the night.

The elders left one after another, leaving Mu En alone beside the long table.

Moonlight poured through the window like water, spilling across the ancient floor in a cold, clear glow.

Mu En gazed at the moon for a long time in silence.

Tianyi, Xuan Zu has done all he can for you.

The rest of the road will have to be walked by you alone.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattice and fell over the old man's silver-white hair, as though adding another layer of frost.

"What? What do you mean I'm already Sea God Pavilion's successor across generations?"

Mu Tianyi stared blankly at Mu En, who had come to visit late at night.

Leaning on his cane, Mu En stood at the entrance to the small courtyard and nodded slightly.

"Yes, that's about it. I just came to give you a heads-up."

Mu Tianyi fell silent.

A nine-year-old child, Sea God Pavilion's successor across generations.

He felt like his little brain was not quite enough to process it.

Wait, wasn't this moving way too fast?

In the living room, Zhang Lexuan had just brought out two cups of hot tea from the kitchen. Upon hearing that, she nearly failed to hold the cups steady.

P.S. Posting a chef Lexuan I generated myself. Long live big sister! Big sister is the best!!!!

She hurried to the doorway, looked at Mu En, then at Mu Tianyi. Her eyes first widened in shock before it turned into barely concealed delight.

She had not been at Shrek Academy for long, but she knew all too well what the words "Sea God Pavilion" meant.

It was the academy's core center of power. Every elder throughout its history had been a peerless powerhouse standing at the continent's peak.

And the status of successor across generations practically meant that the position of future Sea God Pavilion Master had been secured in advance.

Zhang Lexuan pursed her lips and did not interrupt. She merely stood quietly half a step behind Mu Tianyi, a faint curve lifting the corners of her mouth.

She was happy for Mu Tianyi.

From the bottom of her heart.

At that moment, a childish voice drifted out from the living room.

"Xuan Zu, what's a Sea God Pavilion successor across generations? Can you eat it?"

Mu Tianyi turned around and looked at Bei Bei, who was hugging a stuffed toy in his arms. The corner of his mouth twitched.

His younger brother was only four years old, at the age when he was curious about everything. (Really, he just hadn't developed any sense yet.)

His big round eyes blinked innocently, his face full of pure naivety.

"You can't eat it." Mu Tianyi walked over and rubbed his little brother's head helplessly. "This is something very serious. Children shouldn't interrupt."

Bei Bei pouted and muttered, "Oh."

He lowered his head and continued playing with the stuffed toy in his hands, his little legs swinging over the edge of the sofa.

Mu En watched the scene and shook his head slightly, though a faint smile rose to his lips.

"That's the situation." Leaning on his cane, the old man took a step back toward the gate. "I came today just to give you a heads-up, so you'd know what was going on. We'll discuss the details later."

"Xuan Zu..." Mu Tianyi turned, about to say something.

Mu En waved a hand and interrupted him.

"Don't rush to ask why, and don't rush to say the pressure is too much. Xuan Zu has lived for nearly two hundred years and has never misjudged a person. You deserve this position." The old man paused, his eyes falling on Mu Tianyi's face. Moonlight reflected in those profound old eyes. "Cultivate well. Don't overthink things."

With that, Mu En turned around and slowly disappeared into the night, leaning on his cane with every step.

The night wind swept through the courtyard, making the parasol leaves rustle.

Mu Tianyi stood at the entrance, staring at Xuan Zu's departing figure for a long time in silence.

Behind him, Zhang Lexuan stepped forward and gently placed a warm cup of tea into his palm, her fingertips lingering briefly against the back of his hand.

"Congratulations, Tianyi."

Her voice was soft, like a night breeze brushing over the surface of a lake.

Mu Tianyi lowered his gaze to the teacup in his hand, then looked up at Zhang Lexuan's gentle smile.

He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

Sea God Pavilion's successor across generations.

All right.

Then bring it on.