Tang An thought it over, then clasped his hands in salute. "This junior is willing to take on the role. However, I have three conditions."
"Go ahead."
"First, I won't be involved in day-to-day management. I'll need an assistant to help handle affairs so I can focus on cultivating.
"Second, while I'm at the academy, I'll continue to act as a new student. There's no need to publicize my position as Vice Pavilion Master.
"Third, the academy must not interfere with my cultivation plans or freedom of movement." Tang An looked at Mu En, his tone serious.
After hearing him out, Mu En let out a bemused laugh. "I thought you were going to ask for something difficult. You can have all three."
He turned to the Elders present. "As for who should serve as his assistant..."
The moment the words left his mouth, a clear female voice rang out, eager to volunteer.
"I will!"
Xian Lin'er rose straight from her seat. Her fitted outfit accentuated her spirited figure, giving her a bold, capable air.
She strode over to Tang An with a bright smile. "Little Vice Pavilion Master, I'll be your assistant from now on. Just tell me what you need."
Xian Lin'er stood so close that Tang An could even catch her delicate fragrance. His expression remained unchanged as he nodded. "I'll trouble you, Senior Xian Lin'er."
The other Elders exchanged glances. Xian Lin'er was famous throughout Shrek for her pride, so her volunteering to be an assistant had taken everyone by surprise.
As soon as Yan Shaozhe heard her, alarm bells rang in his mind. That woman, Xian Lin'er, had moved far too fast!
Who didn't know what she was up to? The one closest to the water got the moon first. If she stayed by the Vice Pavilion Master's side every day, his favor toward her would shoot up.
And in future Sea God Pavilion meetings, being the Vice Pavilion Master's assistant would give Xian Lin'er's words that much more weight.
He turned to Cai Mei'er and lowered his voice. "You should volunteer too. We can't let Xian Lin'er keep all the benefits to herself."
Cai Mei'er shot him a look, but she understood the stakes. She rose at once and walked gracefully over to Tang An, then gave him a curtsy.
"Vice Pavilion Master, Lin'er is the dean of the Soul Guidance Department and has a great deal of official business to handle. She may not have the time to assist you. Why not let me take the position? I have more experience handling affairs than Lin'er."
Xian Lin'er's brows shot up. She turned and glared at Cai Mei'er. "Mei'er, what do you mean? I spoke first. You know the rule: first come, first served."
Cai Mei'er smiled unhurriedly. "It's not that simple. The Vice Pavilion Master's assistant will be involved in the Sea God Pavilion's day-to-day operations. Naturally, we should choose whoever is best suited to the job."
"Lin'er, you're quick-tempered and resort to violence whenever someone disagrees with you. I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle this work."
"You, Cai Mei'er! Are you looking for a fight?" Xian Lin'er was so angry that her short hair nearly stood on end.
"Come on, then. You think I'm afraid of you?"
The two deans looked ready to start fighting in front of all the Elders. At last, Tang An spoke up.
"Senior Xian Lin'er, Senior Cai Mei'er." His calm, quiet voice made them both stop.
"You can both stay. Senior Xian Lin'er will handle external matters, including cultivation and combat. Senior Cai Mei'er will handle internal affairs and logistics. You'll work together, with neither of you above the other."
Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er exchanged a glance. Surprise and delight showed in both their eyes. The arrangement gave them both real authority while avoiding direct competition, resolving the awkward situation neatly.
"Yes, Vice Pavilion Master." They bowed in unison and stepped aside.
Yan Shaozhe spoke up, his gaze fixed on Tang An with a hint of curiosity. "Vice Pavilion Master, you just demonstrated the first Soul Skill of your First Soul Ring. It was truly wondrous. I wonder what the other two Soul Skills are, and what about your other Martial Soul..."
Tang An smiled faintly. "My Second Martial Soul already has a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. I'll explain it later. As for my Soul Ring Configuration, I'm sure you're all wondering why I only showed one Soul Ring."
He paused, already having prepared his explanation, and continued calmly. "There are three reasons. First, Sea God Tang San is still dealing with the matter of the Godhood Inheritance. Second, my Million-Year Soul Ring is still slowly strengthening the foundation of my cultivation. Third, the Soul Beasts suited to my two divine Martial Souls are extraordinarily rare. Better to have none than an unsuitable one. That's why I only have one Soul Ring for now."
Tang An looked at the Elders present, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Once my body has fully adapted to the impact of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, I can consider what comes next. When that time comes, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble all of you seniors to lend a hand."
Everyone was taken aback, then realized what the young man intended: he wanted a group of Super Douluo to help him hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
"Vice Pavilion Master! Does that mean you're aiming for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring with every Soul Ring from now on?" Yan Shaozhe slapped his thigh, his face alight with excitement. "I'll be the first to serve as your muscle!"
The other Elders also smiled. It was a rare blessing for the academy to have a successor with such heaven-defying talent, steady character, and the courage to dream big and act on it.
After the laughter died down, Tang An recalled Mu En's signature technique from the original story. He changed the subject and bowed to Mu En. "Elder Mu, I'd like to ask for your guidance on cultivating my second Soul Skill."
Mu En nodded slightly. "Go ahead."
Tang An spoke clearly. "The second Soul Skill of my First Soul Ring is called Life Emotion Illusion. It can stir the emotions of anyone whose spiritual power is weaker than mine, turning their most deeply buried memories into an illusion that can be projected before everyone. Would any of the seniors present be willing to try it?"
The moment he finished speaking, the Elders exchanged uneasy glances. Stirring emotions and turning deep memories into illusions—just the sound of the Soul Skill made their scalps prickle. Everyone had secrets, after all.
In the silence, Tang An's gaze slowly settled on the figure in the corner, drinking from a gourd.
"Elder Xuan," Tang An said with a wicked smile, "you were the one who proposed testing me earlier. Why not relax your mind and give it a try?"
Xuan Zi set down his wine gourd, his brows furrowing into a deep crease. With everyone watching, refusing would only make him look guilty.
Xuan Zi snorted. "Why wouldn't I dare? I've always acted with a clear conscience. Do you think I'm afraid of a Soul Skill from a mere youngster?"
Tang An raised his palm. His second Soul Skill, Life Manipulation, activated.
An invisible force of spiritual power locked precisely onto Xuan Zi. Xuan Zi felt a boom in his mind as a powerful emotion surged up from the depths of his heart.
That regret grew, swelling stronger and stronger, until it burst through his consciousness. An entire memory spilled out beyond his control.
The air inside the Sea God Pavilion rippled. A vivid scene appeared before everyone.
It was the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
Xuan Zi was squatting on a boulder. Two glistening roast chickens and a jug of old wine sat before him. As he gnawed on a chicken leg, he muttered, "Just a little while. I'll have a couple of bites, then head back. What could possibly happen?"
The scene shifted. Deep in the forest, twelve inner-court disciples were locked in a brutal battle. Beneath the moonlight, a colossal silver-white wolf threw back its head and howled. It was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—the Howling Moon Wolf Emperor.
Moonlight flowed around its body, and dozens of wolves followed behind it, surrounding the twelve disciples.
Zhang Lexuan stood at the very front. Her pale uniform was stained red with blood, her left arm hanging limp. The disciples behind her were all wounded, their formation on the verge of collapse.
"Hold on! Elder Xuan will be here any moment!" Zhang Lexuan shouted hoarsely.
But she didn't know that Elder Xuan, who was supposedly "almost there," was passed out drunk on the boulder, his wine jug tipped on its side and his snores deafening.
The wolves launched their full assault. The Wolf Emperor's claws pierced one disciple's chest, sending his body high into the air before it crashed heavily to the ground.
Another disciple tried to shield a companion, only to be knocked down by three enormous wolves at once. Screams, snarls, and cracking bones wove together beneath the moonlight in a symphony of death.
By the time Xuan Zi finally roused himself from his drunken stupor and stumbled onto the battlefield, the dust had already settled.
Of the twelve elite inner-court disciples, eight were dead and four were gravely wounded.
Zhang Lexuan was drenched in blood. She held a young disciple who had already drawn his last breath in her arms. Slowly, she raised her head to look at Xuan Zi. Her lips moved for a long while, but not a word came out.
The illusion gradually faded. A deathly silence fell over the Sea God Pavilion.
Xuan Zi's face went as white as paper. He staggered back two steps and knocked over the chair behind him, but seemed not to notice. He only stared at Tang An, his lips trembling as he rasped, "You... How did you..."
Tang An withdrew his spiritual power and stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm. "Elder Xuan, what you just saw was the memory of regret buried deep in your own heart."
Tang An paused, sweeping his gaze over everyone present before finally fixing it on Mu En. His voice turned cold. "While leading a team to hunt Soul Rings, twelve elite inner-court disciples suffered eight deaths and four injuries because of your own negligence. The chief disciple, Zhang Lexuan, was severely wounded and needed half a year to recover."
Each word Tang An spoke struck the hearts of those present like a heavy hammer. "With a crime like this, can you still serve as an Elder?"
Before you continue