Bai Yuan pushed open the golden wooden door and walked out.
He stood at the doorway, stretched his stiff shoulders, and let out a long breath.
Gu Yuena's voice rang out almost the instant he appeared.
"Are you alright? Why did you take so long?"
Bai Yuan looked at Gu Yuena's slightly furrowed brows.
A slow smile curved his lips, "Junior sister, were you worried about me?"
Gu Yuena's ears turned slightly red, and she turned her face away. "Tch, who cares about you! Narcissistic."
Her long silver hair slid down her shoulders, obscuring her slightly flushed ears.
She stopped talking.
Ya Li stood to the side, watching this scene, and turned to Yun Ming, saying:
"It's so good to be young."
Yun Ming didn't respond to her words, his gaze falling on Bai Yuan:
What did you gain from inside?
Bai Yuan thought for a moment and said, "It's nothing, just a surge of life energy that has greatly improved my cultivation."
Yun Ming narrowed his eyes slightly, looking into Bai Yuan's calm eyes.
There was no sign of lying, but somehow, I felt the child hadn't told the whole story.
His spiritual energy swept lightly over Bai Yuan.
The rich life force of the Golden Tree was still slowly flowing through his body.
He was indeed chosen by the Golden Tree.
Yun Ming was silent for a moment, then spoke again:
"I hope you will seriously consider this. The position of Sea God Pavilion Master is vacant."
"If you're willing to become my apprentice, I think you have a chance to become the head of the Shrek Sea God Pavilion Master in the future."
Bai Yuan looked at Yun Ming:
"Thank you for your high regard, Senior Sky-Prop, but I have already joined the Spirit Pagoda and cannot become the disciple of the Sea God Pavilion."
Yun Ming was slightly taken aback, then said:
"Becoming Sea God Pavilion Master does not mean completely breaking away from the Spirit Pagoda."
You can also work at the Spirit Pagoda.
Becoming a disciple of the Sea God Pavilion and Shrek Academy is a good thing!
"To reunite the two great powers, making them as close as before."
Bai Yuan remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"I'd better finish my study abroad trip first."
Yun Ming wanted to say something more, but Ya Li had already grabbed his arm:
"Alright, alright, let's not put so much pressure on the kids."
"We'll talk about it next time, we'll talk about it next time."
She smiled at Bai Yuan and Gu Yuena.
"It's nothing, you've all worked hard, go back and rest."
Bai Yuan bowed slightly to the two of them, then turned and walked towards the tree-lined path.
Gu Yuena followed beside him, and the two walked side by side out of the area of Sea God Island.
Back at the Shrek Academy.
Gu Yuena walked beside Bai Yuan, tilting her head to look at his profile, trying to find some clue on his face.
"You stayed inside for so long, did you really just absorb a bit of life energy?"
Her voice held a hint of uncertainty.
Bai Yuan turned his head to look at her, a slight smile curving his lips:
"Otherwise what? Could you possibly become sworn brothers with the Golden Tree inside?"
Gu Yuena looked at his nonchalant attitude, gave a light snort, and turned her face away.
"Fine, don't tell me then."
Bai Yuan smiled, looked away, and continued walking forward.
Of course, he wouldn't tell her what happened at the core of the Golden Tree.
The crisis of the Plane Spirit, Ah Yin's corruption, and the contingency plan left by Tang San.
These matters are too complex, Gu Yuena has other things to do with her Soul Beast.
On the other side, Ya Li stood at the entrance of the Sea God Pavilion, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.
She turned her head to look at Yun Ming, and seeing that he was still staring in that direction, she waved her hand in front of him:
"Still thinking about that kid?"
Yun Ming withdrew his gaze without speaking, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was still pondering something.
Seeing his expression, Ya Li shook her head helplessly and took his arm.
"Alright, alright, what's the rush?"
"When the time is right, things will happen naturally. If you push too hard, you'll only scare people away."
Yun Ming remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"I just feel that if Shrek misses out on him, they might miss out on an entire era."
Ya Li looked at his profile and sighed softly.
"Brother Ming, have you ever considered that perhaps he really doesn't belong at Shrek? Some things can't be forced."
Yun Ming did not answer.
He stared intently in the direction where the two figures had disappeared, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Ya Li didn't say anything more, but simply held his arm quietly.
The two stood at the entrance of the Sea God Pavilion, watching the twilight paint everything in gentle hues.
Bai Yuan and Gu Yuena passed through the ancient archway and left the area of Sea God Island.
Gu Yuena finally couldn't hold back any longer:
"That Yun Ming, does he want to take you as his disciple?"
Bai Yuan did not turn back:
"More or less."
Gu Yuena frowned slightly:
"And what about you? What are you planning to do?"
Bai Yuan thought for a moment:
"Let's finish the study tour first."
"The future will reveal its answers in due time."
But that's definitely impossible; God King Tang is his opponent.
It's impossible for them to roam freely on his turf.
Gu Yuena looked at him, trying to find a trace of wavering on his face.
But she found nothing.
She looked away. "Whatever you want."
She quickened her pace and walked past him.
Her long, silver hair traced a graceful arc in the twilight.
Bai Yuan watched her retreating figure, smiled, and quickened his pace to catch up.
Yun Ming watched Bai Yuan and Gu Yuena's figures disappear before turning his gaze away.
He didn't return to the Sea God Pavilion, but instead turned and walked towards the golden wooden door.
Ya Li watched his retreating figure, her brows furrowing slightly.
"You want to go in?"
Yun Ming didn't turn around, he just nodded:
"I want to go over there and see if my idea is correct."
Ya Li looked at him, hesitated, and finally just sighed softly:
Be careful.
Yun Ming pushed open the golden wooden door and went inside.
The door slowly closed behind me, shutting out the twilight.
The room was empty, devoid of golden light and rich life energy; it was just an ordinary wooden hut.
Yun Ming stood in the center of the room, looking around.
"Is the senior here?"
"Lord Yun Ming of the Sea God Pavilion Master has come to pay his respects, Senior!"
He waited a moment, but received no response, so he prepared to turn and leave.
"What's up?"
An aged voice came from behind.
It echoed in his ears from the void.
Yun Ming turned around, and an old man was standing in the center of the room.
The face was so blurry that the features were indistinguishable.
But those pale golden eyes were as clear as two lamps burning in the darkness.
When Yun Ming saw those eyes, he bowed slightly.
His movements carried a solemnity that few people had ever seen.
When facing the Life Core of the Golden Ancient Tree, regardless of his status, he must treat him with the respect due to a junior.
"Elder Jin."
Yun Ming's voice was very low.
The old man looked at him without saying anything more.
"I want to confirm something about this child."
Yun Ming's voice echoed in the quiet room.
"Was he... chosen?"
Elder Jin did not answer immediately.
His gaze passed over Yun Ming's shoulder and looked into the distance, as if he were looking at something that only he could see.
After a long while, his voice rang out again:
"This child is destined to be with me."
Yun Ming's pupils contracted slightly.
"Perhaps he will bring something different."
Yun Ming stood there, looking at that hunched figure, a complex emotion welling up inside him.
He spoke slowly, his voice somewhat hoarse:
"Then... what is the future of Shrek...?"
Elder Jin remained silent for a long time.
His voice rang out again.
No one can predict the future.