"Any force that fails to strive for progress is ultimately doomed to be swept away by the times. Even if it's..."
At the end, Mu Guiyun fell silent, but his meaning was already crystal clear.
Mu Guiyun's words filled Mu En with relief. He voiced what was on his mind. "Even our Shrek Academy is no exception, right?"
That's what you said, not me!
Mu Guiyun didn't answer. He merely let his gaze wander over the surrounding scenery.
Ah, look at that sun. It's so big and round...
"You little rascal. With me and Yan Shaozhe backing you, who'd dare gossip about you?"
Mu En chuckled and scolded him. Then, with Mu Guiyun supporting him, he shakily rose to his feet and gazed out over the boundless Sea God Lake. His eyes were deeper than ever.
"Guiyun, I'm deeply gratified that you can think this way. Our Shrek Academy has a worthy successor. If only Yan Shaozhe and the others had even half your insight, I could die in peace."
"Heh heh, teacher, what are you saying? You're the Dragon God Douluo. Living another few decades should be no problem."
Mu Guiyun chuckled, though his voice carried a hint of sorrow.
Mu En's time was running out. In just a few years, he would reach the end of his life.
Even so, in his final moments, Mu En would choose to burn what little remained of his life force, Soul Power, spiritual power, and Bright Sacred Dragon origin as a parting gift to the students.
"No one understands my body better than I do."
Mu En smiled faintly. Facing the death that awaited him, there wasn't the slightest trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, they revealed a peace unlike any he'd felt before.
"Because of his own temperament, Yan Shaozhe will have trouble shouldering the academy's responsibilities in the future. As for Lin'er, Mei'er, and Duoduo, breaking through to level 97 will be the limit for them in this lifetime."
Mu En turned and gazed at his youngest disciple, offering him a solemn charge. "The academy's future will ultimately rest on your shoulders."
"Starting today, you'll be an elder-in-training of the Sea God Pavilion and sit in on Sea God Pavilion Meetings!"
"Huh? Me?"
Mu Guiyun was so stunned that his eyes nearly popped out. He pointed at himself, his expression saying, Did I hear that right?
This was way too sudden!
It was like walking down the street, only for a group of people to suddenly rush out, point at you, and say, "You! Yes, you! Starting tomorrow, you're the deputy county magistrate!"
"I believe you can shoulder this great responsibility."
Mu En patted Mu Guiyun's shoulder, then returned to his wheelchair, leaving Mu Guiyun standing there in a daze.
Mu En had no other choice. Aside from Mu Guiyun, his four remaining direct disciples were all "talented" in their own ways!
Yan Shaozhe was petty, Xian Lin'er was love-struck, Cai Mei'er was a scheming green tea, and Qian Duoduo was a shameless simp...
Among the younger generation, only Ma Xiaotao and Mu Guiyun had the talent for it. Even Bei Bei, Mu En's own descendant, had been ruled out.
But Ma Xiaotao... best not to bring her up.
With her fiery temper, if she really became Sea God Pavilion Master someday, Mu En worried she'd be too tongue-tied to argue with the other elders, then get so angry that she'd beat them all up.
In other words, among Shrek's middle-aged and younger generations, Mu Guiyun was the only normal one left...
Mu En sighed silently. A glint flashed in his eyes as he sized up the handsome Mu Guiyun, and the corners of his mouth suddenly curled into a smile.
Besides him, there really was another suitable candidate...
Meanwhile, in a classroom in Shrek Inner Court.
A woman in her twenties sat poised at the front of the classroom. Her long, ink-dark hair spilled down to her waist like a waterfall. Her skin was as smooth and white as jade, and her delicate features were gentle and composed. Her serene gaze carried the effortless poise of a senior sister.
"Ring, ring, ring!"
The class bell rang. The woman rose, and the smile on her lovely face somehow filled the students with a sense of reassurance.
"All right, class dismissed."
As soon as she finished speaking, the students swarmed around her.
"Wow, Senior Sister, you really are the top student in the inner court! You reached level 80 at twenty-two. I wouldn't even dare dream of that!"
"Exactly! Senior Sister, you're beautiful and kind, and on top of that, you're so talented. How are ordinary people like us supposed to survive?"
"Senior Sister! Do you have a boyfriend? I'd like to invite you... Hey, stop! Stop hitting me!"
A male student had been about to invite his goddess to dinner and then make his move. But before he could finish, the other male students swarmed him and beat him up.
"You think you're good enough to pursue Senior Sister? Brothers, activate your Martial Souls!"
"Do you even know she's recognized as the number-one goddess in the inner court? She's only to be admired from afar, never profaned!"
"You look like a Titan Giant Ape. How do you even have the nerve to say that? Take this—General's Flying Kick!"
The woman they called Senior Sister watched a group of students, each a prodigy by outside standards, fight over her. Her cool, stunning face showed no delight—instead, a faint helplessness settled over it.
"All right, everyone. The academy forbids fighting."
The woman they all called Senior Sister was none other than Zhang Lexuan, the future Sea God Pavilion Master and Moon God Douluo!
Just last week, she had successfully broken through the level 80 bottleneck at the age of twenty-two.
Because of Mu Guiyun, Zhang Lexuan had not been burdened with the so-called engagement in this life. Still, her sense of recognition and belonging toward Shrek Academy remained strong, and she was grateful to Mu En for saving her life.
She was just about to leave when Zhang Lexuan seemed to sense something. Her expression abruptly changed, and she vanished in a streak of light.
The remaining students looked at one another, then began filing out of the classroom. As a few male students left, they couldn't resist kicking the unconscious figure on the floor a couple of times.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Lexuan appeared by Sea God Lake. Mu Guiyun had already left, leaving Mu En alone, gazing out over the lake.
Looking at Mu En's increasingly frail figure, Zhang Lexuan could no longer hold back her sorrow. A shimmer of tears welled in her eyes.
"Elder Mu, did you want to see me?"
"Lexuan, you're here."
"I don't have much time left. I'd like to ask you..."
As he spoke, Mu En's back seemed to grow older still.
Mu-winning actor had entered the scene.
Two and a half months later.
After spending these past two months together, Tang Ya gradually lowered her guard around Mu Guiyun. They weren't especially close, but they had become good friends who could talk about anything.
Humming a little tune, Tang Ya went to class as usual, only to find that the familiar figure in the corner wasn't there.
Where was he?
Tang Ya didn't think much of it. She went to her seat, but even after the class bell rang, Mu Guiyun still hadn't shown up.
For some reason, a sense of disappointment welled up in Tang Ya. She was just about to lay her head on the desk and grumble when a fragrant aroma wafted straight into her nose.
Puzzled, Tang Ya reached into her desk with her delicate hand. Inside the lunchbox lay several steaming meat buns, with a note stuck on top:
"Getting a Soul Ring. Don't worry about me." —Mu Guiyun