"If you can't find the dormitory, ask at the administration building up ahead."
Mu En looked kindly at Xu Tianyao and offered his advice in a feeble voice.
If Xu Tianyao hadn't already guessed who he was, he might truly have been fooled by his appearance.
Who could have imagined that Mu En, hailed as the Black and White Twin Sacred Dragons and one of the finest among the Limit Douluo, and titled the Dragon God, would look like this right now?
"Thanks. It's just that I'm not having trouble finding the dormitory. I simply felt there was something different about you, old man, so I stopped to take a closer look. I hope you don't mind."
Xu Tianyao gave him a faint smile, then strolled nonchalantly over to a stone bench nearby and sat down.
His actions and words had undoubtedly piqued the old man's curiosity.
Mu En had a vague idea of what was going on, but he could hardly believe it. If he was right, then this boy's powers of observation—or rather, his insight—were nothing short of astonishing.
"Heh, you're an interesting young man. Tell me, what's so interesting about an old fellow like me, with one foot in the grave and hardly any time left?"
"You could be looking at all those young ladies, but instead you've chosen to stare at me."
Mu En joked with a chuckle, a glint flashing in his murky old eyes.
Xu Tianyao didn't answer him directly. Instead, he brought up something else.
"On my way to Shrek Academy, I made a point of learning about the academy's history and its powerful figures."
Xu Tianyao spoke thoughtfully, while Mu En listened quietly beside him.
"After the divine war on Douluo Continent all those years ago, the Seven Gods ascended and created an eternal legend. From then on, Shrek Academy, which had nurtured seven deities, became renowned throughout the world. It replaced Spirit Hall and became the greatest academy and the strongest force in the world."
"Several thousand years ago, tectonic movements caused Sun Moon Continent to collide with Douluo Continent. The two sides fought a devastating war, and the native forces and armies of Douluo Continent were no match for the iron tide of Soul Tools."
"If the strongest figure at Shrek Academy back then hadn't stepped in, the Sun Moon Empire might have already unified the world by now."
As he spoke, Xu Tianyao stood up, folded his arms across his chest, and began pacing back and forth in front of the old man.
"Several thousand years have passed. Soul Guidance Technology on Sun Moon Continent has advanced by leaps and bounds, far surpassing what it was back then, while Douluo Continent has stood still, making no effort to progress."
"If the Three Great Empires still think they can rely on Shrek Academy to maintain their pathetic balance, they're dreaming. It's nothing but a pipe dream."
Xu Tianyao looked at the old man sitting with his eyes closed in thought and asked, word by word, "Old sir, would you say I'm wrong?"
Mu En's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he sighed again and again. How could he not understand this?
The Three Great Empires all relied on Shrek Academy. That was why Shrek Academy could stand firm on Douluo Continent, flourish without decline, and hold itself above everyone else.
Their interests were already bound together too tightly. It was a dead knot.
"You're right, child. It seems you understand both the current situation and the history of the past very well."
"But why are you so certain Shrek Academy won't produce someone capable of turning the tide, as it did in that war?"
"Shrek has always been a place where miracles happen!"
Mu En knew that the boy before him had already discovered his identity. He didn't know how, but it no longer mattered.
"I don't know whether Shrek can work another miracle and produce someone like that again. But I do know that if the Sun Moon Empire's iron tide bears down on us again, the Three Great Empires and Shrek Academy won't be able to stop it."
Someone capable of turning the tide? Mu En had actually guessed right. Weren't Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong exactly that kind of people?
Unfortunately, Tang Wutong was probably still in the Clear Sky Sect, while Huo Yuhao was still at White Tiger Duke Mansion, abandoned by his father and bullied by the servants. He would even have to watch his mother be tortured to death.
Was he pitiful? Of course. But did he deserve sympathy? Probably not.
After all, in the end, he chose to forgive and let go of all that suffering. If he himself didn't care, why should we?
"Before I came to Shrek, perhaps I wouldn't have dared to make such a bold judgment."
"But now that I've seen the Dragon God's bearing with my own eyes, I can say for certain: if war breaks out again, you have no chance of victory."
"The Dragon God is old. His dragon might can no longer command respect!"
Xu Tianyao fixed his blazing gaze on the inscrutable old man, who had remained expressionless the entire time, and spoke gravely.
At those final words, Mu En's aged eyes suddenly froze.
With a single sweep of his hand, he enveloped the area in powerful spiritual and spatial energy.
Xu Tianyao's body was instantly immobilized. He couldn't move at all; he could only watch as Mu En slowly approached and took him away.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Tianyao felt the world spin around him. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an utterly unfamiliar place.
It was a place brimming with life and pure Soul Power.
It was a small courtyard, surrounded by green trees and lush flowers and plants. No one else was there. Only Mu En lay quietly in a vine chair that seemed to have grown naturally.
As Xu Tianyao awoke, Mu En opened his eyes once more.
Their gazes met. Xu Tianyao felt a stabbing pain in his eyes and grew lightheaded. He whipped his head away and shut his eyes.
At last, Mu En began to speak.
"The Sun Moon Empire's most talented prince, possessor of the Sun Moon Twin Martial Souls, the youngest Level 3 Soul Engineer on the continent, and Xu Tianran's most beloved younger brother."
"Kid, I have to say, with talent like yours, I wish you were one of my Douluo Three Kingdoms. Then I'd take you as my disciple and teach you everything I know without holding anything back, doing everything in my power to cultivate you. What a shame!"
Faced with Mu En's lament, Xu Tianyao drew on the power of his pupils and bones, finally managing to recover his senses.
"What do you mean by that, Dragon God? Just now, Dean Yan Shaozhe and Dean Qian Duoduo said themselves that once we came to Shrek, we would be Shrek's students, and Shrek would treat us all equally without discrimination."
"Are you trying to slap both deans in the face?"
Xu Tianyao looked around, but couldn't find a second chair. Apparently, Mu En was displeased with what he'd just said, so he had no choice but to keep standing.
Mu En glanced at Xu Tianyao without revealing anything. He didn't dispute his response, merely saying, "From what you said earlier, you seem to understand the difference in strength between our sides very well. It's as if you've already seen everything coming."
"The bold confidence of youth. It really takes me back."
"Go on, then. Why were you in such a hurry to find me and say all this?"
Before you continue