Mu En: Just a Transaction?

The intense heat within the Sea God Pavilion's main hall slowly dissipated.

The wild, tainted black-red flames that had once engulfed Ma Xiaotao vanished without a trace, replaced by a layer of pure, crimson fire.

Seeing his disciple return from the brink of death and successfully achieve the Ultimate Fire, Yan Shaozhe was so overwhelmed with excitement he could barely contain himself.

He rushed forward in two or three strides, hovering his hands above Ma Xiaotao's shoulders, terrified of causing her pain. He bombarded her with questions about the state of her meridians and soul power, his entire focus poured into this precious disciple.

On the other side, Xiao Yan, supported by Xiao Xiao, bypassed the ecstatic master and disciple to walk slowly toward Mu En in the center of the hall.

"Elder Mu, the transaction is complete." Xiao Yan stood still, his tone very polite. "The evil fire has been thoroughly purified. Since the matter is settled, we should take our leave."

Mu En hunched his back, a kind smile appearing on his weathered, creased face.

"Heh heh, why the rush to leave?" Mu En looked up at the Golden Tree, which radiated a soft golden light, his voice gentle.

"This place was built relying on the Golden Tree, and the life energy here is extremely abundant. You just exhausted a great deal of mental energy; if you leave now, you will inevitably be left with a deficit."

He gestured toward the storage ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

"Furthermore, that Taixu Sound-Suppressing Hou right arm bone in your possession is three hundred thousand years old. The lingering will of an ancient fierce beast is no small matter. Absorbing it here in the Sea God Pavilion, nourished by the abundant life force, will yield twice the result with half the effort. Finish absorbing the soul bone before you go. With this old man here to guard you, even if any accidents occur, I can intervene in time."

Xiao Yan looked into Mu En's cloudy yet incredibly sincere eyes.

This Limit Douluo, who stood at the pinnacle of the continent, showed no hint of contempt for his youth; instead, he considered everything for him with thorough care.

Xiao Yan turned his head, his peripheral vision catching Yan Shaozhe, who was still fussing over Ma Xiaotao and ignoring him entirely.

He shook his head inwardly. The difference in character and stature between these two was immediately apparent.

While Yan Shaozhe was a competent teacher, as a decision-maker for Shrek Academy, such favoritism and susceptibility to emotional sway made him ill-suited for great responsibility.

By comparison, Mu En was the true pillar of Shrek.

Since Mu En had extended such a warm invitation with an impeccable reason, Xiao Yan did not snub him.

"Then many thanks, Elder Mu."

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged not far from the trunk of the Golden Tree. With a flick of his wrist, the Taixu Sound-Suppressing Hou right arm bone, radiating a dark purple luster and covered in silver nebula patterns, appeared in his palm.

Mu En nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. A solid barrier of golden soul power rose from the ground, firmly shielding Xiao Yan and isolating him from all outside interference.

Having done this, Mu En turned to look at Xiao Xiao, who stood outside the barrier with eyes full of concern, and beckoned her over.

"Little girl, don't worry. Your brother has a deep foundation. Come, keep this old man company and chat for a while."

Xiao Xiao walked up obediently, and the old man and the young girl began to chat in low voices while they waited.

On the other side, Yan Shaozhe, having repeatedly confirmed that Ma Xiaotao's meridians were intact and the source of her Ultimate Fire was completely stabilized, finally remembered the others.

He brought the newly awakened and still somewhat dazed Ma Xiaotao over to Mu En.

"Teacher, Xiaotao, she..."

Just as Yan Shaozhe prepared to report the specifics of Ma Xiaotao's condition, Mu En raised a hand, cutting him off.

"I am in this hall; I naturally felt the changes in Xiaotao clearly enough. There is no need for you to waste your breath."

Mu En shed the kindness he had shown Xiao Xiao, his aged eyes revealing a hint of sternness.

"Shaozhe, your current composure and the way you handle matters need significant refinement. Panicking in a crisis, letting your emotions show, and nearly losing your judgment of the overall situation just to save one person—you must remember this well: when you are outside, you represent the face of the entire Shrek Academy!"

Faced with his teacher's merciless reprimand, Yan Shaozhe felt a jolt, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He lowered his head in shame, his voice low: "The teacher is right to reprimand me; this disciple was wrong."

"Go reflect on yourself. For now, stay here quietly and guard that child." Mu En said no more, turning his gaze toward Xiao Yan inside the golden barrier.

Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao dared not make a sound; they retreated to the side, holding their breath as they watched the activity within the barrier.

At this moment, Xiao Yan had already pressed the dark purple arm bone against his own arm.

The instant the three-hundred-thousand-year-old beast soul bone entered his body, a vast, primal will filled with resentment and a desire for destruction surged directly into his Sea of Consciousness along his meridians.

The phantom of the Taixu Sound-Suppressing Hou roared within his mind, attempting to tear the human soul apart.

But the moment the fierce beast prepared to run rampant, the phantom of the Eastern Emperor Bell, suspended above the Fuxi Bagua Formation Map, vibrated spontaneously.

A supreme power of rules from the ancient primordial era, capable of suppressing the heavens and the worlds, crashed down like a collapsing sky.

The Taixu Sound-Suppressing Hou's arrogant, ferocious aura was like an ant before this suppression, instantly crushed into the purest mental nourishment.

The hidden dangers within the soul bone were purged, leaving behind only pure space and sonic energy.

Relying on the formidable physique Xiao Yan had tempered through the Art of the Fuxi Emperor, the fusion process went exceptionally smoothly.

The dark purple light gradually receded, seeping through his skin and into his bones.

Silver nebula patterns flickered on his right arm before finally fading away.

Two and a half hours later.

Xiao Yan's long eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes.

The moment he opened them, the surrounding space distorted slightly.

Centered on him, ripples of spatial fluctuations and invisible sound waves radiated outward, only to be perfectly retracted back into his body.

The soul bone was perfectly absorbed.

Not only had he mastered the two domain-type soul skills, "Void: Immeasurable" and "Suppression: Myriad Laws," but his overall physical constitution and bone density had also been greatly enhanced.

Xiao Yan stood up and waved his hand, dispersing the lingering soul power ripples in the surroundings.

Mu En also withdrew the golden barrier at the opportune moment.

Seeing that Xiao Yan had successfully emerged from his seclusion, Yan Shaozhe walked forward with a solemn expression, bringing Ma Xiaotao with him.

Ma Xiaotao looked at the youth before her, who was much younger than herself, her eyes filled with gratitude.

She knew full well that her ability to walk back from the gates of death and even obtain Ultimate Fire was entirely thanks to him.

She did not speak, but instead followed her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, in bowing deeply toward Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, great kindness needs no thanks. From this day on, consider it a favor owed to you by me, Yan Shaozhe, and by us as master and disciple." Yan Shaozhe's tone was sincere as he made his solemn promise.

Faced with a commitment that would have left an ordinary soul master flattered and overwhelmed, Xiao Yan merely waved his hand dismissively and stepped aside, refusing to accept the grand gesture.

"Dean Yan, you are too kind. I took action to save a life, and you provided the soul bone; it was an equal exchange." Xiao Yan brushed off the hem of his moon-white robe, his tone indifferent as he drew a clear line.

"I received what I wanted, and you kept your person safe. There is no need for this; there is no unpaid debt between us."

Having said that, Xiao Yan turned to look at Mu En and bowed in the manner of a junior.

"Elder Mu, thank you for guarding us. Since the matter is concluded, my sister and I will return to the Outer Courtyard."

Mu En nodded slightly, making no move to ask them to stay.

Xiao Yan called for Xiao Xiao, and the two walked side by side out of the Sea God Pavilion's gates, their figures quickly blending into the lush, verdant paths of Sea God Island.

The hall returned to tranquility.

Mu En stood where he was, his hands clasped behind his back.

His cloudy gaze peered through the open doors, lingering for a long time on the direction in which Xiao Yan had departed. Countless complex thoughts flickered in the depths of his eyes before he finally let out a silent sigh.

"Is it truly just a transaction?"