Shrek Academy's Future, Your Relative

Sea God Island very quiet, as if no one lives there.

Everything was so peaceful and tranquil, like a paradise on earth.

Cai Mei'er led the seven people along the path and finally arrived at a three-story brown building made entirely of wood.

Above the entrance on the first floor, the plaque prominently displays the words "Sea God Pavilion".

"They've arrived?"

An aged voice rang out, and the previously dark room suddenly lit up.

This scene deeply shocked the seven members of the reserve team.

The light also illuminated the elderly man sitting quietly in the recliner.

"Mu En."

Cai Mei'er bowed slightly to the old man and said respectfully.

The other seven people immediately followed suit and bowed.

Bei Bei below looked completely bewildered.

What's going on? Why does that back view look so much like my great-grandfather?

Is he the Sea God Pavilion Master?

Could it be that I'm actually the heir to the Shrek Academy?

Future he could think any further, he heard the old man's voice continue.

"I'm aware of your performance in the competition. Although it wasn't perfect, your fearless spirit is commendable. I've called you here today to give you some instructions."

As he spoke, Mu En slowly turned around.

"As the seven strongest students among all the Outer Court students this year, and also the next Shrek Seven Monsters, you will shoulder the great responsibility for the Future of the academy. Therefore, for the next few years, Bei Bei, Jiang Nannan, and Xu Sanshi, the three of you will take the Inner Court's assessment ahead of schedule this semester. After passing the assessment, you will enter the Inner Court for further study."

"Dai Huabin, Wang Dong, Zhu Lu, and Ning Tian, you will stay on Sea God Island for a period of time. During this period, you will study with me and the academy's senior members for two years. After two years, you will return to the Outer Court. Five years later, in the Soul Fighting Tournament, it will be up to you to avenge our defeat and reclaim the glory of the Shrek Academy."

Early assessment?

Learning from the old master?

All seven were startled upon hearing this.

Are they truly qualified to learn from the hosts of the Sea God Pavilion?

"Alright, you guys go back and pack your things first. Mei'er, go and tell Lin'er to come over..."

"Yes."

Cai Mei'er respectfully responded and then walked out of the Sea God Pavilion.

The other seven people didn't linger either. After bowing to Mu En once more, they also left.

Half an hour later.

Cai Mei'er returned to the Sea God Pavilion, followed by Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department.

"Mu En, you wanted to see me?"

"Um."

Once the person had arrived, Mu En spoke Youyou.

"Lin'er, tell me, how do our development compare to the Soul Tool of the Sun Moon Empire?"

Xian Lin'er gritted her teeth, feeling somewhat unwilling, but she had no choice but to admit it.

"The difference is not just a little bit."

"Yes, it's far from perfect." Mu En sighed deeply.

"In the past thirty years, Soul Tool have developed rapidly, almost changing every day. While the times have progressed, we have remained stagnant, rejecting the idea of Soul Tool. It's time for our students to change their mindset, otherwise they will eventually be eliminated by the times, just like..."

"Same as the Tang Sect."

At this moment, Mu En moved his recliner, controlling him to walk out of the Sea God Pavilion, with Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er following closely behind.

"Lin'er, in the next few days, on behalf of the Soul Guidance Department, send a letter to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, requesting an exchange program and sending students from our Soul Guidance Department to them for exchange and learning."

"You all need to discuss this carefully. My requirement is that within a maximum of five years, the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance Department must achieve some degree of integration. Martial Soul Department students must take an additional Soul Engineer course every week. They are not required to create their own, but they must at least be able to use some common Soul Tool."

Mu En spoke these words very seriously, but the next second he began to look dejected.

"My time is running out..."

"Mu..."

Mu En raised his hand to stop them from saying what they were about to say.

"Remember this: the development of Soul Tool is irreversible. The extent to which Soul Tool can develop in the Future is beyond our imagination. Now is the time for us to exert our strength."

"We at the Shrek Academy have never lacked geniuses, nor have we lacked high-level combat power. However, the Future development direction of Soul Master will inevitably be the combination of Martial Soul and Soul Tool in combat. If we continue to underestimate them, we will only end up on the same dead end as the Tang Sect."

"Therefore, I must, while I still have the chance to protect the academy, push forward the development of both as quickly as possible."

"You must all convey these words to Shaozhe, the other teachers, and the students. If they don't take this seriously and make changes, then Shrek Academy Nine is not far from its demise."

"Yes."

Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy

"It's been three days, why hasn't Junior Brother returned yet?"

Meng Hongchen leaned against the window in the room, lost in thought with a worried expression.

"Could something have happened?"

Thinking of this Meng Hongchen shook her head abruptly. "No, no, perhaps the journey was too long. Maybe they're on their way back now. Junior Brother is probably considering his grandfather's health, so he slowed down his journey."

"Yes, that must be it."

The Star Dou Great Forest, the place where Yao Shi fell.

"Did you find anything unusual?"

Di Tian ordered Xiong Jun and the King of Ten Thousand Monsters to lead dozens of Soul Beasts to investigate here and see what traces the Asura God had left behind.

"No, there isn't a single trace here, it's as if no one has ever been here."

The King of Ten Thousand Monsters, standing to the side, shook his head.

In the past few days, he first ordered dozens of intelligent Soul Beast to come here to investigate, but after finding nothing, he and Xiong Jun came here in person today, but unfortunately they still found nothing.

"Hmph, Li has nothing at all. I think our lord Di Tian are just overthinking it."

"Shh, silence me, are you out of your mind?"

Upon hearing Xiong Jun's words, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters was so frightened that he immediately stepped forward to cover his mouth.

"Hmm... What's there to be afraid of? We're so far away from Di Tian, and the Lord is asleep. How could he possibly hear us?"

Xiong Jun brushed aside the King of Ten Thousand Monsters's hand and continued, still courting death.

"Idiot."

The King of Ten Thousand Monsters muttered a curse under his breath.

"What's the meaning?"

But clearly, even this burly Xiong Jun didn't understand what the word meant.

The King of Ten Thousand Monsters explained expressionlessly, "It's nothing, it just means 'shark's arm'."

He then continued to explore his surroundings.

Xiong Jun scratched his head, looking puzzled.

Do fish have arms?

Roar---

Just as the two Soul Beasts were investigating, a loud roar rang out.

The King of Ten Thousand Monsters and the Xiong Jun turned around at the same time and saw a bear slowly emerging from the bushes.

The bear was nearly ten meters long, with bone armor covering its shoulders and several branches growing from the flesh on its back.

"This is... your relative?"

Looking at the bear's appearance, the King of Ten Thousand Monsters nudged the Xiong Jun beside him and said jokingly.

"I think he's your relative. Look, trees are practically growing out of his back."

Xiong Jun also understood the King of Ten Thousand Monsters' teasing and immediately retorted.

"Speaking of which, what kind of Soul Beast is this again? It looks like Armored Bear, but Armored Bear don't have branches or leaves growing on their backs, do they?"

"I don't know, it couldn't possibly be one of my people, could it be a hybrid of yours?"

"Huh~"

"Bear grass, that's disgusting."

"What if it's a bear from the Wood and Grass tribe?"

"..."

The two Ferocious Beasts, each with hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation, stared at the peculiar Armored Bear, whose cultivation had reached at least fifty thousand years, and started chatting casually.