Ma Xiaotao Felt Like She Had to Be Dreaming

After pondering seriously for a moment, Mu En first stated his attitude and position in a fairly sincere tone:

"Young friend, this old man can vouch for it with his own character—those three matters were all mere coincidences. Shrek Academy has always stood irreconcilably opposed to evil soul masters. For the harm and trouble caused to you, this old man once again apologizes to you on behalf of Shrek Academy."

However, Mu En himself knew that an apology alone was certainly not enough to demonstrate sincerity in this situation.

Given the circumstances, if he wanted to bring this boy back to Shrek Academy, it seemed he would have to pay a hefty price...

After taking a deep breath, Mu En's expression turned solemn.

"To demonstrate Shrek Academy's sincerity, so long as you are willing to enroll, this old man promises you a hundred-thousand-year soul bone of any chosen body part, as well as help in hunting a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire place was stunned.

As Title Douluo-level powerhouses, the imperial enshrined masters present had all seen their share of grand occasions.

Yet compared to what they were witnessing now, those past grand scenes suddenly seemed hardly worth mentioning.

A hundred-thousand-year soul ring, plus a hundred-thousand-year soul bone for a designated body part!

Was this truly worthy of the continent's foremost academy, one that had endured for ten thousand years?

With terms so generous, even these enshrined masters who had always been loyal to the Sun-Moon Imperial Family could not help feeling tempted. They could not find a single flaw to pick at.

Taking in the expressions of the Sun Moon Empire's powerhouses, Mu En nodded in satisfaction.

Just as he had expected, so long as he was willing to spend enough, there was nothing in this world he could not accomplish.

However, just as Mu En was feeling pleased with himself, Xu Tianming unexpectedly poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"Old man, I admit that the terms you've offered are indeed generous, but they still aren't enough for me to accept your invitation... Unless you agree to a few more conditions, I can only then seriously consider it."

There was no doubt that Xu Tianming was taking the opportunity to raise his price.

But Mu En had no choice.

After all, the Sun Moon Empire's powerhouses were watching him like tigers from all around. For the sake of the bigger picture, he could not resort to force unless absolutely necessary.

As long as this brat's demands aren't excessive, it doesn't hurt to agree to them all at once. Once he enters Shrek Academy, the academy will sooner or later reap its returns!

With that thought, Mu En said directly:

"Go ahead. What other conditions do you have? This old man can offer even a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone. What condition could there be that I cannot agree to?"

Since Mu En had put it that way, Xu Tianming naturally did not hold back.

"First, let's make one thing clear. After I go to Shrek Academy with you, will I still have my freedom? Will I be allowed to freely leave the academy grounds? If I need to withdraw from the academy for personal reasons, will you stop me?"

He had opened with such a pointed question that even though Mu En had mentally prepared himself, he nearly failed to keep his composure.

This little brat really knew how to scheme!

Still, it was for the best. Clarifying this issue in advance would save a great deal of trouble later.

"Of course we will not restrict your freedom. Outside of class hours, you may go wherever you please. But you cannot withdraw early. At the very least, you must complete all six years of study at Shrek Academy's outer court before considering early graduation or entering the inner court."

If Mu En had not previously mentioned the hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone, this demand would have sounded somewhat unreasonable.

But with the hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone as a prerequisite, all the imperial enshrined masters present felt that the condition was not excessive.

After all, Shrek Academy was not a charity.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Tianming turned to look at Kong Deming and Xu Tianran.

The former nodded to him and transmitted his voice through soul power.

"Shrek's offer is fairly sincere, but this matter mainly depends on what you want. No matter what you choose, though, your uncle will always support you."

The latter neither nodded nor shook his head. His gaze was exceedingly complicated. Clearly, this second brother of his had not yet made up his mind.

"Fine. Before completing six years of study, I will not voluntarily withdraw from the academy."

Xu Tianming's answer made Mu En nod in satisfaction.

"Excellent... Do you have any other conditions?"

"Of course... Old man, once I join Shrek Academy, how will my safety be guaranteed? If I have a conflict with one of your academy's students, will teachers or elders step in to suppress me?"

It was another rather pointed question, but this time Mu En answered quickly.

"You need not worry about your safety. With this old man here, so long as you do not leave Shrek City, no one will be able to harm you!"

"As for the other matter you are concerned about, that is somewhat unnecessary. Shrek Academy encourages competition among its students. There will absolutely be no situation where teachers or elders bully the young with their seniority! But everything has exceptions. If something like that truly happens, this old man will naturally uphold justice for you and ensure you suffer no grievance."

After securing another layer of protection for his personal safety, Xu Tianming immediately raised his final condition.

"Old man, will all the various cultivation resources within Shrek Academy be unconditionally open to me?"

With its ten-thousand-year legacy, Shrek Academy possessed many cultivation resources that the outside world could never come into contact with, such as the renowned Golden Ancient Tree and Sea God Lake.

Mu En agreed without even thinking. After all, if he could generously offer a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone, what did the academy's renewable cultivation resources amount to?

Ordinary students had to pass layer upon layer of tests to use those resources, but for genius students, it was merely a matter of whether they wished to use them.

Seeing Mu En agree to all three of his demands, Xu Tianming could hardly say anything more.

"Since you're being so straightforward, old man, I have no other questions. Stay here with me for a few days first. Once I've settled everything that needs handling, how about I go to Shrek Academy with you?"

Since Xu Tianming had already agreed, Mu En was naturally in no rush.

"That is only proper."

Seeing Mu En agree, Xu Tianming nodded. However, just as he was about to begin handling the matters before his departure, he suddenly remembered something extremely important.

"I nearly forgot something. Old man, let's settle the ugly terms before the pleasant ones. I will naturally fulfill what I promised, but if you fail to fulfill even one of the conditions you agreed to, that means you have breached the agreement, and I will have no obligation to continue honoring what I previously promised you."

"Of course! That is only proper."

Watching the old man and the young man smile at the same time, Ma Xiaotao, who had listened to the entire exchange, was utterly bewildered.

She felt like she had to be dreaming.

After all, the conditions Elder Mu had just agreed to were simply far too different from the Shrek Academy she knew.