What Is Love?

As Mu En's voice faded, the entire Sea God Pavilion fell into a deathly silence.

The habitually carefree expression on Xuan Zi's face vanished, his pupils constricting sharply as he bolted upright.

He had lived for over two hundred years. While he had always known Mu En was advanced in age and that his life force was gradually decaying, he had never imagined the end would arrive so swiftly.

His throat bobbed, yet for a moment, he could not utter a single sound.

Yan Shaozhe's hands trembled, his usually gentle and scholarly face turning deathly pale as he stammered, "T-Teacher, you..."

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo frowned, while Elder Song, Elder Zhuang, and Elder Lin remained silent. Within the great hall, only the sound of their slightly heavy breathing remained.

After a long while, Xuan Zi spoke in a hoarse voice: "Elder Mu, has it truly... reached this point? Can the life force of the Golden Ancient Tree not delay it any further?"

Mu En shook his head gently, his gaze still fixed on the academy outside the window.

"The Golden Ancient Tree can stabilize my spirit, but it cannot hold back the passing of time."

"Over two hundred years have passed. My foundation was damaged in that battle against Du Bisi; consuming the Dragon Pill saved my life, but it has also been constantly backlashing against my longevity."

"Though I broke through the limit, it left behind hidden ailments..."

The elders and deans sat in heavy silence.

Elder Mu's life was nearing its end, and the Evil Soul Master organization behind the scenes posed a threat to the entire continent.

Either one of these was a monumental burden pressing down on Shrek; the two combined were enough to make everyone tremble.

In the past, although Elder Mu often rested and his condition was in decline, he had never stated so bluntly that his time was running out.

He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone on both sides of the long table.

"It is precisely because my time is short that I must tell you the truth in advance."

"The organization behind the Evil Soul Masters cannot be eradicated in a single day. Before I am completely spent, we must make every preparation."

Elder Mu slowly closed his eyes and walked toward his rocking chair.

"I cannot hold on for much longer. While I am still here, with a Limit Douluo like me holding the fort, those in the shadows dare not act brazenly and can only cower in hiding."

"But once I fall, the Shrek barrier will collapse, and that long-hidden evil organization will inevitably surface to wreak havoc across the entire continent."

Xian Lin'er's breath hitched as she asked in a deep voice, "Do you mean that the sporadic Evil Soul Master disturbances across the continent over the years all belong to the same faction?"

"Correct."

Mu En nodded, his tone carrying a trace of solemnity: "The Fifth Elder... a Titled Douluo—their existence is merely a precursor. A youth being exceptionally brilliant alone would not be enough to attract them."

"But what if it goes beyond that..."

Cai Mei'er felt a chill run down her spine.

Beyond that?

That would mean they might have already reached the level of Super Douluo, or perhaps there could even be Limit Douluos... but what could they possibly be after?

Cai Mei'er could not fathom it.

The other elders were equally baffled, as they had only been exposed to the surface of this iceberg.

Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and asked in a low voice: "No wonder there have been targeted hunts for genius Spirit Masters and harassment of various academies in recent years. I previously thought it was just rogue Evil Soul Masters acting recklessly; it turns out there has been a conspiracy all along."

Qian Duoduo clicked his tongue, uncharacteristically serious instead of his usual grinning self:

"This is a massive problem."

Elder Mu turned and lay back in his recliner, letting out a sigh of relief. His gaze returned to the center of the hall, his tone exceptionally grave: "That is why I insisted on protecting Yue Ling."

"The residual evil soul within his body is a hidden danger, but it is also the most direct clue. Being targeted by a Titled Douluo is proof enough that his talent is both feared and coveted by that organization."

"Leaving him to his own devices carries the risk of losing control. But abandoning him would mean missing out on a top-tier combat force capable of contending with the evil organization in the future."

Xuan Zi instantly understood the depth of Elder Mu's meaning, his expression shaken: "You mean..."

Mu En nodded slightly, his voice soft yet incredibly firm:

"Shrek has been passed down for ten thousand years, never by playing it safe, but by relying on generations of geniuses to defy the odds and hold up this world."

"My time is short. The storms of the future must ultimately be carried by you, and by these children."

The Sea God Lake shimmered, its waters having nourished every blade of grass and every inch of soil in Shrek for ages.

Xuan Zi sat there earnestly, his thoughts drifting far away, feeling somewhat lost.

His own disciple harboring the remnant soul of an Evil Soul Master, the massive evil organization, Elder Mu's dwindling lifespan—these matters pressed upon his nerves like giant boulders.

"Xuan Zi? Xuan Zi?"

It was not until Elder Song tapped his shoulder that he snapped back to reality.

"What is it, Elder Mu?"

Elder Mu waved his hand. "Go on, bring Yue Ling here so I can use the Golden Ancient Tree to place a seal upon him."

"Understood." Xuan Zi did not hesitate; he walked to the door of the Sea God Pavilion and flew toward his courtyard in a flash.

In Xuan Zi's small courtyard.

Yue Ling had returned to the place where he had lived for four years.

However, he did not wake up this time.

He lay on the bed, his eyes tightly shut. The midday sun shone on his orange hair, illuminating his youthful yet resolute face.

The chrysanthemums outside the window swayed continuously, and the wind blew in, carrying the scent unique to the flowers, as if whispering of sorrow from afar.

Zhang Lexuan had just heard the news and rushed to Yue Ling's residence.

Looking at the pale, quiet face of the youth on the bed, her heart sank, and an indescribable sense of bitterness and helplessness welled up within her.

Only a few months ago, that child had been bright-eyed and full of spirit; how had he become like this in the blink of an eye?

She stepped forward gently, subconsciously raising her hand to smooth the lingering tension between the youth's brows.

But just as her fingertips were about to touch him, her movements suddenly stiffened, and she quickly pulled her hand back.

A faint flush crept onto her cheeks. Zhang Lexuan closed her eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the chaotic emotions surging in her heart.

The thought that her blanket had been slept in by Yue Ling for so long... she decided she would never tell anyone about this for the rest of her life.

Seeing him, the strange feeling in her heart became even more pronounced.

During her morning cultivation, she had suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her heart for no apparent reason.

That inexplicable panic lingered in her mind, leaving her unable to settle down, and she felt quite at a loss when faced with this sudden turn of events.

It wasn't until near noon, when Xuan Zi returned with the severely injured and unconscious Yue Ling, that she learned of everything that had happened.

Zhang Lexuan lowered her eyes to look at the unconscious youth, the emotions in her gaze swirling in complex, unspeakable layers.

Could this be telepathy?

Her thoughts drifted, and a sense of guilt washed over her.

No, this wouldn't do.

She was the head senior sister of Shrek's Inner Court.

She bore the heavy responsibility of protecting the academy and shielding the juniors in the future; every word and action had to be beyond reproach.

More importantly, she had been Bei Bei's betrothed since childhood.

That was a promise she had made for the sake of revenge, a commitment she could not abandon.

This complex emotion caused Zhang Lexuan's heart to sink, two scales constantly weighing against each other.

On one side was a childhood promise, a vow that could never be broken in this life.

On the other was a bond and destiny that had quietly entered her heart, yet one that must never be touched.

The path ahead was difficult; every step forward or backward was a mistake.

She stood quietly by the bed, nothing left in her heart but a vast emptiness.

Caught in such a tangle, how was she supposed to choose?

Follow her heart? Uphold her promise? Be herself again?

What on earth was she to do?