Giving In

Giving In

Qin Sheng and Mu En landed on the ground and found a place to sit.

Dragon God Douluo was already very old. More importantly, he had once swallowed a Dragon Pill, and its baleful energy had backfired, damaging his body and injuring his Source.

By rough estimate, so long as he did not fight with all his strength, this Ultimate Douluo had just over ten years left to live.

"I apologize to you and Blazing Spirit Academy for the seven children from our academy speaking without restraint," Mu En said sincerely.

Qin Sheng said, "The matter between the students has already been settled in the arena. You need not do this."

Mu En understood what Qin Sheng meant and sighed softly.

"This time, Xuan Zi was in the wrong. You were justified in taking one of his arms. I will compensate Blazing Spirit Academy with a high-quality Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone for each of those seven children, as well as one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. What do you think?"

"Furthermore, I will confine Xuan Zi to Sea God Island for ten years. He will not be allowed to leave it even half a step during that time."

Qin Sheng looked at the old man. He was forthright and sincere.

Those words were, in truth, a complete concession to Qin Sheng. Mu En had placed himself in the lower position.

"I doubt Sea God Pavilion would be willing to pay such a great price. Most of them may even hold another attitude, no?"

For example, mobilizing all of Shrek's strength to march on Blazing Spirit Academy and restore the glory of being number one for ten thousand years.

"When one is wrong, one must admit it," Mu En said.

"They have been immersed in the glory of the past for too long. They think Shrek is truly fearless and eternal."

"This is also a good thing for Shrek."

"Considering that Taotie Douluo has killed quite a few Evil Soul Masters before, you may take them back later," Qin Sheng said.

"However, if something similar happens again in the future, there will be no need for you to come."

To be honest, Qin Sheng had never cared about Shrek Academy since arriving in this world six years ago. It was merely a human faction.

Whether that academy was good or bad, whether it deserved praise or criticism, had nothing to do with him. If Xuan Zi had not gone mad, Qin Sheng could not have been bothered with him.

"Thank you."

Mu En looked toward Heaven Dou City and asked,

"There is another Ultimate Douluo in the city?"

"Mm. A friend of mine."

Mu En sighed. "It seems I was narrow-minded in the past. Douluo Continent is vast, and there are many hidden experts."

"May I ask how Blazing Spirit Academy plans to develop in the future?"

"Only as an academy," Qin Sheng answered without hesitation.

"Yes. That is how it should be."

Mu En said, "Shrek has already become somewhat lost."

Shrek had replaced the former Spirit Hall and was even showing signs of becoming a new "Spirit Hall."

Things were still somewhat better now. In the era of Douluo Three, Shrek and the Tang Sect became even more excessive: opposing the Federation, trampling on the law, trafficking arms, secretly colluding with enemy nations...

The latter was the worst of all.

"What do you think of Soul Tools?"

Soul Tools were products of Soul Power technology developed on Douluo Continent. At present, they were used more often in combat and had yet to become widespread in daily life.

"They are the tide of the times, and they cannot be stopped. Although pure soul masters still hold the dominant position for now, the future of the continent will certainly be a combination of soul masters and Soul Tools."

Qin Sheng said, "Powerful soul masters equipped with powerful Soul Tools—that is the future of the soul master world."

Mu En felt as though he had found a kindred spirit. He believed the same.

"However, Soul Tools in our era still have their limitations. It is enough to let those with talent research and manufacture them; there is no need to force everyone to study them in depth."

Qin Sheng continued, "Most soul masters only need to learn how to use them. That is enough."

During the era of Douluo Two, were Soul Tools the ultimate answer?

That was pure nonsense.

Huo Yuhao had invested so much time into Soul Tools early on and even joined the supposedly incredible Ultimate Individual Soldier Project, yet in the end, did he not still crush everyone through the raw strength of a soul master?

Only several thousand years later, when mecha and Battle Armor emerged, would Soul Tools become the answer and a required course for everyone.

"You are right, but in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, many people are unwilling even to use Soul Tools, let alone manufacture them. The ideological resistance is far too severe."

Mu En shook his head. "Trying to promote the development of Soul Tools is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

The current Douluo Continent was quite bizarre. Most soul masters resisted tools like Soul Tools, believing that true soul masters should not use such things.

"What ideological resistance? When all is said and done, it is still about interests." Qin Sheng sneered.

"Take your Shrek, for example. If the Soul Tool Department wants to develop, it must take resources from the Martial Soul Department. Why would the Martial Soul Department agree?"

"The same goes for other academies. Old-school soul masters occupy most of the resources. Who would be willing to give them up?"

The younger generation was influenced by their elders and had been taught from childhood that Soul Tools were bad. Nothing could be done about that.

But those people currently in high positions on the continent spoke of how ancestral rules could not be changed, while all they thought about in their hearts was business.

If they truly rejected Soul Tool technology, then why did they still use storage-type Soul Tools?

"That includes you. You say you support the development of Soul Tools, but you yourself came from the Martial Soul Department. When your disciples and descendants cry to you, do you not compromise again?"

"I have been taught a lesson. I have lived two hundred years in vain," Mu En said shamefully.

"Enough. How your Shrek Academy develops is your own business."

Qin Sheng said, "After the Soul Master Tournament ends, I will deal with the Holy Spirit Cult. When the time comes, I will invite people from the Three Kingdoms to witness it. Your academy may send people as well."

"The Holy Spirit Cult?" Mu En's expression tightened.

"Do not tell me you know nothing about it," Qin Sheng said.

"The Evil Soul Masters have already grown into a force. They are no weaker than any faction on the continent. I have a blood feud with them, and I will kill them without fail."

"When the time comes, you will not need to act. I alone will be enough."

With that, his figure vanished. There was nothing more to say to Dragon God Douluo.

Setting aside the absurd things Mu En had done in his youth, his vision and breadth of mind truly surpassed everyone else in Shrek.

He had long seen the hidden dangers beneath Shrek's current prosperity: glory clouding the mind, arrogance and conceit, madness and obsession, looking down on all others...

He had also seen clearly the impact Soul Tools would have on soul masters.

Mu En had always wanted to change Shrek and promote the academy's development of Soul Tools, but he lacked the ability.

More precisely, he lacked the courage.

The ship called Shrek was too large. Mu En held the helm, yet he could not change its course and could only drift with the current.

That academy could not be completely controlled by any one person. Its true master was the so-called Shrek spirit and glory.

What Mu En wanted was to trust in the wisdom of later generations and leave the problems for them to solve.

But if Shrek had not encountered a child of destiny, it would not need to wait ten thousand years. It would have been blown apart already.

Inside the room, Snow Empress smiled faintly.

"I thought you would fight."

"He is not that foolish ox. He is clever, and he does not dare," Qin Sheng said, shaking his head.

"As long as he fights me, he will certainly die."

Mu En did not possess the strength to knock Xuan Zi unconscious in a single move.

"Do you need me to go with you to deal with the Holy Spirit Cult?" Snow Empress asked.

"Return to the Far North first and begin preparing matters concerning faith. I will notify you when it is time to attack the Holy Spirit Cult."

Snow Empress drifted away.

"After destroying the Holy Spirit Cult, I will use the momentum to have the Sun-Moon Empire spread my name as well. That way, the faith of humanity across the continent can basically be secured. It will only need time to accumulate."

Qin Sheng pondered. "Should I make contact with the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest? There are quite a few Soul Beasts there as well."

"And beyond Douluo Continent, there are two other continents in the deep sea. There are living beings there too. As long as I find their locations, they can also provide me with faith."

As he thought, Qin Sheng raised his head and looked at the sky.

Normally, gathering faith with strength enough to sweep across the continent would not be difficult for him. The only uncertain factor was the God Realm—or rather, Tang San.

"Will you make a move?"

(End of Chapter)