Dragon Core's Savage Aura: I Think I'm a Little Dead...

Mu En's body suddenly stiffened, then shook violently.

The smile he always wore had vanished, replaced by a face contorted with pain.

"Elder Mu!" Xuan Zi's expression changed drastically.

"Granduncle Master!" Gao Ren's heart leaped into his throat.

"I'm fine..." Mu En forced the words through clenched teeth.

Back when he had narrowly escaped death, he had completely suppressed the Dragon Core, but its savage aura had seeped into his body.

After so many years, that aura had taken root too deeply to dislodge.

Now, stirred by the power of the Pure World Overlord’s Leg, the long-dormant Dragon Core's savage aura had awakened again.

But it had not awakened to take advantage of Mu En's weakness and finish him off, as it had last time.

It had awakened to save itself!

In a sense, it was alive too.

And living things were not so easily purified... The Dragon Core's savage aura was struggling madly inside Mu En, turning his body into a battlefield against the Pure World Overlord’s Leg!

About ten seconds after Mu En spoke, brilliant golden light burst from his body, pushing Xuan Zi and Gao Ren away.

At the same time, a dragon's cry rang across the sky, so agonized that it seemed to carry throughout Shrek City.

Then the golden light rapidly expanded into an enormous pillar that shot skyward and pierced the clouds.

Within it, a huge White Dragon faintly appeared. Ominous black wisps rose from its jade-white body.

It raised its head and let out another sky-shaking wail, thrashing and writhing in agony. It looked a little bit dead.

"Farewell, old friend."

As Mu En spoke, a golden beam shot from his index finger and pierced straight through the White Dragon's skull.

The White Dragon's massive body began to shatter inch by inch.

At last, it dissolved into golden motes that filled the sky, as though its very soul had scattered.

"Elder Mu! Th-this is..." Xuan Zi stared, stunned.

"Xuan Zi, do you remember this?" A pearl as white as jade appeared in Mu En's palm.

"It's the Dragon Core you've always treasured!"

Xuan Zi had seen Mu En's Dragon Core before.

After all, Mu En had once tried to use it to help others.

Most people lacked the strength to withstand its domineering aura, but Xuan Zi clearly could.

However, his Godly Taotie Bull's attributes were not well suited to the Dragon Core, so he could not absorb its power to cultivate as Mu En had.

Mu En let out a long breath, his voice filled with relief:

"The truth behind my disability isn't what you all thought. Du Bisou gravely wounded me back then, but he didn't damage my life's foundation.

What truly ravaged it was this Dragon Core in my hand. I tried to absorb it to heal quickly, never imagining its savage aura was still there. I'd always thought it had vanished...

It lay hidden until I was at my weakest, then struck—and left me as you see me now."

Mu En looked at Gao Ren, gratitude filling his eyes.

"A-Ren, thank you. Without you, I'm afraid I would have fought that savage aura until the day I died."

"It was the least I could do." Gao Ren asked about his condition. "Now that the Dragon Core's savage aura has been purified, can you..."

Xuan Zi caught on too and asked urgently, "That's right, Elder Mu! With the aura gone, can you straighten your back again?"

Mu En fell silent for a moment, then smiled in acceptance.

"No."

"Why?" Gao Ren and Xuan Zi asked in unison.

"My spine has been tormented by that aura for decades. The broken bones have long since set. To put them right, they would have to be broken again and reset." Mu En gently patted his lower back.

"But this body of mine can no longer withstand that ordeal.

Years of fighting the Dragon Core's savage aura have drained much of my vitality. Without enough to replenish it, putting these old bones through such an ordeal might cost me my life.

Better to remain as I am and guard Shrek a while longer."

In truth, if Mu En took the Dragon Core, he would soon recover completely.

But he had no intention of doing so.

He felt that, with one foot already in the grave, using the Dragon Core himself would be an enormous waste.

After all, with a Dragon Core, a talented Soul Master's breakthrough to Limit Douluo was all but assured.

Even a fool knew whether to choose a Limit Douluo nearing death or a young one.

"Granduncle Master, you just need enough vitality, right?" Gao Ren said earnestly. "Judging by what happened today, my Pure World Overlord’s Leg works exceptionally well on you."

When I reach level thirty, I'll find a healing-type Soul Beast for my Soul Ring. Your spine will definitely be as good as new then.

I'll need to visit the Star Dou Great Forest to find the Auspicious Beast around that time anyway. Whatever it takes, I'll persuade the Auspicious Beast to convince a ten-thousand-year-old Emerald Swan to offer herself as a Sacrifice.

The Emerald Swan's healing powers are second to none. Eating an Overlord Drumstick like that would surely restore your body."

Mu En's smile vanished at once.

"A-Ren, I appreciate the thought. But you needn't bow and scrape before Soul Beasts for my sake."

"But..."

"No buts!" Mu En said gravely. "Remember, you are my junior, and you are one of Shrek's own.

I can accept your dealing with Soul Beasts as equals, but not your bowing and scraping before them.

I won't let you sell your dignity for my sake. That would make this old man look useless.

A-Ren, have you remembered everything I said?"

"I have!" Gao Ren had noticed that Mu En seemed like a different man since the Dragon Core's savage aura vanished. The authority radiating from him made Gao Ren agree almost involuntarily.

"Teacher! Elder Mu!"

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo flew over from afar, panic written across both their faces.

"What was that pillar of light and that dragon's cry? Everyone in Shrek City saw and heard them!"

Mu En raised a hand for silence.

"There's no need to panic. My body underwent a change, but I'm fine now." After a pause, he said solemnly, "Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, notify every elder of the Sea God Pavilion at once. We're convening an Emergency Meeting of the Sea God Pavilion."

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's shock.

An Emergency Meeting meant something momentous had happened at Shrek Academy!

"Yes!" Neither asked another question before turning to leave.

"A-Ren."

Gao Ren was about to follow them, but Mu En called him back.

"You're coming too."