Everyone Pledged Their Loyalty

Mu En froze at those words, a flicker of relief in his eyes. The boy was thinking of them after all. What a good child.

"All right, Wulin. I'll take you to meet them."

Mu En smiled with satisfaction. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he raised an eyebrow.

"No, I'll bring them to meet you."

"Huh? Meet me? I'd better go to them."

Tang Wulin waved his hands. He didn't think he was so important that everyone else should have to come to him.

"Wulin, you must remember this."

Mu En's expression turned serious as he spoke to Tang Wulin.

"You are the Child of the Sea God now. You represent Lord Sea God. Others will interpret your every move as his will. If you go to them, it is Lord Sea God's authority that will suffer."

"Oh. Is that how it works?"

Tang Wulin scratched his head, struggling to follow, but he nodded obediently. He couldn't let anyone look down on his father.

Mu En seated Tang Wulin at the head of the conference room table, then went outside to explain the situation and bring everyone in.

Tang Wulin leaned back in the wooden chair, his feet swinging above the floor, and took the chance to count what he had gained from breaking the seal.

One Golden Dragon Claw. His right hand could undergo Dragon Transformation, doubling its strength and gaining a crushing effect that could destroy a target's internal structure. It was exceptionally good at breaking armor.

One Blood Essence Soul Ring. According to his father, the Golden Dragon King's physical power was so great that breaking the seal had greatly strengthened his body, giving rise to blood essence on its own. The ring came with the Soul Skill Golden Dragon Body. When used, it greatly increased his strength, defense, and explosive power, while its draconic might could intimidate Beast Martial Souls and Soul Beasts.

His Martial Souls also seemed to have changed, but he hadn't tested them yet, so he didn't know what the changes did.

"Not bad at all."

Tang Wulin smiled, thoroughly satisfied. He had never asked for much.

Besides, if breaking the seal could produce Blood Essence Soul Rings, the Golden Dragon King Bloodline could serve as a third Martial Soul. That would make his Triple Martial Souls unique in all the world.

Tang Wulin recalled what he had heard others say. As far as he knew, the most anyone had ever possessed was Twin Martial Souls. He was unprecedented, a new chapter in history.

Heh heh heh.

A goofy grin spread across Tang Wulin's face. That was what Mu En and the others saw when they entered.

This was the Child of the Sea God? He didn't look like anything special.

Everyone watched Tang Wulin snap out of his reverie, embarrassment showing on his face. They told themselves he wasn't that silly, but no matter how they looked, they couldn't spot anything extraordinary about him.

He was just a slightly better-looking little boy. With enough searching, they could find plenty like him across the continent. Yet Mu En would not lie to them.

At their sudden entrance, Tang Wulin wiped the grin from his face and sat up straight. He realized he had embarrassed his father after all. Inwardly, he wailed, though nothing showed on his face.

"We greet the Child of the Sea God."

Everyone cupped their hands and bowed together.

"No need for formalities."

After saying that, Tang Wulin had no idea what to say next. He was only six years old. Silence settled over the room again, and he hurriedly shot Mu En a pleading look.

Mu En chuckled to himself and invited everyone to take their seats. Then he introduced each of them to Tang Wulin.

At last, it was Tang Wulin's turn. He imitated the adults with two soft coughs and a calm smile.

"My name is Tang Wulin. My Martial Souls are the Clear Sky Hammer and the Soft Bone Rabbit. I also have the Golden Dragon King Bloodline and Innate Full Soul Power. I hope you elders will look after me."

Mu En's voice reached his ear through a private transmission, and Tang Wulin repeated what he heard.

The Clear Sky Hammer and Soft Bone Rabbit made sense, didn't they?

But where had the Golden Dragon King Bloodline come from? Had the Clear Sky Hammer been unfaithful, or had the Soft Bone Rabbit?

Everyone exchanged strange looks, but those looks quickly turned fervent.

Twin Martial Souls aside, both had been passed down from the two ancestors of ten thousand years ago. And the Golden Dragon King Bloodline sounded like the bloodline of a dragon king. It was simply unbeatable.

"Child of the Sea God, tell me what Soul Beast you want, and I'll catch it for you right now."

Xuan Zi thumped his chest and gave his solemn guarantee.

Killing a Soul Beast to absorb its Soul Ring—Tang Wulin rarely heard those ancient words anymore. They stirred his emotions. In his era, who had enjoyed such favorable conditions?

"Xuan Zi!"

Mu En signaled for Xuan Zi to stop talking. How Tang Wulin proceeded was his own decision. They didn't even know which Martial Soul he would cultivate first, yet Xuan Zi was already making promises. Mu En was at a loss with him.

"Child of the Sea God, might we have the honor of seeing Lord Sea God's face?"

One Elder asked cautiously. He could not contain his excitement and had finally spoken up.

"Gods cannot lightly interfere with the lower realm. My father left only a fragment of his soul with me, and after resolving a problem with my body, he fell into a temporary slumber. When he next wakes, I can ask him what he thinks."

"Wonderful, wonderful! Thank you, Child of the Sea God."

The Elder beamed. He still had a century or so to live. Surely he wouldn't go to his grave without seeing Tang San once.

The room abruptly grew lively. Everyone fussed over Tang Wulin until his head spun, and he even showed them his Golden Dragon Claw and Blood Essence Soul Ring.

Even the Elders who had initially found Tang Wulin unremarkable changed their tune, praising the Child of the Sea God for hiding his brilliance and shedding all worldly splendor.

Everyone believed Shrek would be great again.

Everyone except the Douluo Three Kingdoms and the Sun Moon Empire.

Word that Shrek Academy had sent out more than a dozen Titled Douluo and nearly turned Shrek City upside down eventually spread across the continent. When the emperors received their spies' reports, they immediately summoned their ministers to discuss why Shrek Academy had done it and how they should deal with the academy from then on.

Shrek had people in the Douluo Three Kingdoms, of course, and soon learned of the empires' betrayal. At first, they were furious. Then they thought better of it: all the better if the three empires had nothing to do with the Child of the Sea God.

They could hardly let history repeat itself, with the Heaven Dou Empire forcing the title of Blue Clear Sky King on their ancestor Tang San and thereby clinging to life for thousands of years.

The empires would not get to take advantage of the Child of the Sea God. Shrek Academy could enjoy this glorious future all to itself.

The bustling conference room eventually fell quiet. Tang Wulin was sent back to his room to rest. Since arriving in this era, he had not had a proper break. The succession of unexpected events had left him exhausted and dazed.

"Teacher."

"Was there something you needed me for?"

Not far from Mu En, Yan Shaozhe respectfully awaited his instructions.

"Take this."

Mu En took a blue bead from his Storage Soul Tool. A faint glow flowed endlessly across its surface.

"Teacher, what is this?"

Yan Shaozhe carefully accepted the bead and examined it. To his spiritual senses, however, it did not exist at all.

"Lord Sea God left this with me as a token. I need you to deliver it to the Clear Sky Sect. After that, bring their people back."

Mu En saw nothing wrong with Tang San involving the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Wulin was his own son; no amount of protection was too much.

"Yes, Teacher. I'll make sure it gets there."

Yan Shaozhe gave his word, cradling the bead with the utmost care.