Du Weilun first glanced over the crowd, then announced with a smile, "Everyone standing here has passed Shrek's Freshman Assessment and will soon advance to the first year. As your director, I congratulate you all."
"Next, I will announce the top three teams in this assessment and distribute their rewards."
Immediately, the students all turned toward Jiang Chen's team, Dai Huabin's team, and Huo Yuhao's Team.
They had shone the brightest in this Freshman Assessment.
Jiang Chen had been the most monstrous of all, practically dominating the entire competition single-handedly.
Du Weilun promptly called out, "Jiang Chen, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Cui Yajie, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Xie Huanyue..."
A few minutes later, everyone whose name had been called stepped forward, with Jiang Chen standing first in line.
Du Weilun announced that the rewards for this assessment were soul rings at the very limits of their endurance. Jiang Chen also received a special box, which contained none other than a Thousand-Year Soul Bone.
Jiang Chen was not particularly surprised.
This was something of an old Shrek tradition, and a Thousand-Year Soul Bone was worth a considerable sum.
Afterward, Du Weilun announced this year's list of core disciples.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Chen had been granted dual core disciple status.
Huo Yuhao had received it as well.
Because he had revealed so many of his hidden cards during the Freshman Assessment, the academy's senior officials had discussed the matter and decided to grant Huo Yuhao core disciple status, giving him the same treatment as Jiang Chen.
As for Wang Dong, Ning Tian, and the others, they had all become core disciples of the Martial Soul Department.
Once the awards ceremony ended, Du Weilun began assigning classes and asked the teachers to come forward to collect their students.
Huo Yuhao, Jiang Chen, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and the others were assigned to the same class again, with Wang Yan personally teaching them. Zhou Yi, meanwhile, had been transferred to the higher years.
Everyone knew what kind of teacher Zhou Yi was. Students like Jiang Chen already had bad tempers; it would be trouble if she clashed with the students again.
Another ten-odd minutes passed before the new students' class assignments were complete. Du Weilun put away his register and said, "All right, this year's new students have all been assigned their classes. Keep working hard, everyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, the teachers led their respective classes away.
At sunset, the day's lessons came to an end.
After dinner, Jiang Chen went to wait in the courtyard outside the Sea God Pavilion.
He still remembered his agreement with Mu En.
Before long, Mu En emerged from the Sea God Pavilion, his back stooped. He smiled kindly at Jiang Chen. "You're here."
Jiang Chen nodded.
Then Mu En raised his hand, and their surroundings instantly blurred. When Jiang Chen opened his eyes again, they were already inside the Golden Ancient Tree. Countless meditation chambers surrounded them, yet there was not a soul in sight.
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, discerning what lay behind it all.
This was the Golden Ancient Tree's interior, a place where vast amounts of life energy gathered, and somewhere many Inner Court students dreamed of entering.
At that moment, Mu En clasped his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "This is your first time here, isn't it? Let me introduce it. This is the space inside the Golden Ancient Tree, a sacred cultivation ground opened up by generations of our predecessors. For a soul master's cultivation, it truly yields twice the results for half the effort."
"Normally, your status would not yet qualify you to cultivate here, but some things cannot wait any longer."
Jiang Chen asked curiously, "Elder Mu, what things?"
Mu En raised his eyes toward the Sun Moon Empire. His tone was heavier than ever as he slowly said, "Within a few decades, the Sun Moon Empire will inevitably unleash a war. The advent of soul tools is certain to change the balance of power."
"But now, the Three Great Empires are a host of dragons without a head. Without a Limit Douluo guarding Shrek, we will inevitably be unable to withstand the Sun Moon Empire's assault. Though I am a rank-99 Limit Douluo, my life is nearing its end. I will not last until then."
"That is why I can only place my hopes in you. I believe you can grow strong within those few short decades."
As he spoke, a glimmer of hope appeared on the aging man's face.
If he had previously felt too ashamed to face his predecessors, then nurturing Jiang Chen before his death would be the greatest help he could offer the younger generation.
Shrek Academy could not be left without a Limit Douluo to guard it.
Otherwise, the balance of power on the continent would change.
Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, and the other elders were all unsuited to inheriting the position of Pavilion Master.
The position of Sea God Pavilion Master could only be held by a capable young person.
Jiang Chen understood.
Mu En was planning to entrust Shrek to him.
But wasn't this a little too early? He was still only a three-ring Soul Elder.
Then Mu En spoke again. "You need not feel burdened. Xiaotao and Shaozhe will no longer pester you, either. I have at least twenty years left to live, and I will certainly see the day you become a Titled Douluo."
"All right, choose whichever meditation chamber you like and begin your secluded cultivation."
I'm afraid you only have a few years left... Jiang Chen silently worked out the timeline and realized that Mu En would die during the years when Huo Yuhao went away as an exchange student. By his reckoning, there was not much time left.
With that thought, Jiang Chen casually chose a decent meditation chamber and walked inside.
The instant he entered, dense ice-attribute energy of heaven and earth surged over him like a tide. Jiang Chen immediately felt refreshed in both body and mind.
The space inside the Golden Ancient Tree truly lived up to its reputation.
It looks like I can work on comprehending my self-created soul skill.
Then Jiang Chen sat down cross-legged and began his secluded cultivation, shutting his ears to everything beyond the window.
Outside the meditation chamber, Mu En gazed at Jiang Chen's room and murmured to himself, "I hope you can gain some insight. There is little else I can do to help you. I wanted to teach you self-created soul skills, only to discover that we walk different paths. I hope you can forge a path of your own."
With that, he vanished from outside the meditation chamber and returned beneath the large tree outside the dormitory to continue basking in the sun.
Time flew by. Shrek's classes proceeded as orderly as ever, yet Jiang Chen had miraculously disappeared.
Ever since winning the Freshman Assessment championship, he had vanished from the face of the earth.
At first, Ling Luochеn would still go looking for Jiang Chen, but later she stopped, because she already knew where he had spent the days of his disappearance.
Several more months passed. Shrek Academy's vacation had begun, and the academy was almost empty.
Inside the meditation chamber, Jiang Chen awakened from deep meditation. His soul power level had reached forty, and his aura had grown increasingly sharp.
This cultivation speed was not particularly fast. It could only be called barely acceptable, but his gains had been considerable.
The Golden Ancient Tree's pure life energy had brought him a new lease on life, elevating the very level of his existence.
However, increasing his soul power was not all Jiang Chen had accomplished during this period of secluded cultivation.
He had created a soul skill of his own.
Just then, Mu En suddenly appeared before Jiang Chen with his back toward him and asked, "Did you gain anything from this period of secluded cultivation?"
Jiang Chen cupped his hands and replied, "I comprehended a self-created soul skill."
Hmm?
Mu En raised his head, somewhat shocked.
To comprehend a self-created soul skill in just a few short months-this boy's talent was truly terrifying.
But that was not what concerned him. What mattered was whether Jiang Chen had found his own path.
Mu En asked, "Only a self-created soul skill? Have you found a path of your own, such as the Tang Sect or Shrek...?"
Jiang Chen shook his head.
He had not found one, and even if he had, it would not be the Tang Sect or Shrek.
Who would want to spend a lifetime clinging to those things?
The strong should only grow ever stronger. Only fists are truth.
Mu En was somewhat disappointed. He had not expected Jiang Chen to have failed to find his own path. He then said, "Very well. Everyone's path is different. Perhaps you need more time to comprehend yours. Show me that self-created soul skill of yours. Use it against me."
Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows. "What I comprehended is a fist technique."
Mu En chuckled and said, "I have roamed the Soul Master World for over a century. What sort of genius have I not seen? Do you think you can hurt me? Just attack. If I really do die on the spot, Shrek will be yours to look after."
"Don't forget, I am a rank-99 Limit Douluo. Your rank-forty soul power cannot hurt me."
Before you continue