Yan Shaozhe, Your Martial Uncle Will Give You a Dignified End! Niu Tian Heads for the Star Dou Great Forest!

"I lost."

Mu En collapsed to the ground, his chest rising and falling, a faint smile of relief on his lips.

A single day had nearly burned through what little life he had left. Even with the Golden Ancient Tree sustaining him, Mu En could not hold on much longer. At best, he had a few months.

"Mu En!"

Zhuang Yusen's expression changed drastically. He hurried forward and placed a hand on Mu En's wrist.

A gentle stream of life force flowed steadily into Mu En's body like a brook. Only then did a trace of life gradually return to his ashen, withered face.

"Mu En!"

Xuan Zi stumbled over. His legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

His face was bruised and swollen. For the first time, fear showed on that habitually devil-may-care face.

"Don't worry. This old man isn't dead yet."

Mu En raised a hand, his voice weak and hoarse.

He paused, drew a slow breath, and suddenly grew solemn. "Xuan Zi, hear my command."

Xuan Zi shuddered and instinctively stood.

"In my capacity as Sea God Pavilion Master, I command you to formally succeed me as Sea God Pavilion Master."

"Mu En, I..."

Xuan Zi opened his mouth, then hesitated.

"Let me finish."

Mu En's voice was calm, but his resolve brooked no argument. "You will be Shrek Academy's last Sea God Pavilion Master."

Xuan Zi froze.

"I've thought it over."

Mu En looked past Xuan Zi's shoulder toward the distant sky, where wisps of white light still lingered. "Shrek should no longer stand apart from the world.

"An academy nurtured by a land ought to heed the will of that land. Shrek owes no small part of what it is today to the Sea God's divine works."

He coughed twice and continued, "That being so, it should follow the Sea God's will, return to its roots, and become an academy devoted purely to teaching and raising students."

"The so-called glory of ten thousand years should not become shackles on the children. Still less should it become an obsession in certain people's hearts."

There was one more thing Mu En left unsaid.

Though he had met Tang Qi only a handful of times, he could sense that the boy was no stickler for rules. Perhaps Shrek submitting to him would not be a bad thing.

"Abolishing the Sea God Pavilion will affect many people."

Mu En turned to Niu Tian, his voice even. "I would like to announce it publicly when I pass away. By then, I imagine no one will dare object."

Niu Tian nodded slightly but said nothing.

Song Yunzhi had watched the battle from far away. Only when it was over did she dare rush over. She carefully helped Mu En into his wheelchair while Zhuang Yusen continued to pour life force into him.

As they were leaving, Mu En suddenly looked back at Niu Tian. "Would the Clear Sky Sect be willing to send someone into the Sea God Pavilion? Once Xuan Zi steps down and the pavilion is dissolved, one of your people could also take over as Shrek's headmaster."

After a moment's silence, Niu Tian said flatly, "I'll send someone."

Once Mu En and the others had gone, Niu Tian's gaze snapped toward the Star Dou Great Forest, as though he were meeting the eyes of some unseen being.

"Er Ming, I'm going to the Star Dou Great Forest."

Tai Tan's expression shifted. "I'm coming with you!"

Niu Tian looked away, a faint smile of supreme confidence tugging at his lips.

"No need. The Douluo Continent may be full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, but however powerful that Beast God is, no one can stop me if I decide to leave!"

"You go to Shrek Academy."

Niu Tian paused, a meaningful glint in his eyes. "Stay close to young Qi and protect him. You can keep an eye on Shrek, too. If they try anything..."

Niu Tian did not finish, but his meaning was clear.

Tai Tan grinned.

He did not mind. What difference did it make where he stayed?

At Shrek, he could even beat up Xuan Zi, a ready-made punching bag, whenever he had time to spare. Wasn't that more pleasant than spending every day cooped up in Clear Sky Castle, with only Niu Tian to spar with?

Soul power surged around Niu Tian. A sweep of azure light enveloped him, and in an instant he vanished without a trace, leaving only the faintest lingering presence in the air.

Meanwhile, on the road back to Shrek Academy.

After hesitating several times, Zhuang Yusen finally spoke. "Mu En, about Xiaotao..."

"Someone who can become a Limit Douluo wouldn't be so petty as to hold a grudge against a child."

Mu En thought Zhuang Yusen was worried that Ma Xiaotao would meet the same fate as Yan Shaozhe, so he reassured him quietly.

After all, not every Super Douluo or Limit Douluo was as narrow-minded as that disappointing disciple of his.

But Zhuang Yusen slowly shook his head.

"That's not it. Something has gone wrong with Xiaotao's Martial Soul..."

"Oh?"

Mu En frowned.

"Her Martial Soul was affected by an extremely mysterious power and underwent an unpredictable mutation."

Zhuang Yusen lowered his voice, his expression grave. "That power is on a level far beyond anything I've encountered in my life. I... can do nothing."

"Even you can't fix it?" Mu En's expression finally changed.

Zhuang Yusen gave a bitter smile and nodded.

A boy at the Soul Elder level had affected a Soul Emperor in a way that left even him, a Life-System Super Douluo, helpless.

If he had not known Tang Qi was likely from the Divine Realm, he would have wondered what exactly he, a Super Douluo who had specialized in life force, had accomplished over the past two hundred years.

Mu En was silent for a long time before he sighed softly. "If it's a blessing, it won't be a curse. If it's a curse, we can't escape it. Let nature take its course."

In the past, he would have racked his brains over this. Ma Xiaotao had the potential to evolve toward Ultimate Fire and become one of Shrek's future pillars.

But now, everything had changed.

It was easier to enjoy the shade beneath a great tree.

Since Shrek had decided to side with the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang Sect, there was less for him to worry about.

In the past, the Sea God Pavilion Master had needed strength unmatched across the continent, a mind for strategy, and a willingness to work himself to the bone at every moment for the academy's ten-thousand-year glory.

But the Sea God Pavilion would soon be history. Shrek's future headmaster would still need the cultivation of a Super Douluo and a grasp of the bigger picture, but the demands of the role would be worlds apart from before.

Elsewhere, after Niu Tian left, Tai Tan prepared to return to Shrek City and see how Tang Qi was doing.

He had taken only two steps when he caught sight of Xuan Zi out of the corner of his eye. Hunched over, Xuan Zi was rummaging through the devastated battlefield with a furtive air.

"Why are you still here?" Tai Tan frowned.

Xuan Zi snorted without looking up. "Looking for something."

He was now Shrek's "last Pavilion Master." His position had changed, and his sense of responsibility ought to keep pace.

Niu Tian and Tai Tan might have intended to spare Yan Shaozhe, but Xuan Zi considered himself a man with a brain.

Loyalty that was not absolute was absolute disloyalty.

Yan Shaozhe would have to suffer for it; Xuan Zi would bear the blame.

Better to end a future threat now than leave one alive. If Yan Shaozhe would not make a dignified exit himself, then his martial uncle would have to help him along.

"My dear little junior brother, where are you? Stop hiding. Your senior brother Xuan has something to discuss with you."

But search as he might, Xuan Zi could not find a trace of Yan Shaozhe. The entire battlefield was ravaged, strewn with broken trees and shattered rock, yet Yan Shaozhe was nowhere to be seen.

"Looking for that kid?"

Tai Tan looked at him as though he were an idiot. "Two Limit Douluo fought here. Do you think a half-dead Super Douluo could have survived?"

Xuan Zi froze, then slapped his forehead as realization struck.

"Forget it."

But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, his gaze shifted toward two figures locked in a fierce clash far beyond the city.

Ah...

Xuan Zi sighed softly.

"Yan Shaozhe, the road to the underworld is too cold to walk alone. Your martial uncle will send your wife down to keep you company."

Before the words had even faded, he flashed upward like an earth-yellow meteor and hurtled toward the battlefield north of the city.