Xiaoyao roared, Mu En entrusted his descendant, Tianjun and Guyi settled into the academy (4.5k bonus update)

"It certainly has been a long time. At your age, with your health so poor, what are you doing at the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"

Outside the Heavenly Dragon Sect, Long Xiaoyao rose with a yawn, narrowing his eyes at Mu En, who could barely stand.

"Not long ago, my disciple Yan Shaozhe took some students to Death Canyon to hunt Soul Rings. An accident occurred, involving the Heavenly Dragon Sect."

Meeting Long Xiaoyao's wary, scrutinizing gaze, Mu En smiled bitterly. "He accidentally killed the Heavenly Dragon Sect's young master and second-in-command. I came to take a look. What about you? Why are you here?"

Long Xiaoyao sat back in his reclining chair and gestured for him to sit too. They could speak more comfortably that way.

"My teacher instructed me, and I once swore to protect three generations of his descendants for as long as I lived. Yu Yuanjue, the Heavenly Dragon Sect's former sect master, is the last surviving descendant in that third generation."

Long Xiaoyao stared at him and said slowly, "He's cultivating in seclusion. I came to watch over him."

"Fortunately, the people your disciple killed belonged to my teacher's fourth and fifth generations of descendants. Otherwise, after hearing those words, what choice would you leave me?"

"When you say you came to take a look, do you mean to eliminate future trouble by exterminating the entire Heavenly Dragon Sect?"

"Not that." Mu En sighed. "I came to see whether they knew. If they didn't, I would leave some compensation. If they did, I would persuade them to abandon revenge."

"Impressive! Your words sound sweeter than a song! Do you think I can't hear what you're planning?"

Long Xiaoyao sprang back to his feet in agitation. "The Sea God Pavilion Master, a Limit Douluo, arriving in person—would anyone in the Heavenly Dragon Sect dare say no?"

"You call it an accidental killing, yet Yan Shaozhe hasn't come to apologize, and Shrek hasn't informed them of the truth. Instead, you came. Why?"

"Because Shrek mustn't incur public condemnation? Because its glory and reputation must remain untarnished? Because even treating human lives like weeds must be covered up?"

"If the Heavenly Dragon Sect's master risks his life over the deaths of his beloved son and brother, will you treat him the way you bullied Scorpion Tiger Douluo back then? Beat him senseless, then make him thank you for sparing his life and never emerge into the world again?"

"After all these years, your methods haven't changed. Everything you're doing is forcing them to become Evil Soul Masters!"

Long Xiaoyao roared that last sentence.

Mu En fell silent. He could not refute Long Xiaoyao's words. They were old friends who knew each other all too well.

A genuine apology should have involved Yan Shaozhe coming with thorn branches on his back to beg forgiveness. Mu En's arrival was itself a case of the strong bullying the weak, forcing the Heavenly Dragon Sect to swallow the tragedy and forbidding them from telling anyone.

If Yan Shaozhe came, the Heavenly Dragon Sect's experts could risk their lives to kill him in revenge. With Mu En here, none of them had any power to fight back.

Without Long Xiaoyao, the Heavenly Dragon Sect would have no choice at all.

After a moment, Mu En's voice broke the silence again.

"Xiaoyao, you understand the continent's current situation. Shrek cannot afford trouble. I deeply regret the accidental killings. I wish I could turn back time and stop Yan Shaozhe, but the dead are already dead.

"The living must continue living and striving for their cause. Even if you weren't here, I would handle this appropriately. Call it coercion and bribery or underhanded methods, but for the Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek, I must do this."

"To tell you the truth, my coming here is already the furthest Sea God's Pavilion can go. Those elders never even considered having Yan Shaozhe apologize."

So you're already Sea God's Pavilion's model of morality? What kind of damned number-one academy is this?

Long Xiaoyao drew a deep breath and said with heartfelt sincerity, "What a magnificent, unrivaled Sea God's Pavilion. You committed a wrong and took lives, yet your attitude is no different from the Holy Spirit Cult's."

"Mu En, my conscience has often troubled me over the years. Only recently did it improve a little. After seeing you tonight, I feel much better. To think so much filth could lurk behind the glittering facade of the world's greatest academy."

"I know what Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe did. I seriously suspect they're agents Xi Shui planted in Shrek. And you? Shall I hand over my position as the Holy Spirit Cult's supreme elder?"

Mu En merely shook his head and said firmly, "Impossible. Xuan Zi does act foolishly sometimes, but he is certainly not a member of the Holy Spirit Cult. I watched Yan Shaozhe grow up. He could never be an Evil Soul Master."

"Let's hope so. You bear some responsibility as his teacher for what Yan Shaozhe has become. He's an incorrigible womanizer, and you weren't spotless back then either."

Long Xiaoyao swept his sleeve and waved him off. "Enough. I'll tell you now: the Heavenly Dragon Sect's experts are all in seclusion. They still don't know their young sect master has died."

"You can leave."

Mu En breathed a sigh of relief and gazed into the depths of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. After a moment, he asked, "Is Yu Yuanjue attempting to reach Level 97?"

"He was gravely wounded by an Evil Soul Master in his younger days. I arrived in time to save him. Those old injuries have tormented him for decades. Now he's staking his life on one final attempt. If he breaks through, he'll live a few more years. If he fails, he'll die outright."

Long Xiaoyao raised his voice. "He won't even outlive you. What are you worried about? Surely Xuan Zi's level 98 cultivation isn't just for show. Would the Godly Taotie Bull fear the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?"

"The Heavenly Dragon Sect has a few promising youngsters in this generation, but they can't compare with Shrek. If you bully the young before my eyes, I'll have no choice but to bully you for your broken body."

"Listen to yourself. Whatever else I might do, I would never lay a hand on those youngsters."

Mu En smiled self-mockingly. For an instant, he had wanted to take Yu Yuanjue away, but that was impossible with Long Xiaoyao present. Besides, he still had something to entrust to him.

"Let's stop discussing this. Since I've met you today, there is something I wish to entrust to you."

Mu En took a plump, smooth Dragon Core from his robes and said slowly, "For the sake of our old friendship, please watch over my great-grandson. Once his cultivation is high enough, use Nine Knives and Eighteen Holes on him and let him absorb this Dragon Core."

With his lifespan nearing its end, the Radiant Sacred Dragon made a choice that combined private affection with public duty. He had yet to encounter Ultimate Ice and had decided to leave his final legacy to Bei Bei.

Bei Bei's talent fell far short of Mu En's, and his Martial Soul and Soul Rings were inferior as well. But a single Dragon Core would suffice to make up the difference later.

With Mu En teaching him the mysteries of the Radiant Sacred Dragon and passing on his cultivation experience, together with the light Dragon Core, becoming the next Dragon God Douluo would not be too difficult for Bei Bei.

Faced with his old friend's request to care for his descendant, Long Xiaoyao did not refuse. He accepted the Dragon Core, his expression complicated. "Don't worry. I do owe you, after all. I promise."

"If anything comes up, write to me. You can also have Xuan Zi contact me."

"With your promise, I can rest easy."

Mu En finally revealed a relieved smile, and two streaks of light flew from his sleeve.

"Please give these two items to the Heavenly Dragon Sect on my behalf, as a small token of apology."

Long Xiaoyao's gaze sharpened. "A fifty-thousand-year Thunderclap Bear torso bone and a forty-thousand-year Royal Shadow Leopard left arm bone. These are the compensation and hush money you prepared for the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"

Mu En nodded. "I know they have Soul Bones in storage, but these two are of fairly good quality."

"Two Soul Bones for two lives. Rather cheap."

Long Xiaoyao glanced at the Heavenly Dragon Sect and smiled. "I heard those youngsters say their second brother was very popular with young ladies, including princesses from two countries."

"He's already gone, after all. If he enrolled at Shrek, I would certainly provide him with a complete set of Soul Bones. I wouldn't hesitate even to cripple Yan Shaozhe with my own hands."

The golden reclining chair turned, and Mu En's voice grew increasingly distant until it vanished.

"Xiaoyao, I leave my great-grandson Bei Bei in your care. I'm going..."

Watching Mu En leave, Long Xiaoyao turned his hand over and put away the two Soul Bones, his brow faintly furrowed.

"Two Soul Bones... I'd better let him decide for himself. What a troublesome business. And I still have to look after that great-grandson of yours."

"The Heavenly Dragon Sect can't retaliate against Shrek, but he can."

"Ju Zi, Ju Zi! Have you heard? Director Lin brought in a super-handsome guy today!"

In the student cafeteria of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, long lines stretched from the serving windows, and finely decorated tables and chairs stood in neat rows. Ke Ke, a girl in school uniform, sat down with her tray and shared the day's gossip with her best friend opposite her.

"So he's handsome. It's not like we can eat him."

The beautiful student had a naturally airheaded air and exceptionally lovely skin, fair as a freshly peeled egg and glowing with dewy luster. Her lively, large eyes were sleepy as she stared mournfully at her tray.

"An aging senior like me can't compete with the youngsters who just entered the academy. Those young people are awful. They snatched up all the tasty fish balls and golden broth."

"Has anyone considered how us older researchers feel? We can't figure out Soul Tool research, our monthly stipend is tiny, and we can't even win the scramble for food..."

Looking at her best friend, who seemed to have left her soul behind in the laboratory, Ke Ke kindly reminded her, "We were late three times this month. Our stipend has already been docked completely."

"Boohoo, o(╥﹏╥)o. Don't bring up such heartbreaking subjects while we're eating."

Ju Zi took small bites of seafood noodles and muttered with a pout, "Speaking of the laboratory reminds me of the way Teacher Xuan looks at us like monkeys. Last time Zi Mu and Wang Shaojie made mistakes engraving a Level 5 Soul Tool's core array, do you know what Teacher Xuan said?"

"What did he say?"

"No matter how stupid someone is, surely they can engrave a Level 5 Soul Tool's core array?"

Ke Ke instantly felt three sharp knives plunge into her heart. So I'm unworthy of being your student.

A certain blond girl passing by heard this and quietly stopped.

"Did I enroll too late?"

Miss Angel, a Level 4 Soul Engineer, murmured to herself, wondering whether she had wasted her talent outside for too long.

Her companion carried himself with graceful poise. Feng wore a calm smile on his handsome face as he offered warm reassurance. "Not at all. Look at me—I'm still a complete beginner in Soul Tool knowledge. I don't know anything."

"Thank you." Ye Guyi felt much better.

"Teacher Xuan also said the academy shouldn't admit clueless beginners. It should admit geniuses. How could anyone be so stupid that they weren't even a Level 2 Soul Engineer before eleven?"

Ju Zi ate a mouthful of noodles and continued repeating Xuan Ziwen's exact words.

A certain handsome youth who preferred to remain anonymous took a critical hit to the face. His smile froze, and the corner of his mouth visibly twitched.

Returning kindness for kindness, Ye Guyi noticed Yu Tianjun's odd expression and loyally nudged him with her elbow. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Let's eat."

Yu Tianjun chose a seat beside Xuan Ziwen's two students and secretly pricked up his ears.

Sure enough, Ju Zi soon imitated Xuan Ziwen, pointing at empty air. "And those well-connected students who enter through special admissions—regardless of how they got in, they should all be dragged out and shot. They're simply polluting the pure research environment of the number-one Soul Engineer academy."

Yu Tianjun/Ye Guyi: ...

I'm clearly not someone who got in through connections, so why do I feel uncomfortable all over?

"I think taking the Soul Engineer certification exam is necessary."

Yu Tianjun rubbed the side of his nose and said nonchalantly, "Work hard now, and certification will be no problem."

"Well said. I agree."

Ye Guyi nodded repeatedly. They now shared the same misfortune: both had been branded villains by Shrek, both were in Mingdu, and both were being looked down upon. At that moment, their eyes held only each other's reflection.

"Let's work hard together!"

Ling Luochеn still could not adjust to Mingdu's environment, but Mr. Qilin and Miss Angel forged an unbreakable alliance. They clapped hands in mutual encouragement, determined to toss the label of "well-connected student" next door.

"Huh?"

Ke Ke noticed that a strikingly handsome young man and beautiful young woman had appeared beside them at some point, standing out like cranes among chickens. Her eyes instantly lit up.

"Are you two new students this year? I haven't seen you before."

He was gorgeous, and she was stunning. How could she never have heard of people this breathtaking?

"No, we only enrolled today."

Both turned their heads at once and asked seriously, "Everything your teacher said just now applies to us. Should we be dragged out immediately and shot for three minutes?"

"No, no, no..."

Ju Zi shook her head repeatedly and defended herself. "Everyone knows a teacher's remarks have nothing to do with their students. We don't produce opinions. We merely transport them."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Ke Ke nodded like a chick pecking grain and hurriedly said, "There's never been a case in the academy's history of a student being shot for insufficient talent. Our academy is known throughout Mingdu for being easy to enter and easy to graduate from. Our teacher is simply a genius who can't understand the world of ordinary people."

"That, we believe."

Yu Tianjun agreed that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was easy to enter and graduate from. The entry requirement for this foremost Soul Engineer academy was possessing one Soul Ring before age twelve. No recommendation letter was needed; applicants could register directly.

The Sun Moon Empire awakened commoners' Martial Souls free of charge. Once someone awakened innate Soul Power, the empire supplied medicines to support their cultivation. Even with only one level of innate Soul Power, they would certainly become a Soul Master before twelve.

Could anyone's physical constitution be worse than Huo Gua's? Huo Gua's body was weaker than an ordinary person's, yet he still cultivated to level ten at eleven.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy required students who had not become Level 3 Soul Engineers before eighteen to leave. Those who became Level 5 Soul Engineers before twenty-five could take the Radiant Virtue Hall's assessment.

The Sun Moon Empire's medicines could support ordinary Soul Masters in cultivating to Soul King, so Soul Power was not a problem.

At this point, someone might ask: "Teacher, teacher, doesn't using medicine damage a Soul Master's future prospects?"

Answer: "Child, you're so accustomed to being a genius that you don't consider ordinary people's perspective. Didn't you notice that Yu Xiaogang had already passed fifty before reaching level thirty?"

People with one or two levels of innate Soul Power would hit a bottleneck before reaching level thirty. Medicine could support them in breaking through to Soul King and beyond. For them, having medicine was a good thing.

Not everyone was the Sword Addict Ji Juechen, who soared skyward through sword enlightenment despite only having three levels of innate Soul Power.

In terms of strengthening the population and unleashing its wartime potential, the Sun Moon Empire surpassed all Three Great Empires. Even Yu Tianjun, who came from Heaven Dou, readily admitted this. Their respective Soul Master populations were on entirely different scales.

"Since you two just enrolled, what year are you studying in?"

Ke Ke spoke up and changed the subject, hoping to ease the awkward atmosphere they had accidentally created.

Yu Tianjun shook his head. "I don't know. The Dean told me to get used to the academy first."

Ye Guyi followed seamlessly. "Me too. Director Lin said an assessment would be arranged in a couple of days."

"Are you that scary?"

Ke Ke's mouth fell open in fright. I've accidentally stumbled into royalty!

Ju Zi halted her grand undertaking of eating and studied them with her slightly dazed eyes. She racked her brains but could not think of any powerful Sun Moon Empire family whose genes matched theirs.

Everyone knew that before the current emperor seized power in a coup, the Sun Moon Empire had considered black skin beautiful. Tianjun and Guyi's sky-high good looks clashed completely with the Sun Moon aristocracy's aesthetic.

Seeing their explanations only make matters worse, Miss Angel's sacred, flawless cheeks turned as red as the flower stamens of the Infernal Delicate Apricot. Her heart and throat shouted in unison:

"Don't misunderstand! We didn't enroll through normal registration, but we do have real ability. Don't look at us like we got in through connections..."

Yu Tianjun reacted more directly. He gently set down his utensils, wiped the corners of his mouth, and lowered his palm in a thoroughly gentlemanly gesture of invitation.

"Shall we go to the Soul Fighting Arena? Two against two, one against one, or me against both of you. Any of those will do."

"Fighting is part of adjusting to the academy too. I'd really like to experience its famous Soul Tools."

"Uh... can I refuse?" Ke Ke inexplicably shivered.

Yu Tianjun smiled, revealing a row of white teeth. "No. Among the privileges the Dean gave me is the right to challenge any student for three months, including disciples of the Radiant Virtue Hall."

"Don't worry. We're just making friends. Everything that happens during the fight will remain confidential."