Stingy Yan Shaozhe: This Talent Must Stay in the Martial Soul Department

Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes. The more he watched, the more impressive he found it.

It was simply spectacular.

With his combat techniques and experience, Gu Ming could have handled the fight easily even without the incomparably sharp Tianjing Sword. He was only a little inferior to Yan Shaozhe in his younger days.

And Gu Ming only had three rings.

This boy was a genius!

The Hope Tianjing Sword, Justice Tianjing, Lightning Flash...

These things played out in his mind, bit by bit.

Only at the very end, when the battle was over and the Man Faced Demon Spider had nearly died, did the images gradually fade.

"Spectacular, absolutely spectacular! In all my years as dean, this is the first time I've seen such pure righteous power. Even the Lightning Flash this boy unleashed carried the aura of an ultimate attribute. What a talent."

"My disciple Ma Xiaotao was just as outstanding back then."

Yan Shaozhe propped up his chin, offering extremely high praise.

What a boy, brimming with righteousness.

Just then, Du Weilun spoke up. "Dean, shouldn't you make some preparations?"

"Preparations for what?"

Yan Shaozhe still hadn't recovered from his shock. His brain had stalled.

His first thought was whether Gu Ming could remain in the Ice Soul state indefinitely and help his disciple suppress her evil fire.

Xiaotao had been plagued by evil fire for years. If that problem could be resolved, Shrek would gain another Super Douluo-level powerhouse in the future.

Du Weilun sighed. "My esteemed dean, have you forgotten that our academy also has a Soul Tool Department? If we don't do something now, what if the Soul Engineers poach him?"

Yan Shaozhe jolted. "You've certainly reminded me. But the Freshman Assessment hasn't even begun. It would be inappropriate to grant him core disciple status now. Xian Lin'er would come demanding an explanation."

Du Weilun continued, "But we can't just do nothing, either."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent.

He had always been stingy. Even if he gave a child so many things now, the boy might not necessarily make the most of the opportunity.

Besides, Gu Ming hadn't even started the freshman Grand Tournament yet. Giving him things in advance would violate the rules.

Yan Shaozhe still felt that he couldn't let his reputation as an iron rooster—a bird that wouldn't shed even a single feather—crumble.

Even if he offered a reward, it would have to wait until after the freshman Grand Tournament.

But a genius like this absolutely couldn't be handed over to the Soul Tool Department.

Then inspiration struck Yan Shaozhe. A faint smile curled his lips as he told Du Weilun, "Weilun, you don't need to worry about this anymore. Your dean has a plan. I'll notify the elders immediately and convene a Sea God Pavilion meeting so they can make a decision in advance."

"That way, we can keep the Soul Tool Department from snatching him away while retaining him in the Martial Soul Department at the lowest possible cost. Two birds with one stone."

Hearing this, Du Weilun said with some hesitation, "Dean, isn't that a little inappropriate? Won't it make us look too stingy?"

"Am I not a generous man? It's not that I won't give him anything. We simply have to follow the proper procedure, abide by the rules, and give fairly and impartially."

Accused of being stingy, Yan Shaozhe immediately grew angry.

He had inherited the fine virtues of their first dean, Flender. Calling him an iron rooster sounded downright awful.

Without waiting for Du Weilun to continue, Yan Shaozhe turned, pushed open the office door, and headed for the Sea God Pavilion in the Inner Court to call Mu En over for a meeting.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed, and all of Shrek's elders had arrived at the Sea God Pavilion's underground conference room.

The Soul Tool Department's dean and vice dean, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, occupied their department's seats.

Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er sat in the Martial Soul Department's seats.

Elder Zhuang, Elder Lin, Elder Song, and Xuan Zi also arrived as requested.

Then a streak of white light flashed past. The newcomer was none other than Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

His back hunched, Mu En swept his gaze over everyone. "Shaozhe, why did you convene this meeting? You may tell us now."

Yan Shaozhe stood. "Everyone, please look at the big screen."

The Image Recording Soul Tool once again displayed Gu Ming's battle in its entirety.

The elders present grew increasingly astonished as they watched, admiration showing on their faces.

Xian Lin'er narrowed her eyes. Something felt off.

What on earth was Yan Shaozhe up to?

Soon, the recording ended. Xuan Zi was the first to offer an excited assessment, laughing as he said, "Excellent, excellent, excellent! What a Hope Tianjing Sword! This is the first time I've seen such an outstanding young prospect. There's even a hint of Mu En in him."

"With such a promising youngster, why not let me take him as my disciple after the freshman tournament ends? I'll be sure to give the academy a Titled Douluo in return."

At those words, Yan Shaozhe's expression turned exceedingly ugly.

If Xuan Zi snatched Gu Ming away, it would hurt worse than being killed.

If he could, Yan Shaozhe would have liked to take the boy as his own disciple.

Immediately afterward, Xian Lin'er said, "This child is outstanding. He could even learn about Soul Tools. If the Soul Tool Department trains him, we might produce a genius proficient in both disciplines."

Qian Duoduo said, "Lin'er is right."

The other elders also held Gu Ming in extremely high regard. They were all astonished that this year's freshmen included such a heaven-defying prodigy. Shrek was truly destined to flourish.

After watching the recording, Mu En, seated at the very front, spoke. "Shaozhe, tell us what you think. You must have convened this meeting because there's something you want everyone to approve."

Yan Shaozhe rose and cupped his hands. "Mu En, I wish to keep this student in the Martial Soul Department permanently and make him one of its core students."

His underlying meaning was simple: the Soul Tool Department was not allowed to poach him.

But the moment those words left his mouth, Xian Lin'er, who had already sensed something was wrong, slammed the table and sprang to her feet. "Yan Shaozhe, you bastard! You called this meeting just for that? He hasn't even passed the Freshman Assessment, and you're already planning what comes afterward!"

"You son of a bitch! Every year, our Soul Tool Department picks up who knows how many crooked melons and cracked dates discarded by your Martial Soul Department. You've never given us a single outstanding student, and now you're pulling this stunt!"

"What's this? The moment you find an outstanding student, you start playing these games? Are you afraid our Soul Tool Department will compete with you for him ahead of time? You selfish bastard!"

"I refuse to agree to this!"

Under that drenching torrent of abuse, Yan Shaozhe could only sit there with a dark expression, not daring to say another word.

If he said even one more word, Xian Lin'er would bring up what had happened back then.

He immediately turned to Mu En. "Please give us your opinion, Mu En. I don't think Gu Ming is suited to studying in the Soul Tool Department. The Soul Tool Department isn't much use, so studying there would only waste his time."

Xian Lin'er immediately said, "Mu En..."

A rare look of grievance appeared on her face. She thought Yan Shaozhe had gone too far, coming up with such an underhanded scheme.

Yet Mu En neither agreed nor rejected the proposal. Instead, he asked everyone, "Doesn't Shrek need someone to shoulder its great cauldron in the future? I think this child is quite suitable."

"Gu Ming's aptitude is unquestionably that of a future Super Douluo. He might even reach my level. Therefore, I'd like to put forward a decision and hear everyone's opinions."

Yan Shaozhe's heart lurched. This is bad.

Xian Lin'er smiled brightly and turned to shoot Yan Shaozhe a provocative look.

Well, now neither side would get him.

"Mu En, what decision do you have in mind?"

Having finished his chicken drumstick, Xuan Zi asked a question for once.

Mu En cleared his throat and said gravely, "I've been watching this child since the day he enrolled. He truly is outstanding, though his temperament is a little wicked. But I believe I can guide him onto the righteous path."

"Therefore, once he passes the inner courtyard disciple assessment, I intend to confer upon him the title of Sea God Pavilion Saint Son."