"In the future, anyone who questions Shrek will face a reckoning from two great powers."
Yan Shaozhe's eyes lit up. Suddenly, he felt that Shrek Academy had a promising future.
Gu Yunxiao's arrival was nothing short of a golden opportunity for Shrek Academy!
As long as they held firmly to it, no one would be able to shake Shrek's position-not just for a hundred or a thousand years, but for tens of thousands of years.
"Indeed, this is a good thing!"
The smile on Mu En's face grew broader, his eyes filled with gratification and pride.
Under his leadership, Shrek Academy was about to embark on tens of thousands of years of prosperity.
When his time came, he would be able to face his ancestors without shame.
"Yan Shaozhe, you must not slight Gu Yunxiao from now on."
"And think three times before acting, whatever the matter. You must never act impulsively. Two Super Douluos are secretly protecting this child."
"One is between level ninety-six and ninety-seven, and the other is on par with Xuan Zi."
Mu En's smile faded slightly, and his tone turned serious.
Yan Shaozhe's pupils abruptly contracted at those words. He nodded firmly. "Teacher, I understand."
At that moment, Yan Shaozhe became even more certain that Gu Yunxiao was a successor of the Clear Sky Sect.
Only the Clear Sky Sect possessed such deep reserves of strength.
"Teacher, there is one other matter."
"Gu Yunxiao chose the academy's newly established Practical Soul Tool Department. With his talent, going into the Soul Tool Department is undoubtedly a waste of time."
"But geniuses have their own ideas, especially a prodigy as extraordinary as Gu Yunxiao. I could hardly forcefully interfere."
Yan Shaozhe sighed, feeling utterly helpless.
He simply could not understand why Gu Yunxiao was interested in soul tools.
Traditional soul masters would still be the mainstream in the future. Soul tools were ultimately external aids; one's own strength was what mattered most.
Only soul masters with limited cultivation talent would choose the path of a soul engineer.
By choosing the Practical Soul Tool Department, Gu Yunxiao was undoubtedly putting the branches before the roots.
"Yan Shaozhe, you did the right thing."
"We must never arbitrarily interfere with extraordinary prodigies like Gu Yunxiao. We can only guide them slowly onto the right path."
"As for his choosing the Practical Soul Tool Department, that is no great matter."
"Speak to him yourself and persuade him to choose the Martial Soul Department as well. Have him pursue both and become a student who trains as both a soul master and a soul engineer."
"In time, he will understand the gap between soul masters and soul engineers, and he will understand which path he should choose."
Mu En's voice was calm, his tone utterly unruffled.
Although he did not think much of soul tools either, he would not interfere with Gu Yunxiao's choice.
"Teacher, there has never been a student in the academy's history who trained in both the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department..." Yan Shaozhe hesitated.
Mu En shook his head, somewhat helpless. "Yan Shaozhe, rigid rules shackle not only your thinking, but your future as well."
There was no faulting this disciple's talent.
Even if he did not have the potential to reach the ultimate level, he still had hope of reaching level ninety-seven, or even level ninety-eight.
Unfortunately, Yan Shaozhe had flaws in his character. He hesitated when he should be decisive, acted decisively when he should hesitate, and sometimes displayed a petty narrow-mindedness.
If he did not change, he would struggle even to break through to level ninety-six.
"Shrek Academy aspires to nurture monsters."
"Now that a monster has arrived, if we still use ordinary methods to train him, we will not be nurturing him. We will be holding him back."
"Yan Shaozhe, rules are dead, but people are alive. You must adapt when adaptation is needed. Do you understand?"
Mu En looked at Yan Shaozhe. He had lost count of how many times he had offered this reminder.
As for whether Yan Shaozhe had taken it to heart...
If he truly could take it to heart after hearing it once, Mu En would not have to repeat it so often.
"Teacher, your disciple understands." Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly and answered.
"Alas."
Mu En sighed inwardly, then waved a hand. "Go. Gather Xuan Zi and the others. The detailed arrangements for this child, Gu Yunxiao, need to be discussed by all the Elders."
Both Gu Yunxiao's talent and his identity warranted convening a Sea God Pavilion Meeting.
"Very well."
Yan Shaozhe nodded and left.
Mu En leaned back in his recliner and rocked gently again. However, his figure grew increasingly indistinct and ethereal, until it finally vanished.
Night.
Shrek City, Star Emperor Hotel.
The Star Luo Empire stood behind this hotel, which also enjoyed the best reputation in Shrek City and was widely beloved.
Zi JI and Bi Ji had booked a suite of the highest standard here. A single night cost over a thousand Gold Soul Coins.
"Splish, splash..."
In the bathroom, the sound of running water gradually stopped.
Gu Yunxiao emerged in a bathrobe. The droplets in his hair evaporated at a speed visible to the naked eye, disappearing completely.
"There really aren't many new students in the Practical Soul Tool Department. Even counting me, there are only twelve."
"And the dean personally teaches classes. It looks like Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department is in even worse shape than I expected. They barely have any teachers."
Gu Yunxiao shook his head and casually took out a book on soul tool theory.
He had borrowed it from Shrek Academy's library. Since he was going to learn how to use soul tools, he naturally needed some understanding of them.
Their types, for instance, which types countered others, and the situations in which they were useful.
"The Douluo version of technology. It is rather interesting."
"Unfortunately, with the current level of soul engineers, they still can't make battle armor. At most, they could produce an incomplete prototype."
There was another important reason Gu Yunxiao was learning to use soul tools: to prepare for the future.
Once battle armor appeared, he would definitely have to get himself a set.
After all, he could not fuse with soul bones. To improve his combat strength, he could only seek other avenues.
Of course, all of that lay in the future.
For now, Gu Yunxiao was merely preparing ahead of time. Preparedness kept trouble at bay.
Time slipped by, and Gu Yunxiao turned the pages faster and faster, gaining a general knowledge and understanding of soul tools.
Before long, he finished reading the Soul Tool Beginner's Guide.
Gu Yunxiao let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair, relaxing for a while.
"Hum."
Just then, a light flashed behind him.
Zi JI stepped out and gently rubbed Gu Yunxiao's temples, occasionally moving her hands down to knead his shoulders.
Gu Yunxiao half-closed his eyes, quietly enjoying it.
"Young Master, are you... are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"
"No need."
"Young Master..."
Zi JI wanted to say more, but Gu Yunxiao spoke first, cutting her off. "Zi JI, if you have something to say, just say it."
"Young Master, I..." Zi JI blushed and parted her lips. She wanted to say it, but she was nervous and afraid.
She was nervous because she did not know how Gu Yunxiao would react once she said it.
She was afraid because she worried this matter would create a little more distance between them.
"Something weighing heavily on your mind?"
Gu Yunxiao opened his eyes, stood, and turned to face Zi JI. With a teasing smile, he said, "Just say it. If you're afraid of upsetting me, be prepared to take a beating."
Zi JI froze for a moment, gazing into Gu Yunxiao's noble, captivating purple eyes.
She remained silent for a long time.
Then she made an extraordinarily bold move. She stepped forward, rose onto her toes, and lightly kissed Gu Yunxiao on the lips.
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