"The academy's future will rest on you from now on."
Mu En looked at Lu Yu and the other two with growing satisfaction. Although Shrek had produced one genius after another over the years, mishaps had also occurred frequently. Xuan Zi was a rank-98 Super Douluo, but he was careless. He had led a team out on a Soul Hunt and managed to get all but three of the Shrek Inner Court's eleven most talented students killed. Mu En had been so furious at the time that he had almost killed Xuan Zi on the spot to see whether he was a spy sent by another faction.
Then there was Yan Shaozhe. Despite having the Bright Phoenix Martial Soul, his character was lacking, and he quibbled over every last penny. He had been stuck at rank 95 for so many years without advancing a single step. The academy's future certainly could not be entrusted to someone like him.
Next was Zhang Lexuan, that poor child who had suffered so terribly under Xuan Zi's leadership. She clearly possessed cultivation no lower than Mu En's, yet ever since that incident, she had been bedridden with severe injuries. There was probably an enormous shadow over her heart as well. Whether she could still fulfill her original potential to become a Limit Douluo was now uncertain.
As for Ma Xiaotao of the next generation, although she cultivated rapidly, the problem with her Evil Fire Phoenix simply could not be resolved without finding an Immortal Herb. She would not listen when advised to slow her cultivation, either. It would be fine if she remained stuck at rank 79 in the future without breaking through, but if she could not resist secretly breaking through, Mu En would probably have to kill her himself.
Across five or six whole generations, the mighty Shrek had actually failed to nurture even a single Limit Douluo. Now, Mu En could only place his bets on the new generation.
"Don't say that. You look hale and hearty despite your age, senior. You're still in your fighting prime."
"Ah, this old man has grown old. I'm afraid I don't have many years left. Still, if I can protect you youngsters as you grow before I die, my life won't have been in vain."
Mu En sighed as he rocked in his reclining chair.
"All right, enough of that. Children, what do you think of Soul Tools?"
Given Shrek's current atmosphere of opposition to Soul Tools, Mu En decided to impress their practicality upon these children to prevent any mishaps.
"Soul Tools are good stuff. It's just a shame they hold up cultivation. A Soul Master's cultivation speed in their first twenty years-no, their first twenty years, their first sixty years-is still fairly decent. Once they pass sixty and their cultivation slows to a turtle's crawl, switching to Soul Tools is the best choice. Of course, you still need to learn how to use them early on. After all, why turn down combat power that comes free?"
"...You youngsters really do have better ways of thinking."
Mu En sighed. What Lu Yu said was indeed correct. Soul Engineers were also Soul Masters, and Soul Power would always matter most. Moreover, once their rank increased, they would progress faster when studying Soul Tools. Switching after sixty really was the best choice.
Unfortunately, those over sixty at Shrek were the staunchest opponents of Soul Tools. Never mind studying them-even when Mu En personally asked them to use them, they refused.
"Grandmaster Lu, congratulations on winning the championship."
While Lu Yu and the others were chatting, a voice suddenly came from behind them.
Lu Yu turned around and saw two figures, one in yellow and one in red.
It was Ning Tian, the filthy-rich moneybags, and Wu Feng, the lapdog.
"Isn't it class time right now? How did you two sneak out?"
"Hmph, this afternoon is just physical training, so the young mistress and I went back to the dorm first."
"By the way, our sect has already found the Soul Beast you wanted. You'd better be able to produce something real when the time comes."
Wu Feng gave a cold snort.
"Wu Feng, don't be rude."
Ning Tian lightly chided Wu Feng. "Sorry, she's been rather irritable since losing a few days ago. By the way, could we have some of this grilled fish too? We can pay."
"It's fine. I never care about a speed bump's wailing. As for the grilled fish, we're all friends here. Why stand on ceremony?"
Lu Yu ignored the speed bump's wailing, and after a pleasant exchange with his financial backer, he saw the two girls off.
He looked up at the sky, saw that it was about time, and began packing up his tools.
"Were those two children from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect? Forgive this old man for overstepping, but have you made some sort of deal with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?"
A sharp gleam flashed through Mu En's eyes. They actually dared to make a move on someone he had his eye on. It seemed he needed to give the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect a warning.
"Nothing much, just a little deal. I develop a Soul Tool for them, and they give me a 50,000-year Soul Bone. That's all."
"Oh? You can develop Soul Tools at your age?"
Mu En asked curiously. Hadn't this boy just said he would not study Soul Tools before sixty? Why was he developing Soul Tools for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was far more accepting of Soul Tools than Shrek. Although their lack of sufficient high-ranking Soul Masters had left their progress stalled at Level 7 Soul Tools, they were still not something any random young genius could measure up to.
"Just talent. Nothing worth mentioning."
"Let's call it a day here, Elder Mu. Shall I treat you to grilled fish again next time?"
"Wait a moment, children."
Mu En stopped Lu Yu and the others.
"Lu Yu, I heard others addressing you as Grandmaster, so I made a few inquiries. I never expected you to be so renowned throughout the Star Luo Empire at such a young age. Everyone who has received your guidance praises your affordable prices. As I see it, this knowledge could all serve as a family legacy. It would not be impossible to build a top-tier sect upon it. Why sell it to those customers at prices that amount to practically giving it away?"
Mu En changed how he addressed him. Faced with another faction trying to poach his talent, he felt that showing sufficient sincerity was a better strategy than intimidation.
After all, only someone who sincerely worked for the academy would be a qualified successor.
But before displaying that substantial sincerity, Mu En decided to examine the child's character first.
Otherwise, if he encountered another successor like Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, or Ma Xiaotao, it truly would be Shrek's misfortune.
"Actually, I do keep some things to myself. What I share is just some lower-level knowledge. After all, most of the people who come to me are poor, so giving them a little is enough. Isn't it better to use them to build a reputation, then make money off the filthy-rich moneybags?"
"Use the poor to build a reputation, then make money off the filthy-rich moneybags..." Mu En froze at this answer, then burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha... What an interesting answer, child."
Mu En stood up. Although he had left the reclining chair, his back was still bent at a full ninety degrees, and his whole figure looked like that of an old man nearing his twilight.
"Eating your grilled fish today has helped this old man's body recover quite a bit. As repayment, I'll teach you a move."
There was self-interest in Lu Yu's answer, but not much. Mu En was very satisfied with such an answer. This approach could ensure that Shrek remained at the continent's summit without losing its original purpose as an academy.
Acceptable character, an outstanding Martial Soul, exceptional talent with Soul Tools, profound knowledge of Martial Souls, and ample combat experience-he could be called a successor Mu En was thoroughly satisfied with. If the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect snatched away a successor like this, he feared he might keel over and die of anger in his reclining chair with a "crack."
So he prepared to bring out a few of his signature techniques.
Before you continue