"How did it feel spending this past year in Gengxin City?"
Mu En sat upright to one side, a kindly smile appearing on his benevolent face, his hands resting flat on his thighs.
"It felt pretty good. My cultivation improved steadily this year, too, but I discovered that forging also helped me control my strength."
Mu Changqing strode over to the chair beside Mu En and sat upright. He twisted his arm a little and noticed traces of black deep within Mu En's formerly white hair.
Mu Changqing wondered whether Mu En was enjoying a second spring. Seeing Mu Changqing staring at his hair, Mu En raised a hand and knocked him on the head.
"Oh, right! Great-great-grandfather, were you the one who ordered all these huge changes to Shrek City and Shrek Academy?"
Mu Changqing looked at Mu En questioningly, rubbing the back of his head. He felt that Mu En had become a completely different person since absorbing the gold of life.
"Of course! Shrek City and Shrek Academy are now entirely under my control."
Mu En spoke in his steady voice, deliberately raising its volume, and his voice echoed through the Sea God Pavilion.
Previously, Mu En had been gravely injured and nearing the end of his life. Even if he had wanted to manage Shrek Academy, he had been powerless to turn the tide. He had intended to develop the Soul Tool Department all along.
But the Martial Soul Department had been too domineering back then. Although Mu En was still injured now, his injuries were no longer a serious concern, and his cultivation was enough to firmly hold sway over all of Shrek Academy.
Mu En could thus begin implementing his management measures. When the renovation of Shrek City and Shrek Academy had first been about to begin, Yan Shaozhe had been somewhat reluctant, but Mu En had overruled him.
"Great-great-grandfather, now that our Shrek Academy is also awakening Martial Souls for ordinary people free of charge, don't the three great empires have any objections?"
Mu Changqing spoke with a worried expression. By implementing this measure, Shrek was slapping the three great empires in the face and cutting off their source of income.
Shrek Academy's free Martial Soul awakenings for ordinary people and its establishment of the Forging Department had opened an entirely new path for ordinary people.
"So what if they object? Since when does our Shrek Academy owe them an explanation?"
Mu En tapped his fingers against the conference table, releasing the pressure of his Soul Power with every tap. Why should their Shrek Academy obey the three great empires' orders?
Shrek City was now effectively a small independent state, situated right between the three great empires. Everything Shrek City had done over the past year had left the three great empires' leaders grinding their teeth in hatred.
The three great empires dared not openly express their dissatisfaction with Shrek Academy, because Shrek Academy stood against the Sun Moon Empire.
If they openly fell out with Shrek Academy, the three great empires would struggle to resist the Sun Moon Empire's invasion, so they could only endure it.
"But this is good, too! I won't have to stand while eating in the outer court cafeteria anymore."
Mu Changqing smiled, clasping his hands behind his head and crossing his left leg over his right.
"Oh, right, Changqing! In a few days, we'll set off for the Heavenly Dragon Sect and go back to visit the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan!"
Mu En grew reflective. He had not returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan in many years either. He belonged to Yu Xiaogang's lineage from ten thousand years ago.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Dragon Sect's sect master in Dragon City belonged to the lineages of Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin from ten thousand years ago. Those two branches had reunited as the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan long ago.
The entire Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan resided in Dragon City. Mu En had not returned to the clan in over twenty years, and he could now be considered its longest-lived member.
"Sure!"
Mu Changqing stood up and stretched. Going to Dragon City suited him perfectly. He could seize the fortuitous opportunity there before anyone else and, if possible, take Yu Tianlong as his little brother.
If Mu Changqing remembered correctly, Yu Tianlong was roughly his age, and his talent was not bad either. Yu Tianlong could reach rank 63 before turning twenty, and his innate Soul Power was probably rank 8 or higher.
Yu Tianlong's Martial Soul was a pure Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex. Although his offensive abilities could not match Mu Changqing's or Bei Bei's, he was still a rare powerhouse on the continent.
Without Mu Changqing's influence, Bei Bei's Martial Soul might have been a Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex with a bloodline of light, and his talent might have been on the same level as Yu Tianlong's.
Bei Bei's Martial Soul was now the Holy Dragon of Light, which certainly stood a head above Yu Tianlong's Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"On this trip to Dragon City, if possible, I'll have the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan relocate to Shrek City!"
"That way, we can look out for each other!"
Mu En gazed at the ceiling. He had a private purpose for going to Dragon City as well.
"Come here, Changqing! Your great-great-grandfather will teach you the three supreme techniques I created. Your current Soul Power and spiritual power are perfectly suited to them."
"I'll teach Bei Bei once he has five rings. After I teach you and you've comprehended them, teach Na'er."
Mu En looked at Mu Changqing's tall frame, quietly stroking his beard. His three supreme techniques had once slaughtered evil soul masters until the mere mention of them made their courage crumble.
Mu Changqing stood up and strode over to Mu En, crouching until their eyes were level. He felt a little excited as well. He would finally gain another three heaven-defying Soul Skills.
Mu En gently pressed an aged finger against the space between Mu Changqing's brows and began releasing Soul Power. Warm elements of light began flowing deep into Mu Changqing's brain.
The insights Mu En had accumulated throughout his life slowly seeped into Mu Changqing's body, and imprints of Mu En's three supreme techniques appeared in Mu Changqing's mind.
First technique: Sovereign's Descent: a core combat technique that combined spiritual power with physical attacks. Once it defeated an opponent, it would completely destroy their confidence, making them feel unable to resist whenever they faced the user afterward.
Second technique: Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift: based on Sovereign's Descent and drawing upon the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul as its source, it could break through anything and would continue evolving as one's cultivation increased.
Third technique: Dragon Emperor's Trembling Domain: likewise derived from Sovereign's Descent, its primary effect was dispelling evil, specifically countering evil soul masters.
Anyone could use the first and third of Mu En's three supreme techniques, but the second required the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul.
Mu Changqing felt that the knowledge in his mind had increased again, but he was utterly bewildered as he examined Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift. His Martial Soul was the Golden Dragon King...
"Great-great-grandfather, I can't use the second technique you taught me!"
Mu Changqing gazed at Mu En's aged face with puzzled eyes, and Mu En gently patted his shoulder.
"Your Martial Soul is the progenitor of strength. You can create a new Soul Skill based on Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift."
Mu En smiled at Mu Changqing and lightly knocked him on the back of his head, thinking, He's usually so clever. Why can't he use his head now?
After using the Golden Dragon King Martial Soul for so long, Mu Changqing rarely put his brain to work anymore. His super intelligence told him to use super strength.
Mu Changqing knew nothing; he was just immensely strong.
"That works, too!"
Mu Changqing stood up, thinking that he ought to put his intelligence to greater use in the future rather than keep relying on brute force, or he would truly become a savage.