The Sea God Pavilion, Shrek Academy's highest governing body, was also a treasured cultivation ground.
The Ancient Golden Tree towered between heaven and earth, blotting out the sky and sun. Its crown was beyond sight.
Wisps of mist continuously spread outward from the Ancient Golden Tree, lending the place the appearance of an immortal realm.
This mist was actually the energy of heaven and earth gathered through the Ancient Golden Tree's breathing. A single day of cultivation here was enough to match several days outside.
The Sea God Pavilion was situated within this Ancient Golden Tree, which was said to have been transplanted by Tang San himself.
Stepping into the Sea God Pavilion's council hall, Xian Lin'er frowned at the elders already seated around the round table, instinctively sensing that something was wrong.
In previous years, when the Martial Soul Department and Soul Tool Department allocated students, at most only the four elder-ranking deans of the two departments and Mu En attended.
Yet now, nearly all the Sea God Pavilion's elders were seated in the council hall.
Even her mother, who had already retired, was among them.
"Mu En, I've brought Lin'er and Duoduo!"
Cai Mei'er respectfully bowed to the old man in the seat of honor, whose body was so stooped that he could no longer straighten his back, and also gave her husband, Yan Shaozhe, a slight shake of her head.
Seeing only three people, then noticing Cai Mei'er shake her head, Yan Shaozhe, seated to the old man's right, could not help frowning.
"Mm, everyone, sit."
Mu En opened his eyes slightly and smiled at the three of them.
"Yes!"
The three bowed together to this Sea God Pavilion Master, the Dragon God Douluo who stood at the pinnacle of Shrek Academy, before taking their respective seats.
"Mu En..."
As soon as she sat down, Xian Lin'er gave a somewhat uneasy, forced laugh.
"In previous years, when our Soul Tool Department and the Martial Soul Department allocated students, the few of us only needed to discuss it among ourselves."
"Why... why have so many elders been summoned this time?"
"Could there be some other matter to discuss?"
Before Mu En could speak, Yan Shaozhe gave a light cough and spoke first.
"If it were merely a matter of allocating students, there would indeed be no need to summon so many elders."
The dean of the Martial Soul Department had sharply defined features. Though he looked to be in his forties, he still possessed an excellent bearing; presumably, he had been a handsome man in his youth.
"The reason so many elders have been summoned to the Sea God Pavilion today is that Ling Luochеn of the inner court reportedly brought back a Soul Master with the Ultimate Ice attribute from the Far North."
"Hmm?"
At those words, Xian Lin'er's expression immediately changed, and her hands beneath the table involuntarily clenched.
Ling Luochеn!
If I'd known, I should have warned that girl not to shoot her mouth off!
"I hear that Dean Xian Lin'er took this child with Ultimate Ice away. Now, Dean Xian Lin'er, please hand him over!"
As soon as he said this, every elder's gaze fell on Xian Lin'er.
Even Qian Duoduo gave Xian Lin'er a somewhat surprised glance. He genuinely knew nothing about this.
Xian Lin'er's expression remained unchanged, but she said nothing.
"Dean Xian Lin'er, you also know what an Ultimate Attribute means to our Shrek Academy."
Seeing that Xian Lin'er remained silent, Yan Shaozhe spoke again.
"If we can have this child with the Ultimate Ice attribute cultivate alongside Xiaotao, our Shrek Academy might produce two Soul Masters with Ultimate Attributes."
"So?"
Xian Lin'er said coldly.
Xian Lin'er's retort left Yan Shaozhe choking on his words, unable to say anything for a moment.
Because of their past relationship, Yan Shaozhe already felt somewhat awkward facing Xian Lin'er. Otherwise, he would not have sent Cai Mei'er to notify her to attend the meeting at the Sea God Pavilion.
"So this child should be handed over to our Martial Soul Department to nurture!"
Cai Mei'er shot Yan Shaozhe a glare, then spoke with a cold laugh.
"If a Soul Master with an Ultimate Attribute joined your Soul Tool Department, it would simply be a waste of talent!"
"You!"
Those words really went a little too far. Xian Lin'er's face flushed crimson, and she could not help slapping the table.
"Cai Mei'er, say that again?"
Xian Lin'er's voice was very low, so low that it was almost squeezed out between her teeth.
Her Soul Tool Department uniform stirred without wind. The Soul Power of a Rank 94 Titled Douluo surged within her, and even the air in the council hall grew a little more stagnant.
Cai Mei'er was not intimidated in the slightest. She leaned back in her chair and crossed a pair of long legs strong enough to squeeze someone to death, the smile on her face entirely unchanged.
"I'd say exactly the same thing again."
"Lin'er, we're both Soul Masters. You should know very well that only our Martial Soul Department is the most suitable place to nurture Ultimate Soul Masters."
No one else spoke. Even Qian Duoduo, the vice dean of the Soul Tool Department, actually thought the same.
Ultimate Martial Souls were indeed better suited to being nurtured by the Martial Soul Department.
"Then I'm truly sorry. That child's Martial Soul does indeed possess the Ultimate Ice attribute, but he has already agreed to take me as his master."
After staring at Cai Mei'er for a long while, Xian Lin'er suddenly spoke, enunciating every word.
"Have you forgotten that besides being a Level 8 Soul Engineer, I am also a Titled Douluo?"
"When it comes to nurturing a disciple, could a Titled Douluo like me really fall short of your Martial Soul Department?"
"You!"
This time, it was Cai Mei'er's turn to lose her composure.
She and Xian Lin'er were both Rank 94 Titled Douluos, but in addition to that, Xian Lin'er was also a Level 8 Soul Engineer.
"Lin'er."
Just as Cai Mei'er was about to say something, Mu En, who had remained silent in the seat of honor for a long time, finally spoke.
"Lin'er, since that child has already taken you as his master, you can nurture him for now."
"Mu En!"
Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er grew anxious and hurriedly spoke in unison.
Mu En said nothing, merely waving a hand at the two of them.
Seeing this, the two could only grit their teeth and shut their mouths.
"Thank you, Mu En!"
Xian Lin'er rose and bowed to Mu En, her face filled with triumph.
"But you must at least let us meet this child."
A trace of curiosity also appeared on Mu En's face.
"It has been a very long time since a Soul Master with an Ultimate Martial Soul appeared at our Shrek Academy. I would like to know just what this Martial Soul with the Ultimate Ice attribute is."
As soon as Mu En said this, the triumphant expression on Xian Lin'er's face froze.
Have Xue Chen come to the Sea God Pavilion and show himself before all the elders?
There was nothing wrong with that in itself, and it was indeed only proper.
But the problem was that Xue Chen had never agreed to take her as his master!
Her earlier claim that Xue Chen had taken her as his master was purely bluster blurted out in desperation after Cai Mei'er had pushed her too far.
If she brought Xue Chen out and he denied it to her face, where would she put her face?
Would she still be able to show her face at Shrek Academy afterward?
But Mu En had already spoken. If she kept making excuses, it would only invite more suspicion.